Lara Dunn awarded this Alpkit Soloist budget tent four out of five stars after rigorous testing in the hills of Wales. Find out why.
The only non-green tent in the test, the Alpkit Soloist is still a sufficiently subtly coloured tent to be useful for stealth camping missions. It’s extremely lightweight and has a very modest packsize. The semi-geodesic design pitches outer first, with a single, jointed pole that tucks into eyelets in the flysheet and fastens along the pole length with Velcro.
Lara Dunn recommends
This tent stands apart in that a separate groundsheet is available (at extra cost) which makes for increased versatility in pitching, giving an ultra-lightweight option.- very light
- compact size
- versatile pitching
- fairly small porch
- lots of mesh
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $204 / £149.99 Weight: 1328g Pitching: outer first Flysheet: 15D, silicone coated ripstop nylon with PU backer, 3000mm HH Inner: 15D breathable ripstop nylon Groundsheet: 20D ripstop nylon PU, 5000mm Poles: Diameter, 7001-T6 alloy Pegs: 11 ‘v’ shaped alloy pegs Porches: 1 Inner dimensions: width 77cm, length 220cm, height 95cm alpkit.com |
Pitching proved quite unwieldy in gusty wind, given how light the whole thing is. Once up, the flysheet sits securely without needing to be pegged out (although it is still advisable) and the inner tent hooks quickly and easily to the outer. With guylines in place, this is a secure tent that gives excellent protection from wind and driving rain.
The poles are very lightweight, which would give me some cause for concern if the wind got too vigorous. In fairness, this is not a tent for winter conditions anyway.
The inner tent features large areas of mesh, including a fully mesh door that has a pocket in which it can be stowed away. All this mesh makes for a potentially chilly night’s sleep, albeit one not plagued with condensation. Inside the tent there’s plenty of space, with room for kit and good head clearance, making it a pleasant space in which to relax rather than just sleep.
The porch is far from ‘large’ as stated by the manufacturer. But the outer door can be opened fully and guyed out to create an awning under which careful cooking can be done.
This tent stands apart in that a separate groundsheet is available (at extra cost) which makes for increased versatility in pitching, giving the ultra-lightweight option of pitching outer only or the warm, dry weather option of inner only.
Testing conditions
Lara used the tents on backpacking adventures in early spring at lower-level locations in mid-Wales. Temperatures were variable but weather was largely favourable. Weights are for total pack including stuffsack, poles and pegs and measured on Lara’s scales.
This review was first published in the August 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors. To compare this tent to others in its price range, read our guide to the best budget tents.
