Understanding The Difference Between Single-Wall And Double-Wall Tents

There are two major designs that distinguish tent types in the outdoor world: double-wall and single-wall tents. In this article I will break down the differences between the two, comparing and contrasting the benefits and drawbacks of each design. I will also include my opinions as to which I prefer.

The biggest difference lies in the construction of each design. Single-wall tents feature only one layer of nylon acting as both the rainfly and the inner wall. Double-wall tents have a rain fly that is separate from the inner tent which is usually a bug net.

Benefits Of A Single Wall Tent

Have I mentioned how double-wall tents are heavier than comparable sleep systems? Hammocks, single-wall tents, and of course, a tarp, are all lightweight options that weigh less than a double-wall tent. For the folks who rip the label off the peanut butter, using a heavy sleep system is a laughable idea.

• Tent poles have only one use

Reduce redundancy is a common phrase inside the ultralight community. Tent poles are a necessary component for double-wall tents but they only have one use. Hauling aluminum rods for 20 miles a day starts to seem silly after a few weeks in the backcountry. Tent poles take up valuable space inside a pack and are known to puncture holes in bags because of continuous rubbing on long-distance hiking trails. 

Should I Buy A Single Wall Tent Or a Double Wall Tent?

After living in a single-wall tent for 3.5 months and hiking more than 2300 miles I can confidently say, NEVER buy a single-wall tent. Use literally any other sleep system. Fuck, even a fucking tarp is better than one of these pathetic excuses for a shelter. The only time I would wake up with a dry sleeping bag was when the humidity in the air was in the single digits and even then, without properly aerating, my interior would sometimes be saturated.

Think about the times you actually want to have a tent – when it’s raining! My single-wall tent barely kept precipitation off me, and that was when I was lucky enough to have it stay standing. In every situation where I needed to set up my tent fast, I got completely soaked. The inability to have a free-standing tent means I relied on the stakes to hold up the walls. When it’s raining and the ground is turning into mud, stakes fail throughout the entire process of setting up the tent. There were times when I would hammer the stake into the ground 5+ times.In windy situations, the walls of the tent collapsed around me, making me feel like a mummy wrapped in nylon. By the end of the hike, I swore to myself never to go on a camping trip with a single-wall design ever again. I will happily carry the extra weight of a double-wall tent if it means I can sleep better and not worry about my shelter collapsing in a storm.

The average human exhales 192 liters of water a night. The single-wall design features one piece of nylon which means all the moisture condenses on the inside of the tent. This leads to single-wall designs having a thick coat of moisture in the morning and in wetter climates, pools of water on the floor. Without proper ventilation – which isn’t possible during a rainstorm – the walls of the tent are just as wet as the rainy exterior.

• Weak in heavy winds and rain

The single-wall nylon construction makes this tent design more of a sail than a shelter in high winds. The lack of an internal frame allows the walls to billow around. During heavy winds, the stakes will loosen and the high winds will tear them out of the ground, collapsing the entire tent.

• Sagging

Single wall tents made of nylon sag when exposed to moisture. In heavy rains, the tent will actually stretch out. Sagging walls equals a wet sleeping bag when it rubs against the material. Even if it’s not raining, a nylon single-wall tent still sags by morning because of the moisture in the air from exhaling all night. 

Drawbacks of a Double Wall Tent

• Ultralight models are expensive

Double-wall ultralight tents are pricey. I’m talking $300+. The lighter you go, the more money they cost. If weight is your largest concern and you are on a budget, double-wall tents probably won’t fit your needs. 

• Heavier than other sleep systems – tarp, single wall, and hammock

Have I mentioned how double-wall tents are heavier than comparable sleep systems? Hammocks, single-wall tents, and of course, a tarp, are all lightweight options that weigh less than a double-wall tent. For the folks who rip the label off the peanut butter, using a heavy sleep system is a laughable idea.

• Tent poles have only one use

Reduce redundancy is a common phrase inside the ultralight community. Tent poles are a necessary component for double-wall tents but they only have one use. Hauling aluminum rods for 20 miles a day starts to seem silly after a few weeks in the backcountry. Tent poles take up valuable space inside a pack and are known to puncture holes in bags because of continuous rubbing on long-distance hiking trails. 

Should I Buy A Single Wall Tent Or a Double Wall Tent?

After living in a single-wall tent for 3.5 months and hiking more than 2300 miles I can confidently say, NEVER buy a single-wall tent. Use literally any other sleep system. Fuck, even a fucking tarp is better than one of these pathetic excuses for a shelter. The only time I would wake up with a dry sleeping bag was when the humidity in the air was in the single digits and even then, without properly aerating, my interior would sometimes be saturated.

Think about the times you actually want to have a tent – when it’s raining! My single-wall tent barely kept precipitation off me, and that was when I was lucky enough to have it stay standing. In every situation where I needed to set up my tent fast, I got completely soaked. The inability to have a free-standing tent means I relied on the stakes to hold up the walls. When it’s raining and the ground is turning into mud, stakes fail throughout the entire process of setting up the tent. There were times when I would hammer the stake into the ground 5+ times.

In windy situations, the walls of the tent collapsed around me, making me feel like a mummy wrapped in nylon. By the end of the hike, I swore to myself never to go on a camping trip with a single-wall design ever again. I will happily carry the extra weight of a double-wall tent if it means I can sleep better and not worry about my shelter collapsing in a storm.