Stooping in a lightweight, minimalist, backpacking tent while camping out of your car isn’t much fun. Neither is getting blown over in a flimsy, big-box-store mega shelter. With that in mind, we tested seven new larger camping tents this past year in a quest to find the most luxurious, well-designed, and storm-worthy camping tents for lounging in style, no matter what the forecast looks like.

Be sure to also check out our picks for the and our favorite camping cooking gear.

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Most Durable:
• Best Bonus Feature:
• For Larger Families:
• For Bad Weather:
• How to Choose a Camping Tent
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best Overall

Big Agnes Bunk House 4

Floor area: 58 sq ft (tent), 15-34 sq ft (vestibules)
Weight: 16.2 lbs
Packed size: 6″ x 16.5″ x 26.5″

Pros and Cons
⊕ Intuitive set-up
⊕ Packs down fairly small
⊗ No bathtub floor

The Bunk House 4 has almost everything we look for in a car camping tent, without any superfluous features adding unnecessary weight, complexity, or bulk. The 6-foot-tall ceilings were high enough for most people to stand under, and near-vertical wall angles made the simple rectangular layout feel more spacious than its approximately 7-foot by 8-foot proportions would suggest.

Despite its tall ceilings, the Bunk House 4 was easy to set up: Five-foot-four category manager Miyo McGinn had no difficulty pitching it solo. The backpack-style carry straps were convenient while loading and unloading the car, though not quite padded enough to comfortably haul the tent any real distance in its carry-on luggage-sized travel bag.

Two testers and seven friends were able to cram inside the 58-square foot main shelter for a rainy afternoon of card games, but we found that the space most comfortably slept three adults or fewer, particularly if they were using larger camping pads or cots. There was plenty of room to stash packs and extra gear out of the weather in the 15-square foot rear vestibule. A 34-square foot front vestibule can function as a mudroom, additional storage space, or be set up as an awning with two included poles. Inside, 16 interior pockets around the sides and ceiling kept small items organized.

The Bunkhouse 4 held sturdy on a gusty evening at the Washington coast with 20 mph gusts (which can’t be said of all tents this tall and wide), thanks to the well-placed, easy to tension guy-out lines anchoring the rainfly to the ground. The 60-denier waterproof polyurethane-coated polyester rainfly and 60-denier tent body held up just fine to light showers, soggy campsites, and oceanside fog and dew. But the lack of a bathtub-style lip along its base—where the denser floor fabric extends a couple inches up the sides to prevent any pooling water from leaking in through the thinner wall material—makes us reticent to give an unqualified endorsement of its waterproofing. This isn’t a disqualifying design for most campers and climates, but we might think twice before pitching this tent in a rainforest.

Most Durable

Snow Peak Alpha Breeze

Floor area: 121 sq ft
Weight: 24.2 lbs
Packed size: 4.9” x 8.1” x 6.1”
Footprint: 14.9’ x 8.1’ x 6.1’

Pros and Cons
⊕ Four points of entry
⊕ Excellent ventilation
⊕ Durable
⊗ Heavy

The Alpha Breeze showcases Snowpeak’s emphasis on designing elegant, simple products with a decidedly luxurious fee. The top-tier materials—in this case, polyester fabric and duralumin poles—are strong and functional, and durable enough to stay that way for quite a while.

The extra-thick copper-aluminum poles gave us confidence when a sustained 15 mph wind picked up during an overnight on Camano Island in Washington. The structure barely flinched under the gusts, and the forearm-length Douglas fir boughs they knocked down onto our campsite. The 75-denier, DWR-treated polyester taffeta rain fly and 300-denier polyester tent floor both looked brand-new after two dusty, rocky trips in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains.

Besides the fact that it felt indestructible, Seattle-based tester Maeve Axtell loved the boxy tent’s four doors, with one on each side. “It was easy to get in and out without disturbing other people sleeping in the tent, and when it got warm we could get cross-breezes from every direction,” said Axtell. The tent’s high ceiling and two mesh-covered “windows” on opposite walls contributed to the spacious feeling inside that the four doors created, although all those openings only left space for four mesh pockets and 10 loops to stash small essentials inside.

All good things come at a cost, though, and with the Alpha Breeze, the cost is weight. Despite its heft, it’s not excessively bulky and doesn’t take up an unreasonable amount of trunk real estate. Another ding? It’s not especially easy to set up: and the tent’s 6-plus-foot height makes the Breeze a tad unwieldy to pitch. Testers ultimately forgave those shortcomings, since both features made for a rock-solid pitch and roomy, comfortable interior.

Best Bonus Feature

MSR Habiscape 4P

Weight: 12.7 lbs
Height: 73 inches
Interior space: 62.5 sq. ft. + 23.5 sq. ft. vestibule

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lots of livable space
⊕ Highly weatherproof
⊗ Mediocre ventilation

There’s a lot we liked about the Habiscape, from the generous elbow room (86 square feet including the vestibule) to the ample standing height (73 inches), but it was a dual-sided pocket that hooked us. Next to the door MSR built in something they call a “pass-thru pocket”—a bug mesh-lined portal that’s accessible from both inside and out. Without opening the door, testers could reach through to grab car keys, bug spray or a headlamp. “It seems like a little thing, but the convenience was huge,” says Chris Baikie, a British Columbia-based tester. “There were definitely fewer bugs in the tent because of it.”

Set-up for the Habiscape requires two people, but the asymmetric design and color-coding helped make it quick and easy. The dome structure and low-hanging 68-denier polyester fly stood up to a 20 mile-per-hour windstorm with little flapping. The rest of the tent is equally tough, with the same 68-denier poly on the floor, 40-denier ripstop nylon walls, and 7000 series aluminum tent poles.

We had to duck under the vestibule door to get inside, but it provided enough room for a cooler and gear, and kept drips out of the tent during rainstorms. A second door came in handy for frequent nighttime bathroom excursions. The Habiscape packs down easily, and ends up smaller than many tents of its size, at roughly nine inches by two feet. “It’s almost perfect,” says lead tester Ryan Stuart. “And it’s not even that heavy.”

Best for Families

The North Face Wawona 8P

Weight: 18.1 lbs
Height: 77 inches
Interior space: 112 sq. ft. + 44.7 sq. ft. vestibule

Pros and Cons
⊕ Massive vestibule
⊕ Room divider
⊗ Large footprint makes it hard to fit into some campsites

The Wawona is big all over—and that’s a good thing. In a decade of tent testing for şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, this might be the biggest tent that tester Ryan Stuart has ever slept in. There’s plenty of room for eight to lay down in the 112 square foot area, though we mostly tested it with smaller groups. Cumberland, B.C.-based tester John Waters used the Wawona like a bunk house at his in-laws’ cabin on British Columbia’s Denman Island. By hanging the optional mesh wall, which splits the tent down the middle, he created two rooms and stuck his two kids on one side, while he and his wife enjoyed a bit of privacy on the other.

The mesh pockets in each corner are big enough to hold a laptop. The expansive, 45-square-foot vestibule alone is nearly the size of a three-person backpacking tent. “You can stand up in it,” remarked Waters. “We had two deck chairs and a small table in there.”

He wasn’t as keen on the door. It opens wide and tall—no stooping or ducking required—but the bathtub floor is 10 inches tall, enough to create a tripping hazard, particularly for fast-moving kids. The complementary high-cut fly, however, left lots of room for venting windows while preventing sideways rain from entering.

Most impressive was the set up. “It’s huge, but I still managed to get it up by myself,” says Stuart. “That’s rare for any car camping tent.” Color-coding and manageable pole lengths were key for raising the roof on this mansion. Ironically for those trying to avoid RV camping areas, the eight-by-eight footprint is so big that it can be hard to fit the Wawona into smaller, tent camping-only campgrounds.

