A Double Wall Tent

Single-wall tens, as the name suggests, are tents that only have a single wall that acts as a barrier against the weather. Double-wall tents are tents with an inner mesh wall covered by a waterproof rainfly. Both can be used for backpacking. But which one is right for you?

There are 5 reasons why  you’d want to choose Single-Wall Tents:

1. You don’t mind getting wet in the middle of the night when it starts to rain on you from the inside soaking your sleeping bag and pad
2. You’re camping in a dry environment where condensation is not very likely.
3. You love to keep your backpack light so you can hike further, faster and with less effort.
4. They’re cheaper than double-wall tents
5. They’re much easier to set-up than double-wall tents

And there are 5 reasons why you should choose Double-Wall Tents:

1. You’re only happy when you sleep dry
2. The extra weight is worth having a good night’s sleep
3. You’re going to camp in a humid environment
4. There’s no backpacking involved
5. You can afford a double-wall tent that’s lighter than some single-wall tents

For more information, read Single Wall Tents and Double Wall Tents.

You can mimic a double-wall tent with a bivvy and a tarp tent.

The simple answer to this is the number of walls. 2 vs 1. But what does it imply?

It’s not just that 2 walls keep you warmer than 1 wall in cold weather, double wall tents are known to keep you dry even better than single wall tents. This is because in a double wall tent, the fly keeps the rain and snow at bay while the inner tent expels the moist air so that it condenses on the fly (in cases ventilation doesn’t do the trick) which then drips to the ground instead of the user.

A single wall tent has to rely on one wall to do both i.e. deal with moisture from inside and outside. So the fabric has to be waterproof and breathable. Breathable fabrics may not be enough to battle condensation effectively so you have to rely on venting.

The upside to single wall tents is that they’re lighter and less bulky. Double wall tents have more parts and hence heavier and bulkier.