As you prepare for your next backpacking adventure, don’t forget to pick out the best backpacking tent. Such a shelter can be beneficial in protecting you from insects and wild animals. It can also play an important role in shielding you from the rain and harsh ultraviolet rays from the sun. There's a difference between "roughing it" and being totally exposed to the elements!
The best backpacking tent folds down to a small size, allowing you to stuff it in your backpack (hence the name). Once you find a suitable spot, you can quickly remove it from its package and set it up within a few minutes.
Best Backpacking Tent Comparison Table
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What to Consider When Picking the Best Backpacking Tent
To find the best backpacking tent, consider capacity and cost. Other issues you should be keen on include ease of setup, durability, portability, and functional parts.
Tent capacity
The best backpacking tent should be able to accommodate the number of people you have in mind comfortably. The floor area and any additional space can help you determine the number of people it can shelter. Nothing will ruin a trip like getting to a remote area and realizing that one person has to sit outside by themselves!
The cost
If you want a durable and functional tent, you may have to part ways with over $. For a basic shelter, you may need between $ and $. It may be worth waiting until you can save up enough to buy the tent you really need instead of settling on what you can afford.
Ease of setup
Tents that feature a freestanding design plus color-coded poles and stakes are often the easiest to erect. We all like to imagine that we're competent enough to set up a tent but can we do it in the dark? What about in a torrential downpour? You want an easy tent to set up in less than ideal conditions.
Portability
The best backpacking tent should weigh less than 5 pounds. It should come with a carry bag for convenience. Not for nothing, you're going backpacking. That means more than a short stroll in the park. You're going for a serious hike and who wants to lug 25 pounds of canvas on their back if they don't have to?
How We Reviewed the Best Backpacking Tent Options
To identify the best tents available we consider durability, functional features, and customer ratings. Ease of setup, weight, and comfort also play a role in our determination. The ideal combination of these is a bit subjective, but once you find your perfect mix, you'll know the right tent for you.
- Our Top 10 Best Backpacking Tent Picks -
While you can find a variety of backpacking tents on the market, the following items come across as being durable and convenient to set up. The list is in no particular order.
1
Hyke & Byke Yosemite 2 Person Backpacking Tent with Footprint
[amazon box=”B074CP7XWW”]
This Yosemite backpacking tent features two poles with Clip-pole attachment, making it easy for you to set it up quickly. Additionally, the tent comes with twelve 7000 series aluminum alloy stakes, reflective guylines, and a proprietary stake presser. To ensure that all occupants are always warm and dry, the shelter utilizes a PU 2000 rainfly, taped floor seams, and a tub floor.
Furthermore, the unit has a PU 5000 footprint and a mesh detachable ceiling loft pocket that provides extra storage space for items such as chargers, cosmetics, or matchboxes. The tent is spacious enough to accommodate two grownups. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. This tent has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
2
TNH Outdoors 2 Person Camping & Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B076ZJF921″]
The TNH Outdoors tent features a sturdy aluminum pole structure that ensures it remains in good condition regardless of the prevailing weather. Aluminum tent stakes help hold the tent firmly on the ground even when strong winds are prevalent.
The tent features a ventilation window that keeps fresh air circulating throughout the day and night. Its side pockets provide ample room for you to store things such as phone chargers, matchboxes, or flashlights. It is spacious enough to accommodate you and a family member or friend. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
3
Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B07CTNZJ1J”]
The Kelty Salida features a freestanding design, making it easy to set up on just about any surface. It utilizes DAC pressfit poles and color-coded clip construction for quick installation. Its oversized D door allows you to access or exit the tent with relative ease. The unit has a 30.5-foot floor area that is spacious enough to accommodate two grownups.
Additionally, it has a 10 square foot vestibule area for extra storage space. The unit has internal storage pockets to help you stay organized. The unit’s walls feature 68D polyester and 40D No-See-Um mesh, making it capable of withstanding harsh elements. The floor material is 68D nylon with 1,800-millimeter thickness. The tent is on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $$ to $$.
Pros
Cons
4
ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 2-Person Tent
[amazon box=”B004QCMAOC”]
This particular shelter features a free-standing two-pole design with shock corded fiberglass and aluminum ferrules. The aluminum poles are sturdy enough to hold the tent in place regardless of the prevailing weather conditions. This unit’s ferrules hold the aluminum poles together. The shelter has a polyester fly that ensures you never have to worry about the sun’s ultraviolet rays or rainwater seeping to the inside.
