Single-Wall vs. Double-Wall Tents: Which Should You Choose?

Photo: Luke Kelly

When buying a tent, one of the important decisions you need to make is whether you should get a single-wall or double-wall tent. As with every tent-related decision you (and tent designers) make, everything has trade-offs. Ultimately, the “right” choice depends on your personal priorities and use case, which means it won’t be the same for everybody. We could say “Tent your own tent”! Let's break down the differences between single-wall and double-wall tents so you can make an informed decision about which is best for you. 

 

What is a single-wall tent? 

A single-wall tent has only one layer of fabric between you and the elements. The fabric used in single-wall tents is almost always waterproof and is usually either a coated woven fabric like silnylon or silpoly, or a laminate like DCF (Dyneema® Composite Fabric) or UltraTNT. Some single wall tents (usually alpine-focused tents) use a so-called “waterproof breathable” fabric that allows some water to evaporate through the fabric while keeping rain out. In practice, these fabrics often end up being neither particularly waterproof nor very breathable when used in a tent.

Single-wall tents are commonly used for ultralight backpacking or in niche mountaineering applications, like tents designed specifically for an ultralight summit push. Ultralight (UL) single-wall backpacking tents are primarily trekking pole-supported tents whose primary goal is providing adequate shelter at the lowest possible weight. Many popular UL tents have a single layer of fabric going over the top of the tent, along with mesh sidewalls with waterproof vestibules. However, since the main canopy of the tent is only one layer of fabric, these shelters are still considered single-wall tents. The main reason to choose a single-wall tent is weight savings.

 

What is a double-wall tent?

If you ask someone to “think about a tent,” chances are they’ll picture a double-wall tent. As the name implies, a double-wall tent has three layers of fabric between you and the elements. Just kidding. It’s two layers. Gotta keep you on your toes. These two layers consist of a tent body (some folks call this an inner tent) made of breathable fabric and a waterproof fly (also called a flysheet, rainfly, or outer tent). Tent bodies have waterproof floors and the walls are typically either made of mesh (in the case of three-season tents), a breathable ripstop fabric (in the case of four-season tents), or a combination of both. In some tents, the tent body and fly are connected, permanently or semi-permanently. These are still double-wall tents because they have a separate tent body and fly. 

Double-wall tents are much more common than single-wall tents, and most tents with tent poles fall into this category. The main reason to choose a double-wall tent over a single-wall tent is superior performance in varied conditions. 

What are the main advantages of single-wall tents?

Now that we’re clear on the differences between tent types, let’s dive into the strengths and weaknesses of each.

1. Weight savings: This is the main advantage of single-wall tents. By eliminating the tent body and making a tent that’s basically only a fly, you’re using less fabric. Less fabric=less weight. Simple as that.

2. Simplicity: When setting up a single-wall tent, there’s no need to set up the tent body first and then attach the flysheet. The tent is consolidated into a single unit and it sets up in one piece. This makes it easy to keep the interior of the tent dry when setting up your tent in the rain. However, the single-wall tents favored by thru-hikers are often non-freestanding trekking pole tents with more complex setup than simple freestanding double-wall tents, so this is often a wash. That being said, not having to take any extra steps to protect the interior of your tent from rain when setting it up can be very convenient. The trade-off for this (remember, everything’s a trade-off) is if the outside of your single-wall tent is wet when you pack it away, you can’t separate it from the rest of your tent, and the inside of your tent will likely get wet in your pack.

What are the main advantages of double-wall tents?

1. Condensation Management

This is the main reason most people opt for double-wall tents and why they are generally a better choice for users who are willing to carry more than the bare minimum amount of weight. While “condensation management” may sound esoteric and nerdy, it’s actually very relevant and probably a bigger deal than you think it is.

