Best One Person Tents for Backpacking 2025 | Fully Tested and Reviewed by our Experts
From lightweight two-pole dome tents for a cheeky weekend wild camp, to tent tarps for a long-distance thru-hike abroad, here are the best one person tent designs we've tested and that we recommend in 2025
When you’re out on the trail, having the right tent can make all the difference between a restful night and a tough one. At Outdoors Magic, we’ve thoroughly tested a range of the best one person tents for backpacking, putting them through real-world adventures to bring you trusted, expert recommendations. From a record-breaking 500-mile fastpacking trip across Wales to backpacking in Greece, and even while our editor researched his new guidebook to the Welsh mountains, these tents have proven their worth in varied conditions.
OM editor Will during one of his tent test trips.
What makes a great one person tent? It’s all about finding the right balance between weight, durability, space, and weather protection. You want a shelter that’s light enough to carry comfortably but tough enough to withstand wind and rain. It should pack down small for easy backpack storage, offer enough room to sleep and stash your gear, and provide good ventilation to minimise condensation. Plus, quick and simple pitching is a must after a long day on the trail.
One person tents aren’t just for backpackers. They’re ideal for fastpackers, bikepackers, solo hikers, and anyone who values lightweight, efficient shelter. They also make excellent backup options for mountaineers or a compact choice for weekend camping trips.
In this guide, we break down the top one person tents we’ve tested and trusted. Whether you need ultralight simplicity or rugged, all-weather protection, our expert picks will help you find the perfect solo shelter for your next adventure.
So, without further adieu, here’s are the winners in our tests. The full details for each tent can be found further down the article.
Best Overall One Person Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spurl UL 1
Best One Person Tent for Four Season Use: Fjällräven Abisko Lite 1
Best Ultralight One Person Tent: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1
Best Tarp Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
Best Value One Person Tent: Simond MT900
Best Bivy Bag: Outdoor Research Helium
1. Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 (2025)
This gets our best in test award – the best one person tent we recommend in 2025.
In use during our test trip in the Brecon Beacons. Note: the tent is designed for 3-season use.
Price: £450 Weight: 1077g Internal size: 224cm x 97cm x 97cm high in centre.Key attributes: high spec fabric, excellent space-to-weight, useful design details Best for: three-season backpacking Rating: 5/5
This is incredibly light and packable, but it’s also spacious and reliable. In our tests, we loved the storage options inside it, the simplicity of pitching it and the all-round quality. It didn’t initially get chosen as our top pick when we first included it in this round up, but, as we’ve put it through more testing, we’ve decided it’s worthy of the top spot. OK it’s a bit of investment – £450 ain’t cheap – but there’s definite quality here, and clearly a lot of thoughtfulness in the design thinking, which nearly always tends to be the case with Big Agnes.
The main fabric is a case in point. Big Agnes claim to have made their tents more waterproof, more durable and also lighter thanks to the creation of a new finish they call HyperBead. Similar to Nemo’s acclaimed OSMO fabric, it’s a proprietary waterproof coating that contains no intentionally added hazardous chemicals (like PFAS). Big Agnes also say this is much longer lasting than the finish they’ve used on their lightweight tents over the years, despite it being much thinner.
The top line is that this is a solid performer for three-season camps and should perfectly fit the bill for lightweight backpacking. It’s inner pitched first and packs away very small – small enough to fit into the side pocket of most trekking packs – and its 1077g total weight is exceptionally light given its footprint, porch space and high ceiling, and the fact it’s a two-layer design.
Probably the biggest drawback we’ve noticed so far is that the plastic buckles on the flysheet’s corners are a little flimsy and need to be treated with care. Apart from that, we’ve found this to be a great tent.
Full Specifications
Flysheet and groundsheet: 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop and 1500mm / Inner: / 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop / Poles: DAC Featherlite / Pegs: 7 x 6” Dirt Dagger UL Stakes / Porches: 1
This gets our pick as the best value one person tent following our tests
The Simond MT900 during our tests.
Price: £160 Weight: 1.3kg Internal size: 39 x 11 x 10cm Best for: three-season hiking, fastpacking and bikepacking Rating: 4.5/5
Simond, in case you don’t know it, is Decathlon’s own brand that specialises in technical equipment for mountaineering and trekking. We’ve tested several Simond products here at Outdoors Magic and generally find them to be functional, reliable, and well priced. This product is a case in point. It features a tried-and-tested design, high-quality materials, and is remarkably lightweight and packable – all for a very reasonable £160.
