The Best 1 Person Tents for Backpacking

In this test we looked at single person, three season backpacking tents. Both Freestanding and non-freestanding tents were considered. Bivy sacks or tarp shelters were not considered. This is a diverse group, with some tents targeting the ultralight crowd with lighter-than-ever designs, while others are more accessible tents, that can be used all the time, whether it’s car camping or a glamping backpacking trip. 

For more reviews beyond this test, check out our other tent testsbackpacking stove tests, and overnight backpack tests, along with other related hiking and camping gear tests.

Review Results of 1 Person Tents for Backpacking

by:

We selected these tents because they represented a broad range of the many applications of the solo tent, and all performed well. This variety of application means that the category is diverse, but they share many common design features and inspirations. The tents were judged on five criteria: shoulder room, packability, setup, weatherproofness, and features.

One trend in the broader tent market that this test highlighted is the growing specialization of ultralight solo tents, which follows an overall surge of interest in ultralight backpacking. Five of the tents reviewed had a trail weight below two pounds. This trend comes with a price tag, though—the average price of those five tents is $400, which is considerably more than the average of the over two pound tents, which was $219. Ultralight tent manufacturers are using ever-smaller zippers, ever-thinner fabrics, and ever-more innovative designs to shave off ounces. 

The ZPacks Altaplex finished in the top spot in this test set with a score of 94, thanks to its chart-topping performance in nearly every category. The most important feature of the solo backpacking tent—its weight—is this tent’s best characteristic. The chief limitation is the high price tag.

The Best Value distinction goes the the Eureka Spitfire SoloThe Spitfire performed reliably with a score of 86. This tent is easy to set up, but it has a large structural flaw—it has the inconvenience of a non-freestanding tent, without the weight savings of non-freestanding. 

These tents were judged with two weights—the minimum and the maximum. The minimum, or trail weight, is the weight of all the necessary components to get the tent over your head. The maximum, or package weight, includes all tent components. Minimum weights were as low as 8.8 ounces (ZPacks Altaplex, with no pole) and maximum weights were as big as 3 lbs 14 oz. Floor space ranged from 16 square feet (Mountain Hardwear Ghost UL1) to 22.5 square feet (ZPacks Altaplex).

The tents in this test were used throughout the spring of 2017, mostly on a multi-week mountaineering trip that began at Mount Shasta and ended on Mount Olympus and hit Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier in between. Testing also took place in the central Sierra Nevada. The length and intensity of the trip allowed a close look at the performance of each tent, with a strong appreciation of the consequences of that performance. 

For more reviews beyond this 2017 test, check out our other tent testsbackpacking stove tests, and overnight backpack tests, along with other related hiking and camping gear tests.

Review Year
Best in Class
Overall Rating
Price
Name Overall Rating Ratings The Good The Bad Price
ZPacks Altaplex
94
Best in Class
2017
Shoulder Room 10
Packability 10
Setup 9
Weatherproofness 8
Features 7

Lightest tent in test set

Easy setup, quickest in test set

Most floor space and highest peak

Good vestibule area

Non-freestanding

Most expensive tent in the test set

Small bundle can only fit inside backpack

MSRP
$585.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
MSR Carbon Reflex 1
89
Shoulder Room 8
Packability 9
Setup 7
Weatherproofness 8
Features 7

Second lightest in test set

Good vestibule area

Packs the smallest of the test set

Expensive

Low internal peak

Low floor space

MSRP
$400.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1
87
Shoulder Room 7
Packability 8
Setup 9
Weatherproofness 7
Features 6

Under two pounds

Good floor space

Packs small

Smallest vestibule area

Tight front door

MSRP
$350.00
BEST DEAL
Mountain Hardwear Ghost UL 1 Tent
87
Shoulder Room 6
Packability 9
Setup 8
Weatherproofness 8
Features 6

Less than two pounds

Easy to set up quickly

Packs small

Least floor space

Tied for lowest internal peak height

Fly and vestibule must be staked down

MSRP
$349.00
BEST DEAL
Eureka Spitfire Solo
86
Shoulder Room 7
Packability 7
Setup 8
Weatherproofness 8
Features 6

Second lowest cost in test set

Packs small for weight

Easy to set up

Non-freestanding

Limited access to second vestibule

Second heaviest in set

MSRP
$140.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
The North Face Triarch 1
85
Shoulder Room 7
Packability 8
Setup 6
Weatherproofness 8
Features 6

Lots of head space thanks to steep, high walls

Long for tall hikers

Under two pounds

Second lowest in set on floor area

High profile catches wind

MSRP
$300.00
BEST DEAL
ZPacks Altaplex

The ZPacks Altaplex finished in the top spot in this test set, thanks to its chart-topping performance in nearly every category. The most important feature of the solo backpacking tent—its weight—is this tent’s best characteristic. The chief limitation is the high price tag. 

Read the Full Review Shop Now at

See All 1 Person Tents for Backpacking Reviews