Best Tents

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Marmot Limelight 3P
Test Winner: Marmot Limelight 3P
Amazon Link
The great outdoors soothes the mind, connects you with the Earth, and is a great way to get away from the demands of everyday life. Having the proper tent when camping, hiking, or however else you plan to use it, is a necessity. A great tent will protect you from the elements, be easy to set-up, and provide ample space. Whether you’ve just started your adventure, or you’re looking to continue one started long ago, the best tent can certainly make all the difference. With such an influx of options available today, it can difficult to know where to start. We have rounded up the top 10 best tents, of all sizes and brands to get you going in the right direction.

Standout Picks

Big Agnes Rattlesnake mtnGLO
Whether you have an urge to go camping during the summer, fall or spring, this backpacking tent from Big Agnes is a fantastic choice. Not only does it offer great protection overall, but offers a more comfortable sleeping arrangement than most.
Amazon Link
Alpha Camp Dome
When it comes to enjoying the great outdoors with a larger group of people, having a tent that can fit everyone’s needs is essential. Thankfully the Alpha Camp Dome Tent from Alpha can handle not only a large group but also everything that comes with them.
Amazon Link
Kelty Salida
This truly lightweight tent from Kelty offers the ability to enjoy the night in the great outdoors without sacrificing the ability to go long distances. It’s relatively easy to set up and transport and is surprisingly adept at keeping the elements at bay.
Marmot Limelight 3P
If you’re looking for a roomy tent that is relatively easy to set up and allows for a comfortable night’s sleep for two to three people, it’s hard to beat the Marmot Limelight 3P tent.
Eureka Copper Canyon
This tent from Eureka offers a rare thing in the world of outdoor tents – the adequate capacity to truly fit the number of people it was designed for, their gear, and adequate headroom. If you’re looking for a great four-person tent that is designed for both practicality and comfort, the Copper Canyon 4 is hard to beat.
Big Agnes Copper Spur
If you think that camping alone can be an uncomfortable, boring experience, then you really should consider taking a look at the Big Agnes Copper Spur Backpacking Tent. While it may not help to alleviate boredom, you won’t have to worry about the elements or lack of room making the experience an uncomfortable one.
MSR Hubba NX
Sometimes finding a two-person tent that is ultra-light, offers great protection, and is roomy can be a bit of a hassle. Thankfully this tent from MSR is able to find the balance between these criteria quite easily.
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx
The Lynx is a great and affordable tent. Many reviewers say that it is on par with other models that cost four times the price. It offers great weather protection, decent space, and plenty of ventilation. For the solo camper, this lightweight tent is the perfect companion.
Amazon Link
Marmot Tungsten 3P
If finding a lightweight yet roomy tent has you frustrated, your search may be over after reading this description. The Marmot Tungsten 3P tent is not only a great overall choice for protection, but it offers more than enough room at an affordable price.
Coleman Sundome 3
If you’ve been searching for a relatively inexpensive tent that still allows you to sleep comfortably and focus on the wonders of the great outdoors, this Sundome 3 Person Tent from Coleman is a great choice.
Amazon Link
$64.73

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Capacity

When it comes to the best tents, often the name of the game is how many people you can fit comfortably in the tent each night.  While each tent is rated for a certain occupancy by the manufacturer, it’s important to remember that often these numbers don’t include the added hiking or camping equipment such as backpacks, sleeping bags, food, and other things that most people take with them on camping trips.  They are simply an estimation of the number of average adults that can fit side by side into the tent.

That’s why looking at the square footage of the floor space as well as the overall and maximum height is so important when shopping for the best tents.  An average hiker or camper needs about 25 square feet to feel comfortable in a tent.  So a tent that is about 50 feet square will most likely be rated for 3 people, but actually, be better suited for two.

