Best Ultralight Tents of 2025, Tested & Reviewed

One of the most effective ways to reduce the weight of your backpack is by choosing an ultralight tent. We compiled research on 64 different options and selected the best models to test, ranging from budget-friendly picks that surprised us to premium fortresses offering storm protection.

We evaluated each model based on various metrics such as comfort, ease of use, and weather resistance, while also keeping in mind the astronomical prices that these shelters often command.

We included both one-person and two-person options to test in the forests of the Midwest. We spent a night in each with the same gear we take on our adventures to see how they fit into a standard backpacking experience and invited friends to evaluate the two-person models.

The lead tester has been an avid backpacker and gear enthusiast for eight years, testing all types of backpacking equipment from deep winter forests to blistering deserts.

And for more info, check out some of our other most popular gear guides:

Quick Picks for Ultralight Tents

Check out this quick list of our favorites, or continue scrolling to see our full list of the best ultralight tents with in-depth reviews.

Best two-person ultralight tent: Durston Gear X-Mid Pro 2+ ($669)

Best one-person ultralight tent: Durston Gear X-Mid Pro 1 ($549)

Best balance of comfort and weight for two: Zpacks Offset Duo ($799)

Best balance of comfort and weight for one: Zpacks Pivot Solo ($649)

Most spacious & weather-worthy ultralight tent: Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 ($1098)

Best low-weight design: Zpacks Duplex Classic ($699)

Easiest to recommend one-person tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo ($260)

Best tent with freestanding option: Tarptent Double Rainbow ($299)

Best budget ultralight tent: 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Pro ($190)

Good balance of weight & livability for solo hikers: MSR Freelite 2 ($449)

Best semi-freestanding ultralight tent: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 ($450)

Best versatile tarp net combo: Six Moon Designs Haven ($375)

Best super lightweight one-person silnylon tent: Gossamer Gear The One ($255)

Best super lightweight two-person silnylon tent: Gossamer Gear The Two ($320)

How We Test

COMFORT

Staying comfortable on the trail is important to get the most out of your hike, whether it’s an overnight trip or a multi-month adventure. To evaluate comfort for tents, we used a representative gear loadout for a typical backpacking setup. This included a 20-degree quilt and a three-season, 2.5-inch thick sleeping pad. For two-person tents, we added a 30-degree quilt and another 2.5-inch sleeping pad. Our tester is 5’11″, which represents slightly above-average height and covers 80% of men and 90% of women based on American data.

We positioned the footbox as close as we comfortably could to the end wall without worrying about condensation and laid back to evaluate the remaining headroom. We sat up and moved around to check the available headroom both laterally and from side to side, seeing how easily it would be to change clothes or stretch after a long day.

WEIGHT

This ultralight tent guide focuses primarily on weight, as it is a major consideration for many of these tents. We weighed each tent rather than relying on manufacturers’ claims. The weight includes any necessary poles for the tent’s functionality, but we excluded stakes, as they are often a personal choice for many hikers.

EASE OF USE

Some tents can cut corners with ease of use to achieve a lighter weight, although all the tents we tested performed well in this category. We evaluated door size and function, noting which tents were easy to enter and exit. For two-person tents that allow sleeping orientation in either direction, we observed whether the door was difficult to use from one side and if vestibule access was obstructed.

We assessed the accessibility and size of interior pockets, awarding points for fully functional pockets and deducting points for angled designs prone to items falling out. We set up each tent consecutively to compare how each model performed against its peers.

For trekking pole tents, we examined how much adjustment was necessary to achieve a tight pitch and whether the setup process was intuitive and forgiving of mistakes. We reviewed manufacturer instructions for pitching and utilized included stakes to provide as close to a “manufacturer intended” experience as possible.

WEATHER RESISTANCE

For this edition of the guide, we didn’t cover firsthand weather resistance since we tested during the colder months, and most of these tents are not rated for winter storms. We’ll update this guide and the corresponding reviews with appropriate storm testing as it evolves.

For a few tents, some testing was conducted on long trails during heavy use, and we’ve included weather resistance findings from those adventures in their respective reviews. Non-experimental findings from the design evaluation of each tent have been included. This includes checking for large panels of exposed fabric that could catch the wind, evaluating rainfly to ground distances for splashback resistance, and examining guy line attachment points for more advanced storm protection.

We noted which orientations each tent would be strongest in the wind and whether they featured any obvious weak orientations that would struggle in a storm.

