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BEST BACKPACKING TENT: A SUPER PRACTICAL BUYING GUIDE

(Last Updated On: July 15, 2017)

BEST BACKPACKING TENT reviews show you high quality, ultralight, easy to setup tents. Best 1, 2, 3, 4 person tents for hiking and family camping.

Jeremy Allen: Hello, I would like to give a warm welcome to all people who are planning to buy the best backpacking tent. If you are an amateur or lack of experience in choosing a backpacking tent, I am here for you. Basing on the number of backpackers, they are classified into 4 groups: 1, 2, 3, 4 persons. My task is assisting you to realize what is your demands, and what backpacking tent is great for you.

In the first part, you will have a general look at each recommended backpacking tent group (for 1, 2, 3 and 4 man). Then, I am pleased to provide you features and detailed information about twelve different backpacking tents. This article also gives you short reviews of each tent as well as pros and cons from real usage of many people.

In the second part, some useful tips and advice will be provided so that you can have better knowledge of criteria to choose a good backpacking tent. Through true stories from other users, I would bring to you real experience in using backpacking tents. I hope that will help you more.

The last but not least part is some questions about tents and related issues. There are four other helpful and reliable sources of information will be given in order to help you make better decisions on choosing this must-have thing in your list of necessary items for camping trip.

Basing on the number of tent users (1-person, 2-person, 3-person and 4-person), there are a number of backpacking tents which are suitable for your purpose and financial capacity. In this article, I will introduce twelve backpacking tents to you. This guide also includes a small comparison between best backpacking tents so that you could choose the most suitable one for your trip.

 

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TOP BEST BACKPACKING TENTS FOR 1, 2, 3 & 4 PERSON

Best backpacking tent: ONE PERSON TENT

This table provides general information about best backpacking tents for one man tent.

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Best backpacking tent: 2 PERSON TENT

2-person tents tend to be the most popular models. A backpacking tent for 2-person can be used for solo hikes or with a partner. This table will provide some necessary information about three best backpacking tents for 2 persons to compare.

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Best backpacking tent: 3 PERSON TENT

This table will provide some necessary information about three best backpacking tents for 3-person to compare.

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Best backpacking tent: 4 PERSON TENT

This table will provide some necessary information about three best backpacking tents for 4-person to compare.

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SHORT REVIEWS OF BEST BACKPACKING TENTS

THE ALPS MOUNTAINEERING LYNX ONE MAN TENT

The Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 Tent is roomy enough for one person to sleep comfortably in any position. I can even stretch my arms and legs even (but not too much). The large vestibule feature enables you to store your backpack and extra gear. This tent is freestanding with two pole clips that quickly attach to the aluminum poles, you will find it easier to set up. Polyester fly resists UV damage. ALPS has the factory seal the fly and floor seams and coats the floor with 2000mm for the best weather protection, it enables you to keep dry even in a rain shower.

Other features

• Free standing 2 pole design with 7000 series aluminum poles
• Easy assembly with pole clips
• 75D 185T polyester fly resists UV damage and stays taut
• Factory sealed fly & floor seams give best weather protection
• 75D 185T poly taffeta floor with 2000mm coating
• Extra large #8 zippers on door and vestibule
• Vestibule for gear storage and extra weather protection
• Weatherproof fly buckles on for maximum adjustability and protection
• Half mesh walls increase ventilation
• Mesh storage pockets, gear loft, 7075 aluminum stakes and guy ropes included

Pros:

• Portability
• Extra vestibule space
• Durable construction
• Can resist the wind
• High-quality zipper
• Ease of assembly

Cons:

• Thin floor
• Rain fly fits poorly
• Hard to enter and exit

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 Tent)

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MOUNTAINSMITH MORRISON 2 PERSON 3 SEASON TENT

Available size: 2 person tent & 3 person tent

This freestanding three-season, two-person tent recently recognized with 2011 Backpacker Gear Guide “Killer Deal” and “Killer Value” awards. Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent features two pole design with two master hooks at the top making it easy to setup. This tent provides 35 square feet of interior usable space which accommodates 2 adults in comfort. Two-door design with doors that zip off almost completely for an open air feel and extra views.

