Grand Canyon Richmond 1 Review

Overview

The Grand Canyon Richmond 1 is a single-person tunnel tent aimed squarely at the budget end of the market — the kind of shelter that shows up on Amazon for under €60 and makes you wonder if it’s too good to be true. It’s the lightest tent in Grand Canyon’s lineup, and its tiny packed footprint has earned it a following among bikepackers and casual day-trippers who need a passable roof over their head without committing to a serious gear investment. This is not an ultralight trail weapon; think of it as a functional, affordable first tent or a throwaway travel option.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	1,700 g (as advertised; confirmed on independent weigh-ins)
Packed Size	Ø13 × 28 cm (~5L volume)
Capacity	1 person
Tent Type	Tunnel
Outer Dimensions	270 × 180 × 75 cm
Inner Dimensions	250 × 90 × 65 cm (tapers toward the foot)
Vestibule	~45 cm side vestibule
Outer Tent HH	3,000 mm
Floor HH	4,000 mm
Outer Tent Fabric	68D 190T Polyester PU
Floor Fabric	Polyethylene PU
Inner	100% Mosquito net mesh
Poles	Fiberglass (2 poles)
Pegs	Steel
Comparison	See how Richmond 1 compares to similar gear

Performance

Setup is where the Richmond 1 genuinely earns praise. The process is straightforward: stake out the inner tent, thread the two fiberglass hoops through their pole sleeves, bend them into shape, clip the flysheet over, and you’re done. Most users are up and running in under two minutes. There’s no ambiguity about which pole goes where, and the fly clips on without fuss. That said, the included instructions have been described by more than one reviewer as somewhere between unhelpful and absent — though the pitch is simple enough that you probably won’t need them.

Interior space is where you need honest expectations. The inner tent measures 250 cm long and 90 cm at its widest point, tapering down to around 60–65 cm at the foot. Peak height is 65 cm inside — enough to sit up if you’re short, not enough if you’re average height. Users at 1.82–1.90 m (roughly 6 ft and above) report touching both ends simultaneously and having almost no room to store a backpack alongside them. One reviewer at 6 ft squeezed in just fine, but noted anyone taller or prone to claustrophobia should look elsewhere. The side vestibule is a 45 cm stub — enough for shoes and damp socks, not much more.

Weather resistance is a mixed picture. The 3,000 mm flysheet HH and 4,000 mm floor HH are serviceable ratings for three-season use in moderate conditions, and one user reported the tent surviving golf ball-sized hail and heavy rain without leaking. The tunnel’s low-slung profile (75 cm max height) also works in its favour in wind. On the flip side, some users have noted minor seam leaks on edges and corners — a tube of seam sealer applied on arrival is cheap insurance. The flysheet can also resonate and flutter noticeably in gusty conditions, which makes for noisy nights.

Pole durability is the Richmond 1’s most consistent red flag. Multiple reviewers across different platforms report fiberglass poles snapping — sometimes on the very first pitch. Fiberglass is heavier and more brittle than aluminum, and at this price point the quality control around the pole sleeves and connections is clearly not tight. This is not a universal experience — some users have run the tent for a dozen nights without incident — but it’s frequent enough to be a genuine concern. Carry a pole repair sleeve.

Ventilation is a bright spot. The inner tent is entirely mesh, which, combined with the double-wall construction, keeps condensation reasonably in check. In dry conditions you can pitch the inner alone and effectively use it as a large, insect-proof bivy — a genuinely useful feature that adds a bit of flexibility to an otherwise rigid shelter.

Pack weight deserves a note. The 1,700 g headline number is accurate for the tent itself, but the bundled steel stakes add meaningful weight that nobody seems to count. Swapping them for titanium or aluminum stakes is an easy and worthwhile upgrade that shaves more than you’d expect and addresses what several reviewers flagged as an obvious weak spot.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely compact packed volume (~5L) — slips into bikepacking bags easily
• Fast, straightforward pitch with no learning curve
• All-mesh inner enables fly-free bivy use in dry conditions
• 3,000/4,000 mm HH ratings adequate for moderate rain
• Low tunnel profile provides decent wind resistance
• Reflective guy lines (visible with a headlamp at night)
• Remarkably affordable price point

Cons

• Fiberglass poles are brittle and prone to breaking — a recurring complaint across multiple sources
• Interior is extremely tight; claustrophobic for taller sleepers and anyone who moves at night
• 65–75 cm peak height means no sitting up unless you’re short
• Steel stakes are heavy and obvious candidates for replacement
• Stuff sack is a tight fit and frustrating to repack cleanly
• Flysheet can be noisy in wind
• Occasional seam tape and quality-control issues out of the box

Who Should Buy This

The Richmond 1 makes the most sense for a budget-conscious casual hiker or bikepacker who needs something lighter and more packable than a family dome tent, and doesn’t plan to push into serious weather or log a high number of nights per year. It works fine as a festival tent, a backup shelter for an ultralight setup, or a first foray into solo sleeping bags. If you’re a serious three-season backpacker who’ll stress the shelter week after week — or if you’re over 6 ft tall — spend more and buy something built to take the abuse.

Verdict

The Grand Canyon Richmond 1 is exactly what it appears to be: a bare-bones, budget tunnel tent with a shockingly small packed size and enough weather protection for casual use. The fiberglass poles are its Achilles’ heel, and the interior is genuinely coffin-narrow — buy it with clear eyes on both counts. At its price, the value proposition is real; as a long-term backpacking shelter, it isn’t.