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As your home away from home, a tent is an essential piece of gear to pack when going backpacking or hiking. However, your tent will be one of the heaviest items in your backpack. If your goal is to keep your pack as light as possible but you still want the livability of a tent, an ultralight tent is the way to go.
The best ultralight backpacking tent will allow you to travel light but still provide a sturdy and protective shelter that can stand up to whatever mother nature can throw at it. To help you find the best ultralight backpacking tents, our ultralight tent reviews break down the best ultralight backpacking tents with the best combination of weight, interior space, weather protection, and ease-of-use.
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Tent and poles only weigh 1pound and 15 ounces
- Two-stage carry sack makes it easy to split the load
- Spacious enough to accommodate two campers
- Ripstop nylon with polyurethane and silicone sealant
- 7.1 + 7.1 square feet vestibules for gear storage
- Single hubbed and color-coded setup is simple and fast
- Volumizing pole clip provides adequate headroom
- No-see-um mesh canopy for airflow and stargazing
- Pocket for headlamp and a special light-diffusing fabric
Best Use: Backpacking, Hiking
Package Weight: Package: 2 lbs. 6 oz.
Minimum Weight: 1 lb. 15 oz.
Packed Size: 19.5 x 5.5 inches
Capacity: 2-person
Floor Dimensions: 85 x 51/43 inches
Floor Area: 27.5 ft²
Peak Height: 39 inches
Matreials: Canopy: 10D Nylon Mesh, Floor: 15D Nylon
Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Ultralight Tent
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Spacious 2-person tent offering 30.5 square feet of space
- Straight side walls provide plenty of headroom for comfort
- Durable double wall construction backed by a lifetime warranty
- 10 square feet vestibule and internal storage pockets.
- Compact backpack-friendly folding poles
- Color coded clip and fly attachment make setup simple
- D-door makes getting in and out of the tent easy
Best Use Backpacking, Hiking
Package weight: 4 lb. 9 oz.
Minimum Weight: 3 lb. 14 oz.
Packed size: 13 x 15 inches
Capacity: Two Persons
Floor Dimensions: 88 x 55/45 inches
Floor area: 30.5 ft²
Maximum Height: 43 inches
Materials: 68D Polyester, 40D Mesh, 68D Nylon
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Ultralight Tent
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Best budget ultralight backpacking tent
- Vestibule, gear loft, and mesh storage gear pocket
- Freestanding two-pole design makes setup and takedown easy
- Weatherproof fly buckles for ease of adjusting the tent
- Extra-large #8 zippers on the door and vestibules
- Water and UV resistant fly and factory sealed seams
- Half-mesh walls and vents at the top provide ventilation
Best Use: Backpacking, Hiking
Total Weight: 4 lbs. 1 oz.
Minimum Weight: 3 lbs. 5 oz.
Packed Size: 6 x 17 inches
Capacity: 1 Person
Floor Dimensions: 2’8 x 7’6 feet
Floor Area: 20 ft²
Center Height: 36 inches
Material: 75D 185T Polyester
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- 4-season weather protection, ideal for climbing, snow and winter
- Spacious three-person tent with a 46inches headroom
- A lightweight and space-efficient packed size
- NanoShield fabric is lightweight yet tightly woven and high-strength
- Zippered mesh panels at rear and door for ventilation
- Freestanding design with two poles for easy setup
- A rugged 70D polyester floor highly resistant to puncturing
Best Use: Climbing, Winter Backpacking
Package Weight: 4 lbs. 1 oz.
Minimum Weight: 3 lbs. 7 oz.
Packed Size: 7 x 9 inches
Capacity: 3-person
Floor Dimensions: 82 x 58 inches
Floor Area: 33 square feet
Peak Height: 44 inches
Poles: DAC Featherlite aluminum
Materials Canopy: NanoShield, Floor: 70D Polyester
River Country Products Trekking Poles Ultralight Tent
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Trekking poles tent eliminates the need to lug along tent poles
- Ultralight package weight and incredibly small packed size
- Three pitching options – trekking poles, sticks, or trees
- Comes with 8 ultralight yet strong aluminum stakes for stability
- Waterproof tent floor and sealed seams for rain protection
- Roomy for one and comfortable for two people
- Small back vents provide ventilation and comfort
Best Use: Hiking, Trekking, Backpacking
Package Weight: 2 lbs. 12 oz.