Ease of Use

The last thing you want to worry about as you’re getting ready to set up camp is to find yourself fighting with your tent, trying to get it up and ready. People are often tired, cranky, and your hands may be sore from dealing with the weather during the trek. That’s where having an easy to use and easy to set up tent is so vital. Thankfully, many of these tents are easy to set up by yourself or with the help of another person. The take-down is also fairly straightforward in most cases, with the most challenging part being the repackaging into the carrying case.

Another great product we reviewed is the The North Face Stormbreak 2, so make sure to check it out as well.

Weather Resistance

Of course, another important aspect of any tent is its ability to protect you during the night from the elements. Things such as heavy rain, snow, sleet, high winds, and even the coldness of the ground can potentially get into your tent and can certainly put a damper on the festivities overall. Thankfully, with many of these tents, the manufacturers used quality materials and solid design techniques to help to repel most of the weather-related hazards and keep them outside. While we were disappointed that more of the tents we reviewed didn’t include a footprint tarp, we found that the majority of them offered more than adequate protection from the elements for the average camper.

Portability

While the ability to use and store a tent is important, one factor that many people tend to overlook is the ease of moving the tent from one location to another. After all, if you enjoy the outdoors as much as most avid campers or hikers do, you’ll probably want to set up camp a little further off the beaten path than your car can go. Thankfully most of these tents have a great ratio of weight to packed dimensions and included carrying cases.

This makes for easy overall transportation from one place to another. When the tent is not in use, finding a way to store it that isn’t a hassle can be a bit of an issue at times. Depending on the available space in your living quarters, or the space in your car, having a box or bag that is bulky or heavy may prove to be a significant disadvantage. Thankfully, except for a few tents like the Eureka Copper Canyon 4 person tent, most of these can easily be stored just about anywhere in the home or vehicle.

Top 10 Picks

1. Big Agnes Rattlesnake mtnGLO

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Big Agnes Rattlesnake mtnGLO
Amazon Link

Whether you have an urge to go camping during the summer, fall or spring, this backpacking tent from Big Agnes is a fantastic choice. Not only does it offer great protection overall, but offers a more comfortable sleeping arrangement than most.

Read more

Capacity
This tent is able to house two people and their equipment with not much issue. It offers a good amount of headroom, well over three feet.

Ease of Use
This tent is one of the most simple tents overall to set up. The DAK pole system with easy to use press-fit connectors, and plastic clips to attach the tent to the poles in a snap. Taking it down is just as quick and simple.

Weather Resistance
If you purchase the footprint for this tent, which is sold separately and use the included rainfly there is very little chance of rain or water getting into to disturb your sleep. In addition, the fabric of the tent is made of a lightweight yet strong and breathable material, so even if you experience the random snowfall, chances are you won’t have to worry about the extra weight.

Portability
This tent can easily fold down to a package that is 6 inches by 18 inches in dimension, so it’s fairly easy to store in a trunk of the car or even tied to a backpacker’s frame.

Because it can be easily folded up into a relatively small package, transporting this tent is very easy to do. The overall weight of the tent and poles is just less than four pounds, so carrying on your person is relatively easy as well.

Summary
If you’re looking for a great two-person tent that is a great choice no matter whether you want to camp in the summer, spring or fall, this is it. It’s easy to carry, simple to set up, and offers great protection overall.

Amazon Link

2. Alpha Camp Dome

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Alpha Camp Dome
Amazon Link

When it comes to enjoying the great outdoors with a larger group of people, having a tent that can fit everyone’s needs is essential. Thankfully the Alpha Camp Dome Tent from Alpha can handle not only a large group but also everything that comes with them.

Read more

Capacity
This tent is offered in a couple of different sizes that can fit three, four, or six adults comfortably plus a minimum amount of gear. Our review comments on the specs of the six-person tent. The floor measures approximately 86 feet square and the height of the tent measures just over six feet at the highest point. In addition, there are two separate doors on either side, making entry and exit relatively simple.

Ease of Use
The tent itself is fairly easy to set up and take down with two or more people. The poles for the frame are color-coded and equal in length, so it’s easy to see what goes in which place in the setup. It also includes a backpack style storage sack and a pole repair tube for easy storage.

