Sometimes you just want to get away from it all.
With the ever-increasing stresses of modern, fast-paced life, spending time reconnecting with nature is an excellent way to recharge your batteries.
Plenty of people prefer to camp in solitude, allowing them to be alone with their thoughts, reflecting on life, while relaxing and quietly appreciating the stunning scenery around them.
One-person tents can be used by anyone, but they are most beneficial for those who backpack or hike to their destinations, for them, these are the best tents.
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1 person tents are lightweight (only a few pounds), easy to assemble and pack down to a small sack that can be thrown in a backpack and easily transported on the trail.
With an abundance of features aimed to make your camping experience go as smoothly as possible (i.e. waterproofing, high-quality frames, mesh screens), one-person camping can be a borderline luxurious escape!
This article will outline some of the best one-man tents that are available at affordable, and at times, budget prices.
Page Contents:
The 10 Best 1-Person Camping Tents
10. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent
The Lynx 1 is loaded with features and is great for your solo getaway.
With a base size of 90 x 32 inches, and standing 3 feet high, the Lynx model is an extremely popular one-person tent that is available in different colors and weighs a measly 4 lbs, making it a convenient option for even the tallest of backpacking campers.
A free-standing model that assembles in minutes, it uses a dual aluminum pole design to provide a sturdy frame that the tent clips to, and the rain fly attaches with buckles at the staking guy points. Speaking of stakes, this tent includes them (as well as guy ropes) so you will never have a problem staying sheltered in windy conditions.
The rainfly is not only waterproofed and designed to block UV light but will also provide additional vestibule space for your gear. Both the fly and bathtub floor use a 2000mm water-resistant coating on the 75D 185T polyester taffeta, and factory-sealed seams ensure there will be no water leakage during rainstorms.
Heavy-duty zippers are included on the entry door allowing for uninterrupted operation, mesh walls move air efficiently, and the interior includes storage pockets and a gear loft so you have your essentials only an arm’s reach away.
Key Features
- Taped Bathtub Floor
- Fully Waterproof with 2000mm Coating
- Easy to Assemble and Lightweight ( Ideal for Backpacking)
9. Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Ultralight Tent
The Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo is one of our favorite ultralight one-person tents.
The Lunar Solo weighs in at just over 1.5 lbs, making it ideal for backpackers that need to set up a no-fuss shelter quickly. Designed to be pitched with adjustable trekking poles, or Six Moon’s fixed-length aluminum or carbon fiber poles.
The tent has a 6-inch bathtub floor with 6 inches of mesh above it, working with the floating canopy to maximize ventilation with both low and high vents. At 4 feet of peak height, you get plenty of headroom, and a 26-square-foot sleeping area is comfortable enough for both you and your gear.
The canopy is crafted from 20D polyester, the floating floor with a more durable 40D poly, and both are coated with a silicone waterproofing agent so you won’t get wet. The low hexagon shape helps in cutting down the wind, with tension adjustment giving you a taut shelter. Of note: the seams are not taped (an easy DIY project), and it does not include stakes or guy lines.
Key Features
- Ultra Lightweight 1.5 lbs
- Waterproof with Good Ventilation
- Spacious 26 Square Ft with an Additional 8.5 Square Ft of Vestibule
8. Mil-tec One Man Olive Green Recon Tent
Mil-tec One Man Olive Green Recon Tent
Solo campers will get a lot of use out of this expertly built one-person recon tent from Mil-tec, as it can withstand a lot of different temperatures and weather patterns. Unpacking from its 22 x 7-inch case, it weighs 5.9 lbs, and uses double-layer polyester fabric to provide excellent protection against the elements.
Both the outer and inner layers use 190T polyester, with 1200mm and 800mm of waterproof coating, respectively, and the groundsheet has a more durable 210D oxford polyester with 1500mm waterproofing.
3 shock-corded fiberglass poles cut assembly time down to a mere 2 minutes, and aluminum pegs and detachable guy ropes are provided for security.
With 31.5 inches of peak height, the interior space measures 95 x 53 (including the vestibule) which should be adequate for most campers and their gear. A bathtub floor will help keep moisture and dirt out of the tent, and the roll up door can be adjusted with the zipper when you need to vent the shelter.