Capacity: 2 Person
Floor Dimensions: 7 x 5 feet
Ceiling Height: 42 inches
Material: Nylon
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Spacious ultralight two person backpacking tent
- Foot poles and roof poles maximize livable space
- Versatile rain fly can be rolled up or converted into an awning
- Ability to pitch it with trekking poles for an ultralight setup
- 16.8 square feet vestibule provides ample storage space
- Two large, easy-entry canopy-style doors
- Screen doors and mesh canopy at vestibules for ventilation
- Internal mesh pockets and gear loops
- Reflective lines for nighttime visibility
Best Use: Backpacking, Bikepacking
Packaged Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.
Minimum Trail Weight: 1 lb. 15 oz.
Packed Size: 16 x 7 inches
Capacity: Two Person
Floor Dimensions: 88 x 52/42 inches
Floor Area: 28.7 square feet
Peak Height: 42 inches
Materials: Canopy: Nylon mesh, Floor: Ripstop nylon
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Perfect balance of quality and durability vs weight and price
- Two configuration options depending on weather conditions
- Distinctive design maximizes livable space and stability
- Two generous vestibules on each side for gear storage
- Closable vents in the rainfly provide airflow
- Unified hub-and-pole system and color-coded clip for easy setup
- Light diffusing lantern pockets in the ceiling
Best Use: Backpacking, Camping
Package Weight: 3.9 pounds
Minimum Weight: 3.5 pounds
Packed Size: 18 x 6 inches
Capacity: 2-person
Dimensions: 84 x 50 inches
Floor Space: 29 square feet
Ceiling Height: 39 Inches
Materials: 20D Ripstop Nylon, 15D nylon mesh
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Roomy 3-person capacity for 2 adults or two adults and a kid
- Incredibly ultralight for a full-featured 3-person tent
- Double zippers on doors and a Quick Stash door keeper
- Taped seams, storm flaps on the zippers, and dry-entry entrances
- Storage pocket on ceiling and media pocket for earbud cords
- Two roomy vestibules offer 16 square feet storage space
- Reflective guylines and webbing on tent corners
- Mesh canopy and low vents allow airflow and reduce condensation
- Attachment loops fit Triangle, Large Trapezoid, and Wall gear lofts
Best Use: Backpacking, Camping
Packaged Weight: 2 lbs. 15 oz.
Minimum Trail Weight: 2 lbs. 10 oz.
Packed Size: 5.5 x 19 inches
Capacity: 3-person
Floor Dimensions: 88 x 66/60 inches
Floor Area: 38 square feet
Peak Height: 42 inches
Canopy Fabric: Ripstop Nylon/Polyester Mesh
Floor and Rainfly: Silicone-Treated Ripstop Nylon
Winterial Single Person Ultralight Bivy Tent
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Ultralight bivy tent perfect for backpacking and hiking
- Generous length and width for one person plus gear
- Large zippered door for ease of getting in and out
- Reinforced rainfly for weather protection and durability
- Open mesh ceiling to keep out bugs and prevent condensation
- Package include strong cord and 14 heavy duty stakes
Best Use: Backpacking, Hiking, Camping
Package Weight: 3 pounds 3 ounces
Minimum Weight: 2 Pounds 9 Ounces
Packed Size: 18 x 4.5 x 4 inches
Capacity: Single Person
Open Dimensions: 38 x 28 x 90 inches
- What Makes This Ultralight Backpacking Tent Stand Out
- Best 2-person ultralight backpacking tent
- Trapezoidal floor and vertical sidewalls maximize space
- Two doors with a no-drip entryway design
- Multiple pockets and gear loops on the interior
- 21.5 square feet stake-out vestibule space
- Reflective stake loops and guylines for night visibility
- Roof vent improves airflow and helps control condensation
- Exterior guyout loops and rainfly rollback loops offer versatility
Best Use: Backpacking, Hiking, Hunting
Package Weight: 2 lbs. 14 oz.
