Lightweight Backpacking Tents

Hiking can be difficult, especially with heavy bags on your back. That's why lightweight backpacking tents can be very helpful in making the burden lighter. The type of tent shelter that will work best for you depends on how extreme your hiking adventure will be.

Intermediate Hiking
The somewhat experienced hiker is going to want a tent well under the 6 pound range, as anything heavier than that would be almost unrealistic to carry for a long hike.

It is possible to get a nice 1 or 2 person tent that weighs around 3 pounds. This type of tent offers a good bit of protection from the elements, so it's intended for hiking expeditions in which rain or heavy winds are likely.

If you're hiking with a friend, instead of each of you carrying a 1 person tent, you could share a 2 person tent instead. This would allow you to stay warmer at night by sharing body heat within the same tent.

Extreme Hiking
The extreme hiker wants the least amount of weight possible. Even a tent that weighs 3 pounds can be too heavy for extreme hiking expeditions. A better option is a bivy sack, which is more like a glorified sleeping bag than a tent. A bivy sack can weigh in at under 1 pound.

Another option is to use a tarp and some string to put up a basic shelter for the night. It's much simpler than a tent, and much lighter, too. However, this would not work in locations that frequently see rain and heavy wind.

The most extreme sleeping conditions are to use no tent, no shelter, just a thin pad and maybe a sheet. In fact, you could even use a big trash bag (or tape two trash bags together, and cut a hole on the one end) instead of a sleeping bag and tent. This is obviously the lightest option.

So you will need to determine how much shelter you will need during the night, and how much harsh weather you can endure. That will help you decide which type of lightweight backpacking tents is best for you.