Here you have my selection of best single-wall tents suitable for family camping and for groups, in a variety of styles and sizes, and some of them are suitable for year-round use in all weather conditions.
What is a single layer or single wall tent?
A single layer or single wall tent can be described as a shelter where the fabric is all one piece. Unlike double-wall tents, which have an inner tent and an outer rainfly, single-wall tents combine both the shelter and the rain protection into a single piece.
This design simplifies setup and reduces weight, making these tents popular among campers, and also among users who need to carry lightweight equipment.
However, because there’s only one layer, single-wall tents often have issues with condensation, where moisture from the air inside the tent can accumulate on the inner surface.
Proper ventilation can help, but managing condensation is a common concern with this type of tent. They are generally best suited for dry or mild conditions where the risk of internal moisture buildup is lower.
What is included in the list
All the tents presented here are synthetic tents. This is important to stress because, as you may know, there are many cotton canvas and polycotton tents that are single layer as well. But those are a separate group of tents that are naturally breathable but still water-resistant.
The tents presented here are typically made of polyester, and they have a coating that make them waterproof. As you will realize, you have dome, tunnel, cabin, and bell shaped tents in the list.
Some of them are fully freestanding and this makes them versatile so you can use them on any terrain. In some of them you have a pipe jack included so they are ready for a wood burning tent stove, and this makes them suitable for winter camping as well.
My list of best single wall tents
Here they are ordered by the floor area from smaller to larger.
1. The North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent
The North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent is a freestanding dome tent designed for ease of use and portability. With a single-layer design supported by aluminum poles, this tent is light and straightforward to set up, weighing just 12 lb 3.4 oz (5.55 kg).
Its compactness and simplicity make it suitable for car camping or even lightweight backpacking trips.
With a floor area of 81.1 square feet (7.5 square meters), the Sequoia 6 can fit up to six people, but a more comfortable setup might be four or fewer campers to allow for extra space and gear storage.
The tent’s 75-inch (191 cm) peak height offers ample headroom, and the single U-shaped door and rear window provide ventilation options.
2. Big Agnes Dog House Camping Tent 6 Person
The Big Agnes Dog House Camping Tent 6 Person is a freestanding, single-wall dome tent designed for easy setup and portability. It uses top-quality DAC aluminum poles to keep the structure lightweight and sturdy, with a trail weight of just 13 lb (5.9 kg).
The tent provides 81.8 square feet (7.6 square meters) of floor space, with a peak height of 80 inches (203 cm), offering ample headroom for most users.
This tent is ideal for car camping, and can also be carried on backpacking trips due to its compact packed size of 25.5 x 9 inches (65 x 23 cm). Its single-layer design allows for dry setup, even in rainy conditions, with poles that attach from the outside.
The integrated front and back brims provide a dry-entry point, and the two side vents offer decent ventilation, helping to combat condensation in this single-wall tent. However, the tent lacks floor vents, which may lead to warm conditions in hotter climates when windows are closed due to rain or wind.
While the tent is rated for six people, the actual space is more comfortable for three to four people. The fabric is durable polyester with a 1500 mm waterproof rating, and all seams are taped to ensure protection against the elements.
The aluminum poles and quality construction contribute to the tent’s relatively high cost, but the ease of setup, lightweight design, and freestanding structure make it a compelling choice for various camping scenarios.
3. ust House Party Car Camping Tent 6 person
The ust House Party Car Camping Tent 6 is a unique freestanding tunnel tent with a single-layer design and aluminum poles. It’s designed to be light enough for car camping and backpacking, yet spacious enough for a small group.
The tent has two large doors, providing easy access and ventilation, with a peak height of 75 inches (191 cm), allowing many users to stand comfortably inside.
This tent offers a floor area of 84.6 square feet (7.9 square meters), accommodating up to six people in theory, though it’s best suited for three to four people for a more comfortable experience.
Its packed size is 23.5 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches (60 x 22 x 22 cm), and it weighs just 13 lb 2 oz (5.95 kg), making it relatively lightweight for a tent of this capacity.
The fabric is 66D 190T polyester with a PU coating, offering a 2000 mm waterproof rating, and the poles are sturdy aluminum with 11 and 9.5 mm diameters.
4. Cabela’s Outback Lodge 8 Person Tent
The Cabela’s Outback Lodge 8 Person Tent is a large single-layer tent with a unique design that combines elements of bell tents and cabin tents. It has a central supporting pole and four corner poles, creating a spacious interior with steep vertical walls.
This tent offers a total floor area of 144 square feet (13.4 square meters), providing plenty of space for a small group or family. At 28 pounds (12.7 kilograms), it’s relatively lightweight for its size, though it’s best suited for car camping.
The tent features one large door with an awning for a dry entry and three roof windows that offer ample ventilation and natural light. It also has two roof vents to help with airflow, which is critical for a single-wall tent.
However, the lack of floor vents can be a drawback when rain or windy weather requires keeping windows closed. The 75D polyester-taffeta fabric has a 1500 mm waterproof rating, ensuring it can handle a variety of weather conditions.
