Updated 08/15/2026

If you are looking for a new backpacking tent for one person, these are the tents that I’ve used and recommend – including options for freestanding, easiest setup, budget, ultralight, and most spacious tents.

The ideal backpacking tent should have the combination of features, weight, comfort, and durability for the type of trips you plan to do. Learn more about what to look for when making a purchase: How to Choose a Backpacking Tent.

Durston X-Dome 1+ Tent

My current go-to for backpacking, the X-Dome 1+ is a freestanding, double-wall tent with exceptional space for a one-person setup. Features not found on most tents include the option to clip the inner tent to the rainfly for easier setup, helping keep the inner dry during rainy setups, and the use of polyester fabric, which resists sagging and won’t retain water weight like nylon does. The 50-inch width at the head end provides ample room for gear, complemented by two interior pockets for organization. I keep my backpack at the foot of my sleeping pad and still have space for a regular-length pad. The oversized vestibule easily fits my backpacking chair, which doubles as overnight storage for my water filtration gear. Due to its popularity, this tent often sells out, so it’s worth checking delivery dates before ordering.

• weight: 2 lbs 6 oz (includes tent body, rain fly, poles, 6 stakes, stuff sacks)
• floor dimensions: 50″ wide at the head end, tapering to 29″ at the foot end by 85-90″ long (straight edge vs diagonal)
• floor area: 23.5 square feet
• materials: rainfly 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE polyester; floor 15D Sil/PE polyester
• price: $379

See my full review of the Durston X-Dome 1+

Tarptent Aeon Li

The Aeon Li is a one person, ultralight, single-wall tent made with Dyneema fabric. It can be set up using a trekking pole, or with an optional support pole available from Tarptent. After using several other types of tents, this is my top pick for backpacking trips when I need my pack weight to be as low as possible. I love how light it is, and the setup is easy once you learn how to do it. For a one person tent, it’s fairly spacious and has plenty of room inside for storing all of my gear, including my backpack. Vents on both ends of the tent and another at the top help to prevent condensation, and the vestibule doors open wide for big views. It also doesn’t require the long guylines that many similar trekking pole tents need for pitching, and it fits into smaller spaces than most tents.

• weight: 1 lb 7 oz (includes optional support pole, 6 stakes, and stuff sacks)
• interior space: 30″ wide by 88″ long
• floor area: 18.3 square feet
• price: $649

See my full review of the Aeon Li

Gossamer Gear The One

For ultralight backpacking, this single-wall, trekking pole-supported tent offers excellent value without stepping up to the high cost of a Dyneema fabric tent. Made from thin 10D nylon, it packs down tiny yet feels spacious thanks to the two-pole design, which creates generous headroom. Since I often basecamp and use my trekking poles for hiking, I carry Gossamer Gear’s optional pole set, which adds 5 ounces to the packed weight. The large vestibule has doors that open fully for views. Downsides include condensation buildup (common in all tents but more noticeable in single-wall designs) and the nylon’s tendency to sag and hold water weight when wet. Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat this tent’s weight and livability.

• weight: 1 lb 6 oz (includes tent body, 8 stakes, and stuff sacks)
• optional poles: 5 oz
• floor dimensions: 33″ wide at the head end, 21″ wide at the foot end by 84″ long
• floor area: 15.75 square feet
• price: $255

See my full review of the The One

View at Gossamer Gear    View at Garage Grown Gear

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1

This one person tent is an update on MSR’s classic tent line-up, which continues to feature a double-wall, fully freestanding design with a simple, intuitive setup. I prefer to use a smaller tent like this one when campsite space is limited since it doesn’t take up much room. The freestanding design doesn’t require stakes to stand upright, so it can be easily moved and set up on a variety of surfaces, whether it’s rocky ground or hard-packed earth. This makes it ideal for campsites where finding the perfect spot for staking can be challenging. Plus, the freestanding design provides extra stability and durability in windy conditions. One person tents can feel cramped, but the vertical walls and generous storage options on the new Hubba Hubba LT never left me wanting for more space.

• weight: 2 lbs 11 oz (includes tent body, rainfly, poles, stakes, guylines and stuff sacks)
• floor dimensions: 32″ wide by 88″ long (fully rectangular)
• floor area: 20 square feet
• price: $469.95

See my full review of the Hubba Hubba LT 1

View at MSR    View at REI

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2

I bought the Tiger Wall to have more room on backpacking trips where I plan to spend extra time at camp. While it’s technically a two-person tent, it’s much more comfortable for one person, offering plenty of space to stretch out and store gear inside. The tent is semi-freestanding, so the corners at the foot need to be staked out, but the hubbed pole design creates a roomy interior with near-vertical walls. One of my favorite features is the interior storage, especially the oversized 3D mezzanine pocket—it holds a surprising amount of gear. I use it for all my clothes and jackets, which keeps the floor clear and makes it easier to grab what I need. And I like that the double-wall design means condensation isn’t an issue since the mesh inner prevents brushing up against the rainfly.