Other features

• Two doors / Two vestibule layout
• Tent fly ventilation windows
• Bathtub floor construction
• Taped floor seams
• No-see-um mesh wall panels
• Detachable ceiling loft pocket
• Interior mesh storage pockets
• Clip-pole attachment for lighter weight and better breathability
• Reflective guy lines with tension lock cord adjustment

Pros:

• Easy to set-up
• Roomy
• Well-ventilated

Cons:

• Low-quality poles and stakes
• Low vestibule doors

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent)

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COLEMAN SUNDOME 2 PERSON TENT

Available: 2 person tent, 3 person tent, 4 person tent and 6 person tent.

The Coleman Sundome 2 Person Tent (Green and Navy color options) is part of Sundome series of tents from Coleman. Heavy duty 1000D polyethylene bathtub floor for extra durability and welded leak proof seams even in the corners. Freestanding design with two poles makes it easy to setup. A large door for easy entry with large rear hooded window provides airflow for ventilation. Mesh vents on the roof provide additional ventilation. Coated polyester fly and wall fabrics (450mm coating) with a rainfly included for extra weather protection so that it is up to 33% more water-resistant than a Comparable standard Coleman tent.

Or Read Our Full Review

Other features

• Exclusive WeatherTec™ system to keep you dry if it rains
• 7′ x 5′ tent, 4′ center height
• Dome structure, easy to transport & simple to set up
• Great for weekend car campers, short backpack trips and 1st-time campers
• Durable carry bag with separate storage bags for tents, poles and stakes
• Rain fly included
• Privacy vent window
• Interior gear pocket
• Electrical access port
• Easy set up with continuous pole sleeves
• Easy to follow instructions sewn into durable carry bag
• Pin and ring design and InstaClip™ attachments make tent simple to set up

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent)

Or Read Our Full Review

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WENZEL RIDGELINE 3 PERSON TENT

Wenzel Ridgeline 3 Person Tent’s sealed fly and a welded polyethylene floor keep you dry. The Weather Armor polyester fly has good UV properties and protects you from worst weather climates. The shock-corded fiberglass frame uses multi-diameter poles create a stronger and more head room and livable space, as well as easier, setting up. Two ‘D’ doors with an inside flap zipper window for easy in and out access.

Other features

• Integrated tent light reflection system
• Easy access “D” style door with inside flap zippered window
• Shock corded fiberglass poles with fast feet for easy setup
• Multi-diameter fiberglass poles provide more head room and livable Space
• Fly ridge pole provides protective awning over front door and rear window
• E-Port for electrical cord access
• Gear loft and convenience pocket
• Removable seam sealed fly
• Zippered rear window with inside privacy flap
• Mesh roof vents

Pros:

• Excellent ventilation
• Floor is welded (Not sewn)
• Treated to repel water
• Affordable price
• Lightweight construction

Cons:

• Limited space
• Not visible in the dark

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Wenzel Ridgeline 3 Person Tent)

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WENZEL ALPINE TENT – 3 PERSON

Wenzel Alpine Tent – 3 Person is a great choice for a camping adventure. Its three-pole penta dome design feature creates a vestibule for gear storage and better weather protection. This tent features a shock-corded fiberglass frame (with pole pockets) that can be set up and disassembled quickly. The tent’s weather Armor™ fabric with a polyurethane, water resistant coating and UV resistant gives you a safe place for sleeping and good shelter against bad weather.

