Geertop Tent: Definitive Review (2024)
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This is our Ultimate TopNotch GEERTOP Tent Review (Ultralight Compact Single Waterproof Bivy II, 1 Person Tent) for 2024.
If you’re looking for a great little camouflage bivy for your next hiking or backpacking trip, then this might be the one for you.
Here at TopNotch we can confidently make this recommendation because our expert team of testers researched, reviewed and tested this camp shelter among 17 others, to bring you the Top 10 Emergency Tube Tents.
And guess what?
This camouflage 1 person bivy won our TopNotch Spot For Best Camouflage Tube Tent.
But don’t just take our word for it. Keep reading and we’ll break it down even further for you.
So in this Geertop 1 person tent review, we’ll cover:
- How to set up the whole tent (it’s not that complicated) in the great outdoors;
- Product features of this 1 to 2 person easy setup lightweight backpacking tent;
- Excellent weather protection, durability;
- Great ventilation for a 4 season backpaking tent – wave goodbye to condensation issues with this tent from Geertop;
- And so much more…
So if you want to know the nitty-gritty about the best single person backpacking tent, you’ll love this guide.
Let’s get started.
- Manufacturer: Geertop
- Capacity: 1
- Seasons: 4 season backpacking tent
- Dimensions: Floor size:7 ft 7 in x 2 ft 6 in / Height: 24 inches
- Material: Polyester, with Rain Fly and Carrying bag – all high quality materials and all rain proof
- Weight: 2.5 lbs – super low weight
Bottom Line : Great price for a quality 4 season backpacking tent for more comfortable trips in the Great Outdoors.
Pros
- Lightweight Back Packing Tent
- Fast set up
- Good legroom for one person
- Suitable as a full 4 Season Backpacking Tent for any weather
- Outer Rain fly has an uncredible monsoon resisitant 8000mm hydrostatic head rating
- Winter Tent compatible
- Various pockets available to help store stuff
- Built in snow skirt – can be used equally well on snowy days as in hot weather
- 2 vestibules for extra storage space
- Condensation issues a thing of the past!
- Double stitched seams for rain resistance and durability.
Cons
- Doesn’t have the best waterproof zippers
- Could be better in heavy rain and super strong winds, though we did keep dry.
Our Verdict: GEERTOP Backpacking Tent
Any time you purchase something in camouflage, stealth is an issue (as was the objective of early camouflage adoption in warfare of course).
So while ever there’s a risk you might run into an emergency (or want to carry a lightweight tent for your backpacking trips), but need or want to remain under the radar, we found this to be a great option.
Here are some of the things we loved:
The aluminium continuous tent poles system locks into place so easily and forms perfect arches. There’s three of those. We’ll be telling you how to set those up later.
Wait ’til you see the tent pegs…..
They’re green!
That was the first for most of us – we’ve only ever come across silver pegs before.
The manufacturers sure pulled out all the stops for this excellent backpacking tent.
These are the two BEST features we like:
- There’s an elastic strap that runs the width of the bivy, nearer the head, to keep your air mattress in place if you’re taking one along.
- The mosquito net mesh that runs ¾ of the length of the bivy and the air vent at the head that keeps air circulation going are great features. They come in handy when it’s a hot night and you don’t want to zip yourself in completely, but neither do you want to offer yourself to bloodthirsty mosquitoes…or bugs, or falling leaves, or animal droppings…you get the point right?
Here’s what we’re not so crazy about…
Let’s be clear – there’s very little not to like about this gear.
The only thing that could be a problem is that there’s also not masses of room for extra equipment inside the bivy.
You do have a pouch at the head of the tent to store small items – just that added bit of storage space.
That’s a plus.
If you have larger equipment and are concerned for safe keeping, you might want to use one of the two vestibules or erect a tarp system.
(We recommend using the UST Tube Tarp which is also in our TopNotch Top 10 line up).
In comparison to the other emergency shelters in our Round Up Review, we agreed that this get up was closer to a luxury item, but still at a very fair price.
And if you’re a super space conscious couple on a weekend backpacking trip – this tent could be used as a 2 person tent – fitting both people comfortably.
Related: 10 Best Tube Tents
Value For Money
The Geertop 4 Season Backpacking Tent takes our top honors in this metric!
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. This is the closest you’ll get to a luxury item when it comes to emergency shelters.
But hey, it’s a lightweight tent, comes in a sturdy carry bag, it’s easy to set up, has more than enough space, and protects you from a multitude of weather conditions, – the markings of a great tent.
Value For Money Rating
Best of all….
It’s more affordable than you’d expect for a product of this quality.
If you’re a Geertop Winter Tent gearhead, you’ll know this version is a huge improvement from the ultralight 1 person waterproof personal bivy.
We’re guessing the manufacturer took those not so flattering reviews of other tents to heart and came up with this new and improved version.
Which is worth every dime!
Ease Of Use
This is a free standing bivy so there aren’t a lot of parts that come with it.
Phew!
Inside the carry bag are the bivy, 3 aluminium poles (continuous system), 8 (green!) tent pegs and a short guyline.
Ease Of Use Rating
Here’s how to set it up:
Insert your aluminum poles in parallel in the two seams at the head of the tent. Cross their ends and insert them into opposite tie outs.
This can be a little tricky for a first timer and frustrating if you’re a bit impatient.
