The first time you set this up you may find it helpful to have two people. It is difficult to explain without being next to the tent how it goes up with just one person. But, in a nutshell, you simply telescope the poles gradually instead of all at once and it's a piece of cake. Many customers set this up by themselves without any problems. It's just that first initial time you set it up you may be glad to have a second person. But it is not absolutely necessary.