Other features:

• Suitable for backpacking or backyard
• Size of: 8′ 6″ x 8′ with a center height of 4′
• Easy set-up, 3-pole pentadome tent with removable rain fly
• Middle pole creates vestibule for gear storage and weather protection
• Shock corded fiberglass frame poles
• Quick and easy setup
• Integrated mud mat with drainage
• Sonic-sealed polyethylene tub-style floor
• 2-side zippered windows for added airflow when desired
• Includes ground stakes, gear loft, hanging storage pocket and storage duffle

Pros:

• Easy to set up and take down
• Light weight
• Waterproof
• Withstands strong wind
• Freestanding when needed
• Good carry bag
• Metal stakes
• Roomy for two people

Cons:

• A tight fit for three people
• Condensation can be a problem, the windows are small
• Supplied stakes may need to be replaced with longer ones in some situations
• Not tall enough for adult to stand upright
• Unsuitable for freezing winter weather

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Wenzel Alpine Tent – 3 Person)

 

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MOUNTAIN TRAILS SOUTH BEND TENT – 4 Person

The Mountain Trails South Bend sport dome tent is a good choice for hikers and car campers. This tent features shock-corded fiberglass frame with pin-and-ring system for quick set-up. This tent has our integrated Stow-n-go duffel system that simplifies set-up, take-down, and storage. The tent offers polyester mesh roof vents and windows for ample cross-ventilation which could keep you cool on warm evenings.

Other features

• Fiberglass poles frame
• Shock-corded fiberglass frame
• Removable fly and mesh roof vents
• Dutch “D” style doors with inside zip windows
• Reinforced polyethylene tents floors with welded seams

Pros:

• Very easy setup
• Window and door have zippered screen
• Doormat is permanent
• Rainfly has awning so can keep gear outside tent

Cons:

• Better for three people than four
• Doesn’t come with carrying bag
• Stakes don’t hold up well

 

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Mountain Trails South Bend Tent 4 Person)

 

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Weanas® Waterproof Double Layer 2, 3, 4 Person 3 Season

Weanas® Waterproof Double Layer 2, 3, 4 Person 3 Season Aluminum Rod Double Skylight Outdoor Camping Tent is easy to install. It features a super classic interior design with a door can be opened from inside and outside. When closing the outer layer, you can use it as a storage room for shoes, backpack or other gear. In addition, this tent uses professional waterproof fabric with SPF proof. With high-strength aluminum poles, the tent can stand high pressure.

Other features:

• Lashing design, easily rolled up, used for fixing aluminum pole and external tent.
• Tent door uses two-way zipper, both sides can be tightened, especially add the door curtain pull clasp, more convenient and durable.
• Two sides of the ventilation windows can be closed or open freely, it can maintain ventilation in the tent.
• The tent has wind ropes fixed all around, it can effectively windproof.

Pros:

• Two doors are convenient: someone can exit without disturbing the other person
• Extremely quick and easy assembly
• Couple storage compartments on the inside
• Gets back into its packaging easily

Cons:

• Very lightweight means a trade-off very thin material, concerned that the bottom will rip easily without a footprint.
• Shoe vestibule is nice but small

HEAR WHAT AMAZON CUSTOMERS SING ABOUT IT:

(Weanas® Waterproof Double Layer 2, 3, 4 Person 3 Season Aluminum Rod Double Skylight Outdoor Camping Tent)

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HOW TO CHOOSE A BEST BACKPACKING TENT?

Choosing a suitable backpacking tent need some tips and more experience. A good backpacking tent not only provides safe shelter or good sleeping bed for you, it also gives you a cozy place for gathering and enjoying your trip. Depending on different purposes of using and financial capability, the definition of a good backpacking tent varies. However, when you find and choose a backpacking tent for your trip, let’s take a look at some criteria below:

Number of campers:

The first thing you must count is the number of campers. A 2 person tent often only has  enough space without stretching legs or hands. You also need space for storing your backpack/gears, right? My friend, Smith – a passionate backpacker, bought a solo tent for his first camp. When night fall, it became to rain, he was OK inside the tent. However, he had to keep all his gear inside the tent with him to avoid the rain. So, there was no room for lying. It was a long hard night for Smith. That is the way an exciting trip might become a terrible memory if you cannot sleep well after hard traveling hours. After an awful night, Smith got up with the painful body and did not want to do anything.

