Almost everything about your hike is perfect. You have all of your gear, you know where you’re going, and you’re out in nature… But your pack weighs so much. We’ve all been there. One way to save energy is to buy a lightweight backpacking tent. Here are some of the best on the market.
Which Lightweight Backpacking tent is right for you
I know from personal experience that saving weight on a camping trip can enhance the enjoyment. Heavy weight leads to suffering on hiking trips so reducing the weight is one of the keys to backpacking enjoyment.
I have put together a list of my favorite 3 contenders for your post lockdown adventure. All 3 tents are tried and tested and you won’t go wrong with any of them. Making sure you understand the pros and cons of each will help you make the right selection.
Sierra Designs High Route 1 Person backpacking Tent
- Minimum Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
- Packaged Weight: 1 lb 15 oz
- Number of doors: 1.5
- Vestibule: Yes
Sierra Designs has released their latest version of their solo tent, the High Route 1. When compressed, the High Route 1 is the size of a Nalgene bottle. Despite being small, this lightweight backpacking tent has withstood 30 mph winds in exposed areas.
At first this tent feels temperamental to set up. However, most users have insisted that this tent is a very easy tent to set up after you get the hang of it. The way the tent is designed also makes it simple to be pitched on an uneven surface. Just remember to bring trekking poles, as this tent needs them in order to be set up.
The coolest part of this tent is that you can set it up without the bug net, making it an ultralight tarp tent. Without the bug net, the already spacious tent also becomes even more spacious. Out of all three lightweight backpacking tents, this is probably the best overall one.
Terra Nova Laser Compact 1 Person lightweight Tent
- Minimum Weight: 1 lb 14 oz
- Packed Weight: 2 lb 2 oz
- Number of doors: 1
- Vestibule: Yes
The Terra Nova Laser Compact 1 strikes a solid balance between durability and low weight. Although not a trekking pole dependent tent, it does come with a webbing loop at the bottom of the flysheet door which is pole compatible. The way they made the flysheet, it isn’t seam sealed normally. What you need to know is that the waterproof pole cover will fully waterproof the main seam.
When compressed, the tent is only 30 cm long. This is great for bike packing, or sliding the tent into the side pocket of your backpack. No matter where you go with this tent it will be stable and reliable. Have a look and see what you think.
Hilleberg Akto 1 Person Tent lightweight backpacking tent
- Minimum Weight: 2 lb 14 oz.
- Packed Weight: 3 lb 12 oz
- Vestibule: Yes
The most unique trait to this tent is that it is 7 feet long, or 84 inches. It can be rare to find a tent that accommodates height, but is also a lightweight backpacking tent.
Something the High Route 1 and this tent share in common is the ability to separate the inner and outer tents. In addition, the inner and outer mesh are separable, great for pitching it all at once. You can also buy the separate mesh inner tent, which can replace the regular inner tent.
Last, you can pitch the basic tent with only four stakes. It’s best to stake out the whole thing, but this adds versatility to an already high quality solo tent.
Final thoughts on these 3 lightweight tents
Looking at each of these three lightweight backpacking tents, the best overall tent is the High Route 1 by Sierra Designs. If you’re looking for an equally reliable but differently designed tent we recommend the Laser Compact 1 by Terra Nova. Last, for anyone who is tall and struggles with finding a suitable tent, the Hilleberg Akto is the clear choice. It’s lightweight, stable, easy to pitch, and 7 feet long.
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