Force 10 Helium 100 review

Sleeps: 1

Weight: 1.19kg
Dimensions: 210x95cm internal
Pack Size: 40x11x11cm
How to pitch: Watch the video here
RRP: £220

Review:  The Force 10 Helium 100 is a great little tent.  Whilst you might shave a few grams off with an ultra-lightweight tent, to get a double-skinned tent that is near to 1kg for under £200 is fantastic.  It can easily be thrown into a small rucksack, and is perfect for hiking and camping. The tent goes up and down very easily - there is just one real pole (you can't count the little stub that holds up the foot end as a pole), and seven pegs.  As with all one-person tents it takes a bit of fiddling with the corners of the tent to get it taut, but once sorted the tent holds firm. As a test run, we took this tent to a festival this summer, and in very strong winds it was easily erected, and whilst other tents were blowing away all around the Force 10 Helium was rock solid. Inside the length is decent and can easily accommodate a person up to 6 feet tall with a bag.  The width is reasonable, but the height is a little restrictive. In short, one of the best lightweight tents around.

Best bits:  Lightweight, easy to erect, weatherproof
Worst bits:  Height can be restrictive, somewhat difficult to get in and out

RRP:  £220
Where to get it cheaper: £175 here

Terra Nova Laser Competition 1

Sleeps: 1
Weight:  930g
Dimensions:  220x93cm internal
Pack Size:  40x12x12cm
RRP: £320

Review:  Terra Nova are the premier brand of ultra-lightweight tents, and the Laser Competition 1 is the 'entry-level' one-person tent.  The big positive is the weight, at under 1kg for tent, poles and pegs, this is a seriously light tent.  The tent is primarily aimed at lightweight hiking and mountain marathons, but is too expensive for any other use.  At just 220cm in length, this tent can feel a little cramped for taller campers.  However, the big problem that this tent faces is that it falls between two stools - it is more expensive that some of the newer, more roomy, double-skinned tents that weigh around 1kg, but it is heavier than the best ultra-lightweight tents which can be had for just a few more pounds.  However, if you are not very tall and want a very good quality tent for lightweight hiking or competition, then the Laser Competition 1 will be a good choice if you can get it at the right price - we've scoured the net to knock nearly £100 off the RRP, at which point the tent becomes competitive.

Best bits: Lightweight, excellent quality as you'd expect from the Terra Nova brand
Worst bits: Costs a little more than comparable newer tents
Alternatives:  Add 220g and get the Force 10 Helium 100 which is also longer, or add a few quid and get the Terra Nova Laser Photon 1

RRP:  £320
Where to get it cheaper?: Click here: £224

Golite Shangri-La One Person

Sleeps: 1
Weight:  555g
Dimensions:  Approx 250x75cm
Pack Size: 20x10x10cm without poles
RRP:  £125

Review:  The Golite Shangri-La One Person is cross between a tent and a tarp, in that the tent is essentially a flysheet pegged over a groundsheet recepticle (which bears a passing resemblance to a shallow paddling pool).  As a result the tent is very light at just over 500 grams all in, and (as with Golite products) is of sufficient quality to withstand serious adverse weather conditions.  The tent is suitable for taller people, as with decent length of the groundsheet, although the width at one end is getting towards the 'snug' end of the spectrum.  It has a fairly unique shape amongst one-person tents with a ridged pitch, rather than the usual arc-shaped structure, which means that whilst the absolute height is greater the risk of touching the fly-sheet also increases.  The flysheet and groundsheet structure means that the tent can let in the cold, so should be paired with a high-quality sleeping bag in bad weather. The only real negative is the price, at over £100 for a quality flysheet and groundsheet, but for real lightweight camping with quality materials, the Shangri-La should not be overlooked.

Best bits:  Very lightweight, good length, quality product
Worst bits:  Expensive for what is essentially a flysheet, a bit narrow at one end
Alternatives:  The Golite Eden is heavier, but an actual tent with bags of room; the Gelert Solo is a lot cheaper and does the job.

RRP: £125
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £100

Gelert Solo One Man

Sleeps:  1
Weight: 1.5kgs
Dimensions: Internal 250cm x 90cm, External 270cm x 170cm
Pack size:  40cm x 15cm x15cm
RRP: £45

Review: The Gelert Solo One Man is a great low-budget option for wild-camping or mountain marathons.  Light enough to carry long distances without too much trouble, and whilst billed as a 'lightweight' tent, there are tents on the market that weigh half as much (or less!), but at around 5-10 times the price.  As easy to erect as any lightweight one-man, but the advertised 250cm internal length is misleading.  After erecting, the internal dimensions are very cosy, good for sleeping but useful for little else.  Very tall (or very wide!) campers might find the tent claustrophic, and the internal height is slightly less than some of the more expensive one-man lightweights.  As with all one-man tents, getting in and out of the tent can require some flexibility, and therefore is not recommended for those with any kind of mobility issues.  However, these flaws are minor and this tent is incredible value for money.

Best bits:  Very reasonable price for a good lightweight tent
Worst bits:  Can feel cramped inside
Alternatives?: None at this price

RRP:  £45
Where to get it cheaper:  Click here: £31.44

Golite Eden One Person

Sleeps: 1
Weight: 1.5kgs
Dimensions: Internal and External 96x254cm
Pack size: 50x10x10cm
RRP: £250

Review:  The Golite Eden One Person is a top-end lightweight tent that oozes quality in all respects.  The materials used for the inner, flysheet and groundsheet are all best-in-class, with excellent finishing on seams and webbing. Little touches like colour-coded poles and easy-to-push-in pegs speed up the time taken for assembly.  However, the best feature of this tent is the roominess and accessibility.  Whilst only a few cms wider, longer and higher than other one-man tents, the close alignment of the flysheet and the inner means that the Eden feels bigger and less claustrophobic than competitors, and users get to experience pretty much all of the 114cm of height.  As you'd expect for this price range, the tent is stable (especially with guys) even in pretty horrendous weather, and can serve as more than just a place to sleep, which is more than can be said for most one-man tents.  The biggest downside is the weight, which at 1.5kg is not going to break any backs, but is a lot heavier than the other top end options.  In short, an excellent roomy versatile one-man tent, but if lightweight is your thing, then you could save the best part of a kilogram with a less advanced tent.

Best bits: Roomiest one-man tent on the market, easy to assemble, quality product

Worst bits:  Heavier than the best one-mans, pricey

Alternatives?:  If you don't need the room, you could save a bit of money with a lighter tent such as the Force 10 Helium 100.

RRP: £250
Where to get it cheaper: Click here: £199