 

Condensation builds and drips from the inside of a single-wall tent. Photo: Ali Becker

 

To understand why condensation management is important, we must first understand what condensation is and why it forms. Be warned: physics ahead! Condensation happens when water vapor in the air (a.k.a. humidity) hits a cold surface and changes phase from gas to liquid. Cold air can’t hold as much water vapor as warm air, so when it hits a cold surface, the water vapor in the air builds up on the surface as liquid water. Think of a glass of ice water sitting out on a muggy summer day. Warm, humid air hits the cold surface of glass and forms water droplets. No, the glass isn’t leaking (and neither is your tent, by the way, despite what you may have yelled at that hapless customer service rep).

So how is this relevant to tents? Well, you have warm, moist air inside the tent because you are both warm and moist (yes, I called you moist, get over it) and constantly releasing water vapor into the air — it’s in your breath and evaporating off your skin. This means there’s lots of water vapor in the air inside the tent. When it hits a cold, waterproof surface (e.g. your tent’s fly) the vapor condenses into water droplets, creating a layer of water on the inside of the fabric. In a double-wall tent, water vapor can pass through the breathable inner tent fabric because it’s not waterproof, so it condenses on the fly where you won’t accidentally brush up against it, because the tent body is between you and the fly. If you’re in a single-wall tent, there’s nothing between you and the fly so condensation forms on the interior of the tent where you’re likely to come into contact with it. 

On a single overnight trip where you’re packing up in the morning and going back to your warm car, it doesn’t matter if you wake up damp. However, on long trips in damp or cold conditions when you may not be able to fully dry your insulation during the day, moisture can become a serious safety hazard because it progressively degrades your insulation’s effectiveness over the course of the trip. If you’re planning trips in cold weather, it’s hard to overstate the importance of keeping condensation to a minimum. In freezing weather, you’ll probably experience some condensation regardless— the only way to avoid condensation 100% of the time is to stay home, but double-wall tents will almost always form less condensation than single-wall tents.

 

A modular ultralight tarp design like the SlingFin SplitWing sacrifices a minimal amount of weight to provide benefits of single-wall and double-wall tents alike. Photo: Tommy Corey

2. Versatility 

The superior condensation management of double-wall tents means they’re better suited for a wider range of conditions than single-wall tents. In addition to the environmental conditions they can handle, double-wall tents also have more modularity than single-wall tents in that you can choose whether or not to use the fly based on the conditions. If the weather is stable, you can pitch the tent without the fly for tons of ventilation and a more seamless experience with the world around you while still maintaining bug protection. With a single-wall tent, you’re stuck with the same configuration regardless of the conditions. However, some double-wall tents pitch with the tent body and fly pre-connected, and in doing so sacrifice the ability to easily set up the tent body without the fly in favor of keeping the tent body dry when you’re setting up the tent in the rain. Remember what I said about trade-offs? If you don’t spend much time in your tent, or you never pitch your tent without your flysheet, then the ability to stargaze or enjoy the scenery from inside your tent may not be a big deal to you, but if you like leisurely camp evenings in your tent, then you may appreciate the ability to set your tent up in different configurations. When you camp in rainy weather, having a separate fly is nice because you can pack it separately when it’s wet, keeping the rest of your tent dry. 

Double-wall tents also perform better in a wider range of temperature conditions. As I mentioned before, condensation is worse when it’s cold out, making double-wall tents more functional in cold conditions. However, double-wall tents tend to be more comfortable when it’s hot too. When you’re not using the fly, the reason for this is obvious. But even with the fly on, fresh air can circulate between the tent body and fly, replacing the warmer air inside the tent with cooler air from outside. Single-wall tents generally have less air circulation which can cause them to get stuffy. 

 

Single-wall tents abound in the thru-hiker community, as seen here at the 2024 PCT Days in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Photo: Tyler Fox

 

Which Style of Tent is Right for Me?

