The best single person tent is something that most hikers look forward to owning, especially if the materials and specifications are at par with what they want in a single-person tent. However, not all tents are made the same, especially since new designs are released almost every year, with the promise of better features and better access.
Things to Consider
A common misconception when deciding which tent to buy is that all tents are the same, and they will work the way you want them to no matter want. This is absolutely wrong. Each tent model has its character and materials, which may or may not be beneficial depending on the current need, further muddling up any ideas in mind. However, when it comes to choosing a tent, there are several other things you can look at so that you can arrive at a decision.
- Materials
Ideally, a tent should be made of waterproof material, especially the floor as this would be your main source of protection against rain run-off and other moisture coming from the ground. The roof and walls don’t have to be waterproof, but they can be water-resistant, and the flysheets help in this matter as it is the one you drape over the tent for better protection against the elements.
- Stitches and Seams
Inspect how the fabric is stitched together and how tight each knot is. Ideally, a tent should be at least double-stitched with the seams doubled up and layered with a water sealant tape to prevent water from coming it. This also works the same for the flysheet and peg holes, as well as the zippers around door and ventilation.
- Ventilation
Most tents would have a zip-down door located inside the tent, as well as on the flysheet for double protection. Some tents would also have one or two windows to let the air pass through and still; there are those that have roof ventilation that is almost always covered by the flysheet, so you don’t have to worry about getting soaked by rain.
- Zippers
The zippers are your main protection against intruders, animals and humans alike. The zippers should be durable and made by a known company that specializes in zippers. Tent zippers should be able to glide through any knot from within the tent and without.
- Accessories
Tent pegs and tent poles are the most common accessories of a tent with the poles playing a more important role as the support system of your tent. Tent poles should be made with flexible fiberglass and shock-corded with a rubber-based string in its core. Tent pegs, on the other hand, should be durable enough to withstand any worse and be malleable enough to be yanked from where it has been planted the day prior.
Pitching Three Single-Person Tents
Choosing which tent you would like is simple and easy, especially if you know what you are looking for. Follow the expert advice and do not be afraid to try them out to get a better feel of how they work. Here are three of the best single person tents on the market.
Features
- Three-Season Tent
The Winterial Single-Person Tent is made to withstand three different seasons with its ventilated roof mesh and full coverage rainfly that protects you from either warm, cold and humid weather.
- Easy Assembly
This bivy tent is easy to assemble using the two-hoop system, the three bundles of rope and the 14 heavy-duty stakes that firmly secure it in place.
- Lightweight
Weighing in at 2 pounds and 9 ounces, this single-person tent is sized just right at 38 x 28 x 90 inches once fully unpacked and opened.
- Easy Access
This tent has a large zippered door that opens from both the inside and out for ease of access and better ventilation.
- Waterproof
The seams and stitches of this single-person tent used waterproofing tape, and the rainfly is reinforced to maintain its protection over the tent, no matter how hard the rain falls.
Pros
- Easy and convenient to use
- Well-constructed
- Packs tightly and lightly
- Quick to set-up and disassemble
- Small footprint
- Holds up very well
Cons
- Tent bottom can easily be ripped
- Rainfly can leak after a huge downpour
- Can be cramped inside
- Gets humid inside
- Not made for sitting up inside
- Tent door is a little small
Features
- Small and Compact
The Snugpak one-person tent measures 94.5 x 35.4 x 102.4 inches and can be packed into a smaller size which is not a bother when it comes to packing.
- Lightweight
This bivy tent weighs in at 2 pounds and 9 ounces. This single-person tent is also easy to carry around and assemble.
- Weatherproof Material
The materials used to construct this tent has varying degrees of being weatherproof. The flysheet is made of 210t polyester ripstop up that comes with a 5000mm waterproof polyurethane coating.
- Anodized Poles
The tent poles are made of DAC Feather lite NSL anodized poles with press fit connectors which are much easier to set up than corded poles.
- Tough Interior
The interior of this single-person tent is made of 190t nylon with 50D polyester no-see-um mesh.
Pros
- Stays dry inside
- Convenient to use
- Quick assembly time
- Plenty of room inside
- Aerodynamically designed
- Heavy-duty for its weight
- Materials are tough and durable
- Zippers work fine without a hitch
- Walls remain moisture-free
- Takes up little space
- Easy to disassemble
Cons
- No room to sit up inside
- No tent foyer under the flysheet
- Pegs get bent easily
Features
- Polyester Tent Fly
The flysheet of this one-person tent is made of tough polyester which can resist moisture and UV damage.
- Extra Vestibule
The flysheet is larger than the floor area of the tent, allowing you to create a small vestibule up front to cook in during bad weather.
- Extra Ventilation
This one-person tent has two mesh doors, and the walls are completely made with mesh for extra ventilation.
- Gear Loft
Once assembled, a gear loft becomes available for you to store smaller items like extra stakes and flashlights.
- Lightweight
The ALPS Mountaineering tent weighs in at 3 pounds and 10 ounces, measuring 7.2 x 3.8 x 36 inches once fully set up.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Breathable mesh
- Small in size but roomy for a single person
- Convenient to assemble and strike down
- Easy to use
- Plenty of space for gears and shoes
- Flysheet covers everything completely
- Stays dry with the fly on
- Rainfly can be removed during warm weather
- Works well
- Good interior height
Cons
- The interior of the tent is not waterproof.
- The zippers can get caught in the mesh.
Best Single Person Tent: Our Pick
With the criteria laid out beforehand, it is fairly easy to conclude the ALPS Mountaineering Single-Person Tent is the best choice as the best one-person tent in this list of bivy tents. Not only is it lightweight and sized just right to provide plenty of headroom, but the additional space from the vestibule also comes in handy during bad weather. The mesh walls allow it to be used during the summer, sans the flysheet and the gear loft and mesh pockets allow for additional storage options.
Final Words
Single-person tents are your main source of protection especially when you’re in the middle of the wilderness where things become unpredictable. It is therefore good to have something reliable on hand to protect you from the harsh forces of nature while not hindering your progress as you lug around your chosen path.
Our website author Tom is a devoted outdoor enthusiast and active blogger who has a profound love for the great outdoors, especially camping and kayaking.
This passion for the outdoors combined with studying an MSc. in Product Design, and working as a Product Engineer gives him the perfect combination of experience and expertise to help guide you on the best camping and kayaking gear.
Tom aims to inspire other travellers to appreciate nature’s beauty by sharing their experiences, wisdom, and intriguing stories in engrossing blog articles. He believes in working to promote respect for and preservation of our priceless landscapes out of a dedication to environmental stewardship.
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