1P tent recommendations

Clarson757

Lil-Rokslider
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Mar 27, 2022
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I’m ready to upgrade my tent setup. Anyone got any good suggestions? Was looking at Nemo and MSR. Open to suggestions. Going for quality seeing as my current cheapo option has always leaked on me every time I’ve used it…in socal. Where it never rains…except when I am miles from the truck 🤦🏻‍♂️
 
I don’t have one so I can’t weigh in on the reliability, but my research has landed me on a tarptent double rainbow or the new Durston x dome that’s coming out soon. I also like the tarptent moment for a one person. Are you looking for a single or double wall? DCF? What kind of weight range and price range do you want to stay in?
 
If you are ok with floorless I would recommend the seek outside silex. I don't think you will find a lighter shelter with plenty of room for 1. I've slept 2 w/ gear in mine. Cozy but very doable.
 
Check out the big Agnes copper spur HV 1 or 2p is great. Right around 2lbs for the 1P version. The bike version has a shorter pole setup for the segments which is great for packing. You can generally find them used as well. I found my 1p for $125 with the mountain glow led option
 
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What’s your budget? Are you looking large commercial company or ultralight cottage company?

I think that would be the first big question. Huge difference in weight and materials between the tents you’ll find on REI and some of the smaller companies like Zpacks, Laurel, Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear etc.
 
Picked up an argali owyhee recently, really like it so far and like how the mesh liner is its own system if you don't want to bring it along. The tent is pretty roomy for one and packs down to about the size of a nalgene
 
I don’t have one so I can’t weigh in on the reliability, but my research has landed me on a tarptent double rainbow or the new Durston x dome that’s coming out soon. I also like the tarptent moment for a one person. Are you looking for a single or double wall? DCF? What kind of weight range and price range do you want to stay in?

I’m looking for a framed tent anywhere around or under 3lb packed weight. Price range is pretty much going to be based on reviews and quality. Buy once cry once if you will.
 
If you are ok with floorless I would recommend the seek outside silex. I don't think you will find a lighter shelter with plenty of room for 1. I've slept 2 w/ gear in mine. Cozy but very doable.

Was thinking a framed option since we've got scorpions. Had a few bad experiences with ants as well 😂
 
Picked up an argali owyhee recently, really like it so far and like how the mesh liner is its own system if you don't want to bring it along. The tent is pretty roomy for one and packs down to about the size of a nalgene

I saw one in the classifieds recently. Does it seem like it’s got good build quality? Compared to a Nemo for example?
 
What’s your budget? Are you looking large commercial company or ultralight cottage company?

I think that would be the first big question. Huge difference in weight and materials between the tents you’ll find on REI and some of the smaller companies like Zpacks, Laurel, Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear etc.

Definitely not shopping at rei for this one. I don’t have experience with a trekking pole tent but I am open to it I suppose. But I was glancing at the zpacks and hyperlight options and they look great for the weight savings.
 
Go for 2 person tent. Will weigh maybe 50% more than 1 person tent but if the weather gets nasty then you will appreciate your gear being out of the weather. Ah, the weather. Get a tent will a floor. Having a stream trickling under your feet or melting snow or ice melting into puddles is no fun and could be life-threatening. Having mosquitoes buzzing you all night is not much fun either. Mice, snakes, etc are things I prefer to not wonder about as am settling into sleep.

I pack around a 3 person tent with a floor and an annex "flap" which does not have a floor but is nice for leaving boots, etc, out of direct snow and rain as sleep and putting on boots as sit on the dry floor of the tent with the boots outside but out of the rain. I need good, deep sleep so by day 3 I am not on fumes. I dry, draft-proof tent that will hold up to stiff winds is a key aspect of performing multiple days of a rigorous hunt. I use ear plugs and eye shades to minimize being waken by trees creaking in the wind or ice pellets bouncing on the tent or a bright full moon glowing though the tent fabric.

I use the Nallo GT 3-person version as my wife goes with me at times. No issues. Goes up fast, bomb proof in stout winds. Not sure if can use a tent stove though doubt it. I have packed a heavier sleeping bag and thick pad for under the bag when will be colder than about 20F. I pile my coats, etc, on top of me along with wearing a stocking cap and a neck warmer and the eye shades and sometimes wool socks and mittens to try and stay comfortable. So I can sleep. Works for me. Still alive.
 
For sure get a 2 or 3p tent. 1p is so small. As others said you can pull your gear inside as well in a downpour and still sleep comfy
 
Definitely not shopping at rei for this one. I don’t have experience with a trekking pole tent but I am open to it I suppose. But I was glancing at the zpacks and hyperlight options and they look great for the weight savings.
I was just using their website as an example, they’ll typically have your basic mass produced tents.

Yeah, non-free standing tents like some of the absolute ultralights have their pros and cons.

You should check out Homemade Wanderlust on YouTube, she goes over some of the best expensive and budget options.
 
I got back and forth on the idea of bivy and my tarp. Any experience with this on more granite/ rocky/ desert terrain? How’d it hold in the wind?
I roll my pad, sleeping bag and pillow up in the bivy, bedroll style. This does a great job of protecting the bag and pad from dirt, rocks and sharp vegetation. But yeah, your gear does get dirty when you're camped in the dry dirt. I intentionally pitched on an exposed ridge in 25+ mph wind recently, it does really well as long as you're staked securely. I think it really comes down to how important that last couple pounds are to you. Another option would be a free standing double wall tent with a removable inner liner, like the Hilleberg Enan or the Kuiu Mountain Star. With something like that, you could run it as a conventional double wall tent or pull the liner to save weight where appropriate. I think the liners on the Hillebergs are about 15 oz.
 
Kuiu morning star has been a good 1 person tent for me. Says it's a 2p but it's just right for 1 with gear.
 
Durston's X-Mid is a hammer of a trek pole tent. Super light weight, fast set up, lots of space. I ended up buying two of em just to support the guy. He's super responsive and seems like a good guy. I like supporting small business and he puts high quality everything on his stuff.

Trek poles are a must so you use them for your poles. You end up with two vestibules so I can put my bow and pack on one side, and then I get into the other side and there I sit and take off all my wet clothes, gaiters, boots, etc which I keep in that vestibule to dry out and be ready for the morn. Put a sheet of tyvek or vinyl underneath it before your pitch it and it's the cat's meow. Keeps everything clean and dry.
 
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