Best for Bad Weather

Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4P

Weight: 18.6 lbs
Height: 66 inches
Interior space: 62.5 sq. ft. + 69 sq. ft. vestibule

Pros and Cons
⊕ Bombproof design
⊕ Big vestibule
⊗ Smaller second door

There are two types of car campers in the world: those who cherry-pick sunny weekends, and those who head out no matter the conditions. Mountain Hardwear drew on its mountaineering tent heritage to design the Bridger for the latter.

The thick, 68-denier ripstop polyester on the fly extends right to the ground on all sides—a rarity in this category—to keep rain and backsplash away from the tent. Aluminum tentpoles create a domed main structure, while a separate hoop pole lifts the fly, giving the Bridger both a roomy- and weather-shedding shape. During a thunderstorm in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest, where winds whipped up to 30 miles per hour, testers created a bombproof pitch using adjustable stake-out loops at each of the six pole-tent connection points, as well as guy-out attachments on the fly.

The main vestibule is bigger than the tent itself, with a floor and removable storage panel that has six pockets large enough to fit a bike helmet, and opens far from the interior for drip-free entry. “The vestibule is effectively a mud room,” said tester Adam Sauerwein, a roving Vanlifer. Four more mesh sleeves inside hold smaller items, like headlamps and phones. The storage adds livability to the tent, which Sauerwein says feels roomy for four. Setting it up at camp was simple, he says, with color-coded poles, although packing it back up is a bit awkward, owing to a tight stuff sack.

The premium fabric and extra square footage makes the tent heavy, though not especially bulky for its size. If you plan to car camp in all seasons, the robust build promises years of dependably dry nights.

How to Choose a Camping Tent

Size and Dimensions

Start with the number of people who will be sleeping in the tent and add at least one. No one ever complained about a little extra elbow room, and ultra-wide camping pads often need extra space. Next, consider packability: If you have limited storage or trunk space, a more packable option will make jamming it between all of the coolers and propane easier. Height is crucial, but comes with a tradeoff: Being able to stand up to get dressed or stretch your legs is nice, but means it will be harder to set up, especially if you’re doing it solo.

Feature Set

Look for ample pockets for staying organized, big vestibules and/or high bathtub walls that protect the interior from blowing rain, multiple venting options, and roomy doors. Of course, a tent’s principal job is to protect you from the elements, so weatherproofing should be a primary consideration. A fly that reaches to the ground provides the most coverage, but can also limit venting, making for uncomfortably stuffy conditions when it’s hot. A tall pole structure is susceptible to high winds, so make sure the tent has plenty of guy-out points for stabilizing and protecting the tent from gusts.

Budget

Price is always important, but try to prioritize value. Spending a bit more for a tent with more durable materials, like higher denier fabrics and burly aluminum poles, will save you money in the long run. You can find a no frills, serviceable four-person summer tent in the $200 range, with waterproofing, durability, and reparability generally improving as you start getting into higher price ranges.

But if you’re looking for a tent to use three seasons of the year, that you expect to get a lot of use in stormy weather, or that you’d like to use for the rest of your life, we recommend budgeting between $350 and $600. That’s the cost of more reliable construction and waterproofing—which, as all of our testers who have woken up to puddles inside their tents can tell you, is priceless when you really need it.

How We Test

• Testers: 14
• Products tested: 7
• States visited: 5
• Tent stakes bent: 3

This year’s batch of seven tents was put through their paces by 14 testers, who ranged in age between 18 months (car camping with a toddler is possible!) and 68 years old. Each tent was used on at least two trips, and the most popular—the Big Agnes Bunk House 4—ended up seeing almost four weeks of use when testers kept coming back to it. The worst weather these tents endured was two June days of non-stop rain in Yellowstone; the best was six straight days of mild blue skies in Washington’s San Juan Islands in August.

Testers rated each tent they used based on durability, weather-proofing, comfort, and ease of use/set-up. They also offered qualitative feedback on design details they loved or hated, what type of camper or setting a tent is best suited to, and, at the end of the day, whether they’d recommend it to a friend. The tents here are the ones that earned the highest praise across the board.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. McGinn got her start reviewing gear as şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř’s gear editorial assistant in 2021.

Ryan Stuart became a freelance writer when he realized he’d never get paid to play doing any of his other passions, possibly because he has too many of them. He’s a pretty good skier, decent paddler, hiker, and runner, and loves to make mountain biking, surfing, and rock climbing look harder than it is. Whenever he can, he practices those activities from a campsite somewhere far from other humans.

The post The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

Kuiu Mountain Star 2P ($479)

Best Protection

We’re not saying we love camping in the rain, but the Mountain Star makes it a heck of a lot more enjoyable. This double-walled tent is reinforced against wind via two nine-millimeter-thick aluminum poles (you can get carbon for $20 more) that run the length of the tent. Both of them slot through pole sleeves, granting additional stability. The Mountain Star’s 15-denier nylon fly and mesh canopy come pre-attached, offering the possibility of a dry setup. “It drizzled during our first night out, and my tent partner and I were happy not to start the trip with a wet tent floor, thanks to the all-in-one pitch,” our gear editor said after a rainy start to the Panama Editors’ Choice trip. Bathtub floors ensure the 29.5-square-foot interior stays dry and dust-free, and the two nine-square-foot vestibules keep packs out of the elements. Caveat: though the 38-inch peak height mitigates wind, it’s noticeably low for its testing class. 3.7 lbs

Marmot Limelight 3 ($359)

Best Features

Social butterflies, rejoice. The largest three-person tent in our test is full of features that make sleeping as a trio a breeze. An update for 2022 adds two unique interior storage cubbies that jut out, winglike, on each side and serve as internal vestibules. “Each can fit a small daypack or dry sack and get everything out of the sleeping area,” said one tester. The update to this two-door tent also adds 2.5 square feet of interior space (for 45 square feet total) and 1.6 square feet of vestibule storage space (now 12.9 total). Designers changed the fly fabric to 50-denier ripstop polyester, which, along with the included groundsheet, improves its durability and weather protection. An optional interior clothesline, gear loft, and four low pockets keep the floor clear, while the three-pole setup is color coded and quick. Be warned: although the update shaves off 1.6 ounces, the Limelight is still bulky and heavy. This shelter is best used as a car-camping tent or for short overnights. 7.2 lbs

Kelty Far Out 2P ($200)

Best Value

Turns out not every backcountry palace needs to cost as much as an actual castle. The double-walled Far Out offers a combination of livability, overnight-worthy weight, and performance at a reasonable price. At 5.5 pounds it’s not ideal for a weeklong trip, but it’s perfectly good for weekend missions. Tip: save six ounces and leave the included groundsheet at home; the Far Out’s 68-denier floor is plenty durable. This shelter sets up with three sturdy aluminum poles (two longitudinal, one brow) and offers an acceptable 28 square feet of interior space to go with a best-in-class 43-inch peak height, double doors, and a generous 20 square feet of vestibule space. “This is a meat-and-potatoes tent,” one tester said. “It’s easy to set up, roomy enough, and should last a long time thanks to the durable materials.” An all-mesh tent body keeps air moving, reducing condensation, and the 68-denier fly rolls back so you can stargaze without completely taking it off. 5.5 lbs

MSR FreeLite 3 ($480)

Best Space-to-Weight Ratio

Want to max out your sleeping space for a trio without overdoing pack weight? Consider the FreeLite 3. Designers shaved nine ounces off the previous version of this double-walled tent, meaning the update weighs less than 2.5 pounds. Despite cutting weight it maintains 38.5 square feet of floor space, enough to fit three campers comfortably. (Note: the two vestibules dropped to 15 total square feet, but that’s still enough for packs.) Thanks to a packed size no bigger than a paper towel roll, “Nobody argued over who had to carry the tent,” one tester said after a multi-day outing in Waimea Canyon, Hawaii. (Just treat the 15-denier ripstop nylon canopy and fly carefully.) A three-quarter mesh body scored high marks in ventilation: “Even during all-night rain, the tent remained airy and there was no condensation buildup despite having to close the fly door,” our tester said. Setup is easy with the one hubbed aluminum alloy pole and included guy-out lines, which held taut in 20-mile-per-hour winds. 2.4 lbs