That’s why we gave it only 8 points in this metric.
For the bottom end:
Insert the smallest aluminium pole into the seam. Pull the outer flap out and peg down to stretch the bivy tight and give it its form.
You can roll the outer flap of the air vent at the head of the tent and tack it up for air and sunlight. If it’s raining, pull it out and peg it down to keep water from falling into the vent.
Dismantling everything and packing away is even easier.
Tactical camping at its finest!
Weather Resistance
There’s extra material on the outside of the zip lining to cover the zip. This outer material has velcro underneath the flaps to keep it in place so it doesn’t come undone in the wind.
It’s designed this way to keep out the rain.
So we knew we had to test it against the weather.
Weather Resistance Rating
We put this tent out for a night in the rain. When we came back to check later the underside of the bivy was nice and dry.
TopNotch!
There wasn’t any discoloring in the material.
I can hear you now…
…what about the inside?
BONE DRY!
Still think it won’t be good enough?
You can always take a silicone spray with you to reinforce the material – read more about it in our Tube Tent Buyers Guide.
This might not be the Geertop 4 season tent, but it sure works like magic in the rain!
However, if it actually is a 4 season camping shelter you’re after, look no further than our 4 person 4 season camping tent, the ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian.
Durability
When it comes to testing a tent’s camping durability, I live by three rules – strong waterproof material, great stitching and sealed seaming.
When one is missing, it just drags the whole product down for me.
How did this camouflage bivy live up to my lofty expectations?
Well here’s the result….
Durability Rating
When you enter the tent you can clearly see that the underside of all seam lines have an extra layer of lining sewn over.
The corners of the bivy also have this inner covering because that’s where it would be susceptible to leaks and damage.
It’s almost like the manufacturer is saying, “hey look we’ve gone the extra mile and got you covered.”
Of course, even tester opinions vary.
Some of the team loved it and ranked this product very highly straight away while others needed more convincing.
So we settled with a score that reflected our combined opinions and came up with a score of 8.5 for this metric.
That being said…
This is a bivy you’ll be taking along on more than one camping trip – it’s going to last a good few seasons.
Go Geertop!
Pack Size
This product weighs in at 2.5 pounds, with a compact size of 19” x 5” x 5” inches; considerably larger than the Back 40, Bearhard and Delmera, all of which can fit into the palm of your hand.
The aluminum poles – a continuous pole system – fold into parts for compact packing.
Pack Size Rating
But don’t worry too much about size, with many a carry bag and camping backpacks designed to carry extra attachments, size is no issue at all.
Our Final Verdict: Geertop Tent
For anyone well acquainted with Geertop products and their evolution of improvement through the years, we were super impressed with this bivy.
The manufacturers added poles to hold up the bottom end of the bivy and even added a whole length of mesh walls to keep out bugs and enhance ventilation even further.
Additionally, in what could be an intentional show of generosity, Geertop manufacturer’s have thrown in 8 tent pegs when all you really need is 2.
Thanks guys!
For a spacious camping bivy we also appreciated that it didn’t weigh a tonne.
We had hoped that Geertop would have gone one better and made this a 4 season 1 person tent.
We’re looking forward to that day.
Conclusion: Geertop Tent
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Now we’ve taken you through our testing and results, you know just as much as our top testers about this camouflage bivy.
As a customer we believe that you should not only have buying power but the necessary knowledge to make informed purchases.
And after reading this review, we hope that you are now better able to decide whether this camping product is worth your money. (Hint – definitely is!).
Not only that….
You should be able to determine whether this camping bivy is appropriate for the weather conditions you’ll be seeing on your next TopNotch adventure.
And you’re already a pro at setting this gear up (in your mind at least).
Now you can take the next step to make this camouflage bivy yours – we hand the baton to you.
Other Versions
If you like to go big then you might just love this 1 Person 4 Season Backpacking tent.
Here’s what you need to know…
There are two entry points from either side. They are large meshed dual doors, so on a hot night you have the option of keeping the rain fly off to let in more air and enjoy the stars.
Dual Layer Door – The combination of the inner screen layer and the outer zippered fabric layer of the tent door allow nice air flow as well as a degree of privacy.
Although we really wished that the aluminum poles were painted for extra metal protection, we like the fact that there are only two continuous pole systems, one for either ends of the bivy to hold the entire structure up.
We were surprised at the amount of space on the inside of this fantastic lightweight tent – your sleeping pad will probably weigh more than this baby.
The inner tent measures 210cm on the long side, and 125cm on the short side meaning it has a generous internal living space – especially for one.
You really have space for a wide range of air mattresses, sleeping bags or ground mats for added comfort in this spacious yet compact tent.
And another thing….
It has a zipped compartment storage pocket for for extra space at the head – just what you need to help keep you organised at the end of a tiring day on your next backpacking trip.
And don’t ignore that huge fire safety tag you can’t miss when you set this camouflage tactical up, and don’t forget the addition of a snow skirt setting you up perfectly for bad weather.
We think this is another great option for a lightweight backpacking tent! An all round excellent tent for 4 season camping – go ahead – make it your choice and head off for your next backpacking trips into the Great Outdoors – you’ll have it pitched in just a few minutes, start to finish, every time.
The dimensions are as follows:
- 84” x 39”x 36” inches
- Packed size: 17″ x 4″ x 4″