OM editor, Will, has been testing it out in the hills of Wales. “I was really impressed by the small packed size,” he said. “It’s about the same size as a 2-litre bottle. At just 1.3kg, it’s also very light. It’s comparable to tents like the Sea to Summit Alto, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 1, and MSR Elixir. While the materials aren’t quite as high spec (they’re still decent though) and it’s a little heavier, it’s significantly cheaper.”
Will added, “I was able to pitch it quickly and easily on my first try without even reading the instructions – the colour-coding makes setup straightforward. Inside, it feels pretty cosy but it offers plenty of head height and there’s easily enough room for a large rectangular sleeping mat. There are useful storage pockets, and I’ve found the porch is big enough for my 50-litre trekking pack, though it doesn’t leave much room for sheltered cooking. I haven’t taken it on any long trips yet, but I’d be happy to. Ultimately, I`think it’s an ideal option for solo fastpacking or bikepacking, particularly if you want something light but not super high spec.
Full Specifications
Flysheet and groundsheet: TPU and Polyester / Inner: Polyamide and Polyester / Poles: Aluminium / Pegs: 8 steel / Porches: 1.
Our team using the Tiger Wall in North Wales. Credit: Chris Johnson
Weight: 852g Price: £308 Internal Size: (LxWxHcm ): 213 x 97 x 99 Key attributes: very light, clever details, high ceiling Best for: three-season backpacking, fastpacking, bikepacking Rating: 5/5
If you’re looking for an affordable but high-end shelter, look no further. The Big Agnes Tiger UL1 is ultralight (852g), spacious, waterproof and packed full of features including: double sliders on the vestibule zippers allows for venting from the top or bottom; mini slats in the structured foot-end corners to create more usable space between your feet and tent wall; ceiling pockets for great storage space; a vent on the vestibule door; and multiple interior loops for attaching gear such as a headtorch.
The flysheet and groundsheet are made from a silicone-treated ripstop nylon with a 1,200mm hydrostatic head rating and an additional PU coating, while the tent inner is a breathable ripstop nylon with polyester mesh. All seams are taped with a waterproof, solvent free PU tape and the poles are DAC Featherlite.
New for 2021, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1 has been redesigned using a solution-dyed fabric that is highly resistant to UV fade and drastically reduces energy consumption and water use during manufacturing, a process that is better for the environment and that “improves the quality of the tent fabric”.
This one person tent features a cleverly-designed, hub-connected, all-in-one skeletal pole, which forms the main structure. A smaller transverse pole then slots across the apex of this structure stretching out the peak to maximise headroom. The freestanding inner, which is pitched first, clips tightly to this skeletal pole – and the result is a shelter with near-vertical walls and maximum head and elbow room. A decent-sized side porch and minimally-tapered floor add to the sense of spaciousness.
Full Specifications
Ultralight: 852g / three-season use / flysheet and groundsheet: silicone-treated ripstop nylon with PU coating (1200 HH) / freestanding inner: ripstop nylon with polyester mesh / solvent free PU taped seams / DAC Featherlite poles / hub-connected skeletal pole / double sliders on vestibule zippers / mini slats in foot-end corners / ceiling pockets / vestibule vent / multiple interior loops / 1.8m² floor space / 218cm floor length / 71-97cm floor width / 99cm head height / 0.7m² vestibule area / eco-friendly UV-resistant solution-dyed fabric.
The Abisko on test by our test team. Photo: Chris Johnson
Weight: 1650g
Price: £520 Key attributes: sturdy, durable and high quality materials Best for: four-season backpacking and bikepacking Rating: 4.5/5
Fjällräven’s Abisko Lite 1, is the lightest and smallest in the brand’s collection, weighing in at 1650g and catering for one sleeper plus all of their backpacking kit. It uses a single hooped tunnel design with pole-propped corners, a removable inner compartment, a sizeable porch space and a single door.
The flysheet is made from a TripleRip silicone coated polyamide with an impressive waterproof rating of 3000mm (hydrostatic head). Cleverly, the upper parts of the fly have a 20D strength rating while the lower parts, those more at risk of abrasion, are rated at 40D. The inner features a 15D ripstop polyamide, a super fine bugproof mesh, and a 40D polyamide bathtub style floor with a 4000mm hydrostatic head. The poles, on the other hand, are made from a DAC Featherlite NSL, whilst the pegs are v-shaped and made from DAC aluminium alloy. All the materials here are made without PVC plastic and have a PFC-free DWR treatment.