Overall, the Cabela’s Outback Lodge 8 Person Tent is a versatile and reliable option for car camping or base camp setups. Its high peak of 9 feet (274 cm) and vertical walls create a comfortable and spacious interior.
Despite its bulkiness when packed, it’s a solid choice for those seeking a roomy, well-ventilated tent that can handle various weather conditions.
5. Guide Gear Base Camp Tent
Here you have a very interesting synthetic tents here that comes with a stove jack. You can use a wood burning tent stove inside with pipes up to 5.5 inches (14 cm).
It is built to be used in all seasons. As you realize from the picture, this is a hybrid between a bell-shaped and a cabin tent. Therefore, it is very tall, so the peak height in the center is 10 ft (305 cm), and I have added it also to my list of very tall tents. It includes a huge porch, no less than 5 windows, and two awnings.
The tent weighs 52 lb (23.6 kg), so make sure you use it close to your car. The diameter is 14 ft (427 cm), and the inner floored area is 154 ft² (14.3 m²), plus the porch with a removable floor.
6. Cabela’s Ultimate Alaknak 13’x27′ Outfitter Tent
The Cabela’s Ultimate Alaknak 12’x20′ Outfitter Tent is a massive single-layer tent designed for group camping and outfitting. It offers a spacious interior with 240 square feet (22.3 square meters) of floor space, making it ideal for large families or groups.
This tent features two doors and eight windows, all with mesh and panels, providing ample ventilation and natural light. The peak height reaches 109 inches (277 cm), offering plenty of standing room, and the vertical walls allow for easy furniture setup or bunk beds.
With a weight of 106 pounds (48 kilograms), this tent is heavy. It’s better suited for base camps or car camping.
The single-layer design makes setup straightforward, but you’ll need stakes for stability. The fabric is durable 250D polyester oxford with a 3000 mm waterproof-rated floor and a 1000 mm canopy, ensuring decent protection from the elements.
It also comes with an integrated pipe jack for a wood-burning stove, allowing for year-round use in cold climates.
Despite its size, the Cabela’s Ultimate Alaknak 12’x20′ Outfitter Tent can be set up by one person in under an hour. However, it’s bulky when packed, with the tent measuring 54 x 16.5 x 13.5 inches (137 x 42 x 34 cm) and the poles at 55 x 14.5 inches (140 x 37 cm).
This makes transportation and storage a consideration. While it’s a significant investment, the tent’s spacious design, tall structure, and integrated features like the pipe jack and E-cable ports make it a solid choice for large-scale camping adventures.
Frequently asked questions about single walled tents
What are advantages and disadvantages of a single wall tent?
There are good and less good sides of such a design.
- The good is that setup is easier because you have to deal with one piece of fabric instead of two.
- Also, as you see in the list, in some of these tents poles are from outside, so you can set the tent up even in the rain, and the inner will remain protected.
- Having only one piece of fabric, these tents are usually lighter and more compact that two layer tent.
The less good side of this design is that in the case of condensation the droplets will slide down to the floor, and you may also touch the inner walls with your sleeping bag and it will get wet.
Are single wall tents any good?
Single-wall tents have their advantages, particularly in terms of weight and simplicity. Because they lack an inner layer, they’re lighter and typically quicker to set up compared to double-wall tents.
This can be ideal for backpackers, mountaineers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize portability and ease of use. Single-wall tents are also more compact, which is useful when space is limited. They are a good choice for drier climates but might not be suitable for longer excursions in wet or humid conditions.
Are single skin tents waterproof?
Single-wall tents are typically made from waterproof or water-resistant materials, like coated nylon or polyester, which can withstand rain and light showers.
Regarding waterproofness, there is no general difference between single-layer and standard two-layer tents. This is because standard tents have an inner tents that are mostly a mesh and breathable non-waterproof taffeta.
So, such an extra layer does not add to the tent’s waterproofness. But there are two-layer tents with both layers waterproof, but those are very rare. Do you want to see one? Have a look at The North Face 2-Meter Dome 8 person tent, this is one great example.
When the temperature drops at night or humidity is high, moisture from your breath or the environment can condense on the inner walls.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the tent is leaking; it’s a natural occurrence when there’s a single layer between you and the elements. But people sometimes wrongly think it is leaking.
Are single wall tents colder?
There is no strict answer here. This all depends on how a particular tent is built. As mentioned above, double-layer tent may have a canopy made of mesh, and this will not make it warmer than a single-wall tent.
In fact, it may be just the other way round. In a single-layer tent you have the walls connected to the floor and this connection is sealed. On the other hand, in a typical double-layer tent the floor is connected to the canopy, so you will have cold draft underneath the fly which is just a cover and it is not sealed to the floor.
This is one of the reasons why some mountaineering tents are single-wall type, they are in fact more closable and offer a better protection from the wind and cold.
Final thoughts
So this was my selection of best single wall tents, and you realize that you have a variety of options regarding the size and shape. Therefore make a list of preferences and try to identify the tent that suits you best.
This selection of tents will be updated whenever I find a tent that deserves to be included, so bookmark this text and keep it as a reference.
Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below in case of questions or comments. Have a nice day.
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