Key Features
- Double Layer Waterproofed One Person Tent
- Lightweight at 5.9 lbs.
- Durable Build with Heavy Duty Floor
7. Eureka! Solitaire Bivy Style Tent
Three-Season Backpacking Bivy Style Tent
Designed with 3 season camping in mind, the Solitaire hoop-style bivy backpacking tent from Eureka! is an excellent option for solo adventurers. Ultra lightweight at 2 lbs. 9 oz, the tent assembles in a few minutes and provides a 28-inch high, 21-square-foot shelter with vestibule space for gear and boot storage.
The walls and roof use 50D no see um mesh, keeping bugs out of the tent while simultaneously providing excellent ventilation. Top-loaded with a zipper entry, the tent also comes with stakes and guy lines for securing it to the ground.
Rest assured, you can sleep soundly during inclement weather, as the full coverage rain fly and bathtub floor both use 75D polyester with a 1200mm water-resistant coating to keep you and all of your gear dry. Inside the tent, there are a few storage pockets, and a flashlight loop and the entire shelter will pack down to a 17.5 x 5-inch carry bag once you are finished with it.
Key Features
- Bivy Style Backpacking Tent with Vestibule
- 1200mm Waterproof Coating on Rainfly and Floor
- Mesh Walls and Ceiling Provide Excellent Ventilation
6. Teton Sports Mountain Ultra Tent
Lightweight, waterproof, and made for all types of weather with 360-degree ventilation
The Mountain Ultra is not only a budget 1 person tent, but it is also of excellent quality, providing an outdoor shelter that is tough to beat from a “bang for your buck” standpoint. Plenty of room for solo campers at 82 x 32 inches, with an additional 3+ feet of headroom, the full micromesh design allows unobstructed views of your surroundings while keeping out the mosquitos and creepy crawlies.
Rivaling a submarine with its waterproofing features, the bathtub floor is composed of durable oxford polyester, with the rain fly composed of 66D ripstop nylon and coated in a 3000mm water-resistant agent. The fly will also produce vestibule space for your gear and includes a top vent that reduces condensation while maximizing airflow.
Teton provides a footprint, and the tent is pitched easily using the shock-corded continuous poles as attachment points for the canopy to clip onto. The rainfly buckles down and all that’s left is to guy out the shelter with the provided stakes, which can withstand winds in the 50 mph range. At 4.5 lbs. and sporting taped seams, an interior gear loft, a 17 x 6-inch carrying case, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty, you would be hard-pressed to find a more attractive single-person option.
Key Features
- Top “Bang for Your Buck” Option
- 3000mm Waterproofing Throughout
- High-Quality Yet Lightweight Construction
5. Nemo Hornet Ultralight Backpacking Tent
Great ultralight tent. Surprisingly stable, big enough for 2 people plus some smaller gear or (more comfortably) one person with all their gear
If you are looking for a high-quality 1 person tent for backpacking, this option from Nemo might just do the trick. For 3-season use, the Hornet is an ultralight tent at 2 lbs., providing solo campers 22 square feet of sleeping space, a bathtub floor, and a separate vestibule to keep your gear dry.
The canopy is composed of 10D ripstop nylon no see um mesh (which reduces condensation and keeps the bugs out), and white wall mesh provides privacy, while black mesh on the roof and down the middle help during stargazing hours.
Structurally sturdy using DAC Featherlite poles which connect at a single hub point, you can increase the headroom inside the tent once you attach the ripstop nylon fly, which can pull the sidewalls out while providing excellent 1200mm waterproofing.
Packed down to a 19.5 x 4.5 stuff sack, it comes with a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, making this one attractive option.
Key Features
- Premium High Quality with 22 Square Feet of Space
- No See Um Mesh Design with Excellent Waterproofing on Fly and Bathtub Floor
- Lifetime Warranty Against Workmanship
4. Winterial Single Person Personal Bivy Tent
This Winterial Single Person Tent review is about a reliable and incredibly affordable lightweight 3-season bivy tent for hiking, backpacking, and hunting.