Klymit Maxfield 1 ($300)

Most Packable

Not a fan of tent sharing? Camping in tight spaces? The brand-new one-person Maxfield weighs just over 2.5 pounds and mimics the footprint of a bivy, with a long, narrow, rectangular floor plan that enabled us to pitch on small outcroppings and in dense brush. Its livability is drastically better than a bivy’s, however, thanks to its 16-square-foot interior, 6.5 square feet of vestibule space, and an elite-for-its-class peak height of 42 inches. The 15-denier nylon ripstop fly kept us dry in overnight rains, and the 15-denier polyester floor held up to rocks and rough terrain. “The small-but-clutch vestibule fit all my essential gear,” our tester reported after a two-day trip in the canyons of Colorado National Monument. In a win for minimalism, the Maxfield packs down to the size of two Nalgenes. Caveat: there’s only one interior pocket—plus loops for hanging clothes and sundries—and sleepers taller than six foot two will find that their feet hit the back wall. 2.6 lbs

NEMO Dagger Osmo 2 ($480)

Most Livable

We’ve praised the Dagger’s space-to-weight ratio and innovative materials before, and this version continues the trend. This double-walled, two-door shelter weighs just 3.4 pounds, yet boasts 31 square feet of interior space and a best-in-class 22.8 square feet of storage space across two vestibules. “The 42-inch peak height allowed us to sit up and dress comfortably,” said a tester after a trip in Archangel Valley, Alaska. Thoughtful features also deliver top-notch livability, including six pockets and a removable waterproof vestibule tub liner that holds small items beneath the fly doors. What’s more, the Dagger is now made of 100 percent recycled nylon and polyester yarn, with PFC-free waterproofing that kept us dry all night, even in heavy rain (the mesh canopy reduced condensation). Dialing in a taut pitch is easy, thanks to the single, hubbed aluminum pole with short cross-pole, and a snap-in, slip-free corner anchor system. Ding: the pole swayed when pushed around by 30-mph wind gusts. 3.4 lbs

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We scour the web every day for the best deals on outdoor gear, and we found a lot of worthy steals at , which lasts now through September 7. Here are the five best deals on camping essentials that we think are worth your money.

Big Agnes Daisy Mae 15 Sleeping Bag (Women’s) ($217; 25 Percent Off)

The was a favorite in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide test. “Consider this (and the men’s Anvil Horn 15) a full sleep system, with a polyester-taffeta lining that’s so soft it feels like silk, and an attached sleeve that holds a rectangular pad in place,” one tester wrote. It’s currently 25 percent off.

Marmot Tungsten 4-Person 3-Season Tent ($274; 25 Percent Off)

Tester Ryan Stuart called the best backpacking tent for families. “When you’re camping with your partner and a kid, or two, and maybe the dog, you could bring two tents. But I think piling into one tent is better,” he wrote. “Half the reason I camp with the family is to enjoy time together. And with the Tungsten 4, you won’t be sleeping on top of each other when the bonding stops. At 8.8 pounds it’s going to feel heavy if you carry it all, but it’s one of the lightest tents available for its square footage, at just over two pounds per-person.” It’s currently 25 percent off. Here’s a look inside:Ěý

Exped MegaMat Duo 10 Sleeping Pad ($262; 25 Percent Off)

The is the most comfortable mattress we’ve used for car camping, hands down. It’s a 10-centimeter-thick air pad with memory foam insulation. It’s pricey, but it’s the closest we’ve come to feeling like we were in our bed at home while camping. “Unlike air beds, this mattress’s air chamber is surrounded by memory foam—an arrangement that makes it more comfortable to sleep on than the Tempurpedic mattress I use on my bed at home,” ·É°ů´ÇłŮ±đĚý°żłÜłŮ˛őľ±»ĺ±đĚýcolumnist Wes Siler. It’s currently 25 percent off.

Jetboil MicroMo Stove ($109; 25 Percent Off)

şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř’s Gear Guy, Joe Jackson, reviewed back in 2016—and five years later, we still rely on it as a solid backcountry option for heating up water quickly. “The MicroMo boils water just as fast and simmers just as smoothly as Jetboil’s , but in a svelter 27-ounce package,” he wrote. “Expect to have water for two cups of coffee ready in about two minutes. It’ll also cook a freeze-dried meal in no time.” It’s currently 25 percent off.

Nemo Disco 15 Sleeping Bag ($225; 25 Percent Off)

In ourĚý2017 Summer Buyer’s Guide, we picked the as the best sleeping bag for “side sleepers who like to sprawl.” The bag widens at the shoulders and knees, so you have plenty of room while on your side. We also like the two zippered chest vents that keep you from overheating on warmer nights. “On a 55-degree night, our testers opened the gills and left the bag’s full zip open for maximum venting,” we wrote. It’s currently 25 percent off.

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The two-person tent is a pillar of my gear arsenal. It’s a foundational piece of equipment right up there with my mountain bike and go-to daypack. I reach for my two-person tent often, whether I’m getting set for a backpacking adventure, an impromptu backyard campout, or a car-camping excursion when I don’t have the space or energy to bust out the massive six-person palace. Two-person tents often top many reviews. I remember the first two-person tent I ever owned: an inexpensive model from the North Face that I picked up at a steep discount at an REI Garage Sale. I spent countless nights in that thing all over the country during my teens and early twenties. I get emotional thinking about it, the same way I get emotional thinking about my first car (a late 1970s model Cadillac). But man, have two-person tents evolved since I bought that original shelter 25 years ago. They are lightweight marvels of engineering and design, and everyone should have one. Here are three of my favorite two-person tents, each designed for a different purpose, and all good enough to anchor your gear closet.

For the Bikepacker: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 ($380)

Weight is a legitimate concern when packing for a backcountry adventure, but so is the actual size of your gear. Even if a tent is light, if it’s not compact, it could take up too much room in your pack. The bikepacking-specific is both light (2.1 pounds) and compact, thanks to the Shortstik pole system, designed to keep the overall package of the tent small enough to fit on the bars of a bike. I’ve used this tent on numerous gravel and singletrack bikepacking trips over the past two years, and it’s become my favorite shelter. Most of the tent is mesh, which helps cut down on weight and creates a breezy experience on warm nights, while the fly and floor are made from nylon ripstop with a waterproof coating. I’ve never had an issue with durability. And it’s a legitimate two-person tent—52 inches wide and 86 inches long—with a vestibule that’s just big enough for shoes and a pack. One detail that I think is smart, even if you’re not a cyclist, are the daisy chains on the outside of the tent fly, which allow you to secure and dry dirty, wet clothes like socks or shirts. A couple of things to consider, though: the fly doesn’t have a hood vent, and some people have complained about condensation (though that hasn’t been an issue for me). Also, there’s only one door, so if you’re going to use this tent with a partner, be prepared to crawl over that person in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

For the Budding Outdoorsperson: REI Groundbreaker ($75)

No, that price tag is not a typo. The actually costs less than a trip to Whole Foods. This two-person tent was designed specifically for first-time backpackers who have never pitched a tent before. It’s meant to be affordable and easy to use—kudos to REI for the concept and the execution. I had my 12-year-old son use it on a campout with one of his friends recently. He put it up entirely on his own in less than five minutes, which is impressive because (a) he’d never pitched a tent before and (b) he refuses to read directions. This tent does have its drawbacks, however: it weighsĚý4.8 pounds, and it doesn’t have a lot of design innovations that help separate modern tents from previous iterations. For instance, the Groundbreaker has ample floor space (31.8 square feet), but because of the pole design, there isn’t a ton of vertical space, so it feels smaller than it actually is. That said, it does offer storage pockets and gear loops, which are hard to find on some tents three times the price. The only thing that truly bugs me about this tent is the size of it when it’s packed into the stuffsack. It’s huge (22 inches by 7.5 inches), which might be a bigger turnoff than its weight. So, no, the Groundbreaker won’t satisfy ounce counters and seasoned backpackers, but if you’re looking for an easy tent to break into overnight adventures, this is it.

