My college freshman kiddo just asked for a one person tent for Christmas (which means he might actually like camping after all).
Does anyone have recommendations?

For a true solo I suggest the Big Agnes Copper Spur one, very light, easy to set up, stout in tough weather and surprisingly comfortable. Looks sort of cool as well.

I found the MSR Hubba Hubba to be a dandy one-person tent. Quality second to none (at least as I see it). Certainly should be one to check out.

I second the copper spur 1. Design makes it feel roomier than others solo tents I’ve tried that had similar space on paper.

Look at what Durston Gear has to offer.

Is he going backpacking? If yes, does he use hiking poles? If yes: Durston Tents Even then, get him the 2 person backpacking with hiking poles tent.

If he just wants it for canoe camping, then get him a good 2 person tent, like a REI Half Dome or whatever anyone on this forum suggests.

I would look for a tent that is extra long. When you are inside on a 2" high air mattress, your effective length of tent is reduced by the sloping end walls. And you end up with your feet and head rubbing the tent fabric. Go Long!

I bought the basic Durston 1P tent (NOT the UL version) recently and I love it! It can either be used with trekking poles if backpacking or buy their set of lightweight poles if you will use it canoeing. It is super versatile...it can be used as a full double walled tent that has huge vestibules and great interior space for a 1P or you can use it in non-buggy areas without the netted interior.

On solo trips I usually save weight by not carrying a separate tarp. But that can make setting up or packing up camp in the rain very annoying. This tent can be pitched as a single unit, like a tarptent, if it is raining out. You can also remove the netted interior, and then use the fly as a tarp to pack up the rest of your gear in dry comfort. I had a chance to test this feature this fall and it made life so much better on a really cold, wet, nasty day.

I agree with the posters that mentioned the Copper Spur 1. I've used that tent since 2016 and it is a great tent that has held up very well. But, if it would be used mostly for canoe camping I would suggest the Big Agnes Sheep mountain 1. It's a bit bulkier than the Copper Spur so it wouldn't make as good of a backpacking tent. But for canoe country trips where weight is not as much of an issue, this is a very bomb proof tent. I picked one up this year and can say it held up exceptionally well to inclement fall weather this year. It's also currently on sale for a lot less than the copper spur 1.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I think he'll likely use it for backpacking and canoeing, so while ultralight isn't totally necessary, I'd like to err on the side of lighter vs heavier.

ALPS mountaineering makes a lightweight (3lbs?) solo tent. It's generally cheaper than the other brands and holds up fairly well for many seasons. It might be an option. Lynx-1

tomo: "My college freshman kiddo just asked for a one person tent for Christmas (which means he might actually like camping after all).
Does anyone have recommendations? "

College Freshman... they have been on campus just a few months. Consider getting them a two person tent. Weight is just marginally more and by the time they are a Sophomore the two person will likely be more useful. (Just speculation)

My best tent purchase was a Tarptent from Henry Shires . My own is a Stratospire 2. I have the auxiliary poles so I can use the tent when canoe tripping, but I use it mostly when hiking and use just my hiking poles for set up. The tent adds only about 40 oz to my backpack, more importantly, it is just marginally larger than a 2L Nalgene bottle when packed. The Stratospire 2 is a bit finicky to set up. The Double Rainbow with Carbon pole is a bit easier to set up and is actually a 1/3 to 1/2 pound lighter. There are a few other One-Person options available on the Tarptent website.

Unless you're in California, you won't likely find a Tarptent in a retail store, but backpackers love these tents. You'll find plenty of information and user reviews online.

Good Luck and congrats getting your child successfully off to college.

We own two Tarptent tents, one Durston tent and one Big Agnes tent. All of those brands make high quality products.

+1 for the MSR Hubba Hubba. Great tent, we used one for 10 years. I also had great luck with the Nemo Dragonfly 2. As others have mentioned, a 2 person tent makes a reasonable one person tent. That said, if price isn’t an issue, the newer Dyneema tents are amazing. Totally waterproof, weigh nothing, and most are made in the USA by small companies. Not sure I’ll ever buy a non Dyneema tent again. Just a thought.

Check out what Tarptent has to offer. I use the Moment DW. You can change the interior from mesh to solid depending on the weather. They go up very quick and are extremely light and compact

+1 for the Tarptent Moment DW. I love mine.

Here's mine, but it's not for sale.

tomo, If interested I have a BA Flycreek 2 Platinum UL for sale. Getting rid of most of my gear bit by bit.
All up with footprint It's not in the sell buy forum but has been. My e-mail is listed in my signature/profile.

butthead

I encourage everyone, especially young people to use 2 person tents. Camping and canoeing are often group sports. A 2 person tent has more room and costs about the same. There is a room for a dog and/or another person.

Most of the people I have known over the years that have one person tents, remained single all their lives. It reflects their view of the world. This concept is not as far fetched as it sounds.

ppine: "
Most of the people I have known over the years that have one person tents, remained single all their lives. It reflects their view of the world. This concept is not as far fetched as it sounds. "

Pretty far fetched, IMO. I wonder what you think of solo canoes?

I’m late on this one.

I had a solo tent for several years but it was so cramped.
For summer camping I now use a two person REI bug shelter. IT’s super spacious and weighs less than my solo tent. It’s basically all bug netting.
I put a tarp over it for inclement weather. I get the advantage of the space as well as the weight savings over a two person tent.

n + 1 = tent size, where n equals the number of occupants

sns: "n + 1 = tent size, where n equals the number of occupants"

We are n + 2 type tent campers.

Oh so now there’s algebra.

Stumpy, you need to upgrade! I can smell the stinky canvas from my computer.

I would look for durability over weight for a young person. This will be used and abused (hopefully) and as he develops his style of tripping he will, as the wallet allows get the good stuff. And he will always have a solid back up.

CCS Lean

HighnDry: "ALPS mountaineering makes a lightweight (3lbs?) solo tent. It's generally cheaper than the other brands and holds up fairly well for many seasons. It might be an option. Lynx-1 "

After renting the Alps Lynx-1 for a couple of years through the outfitter, I decided to buy one for myself. It is very reasonably priced and as HighnDry says, it really does hold up well. On my solo this past September it rained every day, but I stayed dry and happy inside. It really is a solo, though. You could not squeeze a second person in, or even an average sized dog. There is room inside for my clothing, and the rainfly vestibule provides more protection from the elements.

Good luck with your decision!

Dave

Ya'all gonna laugh at this one but........I purchased the Magellan Kings Peak 2 years ago as an experiment. Wasn't sure a one person tent was my "thing." Have used it 2 years in a row on 5 night trips, rain, you name it, and it has held up perfect. Best thing, it was 80.00. Technically listed as a "2 person" tent, it is perfect for me. I will use until it "dies." Then buy a "better" One person tent. I strongly recommend trying a low priced one person, before you spend 300+ and decide its not for you!

tomo: "My college freshman kiddo just asked for a one person tent for Christmas (which means he might actually like camping after all).
Does anyone have recommendations? "

Amok hammock.
Unlike any other hammock made.
It is so so comfortable.
Check out this youtuber that does dozens of solo trips per year.

https://youtu.be/0_3JaJALsq4?si=ToZE-31Bn8AnGZd7

Amok website. Definitely get the high insulated air pad.
https://amokequipment.com/products/draumr-5-0-hammock