In addition, you should consider the number of campers in future trips.

That’s why you are recommended to upsize the tent capacity by one (or even two) person. Backpacking tents are designed for one-person, two-person, three-person, four-person. The best thing is the lightweight of those tents are not different too much. If the number of users is four or five plus, you better choose a  best family tent for your trip.

Ultralight:

Using an ultralight backpacking tent is the perfect choice, especially when you travel alone or take part in a long trip. For a hiking, stamina is very important thing. The lighter of the tent, the more stamina you can save. I will give you the ideal weight for each size of backpacking tent.

• For 1 person tent: 2 to 3.5 pounds
• For 2 person tent: 3 to 5.5 pounds
• For 3 person tent: 6 to 7 pounds
• For 4 person tent: 6 to 7 pounds.

However, keep in mind that the lightweight backpacking tent often is less durable and lower quality.

Price

Purchasing a good backpacking tent with reasonable price is the first priority for everyone. Is “the more expensive, the better” right in all cases? The best backpacking tent is not always the most expensive one! When you are seeking for a good backpacking tent for your trip, you should pay attention to sale program or have a glance at different department or shop to make a comparison between tents. You might find a good backpacking tent with cheaper price.

Some online commercial websites give a big discount and free ship when customers buy products. They would like to increase their sale and encourage customers to buy items. It is a good choice for your purchasing!

There are some very cheap backpacking tents, even as low as 20~30$. My friend is very proud that he bought a backpacking tent on sale with only 16$. And he feels it even better than ~100$ backpacking tent of his friend. However, I believe it is just a luck. Just take a look at STANSPORT “SCOUT” BACKPACK TENT on Amazon, then you will see a lot of bad comments. But, it is still best seller backpacking tent for 2 person. So, the lesson is, if you don’t think about using for long time, then a cheap backpacking tent is a good choice.

Livability / Convenience:

When you spend more hours in your backpacking tent, you really need to take good consideration for checking its convenience. Do you feel comfortable when staying in? Does the tent fit your height (when you are sitting)? How many doors do you want? You should pay attention to ceiling height, tent capacity and ground space. It is better to stretch out easily and sit up without difficulty.

The number of doors is an important factor. You don’t want to crawl over other people at the midnight and wake everybody up, right?

Some 1-person backpacking tent is quite narrow and it only provides a place for sleeping. If you want more spacious, let’s choose a tent which has enough room for your gear.

Materials:

Most tents are made of nylon now. For example, breathable nylon is used for tent walls, coated nylon for the fly and floor, no-see-um mesh for the window screens. If you choose a tent with thicker and denser fabrics, you have to accept its heavy weight. Materials fabric is very important when you buy a backpacking tent for a long journey.

Most tents are designed with either aluminum or fiberglass pole along with an elastic shock cord. Fewer poles will allow you to set up or install faster. With the help of clips and short sleeves, the tent will be stronger. People said that aluminum poles are more durable than fiberglass ones. You should carry along tent emergency repair kit for urgent cases.

Setting-up time

A simple and easy to setup backpacking tent will be a good choice. When you travel alone or you join a hard trip, spending too much time on setting up tent might drive you mad. Your advice is to take time and try to set the tent up before paying money, or you will regret!

Tent seasonality:

Last but not least. A three-season tent will be able to stand up to heavy rain and wind. This is the most popular choice for camping. Three-season tents are designed for conditions of spring, summer and fall. It can suffer downpours but not for harsh storms or snow. You can be safe from bugs when using this kind of tent.

A four-season tent can be used in any weather conditions. It can withstand substantial snow loads or fierce winds. This tent is equipped with more pole and better fabric.

