The Tarptent ProTrek is a one-person single-wall ultralight tent that requires two trekking poles to set up. Weighing 23.5 oz, it is well ventilated and has front and side doors for ease of use. The ProTrek is ideal for camping in dispersed sites that require a narrow tent, like dense forest. In fact, it has a lot of similarities to using a simple tarp and an inner tent, but having the two combined in a standalone unit, including a floating floor, lets you set it up just about anywhere. Because the inner tent is joined to the fly, it can be set up in the rain while keeping the inner tent dry, provided you've practiced pitching it previously.

• Minimal weight: 23.5 oz
• Structure: Trekking poles (2) required to pitch
• Minimum number of stakes to pitch: 4
• Type: Single wall tent, dual peak
• Access: front and side
• Peak heights: front 46-48″; rear 26-28″
• Capacity: 1 person
• Floor dimensions: 84″ x 28″
• Fly coverage: 56″ (front width); 108″ (length) tapering to 40″ (foot end); 20″ front and side vestibules
• Floor Materials: 20D Silconized Polyester (3000mm)
• Fly Materials: 30D  Silicone-coated nylon 66 (5000mm)
• Seam sealing: Requires seam sealing; extra cost option (worth it)
• Struts: None

Key Differentiators

What sets the ProTrek apart from other tents is its narrow footprint, front and side door access, and low price ($249). While Tarptent does make more expensive ultralight Tents with DCF, they're still one of a handful of US tent manufacturers making affordable ultralight shelters. I've been using their tents since 2006, and the quality of their designs and manufacture is unsurpassed in my opinion.

The nearest comparable tents to the ProTrek are the packs Zpacks Pivot Solo, which is considerably more expensive, and the Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform SW, which has significantly less head room under its front peak.

The tent has a zippered front door and side door so you can store your gear under cover and still get in and out

ProTrek vs ProTrail Li

The ProTrek is very similar to Tarptent's ProTrail Li tent and can be considered an improved variant. The ProTrail Li only has a front door and is only available in Dyneema DCF ($599), at a considerably higher price point. I owned one at one point, but sold it because I didn't like the front vestibule and entrance, which was blocked by the center pole and my backpack when stored there. The ProTrek addresses this issue with an added side door and offset pole so you can keep items covered and get in and out of the tent unencumbered.

Left side of the tent with the side wall and front zippered closed.

While the ProTrek has a rectangular floor, the fly has a trapezoidal shape that is wider at the head and tapers down at the foot end. This makes it harder to set up than the ProTrail Li, which is symmetrical. While the tent comes with printed instructions and there's a setup video on the Tarptent website, you'll want to dial in your pitching technique before you take the tent out on a trip. You should do this with all new tents, anyway, but especially this one.

Side door rolled back, front door closed.

SetUp

I found that I preferred setting the trekking pole heights slightly longer than the optimum recommended height and that I required beefier stakes than the five 6.38-inch aluminum DAC J stakes that come with the tent. Even then, it can be difficult to get a really taut, unwrinkled pitch, although this also depends on how level the ground is. Tarptent used to (they may still) ship tents with Easton round barrel tent stakes, and I'd recommend using those with this tent because it puts a lot of pressure on its stake-out points. Soil conditions do vary, so bring an assortment until you dial in your preference.

The rear is held up by a glove hook inside the rear peak.

Setup also requires two trekking poles, measuring 46-48″ and 26-28″ in length. The tips of the poles fit into grommets in the two peaks, while the handles fit into fabric cups sewn to the floor. Those cups help ensure a good pitch. The tent also comes with side panel guyouts, which can be useful if you want extra interior volume.

Fabric cups hold the tent handles and align the poles properly.

The tent's fly can be set up a number of ways:

• With all of the sides staked down or hovering just above the ground
• With a side door rolled open (it has a magnetic keeper strap)
• With the front door rolled open (it has an elastic keeper strap)
• With the back corner raised for ventilation

This gives you a lot of options for weather protection and ventilation. In decent weather, my favorite is to camp with all of the mesh exposed for maximum ventilation, but your mileage may vary.

Interior view of rear ventilation – which is wonderful – note 25″ wide pad

The interior floor of the ProTrek has a 5″ deep bathtub floor for moisture protection. Rectangular in shape, it's long enough (84″) and wide enough to hold a 25″ sleeping pad, with room left over to hold your gear and shoes inside the side. It is sewn to the fly with mesh, creating a floating floor that can adapt to slopes or obstacles underneath without compromising the fly's tautness. In addition, any internal condensation that forms on the tent's interior walls can run down them and drain through the mesh.

The zippers meet at this three-way intersection, but a gap can remain depending on your pitch and front pole height.

The inner tent is opened using one or more of three separate zippers: two horizontal (front and side) and one vertical. While this provides a lot of flexibility and access, the point where they come together can be a gap that lets insects into the tent unless you get the pitch just so. Tarptent provides a Velcro flap to close that gap, but it's not the most aesthetically appealing solution and is prone to misalignment in the dead of the night when you take a pee break, and you don't carefully reseal it. This is my least favorite part of the tent.

When using the ProTrek, I’d recommend using the external panel guyout points to create more internal volume.

Materials

The floor is made with siliconized polyester with a 3000 mm hydrostatic head, which provides more than adequate moisture protection. When pitching on very sandy or abrasive soil, you may want to augment the floor with a polycryo footprint. The fly is made with nylon 66 with a hydrostatic head of 5000 mm. Based on past experience, Tarptent is very particular about the fabrics it uses and has been using Nylon 66 for many years because Nylon 66 Nylon 66 provides higher tear strength, better tensile elasticity to absorb sudden wind gusts, and a superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to standard polyester-based fabrics, which is why it's used for the Protrek rain fly. The downside of using Nylon 66 is that the tent does require seam sealing before use. I recommend having Tarptent do this for you because they do a fine job and it's a hassle to do at home.

Comparison: Best Ultralight tents Under $300

Recommendation

The Tarptent ProTrek is an outstanding ultralight one-person tent, weighing just 23.5 oz. Its narrow footprint is perfect for camping in tight spaces like dense forests. The tent features both front and side doors, allowing easy access and secure gear storage. Excellent ventilation options, including mesh panels and a rear vent, keep the interior comfortable and reduce condensation. Made from durable, high-quality materials—20D siliconized polyester for the floor and 30D silicone-coated nylon 66 for the fly—this tent offers strong waterproof protection. The floating floor design adapts to uneven ground without compromising the tent’s tautness or weather resistance. Its setup requires two trekking poles and some practice to perfect, but clear instructions and videos are available.

At $249, the ProTrek is an affordable option compared to pricier ultralight tents made from Dyneema. It improves on earlier models with an additional side door and offset pole to prevent gear obstruction. While seam sealing is recommended, Tarptent offers this service for convenience. Overall, the ProTrek combines lightweight design, practical features, and durability, making it a great choice for solo backpackers who want a versatile, reliable tent at a reasonable price.

Tarptent loaned us a tent for review.

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