Weather Resistance
Regrettably, the footprint that goes with this particular tent is sold separately, which is a disappointment, considering the overall cost of the tent. Other than that, there is substantial protection from the elements through puncture-resistant flooring, and a full-coverage rainfly to keep things relatively dry and comfortable.

Portability
Given its size when completely open, this tent folds down to a surprisingly small 25 x 16.5 x 9.5 inches. The size makes it fairly easy to store in a garage or a trunk of a car, but a little bit cumbersome to be stored in a backpack.

If you take only the minimum of what is needed for camping on the trail with this tent, the packaged weight comes to about 17 pounds and 14 ounces. If you want to take everything, including the tent spikes, poles, rainfly, and actual tent material, the total weight comes to be about 20 lbs, 12 ounces. In either case, it is a bit of a heavy burden for a single person to carry over long distances, and it’s definitely suggested that the load be shared between two or more people.

Summary
The Alpha Camp Dome 4 is designed with many of the creature comforts in mind once set up is complete. While it is a little bulky and heavy to practically carry by one person, once things are set up it provides adequate overall protection from the elements for at least six people and their gear.

Amazon Link

3. Kelty Salida

Where to buy
Kelty Salida
Amazon Link

This truly lightweight tent from Kelty offers the ability to enjoy the night in the great outdoors without sacrificing the ability to go long distances. It’s relatively easy to set up and transport and is surprisingly adept at keeping the elements at bay.

Read more

Capacity
This tent is offered in three different sizes- one person, two people, or four people. In this review, we will focus on the two-person option. On paper, this tent can adequately fit two people, but most people find that it may be a bit cramped for two people plus their gear. When fully deployed, this tent measures approximately 30.5 feet at the base and has a max height of 43 inches.

Ease of Use
This dome size tent is fairly easy to set up, and features hug clips on the tent that allows it to be attaching to the poles with a single hand, which is a proven benefit, especially when setting it up alone. The take down is a simple process as well, and the tent is surprisingly easy to fold down into the compact carrying case.

Weather Resistance
While the added benefit of being a lightweight tent is certainly welcomed on long backpacking treks, the overall protection from the elements was found to be somewhat of a disappointment. While the tapered construction did allow for much of the inclement weather to roll down off of the sides, the ample mesh sides did allow for a significant amount of moisture and damp air to enter into the tent. Also, the tent footprint is sold separately. This means that you need to be careful where you set the tent up for maximum comfort while sleeping.

Portability
Overall this tent is fairly easy to store, folding easily down into a package that can be easily carried in a backpack or on a person.

With everything that is included, this tent is surprisingly lightweight, weighing just less than six pounds, so carrying it on your person is more of a viable option than some of the other tents on this list.

Summary
While it may not offer as much protection from the elements as we would have liked, the Kelty Salida 2 is a viable option if you want a fairly comfortable two-person tent that is not only easy to set up and take down, but a breeze to carry.

4. Marmot Limelight 3P

Where to buy
Marmot Limelight 3P
Amazon Link

If you’re looking for a roomy tent that is relatively easy to set up and allows for a comfortable night’s sleep for two to three people, it’s hard to beat the Marmot Limelight 3P tent.

Read more

Capacity
This tent can easily fit two people plus their gear, or three people if the equipment that they bring is minimal. The floor measures approximately 42.5 square feet in size, and the maximum height is about four feet at the peak.

Ease of Use
These tents have a fairly straightforward setup and take down. The press-fit poles are easy to put together with help, and the pre-bend allows for the creation of vertical walls that allow for more interior space. While the pre-bend poles did present a bit of a struggle for re-packaging at first, with a little trial and error we were able to reduce things down to a manageable size once again.

Weather Resistance
In addition to a durable rainfly and tent wall materials, this tent also includes a sturdy footprint that allows for added protection from ground dampness and temperature control. While the two doors of the tent have been known to allow some water in via the zippered closure, for the most part, this tent does a great overall job of protecting you and your gear from inclement weather.

