Fast and light hikers love the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL—the two-person version weighs in at a measly 2 pounds 4 ounces, which is comparable to a decent bivy sack or hammock. At just 3 pounds 14 ounces for the two-person version, this tent is roomy, light, and packed with features. At just 5’ wide, you’ll be able to squeeze two people in snugly, or a single person with plenty of gear storage! Introduction . For more background information, see our backpacking tent comparison table and buying advice below the picks. On the other hand, many budget and ultralight tents use simplified pole structures (or even trekking pole setups), resulting in a sharper slope and less interior space (the Nemo Hornet, for example). This new design checks the right boxes for a UL shelter with thin fabrics, a non-freestanding construction... Tents are one of the most exciting pieces of your backpacking kit—it’s your home away from home in the backcountry—but selecting the right one requires a healthy amount of research and thought. REI has dabbled in ultralight tents in the past with models like the discontinued Dash, but they’ve gone all-in with the Flash Air 2. Just face either end of the tent in the direction of the wind, batten down the hatches with the many guylines, and sleep in relative peace. In terms of best uses, the tent is ideal for winter camping and ski touring around treeline, but it’s not a true mountaineering tent like some of the much heavier and more expensive 4-season designs on the market. 13 oz.Floor dimensions: 84 x 50 in.Floor denier: 70DCapacities: 2P, 3P, 4PWhat we like: Creative fly design for unobstructed views.What we don’t: Mesh goes too low for dusty weather. Keep in mind that you can shave even more weight by opting for the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum ($550, 2 lbs. Should the tent not include pockets along the roof, look to see if it has hang loops instead for securing a light. 15 oz.Floor dimensions: 90 x 60 in.Floor denier: 75DCapacities: 1P, 2P, 3P, 4PWhat we like: Incredibly cheap and good feature set.What we don’t: Heavy; budget build quality. The Zephyr 2 is a top contender … for $300. Packaged weight: 4 lbs. Not only will this help guarantee that you know what you’re doing in the backcountry when the conditions may be more challenging, but it also ensures that you have all of the necessary components. If you are going to be heading into the backcountry in winter conditions then you will need to go with a 4 season tent. Why? Best ultralight backpacking tent: ZPacks Duplex and Triplex For ease of comparison, we’ve listed two-person models here with other available capacities in the specs. With a sturdier pole structure and considerably less mesh than its warmer-weather counterparts, the Access is a great option for winter and rough conditions. 13 oz. Each person’s individual budget can make dramatic impacts on the best choices. 8 oz.Floor dimensions: 84.6 x 51.2 in.Floor denier: 68DCapacities: 2P, 3PWhat we like: A roomy-feeling tent that is great for stargazing. So what can you do? A backpacking tent is one of the heaviest and bulkiest items you’ll pack for an overnight trip, but the good news is that modern designs are lighter than ever. Logically, denier lines up with the total weight of the tent: Nemo’s 2-pound Hornet has a very thin 15-denier (D) floor, while the sturdy 5-pound-15-ounce Alps Lynx is 75D. And while a recent update (the "Solution Dye" version) increases livability with a larger door and steeper walls, we still think the Tiger Wall and Nemo Hornet are the better all-around choices with their two-door-and-vestibule designs (for just a few ounces more). For $199, you get a quality build with two doors and vestibules, a full-coverage rainfly, and durable materials. The packaged weight: a truly amazing 1 pound 7 ounces... Read in-depth reviewSee the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Solution Dye. Floor denier: 1.3 oz/sqydCapacity: 2PWhat we like: Great ventilation and can be set up in multiple configurations.What we don’t: Heavier and more expensive than the Zpacks Duplex above. And while the fabric is technically waterproof, you can feel the wetness if you bump your head, hands, or feet up against the walls (granted this was in pretty rough conditions, but it’s something we didn’t experience with the Hubba Hubba on the same trip). If you’re backpacking in warm conditions, it struggles to ventilate and can build up serious condensation on the inner walls. Continuing up the price ladder, the trend is toward lighter and more packable designs. Overall, the Zephyr 2 is a great combination of quality and convenience. Second, with a trekking pole design you don’t get the steep walls of tents like the Copper Spur above, making the Zpacks a feasible but cramped option for two backpackers. We’ve had no issues with water entering the tent—even while camping in snow—but the open sides and thin materials definitely can make it feel drafty in certain conditions. The benefit of a freestanding tent is a simple setup that is far easier to move from one area of your campsite to another (or to use on a rocky surface). It’s much lighter than competitors like the Nemo Dagger and MSR Hubba Hubba below but has few compromises with a spacious and freestanding design. A single door at the head end of the tent, like what you get with the Big Agnes Fly Creek, is easier to access than one side door, which requires crawling over your