Best Lightweight and Compact Tents for Solo Travelers

Among single-person tents on the market, the model from Grand Canyon is relatively inexpensive, making it an interesting solution for budget-conscious buyers. Within the Richmond 1 brand line, it is also the lightest, though 1.7 kg for solo solutions is far from ideal. However, for hikers, there is another important bonus — compactness in the case — 28x13x13 cm: in a backpack it will take up less than 5 liters, which is really little.

The tent offers a sleeping space with maximum ground dimensions of 250x90 cm. The width allowance in the shoulder area is 90 cm, which narrows to 60 cm at the feet, which should not cause a feeling of tightness. There is also a vestibule about 45 cm long. For a single-person solution, this space is sufficient for a backpack, wet outerwear, and shoes.

The model's drawbacks include the lack of internal pockets. However, the usual mosquito net and ventilation holes are complemented by reflective guy-lines, visible in the dark.

The tent's frame is formed by two fiberglass arcs with a diameter of 8 mm, placed parallel to each other. In addition to the mentioned guy-lines, the increased wind resistance is guaranteed by the small overall height (75 cm), though the ceiling in the sleeping area at 70 cm is a minus: sitting inside is unlikely.

The outer tent is made of polyester, and the floor is made of polyethylene. Both textile materials have sealed seams and a polyurethane coating. The latter provides waterproofing of 3000 and 4000 mm of water column, respectively, which should be sufficient in moderate rainfall.

Grand Canyon Richmond 1 is a good one-person tent representing the entry-level price segment.

The three-season 1-person tent from the brand Jack Wolfskin, although it represents the middle price segment, boasts a rich set of equipment and high-quality materials. Thus, internal pockets, ventilation, and a mosquito net are complemented by a lantern loop and reflective elements, which make the model highly visible in the dark.

The Jack Wolfskin Gossamer is made of synthetic fabrics — a mesh inner tent with breathable properties and recycled polyester. The latter is used for both the outer layer and the floor. It is also worth highlighting that the model is not intimidated by rainy weather. The tent's waterproofing is 4000 mm, and the floor boasts a benchmark 10000 mm of water column.

The framework role is assigned to a pair of aluminum poles (made from DAC alloy). They provide increased strength, though the overall weight of the item is not the smallest (1.75 kg). The tent's sleeping area measures 225x90 cm, satisfying most tourists as it allows for the trouble-free fitting of almost any blanket-sleeping bag inside. Moreover, finding a camping spot in nature won't take much time as the model requires a fairly small area — about 2.5 square meters.

The drawbacks include a rather low ceiling (75 cm) and a small vestibule, although a medium-sized backpack can still fit in the latter. In general, the Jack Wolfskin Gossamer is a well-equipped, strong-framed one-person tent with a reasonable price.

Thanks to the aluminum frame and lightweight polyester fabrics, the one-person tent from Ferrino is ideal for tourists who count every gram of their gear. Without stakes and a case, it weighs 850 g (and a total - 1.1 kg), making it one of the lightest solutions on the market.

In the complete Ferrino Sintesi 1 carry case, it is fairly compact — 30x14x14 cm, meaning it will take up less than 6 liters of volume in a backpack. Moreover, it requires little setup space — just over 2 square meters, simplifying the search for a spot to camp overnight.

The tunnel shape (also called a semi-barrel) is given by a sturdy arc and a set of guys with stakes for added stability. The tourist will have a sleeping area 235 cm long and about 100 cm wide in the shoulder area, narrowing at the feet and head. There is no full-fledged vestibule, which should be counted as a minus. Yet, all other practical bonuses are provided — ventilation valve, mosquito net, inner pocket, and lantern loop.

The floor exhibits excellent waterproofing at 8000 mm of water column, virtually eliminating leak probability. The tent has a moisture protection of 3000 mm, which together with reinforced corners and seam sealing will protect against moderate precipitation.

The model's drawback is its single-layer design, which during significant temperature changes does not exclude abundant condensation forming on the inner walls. Accordingly, the best choice for Ferrino Sintesi 1 would be hiking and cycling trips in summer and relatively warm off-seasons.

The solo tent from MSR is a high-class solution. This status is confirmed by such features as reflective elements, as well as a reliable frame with HUB construction and aluminum arcs. This tandem speeds up the assembly process, improves wind resistance and overall strength, and positively affects the weight (not exceeding 1.3 kg).

MSR Hubba NX's dimensions in the complete carry case are average (by single-person standards) — 46x15x15 cm or just over 10 liters. Nevertheless, the model can be recommended for various outdoor outings with a backpack.

The sleeping room of this one-person tent has dimensions on the floor of 216x76 cm, which will certainly suit users of medium build and almost any height. In the rest area, there are pockets for valuables, and the upper part of the inner tent is made mesh, improving ventilation and in scenarios without the outer layer offering star-gazing opportunities while camping. The bedroom has one D-shaped entrance with a mosquito net and quite a large vestibule 76 cm long.

Both the outer tent and the floor are made of nylon with good seam sealing and practical Ripstop weaving. The floor's waterproofing is 3000 mm of water column, usually enough. However, the tent is poorly prepared for precipitation (up to 1200 mm), so MSR Hubba NX is a solid choice primarily for dry weather.

The key advantage of the 1-person model from Terra Nova is lightness. The 550 grams weight is perhaps the best on the market, particularly considering the 2-layer construction which enhances ventilation and prevents the "fogging" problem during temperature fluctuations.

The Terra Nova Laser Pulse 1 features a dense main arc (8.7 mm diameter) and an additional pole. They are made of aluminum, which increases stiffness and wind resistance without compromising lightness. The same properties are found in the 8 titanium stakes (stated to weigh 1 gram each).

The tent provides a fairly comfortable sleeping place with a length of 215 cm and a width of 82 cm at the shoulders and 60 cm at the head and feet. The entrance is supplemented by a mosquito net and a mini vestibule (20 cm). Practicality is enhanced by ventilation holes, an inner pocket for small items, and reflective elements on durable Dyneema guy-lines.

Assembly should not cause trouble and allows various step-by-step scenarios: from fixing the outer tent and hanging the bedroom to setting up the inner tent both with and without its "top." A large lawn for a night stay is also not needed: the tunnel construction occupies less than 2.5 square meters of space. Plus, in the complete case, the model "disappears" into your backpack — dimensions 30x10x10 cm or 3 liters of volume.

The lightweight construction entails weak waterproofing of the nylon tent and floor (1500 and 2000 mm respectively). Also, keep in mind the high price compared to analogs. But if you need an ultra-lightweight two-layer tent for mountain climbing or medium to short treks, the Terra Nova Laser Pulse 1 is a truly cool option.