1 person tent recomendations

[motas]

Hey all,

Decided to delete my old thread and make a new more specific one. I am looking for a single person tent I can use for AT/X Country skiing, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking trips. I will be using it a maximum of 3 nights at a time but normally just 1 or 2. I will not use it when I have my car or extended trips. I will be using it in the snow a couple of time a year but this is Australian snow so not expecting blizzards or massive snow fall, a metre of snow cover is considered good and rarely see over 2 metres. But I will also be using it in summer so will expect very warm weather. I am a relatively small person approx 170cm tall and ~60kg and not at all claustrophobic so it can be small. Weight as always is a factor especially considering my own weight.

I use the term "tent" loosely I am open to any type of shelter arrangement. However I require a floor, and the floor to be attached to bug netting. I do have a preference for single wall or shelters not requiring an additional fly to be put on over the main tent frame and body. I find it annoying especially in wind and rain. But I am guessing there is a good reason why most tents are like this so will put up with it if I have to.

Thanks for any help.

Edit: After doing some more research on tents instead of writing my essay, I think I like the idea of a pyramid tarp plus bug net with an attached floor. Looking at the Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid. 580g for the inner and outer + 20g for the pegs + 200g for a pole (if I'm not already carrying one) = 800g which is pretty dam light, and thats in the cheaper heavier material. I'm protected from bugs and water from above and below. I have a large vestibule for gear or cooking. Looks pretty easy to setup, same idea as the old canvas pyramid I used for years which served me well. Can pitch it close to the ground in snow to stop the wind or a bit higher up to get some air flow. Plus if I ever have the need to have a 2 person tent again I can just get a 2 person bug net. I can't see a disadvantage to the system, however having no experience with lightweight gear and seeing dome tents FAR more often I feel like I am missing something. So any thoughts on this option?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=one+person+tent+recommendations

 

[motas]

How do bivys go in warmer weather? I am very interested in them but have heard VERY mixed reviews from theyre awesome to horrible for anything but an emergency shelter. I've slept in swags many times which are a similar size and shape so no problem with that but have heard a lot of people complain about condensation in them. Swags don't have any problems because theyre canvas.
Thanks.

 

[luckyjoe]

Best 1-person tent = a 2-person tent!

I only spend 35-40 nights a year in a tent. In foul weather a little extra room inside is really nice, as is a small vestibule for wet/dirty gear. Plus, you can fit two people if/when necessary...

 

[vision-quest]

Definitely go with a lightweight tent. It will make carrying your pack that much easier.

The guys at Tarptent are amazing. I've had my Tarptent Stratospire 2 out in Icelandic winds and it stood up to it just fine. Castle for 1 or perfect for 2. Shoot them an email and see what they recommend to you.

 

[Stumpalump]

Best 1-person tent = a 2-person tent!

I only spend 35-40 nights a year in a tent. In foul weather a little extra room inside is really nice, as is a small vestibule for wet/dirty gear. Plus, you can fit two people if/when necessary...

That's the way to fly. Is nice to dress, eat and hang out in when it's cold, windy or your waiting out the rain. All your gear fits inside as well. The smaller the tent the cheaper the brands you can go with. You just don't need the strength on a tiny tent that you do with a 3 or 4 man. REI has a good little two man that I picked up used. It's has a good reputation among the cheaper tents.

 

[jgaz]

If you really want to stay with a one person tent, look at the MSR Hubba. I've had one for 5+ years and it has held up well. Ventilation is good in the rain. I leave the fly at home sometimes in the SW and use just the tent it to sleep critter free.
I'm 6'3" and can stretch out without touching the ends. This was important to me in windy conditions. That way the tent doesn't tap me on the head all night. I can also sit up in this tent and it's free standing as well. Just my 2 cents

 

[motas]

I'm really trying to avoid having multiple setups. What I'm aiming for eventually is a bag for each activity I do all permanently packed in the ute ready to go. Basically any time I go on a trip no matter what it is I can just load food and go. Plus when I go on a longer trip I can do multiple activities and have it all with me. But means there isn't going to be a heap of room so can't really have a few tents and sleeping bags etc. I don't actually care if its a one or two man as long as its suitably light for just me to carry.

The Tarptent Stratosphire 1 looks good too! Sleeps 2 cosily. Any thoughts on how it would fair in the snow? Not a big fan of the Hubba seems heavy for the size of it. Compared to the Tarptent and Mount Laurel Designs ones anyway.


Thanks for the help!

 

[Kmrtnsn]

Best 1-person tent = a 2-person tent!...

What he said.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I would not recommend a bivy. I use them for extreme winter conditions when a tent is not feasible (Alpine climbing), or as a backup shelter in the summer if I need to be fast and light and only require a shelter if the weather turns. If I KNOW ahead of time the weather will be bad, the last thing I want is a bivy. You can retreat to a tent to wait out bad weather. Doing it in a bivy...sucks.

