Overview
As the lightest and most affordable 1-person shelter that RiverCountryProducts makes, it’s no surprise that the 1A is a go to choice for solo hikers watching their pack weight and their budget. People love it for its generous length, handy awning, simple setup, and impressive durability.
Hitting the Trail With the 1A
This tent is my personal pick, so it’s seen plenty of miles. My latest outing was up to the Boxlakes was absolutely beautiful, full of fish, but an extremely difficult area reach. By the time I got to the first lake I was spent, and the rain had just started, which was all the convincing I needed to call it a day. Since I don’t usually carry trekking poles, I scavenged a couple of sticks and pitched the tent. Right then the sky opened up. To stay out of the storm, I sat half in, half out of the tent cooking a Peak meal (shoutout Beef Stroganoff) under the awning, staying completely dry. After eating, I tossed my pack at the foot of the tent to keep it out of the rain and crashed for the night.
I woke up dry, with only a light touch of condensation, totally normal for any single wall tent. The 1A isn’t just my favorite because of the low weight and great price; every trip reminds me just how rugged and reliable it is.
Ups and Downs with the 1A
The Trekker Tent 1A is a phenomenal tent, but still has some shortcomings. My two biggest issues with it are the short height and the easy condensation. At only 32 inches tall in the middle I am unable to sit straight up without my head brushing the ceiling making it a little uncomfortable to get ready in the mornings. The tent also has a little condensation on the walls every morning. This is mostly caused by your breathing and is due to the one layer construction of the tent. My two favorite things about the tent however are the super light weight and the awning door. I use the awning far more than I ever thought I would. I eat meals under it, I normally leave it open when I sleep, and I’ll store stuff I don’t want in my tent, like my shoes, underneath it.
Pros And Cons
Conclusion
The trekker Tent 1A punches far above its price, sure it’s a little short and suffers from a little condensation, but what you get for the price is pretty much unbeatable. It is great for thru-hiking or backpacking and has been my trusted companion for years. If you’re looking for a tent to try I would definitely recommend the Trecker Tent 1A.