Featherstone UL Obsidian 1P Backpacking Tent Review

Overview

The Featherstone UL Obsidian 1P is a semi-freestanding, single-wall-adjacent solo tent aimed at backpackers who want a roomy one-person shelter without paying Big Agnes or Zpacks prices. It’s built around a pre-attached hub pole system, a 20D silnylon fly, and a no-see-um mesh body, and it ships with a footprint and gear loft included — items that usually cost extra with premium brands. This is a tent for hikers who care more about value-per-ounce than shaving the last few grams off their base weight.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Trail weight	1,262 g (2.78 lb)
Capacity	1 person
Seasons	3-season
Floor dimensions	84 x 51 in
Packed size	16 x 4 in
Rainfly fabric	20D silicone-coated ripstop nylon
Waterproof rating	2,000 mm
Pole material	7001 aluminum
Setup style	Semi-freestanding, hub pole system
Includes	Footprint, mesh gear loft

Performance

Setup: The pre-attached hub pole design is the Obsidian’s strongest selling point in terms of usability. Durable 7001 aluminum poles are pre-attached with a hub system for fast, foolproof setup and a stable, freestanding frame you can trust in the backcountry. That matches what independent reviewers found — one reviewer who lent the tent to a first-time camper noted setting up camp with the Obsidian was a breeze, even for a friend relatively new to camping, thanks to the intuitive design and straightforward assembly. If you’ve fought with a trekking-pole pyramid shelter in the wind, the hub system here is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade, even if it adds a bit of weight versus true freestanding-pole-less designs.

Weather resistance: At a 2,000mm waterproof rating on 20D silnylon, this fly is solidly mid-pack — enough for sustained rain but not in the same league as 3,000mm+ fabrics you’ll find on higher-end 3-season tents. Featherstone backs this up with an integrated high-sided bathtub floor to minimize seam exposure and block surface runoff, which is the right call for a budget tent since floor seams are usually the first failure point. One user testing the brand’s 2P sibling tent reported the fly kept dew and light rain out overnight, though I couldn’t find a rigorous storm test of the Obsidian 1P specifically — treat sustained heavy-rain performance as untested by independent reviewers rather than confirmed.

Interior space and livability: At 84 x 51 inches, the floor plan is genuinely generous for a solo tent — wider than many 1P competitors that pinch down toward the foot end. The UL Obsidian 1P offers a spacious interior, providing ample room for you and your gear, with enough space to stretch out comfortably. The included vestibule gives you a place to stash a pack and boots without cluttering the sleeping area, and the ultra-fine mesh body keeps bugs out while maintaining airflow — useful in humid, buggy conditions where condensation management matters.

Value and included accessories: This is where the Obsidian earns its keep. A dedicated reviewer who tested it on an overnight trip in Utah’s Box-Death Hollow Wilderness summed it up well: despite being cheap in cost, it’s not cheap in overall quality, calling it a surprisingly good bang for the buck. Bundling a footprint and mesh gear loft at this price point is unusual — most competitors charge $30-50 extra for a footprint alone.

Durability concerns: I couldn’t find extensive long-term durability data specific to the Obsidian 1P, so I’ll flag this as a gap rather than guess. However, owner reviews of Featherstone’s sister tent (the Granite 2P, which shares a similar build) mentioned needing to add their own cord for guylines since the included length didn’t anchor the tent properly, and bent a stake in rocky ground — small issues, but worth knowing if you’re headed into exposed or rocky terrain. Given the shared component sourcing across the Featherstone lineup, it’s reasonable to expect similar stake and guyline quality on the Obsidian, though I’d treat that as an educated guess rather than a confirmed fact.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely fast, foolproof setup thanks to the pre-attached hub pole system
• Spacious 84 x 51 in floor — more room to stretch out than many 1P tents
• Footprint and gear loft included at no extra cost
• Strong value proposition relative to premium-brand 1P tents
• Bathtub floor design reduces seam-related leak risk

Cons

• 2,000mm waterproof rating is adequate but not exceptional for sustained storms
• Trail weight of 1,262 g is respectable but not class-leading for “ultralight” branding — several trekking-pole 1P shelters undercut it by 8-12 oz
• Stock stakes and guylines on sibling Featherstone tents have drawn complaints; may be worth upgrading
• Limited independent long-term durability testing available
• Semi-freestanding design still needs staking for full stability, unlike true freestanding tents

Who Should Buy This

The Obsidian 1P suits budget-conscious solo backpackers and beginners who want an easy-to-pitch, roomy shelter without spending $400-600 on a premium ultralight tent. It’s a solid entry point for someone doing 3-season trips on maintained trails who values simplicity and included accessories over shaving every last gram. Gram-counters chasing sub-2-lb base weights or hikers expecting to face frequent severe weather will likely want to look at higher-spec (and pricier) options instead.

Verdict

The UL Obsidian 1P delivers real value: an easy setup, a genuinely roomy interior, and bundled accessories that competitors charge extra for. It’s not going to out-perform a Big Agnes Copper Spur or a Durston X-Mid in a sustained downpour or a windstorm, and the included stakes and guylines may need upgrading for serious backcountry use. For solo hikers prioritizing cost and ease of use over ultralight bragging rights, I’d rate it a 6.8/10 — a smart budget pick with a few corners cut that experienced backpackers will notice.