Best Backpacking Tents for One Person (1P)

Before we get into the tents, let’s talk about some essential features you should be on the lookout for when researching a tent for yourself.

1. Freestanding or Non-freestanding: Freestanding shelters are tents that use tent poles to hold up the shelter. Freestanding tents come with the poles needed to put the tent together, whereas non-freestanding tents, trekking pole tents, need additional supports to hold up the tent. If you use a trekking pole tent, you need trekking poles to support the shelter.
2. Double-Wall or Single-Wall Tent: Most backpacking tents are double-walled, meaning there are two layers of fabric between you and the exterior. Single-wall tents are popular in mountaineering because they reduce tent weight. Double-walled tents improve waterproofing and breathability.
3. Footprint: Many backpacking tents sell the footprint separately, which adds an extra cost. Tent footprints help protect your tent from abrasive ground, and I recommend using one if your tent does not come with one. There is no universal footprint, so you will have to purchase a footprint that fits the model of your tent.
4. Double or Single Door: A safety feature that I look out for is having two doors on your tent. Many single-person tents only have one door. The Durston X-Mid Pro 1 has two doors.
5. Season Rating: Not all tents are suitable for year-round use in all weather conditions. If you plan to backpack in snowy conditions or heavy rain, consider a 4-season-rated tent. 4-season tents typically are not offered as 1 person backpacking tents.
6. Interior Space and Organization: For taller hikers, ensure there is ample interior space in the tent. Consider sitting and lying on the inside of the tent in the store to make sure the footprint is long enough and the ceiling spacious enough. Another thing I look for in tents is that there are some interior pockets for organizing my gear.
7. Extra Space: Some backpacking tents have a large vestibule space or an alternative set-up to provide more room or shade from the sun.
8. Hydrostatic Head (HH): You may see a rating for HH, which is a tent’s hydrostatic head rating. This is a measure of how waterproof the tent is. In areas with heavy or continuous rain, a good HH rating is 3,000+ mm.

If you have questions about specific features, feel free to post them in the comments, and I can get back to you!

1. Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall is widely regarded as one of the best freestanding backpacking tents. While it is on the more expensive side, I purchased two of these tents at a significant discount in the REI Re/Supply section in Seattle. I have been using this tent since 2022 and think it is the perfect freestanding tent.

Weighing 1 lb 13oz, this ultralight tent is easy to carry, and the thoughtful design makes it easy to set up. This tent has two configurations: the standard setup and the Fast Fly configuration, which utilizes the rain fly to make the shelter. As a 3-season backpacking tent, it is not great in the winter months in snowy areas. You risk the tent collapsing and its poles breaking.

I recommend purchasing the tent footprint for this tent, as the tent floor’s thin material can tear, especially when backpacking with a dog. (Thanks a lot, Meatball)

Standout Features:

• Quick Set-Up with single-pole design
• Ultralight – 1lb 13oz
• Great internal pockets for organization
• Plenty of headspace (in the new design)

As a freestanding tent, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL is fantastic. There are multiple size options in the Tiger Wall Series if you are looking for more room. I typically recommend using the UL2 if you plan on backpacking with a dog.

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 was one of the most commonly used shelters on the PCT in 2024, according to Halfway Anywhere!

2. MSR Hubba Hubba

At the same price point as the Tiger Wall, the MSR Hubba Hubba Tent is an exceptional lightweight solo tent. The Hubba Hubba is a tent you’ll reach for if you want a spacious tent without adding extra weight. The vestibule is large for gear storage, and the floor area is approximately 20 square feet.

The design of the tent also utilizes a “single pole” design to minimize loose parts. Something I absolutely love about MSR Backpacking Tents in general is their stakes. I purchase MSR Tent Stakes for all of my backpacking tents because they are so durable, lightweight, and easy to pull up after use.

The higher walls of the nylon fabric on the tent are great for sleeping without the rainfly. The Tiger Wall has lower nylon walls, so when you sleep without the rainfly, everyone can see inside your tent.

Standout Features:

• 3-year warranty
• Tall ceilings, Spacious Interior
• Lightweight (2lbs 6oz)
• Plenty of internal organization features

Since this tent is in the same price range as the Tiger Wall, you might wonder, why would I pick this tent over the lighter option? This tent is considered to be more durable with a groundbreak design and fantastic organizational features. At this point, it really is up to the individual about what they like more between the two.

3. Nemo Hornet Elite Osmo

The selling point for the Nemo Hornet Elite Osmo 1P is the high-strength, ultralight design. At only 1lb 7oz, this is one of the lightest freestanding tents you can purchase; it does come at a feature cost.

Measuring two Nalgene water bottles, this tent is compact and has minimal internal storage compartments. The exterior vestibule is large enough to fit your backpacking pack, if you’re like me and keep your pack outside at night.

While this tent is lightweight, it also utilizes polyester-ripstop fabric, which makes it highly durable, unlike most other ultralight tents.

Standout Features:

• Aluminum Tent Pole
• Nemo Lifetime Warrant
• Recycled & Naturally Dyed Materials

This tent is best for people who value having a lightweight tent over one with plenty of space and internal pockets. It is a step more spacious than a bivy sack. Honestly, consider this tent your gateway to becoming a bivy tent user.

