Best Backpacking Tents:
How To Find Them!

By Diane Spicer

You came to this page because you want me to name the best backpacking tents, right?

Hop down to the bottom of the page to see my recommendations.

Or stick with me here while I outline why you want to carry the best backpacking tent possible.

In exchange for your hard earned cash, the best tents:

• will keep you warm and dry,
  
• are easy to set up,
  
• don't weigh a ton (wet OR dry),
  
• won't collapse or blow away in a sudden squall, 
  
• provide high quality essential features along with "comfort" features,
• and won't poke a crater in your hiking gear budget.

Sounds like a tall order,
right?

Finding the best backpacking tents can be daunting, if you think of a backpacking tent purchase as a major ordeal.

• And if you up your game to hunt for ultralight tents so you can go hard and fast and unburdened on the trail, it's going to be even harder to check all the boxes on your list.

Here's how we'll roll...

I won't sing the praises of a fully loaded tent with all of the bells and whistles - that would waste your time (and probably annoy you).

Instead, my advice for zeroing in on the best backpacking tents will be broken down into categories.

• Advice on what's "best" will change, depending upon your intended use of the tent.

• Makes sense, right?
  

Profound trail wisdom:

There is no "one tent fits all backpackers".

Followed by:
a sincere word of warning

Be forewarned.

• If you really get into this backpacking thing, you will acquire more than one tent.

A pricey habit, but completely justifiable, in my mind!

And of course you must also consider these common sense variables: "need" -versus- "want" -versus- "can afford" -versus- "can carry for days at a time."

Whew! That's a lot of stuff to consider!

Can't we break it down to the essentials?

• Sure! That's why I'm here :)

Essential factors in the
best backpacking tents

Here's the bottom line when considering best backpacking tents:

Every tent must keep your body and your gear safe, regardless of weather conditions.

• If it fails that simple little test, put it in the pile with other garage sale items.

In order to perform well for you, your shelter needs well designed functional construction:

• floor
  
• walls
  
• ceiling
  
• seams
  
• rain fly
  
• poles
  
• stakes
• vestibule(s)
  
• ground cloth (footprint)

That link covers all of them!

That's a lotta data!

So in your purchase decision, you must balance not only the tent's price, but what your money is buying in terms of quality, smart design features, weight, ease of use, and longevity.

Let's take a brief look at some of these essential features so you're armed with knowledge as you go in search of the best backpacking tents.

• I'll pose questions, and help you solidify your answers.
  
• Take notes, and then take your notes shopping!

TENT DESIGNS

Which footprint will give you maximum room for your plans?

Not sure?

• Read this!

SEASONS AND USAGE

How many times each year, and where, will you be using this as your home away from home?

If you're just starting out as a hiker, you don't need a tent which is designed for the rigors of Mt. Everest.

Likewise, if you're going to be out in all kinds of weather for weeks on end, you don't want fancy bells and whistles, you want SHELTER!!

• Read about backpacking tent seasonality.

One of the first pieces of data you should focus on: weight.

• If you're going to car camp, no problem - go for a heavier model with double doors, vestibule, and a rainfly.
• But if you're backpacking, that same tent figures heavily (Ha! hiking pun) into your calculations - it won't be the right choice.
  

Going solo?

• You really need to balance weight and performance!

So be prepared to answer those questions (how many times, when and where) whenever you go into a gear store and start looking at tents.

And be suspicious if the salesperson doesn't ask you how many seasons you'll be using this tent, and for which type of hiking and camping!

Final question

You owe it to your trail comfort and safety to spend some time answering another question:

"What makes this particular shelter a candidate for my essential gear list?"

Check out all of the variables I've outlined above.

• You want to be ultra-certain about the best backpacking tent for you, right?

Backpacking tent
recommendations

Hikers ask this question, so I'll share the answer to which tents I use for my backpacking needs.

• Here's the tent I'm currently using, because all the variables line up and make it a reliable, durable, lightweight shelter.
• Here's my Hubba Hubba review.
• I also use it for car camping when I'm doing serial day hikes out of a campground.
  

Do your due

Want to do your own due diligence?

Here's where spreadsheets come into their own.

Maybe it's because of my science background, but I just love to set up a table and enter the data whenever I'm considering a major gear purchase.

Try it!

Make a list of my "essential features" down the left hand side, and list at least 3 candidate tents across the top.

I'll get you started with three worthy recommendations for a two person tent, including my fave, the Hubba x 2.

• The REI website makes it easy to compare and contrast the features you really want in your backpacking tent.
  

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Now for the fun part...

Fill in the info as you research each tent, and Voila! You have a great little decision making tool.

Of course, if that seems a little geeky, you can always hold that garage sale for any "clunker" tents you purchase.

But I find that a supremely unsatisfying back up plan.

Your pre-purchase thoroughness will eliminate the need to stand on your lawn with a "For Sale" sign, when you could be backpacking instead!

And before you go off to buy a tent, more backpacking tips for you!

• Because buying a backpacking tent is just the beginning of a long, happy habit of collecting the best hiking gear ;)

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Best Backpacking Tents