For the Backpacker: Sea to Summit Alto TR2 ($449)

There are a lot of two-person tents on the market that are really only big enough for an adult and a small puppy, but the isn’t one of them. With 25 square feet of floor space (84.5 inches by 53 inches at its widest) and an innovative design that maximizes vertical space, there’s plenty of room for two people in this featherweight shelter. And at 2.5 pounds, it’s approaching ultralight territory but includes some features you wouldn’t expect for a tent in that category, like two big doors, double vestibules to match, and storage pockets to keep all your camp accessories from getting lost in the middle of the night. And the vestibules are spacious, so you can stick any wet, smelly, bulky gear outside the tent while still protecting it from the rain. The Alto TR2 doesn’t pack down as small as the Fly Creek, but it comes with separate sacks for the poles, tent body, and fly, so two people can easily divvy up the weight. A single-pole design keeps things simple from an instruction standpoint (just match the colors of the poles with the colors of the tabs on the tent), but that can also be a bit overwhelming, as that single pole has many of arms to manage (imagine wrangling a stiff octopus). Yet the effort is worth it, because the tension ridge pole at the top of the tent adds vertical space, while the matching venting system on the rain fly adds airflow, even in a storm. It’s probably one of the more “livable” two-person ultralight tents on the market, so if comfort’s a premium, think of this as your new home away from home.

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Terry Breaux can trace the idea for the MSR Access, the first true four-season tent in both name and design, back to a day on Mount Rainier. In 2012, a coupleĚýMSR employees were topping out on the 14,410-foot backdrop to the company’s Seattle-area headquarters. “And there was this guy camped on the summit in a Hubba Hubba,” recalls Breaux, MSR’s lead tent designer. “We knew he didn’t want to be up there in that tent.”

The is MSR’s most popular backpacking tent, but its all-mesh walls and spindly architecture make it ideal for lightweight, summer backpacking, not the high winds, cold temperatures, and potential snow of the alpine. On the other hand, on a weekend trip with a good forecast, that guy probably didn’t want to lug an eight-pound mountaineering tent to the top of Rainier. At the time, those were his only options.

“Six or seven years ago, almostĚýno one was applying the new technology and materials we were using in three-season backpacking tents to make four-season tents lighter,” Breaux says.

Today, material advances and the growing interest in backcountry skiing and snowshoeing are making the niche attractive.ĚýIn the past couple years, at least six new tents landed from as many different brands, claiming to be worthy for every season. They’re just tough enough for winter campingĚýand just light enough—typically under six pounds—for summer backpacking.ĚýThey’re true year-round tents.

But questions remain. Does anyone actually need one of these tents? Are they really a quiver killer? And what makes for the .Ěý To find out, I collated more than a decade of tent testing, including testing all six of these new tents in, well, all four seasons, talked to several of the designers, and interviewed three tent experts.

3-Season vs. 4-Season

Set up and ready for sleeping, the differences between a three- and four-season tent may not be obvious to the casual observer. But look closerĚýand the finer points start standing out.

Let’s beginĚýwith architecture. Four-season tents use stiffer materials, and single poles create A-frame shapes to discourage snow loading, sagging, flapping, and bending in the wind. For three-season tents, designers cleverly use bows and bends in the minimalist pole structure to build more boxlike tent shapes that optimize the ratio of interior space to weight.

Four-season tents use nylon fabric instead of mesh to seal in warmth and prevent drafts and drifting snow from seeping into the interior cocoon. They also tend to have more guy-out points, higher-denier materials, and more venting options than their three-season brethren.

Do I Need a 4-Season Tent?

“[Four-season] tents are a unique option for someone with a range of pursuits in mind,” says Emma Hunter,Ěýa gear specialist at Backcountry.com. “They’re adequate for summer or winter use, and they really prove their worth when you hit early season snowfall or mixed weather conditions at higher elevations. Plus, they’re a real value proposition for someone looking to purchase only one tent.” Buying one of these instead of both a three-season and a mountaineering tent could save upwards of $500Ěýand a bit of room in the gear closet.ĚýEven as a dedicated winter camping tent, four-seasons make a better choice for most people.ĚýNo, they can’t handle blizzards or feet of snow. “But most expedition tents are overengineered” for most users, says Will McElwain, lead tent designer at Big Agnes. “You need that in extreme conditions, but for typical winter camping situations in the lower 48, you really don’t.” When I think of almost all my winter camping trips, it’s true. Whether I was ski touring or snowshoeing, I camped in sheltered spots, where the weight (and cost) of an expedition tent would have been excessive.ĚýThe nylon walls of a four-season were nice when beach and desert camping, blocking blowing sand from getting into my bed.

But like anything that tries to be everything, year-round tents demandĚýsacrifices. They weigh about the same as three-season tents did a decade ago—around four to five pounds. That meansĚýfor a July backpack trip, you’re addingĚýa couple pounds over leading three-season tents. The nylon walls that do a great job of holding in warmth on chilly nights also lock in heat on summer evenings. The extra vents helpĚýbut can’t compete with all mesh.

There are also downsides in winter. All-season tents aren’t tough enough for brutal storms and high elevations, and they’re not as roomy as mountaineering tents. With all the extra layers and insulation needed for winter temps, they can feel crowded. “If someone really intends to backpack in warmer months, they’re best off sticking with a traditional backpacking tent,” Hunter says. “[Four-season] tents also aren’t the strongest. So, if you’re planning multiple alpine summits in harsh conditions, go with something more rugged.”

Bottom line: the four-season tent is a compelling option, but it’s not ideal for every situation. If the idea of subfreezing temperatures has you booking a room at the closest Holiday Inn, a three-season tent is plenty. Those on a budget won’t like the premium price of the tough and light components that come with year-round models. For anyone eyeing up Arctic or high-elevation expeditions, though, a four-season won’t cut it—buy a true mountaineering or expedition tent. If you do lots of summer camping, an all-season tent is going to feel cramped and sweaty. And if winter camping is only a once-a-year (or less) occasion, you’reĚýbetter off borrowing or renting.

For those whoĚýdo more winter camping, a four-season is a great second tent. Made for ski and snowshoe camping, they’re also ideal for mountaineering in summer, when snow, wind, and cold are possible. For both situations, an all-season tent will be less expensive and lighter than a mountaineering or expedition tentĚýwhile still offering sufficient protection.

If camping in the mountains year-round is your jam, then a four-season might be the only tent you need. The extra insulation won’t be an issue in summer, and the added protection could come in handy anytime. These tents also have a compelling money- and space-saving angle: no other niche offers as much versatility.

What to Look For

The models IĚýtested are beefed-up versions of three-season tents, rather than watered-down expedition shelters. All have fabric walls in place of mesh, more and tougher poles to bolster strength, extra guy-out points for stabilizing the fly, and mitt-friendly touch points, like oversized clips and loops. Each has unique features as well.

MSR Access 2Ěý($600)

The , an şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Gear of the Year winner in 2017, was the first tent to use Easton’s Syclone poles. Made from a secret sauce of carbon and ballistic fibers originally developed for military armor, the poles are 13 percent stronger and 250 times more flexible than carbon aloneĚýand about half the weight of aluminum. This makes for the ideal mix of weight savingsĚýwhile still being able to shrug off snow and bounce back from hammering winds. MSR’s Breaux describes the Access as a weekend mountaineering tent, because it’s not as roomy as a typical expedition tent, which would usually have extra space for bulky winter gear. The interior is quite tall but narrow, with the two main poles crossing over the center. The two-person tent has 29 square feet of interior space—about the same as a Hubba Hubba—but four feet less than MSR’s mountaineering-specific . The weight savings are dramatic: the Access weighs a paltry 4.1Ěýpounds versusĚýthe two-person Hubba Hubba’s 3.9, while the burly Remote tips the scales at nearly seven pounds. The Access’s light weight, minimal pack size, and tough design make it the best option for longer trips or when packability is key. Just be prepared to fork out cash for the privilege of carrying less.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 ExpeditionĚý($500)

This Ěýwas adaptedĚýfrom the award-winning Copper Spur line ofĚýthree-season tents that includes everything from ultralight to high-volume designs. For the Expedition model, Big AgnesĚýtook its higher-volume frame and added fabric walls, larger-diameter aluminum poles, interior guylines for stabilization, and easy-to-grip zipper pulls. The burlier features add up to 5.3Ěýpounds compared to the lightest-weight 2.6Ěýpounds and the three-season , which has similar dimensions at just over three pounds.