Minimum Trail Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.
Minimum Pitch Weight: 2 pounds
Packed Size: 7 x 20 inches
Capacity: 2-person
Floor Dimensions: 88 x 52/42 inches
Floor Area: 28.7 square feet
Vestibule Area 21.5 square feet
Peak Height: 38 inches
Material: Ripstop Nylon
How To Choose An Ultralight Tent – Buying Guide
Weight and Packed Size
When evaluating ultralight backpacking tents, the first thing to look at is the weight. For the sake of packing in a tenting backpack, ultralight tents should also pack down small. Ultralight tent weights range from slightly under 1 pound to under 4 pounds and have two weight specifications.
Related Review: Backpacking Tent
The packaged weight refers to the total weight of all parts of the tent plus any accessories it comes with including the stuff sack and repair kit. On the other hand, the minimum trail weight takes into account just the essential components – tent body, rainfly, and poles. Â
Size
Besides the packed size, it’s also important to find out what kind of floor space and height clearance the tent offers once setup. Ultralight tents come in one, two or three-person tents capacities. The dimensions of the tent when open and the floor size will tell you whether the tent will accommodate your sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
It will also tell you how many sleepers it can host comfortably. Another aspect of size to consider is headroom. To ensure the tent stands high enough for you to sit comfortably while inside, a height of 36 inches and above is ideal.
Material
To keep the weight down, ultralight tents backpacking are made of thin and lightweight materials. However, this shouldn’t be at the expense of strength and toughness. Nylon and polyester are great materials for the rainfly and floor, as they are lightweight yet highly resistant to tearing. The higher the denier rating, the tougher and more resistant to ripping and puncturing the material will be.
Since the floor will be set up on rough camping grounds, it should be made of a thicker and tougher material. The canopy and mesh panels should also be made of a heavy-denier nylon/polyester mesh that won’t rip easily. Aluminum is a superb material for the poles and stakes. It’s amazingly lightweight while still being incredibly strong.
Waterproofing
The nylon and polyester materials tent flies and floors are made of are only water-resistant. To make them waterproof, manufacturers apply a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment or coat them with silicone or PU. The seams should be taped or sealed and the doorways, zippers, and vents covered. Â
To ensure that the water pooling on the ground doesn’t find its way into the tent, the tent floor should have a bathtub floor design. A bathtub floor means that the tent floor material extends a few inches up the walls.Â
Related Review: Waterproof Tent
Stakes
When camping in the great outdoors, your home away from home should be sturdy enough to handle the elements. Even when your goal is to minimize pack weight and make tent backpacking trips more enjoyable, it’s still important to ensure you have a properly secured shelter that can hold up to strong winds and rainstorms. This means that you will have to lug along stakes.
The stakes an ultralight tent comes with should be strong enough to keep your tent taut but lightweight enough to not weigh you down on the trails. Most ultralight tents use aluminum stakes that don’t weigh too much but provide a very strong hold when lowered into the ground.
Frame Designs
The frame design determines how ultralight a tent will be, and how easy it’ll be to pitch and takedown. Tents with a freestanding design are the easiest to set up, as they can stand on their own without being staked down. Non-freestanding tents use stakes, guylines, and poles for pitching. Some lightweight tents have a semi-freestanding frame design that requires stakes at two corners.Â
Related Review: Freestanding Tent
Durability
Since ultralight tents don’t come cheap, it’s important to pay attention to the quality of construction to ensure that you get a durable tent that will hold up well to the rigors of backpacking and hiking. First of all, the tent should be made of high-quality materials. Aluminum and heavy-denier nylon and polyester make for durable ultralight tents.
The kind of warranty can also tell you the kind of durability you can expect from a tent. Reading reviews and choosing a top-rated lightweight tent is also a great way to ensure you get a tent that will serve you for many years to come.