The shelter has internal pockets on the sides to help you organize items such as chargers, flashlight, or cosmetics. This unit also has a gear loft for you to keep tools and other things you may need during your backpacking adventure. It has a center height of 48 inches, which is enough for you to sit up. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
5
WolfWise 2 Person 3-4 Season Lightweight Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B07DCN46GV”]
The WolfWise tent features an anti-tear 190T embossed polyester fabric capable of withstanding different weather conditions. It also has a ventilating mesh with double-stitched seams, stitch taping, and a waterproof floor which all work to give you comfort and shelter from the rain. The unit comes with aviation-grade aluminum poles that are lightweight but sturdy enough to keep the tent in excellent condition.
This unit’s shock-corded pole design makes it possible for you to set it up quickly. In addition to these features, the shelter comes with a USB LED light strand that lets you illuminate the interior during the night. Eight tent stakes are also included to ensure that you can fix the tent firmly on the ground. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
6
Clostnature Lightweight 2-Person Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B07D4HPJGH”]
This particular shelter comes with a 210T Polyester rain fly that keeps you dry even when it gets rainy outside. The unit’s groundsheet and bathtub feature a PU 5000 coating which enhances firmness. This tent has a freestanding design with two poles for quick setup regardless of the surface. It weighs 5.6 pounds, which is light enough for you to take on every hiking or backpacking trip.
The interior has a mesh design that helps in temperature regulation. The tent also features two D style doors that make it convenient for you and your partner to enter or exit. On the sides are also two vestibule areas that provide extra room for storage. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
7
Coleman Sundome 2-Person Dome Tent
[amazon box=”B07GNXZZJK”]
The Coleman Sundome features a polyester taffeta 75 denier flysheet capable of keeping the rain and ultraviolet rays out. As the name suggests, it’s a dome tent by design which is why it provides plenty of room for you and your backpacking partner to move around with relative ease. It has a WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams to ensure that you remain dry and warm even when there is heavy rain outside.
Its two large windows and creative ground vent keeps you cool during hot days. It has a 7-foot length, 5-foot width, and a 4-foot height. This shelter also comes with a rainfly awning to provide extra shade and keep you dry in case the rain persists. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $.
Pros
Cons
8
Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Person Tent
[amazon box=”B004OYSZMI”]
The Kelty Mesa features a freestanding design, which makes it easy to erect on just about any surface. Its color-coded clip construction eliminates complications, thus letting you set it up within a short time. The shelter has DAC pressfit wall material, 68D polyester floor material, and 68D nylon, 1800 fly material. It has a 29 square foot floor area which is ample space to accommodate two people comfortably.
The tent has one door and one vestibule area that provides extra storage space for shoes and other gear that doesn’t have to be inside. Its mesh wall panels ensure that you can enjoy the circulation of fresh air at all times. This shelter is on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $$ to $$.
Pros
Cons
9
Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent
[amazon box=”B00452C2IC”]
This particular tent features quality polyester material. It has a freestanding design so that you can easily set it up on different terrains. The shelter has a 35 square foot floor area, making it ideal for two occupants. A 17 square foot vestibule area provides extra space for you to keep muddy shoes and other items that would otherwise cram up the interior.
This unit features a two-door design, allowing you or your partner to enter or exit without causing a disturbance. The tent fly ventilation help keep fresh air circulating at all times. Additionally, the tent has mesh pockets for you to store small items. It’s on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $$ to $$.
Pros
Cons
10
Featherstone Outdoor UL Granite 2 Person Ultralight Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B0727Y4XLT”]
The Featherstone Outdoor tent features a freestanding design with a single aluminum pole structure for quick setup. Taped seams ensure that you never have to worry about water getting into the interior. Its bathtub floor design elevates occupants so that you never have to get into contact with the wet or cold ground.
The shelter has two doors for convenient entry and exit. Furthermore, it features a vestibule area that offers extra storage space for muddy shoes or other backpacking gear. Its micro-mesh fabric enhances ventilation and comfort. The tent is on Amazon with a consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It has a price range of $ to $$.
Pros
Cons
Now You Can Pick the Best Backpacking Tent for Your Needs
Depending on your personal needs, you can now pick the best backpacking tent from this list. Products such as the Coleman Sundome and Clostnature tent offer an affordable option for you if you are on a budget. You may have to spend more on the other tents but rest assured they will serve their purpose to your satisfaction.
Have you gone backpacking with one of the tents on our list? Let us know how it went in the comments!
