Best 1 Person Tents for Wild Camping UK

Because carrying a two-bedroom nylon bungalow up a hill on your own is rarely necessary.

A good solo wild-camping tent needs to do three things well: disappear into your backpack, give you enough protection for British weather, and avoid making you hate tents by the second night.

The awkward bit is that “1 person” doesn’t always mean “best for one person”. Some strict 1P tents save weight but leave almost nowhere for wet gear. A lightweight 2P can sometimes make a far nicer solo shelter for only a few hundred grams more.

So this list includes proper one-person tents and a couple of lightweight two-person shelters that make exceptional solo options.

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Comparison

1. Naturehike Cloud Up 1: Best Value

The Cloud Up 1 is probably where we’d point someone who wants a proper solo backpacking tent without immediately spending premium-brand money.

Naturehike lists the lightest 20D version at around 1.2kg minimum, with a packed size roughly 41 x 13cm. It is a three-season double-wall shelter with a 4000mm-rated 20D fly on that version and aluminium poles.

It is conventional enough for a beginner to understand quickly, but light enough that you won’t be resenting it halfway up the first climb.

The main compromise is space. A true 1P tent is efficient because there isn’t much unused room. Unfortunately, unused room is also where you’d quite like to put your wet jacket.

2. Forclaz MT900 Tarp Tent: Best Ultralight

If weight is the priority, this is the standout.

Decathlon lists the current MT900 tarp tent at around 920 to 950g with a tiny 2.5-litre packed volume. The fly is rated above 2000mm, the floor above 3000mm, and the shelter has been wind-tunnel tested to 70km/h.

At £129.99 when checked in September 2026, it is also much cheaper than many specialist sub-1kg shelters.

But it requires trekking poles and is specifically aimed at experienced solo trekkers. It is non-freestanding, so you need ground that takes pegs and enough patience to get the geometry right.

3. MSR Elixir 1 V2: Best Robust Traditional Solo Tent

The Elixir 1 goes almost completely the other way.

It is heavier, with a minimum weight around 1.84kg and maximum packed weight around 2.33kg, but you get a freestanding structure, proper double-wall construction, a useful vestibule and heavier fabrics than most ultralight tents.

This is the tent for someone who values straightforward pitching and durability more than winning a gram-counting competition.

The footprint is also commonly included with the current Elixir 1 package, which is useful because buying a £250 tent and then discovering the floor protector is an optional philosophical concept is never especially fun.

4. Lanshan 2 Pro: Best Roomy Solo Ultralight

Yes, it says 2 in the name. We can all move past this together.

The Lanshan 2 Pro is popular with solo hikers because it gives you enormous space for its weight. The manufacturer lists a tent-body weight around 900g and a minimum trail figure just over 1kg once the basic stakes and sacks are included.

It uses two trekking poles, has a single-wall construction and needs seam sealing. Those details matter.

What you get in return is enough room to keep your pack beside you rather than arranging everything vertically around your head. For long trips, that can be worth far more than the purity of owning something officially labelled “1P”.

5. Vango F10 Helium UL 2: Best UK All-Round Solo Shelter

The Helium is another technical two-person tent that becomes excellent when one person claims the whole thing.

At roughly 1.42kg, it remains properly lightweight. Its compact pack size and low profile suit British walking particularly well, and unlike a trekking-pole shelter you aren’t relying on your walking poles to keep your bedroom upright.

If you already know you like wild camping and want one quality solo shelter for regular UK use, this is probably our favourite compromise on the list.

Read our full Helium UL 2 review.

Should You Buy a 1P or 2P Tent for Solo Camping?

If minimum weight matters most, buy a true 1P.

If you value comfort, a lightweight 2P often makes more sense. An extra 200 to 400g can buy enough room for your rucksack, damp clothing and the ability to turn over without negotiating with the wall.

• Choose 1P: long-distance walking, small packs, low total kit weight
• Choose light 2P: weekend wild camps, wet UK conditions, more comfort
• Choose trekking-pole: you already carry poles and want the lowest possible weight
• Choose freestanding: easy pitching matters more than gram counting

What Matters Most for UK Solo Camping?

Wind performance and ventilation matter more than a lot of people expect. A very high waterproof number is useful, but a badly pitched tent that flaps itself to pieces will not be saved by a specification sheet.

We also place more value on a usable porch in Britain than we would in a dry climate. Boots, rucksack and waterproofs need somewhere to live that is neither outside in the rain nor inside next to your sleeping bag.

What We’d Buy

For a first solo tent: Cloud Up 1.

For a committed lightweight walker: Forclaz MT900 tarp tent.

For regular UK wild camping where we want the best compromise of weight and reassurance: Vango F10 Helium UL 2.

And for anyone who insists every gram matters but also wants half their bedroom with them: Lanshan 2 Pro.

FAQs

See our best tents under 2kg and lightweight tent guide for more options.