Portability
The Marmot Limelight 3P tent packs down to a surprisingly compact 22 inches by 8 inches in size, making it fairly easy to store just about anywhere, including attached to a backpacker’s frame.

Based on its compact size and low weight of just less than 7 pounds total, this tent is easy enough for one person to carry during their day treks or to their designated camping spot.

Summary
Both surprisingly roomy and compact at the same time, the Marmot Limelight 3P tent offers a great balance between portability, protection, and ease of use. While we were disappointed in the quality of the door zipper closures, the inclusion of a quality tent footprint more than made up for it.

5. Eureka Copper Canyon

Eureka Copper Canyon
Amazon Link

This tent from Eureka offers a rare thing in the world of outdoor tents – the adequate capacity to truly fit the number of people it was designed for, their gear, and adequate headroom. If you’re looking for a great four-person tent that is designed for both practicality and comfort, the Copper Canyon 4 is hard to beat.

Read more

Capacity
This tent is available to hold four, six, or eight people. As a four-person tent, this tent offers more than enough room for four people to sleep comfortably, even if you include the typical camping and backpacking gear that is used. The floor provides enough room to easily fit two twin size mattresses, or a queen-sized airbed and camping equipment without too much trouble. Also, at the peak height, there is more than enough room for a grown adult to move around comfortably without too much bending over.

Ease of Use
The tent itself is very easy to set up and take down with a partner. The sturdy steel and fiberglass frame is easy to manipulate, and the combination ring and pin assembly mean that if one person holds the ring steady, another can easily slide everything together. Then it’s just a matter of attaching the rainfly and guy lines for added protection and stability.

Weather Resistance
Overall this tent offers great protection from the elements, with the exception of the base, which is not adequately reinforced in our estimation against water infiltration and ground hardness. The purchase of the footprint, which is sold separately, is highly recommended. The included rainfly does provide great protection from the rain overall, and the mesh windows and zippered door allow for adequate cross ventilation during the night.

Portability
When folded down properly, this tent measures about 10 x 10 x 30 inches, so it can easily fit in the trunk of a car, or in a backseat. It may be a bit large to carry in a backpack, but for the most part, finding a way to store this tent while not in use shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Not surprisingly, given the size of the deployed tent, there is a significant amount of weight to this tent. If all the poles and stakes are carried along with the tent, it weighs about twenty-two pounds overall. This makes transportation by one person somewhat problematic. This tent is definitely suited for transportation via vehicle or being split into multiple smaller packages.

Summary
The Eureka Copper Canyon 4 person tent is a fantastic way to set up your base camp to allow for a comfortable night’s sleep for four people without having to worry about bumping into each other during the night. While we would have liked to see a little more reinforcement in the flooring, and the weight makes transportation via a single person somewhat problematic, overall this is a fairly good tent.

6. Big Agnes Copper Spur

Big Agnes Copper Spur
Amazon Link

If you think that camping alone can be an uncomfortable, boring experience, then you really should consider taking a look at the Big Agnes Copper Spur Backpacking Tent. While it may not help to alleviate boredom, you won’t have to worry about the elements or lack of room making the experience an uncomfortable one.

Read more

Capacity
In this review, we will focus on the two-person tent, but the Copper Spur tent is also available for one, three, or four people. While the tent is designed for two-person use, most people found having two people plus equipment to be a little too close for comfort. However, for a single person, there is more than enough room to comfortably stretch the legs and get some much-needed rest. We would have also liked to see a bit more headroom, especially considering the two-person design.

Ease of Use
The overall hoop design of the tent made for relatively easy setup and takes down. Packing it away is also fairly straight forward.

Weather Resistance
In addition to having weather-resistant nylon sides, this tent offers a rainfly that can easily redirect much of the rain or snow that you may encounter, as well as such things as hail and snow. The frame and tent walls were both surprisingly lightweight and strong and were able to withstand a significant amount of mountain winds as well.

