I’m first only talking about long trails like the Appalachian Trail or the PCT and only after you are certain (by experience) that sort of thing is for you.
This isn’t a best tent for car camping or for expeditions or for families or a base camp. This is limited to a very specific application that just happens to be important to me
For couples the best tent is the Triplex. With the kit to expand the volume it is a palace. Anything smaller tends to start feeling cramped.
The kit increases the internal volume more than you would expect. But. But. I would not recommend buying this tent for anyone who has hiked less than a thousand miles and unless they are completely comfortable with a tent that is not freestanding.
https://zpacks.com/products/trekking-pole-cup
For most individuals who are not sharing a tent there are different choices depending on your physical size and what you really want/need.
If you must have a double wall tent, then you want https://www.tarptent.com/product/notch-li/
Occasionally sharing your tent, tall and ready to use 30^2 feet? https://lightheartgear.com/products/lightheart-solong-6-sil-poly-fabric
It is 32 ounces.
Are you on a terribly tight budget and likely to sleep out many nights on the Appalachian Trail?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-1-Person-Backpacking-Tent-with-Vestibule-for-Gear-Storage/519270004 — under $30 and 3.4 pounds.
I’ve seen people who made it to Pennsylvania on the AT with this tent through lots of rain and avoiding shelters.
For two people who are really on a budget https://www.rivercountryproducts.com/product/trekker-tent-2/. Under $100. Two pounds 12 ounces. 35^2 feet.
Really need freestanding (I’ve been there). https://explore-rentals.com/product/big-agnes-copper-spur/. You can rent it in 1p, 2p and 3p versions.
Note that as an alternative Zpacks Duplex now has a freestanding version and there is the Tarptent Rainbow series. https://www.tarptent.com/product/rainbow/ —the Dyneema version is much lighter. https://www.tarptent.com/product/rainbow-li/
These are very popular tents on long trails and freestanding.
That’s it. The Durston Dyneema 2p is not recommended for two people and you can’t actually buy one (they sell out within minutes when offered for sake). Hyperlite Mountain Gear tents are great for mountain and four season camping (and I love their packs) but their tents aren’t optimized for Thru-Hiking.
REI makes some great gear. But it isn’t quite the best for Thru-Hiking. (I’m not saying it is bad, and it is a great cost / performance point).
MSR makes great camping and mountain tents. But again, not what I consider the best for the singular use of Thru-Hiking. A little heavy.
Nemo tents are a little cramped (go to an REI and set up a few tents side by side and crawl in and out). I was planning to buy one until I did that and got a Copper Spur instead.
https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/lunar-solo-tent and the lightheart gear tent are really close contenders if you are not going with Dyneema. The lunar solo is slightly smaller and a little lighter. It also costs less. Worth considering especially if a $250 price point is attractive to you.
Finally, even a little smaller https://www.gossamergear.com/products/the-one
That takes you through all the best tents or alternatives for Thru-Hiking.
Caveats. Most, but not all, 1p (one person) tents are too small for one person’s use for an extended period. That is why most hikers are using 2p tents.
Dyneema is lighter. It used to be twice the price of nylon or polyester (polyester is more waterproof). Now it costs even more.
Dyneema also does not absorb any water when it rains. A “normal” nylon tent does. As a result nylon tents weigh a lot more the morning after you have camped out in the rain.
Almost all freestanding tents pitch better if you stake them out. But they tend to have more volume than non-freestanding tents. The volume makes them more livable.
There is a reason the copper spur is so popular among hikers.
But there is also a reason my wife and I switched from a Copper Spur to a Triplex.