Wild Country Helm Compact 1 £210

We tested the two-person version of Wild Country’s Helm Compact tent last year and were impressed with its fast-pitching, all in one design, practical features and reassuringly robust build quality. The oneperson version is just as good as its big brother, and arguably this style of tent is even better suited to solo use.

When you’re not forced to share with someone else the internal proportions feel far more generous in terms of floorspace and headroom. The inner features two big mesh storage pockets plus a stuff pocket to stow away the door, and though it only has one entrance, the rear of the tent has a small half-moon zippered flap, which gives access to a secondary vestibule, ideal for stashing muddy boots. This flap also has a mesh lining, so it can act as a bug-proof vent.

Two further top vents ensure plenty of airflow, and there’s plenty of space between the fly and the inner. But the inner itself is comprised mostly of fabric with relatively little mesh, ensuring it isn’t draughty.

You get a roomy porch and the flysheet provides plenty of coverage too. All in all, this felt like the sturdiest and most protective tent on test, making it our top pick for more exposed wild camps.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY Though compact and packable, it’s relatively heavy – in fact, it’s more than double the weight of a couple of rivals tested here.

■ PACKED SIZE 30x17cm ■ TRAIL WEIGHT 1.97kg ■ DOORS 1 ■ PORCHES 2 ■ DESIGN TYPE Semi-freestanding

■ MATERIALS 8.5mm Superflex aluminium alloy pole set, Stormex polyester fly (4000mm HH), AquaStop polyester groundsheet (5000m HH), 70:30 solid nylon/mesh inner

Verdict

Sturdy and protective with a compact packed size, this is a robust and reliable solo backpacking tent – but at nearly 2kg it is the heaviest option here, which will deter ultralighters.

“Sturdy and protective”