Choosing the Best One Person Tent

Choosing the Best One Person Tent

best budget backpacking tent

For the outdoor enthusiast, there are a ton of one-person backpacking tents available on the market. But not all of them are created equal, especially if you’ll be roughing it solo in the wilderness. We’re not talking car camping or glamping, either. If you’re serious about primitive camping, hunting, or backpacking, you want a tent that can take a beating and won’t blow away with the first storm gust that hits on top of the mountain. You want one that’s heavy duty, easy to pack and set up. Well, what should you look for when choosing the best one-man tent or the best budget backpacking tent?

Seasonality –

Basically, how durable is your tent? This can be broken down into three main categories – although there are more, we’re focusing on the most popular and relevant for rougher outdoor adventures:

  • 3-Season Tent –

    The most popular choice is the 3-season tent. They’re lightweight, have plenty of mesh panels for good airflow and to keep out most bugs. They’re best suited for spring through early fall seasons. They can withstand most downpours but aren’t suitable for sustained exposure to severe storms, high winds or heavy snow. A 3-season tent is perfect as a spring or summer backpacking tent or for early fall campouts.

  • 3-4 Season Tent –

    These tents are made for warm-weather use, but are also suitable for early spring or late fall conditions when snowfall could be more prevalent. These tents offer both ventilation and warmth, but have fewer mesh panels since they straddle the line between warm and cooler weather. Although they’re sturdy, they’re not quite made to withstand the punishing effects of extended winter weather.

  • 4-Season Tent –

    The hardiest of all tents, these will give you the best protection against high winds, snow loads, and heavy rain. They’re made with heavier fabrics than the other seasonal tents, and their low profile and domed designs deter snow and moisture buildup. With fewer mesh panels, you’ll get less airflow but increased warmth for those harsh winter adventures.

Rainfly –

A separate waterproof cover that fits over the top of your tent to keep out rain and moisture or for extra warmth. The best rainflys fit directly over the tent with their own sturdy frame. Others are a separate piece draped and supported over the tent. In a pinch, a large tarp secured to nearby trees or poles also works to keep your tent from getting waterlogged.

Vestibules –

Handy additions, these fabric shelters or awnings are attached to a tent over the doors for additional protection from rain. They’re also designed to keep muddy boots, packs or gear out of the rain and elements, but still outside so they don’t take up valuable room inside your tent. Some rainflys come equipped with built-in vestibules.

Guyout Loops –

Guylines are vital for securing your tent during windy weather, and to provide structure to parts of the tent where poles can’t. Look for sturdy guyout loops on the tent’s exterior that guylines can be attached to without ripping loose.

One of the best one person tents ever made is the U.S.G.I. TCOP Tent. (TCOP is the military’s acronym for Tent, Combat, One Person.) This 4-season tent was made to withstand any abuse nature could hurl at it. The black anodized cold-weather-rated aluminum shock corded frame is designed to hold up under the harshest conditions. The bathtub-style floor area measures 28 square feet and is made of rip-stop nylon. This heavy duty tent also has two doors (front and back!) with two vestibule areas, ideal for additional gear storage. Also, the vestibules can be set up for high-wind or normal configurations.

Tabs located inside the TCOP tent roof in the center and in the corners let you easily hang a candle lantern or a gear loft. Outside, plenty of sturdy guyout points keep this tent stable in extremely windy conditions. Mesh netting is 40D nylon “no-see-um” for dust and bug protection. A reversible rainfly round out this military issue combat tent that has only recently been made available for civilian purchase.

Proudly made in the U.S.A. Jump on this offer because demand is high and these tents won’t last long!