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If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you can fall into the trap of accumulating a lot of gear. There’s the essential recreational clothing as well as
camping gadgets
and
family camping essentials
. And make no mistake: it can accumulate fast. Between the two of us, we own 12 tents, for example. But you don’t need a garage full of enclosures yourself; if you equip yourself with one of the best camping tents, you can be prepared for whatever the outdoors throws at you—without the need to become a camping packrat.
Whether you’re heading for the summit of a 14er or spending a weekend camping with the family, one
... [+]
of these tents will have you covered.
getty
Which tent is, in fact, the best one for you? To bring you the best advice on this front, we’ve combined years of personal camping experience with input from backpacking and outdoor adventure experts who know what a solid camping tent looks like. Joseph McConaughy (known as
Stringbean
) holds the Fastest Known Time (FKT) records on the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. He was kind enough to share some insight with us. As did Derek Temple, a category merchant manager with REI, who had some thoughts on the best four-season tents and the best tents for solo camping. And we tapped Temple for good reason; both of those categories require an extra level of quality and reliability.
No matter where your adventures will take you—to the summit of a 14er solo or a weekend in the wilderness with the whole family—we’ve rounded up nine of the best camping tents below to help you make the most of it.
Best Camping Tent For Most People:
REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent
Best Camping Tent For Families:
Coleman Carlsbad 6P Dark Room Tent
Best Camping Tent For Solo Adventurers:
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL Ultralight Tent
Best Camping Tent For Car Camping:
REI Co-op Base Camp Tent
Best Lightweight Camping Tent:
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2
Best Camping Tent For All Seasons:
REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Tent
Best Camping Tent For Backpacking:
Marmot Crane Creek Backpacking Tent
Best Camping Tent For Four People:
The North Face Sequoia 4 Tent with Footprint
Best Low-Cost Camping Tent:
Coleman Sundome Tent
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Best Camping Tent For Most People
REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent
REI
REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent
BUY FROM REI
We get it, there are tons of options and it can be hard to decide. Consider the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent a catch-all. Its dome shape is designed to be a sturdy and rugged structure, while also allowing for enough internal space to move around comfortably. And weighing in at a little over 16 pounds, it’s a fairly reasonable lift for a tent that can accommodate four people (and can be used all four seasons). Best of all, it is simple to set up, so even if you don’t find yourself getting into the great outdoors very often, you’re not going to need to re-learn how to set up your tent each time.
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Best Camping Tent For Families
Coleman Carlsbad 6P Dark Room Tent
Amazon
Coleman Carlsbad 6P Dark Room Tent
BUY FROM AMAZON
When it comes to camping with the family, size matters. For a family camping trip, McConaughy advises “not to worry about weight, [but to] care more about durability. And from kids, not elements.” Having spent a couple dozen trips to the woods sleeping in this tent with kids, a few nights that did indeed involve heavy rains, Steven can tell you from experience that the Coleman Carlsbad is a great choice for standing up to both children and Mother Nature. And it’s packed with clever features that make camping with kids less stressful.
Its interior is kept darker than most tents thanks to the Dark Room fabric of the walls and rain fly. That (potentially) lets the fam sleep in a bit later after sunup and might even let you put the kids to bed before sunset. A screened-in vestibule gives parents a bug-free space to chill outside the tent proper. The windows zip open for airflow, a loop at the top off the dome can hang a lantern or fan and two side pockets allow for stashing phones, flashlights, toiletries and more. Also, despite being cavernous inside, the tent sets up in well under 10 minutes once you’ve done it a few times.
Best Camping Tent For Solo Adventurers
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL Ultralight Tent
REI
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL Ultralight Tent
BUY FROM REI
This tent weighs a scant two pounds and rolls up to a five-and-a-half-inch by 17-and-a-half-inch package, so it can tuck into or strap onto any pack of decent dimensions. The footprint is large enough to accommodate you, a dog (or perhaps two smaller ones), and your sleeping bag comfortably, while also being tall enough for even a larger camper to sit fully upright for comfort.
You won’t have to worry about space on the floor for your bag — there is a 3D bin at the foot that provides elevated storage (there are also oversized media and ceiling pockets, as well as internal hang points). And with the fly cover secured, you’ll stay dry and warm even when rain and wind come blowing through thanks to an exterior waterproof coating and fully taped seams. We also love the that the side door can be propped up to create an awning with a pair of trekking poles, for a little extra shaded space.