Winterial’s 1 person bivy tent is the perfect 3-season companion for hikers and backpackers under 6 feet tall, and its low cost and lightweight 3.3 lbs. packed weight lets you carry it anywhere with ease.
A full mesh design keeps the bugs away while you sleep or enjoy the views, and the tent comes with a storage pocket, 14 premium stakes, and 3 rope bundles for the aluminum poles and guy lines. A rainfly that attaches over the hoop frame for protection when the weather goes south is also there.
There is a good amount of width in this bathtub floor-designed tent to store your gear next to you, and a side door with large, easy-operation zippers makes getting in and out simple. The shelter packs down to a slim 18 x 4-inch carrying sack, is available in green or orange models, and is one of the top choices for budget campers in the bivy style market.
Key Features
- Lightweight Bivy Tent at 3.3 lbs for Backpackers
- Mesh Designed Canopy Provides Excellent Ventilation
- Available in Green or Orange
3. Nemo Hornet Elite Ultralight Backpacking Tent
The NEMO Hornet Elite 2 is an ultralight, semi-freestanding, three-season backpacking tent with a single-pole construction, two doors, and two vestibules
The Hornet Elite is the step-up model from Nemo’s Hornet backpacking tent, with a color change (Elite is yellow, Hornet is green), an inch more peak height at 32, and lighter fabric making it a ridiculously lightweight 1.7lb shelter.
The ripstop nylon fly is thinner and upgraded to 7D polyester, with the bathtub floor also using a lighter 10D poly than its predecessor’s 15D, and the entire tent is covered in no seesee-umsh.
At 87 x 40 inches, the tent is 3 feet tall with 7 feet of length so you can stretch out comfortably, and once you have the rainfly attached over the DAC Featherlite poles and hub, you can pull out the sides, expanding the interior to help with gear storage.
With the fly-off, white mesh walls give you privacy, and a black mesh moon roof is perfect for laying back and enjoying the night sky without being attacked by mosquitos.
While sparsely decorated inside, this tent is made for sleep, but Nemo does provide an overhead pocket for small item storage or to house light for nighttime illumination.
Key Features
- Ultra Lightweight Weighing Under 2 Lbs.
- Full Mesh Design Gives You Excellent Ventilation
- 1200mm Water-Resistant Fly Works with Bathtub Floor to Keep You Dry
2. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Backpacking Tent
The Copper Spur Tent Series remains a constant orange beacon of dependable shelter on the trail and at campsites around the world.
The Copper Spur HV is an ultralight backpacking tent at 2.5lbs and comes in a grey/orange model, or olive green. Unpacking from a 16.5 x 4-inch storage bag, two-thirds of the tent is outfitted in mesh to ensure you have zero problems with ventilation while keeping the nasties out.
Big Agnes uses a strong 4-way hub design with DAC Featherlite poles and lightweight plastic clips for easy assembly, and a large dual zipper door provides smooth and easy entry and exit. Inside the tent, you have a good amount of room with 20 square feet of sleep space and 38 inches of height for 1 person.
When you attach the fly you get an additional 9 square feet of vestibule space for storage. Constructed out of ripstop nylon, the fly and bathtub floor use 1200mm waterproofing to keep outside elements from entering the tent.
All seams get treated with solvent-free, polyurethane tape for an environmentally conscious, anti-moisture feature. Ceiling pockets help organize the interior, a top vent on the rainfly is designed to maximize circulation, and a fast fly minimalist setup of this tent can be achieved by using only the fly and a separately purchased footprint.
Key Features
- Ultralightweight and Spacious
- Fully Waterproof with Bathtub Floor and Taped Seams
- Can Be Used in Fast Fly Minimalist Configuration
1. MSR Hubba NX 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
The MSR Hubba NX 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent is the quintessential 3-season backpacking tent.
The Hubba NX-1 is a premium backpack that will keep you warm and dry in spring, summer, or fall. 18 square feet of interior space and 3 feet of peak height will be just enough room for most solo campers. The 9 square feet of vestibule space gives you room to store your pack and boots.
Extremely lightweight at just under 2.9lbs, it packs down to 18 x 6 inches for easy transport, and uses a minimalist design with unified Easton Syclone poles and color-coded clips for a quick pitch. It also includes the MSR needle stakes you may have seen in previous models.