The inner mesh features a large C-shaped door that’s double zipped and double-layered so that you can either seal yourself in with the full protection of the two layers (in winter, say) or just use the single layer of fine mesh in the warmer months. The ventilation options are equally handy, with one wire stiffened vent above the door, covered hatches at either end, and a clever toggle to fold back the door in the summer.
Nice details to note include mesh interior pockets for storage, an internal adjustable cord, reflective guylines and a handy adjuster cord that reduces the width of the inner compartment so you can have maximum porch space for cooking or organising gear.
Pictured during OM editor Will’s 3-week fastpack over all 189 of Wales’s mountains.
Weight: 740g Price: £310 Internal Size: 2.4 m2 Key attributes: lightweight, very small packed size Best for: three-season backpacking and fastpacking Rating: 3/5
While you may not have heard of Six Moon Designs before, they are in fact an extremely popular brand within the ultralight hiking and fastpacking community.
It’s a hybrid tarp / tent design that features a single skin of silicon coated polyester upper that’s suspended off a trekking pole. This upper is pegged down at the edge and corners to form a hexagonal shape around its base.
This design gives a relatively large sleeping area, with 1.2 metres of height and 2.4 square metres of sleeping space. On top of that, you’ve also got the benefit of a 0.8 square metre porch, providing plenty room to cook and organise your kit – something we feel is an essential feature in single skin tents to avoid touching the potentially damp walls of the main compartment.
You’ll be able to pitch this tent in no time, once you’ve got the hang of it. First of all, peg down the back corner, then stick your trekking pole in place and pull the guyline on the peak to then peg down the front, followed by the corners. Don’t worry if the sides look to be high off the ground; this has been done to promote ventilation.
On the breathability/ventilation front, we would say that this tent gets pretty wet inside in certain conditions – namely when it’s cold, wet and not particularly windy. One of our testers used this on a three-week fastpack over all of Wales’ mountains and he really struggled to keep condensation from forming on the inside. So if you’re going to use this, avoid using in the aforementioned conditions and if you have to, make sure the door is unzipped from the top and the sides are raised as high as possible.
Full Specifications
Full vestibule / high vent / zipper vestibule closure / easy tensioning adjustment / floating canopy / floating floor / optimized sleeping area / centre pole support.
OM editor Will testing the Highlander Refuge in the Rhinogydd. Photo: Dave MacFarlane.
Weight: 2kg Price: £130
Internal Size: (LxWxH): 218 x 90 x 90cm Key attributes: great value, sturdy, roomy interior Best for: three-season backpacking and bikepacking Rating: 4/5
The Highlander Refuge 1 is designed for solo wilderness backpacking trips. It has a tried and tested single hooped design that can be pitched outer first, or with the fly and inner together. It’s not the lightest one-person tent out there, coming in at 2kg, but it’s not the heaviest either. From what we’ve seen, £130 represents very good value for money. It’s an ideal tent for campers who want something reliable and comfortable and without breaking the bank.
OM editor Will recently tested the Refuge in the mountains of Eryri and said, “For me, all of the materials seem good quality and they all combine to make for a tent with a durable and dependable feel. On one occasion, I used the Highlander Refuge on an extremely windy mountainside and it held really well and kept out some very heavy rain. Condensation did build up on the flysheet, but there’s enough space inside the tent that I found I could sleep and move around comfortably without worrying about the inner touching the walls.”
“From my experience, it provides a peaceful night’s sleep, it’s light and packable enough to fit in a 50-litre backpack with the rest of my backpacking set up and it generally just has the look of a quality tent. If you’re getting into camping, it’s a great option, and it also gets my recommendation if you just want something that’s reliable and comfortable, and that won’t set you back hundreds of pounds.”
Full Specifications
Fly sheet: 75D 210T polyester rip stop 4000mm / ground sheet: 190T polyester 5000mm / inner: polyester with DWR finish / hydrostatic head: 4000mm / taped seams / two-way front zipper / mesh window at front / lightweight and strong aluminium 7001 poles / sewn-in groundsheet / integrated hanging line / waterproof stuff sack / fire retardant / pack size: 44(L) x 13(D)cm.