The HV architecture on the Expedition means the 29-square-foot floor area feels roomy. However, the tent’s not as good at sloughing off heavy snow loads or deflecting gusts of wind. This makes the Expedition a better choice for cold—but not snowy—locations.

This item is currently out of stock.Ěý

Sierra Designs Convert 2Ěý($500)

Sierra DesignsĚýmadeĚý to be a quiver of one. It has the stability to withstand wintry conditions and a solid poly fabric tent body to keep out the elements. At 5.6 pounds, it’s not light, but it’s reasonable enough to lug long distances, even in summer. And it’s pretty roomy: 30 square feet and 43 inches high. What sets it apart from the other four-season tents is its adaptability. Cut more than two pounds for rain-free summer trips by ditching the entire fly and vestibule; if you’re more risk averse, you can also zip off just the vestibule. Ramp up venting by zipping down the double-layer front door to expose the mesh.ĚýLike the Copper Spur, the Convert is not the most rigid tent. The semi-freestanding designĚý(three hoops with a ridgepole)Ěýnecessitates careful staking, and it sagged under a foot of snow and bent in high winds. But for one tent inĚýall seasons and conditions, $500 is pretty compelling.

Nemo Kunai 2 ($500)

The ĚýwasĚýalready anĚýimpressive entry in the four-season tent category before Nemo tinkered with it for 2020. The companyĚýsteepenedĚýthe profile, creating a more tapered shape that shakes off snow and slips through wind. The single door and vestibule are bigger, making them easier to maneuver through. And NemoĚýincreased the mesh surface area in the two windows and door. All three are double-walled—zip them down and the tent body goes from all fabric to mostly mesh.

The simple and quick-to-pitch pole architecture remains the same: two main poles and a cross pole over the door. Nemo says it’s designed to disperse loads vertically and horizontally across the entire tent. Four guy-out lines attached to the poles help with this. And sailcloth reinforcements in the fly and tent seams resistĚýtearing and wear better than typical nylon or polyester. It felt strong and stable in snow and wind.

The Kunai is the smallest of the four-season tents, at only 26 square feet. Steep walls help with elbow room, but it’s definitely cozy inside. TheĚýplus side is that its compact shape makes pitching easier in places whereĚýfinding flat ground is tough. AndĚýthe abundance of mesh makes it the most summer-worthy. At 4.3 pounds, it’s a great choice for alpine climbers.

The post Everything You Need to Know About 4-Season Tents appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř has reviewed backpacking tents for 40 years, and during that time we’ve tested a lot of well-designed models. But if we had to choose the best all-around tent to take backpacking right now, we’d buyĚýthe . We love the Flash 2 FL because it’s fast and simple to set up, easy to get in and out of, weighs less than two pounds per-person, packs up compact, and has held up to years of useĚýfrom out testers. To find out more about why we'd recommendĚýthe Flash 2 FL, and gain some useful tips for how to find your own perfect tent, read on.

What Should You Know Before Buying a Backpacking Tent?

Imagine a spectrum of tents lined up according to size and weight. On one end you’d have ultralight shelters. These fragile and minimalist abodes are like rain jackets for your sleeping bag. They’re designed to shave ounces, usually at the expense of comfort, and are popular with folks like thru-hikers who want to travel light. Spending a night in one means getting intimate with your tent mate. At the other end of the spectrum are car camping tents. Heading toward palatial, these mobile homes focus more on interior space and comfort. They’re too heavy to carry more than a 100 yards, hog serious backpack real estate, and often require teamwork to set up.

A good backpacking tent should fall somewhere in the middle. They’re compact enough to carry on your back for miles, but are made of tougher fabrics than an ultralight tent, have more square footage and elbow room. And they also come with small luxuries like pockets. Compared to car camping mansions, backpacking tents are smaller, lighter and easier to set up. They’re versatile tents designed for adventure.

Of course, there are several types of backpacking tents.ĚýWe recommend a double-wall style. Typically, these include an internal tent body made from bug-proof mesh or lightweight nylon, and an external, waterproof fly. The gap between the body and fly encourages airflowĚýto prevent moisture buildup inside. And if any condensation does collects on the inside of the fly, the gap keeps your sleeping bags and clothing from getting wet. All of our top-choice tents listed below are a double-wall style.

In a single-wall tent, the body and fly are the same thing. Eliminating the mesh cuts weight, but single-wall tents tend to be hot, and condensation can be an issue. This style of tent is usually reserved for mountaineering. A third style combines the two into a hybrid design. Taking the best of both can create excellent tents, like our favorite backpacking tent the Sierra Designs Flash 2.

How Should You Choose a Tent?

Tent Capacity

One of the first questions to ask before buying a tent is, how many people do you need to house? We used to recommend spacing up, or buying a three-person tent if there were two of you, and so on. But nowadays, tent designers have found unique ways to add extra elbow room without adding weight, so now we recommend buying a two-person tent for two people.

The exception is when you’re solo camping, or camping with kids and dogs. Solo campers could buy a one-person tent, but we often prefer a lightweight two-person shelter for the extra space and minimal weight gain. Campers who have kids, and or dogs, should consider that smaller body a full-size adult body to ensure enough space. Two adults with a kid, or two adults with a dog, should buy a three-person tent. Two adults with a dog and a kid, or two adults with two kids, should buy a four-person tent. Larger groups should consider dividing into smaller tents.

The best way to measure whether you’ll fit comfortably in a particular tent is to climb in a demo model. If that’s not an option, there are a few things you need to know about the ways manufacturers describe tents. First, your standard two-person tent should haveĚýabout 30 square feet of internal floor space. Some tents will be a little longer; a good choice if you’re well over six feet tall. And a newer category of tents called “plus size” or high volume, add extra floor space and headroomĚýto give a roomier feel without much weight penalty. Peak roof heights average around 42 inches. That’s enough for most people to sit up without brushing their heads. Other things to look for: pole structures that create vertical walls, particularly cross poles, multiple hubs, and pre-bent or “kneed” poles that create vertical walls, and high peak heights and large vestibules for storing gear outside of the tent.

However, none of this data alone tells you what it’s like to hang out, play cards, or even put on a pair of pants in a tent. To understand that requires the hard-to-measure variable of useable volume: aka elbow room. NEMO, Marmot, Sierra Designs, and SlingFin have all taken a stab at measuring and displaying this (NEMO does it best), but we still stand by our recommendation to get in your tent if possible.

Tent Weight

Weight is often the most talked about variable. It’s easy to quantify, and you’ll feel it every step of the trip. But there’s actually not much of a weight spread in today’s tents. The lightest backpacking tents usually weigh just under two pounds per-person, while the most budget-friendly tents usually weigh less than three pounds per person. That’s less than one fuel bottle or the difference between an empty and half-full water bottle. It’s not a lot.

Heads up: when you’re comparing weights make sure it’s apples to apples. Tentmakers will often list more than one weight per-tent. For instance, they’ll list minimum, packaged, pack, trail, maximum, etc. All these weights are measured slightly differently. For your reference, all the weights we list on our recommended tents were recorded using our own Park Tools bike scale, and those weights include the tent, fly, stuff sacks, and eight pegs.

Tent Price

We think the sweet spot for backpacking tents in the $200 to $500 range. Tents under $200 tend to be heavy, not very durable, often lack a full fly (so there aren’t any vestibules), and come with suspect waterproofing. Above $500, the law of diminishing returns tends to apply. With a few exceptions, these pricey tents use expensive fabrics and materials that won’t significantly impact your backpacking experience.