Ease of use
In addition to being easy to carry on the trails, the best backpack tents should also be easy to use once you select your campsites. Freestanding tents with a two-pole design are the easiest to put up. Most tents will also require tethering and staking, but this shouldn’t be too complicated or time-consuming. A great way to find out how easy a tent is to put up is to go through the user reviews, where other campers give an honest assessment of the setup experience.
Once set up, the tent should offer a pleasant user experience. The number of doors and how they are designed will determine the ease of getting in and out. Extra features such as interior pockets, gear lofts, vestibules, and hanging loops are also nice to have.Â
Season Rating
A tent’s seasonal rating tells you the kind of weather protection it provides and what seasons it’s suitable for. For example, a two-season tent suits summer and spring camping only while a three-season is suitable for camping in the summer, spring, and fall. On the extreme end, a 4 season tent is suitable for even winter, snow, and alpine conditions. Most ultralight and lightweight tents have a 3 season rating.
Related Reviews: 4 Season Tent & Summer Tent
Footprint
Because an ultralight tent is made of thin and thus delicate materials, a footprint is an essential component of his setup. It serves as the base of the tent, protecting the tent floor from puncturing by rocks and sticks. This helps extend the life of the tent. It also offers additional moisture protection. Some tents will come with a footprint as part of the package, while some will require you to purchase one separately.
FAQs
Q: What Is Ultralight Tent?
What defines an ultralight tent is the weight. Weighing 1-3 pounds, ultralight tents are extremely lightweight tents made of thin and ultralight materials such as nylon, polyester, and aluminum. This type of tent is easy to carry in a backpack when hiking, backpacking, climbing, or bike packing. It’s the go to type of tent whenever you want to reduce pack weight so as to stay nimble on the trails.
Q: Which Tent Is Considered To Be Ultralight?
For a tent to be considered ultralight, it should weigh under 4 pounds. This also depends on the tents capacity. For example, a 1-person tent should weight about 1 pound in order for it to be considered ultralight. Three-person tents weighing 3 pounds are also considered ultralight.
Q: Who Benefits The Most From Ultralight Tents?
Backpackers, hikers, climbers, and bike packers are the biggest beneficiaries of ultralight tents. These outdoor adventurers carry all their gear on their back, and having an light tent really cuts down their pack weight enabling them to travel light, cover more distance, and enjoy their trek, hike, or climb even more. Even minimalist car campers appreciate the minimal weight and compact packed size.
Related Reviews: Truck Tent & Bikepacking TentQ: How Do I Find All The Specifications For My Tent?
When shopping online, the specifications for a tent will be on the description, features, and specification tabs. To find all the specs, you can also visit the tent’s page on the manufacturers website. Once you receive the tent, the specifications will also be listed on the package the tent comes with. Key specifications to look out for include the weight, the floor area, the ceiling height, the packed size, the seasonal rating, the waterproof rating, and the materials.  Â
Q: Are Tents The Lightest Shelter For Ultralight Backpackers?
No, even ultralight tents are not the lightest shelter for ultralight backpackers. There are extremely lightweight solutions out there such as a tarp tent or a bivy bag. These are the lightest way to camp. The advantage of going with ultralight tents is that they offer more livability, comfort, and weather protection than tarp tents or bivy bags offer. Â
Q: How Do I Make My Tent Lighter?
The best way to make your tent lighter is to ditch the heavier steel stakes your tent comes with and replace them with a set of lighter aluminum or carbon fiber stakes. You can also shed weight by leaving some of the tent components at home. For example, you can do without the repair patch, stuff sacks, and other extras your tent might come with. If you have a trekking poles tent, leaving the tent poles at home and using your trekking/hiking poles or suitable sticks to support the tent will also reduce the tent weight.
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A lighter pack on your back makes for a more comfortable and enjoyable backpacking or hiking trip. Having the best budget ultralight tent can make your backpacking with tent trips even more fun. The best ultra light tents are easier to carry around on the trails and still provide a comfortable shelter. We hope this guide on ultralight backpacking tents will help you find the best backpacking tent for your situation.
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