Price: £250 Weight: 448g Best for: 66 x 48 x 208cm Key attributes: very light and packable, innovative fabrics
Rating: 3.5/5
OK this might be a bivy bag and not a tent, but we still thought it was worth including in this list, firstly because it’s a great product (the winner in our bivy bag tests) and also because it kind of isn’t far off from offering the same experience as a one person tent. As you can see in the picture above, it has one small pole that keeps the bivy fabric elevated and away from your head. What’s more, you can open up this end of the bivy for airflow and remain protected from bugs thanks to a mesh flap.
We were impressed by the wet weather performance of the main fabric while we also found the base fabric reassuringly durable. Our tester, Sarah Leighton (also known as Fit For Adventure), was a big fan of the Helium when she used this. “The OR bivvi is awesome – it’s my new favourite thing for SUP beach camps, said Sarah. “The hooped hood makes it not too claustrophobic when you shut out the bugs, sand, etc. Considering I’ve always been a tent fan, this is a bivvi that could see me converted!”
Will testing the Sierra Designs High Route in the Scottish Highlands.
Price: £255 Weight: 1010g Internal Size: 259cm x 107ccm, 114cm high in centre Key attributes: sturdy, good space-to-weight Best for: three-season backpacking Rating: 4/5
The High Route is compact and lightweight, so it’s an attractive option for solo multi-day backpackers – so long as you’re also taking trekking poles with you. It’s also very liveable, by which we mean it feels airy, spacious and practical when you’re inside. That’s all thanks to its unusual offset design, the only downside of which is that it is a little trickier to pitch than some rivals. But like all things, practice makes perfect, so with a little perseverance, we think this is a tent that many users will grow to love.
The original High Route concept was developed by Sierra Designs in collaboration with renowned backpacker Andrew Skurka, who was also responsible for the design of their best-selling Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor rucksacks. This particular version with the ‘3000’ in its name is actually specifically made for UK or Northern European use, with the flysheet given a higher hydrostatic head rating and the colour changed from blue to green, apparently to suit our more muted preferences,
Inside, there is room to stretch out and sit upright, though the inner isn’t the widest. You get two useful porch areas and an unusual ‘1.5’ door configuration. There’s a main doorway with a full-length zip, plus a rear door with a half zip that is a bit too small to use as an entrance but still gives access to a secondary vestibule area. Sierra Designs calls this a ‘gear garage’, intended for stashing backpacks, cooking equipment or muddy boots.
Full Specifications
Flysheet: 20D nylon ripstop silicone PU, 3000mm HH / Inner: 20D nylon ripstop silicone/ 15D nylon mesh / Groundsheet: 30D nylon ripstop, 3000mm hydrostatic head / Poles: 2 trekking poles (not supplied) / Pegs: 9 x 15cm Y / Porches: x 2 , 28cm deep.
Becky using the Vaude Taurus in the Lake District.
Price: £212 Weight: 1.25kg Internal Size: 1.7 m2² Key attributes: easy to pitch, sturdy and good quality materials Best for: three-season backpacking and bikepacking Rating: 4/5
The SUL 1P is the smallest and lightest tent in the Taurus range. It’s a double skinned design yet it weighs in at a commendably svelte 1.25kg, with a packed size of just 36 x 15cm. The tripod design aims to offer good stability with excellent internal dimensions, maximising the peak height at the apex to give the user enough room to comfortably sit up inside. That improves overall liveability whether you’re sheltering from the elements, sorting out your kit or just scoffing some scran.
Like all of the products that Vaude manufactures, the Taurus SUL tent is completely PVC-free and instead, uses waterproof tent fabrics made from triple silicone coated nylon which is siliconised on both sides. This gives it high UV reflection and increased tear resistance, ensuring sustainability through longevity without resorting to more harmful treatments.
The Taurus SUL 1P is also quick and easy to pitch, with a pre-attached inner that means the tent can be pitched all-in-one. The pole sleeves are also open at one end only, which further aids fast and efficient set-up. It has a classic ‘tripod’ construction designed for stability without sacrificing too much interior height. This means there’s ample space inside for you and your gear. Side mesh pockets keep small items handy and easy to find in the dark. There’s only a single doorway and porch, but that’s fine for solo use. It is roomy enough to accommodate plenty of gear, including muddy boots and a pack.