The NEMO Hornet OSMO ultralight tent is a more affordable version of the Elite.

4. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL

I’ve been using the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 since 2022 with my partner, dog, and adventure cat. Needless to say, the 3-person Copper Spur is roomy and durable. That holds true for the entire Copper Spur line for Big Agnes. The Copper Spur UL1 is a durable tent with a spacious interior and fantastic features.

Between the Copper Spur Spur and the Tiger Wall, there are some key differences. The Tiger Wall is less expensive and (marginally) lighter weight, but the Copper Spur is more stable in inclement weather and more spacious.

The vestibule awning is one of my favorite and most-used features of the Copper Spur, along with the large overhead interior pocket. With a total weight of 2lb 6oz, it is on the cusp of ultralight status.

Standout Features:

• Easy setup
• Durable season after season
• Highly rated on the PCT

This tent is great for someone planning on going backpacking regularly. The durable fabric and attachment points of this tent mean it will be able to withstand the test of time and use. At a higher price point, it is a financial commitment, but you will not need to purchase another one anytime soon.

5. Durston X-Mid Pro 1 (favorite trekking pole tent)

Durston gifted me the Durston X-Mid Pro 1 in 2025, and I fell in love with it. Once I started backpacking regularly with trekking poles, I decided to try a trekking pole tent since I was carrying the weight anyway. This ultralight backpacking tent has a single-wall design that utilizes a stake-out method to set up.

When I used this tent on an alpine ascent, the tent went up against strong winds throughout the night and was still standing the next morning. If you’ve ever experienced windy conditions in a backpacking tent, you might know the feeling of tent fabric on your face, which did not happen with this tent. Compared with the Tiger Wall, the whole tent was folding down during high winds.

The tent weighs in at 15.5 oz, making it lighter than any of the freestanding tents listed. The cost of the tent is $600. Making it one of the most expensive tents on this list.

Standout Features:

• Large Vestibules on both sides
• Easy setup
• Fantastic in rainy and windy conditions

This tent is perfect for anyone looking to graduate their gear to ultralight or who wants to complete a longer thru-hike. This tent had the second-highest popularity rating as a tent on the Pacific Crest Trail.

6. Gossamer Gear The One (budget-friendly option)

The Gossamer Gear The One is a revolutionary trekking pole tent at a fantastic price point. The design allows you to use your own trekking poles or purchase tent poles separately. The bathtub floor keeps you dry even without a footprint, thanks to taller side walls than some other tent options.

Large vestibules and ventilation help minimize condensation buildup in the tent. This tent also offers two doors, which I absolutely love as a solo hiker.

If you’re trying to ball on a budget and already have trekking poles, this is absolutely the tent for you. Gossamer Gear is always creating innovative gear at affordable price points. This tent weighs 18 oz.

Standout Features:

• Two-door design
• Hyperlight design
• Spacious interior

This tent is great for anyone looking to start backpacking on a tight budget or who is looking to upgrade their sleep system to a trekking pole tent!

Related Read: How to Decrease Your Pack Weight

7. REI Co-op Flash Air Tent (mid-range budget option)

The first backpacking tent I ever purchased was the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 3 Tent, so I could backpack with friends without them needing to buy a bunch of additional gear. The first one-person tent I ever purchased was the REI Co-op Trailmade 1P, which has since been discontinued. The only one-person tent that REI Co-op now offers is the Flash Air tent.

This tent is considered a semi-freestanding tent in that the tent comes with a large pole that you can use to set up the tent or you can use your own trekking pole. They do market it as nonfreestanding…which I disagree with, since the tent does come with a pole that is needed to set it up.

At only 1lb 12 oz (with the pole), the tent is extremely lightweight and uses a single-wall design. You will need to take additional precautions during setup to mitigate condensation buildup.

Standout Features:

• Lightweight, Semi Nonfreestanding Design
• Stake out design
• Canopy-style door

The REI Co-op Flash Air 1 is good for anyone looking for a semi-freestanding tent that doesn’t break the bank like some of the other ultralight non-freestanding tents.

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Other Great One-Person Tents

There is an incredible amount of 1 person backpacking tents on the market. Here are some more options you might want to look at:

1. Sea to Summit Telos TR: This tent is on the heavier side compared to standard backpacking tents, but I love the design. S2S also has a number of accessories you can purchase for your tent!
2. Zpacks Duplex Lite Tent: As the most expensive tent on this list, it is also the lightest tent.
3. Mountain Hardwear Nimbus: This tent features a front mesh door and weighs 1 lb 11.8 oz.
4. Tarptent Double Rainbow: You get to choose the pole type, which impacts the weight of the tent, making it one of the more customizable tents on the market.
5. NEMO Aurora 2: This is a spacious 2-person tent. It’s the only tent with an included footprint in the price. (I do prefer the NEMO Dragonfly OSMO)
6. Slingfin Portal 1: Made with durable materials, this tent is a great option for people expecting to spend plenty of time in inclement weather and heavy winds.

Backpacking gear is a constant balance of weight and price. Typically, the lightest options have a higher cost.

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