Lightweight Tent Buying Guide
Whether you’re looking into buying a tent for a hiking holiday, backpacking trip or any other adventure, a lightweight tent (also known as a backpackers tent) will help you to maximise your space and take some of the load off your back. This tent design is one of the lightest and most compact options out there, and this guide will help you to decide whether it’s the right fit for your needs and suggest features you should be keeping an eye out for.
What is a lightweight tent?
A lightweight tent is an ultra-lightweight tent design usually weighing between 1kg and 2.5kg for a one or two-person model. Designed to be as compact and lightweight as possible, they have fewer tent pegs, zips and guy lines than other tent designs and they’re most commonly constructed from lightweight nylon, polyester or Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF). Lightweight tents tend to have a single door and a tapered ceiling.
Why should you consider a lightweight tent?
As the name suggests, lightweight backpacker tents are designed with long-distance hikers and backpackers in mind. Naturally, that means they have several pros and cons:
Pros:
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They have a lightweight design, making them easier to transport over long distances.
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The compact design is easy to pack down into a small backpack or other bag.
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Fewer tent pegs and guy lines mean that they have quicker set-up times and an easier overall pitching process.
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Nylon, polyester and DCF fabrics are naturally water resistant, offering some protection from light rain.
Cons:
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Due to the lighter design and fewer guy lines, lightweight tents are less stable when camping in high winds.
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The tapered design means there is limited headspace and smaller living or storage space.
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The thin fabric is at risk of tears and damage.
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If your tent doesn’t have a waterproof coating (some budget-friendly options don’t, so always check the product specification), the thin fabric is likelier to let in water when camping in bad weather.
Lightweight tent features
Finding a reliable, livable and waterproof lightweight tent design has a lot to do with the features of your tent, so these are some of the key things you’ll want to look out for during your search.
Fabric
Most lightweight tents are constructed from nylon, polyester or DCF fabrics. While these fabrics are naturally water resistant, you’ll get the most protection from a fabric that has a waterproof coating such as polyurethane to effectively repel water away from your tent.
The lower the denier of the fabric, the lighter it is, and the more susceptible it is to tearing, letting in rain or forming condensation, three things you want to avoid when camping. We’d recommend finding a lightweight tent with a fabric of at least 15 denier, especially on the tent floor, which needs to keep out moisture from the ground.
Doors
Look for a lightweight tent that has a door at the front of the tent for ease of access. Designs that have a door at the side will mean that campers will need to clamber over each other every time they want to exit or enter the tent.
Tent poles
Lightweight tent poles made from aluminium will be slightly heavier than carbon fibre tent poles. However, they are more durable and less likely to break, making them the most reliable option.
The more tent poles you have, the more stable your tent will be, which can come in handy in windy conditions. However, this is at the expense of added weight, because tent poles are often the heaviest part of your tent pack.
A rainfly
If there’s a chance that you will be camping in rain, prioritise a lightweight tent with a rainfly to prevent water soaking into your tent. This will increase the weight of your pack, but the pay-off of staying dry is worth it.
Spreader bars
A spreader bar, which stretches over the ceiling and increases headroom, is a great feature for taller campers and those who will be spending more time inside.
Interior pockets
Since you’ll be limited on living and storage space, pockets inside your tent are especially handy for organising important belongings into compartments.
Vestibules
Vestibules are pockets on the outside of your tent, great for campers who will need to store any outdoor gear such as hiking boots and waterproofs. Most lightweight tents come with at least one or two vestibules precisely for this purpose.
Should I buy a freestanding or a non-freestanding lightweight tent?
Freestanding lightweight tents stay in shape due to their tent poles and don’t require any tent pegs. They are also quick to set up and often more lightweight than non-freestanding options due to the absence of tent pegs/stakes.
Due to the absence of stakes, there’s more space and weight available in the pack, which is why many freestanding models come with a rain fly that can repel rainwater. This makes them a good option in rainy conditions. In wind, however, they offer less stability.
Non-freestanding lightweight tents require tent stakes to stay upright, so they take slightly longer to set up. As a result, the tent fabric is often thin to make up for the weight of the poles and tent stakes and they lack a rain fly, making them less waterproof.
Semi-freestanding lightweight tents are a compromise between the two designs. The structure is kept in place by just a few angled stakes, striking a balance between pack weight and stability. However, this type of tent is less common.
Overall, a freestanding tent will likely be the best option for most backpackers due to the lightweight design, rain fly and ease of use.
With a lightweight tent on your back, all that’s left is narrowing down your camping equipment and learning how to care for your tent.
FAQ
How thick should the fabric of a lightweight tent be?
The fabric of a lightweight tent should be at least 15 denier.
Are lightweight tents good in bad weather?
Lightweight tents may be less stable and waterproof in bad weather. Look for models with rain flys, waterproof coatings, guy lines and aluminium tent poles to protect your tent from rain and wind.
How much do lightweight tents cost?
Lightweight tents typically cost between £40 and £150. The cost will depend upon waterproofing, size and quality.