Forclaz MT900 Dome Trekking Tent Review

Overview

The Forclaz MT900 Dome is Decathlon’s freestanding, three-season, three-person trekking tent. It is aimed at groups and families who want a conventional pole-supported dome without paying MSR or Big Agnes money. The trade-off is plain: at 2,700 g it is not an ultralight tent by thru-hiker standards, and the cut is tight for three adults.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Capacity	3 persons
Seasons	3
Weight	2,700 g
Structure	Freestanding dome, double-Y pole layout, aluminium poles
Flysheet waterproofing	2,000 mm
Groundsheet waterproofing	3,000 mm
Bedroom length	205 cm
Bedroom width	185 cm at head, 155 cm at feet
Bedroom height	119 cm
Total height	130 cm
Doors / porches	2 doors, 3 porches
Pockets	6
Backpack storage	70 L
Fabrics	20D polyester flysheet, 40D polyamide inner, PU coating with silicone exterior treatment

Performance

Pitching. The colour-coded pole and sleeve system is the tent’s main selling point, and reviewers of the MT900 line generally describe pitching as quick and intuitive. The bedroom and flysheet are separate pieces, so the inner can go up first in fair weather or the two can be combined. One caveat from testers of other MT900 models: the pole can take some wrestling to seat in its latches, so it pays to pitch it at home before the first wet evening.

Weather protection. Live for the Outdoors’ testers praised the hydrostatic head ratings: 2,000 mm on the fly and 3,000 mm on the floor. Both are reasonable for three-season use in the UK and Europe, and the floor figure is the more important one when pitched on soggy ground. Decathlon says the pitched tent is lab-tested at 200 litres per square metre per hour for three hours, a simulated tropical downpour. The fabrics are a 20-denier polyester fly over a 40-denier polyamide inner, both PU-coated inside with a silicone-treated exterior. A freestanding dome sheds wind less gracefully than a tunnel, and the extra guy ropes are there for exactly that reason. Owners of the wider MT900 range tend to advise against exposing any of them to severe gales.

Space. Decathlon rates the tent at 60 cm of width per person, and that is the figure to take seriously. The bedroom is 185 cm wide at the head and tapers to 155 cm at the feet, so three sleepers means shoulder to shoulder with pads of standard width. Live for the Outdoors found the narrow width cramped. Headroom is a more comfortable 119 cm inside, and 130 cm at the highest point. The 205 cm length handles most tall sleepers. Two doors and three porches help with the squeeze: the porches give each occupant somewhere to put muddy boots, and Decathlon quotes 70 L of pack storage. Six interior pockets handle the small kit.

Weight and packability. At 2,700 g the tent works out to 900 g per person when three people share it. That is respectable, and it is split easily across a group, but it is a full kilogram heavier than the 1,950 g two-person MT900 dome. A solo hiker or couple will do far better with that smaller model, or with Forclaz’s trekking-pole variants.

Durability and care. Decathlon states that the ultralight fabrics are sensitive to UV and that the tent is built for itinerant bivouacking rather than static use in the sun. Owners of the MT900 family echo that. They report it holding up well when pitched in the evening and packed after the morning dries out, and they warn that it is a poor choice for a week of lounging on an open campsite. A single r/Ultralight-adjacent comment calls the dome better suited to car camping than hiking, which fits its weight. Spare parts for the inner, flysheet and pole sections are sold, which makes repair practical.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Freestanding dome pitches on rock, sand or platforms without relying on stakes
• Colour-coded, easy assembly
• 3,000 mm floor and 2,000 mm fly are adequate for three-season rain
• Two doors and three porches, with 70 L of pack storage
• Spare inner, flysheet and pole sections available
• Priced well below comparable dome tents from specialist brands

Cons

• 2,700 g is heavy for a tent marketed to ultralight hikers
• Narrow at 60 cm per person, and tight with three adults
• Fabrics degrade in prolonged sun
• Not a tent for exposed, high-wind pitches
• Aluminium poles and a freestanding frame add weight a trekking-pole shelter avoids

Who Should Buy This

The MT900 Dome suits small groups, parents with children and weekend trekkers who split the load three ways and want freestanding convenience on a budget. It also suits two adults who want a spacious shelter with room for packs. Thru-hikers counting every ounce should look at the 1,950 g two-person MT900 dome or the pole-supported tarp models in the same range. Anyone planning to put three full-size adults in it for a week of bad weather should size up.

Verdict

The MT900 Dome gives you a well-featured, easy-pitching, freestanding shelter for far less than the specialist brands charge. It is a good group or couples’ trekking tent and an indifferent ultralight one. Buy it for value and convenience, not for gram-shaving.