Portability
This tent easily folds down into a compact and portable size that is easily stored in a backpack, cooler, or tied to a hiker’s waist. It can also easily be stored in a cupboard or cabinet while not in use.

This tent weighs just over three pounds, and based on its relatively compact size, moving it from place to place is a simple matter indeed. Simply tie it to your backpack frame, or store it inside the backpack itself, and you should be good to go.

Summary
If you’re searching for a roomy single person tent or a very cozy two-person tent that can be quickly set up and protects you from the elements easily, this Copper Spur Backpacking tent from Big Agnes is a fantastic choice overall.

7. MSR Hubba NX

Where to buy
MSR Hubba NX
Amazon Link

Sometimes finding a two-person tent that is ultra-light, offers great protection, and is roomy can be a bit of a hassle. Thankfully this tent from MSR is able to find the balance between these criteria quite easily.

Read more

Capacity
This tent offers more than enough interior space for two people to sleep comfortably. The floor area measures approximately 29 square feet, and the peak height is just over three feet. While you’ll definitely have to stoop down or crawl to move around, you’ll be surprised at the overall roominess that you’ll find in this ultra-light tent.

Ease of Use
The flexible aluminum poles and easy to understand tie-off system allow for a quick set up, usually only taking a few minutes at the end of a long hike. While it’s easiest to set up with two or more people, it is possible to do it by yourself if necessary. The take down is a simple process as well, although re-packing it into the original carrying case can be a bit troublesome the first few tries.

Weather Resistance
The nylon material of this tent is treated with a water-repellant solution that adds to the already superior water protection provided by the tent material and the included rainfly. The tent is also resistant to tears and punctures. We would have certainly liked to see an included footprint, but the flooring does provide decent protection from seepage from the ground.

Portability
This tent can be packed down in size to approximately 18 inches by 6 inches, which makes it fairly easy to store in a wide range of places, including a car trunk, cupboard, or even in the closet.

While the overall size when packed is a bit bulky for one person carry, the overall weight of this tent at just around three pounds does make it somewhat manageable. A simple tie to a backpack or carrying it one-handed is more than possible.

Summary
The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Person tent provides a great deal of interior space for two people without sacrificing its ultra-light status. While it’s a tad bulky when folded down to its carrying size, the ease of setting up and lighter weight more than compensate for that shortcoming.

8. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx

Where to buy
Amazon Link
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx
Amazon Link

The Lynx is a great and affordable tent. Many reviewers say that it is on par with other models that cost four times the price. It offers great weather protection, decent space, and plenty of ventilation. For the solo camper, this lightweight tent is the perfect companion.

Read more

Capacity
The Lynx is available in a few different sizes, but it is clear that the one-person tent is the most popular. It is a great sized tent that can accommodate small to tall people. It is 2’8 wide and 7’6 long. The center height is 36”, giving you a decent amount of headroom. For a big and tall person, space may be limited but it remains comfortable.

Ease of Use
Set up is a cinch, which is especially great considering that may be on your own when using this tent. There are two aluminum poles and clips. You just need to thread the poles into the base of the tent and then use the clips to attach the body of the tent to the poles.

Weather Resistance
The tent itself is made from polyester, making it strong and durable. The rainfly and floor seams are sealed for ultimate weather protection. The rainfly is UV-resistant and waterproof. The fly goes all the way down to the floor and is angled properly so that no water pools on the tent. The fly creates a small outdoor vestibule that is a great spot to leave dirty gear outside of the tent without worrying about it getting rained on.

For good-weather days, almost all of the windows are made from mesh, providing you with great ventilation.

Portability
Taking down the tent is just as simple as putting it up. Just a few clips and a couple of poles and you’re set. When re-packed into its carrying case, the dimensions are 6” x 17.5”. This is bigger than we would expect but can be clipped the outside of your pack.

