Gossamer Gear is an ultralight gear company with a solid reputation for making high quality items for backpacking and thru-hiking. One of their most beloved pieces of gear is The One Tent, which I've been using throughout the last couple years when my adventures call for minimal gear.

The One Tent is one of the most lightweight 1-person tents available, with a packed size not much bigger than a Nalgene bottle. It forgoes a lot of bells and whistles other ultralight tents have, but that's all in the name of saving weight and pack room! What this tent does well, it does very well. And it doesn't skimp on features backpackers rely on, like a nice roomy vestibule and solid seam taping.

Whether you're thru-hiking or simply prefer an ultralight setup, The One Tent by Gossamer Gear is worth checking out! Keep scrolling to learn all about my experience with it, along with some of its important specs.

Quick Rundown of The One Tent By Gossamer Gear

• Packed weight: 1 pounds 5.5 ounces
• Pitches with trekking poles
• Made from custom 10D nylon Ripstop SIL/PU fabric that is waterproof to at least 1800mm
• 1 door and 1 spacious vestibule with great protection
• Excellent ventilation to minimize condensation
• Interior clothes line and flashlight loop
• Reflective tie-outs for additional lines for high winds and to create more interior space
• Large mesh internal pocket for personal items
• Dimensions: 84 inches long, 33 inches wide at the head/21 inches wide at the foot, 45 inches high at the ridgeline. Packed size: 5"x10"
• Comes with 8 stakes, 6 are needed for a pitch

My Experience with The One Tent By Gossamer Gear

I love ultralight gear, but I am not an ultralight backpacker. This is true for most folks buying ultralight gear, I'd say. And cheers to that, because it's great to save on weight and pack space where you can! The One Tent by Gossamer Gear is a great example of a piece of gear that makes a significant difference in the amount of weight you'll need to carry and the available space in your backpack. Some ultralight tents don't pack down this small, and most simply are not this lightweight.

So with that being said, I love The One Tent for adventures where I know I'll be bushwhacking and need to keep my backpack compact. This kind of adventure also usually calls for a tent that can be pitched when ground space is at a minimum. It has a really small floor, with just enough space for one person and if necessary, a backpack. Rest assured it has plenty of headroom though. And The One has a decent sized vestibule.

Pitching this tent is super easy and it goes up fast. It pitches with a trekking pole and 6 stakes. I usually pitch it with 8 stakes in order to maximize the interior space. I have no problem using a wide sleeping pad inside The One. If you're camping on pokey ground, use a ground sheet. The bathtub floor is waterproof, but it's very thin and can tear.

I've dealt with three very significant storms in The One Tent and have been happy with its waterproofing and seam taping. It has never leaked or failed in rain or hail. I don't recommend this tent if you're going to be experiencing high winds. Think 30+ miles per hour. Not only will that kind of wind make it super chilly inside this single wall tent, it could absolutely create a failure in the fabric or bend the aluminum poles.

So with that being said, this is not the best tent to camp in above treeline in the mountains. It does great with a bit more protection than the alpine offers.

I would also not recommend The One Tent when temperatures are going to be dropping well below freezing. Because it's a single wall tent, condensation can be a serious issue. And although this tent has good ventilation, I have dealt with quite a few mornings out in the wilderness waking up to a very wet sleeping bag, with tent walls drooping and drippy. In warmer times, condensation is not much of an issue.

With many ultralight pieces, you have to make a bit of a compromise on this or that. And The One Tent by Gossamer gear is no exception. It is supremely lightweight and packs down very small. But it has its limitations. If saving weight is of the utmost importance to you, then you will absolutely love this tent. If you don't mind a carrying a bit more weight, you'd likely be happier with a different ultralight tent.

Where The One Tent truly shines is during long treks, thru-hikes and adventures with a lot of bushwhacking. It's an ultralight champ, packs down tiny and can handle most elements that are not extreme. This means it's a great tent for a lot of different backpacking trips!

This tent is also available in a 2-person version called The Two.

The One Tent By Gossamer Gear: Pros and Cons

The The One Tent By Gossamer Gear is one of the lightest 1-person tents on the market and has a stellar reputation. Check out the pros and cons below:

Click here to learn more and purchase The One Tent By Gossamer Gear for your next adventure!

My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.