In thatĚýrange, you’re going to notice differences in weight, quality of materials, and quantity of features. Up at $500, the tents will have lots of pockets, vents, multiple peg out points, top-notch construction, vertical walls, two doors and two vestibules, and they’ll still weigh in around two pounds per-person. Down at $200, the tents will be heavier or more fragile, will come with fewer features and less elbow room, and will probably only have one door.

Tent Packability

All tents are bulky, but the smaller they pack down, the more chocolate and Scotch you can bring. Or, with a well-packed tent, maybe you can carry a lower volume pack, which cuts weight. Tents vary in size, but most two-person tents should pack into a cylinder about 20-inches long and six inches in diameter.

Tent Durability

Higher quality materials make a tent last longer. But higher quality materials also drive up the price. Fabric and poles are the two easiest to understand in terms of toughness. Tent makers use lots of different nylons, mesh, and polyesters on the body and fly. In general, the higher the denier (a weight based on 9,000 meters of yarn), the stronger the fabric. But you should only make denier comparisons between the same types of fabrics since each fabric performs differently.

Most backpacking tents use aluminum poles, typically made by DAC or Easton. Sometimes the quality of the aluminum is also listed—frequently it’s 6,000 or the slightly stronger 7,000. Some high-end tents use carbon fiber poles. These poles are lighter, thinner and tougher, but harder to repair if they break.

Three other metrics to watch for: stitch count, and the quality of zippers and webbing.

Ease of Setup

Nothing’s more frustrating at the end of a long day than wrestling tent poles into position or even worse, setting a tent up wrong and having to start again. Things that make set up faster and easier include: color-coded poles, grommets and webbing, symmetrical designs, simple pole structures, and poles that attach to the vestibule rather than the tent.

The easiest tents are domes or A-frames. With only two or three straight poles, they’re simple but the compromise is elbow room. Multiple hubs and pre-bent pole structures, on the other hand, are often confusing the first time you set them up, but get you more room.

How poles attach to the tent matters, too. Few tents use sleeves anymore because pushing and pulling the poles through the tubes of fabric often results in snags or the poles coming apart. Instead, clips are now the standard and what we recommend because they’re fast and secure. The binding, where the poles attach to the tent, can vary from a simple ring to a ball and socket system that snaps together. The latter are nice, especially for solo setups, because the pole won’t pop out unexpectedly.

Free-standing tents are the best: once they’re set up they stand on their own without the need for pegs and ropes. They’re easy to set up, even by yourself, and can be picked up and moved. Non-freestanding tents need to be pegged and use ropes to tension at least some, if not all the walls. With fewer poles, they tend to be less expensive and lighter weight, but require more fiddling and sometimes help from another person.

Tent Features

Tents tend to be fairly basic, but there are some with built-in lighting like the Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL3 Mtnglo, and the Big Agnes Krumholtz UL2 MtnGlo comes with its own lighting, solar power, battery bank, and fan. Keep in mind that features like these tend to increase the price, so consider which conveniences you really need. We think it’s worth extra to pay for two doors, two vestibules, multiple pockets, two-way zippers, and vents in the fly to help with air flow. We’re also fans of extra guy-out points that all you to attach ropes to your fly to tighten it for better performance in the wind and rain. Tip: reflective guy-out lines prevent tripping in the dark.

And finally, you have footprints. These are ground sheets that go under the tent and protect your tent floor from dirt and tears. They’re usually an add-on, and we don’t find them necessary. However, they will extend the life of a tent.

How We Picked the Best Tent for Backpacking

My name is Ryan Stuart and I directed this entire review. I’ve been backpacking for the last 25 years and have also worked as a backcountry guide where I spend months on end living out of tent. At şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, I review 20 to 30 tents each year for the summer Buyer’s Guides and have probably tested over 100Ěýtents total.

For the Buyer's Guides, IĚýset up every tent myself and run each one through a series of tests in my yard. I spray them with a hose, expose them to storms and rain, climb in and out, and even work on my laptop from inside. Each tent also goes camping for a real-world test. I take most of them, but also seed some out to other testers who take them on family canoe trips and multi-week expeditions. At the end of the test period, I gather all the feedback and compare specs. Then, I pass my findings by °żłÜłŮ˛őľ±»ĺ±đ’s editors, who also live the life and test gear all the time. Together we pick the best tents of each year.

Afterwards, the testing continues. I want to see how our favorite tents stand up to years of use and abuse, different environments, and the constant pace of innovation. I also look at what other people are saying. By reading online comments, reviews from at Backcountry.com, REI.com and other sites and talking with retail staff and other professional gear reviewers, I see how my picks stack up.

When I review tents for the magazine, I'm looking at the latest releases so I can stay on top of new developments.ĚýFor the review you’re reading right now, I picked the top-performing tents for specific categories (two-person, one person, rainy climates, etc.) without worrying about whether the tent was new. What I’m suggesting here are the best tents, period. Even if they’re a couple years old, I think these tents still out-perform the newer competitors. Ěý

To ensure my reviews were fresh, I went back to my notes, but also tracked down all the suggested tents and slept in each one again. I also left them up in the rain and wind, sprayed them with a hose once again, and set up a couple air mats and sleeping bags and played cards with my daughter to gauge roominess. Then I packed them all up, checked in with my editor,Ěýand started writing.

Our Favorite Backpacking Tents, Ranked

Best Overall Backpacking Tent: Sierra Designs Flash 2 FL ($400)

I have a lot of tents in my basement, but for the last five years, my favorite go-to has been the . The biggest reason: its unique design. The tent and fly are integrated, and to pitch the tent, you just clip the poles to the outside of the fly and the tent rises in one step instead of two like most other tents. This makes the Flash 2 quick to pitch and it also means the inside of the tent is never exposed to rain. On a backpacking trip with friends, we all started setting up our tents at the same time. I was inside in almost half the time and my tent was dry while everyone else had a damp floor.

The pole structure can be confusing to the uninitiated: it’s a dizzying single pole, three-hubbed hoop system. But it’s actually pretty simple. It creates vertical walls at either door and a 43-inch peak that runs from one door right across to the other, rather than one high point, creating a nice airy feeling.

The most unique feature is a lack of vestibules at the doors. Instead, the fly overhangs the weatherproof door, sort of like a foot-long awning. In anything but sideways rain, the overhang keeps the rain off the door. When the wind is whipping, the door keeps everything dry inside. The pointĚýwas to create a super easy entry and exit and eliminate clunky vestibules that can be hard to crawl through.

Don’t fret, though, because the tent still had plenty of outside gear storage. Two “gear lockers,” or mini vestibules hang off the sides and will store your pack. They’re accessed through zippers on the inside of the tent.

Our other preconceived concern—condensation with the hybrid wall—turned out to be a non-issue too. With plenty of mesh on the doors and over the center, air moves freely and condensation never collected in a place that it could contact a sleeping bag.

The FL is a lighter weight version, ditching a pound for about $100. I think it’s worth the extra money, but if you can’t afford the splurge, you still get all the same design features in the regular Flash 2.

Best Affordable Backpacking Tent: REI CoOp Half Dome 2 ($200)

With you the you get an ultra-dependable, two-person, five-pound tent that packs down reasonably well for $200. That pricing is thanks to REI’s power as the nation’s largest outdoor retailer. Don’t expect anything fancy or innovative or cutting edge in this long-time REI favorite, but you will love the performance.

All the Half Dome 2s I’ve tested were made from durable nylons that stood up to abuse without a leak or tear. The hubbed aluminum pole set up is simple to pitch solo, and the symmetric design means there’s no confusion about how to lay out the fly. A friend who hadn’t set up a tent in years figured the Half Dome out in minutes without instructions.

The pole system lifts the tent to a 40-inch peak and creates 32 square-feet of floor area—both of which are average for the category—while a cross pole at the peak pushes the side walls close to vertical. On a drizzly evening I hung out in here with two friends without feeling claustrophobic. (If you want more room check out the “plus” version, which adds more space in every department.)

