Robens Yukon Shelter (*updated)
With a square-ish design the Yukon Shelter is not what you would call a conventional tent and it will certainly stand out from crowd on any campsite. Despite resembling a goalpost it offers a unique spacious interior that can sleep up to four adults, or in my case two adults, a dog and associated paraphernalia.
The decent-sized porch can be fully opened up and will still offer protection from the elements. There’s also an option to use front door as an extended canopy, like an awning, but sadly those poles aren’t included.
As for pitching, after an initial struggle due to some of the instructions being lost in translation and the drawings not being very clear, I had it up singlehandedly in around 17 minutes. Official pitching time is 11 minutes, and I reckon now I know what I’m doing that time is achievable as it’s simply a case of using 7 poles, the majority of which use external sleeves for easy pitching. If you’re still struggling there’s an excellent video on Robens’ website showing how to set it up.
To erect you simply spread the tent on the ground and peg it down. You then thread the two smallest poles into each of the rear corners and secure them upright using the guy ropes. Then do the same with the slightly longer poles in the two front corners and secure them with guy ropes.
Once you have assembled the inside pole frame (which resembles a goalpost), you them shimmy it into position and secure it. There’s a bit more to it, but that’s pretty it, you then go ‘round securing the reflective guy ropes.
This is my fourth Robens tent, and what I appreciate about them is their great attention to detail, you certainly get what you pay for, you also get the sense that they will last for many years to come.
The Yukon Shelter has a sewn-in groundsheet, a full width one-piece mesh door, vents and guy rope retainers that hold them securely when packing away to avoid the nightmare of tangles and knots later. There’s also internal pockets and a lantern hanging point.
It’s quite a hefty tent and weighs in at 17.2 kg and packs up into it’s over-sized bag to 91 x 25 cm. The reason for its weight is that it’s made from polycotton (Flysheet: HydroTex Polycotton, 65% polyester / 35% cotton). The beauty of polycotton tents is that in wet and cold conditions the fibres swell up to become water-resistant whilst retaining heat, and in hot weather the fabric opens up to breathe and will remain cool.
Overall I really like its unusual design as it offers lots of room and head height. It can snuggly sleep 4, but due to the one huge ‘bedroom’ I don’t think it’ll make a great family tent, but then the clue is in its name - shelter. I reckon it’s ideal for two people who want a base and in the evening can relax under the porch whilst watching the world go by.
Price: RRP - £899
Originally posted July 2023. *Updated April 2025 - we have now seen this tent for as little as £499, so now may be the time to grab yourself one.