I think you could be well served with a Terra Nova Laser Comp 1. http://expeditionportal.com/field-tested-terra-nova-laser-competition-1/

It has elements of tarp living if you just use the shell and not the inner tent body. Like a pyramid, the hoop architecture is incredibly strong and holds up very well in high wind and with snow loaded. It has far better livable space. Pyramids stink for livable space with highly sloped walls and that center pole is a pain.

Another great option is the Hilleberg Enan: http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/products/yellow-label/enan/enan.php

I fully disagree that just going to a 2-person tent makes for the better 1-person experience. That's categorically incorrect. This is about feature and square footage. Some 1-person tents rival the space of some small 2-person tents. You have to assess livability on a tent by tent basis.

You might hold out a bit and wait for Nemo Equipment's new system they designed ideally with bikepacking (mountain bike travel) in mind. It is a comprehensive tarp, bag and bug bivy system that is really slick, very storm worthy, and exceptionally light. But, it works best as a whole system.

 

[Christophe Noel]

The Stratosphere simply will not work in snow. That fabric is simply too light.

I'm a gram hunter to the extreme, but I'm also experienced enough in various harsh conditions to know that gram hunting for light gear is a fool's errand. The uber light gear on the market really is only appropriate for certain types of travel where durability and defense agains harsh weather is not an issue.

I see loads of really bad advice being thrown your way. I would proceed with caution.

I'm really trying to avoid having multiple setups. What I'm aiming for eventually is a bag for each activity I do all permanently packed in the ute ready to go. Basically any time I go on a trip no matter what it is I can just load food and go. Plus when I go on a longer trip I can do multiple activities and have it all with me. But means there isn't going to be a heap of room so can't really have a few tents and sleeping bags etc. I don't actually care if its a one or two man as long as its suitably light for just me to carry.

The Tarptent Stratosphire 1 looks good too! Sleeps 2 cosily. Any thoughts on how it would fair in the snow? Not a big fan of the Hubba seems heavy for the size of it. Compared to the Tarptent and Mount Laurel Designs ones anyway.


Thanks for the help!

 

[motas]

I would not recommend a bivy. I use them for extreme winter conditions when a tent is not feasible (Alpine climbing), or as a backup shelter in the summer if I need to be fast and light and only require a shelter if the weather turns. If I KNOW ahead of time the weather will be bad, the last thing I want is a bivy. You can retreat to a tent to wait out bad weather. Doing it in a bivy...sucks.

I think you could be well served with a Terra Nova Laser Comp 1. http://expeditionportal.com/field-tested-terra-nova-laser-competition-1/

It has elements of tarp living if you just use the shell and not the inner tent body. Like a pyramid, the hoop architecture is incredibly strong and holds up very well in high wind and with snow loaded. It has far better livable space. Pyramids stink for livable space with highly sloped walls and that center pole is a pain.

Another great option is the Hilleberg Enan: http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/products/yellow-label/enan/enan.php

I fully disagree that just going to a 2-person tent makes for the better 1-person experience. That's categorically incorrect. This is about feature and square footage. Some 1-person tents rival the space of some small 2-person tents. You have to assess livability on a tent by tent basis.

You might hold out a bit and wait for Nemo Equipment's new system they designed ideally with bikepacking (mountain bike travel) in mind. It is a comprehensive tarp, bag and bug bivy system that is really slick, very storm worthy, and exceptionally light. But, it works best as a whole system.

The Terra nova looks nice, just a pity it can't be pitched with the inner only for warm weather. I am planning a summer bike packing trip at the moment actually. The Nemo solution sounds interesting as I need a whole system anyway, do you happen to have the name of it or a link I can have a look at? Happy to wait a little while I'm looking for more of a long term solution than for one specific trip.

The Stratosphere simply will not work in snow. That fabric is simply too light.

I'm a gram hunter to the extreme, but I'm also experienced enough in various harsh conditions to know that gram hunting for light gear is a fool's errand. The uber light gear on the market really is only appropriate for certain types of travel where durability and defense agains harsh weather is not an issue.

I see loads of really bad advice being thrown your way. I would proceed with caution.

Sorry if I've made it sound like I'm a gram hunter I am most definitely not, I just need it light enough for a small person to carry comfortably and its a nice way to compare different designs with similar storm worthiness and space. Obviously given a similar tent with one much lighter I'd pick the lighter one.

 

[dlh62c]

Have you considered a hammock, such as the Warbonnet Blackbird?

 

[motas]

I have, a close friend of mine who I am often with uses a hammock. I have just heard mixed reviews on them and am not sure if they are really as good as some people make them out to be. I am not often camped without trees but finding the right distance between trees and the optimum hanging position seems like a pain sometimes and there are really not many great advantages to them. Might end up swapping sleeping arrangements with him one trip and see if I like it as I do like the idea of them.

 

[dlh62c]

You might watch some of Shug's videos on YouTube on hammock camping.
http://youtu.be/CTuGJgka1qc

Not all hammocks are made the same. The Warbonnet Blackbird has what's called a foot box. It allows you to lay flatter in the hang.