• weight: 2 lbs 8 oz (includes tent body, rain fly, poles, 6 stakes, and stuff sacks)
• floor dimensions: 52″ wide at the head end, tapering to 42″ at the foot end by 86″ long
• floor area: 28 square feet
• price: this version is discontinued; the new version is $479.95

Tarptent Moment DW

A double-wall tent made from durable 30 denier silnylon, the Moment has two doors and vestibules and only requires one pole and two stakes, making setup a breeze. Bonus: the inner is clipped to the rainfly so it stays dry during set up.

• weight: 2 lbs 2 oz (includes tent body, rain fly, arch pole, 2 stakes, and stuff sacks)
• floor dimensions: 24″ at the head and foot ends, tapering to 42″ in the middle by 84″ long
• floor area: 19.25 square feet
• price: $339-$369

See my full review of the Moment DW

REI Flash Air 1

A good option for those looking for a lightweight one-person tent that doesn’t break the bank – when it’s on sale. A single-wall, non-freestanding tent, the mesh and outer walls are constructed in one layer instead of having a mesh inner tent body and a separate rainfly, and it requires staking all corners of the tent to create the structure. The tapered design of the floor allows me to store my backpack and other gear inside the tent while using a full length sleeping pad. 

• weight: 2 lbs 2 oz (includes support pole, 6 stakes, and stuff sacks)
• floor dimensions: 35″ at the head, tapering to 27″ at the foot end by 88″ long
• floor area: 18.9 square feet
• price: $299 (look for 30-40% off during REI-brand sales)

See my full review of the Flash Air 1

Additional recommendations

Although I haven’t personally used these tents, they all come highly recommended by others and have strong reviews.

Full-featured Backpacking Tents for Comfort

These tents from well known outdoor companies are big on comfort and often have features not found in other tents. Since these options are all semi-freestanding and freestanding, they tend to be easier to setup and great for those getting started backpacking. If you are looking for a more spacious tent for one person, consider upgrading to a two person tent.

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1

The Copper Spur has been a popular tent for a long time, and for good reasons. It’s feature rich, including multiple large interior pockets for keeping gear organized, awning setup option, roof vents, and partial fabric walls for privacy and wind protection. Cons: expensive. Two person version: Copper Spur UL2.

• weight: 2 lbs 6 oz (includes stakes and hubbed poleset)
• structure: double-wall, freestanding, 15/20 denier nylon
• interior size: 88″ x 38/28″ x 38″ (length, width, height)
• price: $449.95

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1

The Tiger Wall provides a lot of interior space at a low weight while including extras such as large interior pockets and a door with two-way zippers. Since it’s a semi-freestanding tent, the foot end corners require staking. Cons: there are no roof vents, but the vestibule doors have double zippers to allow for ventilation. Also available: Tiger Wall UL2.

• weight: 2 lbs 2 oz (includes stakes and hubbed poleset)
• structure: double-wall, semi-freestanding, 15/20 denier nylon
• interior size: 86″ x 38/28″ x 39″ (length, width, height)
• price: $429.95

Sea to Summit Alto TR 1

A wide brow pole creates nearly vertical walls that provide a lot of interior space compared to similar sized tents, and two vents at the top help with ventilation. Innovative features include three separate multi-purpose stuff sacks: one for the tent poles that can be attached across the top of the tent and used as a light bar by placing a headlamp inside it; and two stuff sacks that allow for carrying the tent body and rainfly separately (especially handy when the rainfly is wet), then both snap into corners of the interior to be used as pockets. Two person version: Alto TR 2.

• weight: 2 lbs 7 oz (includes stakes and hubbed poleset)
• structure: double-wall, semi-freestanding, 15 denier nylon
• interior size: 84.5″ x 42/24″ x 42.5″ (length, width, height)
• price: $375

View at REI    View at Sea to Summit

Budget Backpacking Tents

Quality backpacking tents don’t have to be expensive. These options are all lightweight without breaking your budget.

Tarptent Rainbow

The Tarptent Rainbow is a very popular tent due to the amount of interior space provided at a low weight. With a crossing pole and four stakes, setup is easy. The 30 denier fabric is more durable than fabrics found on other backpacking tents, and the vestibule doors can be setup as an awning for protection in the rain. At 40″ wide, there’s enough space for a wide sleeping pad with extra space for gear, or two 20″ wide sleeping pads can fit inside for accommodating two people. Cons: can be condensation prone; the vestibule space is smaller than other options.