DURABILITY

An ultralight tent typically comes with the understanding that it may not last as long as other shelters, and we’ve aimed to note which tents are most likely to endure season after season. We closely examined material choices, identifying which ones have been time-tested on trails and which require extra care or a recommendation to use a groundsheet.

Stitching quality and overall manufacturing condition can indicate longevity. We looked for poorly reinforced seams, particularly at high-stress points, and tested them by pulling to see how much the threads stretched.

For all zippers, we noted their size and water resistance, checking the end stops to ensure they were properly reinforced. We also observed the significant differences in fabric hand feel, although without a tensile testing machine, we can’t directly assess tensile strength.

Why Trust CleverHiker

CleverHiker gear analysts have spent over 2,000 nights under the stars, many of which were in ultralight tents. Lead tester Taylor Passofaro has pursued ultralight backpacking adventures for seven years, covering over 3,000 miles in search of beautiful mountains to explore.

He has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, Collegiate Loop, Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trek, the Tour du Mont Blanc, among others, along with countless nights spent in the parks and forests of his native Minnesota. Many of these adventures were specifically to evaluate new tents, gear, or experiences, with each trip contributing to his goal of mentally cataloging every piece of backpacking gear available.

His background in medical device design and test engineering ensures that every gear choice is thoroughly researched (and graphed more times than necessary) before testing, resulting in solid gear recommendations for all types of adventures.

Analysis & Results

VALUE

Ultralight tents are among the most expensive pieces of gear in your backpack. Determining which one is worth your investment can be a tough choice, influenced by your adventure style, comfort priorities, and, of course, your budget. Therefore, the most crucial aspect of selecting gear isn’t reading gear guides or optimizing spreadsheets, but rather developing a deep understanding of what matters to you and why.

Our recommendations are broad, and a tent we didn’t particularly favor might be the perfect shelter for you. To assist with this, we’ve aimed to be as transparent as possible about the features we believe are generally the best while also highlighting specific features that may attract more niche interests. There isn’t a best tent that suits everyone. Each model we evaluated comes with a set of trade-offs compared to one another and to more traditional tents. Key among these is the amount of performance per dollar or overall value you receive.

The top option in this metric is our budget pick, the 3FUL Lanshan 2 Pro. It strikes a good balance between livability and ease of use while still being lightweight, and we were impressed by the performance it offers. Stepping up in price slightly, the Tarptent Double Rainbow and Gossamer Gear The Two both cost about the same but have vastly different priorities. The Double Rainbow features a unique single pole design with a clever freestanding mode, delivering excellent comfort even for taller individuals with durable materials. In contrast, The Two sacrifices durability, weather resistance, and comfort in pursuit of an incredible weight for a silnylon shelter.

For our one-person shelters, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo remains a fantastic option for a reasonably priced tent that provides impressive performance and surprising amounts of interior floor space. At the high end, we’d like to acknowledge our editor’s choice, the DurstonX-Mid Pro 2+. While it’s far from affordable, value isn’t about finding the cheapest product; it’s about getting the most for your money. The reality is, producing a tent from Dyneema Composite Fiber is simply not inexpensive. However, out of all the tents we researched or tested, the X-Mid Pro 2+ consistently performs the best while being more reasonably priced than its competitors, making it an excellent investment.

COMFORT

The easiest way to reduce weight on a shelter is by simply making it smaller and less comfortable. Therefore, finding a livable interior is a tricky balance for Ultralight Tents because every increase in comfort is typically accompanied by an increase in weight. Manufacturers know that the most important metric for prospective buyers is weight, so they strive to maintain just enough comfort to satisfy most users.

In many ways, this aligns perfectly with what backpackers desire: sufficient comfort to feel happy without unnecessarily wasting ounces. This is, in essence, the crux of ultralight backpacking- pondering the question, “What do you need to be comfortable on the trail?” with an emphasis on the word need. If you’re unsure of your needs, you’ll likely end up carrying excessive weight and soon find yourself looking for a new shelter that better fits your requirements, or you may find yourself cramped in an uncomfortable interior, realizing it wasn’t worth it.

The good news is that there are an enormous number of options available for ultralight backpackers to be comfortable at various price points and comfort levels. To ease the anxiety of anyone entering the hobby: you don’t have to get it right on the first try.

Many backpackers evolve through multiple shelters and refine their needs as they gain more experience with the outdoors and their own preferences. It’s not uncommon to find someone perfectly content under a simple tarp and bivy setup who started off with a traditional tent years ago.