Full Specifications
Double-skinned design / weight: 1.25kg / packed size: 36 x 15cm / full mesh and fabric inner / three-season camping / PVC-free / triple silicone coated nylon tent fabric / high UV reflection / PFC-free / carbon offset design / DAC NFL featherlite aluminium alloy poles / pre-attached inner (all-in-one pitch) / tripod construction / side mesh pockets / single doorway and porch / rainproof vents in flysheet / flysheet HH rating: 3,000mm / PU-coated ripstop nylon floor with 3,000mm HH.
Weight: 1520g Price: £140 Internal Size: (LxWxH): 240cm x 90cm x 75cm} Key attributes: sturdy, durable, easy to pitch Best for: four-season backpacking, stealth camping, bikepacking Rating: 3/5
If you can’t stomach forking out £500 or so for a premium tent, but still want a sturdy, roomy and weatherproof shelter for your backpacking adventures, then look no further than the Ionosphere. At £180, Snugpak’s offering is the joint cheapest tent on test, making it an affordable and excellent value option. It can’t compete with Terra Nova, Hilleberg and co in terms of weight – at 1520g it is heavier than many solo wild campers would prefer – and it isn’t as flush with high-end touches and premium materials. But don’t be fooled into thinking the low price tag means low features. This is a great tent at a great price.
Snugpak’s Ionosphere is a long, narrow and low profile tent, with a huge floorspace. At 240cm in length, it is big enough for even the tallest of wild campers, and there is ample room for a single occupant with lots of equipment, despite the lack of a porch. At only 75cm high, it isn’t the best for sitting up in, but the low profile means the tent isn’t thrown around by the wind. The two-pole, hooped structure feels sturdy and durable, while the 5000mm hydrostatic fly sheet with taped seams effectively keeps out the rain and the accompanying mesh interior effectively prevents condensation (and midge attacks). Other positives include the military green colour, which is ideal for stealthy wild camping; and the 16 star-shaped pegs, which enable extremely secure pegging out.
As with any product, there are of course some negatives. The pole sleeve, which is split into three parts, is fiddly and awkward, while the very low profile of the tent makes sitting up without your head pressing against the inner roof impossible. In some ways, the Ionosphere could be described as a very large, hooped bivvy bag, or perhaps a particularly shallow, squat tent. But none of this really matters. At £180 and a weight of 1520g, this is an amazing value tent that is lightweight, sturdy and weatherproof – a great companion for adventures, both big and small.
Price: £215 Weight: 1200g Internal Size: (LxWxH): 210cm x 95cm x 95cm Key attributes: competitively priced, lightweight Best for: three-season backpacking and bikepacking Rating: 3/5
Vango’s F10 Helium UL 1 is the ideal mid-range option in our list of the best solo backpacking tents. It can’t match the high-end, premium features of Terra Nova and Hilleberg; nor is it as competitive as Snugpak or Wild Country on price. But this means it fits neatly on its own, in the middle, providing a mid-range option with an excellent balance between weight and price. In fact, with a price tag of just £240, the F10 Helium UL 1 is incredibly lightweight, measuring just 1200g – saving valuable grams from your backpack. And the small weight still comes with big features.
Vango bill the Helium UL 1 as a ‘welcome and reliable shelter’ – and that’s certainly how it felt testing it out in the Scottish Highlands. The hybrid tunnel, constructed with one main and two shorter poles, provides effective bracing against side winds, while the Protex 3000mm waterproof flysheet and 70 denier nylon fabric ground sheet provide effective protection against the rain. Vents allow air flow to combat condensation and pre-angled poles achieve greater internal space, including generous head room. Other handy features include internal storage pockets, reflective points on pegs and guy lines (to stop you tripping up) and the oversized fast-pack bag for ease of storage.
Downsides? The tension band system is a little annoying and can get in the way, while the central curved pole can be a little awkward to thread through the sleeve by yourself. But all in all the F10 Helium UL 1 is an extremely good value tent. For just £240, you get an ultra-lightweight, durable, weatherproof and spacious one-man tent – it doesn’t get much better than that.
Full Specifications
Protex 3000mm flysheet / internal storage pockets optional footprint / oversized tent bag with compression straps for easy packing / dyneema pegging points / multiple reflective points.
When you’ve spent a lot of money on your tent, it makes a lot of sense to keep it well maintained, because a clean and well looked after tent is a tent that lasts longer. Here’s a handy guide we compiled that explains exactly what you need to do to clean and reproof a tent in just a few simple steps.
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