OneTigris Scaena backpacking tent – updated

New for 2022, OneTigris has launched the OneTigris Scaena backpacking tent. This is OneTigris’ second backpacking tent, after the Cosmitto. The Cosmitto is a popular tent, but it did get some bad press last year, particularly for how waterproof it was… or wasn’t. Today we’ll check out the Scaena and take a first look at its key features. We’ll then do a OneTigris Scaena and Cosmitto comparison so we can see the key differences between the Scaena and Cosmitto. First off, let’s run through the spec of the OneTigris Scaena:

OneTigris Scaena backpacking tent spec

Intended for how many people?
2

Dimensions:
L: 6.8ft (2.1m) x W: 4.1ft (1.25m) x H: 3.7ft (1.15m)

Weight:
5.3lb (2.4kg)

Fabrics:
Outer: 20D ripstop nylon silicon coated
Inner: 40D nylon mesh upper with 40D nylon bathtub floor

Waterproof:
Outer: 3000mm HH
Bathtub floor: 3000mm HH

Entrances:
2

Poles:
7001 Aluminium Alloy

Pack size:
15.7″ (40cm) x 7.8″ (20cm)

Zippers:
YKK®

Seasons:
3

Inner or outer pitch first?
Inner

Package currently includes:
Outer flysheet
Inner
Leather tent footprint
Tent poles
Guy lines x5
Tent pegs x10
Stuff sack

Colour:
Coyote Brown

OneTigris Scaena – Price Checker

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OneTigris Scaena and Cosmitto comparison

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OneTigris Scaena and Cosmitto key differences

Design

The OneTigris Scaena has a couple of interesting and unique design features.

Carefully check the images above (though the second image should be the other way round in order to pitch in the recommended way). You’ll see the flysheet and the inner are different, front and back. The flysheet is a semi-outer which means campers will enjoy fabulous views out of one side of the tent, even when inside the inner. If you’re on a campsite this may raise a few privacy issues, so you’ll have to pitch carefully. However, the Scaena is marketed as a backpacking tent, so it shouldn’t be a problem when backpacking or wild-camping, and may really add to the experience. How this semi-open design performs in wild weather is yet to be seen.

The Scaena also has a higher inner bathtub floor than the Cosmitto, which will help protect you from breezes that may come in under the flysheet. This means the tent is perhaps that little bit warmer and can be used in colder weather.

Dimensions

In terms of the dimensions of the two tents, the Cosmitto is slightly longer and slightly wider, whereas the Scaena is a bit taller.

As usual, OneTigris have not specified whether the Scaena dimensions are for the inner or the outer. That level of detail is pretty standard with most tent manufacturers nowadays, so it’s not that great that OneTigris fail to clarify dimensions. At a guess, we reckon the length and width refer to the inner and that the height measurement refers to the outer – don’t hold us to that though… if it really matters to you ( because you’re tall) it’s probably worth checking with OneTigris themselves.

Weight

The weights of the Scaena and Cosmitto are pretty much the same, with the Scaena coming in a touch lighter at 5.3lb (2.4kg). 

Like the Cosmitto, the Scaena isn’t exactly ultralight, but it’s certainly a doable weight for an overnight wild-camp or a short backpacking trip. The load can also be shared if there are two of you sharing the tent.

Fabrics

Here’s one of the main differences between the Scaena and Cosmitto: the OneTigris Scaena outer is ripstop silicon coated nylon in comparison to the PU coated polyester of the OneTigris Cosmitto. Silicon nylon is generally considered the better fabric, so the Scaena wins there.

Waterproof

The Scaena (3000mm HH)  is meant to be more waterproof than the Cosmitto (1500mm HH). That should address some of the water ingress problems of the Cosmitto, providing the build quality of the Scaena is good of course – remember, how waterproof a tent is, is not simply about its hydrostatic head; things like the build quality of the tent are extremely important too. There is no mention whether the Scaena is seam sealed.

Poles

The Scaena has flexible poles that cross at the top, providing easy pitching. The poles are also angled at 120º to provide a more spacious inner. We found the Cosmitto to be spacious, and OneTigris have obviously chosen to continue the theme of creating backpacking tents with plenty of room. This may add a little weight, but for many people the extra space is worth the extra weight.

Package includes

You get a leather footprint with the Scaena. It’s rare to see a leather footprint, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out and whether people find it too heavy to take, and opt for using another lighter one.

Price

The Scaena is the pricier tent. You’re paying more for a tent with better fabrics and thus higher waterproof rating.

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Summary

The main differences between the Scaena and the Cosmitto are the design, fabrics, the waterproof rating and the price. If you’re not planning to camp in the rain and want to save a bit of cash, then the OneTigris Cosmitto backpacking tent is probably the tent to go for. If you are likely to experience rain (for example, if you’re in the UK), then it may be worth spending a bit more (if you can afford it) to get the OneTigris Scaena backpacking tent – providing the semi-open design stands up to inclement weather. 

On paper the OneTigris Scaena backpacking tent looks like a great piece of kit. It covers all the basics, certainly for short backpacking and wild-camping trips: good size, ok weight, good colour, decent waterproof rating, good fabrics and aluminium poles. It also has that unique semi-open design. Let’s see how it performs in some wet and windy weather when we get to fully test it. If you want to read more about the Cosmitto, check out our OneTigris Cosmitto backpacking tent article.