One of the best features of this tent is the weight. It weighs only 4.4-pounds. For a solo camper, this makes it easy to carry from campsite to campsite.

Summary
As a one-person tent, what's not to love? Just about every reviewer has been thoroughly impressed with the design and functionality of the Lynx. It offers decent space, great weather protection, and a simple setup.

Amazon Link

9. Marmot Tungsten 3P

Where to buy
Marmot Tungsten 3P
Amazon Link

If finding a lightweight yet roomy tent has you frustrated, your search may be over after reading this description. The Marmot Tungsten 3P tent is not only a great overall choice for protection, but it offers more than enough room at an affordable price.

Read more

Capacity
This tent from Marmot offers more than enough room for two people to sleep comfortably and offers a good amount of room for the associated gear. The interior floor space measures approximately 41 feet and the two doors make for easy entrance and exit when necessary. The peak height when fully assembled measures just shy of four feet, so moving around within the tent while bending over slightly is more than possible

Ease of Use
With its two-pole design and easy clip-on attachments, this tent is a breeze to set up overall. Two people can easily get things ready in less than five minutes with practice. Repackaging it is also fairly easy and can be done in a matter of minutes as well.

Weather Resistance
The tent is made from a combination of polyester mesh and taffeta material allows for superior ventilation without allowing a significant amount of water or moisture in. This tent also includes a sizable footprint tarp that adds an additional layer of protection from the ground as well. While would have liked to see stronger protection from rips and tears, overall this is a solidly built tent.

Portability
This tent folds easily into a package that measures eight inches by 22 inches overall, making it somewhat large but still easy to store in a hall closet or the trunk of a large car.

If everything is included, this tent has a package weight of just over six pounds, making it possible for one person to carry it to and from the campsite.

Summary
The Marmot Tungsten 3P Tent is a great choice if you want to spend more time enjoying the camping experience and less time fighting with the tent set up. There is more than enough room for two people in the tent, and set up and tear down are simple processes indeed. While we would have liked to see better tear or puncture resistance, the inclusion of a footprint and great rain protection is hard to pass by.

10. Coleman Sundome 3

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$64.73
Coleman Sundome 3
Amazon Link

If you’ve been searching for a relatively inexpensive tent that still allows you to sleep comfortably and focus on the wonders of the great outdoors, this Sundome 3 Person Tent from Coleman is a great choice.

Read more

Capacity
The Sundome is available in many different sizes, including two, three, four, six, and seven people. Our specific review focuses on the three-person tent. While this tent is rated for three people to sleep comfortably, it is an extremely tight fit. This tent is more suited for two adults plus gear, or three small children or pets. The dome set up provides for a good amount of overall space, but it is still a fairly shallow tent vertically. While sitting up comfortably is more than possible, standing up within the tent is nearly impossible.

Ease of Use
Thankfully, this tent is fairly easy to set up, taking a single person less than 15 minutes from start to finish. The continuous pole sleeves allow for easy attachment to the tent, and the included rainfly is easy to attach to the tent and guy lines with a few clicks.

Weather Resistance
The included rainfly and canopy materials do offer adequate protection from the elements, including rain and hail, but don’t really withstand up to heavy winds or snowfall especially well. The welded flooring and inverted seams do provide an extra layer of protection, and the entrance zippers are elevated from the ground to help prevent infiltration of water via the zippered areas.

Portability
The tent and all the necessary included equipment folds down to a size approximately two feet by six inches square, making it an ideal size for storage in a wide range of areas, including inside of a camper’s backpack. There is also an included storage case for easy overall storage as well.

This tent is fairly lightweight, weighing just about eight pounds total, and the relatively compact dimensions and included carrying case means that it is very easy to transport from place to place.

Summary
While we would have certainly liked to see more available headroom and interior space, this dome tent from Coleman is extremely easy to set up and take down and is easy to store due to its compact size. The overall construction and materials used also offers great weather protection.

Amazon Link
$64.73

Sources