Review: Gossamer Gear The One Backpacking Tent

Gossamer Gear’s The One is a single-wall, trekking pole-supported tent that offers excellent value without stepping up to the steep cost of similar ultralight backpacking shelters.

I’ve used single-wall, non-freestanding tents for over five years, including the Tarptent Aeon Li and the REI Flash Air 1 and 2. I was curious to see how The One compares, since it’s not only one of the most affordable ultralight options but also packs down smaller than the others I’ve used, making it easy to carry inside my backpack instead of strapping it to the outside.

Specs

• weight: 1 lb. 6 oz. (includes tent body, 8 stakes, stuff sacks)
• optional poles: 5.6 oz. (view at Gossamer Gear)
• floor dimensions: 33″ wide at the head end, tapering to 21″ at the foot; 84″ long
• interior height: 45″
• floor area: 15.8 sq. ft.
• vestibule area: 10 sq. ft.
• fabrics: custom 10D nylon ripstop SIL/PU fabric waterproof to at least 1800mm
• price: $255

View at Gossamer Gear     View at Garage Grown Gear

Who is this tent for?

The One is ideal for backpackers who prioritize gear that is ultralight — and are comfortable handling the trade-offs that come with it: using trekking poles for setup, less interior floor space, delicate fabrics, and the potential of condensation issues due to its single-wall design. These trade-offs are easily manageable for most backpackers, but some may find them challenging.

What is a single-wall, non-freestanding tent?

Single-wall tents combine the inner tent and rainfly in one layer, making them lighter than most double-wall tents. While all tents can experience condensation build-up on the inside of the walls, it’s more apparent with a single-wall tent since there’s no mesh to keep you or your gear from touching the outer walls.

Non-freestanding designs rely on stakes and guylines for structure and typically use trekking poles for support. Gossamer Gear offers an optional pole set for those who prefer to use their trekking poles for day hikes on trips, which is my preference.

My Experience with The One

So far, I’ve used this tent at the Oregon Coast and in Washington’s Indian Heaven Wilderness. Setup was straightforward and quick — I didn’t have any trouble figuring it out on my first try. The One doesn’t come with a footprint, so I bought a large sheet of Polycro and cut it to size, creating a footprint that weighs less than two ounces.

It only takes a few minutes: stake the four corners then insert the poles on the front and back, adding stakes to the vestibule and back walls. The One comes with additional guylines to add to the end walls to pull them out so there’s less chance of brushing up against the walls.

I prefer to have a more defined floor in a tent, so I added thin guylines to the bathtub corners and staked them with the outer tent. This helped to pull the floor tight and slightly increase the usable space inside.

One of my favorite features are small loop closures that secure the poles to the tent walls — this little detail makes it much easier to zip the door with one hand.

Packability

The One packs down smaller than any other tent I’ve ever used – thanks to its thin 10D nylon fabric and lack of strut poles. Due to this, I’m able to pack it inside my backpack instead of strapping it on the outside, where it could snag or get punctured.

Interior Space & Comfort

For a one person tent, The One has a decent amount of space inside, with generous headroom at the top due to the two pole design which pulls the tent walls outward. However, the floor space is a bit on the small side – 33 inches wide at the head end, tapering to 21 inches wide at the foot end – making it less useful for those who prefer wider rectangular sleeping pads.

I used a 20-inch wide, regular length sleeping pad and had space for gear at the head end — but at only 84 inches long, this tent may not be as well suited for taller people. For me, there was plenty of space, and I especially liked how the tent walls were farther away from me when sitting up in the tent.

Inside, there’s one mesh pocket — which held my phone, InReach, glasses, and headlamp. The included interior clothesline is convenient for drying socks or hanging a headlamp.

My only gripe is the small door, which can be awkward to enter and exit. When getting in the tent, I would sometimes end up sitting on the mesh door panel in my attempt to turn around. On the plus side, the vestibule is generously sized — I stored my backpacking chair in it overnight, placing my backpack in the chair to keep it off the ground.

Ventilation & Condensation

A large section of mesh on the back wall greatly aids airflow, and the large vestibule can be opened fully for even more airflow as well as views. The One also features mesh inserts at the bottom of the sloping end walls so when you do have condensation, it can run down the wall and drain through the mesh instead of onto the tent floor.

That said, on a recent trip when there was heavy dew each morning, condensation inside was minimal — just a little on one night and none on the other — and there was no fabric sagging. Based on this, I think it performed fairly well. I haven’t had a chance to use this tent in the rain yet (it’s been a dry year), so I’ll have to see how it performs in those conditions and update this review.

Pros & Cons

What I Like

• Ultralight weight at 1 lb. 6 oz.
• Packs down very small — easy to store inside my pack
• Affordable for an ultralight shelter
• Small footprint fits into tight campsites
• Large vent and good airflow help reduce condensation
• Vestibule doors open fully for views

What I Don’t Like

• The door is quite small, and getting in or out can be awkward
• The toggles and elastic loops for rolling back the doors are tiny — larger elastic loops would be easier to use, especially with cold or wet hands
• Thin 10-denier fabric requires extra care to avoid punctures
• Like all nylon fabric tents, it can sag when wet and hold water weight

Conclusion

The One packs down tiny yet feels surprisingly spacious thanks to its two-pole design. While there are some minor trade-offs, for the price it’s hard to beat this tent’s combination of weight, comfort, and affordability. For ultralight backpacking, The One is an excellent value — especially if you want to go light without spending Dyneema-level dollars.

Disclosure: this item was donated for the purpose of a review.