I recently got asked some more questions on tents on some forums and thought I would summarize what I said here.
One Person Tents
For a one person tent you need to ask yourself some questions:
- What is your budget?
- How much space do you need?
- Free-standing or not? These days not = trekking pole tent.
- How much will the environment intrude? A lot of rain, bugs, etc., or very little?
- How minimalist are you?
- How much space do you need inside the tent?
- How much space will you have to pitch the tent? Are campsites spacious or are they tight and small?
For most people this means that they will need a two person tent or a generous one person tent and that free-standing is optional. I’ve written before about being in line at REI behind two people, one of whom was buying the tent the other had returned. The buyer was a small person, the returnee was just too big for the tent.
The tent was perfect for the one and not-acceptable for the other.
I’ve hiked some distances with 2p tents. That includes a Durston Pro 2p (which is smaller than the regular Durston XMid) and a Big Agnes Copper Spur. Both were eventually too small for my wife and I.
Currently, the choices for one person seem to be:
- For $20.00 or less, a polycro (window film) tarp. This is exposed to bugs and tarp camping takes some skill. It is not for everyone. Often a tarp is combined with a $20 bug bivy.
- For $65.00 the River Trekker. This is a “two person” A frame tent that is supported by trekking poles and needs to be staked down. About 3 pounds.
- $234 X-Mid One Person Tent. This has a large footprint with a weight of 28 ounces (plus the weight of four stakes). 20 square feet of interior space.
- $269 Tarptent Rainbow. This weighs 32 oounces (includes the weight of stakes) and can be set up in spaces that will not fit a bigger tent. 24.4 square feet interior space.
- $639.00 for a Durston XMid Pro 1. 15.5 ounces (plus stakes) and 20 square feet.
- Rainbow Li with 24.1 square feet, 25 ounces (including tent stakes) and $649.00. Does not require trekking poles to pitch.
- $669 the Zpacks AltaPlex. 16.5 ounces (stakes not included). 25 square feet. Plex Solo is similar, but smaller.
My general assumption is that you are going to hike with two trekking poles and I’m not counting their weight when providing weights as you would have them anyway. There are other lightweight tents in the three pound range, some as inexpensive as $100.00.
You can see what others have used on the Continental Divide Trail (usually hiked by experienced hikers) and on the Appalachian Trail (usually someone’s first long hike).
Two Person Tents
I’ve written a fair amount on these sinced that is what I use. Generally, the Zpacks Off-set Trio is my choice. But going over budget ranges:
- For $65.00 the River Trekker. This is a “two person” A frame tent that is supported by trekking poles and needs to be staked down. About 3 pounds. It and the similar Lanshan tents are popular and I’ve seen them in use on the CDT.
- For $269 the Durston XMid 2p. 35.4 Ounces. 33.2 sq ft interior. It is larger than the XMid Pro 2p, and costs less. Rapidly becoming one of the most popular tents out there.
- The XMid Pro 2+. $719. About 32 square feet. Very weather worthy.
- ZPacks Off-Set Trio for $899. 22.5 Ounces. 41.9 square feet. Zpacks makes a few other tents, but for two people, I considered this the best until I hit rain. The Pivot Trio solves the problems. After tariffs impact on Dyneema it is $949.
- So many TarpTents. Prices vary. Sizes range from 30.6 square feet to 32.25 square feet for the ones I’d consider for two people. Prices from $299 to $679.
- DIY tents, such as https://www.instructables.com/Ultralight-clear-tarp-tent-2P/ which weighs 10.2 ounces.
Notes
Tent Pegs/Tent Stakes
On the Appalachian Trail my preference was inexpensive titanium shepherds hook tent stakes. Very light. Inexpensive. Easily found on Amazon.
Once I got to the PCT with dryer, hard, rocky soil, I switched to MSR Groundhogs. They are made with DAC aluminum which withstands bending and breaking much better than alternatives. I had some neat looking alternative stakes that bent on me and became useless.
Tents I have used on long trails (in bold if they are around the gear room somewhere):
- REI Half Dome — great tent, just too heavy.
- Mountain Hardware Ghost — discontinued, front entry tent. Front entry tents have pretty much disappeared because side entry is so much easier to use.
- MyTrailCompany tent — they are out of business. Luckily they took my return before they folded. The tent was front entry and just too small.
- Big Agnes Copper Spur 2p. Good tent. Just a little heavier than what I use now, and a little too small.
- Big Agnes Tiger Wall. Tent was used and a gift. Completely failed. Customer Service could not/would not repair.
- Zpacks Triplex, with pole caps. Great tent, just exposed my hiking pole handles to hungry deer.
- XMidPro 2. Just a little too small. There is now a 2+ that in theory resolves the “too small”.
- Off-set Trio. Have really liked it. I need to repair the zippers on mine, they seem to have about a two thousand mile lifespan before they need repair.
Footprints I have used:
Polycro/Window film. It is light and works well. Not suitable to sleeping on during siesta style breaks. It is waterproof, which important for wet ground and nylon tents. I would put shock cord (also called stretch or bungee cord) ties on the corners and put the tent poles through that to anchor it.
Tyvek. That is what we now use. My wife carries it and it is great for a ground cloth for a siesta. Lighter and less expensive than the footprints sold by gear companies. Some varients are water proof, others are water resistant. Fairly durable.
The Tyvek goes well with the Dyneema tent floors since they are inately waterproof.
On a long trail, the simplier and lighter, usually the better. Of course all of this advice is subject to change next year as improvements occur and technololgy moves on.