A separately purchased footprint will also give your tent slightly more longevity. The grey rain fly will reduce heat from the sun’s rays and uses MSR’s Xtreme Shield Waterproof coating to extend the water-resistance life, while the bathtub floor keeps moisture away during sleep hours. A double zippered door that rolls up makes entry easy, and a storage pocket with connection points for a gear loft outfit in the interior.
Key Features
- Ultra Lightweight 2.9 Lbs
- Xtreme Shield Waterproofing Keeps Water Out
- 3-Year Warranty
How to Choose a 1 Person Tent
Size
They aren’t so big, as they are designed to house a single person. However, certain models will provide a bit more height and/or width, which can make all the difference when you need to adjust positions or change clothes. Vestibules can produce covered storage space outside the tent, which comes in handy for storing your gear and boots so you don’t track dirt inside the sleeping area. It is also important to pay attention to the length of the shelter, as various models cannot accommodate those over 6 feet tall.
Materials
You want to make sure that your tent is constructed out of high-quality materials. This means thin fabric that is both punctures resistant and water-resistant, with lightweight but durable fiberglass or aluminum poles for the frame.
Lightweight models that compact down into small carrying bags are excellent options for backpackers and hikers, as they have to travel with a tent on their back for long distances. Most tents will supply guy rope and stakes, but many campers choose to purchase stakes separately, as the provided ones tend to be lackluster in quality.
Features
While single-person tents are small, there are imperative features that should be included to make your outdoor time more enjoyable.
As you will want to use your tent in at least 3 seasons, you will need one that provides a waterproof rain fly. A minimum of 1200mm water-resistant coating on the fabric is a good level for remote camping. Bathtub floors keep any groundwater from seeping in, and taped seams to prevent leakage. The rain fly should also provide a vestibule, as one-person tents can be a touch on the “cozy” side, so any extra space that can be used to store gear is welcome.
Functionally, tents with a lot of mesh will be your best friend, providing good ventilation so you don’t suffocate while sleeping, and if you can find a tent with interior pockets you will be able to keep essentials like your devices and night light in a safe spot.
1 Person Tent vs Bivy Tents
In your quest for the perfect one-person tent, you will come across bivy tents as an option.
Let’s talk a bit about how they are different:
- A bivy tent is a small, lightweight outdoor shelter that resembles a bivouac sack.
- Bivouac sacks are insulated, waterproof bags that you sleep inside while camping or mountaineering.
- The bivy tent takes the form and functionality of the bivouac sack and blends in traditional tent features such as frame support and a rain fly.
- Bivy tents differ from traditional one-person tents in that they are designed for only laying down in, or at most, being able to slightly prop yourself up.
- Traditional tents will give you a bit more headroom for sitting up and changing clothes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lightest One-Person Tent?
One of the lightest one-person tents currently available is the Nemo Hornet Elite. It uses extremely lightweight nylon polyester fabric, with the entire tent weighing 1lb. 7oz.
How Much Does a 1-Person Tent Weigh?
This is dependent on the type of material the tent is constructed from, not only the fabric, but the fiberglass or aluminum poles (some will even use steel), and the stakes and carrying case. A common weight is around 3 lbs, given as an average after overseeing 50-80 models.
How Much Does a 1-Person Tent Cost?
Budget one-person tents start around $80, with premium models hovering around the $500 mark. You can pick up a very good quality one-person tent for around $150 – $250.
How to Set Up a 1-Person Tent?
One-person tents are set up quite easily, using a series of small poles that lock together to provide the frame, with the tent fabric clipping to the poles, and a rainfly attaching over the entire structure before you stake down and guy out the tent.
Are they Waterproof?
Yes, most (if not all) one-person tents will provide excellent waterproofing features, such as a minimum of 1200mm water-resistant coating on the fabric, a bathtub floor, and taped seams. Especially the ones mentioned in our list today, we have handpicked all models that can resist above-average rainfall.
Conclusion
With so many good options available, it’s clear to see that going out on the trail alone should not be feared, but to be embraced. With such quality shelters, you can get deep into what nature has to offer with full protection and warmth.