Best Camping Tent For Car Camping
REI Co-op Base Camp 6 Tent
REI
REI Co-op Base Camp 6 Tent
SHOP NOW AT REI
"A solid all-around camping tent that’s easy to set up with a stable design,” according to Temple, the Base Camp is a customer and staff favorite at REI. He adds that “it also comes with a full rain fly keeping you snug and comfortable when weather turns adventurous.”
At nearly 21 pounds, it is certainly on the heavier side, but that fits in with advice from McConaughy, who says that for car camping, when you might get to the site well after dark—and perhaps even in the rain, “You want a quick set up tent that handles rain well. And don’t worry about a larger tent, because weight isn't a factor here.” The wide mouth is a bonus for larger groups: You won’t have to crawl over (and risk waking up) tent-mates following middle of the night bathroom trips.
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REI Coupons | 50% Off In November 2020 | Forbes
Best Lightweight Camping Tent
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2
Backcountry
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Shelter
BUY FROM BACKCOUNTRY
Practice setting this tent up a least a half-dozen times in the comfort of your own yard or living room before you try to pitch it in the backwoods, because there is a definite learning curve to Hyperlite Mountain Gear tents. But with the added complexity of setup comes such a reduction in gear weight that if you’re hiking on a multi-day adventure or climbing a mountain, the effort and the price tag are well worth it.
This tent weighs in just shy of 19 ounces — lighter than most water bottles — yet it can keep you warm, dry and safe even in high Alpine conditions. McConaughy agrees that such “ultralight pyramid tents that rely on a trekking pole and stakes to stay in the ground... are obviously more technical to set up.” But that shockingly low weight makes this tent a great choice when every ounce counts.
Best Camping Tent For All Seasons
REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Tent
REI
REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Tent
BUY FROM REI
If you need a tent that can truly keep you safe and comfortable 365-days a year, the REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Tent is a solid choice. It’s the tent version of a triple-threat: Tough enough to handle whatever weather you throw at it, roomy enough to accommodate two people comfortably and even fairly lightweight at just over six pounds.
The four-pole design creates more structural stability, while a sizable vestibule allows for enough storage place for all your gear. And thanks to Dead End pole sleeves and color coding, setup is quick and easy—an added bonus when it’s dumping rain or snow.
Best Camping Tent For Backpacking
Marmot Crane Creek Backpacking Tent
Amazon
Marmot Crane Creek 2-Person Backpacking Tent
BUY FROM AMAZON
Conventional camping wisdom says that when weight is not a factor, always go with a bigger tent. A three-person tent is actually comfortable for two campers, a four-person for three and so on. But when you’re trekking overland, you need to balance gear weight with nighttime comfort. And if two people will be sharing the tent at night, then two people can share the weight on the trail by splitting up the tent’s hardware.
The Crane Creek 2P weighs in at four pounds, 13 ounces. That puts it right in the sweet spot, according to McConaughy. “A two person tent in this category will generally be between 3.5 to seven pounds,” he explains. Dual doors and vestibules provide easy in-and-out and some extra gear storage space helps ensure the interior of the tent stays dry.
Best Camping Tent For Four People
The North Face Sequoia 4 Tent with Footprint
REI
The North Face Sequoia 4 Tent with Footprint
BUY FROM REI
When you’re shopping for a four-person tent—whether you want to camp with friends, family, or a pack of pups—one of the most important things to consider is space. The North Face Sequoia 4 is roomy enough that most people can stand comfortably inside it, so there’s plenty of space for crew and their assorted gear.
The vestibule is also large enough that you can set up camp chairs, making it a perfect spot for enjoying a coffee or to read without bothering tent mates if you’re the first to wake up in the morning. Though it’s meant for four people, it’s easy to set up with just two.
Best Low Cost Camping Tent
Coleman Sundome Tent
Amazon
Coleman Sundome Dome Tent
BUY FROM AMAZON
When you close your eyes and picture a camping tent, it probably looks a lot like the Coleman Sundome, one of the best-selling tents on the market today. And there’s little mystery as to why. Relatively quick to set up, suitable for use in moderate rain and wind, and available in two-, three-, four- and six-person sizes, this is a fine tent for most any casual campout. And of course the very reasonable price tag seals the deal. But this isn’t a cheap tent in the pejorative sense; in fact, with more than 11,400 reviews posted on Amazon and counting, Coleman Sundome tents score a solid 4.6-star review.