• weight: 2 lbs 3 oz (includes 6 stakes and 1 crossing pole)
• structure: single-wall, semi-freestanding, 30 denier silnylon
• interior size: 88″ x 40″ x 43″ (length, width, height)
• price: $329-$369

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo

The award-winning Lunar Solo is incredibly spacious for the weight, with plenty of room for wider sleeping pads and gear storage inside. The polyester material doesn’t sag like nylon when wet, and extra coverage on the outer fly provides protection from inclement weather. Cons: setup takes more effort; sloping walls limit interior space; can be prone to condensation.

• weight: 1 lb 10 oz (no stakes or poles), 1 lb 13 oz (includes 6 stakes), 2 lbs (includes 6 stakes & 1 pole)
• structure: single-wall, semi-freestanding, 20/40 denier polyester
• interior size: 90″ x 48″ x 49″ (length, width, height) note that the width is at widest part of hexagonal shape
• price: $260

Durston X-Mid 1

Durston X-Mid tents are super popular for a good reason. The design of the X-Mid utilizes a rectangular shape for the outer tent, with the inner set at a diagonal. This approach offers several benefits, including a larger interior space, storm-worthiness, and offset poles that don’t get in the way. With two vestibules, this tent can be entered from either side, with plenty of space for gear storage. The regular X-Mid is a double-wall tent made with polyester fabric.

• weight: 1 lb 15 oz (includes 6 stakes), 2 lbs 6 oz (with 2 additional poles so it can be setup without trekking poles)
• structure: double-wall, non-freestanding, polyester fabric
• interior size: 90″ x 32″ x 43″ (length, width, height)
• price: $249 (with stakes)

Ultralight Backpacking Tents

If weight is your primary concern in choosing a shelter, these ultralight tents are all great options. In order to shave weight, most of these are single-wall and non-freestanding.

Durston X-Mid Pro 1

The Durston X-Mid tents are super popular for a good reason. The design of the X-Mid utilizes a rectangular shape for the outer tent, with the inner set at a diagonal. This approach offers several benefits, including a larger interior space, storm-worthiness, and offset poles that don’t get in the way. With two vestibules, this tent can be entered from either side, with plenty of space for gear storage. The Pro version is a single-wall tent made with Dyneema fabric. See Budget Tents below for the double-wall X-Mid made with polyester fabric.

• weight: 1 lb 3 oz (includes 6 stakes), 1 lb 9 oz (with 2 additional poles so it can be setup without trekking poles)
• structure: single-wall, non-freestanding, Dyneema fabric
• interior size: 90″ x 32″ x 45″ (length, width, height)
• price: $559 (with stakes)

Tarptent Moment DW Li

The Tarptent Moment DW Li is a two door, double-wall, one-person tent made with Dyneema fabric. Setup is easy, requiring just one arch pole and two stakes. And since the interior is clipped to the rainfly, the inside stays dry when setting up in the rain. The double-wall construction provides protection from condensation, and the interior is offered in a mesh-only or full fabric option for four season use. Cons: it’s expensive, and the end struts (which are removable) prevent the tent from fitting inside most backpacks.

• weight: 1 lb 10 oz (includes 2 stakes and arch pole)
• structure: double-wall, semi-freestanding, Dyneema fabric
• interior size: 84″ x 42/24″ x 39″ (length, width, height)
• price: $749

Zpacks Plex Solo

One of the lightest tents available, the Plex Solo weighs less than a pound (without stakes). The Plex Solo and the larger Duplex listed below are extremely popular with long distance hikers due to the low weight and simple design. Six stakes are the minimum requirement for setup, but 10 stakes are recommended for additional tie-out points on the ends and back of the tent. Cons: it’s expensive, prone to condensation, and the high vestibule walls can allow wind to enter the tent.

• weight: 14 oz (no stakes or poles), 1 lb 1 oz (including 10 stakes), 1 lb 5 oz (including 10 stakes & pole)
• structure: single-wall, non-freestanding, Dyneema fabric
• interior size: 90″ x 28/38″ x 52″ (length, width, height)
• price: $599

Zpacks Duplex

Extremely lightweight for the space provided, the Duplex is a palace for one person. Six stakes are the minimum requirement for setup, but 10 stakes are recommended for additional tie-out points on the ends and back of the tent. Cons: it’s expensive; poles can get in the way when entering/exiting; rainbow doors fall into tent or onto ground when opened fully.

• weight: 1 lb 3 oz (no stakes or poles), 1 lb 6 oz (including 10 stakes), 2 lbs 1 oz (including 10 stakes & 2 poles)
• structure: single-wall, non-freestanding, Dyneema fabric
• interior size: 90″ x 45″ x 48″ (length, width, height)
• price: $699

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