10 best backpacking tents UK 2023: one-person hiking tents that are lightweight and portable

Our top-rated backpacking tents are lightweight, portable and perfect for adventure
best lightweight one person hiking tents best lightweight one person hiking tents
best lightweight one person hiking tents

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Not all tents are created equal – they range from huge family-friendly designs with as much space inside as a small cottage to light and portable one-person tents that can fit into a small rucksack.

Backpacking tents sit at the smallest end of the tent spectrum, and as the name suggests, are designed to be carried with you on your adventures – they’re portable and compact enough to fit into backpacks or bike panniers, and are designed with hikers, wild campers, bike backpackers and anyone else covering long distances and setting up a new camp each evening in mind.

What size tent should I go for? 

You’ll see tents sold according to the amount of people they can sleep - one-person tents really do only fit one, and you may still want to choose a two-person tent if you want extra space and comfort. Most two-person tents should fit two campers plus their backpacks, and while these are heavier, they can usually be divided up to share the weight.

What is the ideal weight for a hiking tent? 

Weight is at a premium on hiking