I bought this tent in preparation for my first bicycle tour. I was trying to put together a camping setup on a budget and needed a decent tent. After extensive research and a couple of trips to REI, I settled on the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent. Since my purchase, I have slept in the tent about 30 times so far and love it.
Quality of the ALPS Mountaineering Tent
I was really impressed by the quality of this tent for the price. I had never even heard of the ALPS Mountaineering brand before purchasing this tent. The material is strong and durable and of good quality. The zipper works great and doesn’t snag. I would say this is of the same quality as the more expensive Big Agnes or Kelty tents. I expect it to last many years.
Weight
As is, this tent weighs a bit more than 4 pounds which is fairly light. To cut down on weight, I ditched the steel stakes that were included and bought a few lightweight aluminum stakes. I also used a lighter-weight bag that I already had to carry the tent in. For bicycle touring where weight isn’t as important, this is the best tent for the price.
Pitch
Pitching this tent takes only about 2 minutes. There are two aluminum poles that quickly unfold and easily snap into place. The tent is completely freestanding which is nice if you are sleeping somewhere where you can’t stake it out such as a concrete slab. This was one of my requirements when I was shopping for a tent. Another nice feature is that If you buy the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 Person Tent Floor Saver, you can pitch the rain fly first so the tent stays dry if you are setting it up in the rain.
Size and Layout
I am 6’1’’ and 180 pounds and I comfortably fit in the tent with plenty of space beside me for small items such as my wallet and phone. In fact, two people could probably squeeze in this tent if they are friendly enough. The vestibule is huge! I was easily able to store all of my gear inside it with room to spare. Another thing I like about the tent is that the door is on the side. Getting in and out is easy.
Packing
The tent can be taken down in just a couple of minutes. When it is rolled up it easily fit in my handlebar harness with enough room to strap an additional bag with my clothes. The tent packs up small enough to use for backpacking as well. For backpacking, you may want to just stuff the tent in your backpack and leave the bag to save on space and weight.
Waterproof
I have used this tent exclusively in Washington State so far and have slept through multiple rain storms in it. There have been no leaks and I have always stayed dry. Condensation is sometimes a problem in tents but this one comes equipped with two small vents in the top which help quite a bit.
What I don’t like about the Alps Mountaineering Tent
My biggest complaint is the color. I like to wild camp so I would prefer if the tent was a less conspicuous color like green or brown instead of bright orange. I would also like the tent to be just a bit smaller when it is packed up though that would probably cause the price to increase.
Final Thoughts
For the price, I really can’t say anything bad about this tent. I tested out tents in the $300-$400 price range before buying this and it seems to be of the same quality as the more expensive options. The only difference is higher priced tents are slightly lighter and pack quite a bit smaller. Past a certain price point, you are really only paying to save a few ounces and a bit of space I don’t think it’s worth it. This tent should last just as long as the higher-priced models and I am willing to carry around the extra pound to save a couple of hundred bucks.
You can buy the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent here on Amazon.
More from Where The Road Forks
- Travel With a Tent: Why Every Backpacker Should Check out of the Hostel and Camp
- Hammock Vs. Tent for Camping: My Pros and Cons List
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Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.