The downside to this approach is cost. Tents are expensive, so trying a few options can add up quickly if you aren’t savvy about buying and selling in the used market. That’s why we’ve tried to highlight which tents offer solid value and which budget options will provide a good experience without compromising quality.

The most obvious metrics to consider are floor space and peak height. However, these don’ t tell the whole story. A tent with enormous floor space and a high peak height might still suffer in livability because the side walls slope so much towards the interior that you can’ t actually use that space for anything.

This is the case with the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2. It boasts the best numbers in our lineup, but those numbers don’ t translate to the best comfort because the sloping pyramid shape limits usable space. In its defense, the UltaMid 2 has made that tradeoff for next-level storm worthiness, but it highlights the point that you can’ t simply rely on raw numbers to provide a full picture.

In our testing, we’ ve aimed to highlight which tents offer the most usable interior space, both sitting up and lying down. This means having a 5′ 11” tester lay on a 2. 5-inch sleeping pad in a 20-degree quilt and observing how much head and foot room we had. Not feeling claustrophobic at the head end is important, but avoiding condensation wetting the footbox can be even more crucial.

A tent that excels in this metric is the Tarptent Double Rainbow. With a singular arched pole that provides near-vertical walls at the head and foot end, we were able to utilize nearly the entire 88 inches of length. Other tents that performed well here include the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 + and Zpacks Offset Duo. The X-Mid employs clever offset pole geometry to maximize usable interior volume, while the Offset Duo utilizes a third pole at the foot end to increase space, and both strategies work effectively.

For average comfort, the 3 F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Pro scores slightly above the traditional Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 and MSR FreeLite 2. Rounding out the two-person tents, the superbly lightweight ZPacks Duplex Classic, Six Moon Designs Haven, and Gossamer Gear The Two are all a bit small. In our one-person tents, both the ZPacks Pivot Solo and X- Mid Pro 1 are excellent, offering comfortable interiors that ultimately depend on personal preference regarding which works best for your style. The Six Moon Designs LunarSolo is notable for providing impressive floor space, and behind all of them is the unique Gossamer Gear The One, which features incredible headroom but a cramped floor.

WEIGHT

As the single most important metric, weight defines an ultralight shelter. In general, our tents are divided into two categories of weight: the premium options, which fall in the 16-22 ounce range, and the standard and budget options, which are in the 30-40 ounce range. The key differentiator between the two categories is the fabric used in their construction. We’ll explore fabric details further in the Durability section of this guide. Our premium options are made from Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF), while our standard and budget options use silnylon or silpoly. DCF is the lightest and strongest fabric available, weighing an astonishing 0.5 ounces per square yard for the rain flies on tents such as the Durston X-Mid Pro 1, Durston X-Mid Pro 2+, Zpacks Offset Duo, Zpacks Duplex, and the Zpacks Pivot Solo, which uses a slightly heavier 0.75oz/sq yd version for its standard configuration. This fabric is nearly ideal for tent rainfly construction due to its low stretch, waterproof qualities without a coating, and excellent tensile strength. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive fabrics on the market. The other group of tents in the standard and budget section is made from more conventional tent fabrics like silnylon or silpoly. While they are more affordable, these materials still offer high performance and are significantly cheaper than DCF. 

There are various factors that influence weight. Zipper size can play a significant role when you’re striving for every gram, and most premium DCF tents use #3 sized zippers, while standard tents utilize a combination of #3 and #5. Floor durability is another major factor. Although DCF is ideal for a tent rainfly, it’s a different story for the ground since DCF is susceptible to punctures and abrasion. To address this, thicker DCF or silnylon is utilized, which is resistant to both punctures and abrasion. However, different weights of fabrics are employed across various tents since each manufacturer has its own preferences for durability, and these choices contribute to the overall weight.

The lightest tent we tested is the impressive Zpacks Pivot Solo. Weighing in at 16.1 ounces on our scale for the standard version we tested, it’s a cleverly designed tent for one person but commands a high price due to its exclusive use of DCF. Zpacks also offers a “lite” version that’s 13.5 ounces because it uses thinner fabrics. However, since lighter weight DCF is a somewhat unproven floor material, we’re hesitant to recommend that option without further testing. Not far behind is the Durston X-Mid Pro 1 at 17.4 ounces. The X-Mid also has two different weight options. A version with a DCF floor is lighter at 15.5 ounces, but we prefer the version with the silnylon floor because it’s more affordable and packs smaller. For two-person shelters, the trend continues with the Zpacks Offset Duo and Durston X-Mid Pro 2+, which follow the same concepts as their one-person counterparts, featuring lite options and silnylon floor options, respectively. In the two-person category, the lightest option is the classic Zpacks Duplex Classic, which also comes in a lite version that reduces the weight even further. We believe that for most people, the comfort enhancements with the Offset Duo are worth it, but it remains a tempting option for the most enthusiastic ultralight pairs.

