Big Agnes Pitchpine VST 1.5 Tent Tent Review - ''If you are looking for a highly portable lightweight shelter using the latest technical fabrics this certainly ticks lots of boxes.''
Posted by Lois Fife on Apr 23, 2026
The stars aligned when the new Big Agnes single hoop hybrid tent arrived just in time for a planned trip to hike the GR131 and GR132 on La Gomera in the Canary Islands. Not only is the tent extremely light at less than 800g (excluding pegs/bag) but the hybrid set up with lots of mesh and vents would be perfect for the warm nights under clear skies. VST stands for Velocity (V) = Distance (S) / Time (T): all important qualities for our week-long trip to cover as much of the island as possible.
This was my first shift away from conventional dual skin tents and I was mindful of potential condensation that seems inevitable with hybrid/single skin tents. The first evening was pitched quite high along a coastal path with good air circulation but an early morning cloud inversion immersed us in a wall of moisture, creating small build-up of dew on the inside of the tent. This was easily wiped away and did not cause any internal items to get wet. The integrated ventilation system in the roof and low-level mesh vents along the non-opening side helped to keep this to a minimum. The HyperBead™ fly fabric with 4000mm Hydrostatic Head beaded well and dried quickly once the sun burnt the clouds away.
The Pitchpine VST 1.5 tent is not free-standing, so does take a certain amount of methodology to pitch. The floor needs pegging out first and then the pole set attaches at diagonally opposite corners into aluminium Tiplok buckles. The fly can then be raised from the ground and clipped into place. A cross-support is secured providing width and good internal volume. The guy lines are secured last of all and micro-adjustments can then be performed to perfect the pitch. The volcanic ground in La Gomera was very dry and arid and the 6” Dirt Daggers sometimes struggled to get traction. Guy lines around rocks became an alternative anchor point. Fortunately, I had dry weather when setting up camp on this trip, but the tent would be equally suited to pitching in the wet as the inner remains totally protected whilst pitching.
The fly door zip can be opened and tethered in either direction and secured with a small tape and magnet. This appeared a little lightweight and I doubted it would hold, but was pleasantly surprised. With overnight temperatures on La Gomera around 19°C I kept both doors open at night to help keep cool and waking to a stunning view as the sun came up was a bonus. The internal side wall is 100% mesh with a door opening on the left side of the panel.
The floor has quite a deep bathtub which is reinforced at the corners. The 15D fabric is not the thickest, so a groundsheet is a wise investment and I wish I had taken one on this trip as the red rock has left an ingrained patina to the underside of this tent that is resisting my cleaning efforts!
I am a big fan of the 1.5 size for a single person use. There was lots of space for my wide sleeping mat leaving a triangle of space at the side for dry bags, clothes, electricals, food etc. There are 2 small triangular shaped pockets at either side of the mesh door for small items too. Internal height in the centre of just over 1m, creating a space you can spend time comfortable in if the weather turns inclement.
On our second to last night a storm was due with northerly wind expected to reach 40-50mph. We decided to retreat a day early from the centre of the island to the southerly town of San Sebastian and return to our first night’s camp spot which we thought would be sheltered on the lee side of the hill - a terraced slope where we could nestle back into the rock walls, however the winds were far too strong to pitch and we headed into the town to find somewhere more sheltered. Thankfully a local allowed us to pitch in a small orchard to weather the storm for which we were most grateful. The apocalyptic backdrop was the local power station, which provided shelter and a white noise that rumbled throughout the night masking the sound of the wind.
The Pitchpine VST 1.5 is a 3 season tent, but it will find its limitations in adverse conditions and you will need to react to changing conditions to protect the tent. It is certainly very suitable for 2 – 3 season use in calm conditions. If you are looking for a highly portable lightweight shelter using the latest technical fabrics this certainly ticks lots of boxes. The additional internal space makes it an ideal option for campers who like a good amount of internal space and additional storage pockets. It is also roomy enough for a four-legged companion.
Lois Fife
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website.