tent mate to get outside (not a fun thing to do in the middle of the night). Casey is a qualified ski instructor, naturalist educator, hunter, and avid outdoorsman based in Mason, Michigan. Are you looking for the ultralight backpacking tent? Kelty targets the value end of the gear spectrum and does a nice job at balancing price and quality. All things considered, we like the Marmot Tungsten and it makes a nice hybrid backpacking and car camping option. Weight-conscious hikers will likely opt for the Half Dome, but the Aurora is a durable and affordable choice. When he is not working, Casey enjoys fishing and participating in adventure and orienteering races. A triple-season single-person tent that is very lightweight. For those who take multi-day backpacking trips, get out a lot, and prioritize a low pack weight, the investment will be well worth it. In terms of tent durability, you’ll often see manufacturers list the “denier” rating of their fabrics, which is a measurement of the fabric yarn’s weight. Basic features of Hewolf Lightweight Waterproof Backpacking Tent : Hewolf Lightweight Waterproof Backpacking Tent has a lot of features which is really effective during tour tenure. The Achilles' heel of the Nallo is breathability. But for most recreational backpackers, the weight-savings probably isn’t worth it. A backpacking tent is one of the heaviest and bulkiest items you’ll pack for an overnight trip, but the good news is that modern designs are lighter than ever. What we don’t: Not ideal for cold conditions. Let our experts help you select the perfect tent for you in the REI Backpacking Tents Gear Guide. And from our experience with the MSR Hubba Hubba NX, it checks all of those boxes emphatically. It all depends on the fabric its made from, support poles and stakes. Why does this matter? We also have concerns about dust with the Dirt Motel (an unfortunate coincidence given the “Dirt” in the name): in the quest to drop weight and further improve 360-degree viewing, Kelty extended the mesh on the tent body all the way down to the waterproof tub floor. Because performance doesn’t drop with weight across the board (some tents sacrifice livability, while others give up durability), it helps to be mindful of your priorities when making your tent purchase. This feature unfortunately adds some weight to stop the condensation from forming. You'll also find this technology on some premium tents from brands like Big Agnes and MSR (and to varying degrees), although it certainly doesn't filter down to the low end of the market. It’s hard to be sure when you get so many different answers. Peak Height and Slope That said, it’s still lighter and more spacious than other budget options like the Trail Hut and Nemo Aurora below. This feathery-light weight is accomplished with a single door at the head end, an interior that tapers aggressively towards your feet, and a hubbed pole that runs the length of the tent in a spine-like shape. Video: Overview of the Kelty Salida Tent. Minimum Weight Whether or not you bring a tarp along will make a significant difference as well. The Vango Atlas 200 is a great lightweight 2 person tent that offers a myriad of features. The Access is much burlier than a standard 3-season tent. Yep. And for more space, you can bump up to the Aurora 3P (88 x 72 in.) We’ve found it particularly difficult to get a taut pitch when camping on rock, and the Tiger Wall simply isn’t as weather-worthy or roomy as the Copper Spur. Now that you’ve seen our most popular list, let’s get you through each tent so that you know exactly what you’re about to buy. Breaking the 3-pound barrier, you start seeing even lighter fabrics and compromises in interior space, including tapered dimensions, simplified pole structures or semi-freestanding designs, lower peak heights, and smaller vestibules. However, for those who might be doing more of the camping and less of the walking, this could be a good pick to keep the cash in your pocketbook. But you can’t have it all, and in the case of the SL the big compromise comes in terms of weight. backcountry to Peru’s rugged Cordillera Huayhuash with no issues. You’ll be able to fit two people, or one person and a bunch of gear inside. We also like the mix of solid nylon and mesh on the tent body, which provides both good ventilation and privacy. Packaged weight: 5 lbs. Moreover, the Trail Hut’s addition of a ridge pole offers a nice boost in interior space. The last thing we will talk about is tent durability. (trekking pole-supported)Floor dimensions: 84 x 52/45 in. The tent and rainfly fabrics are also impressively strong despite being so thin they’re semi-see-through, and with a recent update are now solution-dyed, which means they’re less prone to fading (notably, this process also reduces energy and water waste during manufacturing). It's important to be aware that the Fly Creek won’t offer the same protection from the elements as a sturdier design like the MSR Hubba Hubba above, particularly in heavy rain when the rainfly is prone to sagging onto the tent body (guying it out properly will alleviate this issue). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Warning, they’re expensive and heavy but effective! At the opposite end of the spectrum is minimum weight, also referred to as “trail weight.” This includes only the tent body, rainfly, and poles (no stakes, guylines, or stuff sacks). Needless to say, we put a priority on some sort of outside gear storage. Enter the MSR Access 2, which offers exactly that. The tent features ultra-lightweight no-see-um mesh walls to ensure maximum ventilation. Big Agnes: based in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado they specialize in hiking and backpacking gear. Best Budget Backpacking Tent: Marmot Catalyst 2P Tent ($183) At $183, the Catalyst two-person tent isn’t exactly cheap. When your carrying everything on your back for days, every ounce is important. However, it’s probably a price most new backpackers are willing to pay for an affordable, effective tent. In addition, tent poles have become streamlined and come together with ease. Whether you are a first-time backpacker or a seasoned veteran, everyone likes a good list. High-end tents like the Hilleberg Nallo have 3 layers of silicone on both sides of their ripstop nylon, which gives a significant boost in strength with a minimal weight penalty. I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best hiking tent to fit your needs. To set up most tents, you simply lay out your footprint if you have one, stake out the corners, attach the poles, and clip everything together. These designs are far more convenient for getting in and out of the tent, and most include a vestibule outside of each door for extra storage space. See the Nemo Aurora 2P. The Tiger Wall’s large ridge pole across the center of the tent makes it more spacious than the Nemo Hornet, but a semi-freestanding design isn’t for everyone. The Top 5 Backpacking Tents If you're planning a backpacking trip, you need a tent you can rely on - something small enough to fit in a backpack, but robust enough to keep the wind and rain out at night. Kelty is another long-standing name in the backpacking world. Dropping down to a tent like the 3-pound 14-ounce MSR Hubba Hubba NX ($450), you get similar features and interior space but with thinner (read: less durable) materials that weigh less and cost more. Packaged weight: 2 lbs. This would be my top pick for the best backpacking tent under $100. At almost 6 pounds (including the footprint), it will add significant weight and bulk to your pack, which is not ideal for the those covering long distances over multiple days in the backcountry. Near the top of their backpacking line is the Dirt Motel 2, which features near-vertical walls, a competitive $260 price tag, and a number of innovative touches. A quality backpacking tent should be lightweight and easily compacted, without being complicated to set up or cumbersome to carry. How well a tent ventilates depends on a couple of factors. Fortunately this is not too difficult, you can tell the interior volume by looking at the pitch of the tent walls. Everything you need to set up the tent, including both poles and stakes, packs up nicely into a compact carry bag which measures 23.8” by 4.4” by 4.1 for lightweight portability. This tent is in a slightly different category than the others we’ve reviewed. The material is relatively affordable, lightweight, and will flex quite a bit prior to failing. Their tents and packs have been reputed for decades. It allows users to sit up with plenty of head room near one and a tapering angle near the feet which minimizes material and weight. This article covers mostly two-person backpacking models (the most common capacity), and a quick look at our top picks above shows our clear preference for tents with two doors. And although it’s a bit more expensive at $279, the REI Half Dome SL 2+ weighs over 6 ounces less than the Tungsten yet offers considerably more floor area and vestibule space. These cookies do not store any personal information. At just 1 pound 13 ounces, you get a standalone mesh shelter (the “insert”) with a waterproof bathtub floor, and full weather protection with a tarp and vestibule (guylines also are included in the weight). This is an expensive process—there’s a reason Hilleberg tents are $700 or more—but the payoff is incredible toughness even on a tent like the Nallo that uses otherwise thin 30-denier fabric. A perfect backpacking tent designed for all season’s use is the Zion 1 and 2 Person Backpacking Tent. There are tons of details to learn and know. Perhaps the best 2 person backpacking tent for the money. The width and length measurements will give you a good idea of floor space. If you fall into this category, all on our list should perform admirably. But the Marmot is nevertheless a solid option for penny pinchers. We’ve found the most helpful area for a pocket is near your head, and a simple mesh drop-in pocket or two is sufficient. All told, we think the Half Dome is a great value for what you get and should keep many backpackers happy—it’s the tent we recommend most to family and friends. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “10 Tricks for Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier.” That said, Nemo did give it a modest bump in interior space with two “FlyBar” pole clips (essentially two mini ridge poles at the head and foot end of the tent). The “tent body” is made of mesh and hangs from the bottom of the rainfly. And it’s not all pinching pennies here: the Aurora is impressively livable with two oversized doors, near-vertical walls, and a full-coverage fly with built-in vents. 4 oz.Floor dimensions: 88 x 54/46 in.Floor denier: 68DCapacities: 1P, 2P, 3P, 4PWhat we like: A nice hybrid backpacking/car-camping option with a footprint included.What we don’t: Heavier and less spacious than the Half Dome SL above.