Outside of DCF, the Gossamer Gear The One and The Two are notable for being impressively lightweight, despite their silnylon construction. The One weighs 19.5 ounces, while The Two weighs only 25.3 ounces. These weights are incredible; however, they come with some significant tradeoffs. To achieve this weight, both models use 10d silnylon for the rainfly and floor. In contrast, most tents use 20-30d materials, making durability more of a concern for these shelters, although there are many reports of good long-term performance with proper care. For a more standard shelter, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo employs more durable materials and has an average weight of 26 ounces.Since this is an Ultralight Tent Guide, all these models offer excellent weight for what they are. However, for this category, the average-weight models include the two-pole shelters: the Big Agnes TigerWall UL2, MSR FreeLite 2, the affordable 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Pro, Six MoonDesigns Haven, and the semi-freestanding TarpTent Double Rainbow. In a distant last place for weight is the unique Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2, which tips the scale at 40.7 ounces but provides incredible storm worthiness for that weight.

EASE OF USE

Linked closely to comfort, ease of use is a factor that is often sacrificed in the pursuit of the lightest shelters. During our research for this guide, we examined dozens of tents and found many that made that sacrifice. Front-entry shelters are a good example, as they allow for significant weight savings with just one door at the front of a long shelter. However, they can be awkward to use, especially with two people, which is why none made it into our guide.

We also tried to exclude tents with overly complex staking requirements, awkward vestibules, or other design choices that made using the tent too complicated or frustrating. We’re pleased that all of our choices are generally quite easy to use. 

Setup can be frustrating or remarkably simple depending on the tent, and all of our selections involve some sacrifices in this area. For those accustomed to pop-up tents and simple two-pole designs, most of our picks require trekking poles for use.

Trekking pole tents necessitate a bit of adjustment compared to traditional pole tents for proper setup, but we believe that with practice, they are no harder or more complex to set up. In fact, since there is no need to set up the mesh tent first and then the rainfly, we think they can even be faster to deploy than traditional tents.

Our standout tents in this category were the X-Mid Pro 1p, X-Mid Pro 2p+, TarpTent Double Rainbow, and ZPacks Offset Duo. All four offered simple setups, along with great doors, vestibules, and features; however, we give the edge to our editors’ choice X-Mid models for slightly better ease of use.

In the middle of the pack are most of the tents we tested. The MSR FreeLite 2 scores slightly higher than the others due to its nicer doors, while the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is held back by a somewhat frustrating door design. The Gossamer Gear The Two, Gossamer Gear The One, 3F UL Lanshan 2 Pro, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2, and ZPacks Duplex Classic all rank in the middle due to door designs we didn’t prefer, but they set up easily otherwise.

In the “good but with caveats” category is the remainder. The Six MoonDesigns Lunar Solo and ZPacks Pivot Solo are trickier to set up; however, unlike the above tents, they feature great doors. The Lunar Solo has a hexagonal shape that complicates achieving a perfect pitch compared to the wider A-frame style tents, and the Pivot Solo is a genuinely asymmetrical design that requires some practice to master each time. Lastly, the Six Moon Designs Haven ranked the lowest due to the inner not being able to connect to the rainfly at the peaks or to be used with trekking pole tips down.

WEATHER RESISTANCE

Perhaps the biggest concern with ultralight shelters is that they might not adequately protect you from the elements. The use of thinner materials and trekking pole-supported designs makes people feel inherently nervous compared to traditional tents. However, trekking pole designs can be quite stormworthy when constructed properly, and thinner fabrics are still strong enough when utilized effectively. Most of our recommendations would inspire confidence in typical storms encountered in the backcountry.

However, one shelter sits in a class of its own. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 is a formidable shelter, boasting a pyramidal shape that is ideal for shedding wind from all directions. It features plenty of guy line attachment points and up to eight staking points to ensure it remains secure in all types of weather. We won’t mince words here: if supreme weather resistance is your top priority, this is your shelter.

However, ultralight gear focuses on making smart trade-offs, and the fact is that most people simply don’t require the level of storm protection that the UltaMid 2 offers.

Most trails don’t go through severe wind corridors, most campsites aren’t located on high mountains, and most individuals will adhere to sound wilderness advice by seeking shelter or staying at home if the weather is too adverse.

