Meet the reviewer
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: first impressions
The Terra Nova Southern Cross 1 is a premium four-season tent, designed for the solo adventurer looking to balance comfort and practicality.
• List price: £700 (UK) / Currently not officially available in the US
• Weight: 1.77kg / 3lb 14oz
• Pitched dimensions (HxLxW): 84cm x 220cm x 100-52cm / 33in x 86.5in x 39.5-20.5in
• Pack size: 42cm x 15cm / 16.5in x 6in
• Waterproofing: 5,000mm hydrostatic head
• Rooms: One bedroom, one vestibule
• Capacity: One person with gear
• Best for: Backpacking, trekking, fast packing, bikepacking
With enough headroom to sit up comfortably and a compact pack size, it’s perfect for sub-6ft hikers needing a reliable, all-weather shelter. It strikes a solid balance between durability and portability, making it easy to pitch right out of the bag.
The Southern Cross 1 from UK-based Terra Nova is closely related to the Helm Compact 1 by Wild Country, which is also under the Terra Nova banner. At first glance, you could easily mistake it for a more expensive variant of the Helm. But there are key design features that quickly place it in a league of its own.
This is a free-standing, quick-pitch, four-season tent with adjustable ventilation and enough room for you to comfortably sit up. It’s sturdy, well thought out and gives you the confidence that it can take on pretty much anything the weather throws at it.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: price
This tent usually retails for £700 on the Terra Nova website, but it’s currently available for around £490. That places it in a pretty reasonable price range, especially when compared to similar one-person tents on the market, such as the Hilleberg Soulo (which you’d be hard-pressed to find for under £900). Considering the premium design and the four-season durability, £490 feels like a solid deal for those serious about their gear.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: in the wild
After hearing several rave recommendations from a few mountain leader friends, I picked up the Southern Cross 1 myself to see how it compares to the best 1-person tents on the market, and it’s been my go-to tent for the last year. I’ve got more backpacking tents than I probably need, but if I had to narrow it down to just one solo tent, this would be it. With another British winter around the corner, I’m already packing this up for the snow, rain and wind that I know I’ll be facing. Whether I’m up on a blustery hillside on Dartmoor or down by a soggy lakeshore in the mountains, this tent has kept me dry and sheltered through it all.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: weight and size
When you hear ‘one-person tent’, you immediately wonder whether you’ll be be able to fit yourself in, let alone with your gear. But the Southern Cross 1 really delivers – there’s plenty of space for both you and your kit. At 84cm (approximately 33in) in height, it gives you enough room to sit up and comfortably get your gear arranged without feeling claustrophobic.
Packed down, the tent measures about 42cm x 15cm. One clever design touch is the integrated peg bag in the pole bag, which saves even more space. The poles and pegs fit perfectly inside most 40L hiking backpacks, making it easier to pack efficiently for longer trips.
Coming in at a cool 1.77kg (3lb 14oz), the Southern Cross 1 is lightweight for a four-season tent. It’s perfect for solo adventurers who like to keep things light but still need a robust tent that can handle a range of conditions. Anything under 2kg for a shelter this sturdy is a win in my book, especially when you’re heading into less-than-ideal weather conditions and don’t want to be weighed down by heavier alternatives.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: pitching
One of the biggest selling points of the Southern Cross 1 is its ease of pitching. The red ‘Yunan’ Reflex pole forms the exoskeleton, allowing the shelter to take shape in less than a minute or two. You simply clip the fly to the frame, slide the blue pole through a traditional sleeve, and boom – you’ve got yourself a solid, free-standing tent. Peg it down with the 13g Terra Firma pegs, and if the wind picks up the reflective Dyneema guy lines provide extra stability.
The inner is already attached, which is something I personally love. The fewer steps when pitching the better, especially in cold or wet weather. It’s also adjustable via webbing straps to ensure the perfect tension. I’ve been able to pitch this tent quickly and efficiently in all sorts of conditions, which is crucial when it’s freezing out and you don’t want to be fumbling with poles and pegs for too long.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: the interior
As we all know, not all one-person tents are created equal. The Southern Cross 1 gives you a lot more interior space than options like the Laser Compact 1 or other low-profile single-pole tents on the market. You’ve got enough height to sit up (84cm / 33in), and the floor space offers room for most sleep systems, plus a little extra for your kit. It’s 52cm / 20.5in wide at the narrowest point and 100cm / 39.5in at its widest, so you can comfortably fit your sleeping pad, some gear and even bulkier items like camera equipment if you’re carrying it.
The vestibule isn’t enormous, but it’s enough for boots, a backpack and a camp stove. Just be careful not to cram too much in, especially if you need to hop out of the tent during the night.
The inner tent features adjustable vent panels at the head and foot, along with a thicker or thinner mesh option for the inner door, allowing you to manage condensation effectively. There are also handy loops above your head to hang a camping lantern or string up some wet hiking socks to dry overnight.
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: durability
This tent easily earns its four-season status, thanks to the 30D nylon ripstop flysheet and its 5,000mm hydrostatic head. I’ve taken it out in some pretty rough weather and never had a drop of rain get inside. You can also add a separate groundsheet for even more durability, but the 70D nylon PU barrier is sturdy enough for most conditions.
It handles high winds like a champ, and the design, materials and guy lines ensure that it stays rock solid when the weather turns nasty.