As with every gear acquisition, the first step when making a buying decision is to define your use case, and then select the equipment that best meets your specific needs. The main reason to choose a single-wall tent over a double-wall tent is saving weight. A single-wall tent might be right for you if your top priority is minimizing your pack weight as much as possible, and every other priority pales in comparison. The trade-off is that you will experience significant condensation in a single-wall tent, so you have to be okay with damp mornings and the occasional hot, stuffy night. Generally speaking, if you’re on a thru-hike and doing 20-30 miles a day for a few months, you’re probably willing to put up with some more discomfort for the sake of saving weight. Outside of thru-hiking and ultralight backpacking, it’s more likely that the weight savings of a single-wall tent doesn’t outweigh the performance gains of a double-wall tent.

A single-wall might be right for you if:

1. Minimizing your pack weight is more important to you than nighttime comfort.

2. You primarily camp in mild weather.

3. You do most of your camping in arid environments like the southwestern U.S.

4. You hike most of the day and spend the minimum amount of time possible in camp and in your tent.

5. You go on short trips where you can bail if you get wet.

You will probably prefer a double-wall tent if:

1. You plan to camp in a wide range of environments.

2. You regularly camp in variable weather, high humidity, or cold conditions.

3. You go on remote trips with long stretches between resupplies where drying out your gear in the field might not be an option.

4. You like to savor your time in camp instead of hiking all day.

5. You’re new to backpacking and want a tent for all-around use.

 

The SlingFin HotBox (left), a double-wall tent, and the BD FirstLight (right), a single-wall tent, in the Kishtwar Himalaya. Photo: Vitaliy Musiyenko

 

Our Two Cents

Since you’re reading this article on Garage Grown Gear, chances are you’re more concerned about pack weight than the average backpacker. Normally, I’d say that if you’re not absolutely sure a single-wall tent is the best choice for you then it probably isn’t. However, ultralight folks are usually willing to make more compromises to comfort than most for the sake of saving weight (even though I know you’re lying when you say you sleep well on just that 1/8” CCF pad). 

At SlingFin, we believe that double-wall tents are usually a better choice for most people, which is why that’s primarily what we make. Single-wall tents are best as part of a multi-shelter quiver to be used when conditions are appropriate and are ideal for experienced campers with the skills to minimize condensation through proper campsite selection and deal with the condensation they will inevitably experience. If you’re buying your first tent and you want to balance functionality with weight, chances are a double-wall is the way to go. If you’re diving straight into the deep end of ultralight backpacking, and you know you want a single-wall tent, then go for it. More power to you— just be aware that you will inevitably experience condensation and prepare accordingly. If you’re adding a second, third, or (god help you) a fourth tent to your collection, a single-wall tent deserves a spot in your quiver.

Conclusion & Some Words of Caution

For better or worse, we live in a world with nuance and a wealth of individual experience. People (and brands) may express strong opinions one way or the other. Don’t trust anyone who promises you a condensation-free single-wall tent. They’re lying to you and probably don’t camp much. Also be wary of double-wall tents that are light enough to rival the weight of single-wall tents. There’s no magic in tent design (remember those pesky trade-offs!) and those tents make significant sacrifices to durability, size, features, and/or strength to achieve those weights. Those sacrifices may very well be worth it to you, but at least figure out what you’re giving up before you get lured in by the specs. Our best advice is to approach buying a shelter holistically. First, define your use case. Then do your research and make an informed decision that takes into account not only what you gain, but also what you give up.

 

Tim Hunt of SlingFin was dangerously close to applying to med school when he had an epiphany on a rainy afternoon in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Halfway into his second thru-hike (after the Pacific Crest Trail the year before), he realized that extended outdoor adventures would be few and far between in his future if he didn’t make a change soon. Since he would have spent his doctor’s salary on outdoor gear anyway, he decided to cut out the middleman and go straight to the source. Like a stray dog, he showed up one day at the SlingFin studio and never left. Tim’s title is “A Good Guy to Know” and he does his best to live up to it as he works on design, product management, product videos, and customer service, among other things.