Certain design elements contribute to better or worse performance. Large fabric panels can often catch the wind and put strain on the tent stakes, so the best tents minimize these sections or incorporate panel pulls for additional support. Properly placed attachment points for guy lines at the peak or middle of the tent are immensely beneficial when staked correctly. Trekking pole tents also benefit from support structures that are significantly stronger than standard tent poles.

While a traditional domed shape can effectively shed wind and distribute load, we’ve witnessed internal pole structures collapse under wind pressure. A pyramid design like the UltaMid 2 performs well, but presents trade-offs in other areas, so it’s not the sole design found in the category. Lastly, any tent with a narrower profile facing into the wind will perform better in consistent wind conditions.

Our top picks for tents all provide a level of weather protection suitable for most backcountry adventures. This means they should withstand an average thunderstorm without damage and offer protection from typical winds and rain. For these conditions, the tents that stand out to us are the Durston X-Mid Pro 2+, Durston X-Mid Pro 1, Tarptent Double Rainbow, and ZPacks Pivot Solo. Both X-Mid models utilize a unique offset pole geometry that minimizes large panels and includes plenty of attachment points for securing them if the weather turns poor. Their rainflys also extend low to the ground to reduce splashback and drafts from the wind.

The Double Rainbow features a unique single pole structure that creates a dome shape for wind shedding, along with guyline points to bolster it during storms. However, what makes it even more distinctive is its awning mode for the doors, using a flap of silpoly spaced between the two sections. This design enhances comfort during rainstorms inside the tent, allowing you to leave the doors open and propped up while still providing protection from light rain.

Scoring in the middle are the ZPacks Offset Duo, SixMoon Designs LunarSolo, 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Pro, ZPacks Duplex Classic, Six Moon Designs Haven, Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2, and MSR FreeLite2. All of these tents provide adequate storm resistance for backpacking.

Trailing behind are the two Gossamer Gear models, The Two and The One, which continue to offer a unique proposition. They deliver superb weight and price as a tradeoff, with storm-worthiness being one of those tradeoffs. The One features a partial awning on one side, making it poor in wind from that direction, while The Two has large front and back panels that catch the wind. Both tents have a history of surviving long-distance trails with ease, but they wouldn’t be our first choices for storm conditions.

DURABILITY

Most ultralight tents sacrifice durability to achieve their featherweight status, but with proper care, they can last for many nights of use. The materials used in ultralight tents are not inherently weak; like clothing fabrics, they require different care. For example, silk is an incredibly strong fabric under tension, far stronger than cotton. However, silk has a reputation for being delicate because it feels so thin and requires special handling compared to cotton, which is much more forgiving when it comes to washing and care.

Knowing how to care for your clothes will extend their lifespan, even for silk ones, but you need to wash them differently from standard cotton clothes. The same applies to ultralight tents. Compared to a canvas tent, an ultralight shelter typically won’t hold up well if roughly tossed into a sled with logs and camping gear. However, it’s not designed for that type of use. Instead, manufacturers expect a certain level of care with their products, allowing their designs to focus on lightweight protection.

The fabrics in our tent selection have different strengths and weaknesses. The most specialized fabric we use is Dyneema Composite Fiber, the strongest fabric currently available on the market and the best option for rainfly use. It boasts exceptional tensile strength but has poor abrasion and puncture resistance. Therefore, it’s essential not to use your tent as a groundsheet when cowboy camping, as the thinner type of DCF used in rainflies can develop pinhole punctures more easily.

Additionally, stuffing DCF can weaken it; thus, rolling it is the recommended storage technique. The construction of DCF is unique since it’s not a woven fabric like nylon or polyester. It consists of a grid of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers sandwiched between two layers of mylar (polyester). The UHMWPE fibers provide the fabric with its remarkable tensile strength, while the mylar protects the fibers from abrasion and punctures. DCF is measured in ounces per square yard, with typically 0.55-0.8oz/sq yd used for rainfly construction and 0.75-1.1oz/sq yd for the floor.

We believe that 0.55oz/sq yd is sufficient for rainfly use, which means the heavier weights used here are due to a higher thread count and slightly thicker mylar layers that enhance tensile strength. For floor fabrics, puncture and abrasion resistance is usually prioritized over tensile strength. Therefore, instead of increasing the thread count for higher tensile strength, manufacturers opt for thicker mylar layers. We recommend at least 1.0oz/sq yd DCF for floor materials.