ActiveOutdoorsCampingAlpkit Soloist 1-person backpacking tent: a lightweight 3-season shelter for overnight and multiday adventuresHit the trails and explore the moors with this small, niftily designed, lightweight 1-person tentWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great valueReasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catchWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsCampingAlpkit Soloist 1-person backpacking tent: a lightweight 3-season shelter for overnight and multiday adventuresHit the trails and explore the moors with this small, niftily designed, lightweight 1-person tentWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great valueReasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catchWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Hit the trails and explore the moors with this small, niftily designed, lightweight 1-person tent
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great valueReasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catch
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
T3 VerdictThe Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great valueReasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catch
T3 VerdictThe Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.
T3 Verdict
The Alpkit Soloist is an excellent affordable, lightweight tent for overnight and multiday adventures for at least 9 months of the year. With a single-hubbed pole, it’s quick and easy to pitch and drop, regardless of the weather. The interior is very spacious for one person, with plenty of room for a pack, and the porch is large enough for boots and kit.
Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great valueReasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catch
Reasons to buy+Lightweight+Small pack size+Robust design+Discreet colour+Two sizes available+Great value
Lightweight
Small pack size
Robust design
Discreet colour
Two sizes available
Great value
Reasons to avoid-Lack of interior pockets-Mesh door lowers internal temperature-Zips can catch
Lack of interior pockets
Mesh door lowers internal temperature
Zips can catch
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Selecting a single-person shelter is a highly subjective choice, but every backpacker is looking for a tent that ticks at least three boxes: it needs to be easy and quick to pitch in all conditions; it should be small and light to carry; and it has to provide adequate protection from the elements. Beyond that, people have a range of personal preferences around the size and height of the interior, how big the porch needs to be, what the pole set-up is like, and lots of details around pegs, pockets and colours.
I have used the Alpkit Soloist in a range of scenarios, from garden campouts to multiday backpacking adventures in the Highlands of Scotland, and I can confirm that it ticks all the essential boxes mentioned above. I found it pretty easy to set up (even in the driving rain); it’s lightweight and packs down to a small size that fits in a backpack very easily; and it kept me warm and dry even when the Highland weather was at its angriest. It’s one of thebest backpacking tentson the market, and it’s available for a very reasonable purchase price.
Today’s best Alpkit Soloist 1 Person Backpacking Tent dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Alpkit Soloist 1 Person Backpacking Tent dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Alpkit Soloist 1 Person Backpacking Tent deals
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
The Alpkit Soloist at the foot of the Devil’s Staircase on the West Highland Way(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
The Alpkit Soloist at the foot of the Devil’s Staircase on the West Highland Way
The Alpkit Soloist at the foot of the Devil’s Staircase on the West Highland Way
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Alpkit Soloist Backpacking tent: specifications
Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent: design and features
The Alpkit Soloist has a semi-geodesic shape, which makes it really sturdy, even in severely wet and windy conditions. The single-hubbed pole unfolds into a double-ended Y shape, with a single spine pole.
The ends of each of the four feet fit into a ring on the corresponding corner of the inner tent, which can then be clipped onto the frame. The flysheet goes over the top, and its corners can in turn be secured under each of the four feet, and then tensioned. A footprint specific to this tent (sold separately) also fits around the bottom of the poles.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
There are 11 lightweight V-shaped alloy pegs, which allow you to further tension and secure the flysheet, which incorporates a reasonably generous porch area. It’s not really big enough to cook in during times of driving rain, when the outer door would need to be closed, but you can do some food prep, and there’s more than enough room for wet and dirty boots, or a damp pack.
Once up, the 95cm height of this tent gives you plenty of room to sit up and move around, and the tapered design makes it more than roomy enough to accommodate you and all your gear, while keeping the sleeping space compact enough to warm up nicely. At 2 metres, the interior length of the standard size is large enough for most people to lie down comfortably, but taller backpackers can opt for the extra large version.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent: pitching and testing
Adding the fly can be a little fiddly at first, but it’s not too bad if you make sure the tensioning straps are fully loosened before you begin (it’s worth ensuring this is done each time you drop the tent).
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
The HH rating isn’t as high as some other backpacking tents, but it kept me warm and dry for a further few days (and nights) of pretty relentless rain, which was impressive, so I really can’t argue with it’s performance. I did use the extra footprint, however, and I was glad of it.
While on the West Highland Way in Scotland, and for subsequent campouts over winter and during the first flush of early spring, I used the Soloist in conjunction with theAlpkit Pipedream 400sleeping bag and theAlpkit Whisperinsulated camping mat, and while all of these products are only rated for 3-season use, I felt comfortable even during colder nights. However, I was in sheltered conditions, and all of these pieces of kit will definitely perform at their best between spring and autumn. For 4-season shelters, check out ourbest tents guide.
The Soloist packs away nice and compactly, and it’s light and easy to carry on the trails. I even managed to get it into a large daypack, along with a stove, sleeping bag, mat and provisions.
The Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent - packed(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
The Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent - packed
The Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent - packed
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent: Some alternatives to consider
The Alpkit Soloist serves is an excellent product for is price point, but if you are looking for a 1-person backpacking tent and have a bit more cash to splash, you might want to have a look at theSierra Designs High Route 1 3000 1P tent, or the innovativeVango F10 Project Hydrogen.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Alpkit Soloist backpacking tent: overall verdict
Especially for it’s extremely reasonable price point (the RRP is £139.99) the Alpkit Soloist is an excellent 3-season, 1-person tent, absolutely ideal for multiday backpacking trips in a range of conditions, from hillside and moorland escapades to long-distance trails and shoreline adventures. It’s light, easy to erect, packs away nicely and offers good reliable shelter with enough room to enjoy some real comfort and get a good night’s sleep.
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