Lightweight solo tents
TENTS TODAY are lighter than they’ve ever been due to the latest materials and designs. However, it’s still true that backpacking tents involve compromises between weight, space and durability, especially with solo ones. How small a tent can be whilst still being functional is, to some extent, a matter of what you’re prepared to put up with. There are tiny ultralight tents with barely room to do more than lie down. For me these are just about acceptable for overnight trips in good weather, but for anything longer I prefer larger ones in which I can sit up, store gear and cook under cover. Will you live in your tent or just use it for sleeping?
I think 2kg is about the most a solo tent should weigh. Many are far less than this whilst still having adequate room. They usually cost more though.
Most solo tents are based on one long hoop that may run across the tent or along its length. This single hoop may be backed up by short poles at each end or else split into two to form a Y-shape. These designs give more wind resistance and headroom. There may also be a cross-pole at the apex for more headroom. All these designs work. What differentiates models are the position and number of guylines, fabrics, vents and doors, and ease of pitching.
Lighter tents are not necessarily less durable. Siliconetreated nylon, used in the lightest models, is stronger and lighter than polyurethane-coated fabrics. An exception to this is the groundsheet. Ultralight groundsheets usually have low ‘hydrostatic heads’ (the measure of how much water can stand on the material before it leaks) and may leak under pressure. Makes often recommend using a separate footprint under the groundsheet. This adds weight and cost, and should be included with the tent.
Condensation can be more of a problem in solo tents than larger ones because there is less space for air to
