Considering buying the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent for your solo trips?
This ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 review will be looking at the pros and cons of one of the most popular one-man tents on the market.
ALPS Mountaineering is a company founded by Dennis Brune in 1993. Since its inception, the brand has continued to grow and offer high-quality gear that is affordable to all outdoor enthusiasts. The Lynx 1 is a well-balanced tent that has an easy set-up and offers great value for money.
Now without further ado, let’s get this Alps Lynx review under away!
Product Details & Specs
- Weight: 4lb 4oz (1.93kg)
- Area: 20 sq. ft (1.86m²).
- Base: 2’8 x 7’6 (229 x 81cm)
- Design: Free-standing
- Fabric: 75D 185T polyester fly with 1500mm coating
Who Is the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent for?
We would say the Lynx is perfect for individuals who like to go on weekend adventures. It’s a reliable tent that will offer protection for 3-seasons of the year. Its 4 lbs., 4 oz. weight makes it great those who want to be light on their feet, although there are lighter tents available, like the Big Agnes UL Backpacking Tent.
Size & Storage
The tent has a base size of 7’6” x 2’8” for a tent area of 20 square feet, and has a 3’ center height for a good amount of head room. It is built to give one person enough space to live comfortably.
The tent is made bigger thanks the vestibules that allow users to store their camping gear outside the sleeping area. The vestibule area provides an additional 10 square feet of gear storage. With a 32″ vestibule depth, there’s space for even larger items under the vestibule. A gear loft and mesh pockets provide extra storage for small items like phones, headlamps, and water bottles.
The Lynx is very portable tent with packed dimensions of 6″ x 17.5”, a total weight of 4 lbs. 4 oz., and a minimum weight of just 3 lbs. 5 oz. It’s not the most lightweight tent, but this is an ideal weight for single person adventures. For ultralight options, check out the Best 1-Person Backpacking Tents.
Materials & Weather Resistance
The Lynx is a 3-season tent that is designed to keep you safe from the elements.
It has half mesh walls, with a mesh top half to increase ventilation and a waterproof polyester bottom half to protect from the elements.
The 75d 185t poly taffeta floor is made out of the same material as the lower part of the walls and has a 2000mm coating to keep water out. The rainfly is again made out of that same poly taffeta material and has its own 1500mm coat. It’s also resistant to UV damage. The fly and floor seams are factory sealed to make sure water doesn’t get in that way either.
Two vents provide additional airflow when the weather turns humid. These vents can be opened and closed to create the perfect living conditions. The 7000 series aluminum poles with a 8.5 mm pole diameter won’t rust and provide durability without adding weight.
The tent doesn’t come with a footprint, but the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent Floor Saver can be bought separately if you wish to protect the underside of your tent.
It doesn’t provide the best weather protection for really cold weather, but it’s not designed to be a winter camping tent. For a great tent for winter camping, check out our recommendations for the Best Cold Weather Tents.
Pitching
The Lynx has a free-standing design that can be moved even when set-up. The two-pole design allows for easy assembly, even for first-time users.
You will want to use the guy-lines to secure the tent down, especially in high-winds.
To set the tent up, first unroll the tent onto the ground (make sure to spread out the Floor Saver first, if you’re using one). Then assemble the tent poles and lay them across the top of the tent to create an X.
The poles have little pegs at the end of them. Fit those into grommets at the corners of the tent to create the frame. Then use the pole clips to attach the body of the tent to the tent poles.
To finish, cover the tent with the rainfly, then use the included aluminum stakes to secure the tent to the ground. Don’t forget to stake out the guy ropes on the rainfly as well.
FAQ
Does the Lynx 1 tent come with stakes?
Yes, the tent comes with guy-lines and stakes for you to secure the tent down in bad weather.
Does this Lynx come with footprint?
No, you will not receive a footprint with this tent. However, you shouldn’t really need one as the floor has a durable construction. You can purchase a footprint separately for extra protection if you want it.
Can I use this tent during the winter?
The tent is made for 3-season use, although you should be fine in cold weather if you have a winter sleeping bag.
Can a 6ft person sit-up in this tent?
Yes. I am 5’10” and there is plenty of room before I hit the ceiling.
Will the tent keep out bugs?
Yes. The tent is fully-screened.
Is there enough room for my 58L backpack?
Yes. You can store your backpack in the area provided by the vestibule.
Verdict
Let’s look at a quick list of pros and cons of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent to refresh our memory before diving in to our final impressions.
Pros
- Durable, yet lightweight
- Vestibule storage
- Easy set-up
- Great ventilation
- Mesh storage pockets.
- Weatherproof
Cons
- There are better options for lightweight backpacking
- No footprint included
- Not for winter camping
This Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 review should have helped you to gain a better perspective of this tent. To sum up, we think this is a great all-rounder, especially for the budget conscious camper. You would think that with all these features, the cost would be high compared to other tents, but this is not the case.
It’s light enough for overnight adventures, but not quite light enough to make our list of the top 1-man backpacking tents. The tent is suitable for motorbike camping, hunting, or fishing.
Unlike many other 1-person tents, the Lynx 1 has plenty of storage space thanks to the vestibule. In fact, they offer a massive 10 square feet of extra space.
In addition, the ALPS is so confident in their products that they are willing to offer a limited lifetime warranty on the Lynx 1 tent. Just contact them as soon as you experience problems with your tent.
Overall, I like the Lynx as it has many strengths but very few weaknesses. The only wish is that it was a few pounds lighter. It will keep you safe from the weather, regardless of what it throws at you.
So are you ready to get this ALPS Mountaineering tent?
