A good lightweight option, Lucy Wallace can recommend this Sea to Summit one-person tent.
The Sea to Summit Alto TR1 Plus is a three-season version of the Alto TR1, with a nylon rather than mesh inner and a groundsheet designed to withstand wet weather, making it warmer and more suitable for three season use.
Lucy Wallace recommends
In summary, this is a pricey, clever, luxurious tent, ideal for three-season use, if not for strong winds.- excellent liveable space
- steep sides catch the wind
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $670 / £490 (available from Wild Bounds) Weight: 1210g Pitching: semi freestanding, inner first, although fly can be pitched independently with an additional footprint Flysheet Materials: Silicone and Polyether Polyurethane coated 15D nylon with H/H of 1200mm Inner Materials: 20D ripstop nylon Groundsheet Materials: 20D nylon with 2500mm H/H Poles: Aluminium DAC Featherlite NFL TH72M, 8.7 and 9.5mm Pegs: 11 anodised aluminium Y-shaped Ground Control Light pegs Porches: 1 Inner Dimensions: Width 65cm (head) 60cm (feet)107cm (middle) x length 215cm x height 105cm seatosummit.co.uk |
It’s packed with clever features, but the headline is the hubbed pole design with a central cross-piece that points upward in a V-shape, maximising headroom and creating a luxuriously liveable space.
The tent is most easily pitched inner-first and can be erected in a few minutes, though with practice it’s possible to pitch the outer first in wet weather. The outer can also be used alone as a single-skin shelter for ultralight trips.
The pack size isn’t particularly small, but each part has its own stuff sack, which can be strapped together or separated. This is useful for distributing weight when space is at a premium. The tent’s stuff sacks double as clip-in interior pockets (there’s also a mesh pouch), and the pole bag clips to the ceiling so that with a head torch inside, it creates a soft strip-light effect. This is fun, though slightly gimmicky, and I’d have preferred larger stuff sacks, as these are a tight fit.
The materials are lightweight, but the tent feels well thought-out and built to last. Sea to Summit recommend using it with a groundsheet protector, which costs an additional £45.
When pitched carefully with attention to wind direction, it forms a rigid shape with minimal flapping. However, its height and steep sides make it vulnerable in high winds, so while it pitches easily, placement requires thought. The semi-freestanding structure allows for easy adjustment once pitched.
In summary, this is a pricey, clever, luxurious tent, ideal for three-season use, if not for strong winds.
Testing conditions
The tents were tested over several wild camps in mixed springtime conditions. This included some rough, wet and windy nights out. Weights supplied were measured on Lucy’s home digital scales, and include the entire tent, poles, pegs and stuff sacks as packed.
This review was first published in the September 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors. Compare this with other one-person tents in our buyer’s guide.