Basing on the weather condition of the camping site, you can choose the most suitable tent for yourselves. In most case, campers or backpackers often take 3 season tent. No matter what tent you choose, the most important things to consider is a protective feature. You need a good backpacking tent for a good sleeping place, but you also need a safe shelter when some unpredictable things could happen such as heavy downpours, harsh storms, snow loads, etc.

Brand

Choosing a famous and reliable brand to spend your money may be a smart choice in many cases. There are a number of well-known brands for your consideration, such as Coleman, Wenzel, Eureka, Mountain Trails. People said that you should choose a tent from favorite brand or company.

Design

The design of tent is really important, especially when you travel to a camping site with extreme weather conditions. Each type of tent design is suitable for the specific climate. My friend chose wrong backpacking tent for her trip last month. She went camping in a mountainous area with strong winds, then A-frame tent is her choice. It was not a smart choice because A-frame tent was not a suggestion for this kind of weather. That tent was light, easy to carry (because she was a girl) but did not stand up with high wind conditions. She had to end her trip sooner than her plan.

 

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SOME ESSENTIAL TIPS WHEN BUYING/USING A BACKPACKING TENT

This is an example when you order with free shipping on Amazon

Orders including $25 or more of eligible books qualify for FREE Shipping. All orders of $49 or more of eligible items across any product category also qualify for FREE Shipping. With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days after all of your items are available to ship, including pre-order items.

Accessories for backpacking tents

Must-have accessories

• Footprint
• Emergency repair kit (tool kit)

Should-have accessories

• Air bed/Sleeping bed
• Lantern

Real experience in using backpacking tents

Go hiking

When you plan to go hiking, you should choose light things to carry. It is a long journey and you need to be healthy. A backpacking tent which is lightweight and easy to bring with will enable you to save more energy. However, you are advised to pay attention to the weather condition of camping place. In fact, a number of people choose the wrong tent because they do not understand the climates.

An Amazon customer complains that he had a bad trip because of his backpacking tent. As told by the seller, that tent was perfect for hiking because of its light weight. However, he went to a place with the windy condition, and the top cover of the tent moved around so much that it could not cover at all. He was freezing for about 6 hours. That was an unforgettable trip for him.

Wilderness

Travelling to a wilderness needs careful preparation so that you will have a safe and happy trip. You should search for weather conditions, and prepare for extreme weather or emergencies. It is recommended to choose a dome tent due to its light weight and easy setup. It is better to take a tent including both stakes and sidewall ropes in order to increase stability.

 

 

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FAQ:

What is a free-standing tent?

A free standing tent can stand alone on the surface or ground without the assistance of pegs. This kind of tent can establish the structure of its own and you only need the pegs to keep it from strong winds. In many cases, rocks can be put inside the tent to keep it down, or the tent rely on its own weight to stand firmly.

Is tent with high price is better than a cheap one?

It is not always true. Depending on your condition and purpose of using, you might choose a reasonable tent which suits your financial situation. The best tent is a tent which makes you satisfied and comfortable, not the most expensive one.

What is the major difference between a 4-season tent and 3-season tent?

All 4-season tents are designed for snow campers although they can be used during the rest of the seasons. Three-season tents are designed for conditions of spring, summer and fall. It can suffer downpours but not for harsh storms or snow.

 

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References

I highly recommend that you should take a look at other sources of information to have better knowledge of backpacking tents and related issues in order to choose a good one for your trip.

• WikiHow: http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Tent
• Outdoorgearlab: http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Best-Camping-Tent
• REI: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-tent.html
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent

 

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Conclusion

A good backpacking tent not only gives a safe shelter but it also provides you a cozy place for sleeping and enjoying for an amazing trip. Whether you have experience in choosing backpacking tent or not, I hope that all useful information above will help you have a clear look at backpacking tent and have a better decision when opening your wallet! Summer is coming and it is time for relaxing, for far-away trips to discover new lands, discover your soul! Let’s choose a good backpacking tent, take your luggage and enjoy life in your own ways!