There are other “budget” tents that have similar stats, but the Half Dome stands apart because it’s more feature rich. At this price point we expect minimalism, but the Half Dome has several pockets and hang loops for organizing the interior. Guylines in all key areas on the fly help snug up the pitch. Each of the two oval doors opens into an eight-square-foot vestibule. The fly rolls up for star gazing and then quickly flips back into place if the weather changes. You can bring the fly, poles, and the optional footprint for a super light set up. And, you can choose from six different fly colors, a rare customizable option in tent buying.

If you backpack a lot, you might look elsewhere for a lighter tent. But if you just head out a couple times each year, there’s no better tent for the money.

Best One-Person Backpacking Tent: Nemo Hornet 2 ($370)

As the “2” suggests in the names, this is a two-person tent, but I think it makes more sense as a roomy The single pole structure creates an A-frame feel, which makes things cramped for two people. Let’s just say you’d want to be intimate—or hoping to—with a tent mate: two adults couldn't sit up at the same time without touching noggins. But solo this ultralight tent feels palatial without weighing you down.

At about 2.4 pounds, and 19 inches by 5 inches when packed into its cylinder case, it was no burden on a Canadian Rocky Mountains backpacking trip. Nemo achieved the impressive weight by using the lightest aluminum available for the poles and small gauge nylon on the fly (10-denier), floor (15-denier) and canopy (20-denier). Those are pretty standard deniers for an ultralight tent, but the materialsĚýneed to be treated gently to make them last. And by that I mean you shouldn't worry too much about everyday use, but you don't want to drag any of them against a tree.

The one-pole design is semi-freestanding; once the tent is clipped in place with the poles it stands on its own but still needs pegging to get the full area spread out. It’s easy to set up solo with a few pegs. The fly reaches to the ground for total coverage of the all-mesh body. During a windy storm at an exposed camp, not a bead made it inside. A tester reported the steep walls and a few well-positioned guy-out points dumped the deluge away from the tent.

The two vestibules are small and slightly difficult to climb through, but that’s typical for small tents. Once inside, there’s plenty of room for a bed down the middle and space on both sides for stuff sacks and gear. One of the pockets held my headlamp and book. The other, a beanie. I stored my pack in one of the eight-square-foot vestibules, leaving the other unencumbered for an entrance.Ěý

Best Backpacking Tent for Families: Marmot Tungsten 4P ($340)

When you’re camping with your partner and a kid, or two, and maybe the dog, you could bring two tents. But I think piling into one tent is better. Half the reason I camp with the family is to enjoy time together. And with the , you won’t be sleeping on top of each otherĚýwhen the bonding stops. At 8.8 pounds it’s going to feel heavy if you carry it all, but it’s one of the lightest tents available for its square footage, at just over two pounds per-person. Two main poles, running diagonally corner to corner, are bent to create more volume at the head and feet. Two cross poles push the door walls towards vertical.

You get 53 square-feet of space and a 52-inch peak. That’s enough area for four, 22-inch wide sleeping pads with a couple extra inches on all sides, and enough height for kids to stand and adults to kneel. There’s also enough elbow room for two adults and two kids to sit up and play cards without banging heads. Add two vestibules with a combined area of 18 square feet and the Tungsten felt just right for a family of four.

A few nice touches make it even more livable. The poles, clips, and fly are color coded. I still needed help wrestling the long poles into place, but at least the symmetric design was simple and quick to set up. The footprint is included, adding longevity to the floor—a big bonus with kids that often forget to take their shoes off before climbing in. There are a few organizing pockets for keeping books, headlamps, and other essentials handy. And the lampshade pocket near the peak is designed to hold a headlamp and spread out the light. It created a nice ambient setting for cards before everyone crashed out for the night.

Best Backpacking Tent for Rainy Climates: MSR Access 2 ($600)

I awarded the Gear of the Year in şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř 2017 Buyer’s Guide because it’s a storm-worthy shelter that weighs the same as a lightweight backpacking tent. In fact, the Access 2 is the only tent that made our favorites list that I’d take winter camping. And, while most four-season tents push four pounds per-person, this one weighs about four pounds total. At $600 it is pricey, but if you plan to camp above treeline, push three seasons of use, or live in a particularly stormy part of the country, I think the price is worth it. And in some ways, you might save money by not having to buy a lightweight summer tent and a winter-worthy shelter.

The robust performance comes from the pole structure and tent body. The two poles are Easton Syclones and made from composite materials that are stronger, stiffer, and lighter than aluminum. The main pole, double-hubbed and symmetric, runs front to back and props the tent upright. The second pole is a single hoop over the center that’s pre-bent to push the walls vertical. The poles do a good job of simultaneously lifting the tent to its 42-inch peak height, creating a strong structure that will stand up to several inches of snow, and slanting the front and back enough to shed rain and snow. In a 20-hour torrential PNW rainstorm, testers stayed cozy and didn't notice the river flowing under the tent until they emerged to pee. And at an alpine camp, 40-mile-per-hour gusts shook the tent but didn't ruin my sleep. The fly includes generous vestibules (17 square-feet total) in front of both D-shaped doors for plenty of outside storage. Unlike the rest of the tents here, the body is not mesh, but a light ripstop nylon that blocks chilly winds. Inside, you get 28 square-feet of floor area. With the vertical walls and a couple of pockets for each person, it feels roomy and easily accommodates two adults and all their winter clothing.Ěý

The post The Best Backpacking Tents appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

There are two kinds of car-camping tents. The first is affordable and made for quick weekend jaunts with the family or drunken festivals in the woods. The second is more expensive, better constructed, and preferable for trips across the country where you’ll be camping in everything from scorching heat to torrential rain. Here are options in both categories.

Ozark Trail 10-Person ($110)

Best For: Party camping

Two river-guide friends and I lived in an older version of for an entire summer. Thanks to its three doors, we could each come and go as we pleased without having to step over one another. It was also nice to space ourselves outĚýin case someone needed to, say, fart. The tent isĚýoverkill for a family of fourĚýbut perfect as a festival base camp for a group of friends. Tip: ifĚýyou’re using it in the Pacific Northwest, hang a tarp overhead as an added layer of protection, as the fly is subpar.Ěý

REI Kingdom 6 ($440)

Best For: Extended trips

Yes, is expensive, but here’s why IĚýrecommend it. My friend Ryan Allred, who owns , traded in his tow-behind trailer for the Kingdom because he finds it just as comfortable. The ceiling is more than six feet high, and you getĚý83 square feet of floor space. It’s also easy to set upĚýand, unlike the Walmart tent, will fend off the nastiest weather and lots of abuse. Allred’s entire family of five has lived in it for three summers now, and they’ve never had any complaints about the durability.

Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin ($220)

Best For: Families

This, thanks to its well-designed poles. That’s a major bonusĚýwhen you have small kids running around and don’t want to spend a lot of time making camp. It can also be nice if you arrive lateĚýand need to avoid a lot of futzing in the dark. Inside, there’s plenty of room for a family of four and a couple of dogs. It’s not as well-built as the Kingdom 6, but it'll stand up just fine to a few trips everyĚýsummer, andĚýit’s better in rain than the Ozark.ĚýThink of this tent as the perfect middle-of-the-road option for weekend trips.

Kodiak Canvas 8-PersonĚý($570)

Best For: Base camp

If you look at Ěýas a tent, it’s an expensive. If you look at it as aĚýpoor man’s RV, it’s positively cheap. The RV comparison makes sense because this tent is better than anything else here at keeping the elements at bay. The duck-canvas walls fight the heat if you want to use it as a beach base campĚýon a surf trip in Baja, or you can put a small heater inside and take it winter camping. The spring-loaded steelĚýrods are designed to stand up to Everest-like winds.

REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 Plus ($220)

Best For: A one-quiver solution

I included the because it’s relatively affordable and can double as both a car-camping and backpacking tent (as long as it’s just the two of you and a dog). We’ve long recommended the Half Dome: it’s quick to set upĚýand comes with all the features you’d want, includingĚýtwo vestibules, a bombproof rain fly, lots of pockets and organizers inside, and big vents.Ěý

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There are lots of tents on the market, which makes choosing the right one tricky. Big ones, little ones, models for car camping and thru-hiking. We’ve put together this simple guide to help you buy the right tent.

Decide on Use

It’s best to be brutally honest with yourself here. Do you really need that ultralightweight tent, or can you get away with something a little heavier (and thus less expensive) because you’ll just be out for overnight and weekend trips? Will you have time to go backpacking, or should you just buy a simple car-camping tent?

Decide on Size

Rule of thumb: If you’re car camping, buy a giant tent. Bigger than you need. Be obnoxious. You’ll appreciate the extra space to roll around in, and you’ll have plenty of room for dogs and kids. If you’re backpacking, buy a tent that’s one person bigger than you need. Just you and your partner? Go for a three-person tent. Again, you’ll have more room to store gear, and the weight penalty isn’t huge.

Pay Attention to Weight

If you’ll be huffing a tent on your back, buy a backpacking-specific model, which will likely be made from lightweight materials. Sometimes people ask me about nonfreestanding tents with guylines rather than dedicated tent poles. They’re great if you’re thru-hiking because they’re ultralightweight, but for regular users, freestanding tents are much easier to set up and still pretty packable. If you’re car camping, weight isn’t an issue.

Know What Kind of Weather You’ll Be Camping In

Backpacking on the Olympic Peninsula? You’ll need a good three-season tent with a bomber fly and a good vestibule to store gear out of the rain. Car camping in the Southwest? You can get away with a two-season tent—just make sure it can protect you from the sun and has lots of vents to keep air flowing when temps rise. You’ll need a four-season tent only if you’re winter camping in high-alpine environments.

Pay Attention to Packability

Weight is the most important consideration, but you still need to make sure your tent fits in your backpack or easily straps to the outside of it. Once you buy, practice packing the tent in its stuff sack, and think about the best way to distribute the load among multiple packs.

Pitch Before You Buy

It’s one thing to read about dimensions and occupant capacity and another to actually get inside a tent to test its roominess for yourself. One three-person tent design might feel bigger than another three-person tent, so try to visit a camping store that has your tent pitched before pulling the trigger.

Research Durability

This isn’t as much of an issue for car-camping tents, but definitely read reviews for backpacking tents. Most shelters these days are pretty well made, but see what users are saying online before you plop down a couple hundred bucks.

Research Ease of Use

This is another online search or, better yet, a conversation with a camping store employee. Most tents these days are pretty intuitive, but some are easier than other to set up in a gale-force wind or in the pitch dark. Tip: Always practice setting up your tent in your backyard before you go camping.

All set? Here are some buying recommendations.

Ultralight Backpacking

These are the tents you’ll use to set speed records or for thru-hikes on the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, or Continental Divide trails.

What to Buy: We love everything we’ve used in the Hyperlite Mountain Gear line, particularly the , which will keep you safe from both rain and bugs yet weighs just over half a pound.

Backpacking

These are the tents you’ll want for weekend or weeklong backpacking trips when speed isn’t an issue.

What to Buy: are a general favorite that I’ve used for years. They’re easy to use, fairly light, and affordable.

Car Camping

These are the tents you’ll use at established sites or as a base camp when you’re parked off a forest road.

What to Buy: I gave my brother and his family a because it’s easy to assemble, thanks to color-coordinated poles.

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Yes, tents are an institution in the gear shed, but (gasp!) they’re not always the best option. Dozens of alternatives exist, many of which weigh less, are more comfortable, or simply work better in certain conditions. With camping season now in full swing, it may be time to try something new and leave the pitching to baseball.

Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp Shelter ($199)

Pros: Hikers obsessed with ultra-light options (and Boy Scouts) caught onto this secret a long time ago: With a good roof, you don’t need a floor. A tarp is lighter, easier to set up, and can be used in most bad weather situations.

Ěýwould surely get the Boy Scout seal of approval, weighing in at just nine ounces. It’s waterproof and has eight tie points to ensure stability even in windy conditions. It can be pitched with hiking poles or without, and the company offers a few minimalist mesh shelters that fit under the tarp if you need protection from mosquitoes.Ěý

Cons: In a severe rainstorm, you’re going to get wet.Ěý

Therm-a-Rest LuxuryLite UltraLite Cot ($219)

Pros: Sleeping under the stars is the most romantic part of camping. But you’ll need good weather, the right campsite, a killer view—and the proper bedding.Ěý

While sleeping on the ground is always an option, cots add a level of comfort that turns a good starry night into a great one. But temporary beds are typically clunky and they’re rarely portable—or durable—enough for backcountry travel.

Therm-a-Rest aims to reconcile cot complications of the past with its , which is easy to set up, sturdy, and light enough to toss in a backpack. The low-profile cots can hold up to 325 pounds and will keep you four inches above the ground.

Cons: The LuxuryLite UltraLite still weighs about as much as a plush inflatable pad. And you’re going to need great weather if you plan to use the cot without additional shelter over your head.

Black Diamond Spotlight Bivy ($219)

Pros: There’s something inherently adventurous about the ability to throw down your sleeping bag, whip out your bivy sack, and crash just about anywhere. On the side of a mountain? Sure. Suspended on a big wall? No problem. Bivy sacks are one of the most versatile shelters you can buy.Ěý

solves the traditional bivy problems (condensation on the inside and no headroom) with a single hoop pole that keeps the shell material from rubbing on your head and dousing you with raindrops. There’s also a large mesh panel with a zip-over awning for increased ventilation.

Cons: Bivy sacks are small and will limit movement. If you toss and turn in your sleep, you might find feel a tad confined.Ěý

Clark Vertex Hammock ($599)

Pros: Like ultra-light backpacking, duck hunting, and coffee brewing, hammock camping has its own fanatics. And for good reason. Hammocks are light, easy to set up, and comfortable. And in recent years, there’s been a big movement to improve the classic design.

has risen to the challenge, designing innovative two-person, four-season hanging shelters that resemble bunkers more than hammocks. Features include insulating pockets, a waterproof rainfly, mosquito netting, and an integrated hanging system that can hold more than 300 pounds.

Cons: Some people don’t sleep well in the curve of a hammock. And, no matter what, you’re going to have trouble hanging one of these things in the desert.

Sylvansport GO Trailer ($8,495)

Pros: Tent trailers sit on the lavish end of the blue-collar-camping-equipment spectrum. Yes, they offer some comforts you won’t get in a tent, but they’re typically utilitarian, not luxurious.

ButĚý. The company has revamped the tent camper, ditching the usual hard-shelled, canvas-walled pop-ups. The GO features a fold-out aluminum frame and a rip-stop polyester shell. When not in use, the tent folds neatly on itself and the trailer can be used to haul gear.

Cons: Though the GO has 13 inches of clearance, you won’t get too far off the beaten path towing one of these trailers. And the price tag may have you running for shelter in your much more affordable tent.

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If you’ve ever wanted a tent to channel your inner Peter Pan, then Tentsile’s Vista Tree Tent is right up your alley. Utilizing a unique three-point suspension system, the Vista lofts you over terra firma to watch all the little people below.

Tentsile’s “portable tree house” is a three-person tent held above the ground with industry-grade ratchets and straps. You enter through the center of a 110-square-foot floor made of a nylon-polyester composite reinforced with seatbelt. And while you’d only want you and two friends inside, you can purchase additional floors to create an airborne apartment complex.

Once you get over the fact that you’re in the air, the Vista acts like any other tent. Tear-resistant insect mesh keeps out the bugs, and a removable fly keeps out the rain. Because of its construction, the Tree Tent isn’t fully sealed, and therefore shouldn’t be used during nasty weather. But in clear weather, Tentsile’s Vista has a view that will make you never want to grow up.

$595,

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