Solo bikepacking missions are synonymous with packing light. There’s no one to split group gear with, so gram counting is essential for an efficient load. One of the best ways to save weight and space while solo bikepacking is with a bare-bones shelter like a tarp tent or a bivy bag. But tarp tents and bivy bags are about compromise. Tarp tents compromise on weather and insect protection. While a bivy bag compromises sleep comfort and weather protection.
Tarp tents and bivy bags work great for certain types of trips and times of the year, but the most versatile shelter for solo bikepacking is a one-person tent. Although a one-person tent is likely a little heavier and bulkier than a tarp tent or bivy bag, it offers better coverage from the elements and insects without adding that much weight or bulk to your packing list.
The best one-person bikepacking tent is one that balances space, weight and packability with a functional, user-friendly design. Reality often dictates that affordability makes the feature list, too. In fact, it was the cost of the Sierra Designs High Side 1-person bikepacking tent that first caught my attention. Priced at $300, the High Side, while far from inexpensive, is competitively priced for a lightweight one-person bikepacking tent. A closer look shows that the High Side tent scores high marks in the lightweight and packable department, too.
Sierra Designs High Side 1 – Light and Packable Solo Bikepacking Tent
The Sierra Designs High Side 1-person bikepacking tent weighs in at a competitive 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg) and stuffs down into a small package. At $300, it’s almost half the price of some of the competition. Designed with bikepacking and lightweight hiking in mind, it features a single-door, non-free-standing design. The inner tent is almost entirely mesh (which reduces weight and bulk), and the fly includes a modest vestibule. The body uses ultralight 15D nylon no-see-um mesh, the floor steps up to a durable 30D silicone-coated nylon ripstop, and the fly uses a lighter-weight 20D silicone-coated nylon ripstop. Together, the materials offer a nice balance of lightweight feel and real-life durability.
You can pitch the mesh body on its own (pictured below) or the tent with the fly (pictured above). The High Side name comes from the asymmetric pole shape that creates a high side on the entrance to the tent.
The High Side 1 weighs about 2.5 lbs, packed and ready for action, including poles and stakes. It packs down efficiently and is easy to stow in bikepacking bags thanks to poles featuring short 12-inch segments, the lightweight fly and 15D mesh body.
The stuff sack is a little different than most. Rather than a basic drawstring sack, it’s more of a football-shaped bag with compression straps. I think the idea is that you could strap it right to your handlebars as is, but I’m not sold on the storage bag. The reality is that I want a waterproof setup, so I just stuffed the tent in my waterproof Ortlieb Handlebar bag and left the factory-supplied bag at home.
High Side 1 Tent Setup and Use
The Sierra Designs High Side 1 sets up quickly. While not a freestanding tent, the design is simple: two poles and four stakes for the body and another four stakes (minimum) for the fly. Nice quick-release buckles make for easy alignment of the fly. The fly door converts into an awning, which offers a nice view and the illusion of more space when inside the tent.
Sierra Designs High Side 1 with fly awning set up
Speaking of space, the High Side is definitely “efficient” with space, in other words, there’s not much room. You can sit up and change a shirt, but the tent is made for sleeping, not sitting or hanging out. The single vestibule offers added space to stow gear while sleeping, and as mentioned, the awning mode for the fly helps give it a roomy feel should you need to hang out inside.
Inside space is minimal but functional
Nonetheless, it’s still far more spacious than a bivy bag and offers full coverage from insects and wet weather that a larger tarp set-up does not. A couple of vents help maintain airflow, but given the full-mesh nature of the body, the need for venting is not really a big issue. The High Side serves its purpose as a modest shelter for solo missions very nicely.
A quick-connect fly system makes for easy setup
The Bottom Line – Efficient Shelter for Solo Bikepacking Missions
Solo travel is rooted in minimalism, and the Sierra Designs High Side 1 lightweight bikepacking tent serves up functional shelter in an efficient package. Details like short pole segments, a lightweight mesh tent body, a durable floor and intuitive setup make it lightweight, easy to stow in bikepacking bags and a snap to set up or break down solo.
You can find a tent with more space, and you can find a lighter tent. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a tent as light, packable and functional as the High Side 1 for the money. It walks the minimalist line without compromising on functionality at a very competitive price.
Check prices and availability of the Sierra Designs High Side 1 lightweight bikepacking tent
Read more bikepacking tent reviews, including the MSR Freelight and Marmot SuperAlloy
