May. 27, 2024
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A question I often get asked by friends, family, or even folks online is, &#;which tent should I get?&#; Other types of gear come into question occasionally, but tents and backpacks tend to be the top gear question I receive. Tents are a tricky one for many individuals because of the price tag. The list of the best tent brands is a long one, so I narrowed it down to a few specific categories; that way, we had a fair analysis of several top-performing tent brands in the market right now.
When choosing the best tent brands for your needs, I always recommend that you first identify how the tent will be used and how frequently. If you need a tent for winter expedition camping, it will look much different than a tent someone may choose for Overlanding. Knowing the technical requirements of the tent then allows you to narrow down your list according to tent features, portability, materials, warranty/repair policies, and price. This list of the best tent brands may help you zero in on a few specific options. That way, you can spend less time shopping and more time outdoors.
When choosing an outdoor product, the first thing I always look at is the brand or company. What are their values? Was the company started to solve a problem or simply to make money? If their values and mission align with mine, then it is likely that I will be interested in their products.
The bigger picture of the brand itself is what can give you a deeper understanding of how they design their gear, how the products are produced, how they source their materials, and the overall environmental impact they have. Of course, product functionality and durability are a big part of it too. However, I&#;ve found the most sustainable companies often make the most durable products because they take into account the lifespan and repairability of their products.
In choosing the best tent camping brands, I prioritized their warranty, repair policy, and overall transparency surrounding a sustainability report. I then looked at the variety of tents and their application, durability, and functionality in the field, as well as affordability. All of this information was gathered over years of experience working with and using outdoor products, interviews with brands, industry-specific knowledge of product production, and other verified customer testimonials and experiences with tent brands.
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Nemo Equipment is our top pick for the best overall tent brand and is included in our list of the top-rated backpacking tents. Their dedication to using high-quality and sustainably sourced materials and the lifetime warranty put them above many other competitors on our list. They make tents for all occasions, including ultralight backpacking tents (Dagger OSMO) and large family tents (Aurora Highrise). Although they are on the higher end of the price range for gear, their reliability, functionality, and durable construction make it worth the cost.
While Nemo has various tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, they only offer a few other camping equipments. Being more of a niche sleep system brand allows them to spend more time enhancing and improving their products. As a brand, they have won awards for their innovative designs, which they update every year. Pro tip: When new designs come out, it&#;s an excellent time to get discounts on last season&#;s colors and styles and snag the same high-quality gear at a lower price.
Best for Backpacking
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Another top contending option for the best tent brands is Big Agnes, which has been around for over 20 years. Among the most comparable in quality and design to Nemo Equipment, Big Agnes makes a range of tent styles. All of their tents are time-tested and quality guaranteed, but they won out our category for the best backpacking tents for their lightweight, durable trail tent designs. While a casual camper may not need a tent constructed at this caliber&#;and may prefer a more budget-friendly option&#;more serious backpackers and campers will appreciate the craftsmanship.
Big Agnes offers backpacking tents with ultralight designs (Copper Spur HV UL), roomy vestibules (Blacktail Hotel), and minimalist concepts to include your trekking poles into the setup (Salt Creek SL3). Since most backpackers are concerned about the weight of their gear, Big Agnes is an easy sell. Their tent poles are made from aluminum, which is durable and lightweight. The tent body, fly, and floor material are all a blend of proprietary nylon with a ripstop weave. The denier of each fabric component varies, but higher wear areas tend to have a higher denier count for longer-lasting performance.
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While many other brands merely offer ultralight backpacking tents, Six Moon Designs specializes in it. Whenever a brand has a focused niche, I&#;ve found their product design has a higher quality and a more targeted market for their products. When comparing them to other tent brands, there are two standout features: affordable prices and dedication to product repair. The entire Six Moon Designs team comprises passionate backpackers with thousands of miles on the trail, so all of its shelters and other products are born from firsthand experience.
Beyond ultralight shelters, Six Moon Designs also makes ultralight backpacks, umbrellas, camp cooking equipment, and trekking poles. If you visit their website, you&#;ll find resources about ultralight shelters and gear repair. While some tents function as a traditional shelter, they have other more unique options, like the Gatewood Cape, which is a shelter and rain covering to use while hiking. If you&#;ve never used an ultralight shelter, this is a great place to start. Six Moon Designs has high customer satisfaction and is dedicated to sharing their passion and knowledge about backpacking, specifically gear repair.
Best for Car Camping
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Of all the great for camping tents out there, Marmot is one of the best&#;especially for car camping. With several optimal car camping tents, they excel in designing and producing superior shelters. The quality across all of their designs is high level and can withstand extreme weather conditions.
The brand is relatively transparent about its materials and production practices. It needs to be clarified on their website where their products are produced, but it is clearly labeled on their products (required by law). Most of their products are made in Asian countries like China and Vietnam, and it&#;s unclear why they are not more transparent about that fact, even on their sustainability page about fair labor.
Regardless, they are a leader in the outdoor gear space because of their reliable products and durability. They use recycled materials that are bluesign certified (which is a seal of sustainability) and they use PFC-free technology for waterproofing. In the realm of product impact, they do a great job of being transparent, and the materials are easy to find when shopping online.
Best for Family Camping
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Eureka! tents are a unique brand in that they offer both more affordable casual camping tents that are perfect for families or groups and expedition-type tents. The large tents designed for family camping or groups are decent quality, but the quality of their backpacking and expedition tents seem to be even better. Specific components, like the tent poles, should be improved for an even better tent design, but as a whole, these are excellent tents, especially for folks who only get out a few times a year.
The larger tents are not the most affordable family camping tents on the market, but the quality of these tents in comparison to something like an Ozark Trail or Coleman tent is much higher. If well taken care of, these tents can last several years of casual use. Even with the 6 to 8 person tents, the setup is relatively easy, and the tent height is ideal for adults to stand inside. Across the board, all of their tents have decent weather protection, but the expedition-style tents are more waterproof than their car camping options.
Best for Glamping
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From glamping to setting up a hunting basecamp, White Duck makes tents that are durable, long-lasting, and suitable for all seasons. They&#;re made from what is arguably the hardiest canvas, DYNADUCK, which is a 100% double-fill army duck cotton canvas treated with a PFC-free water repellent. This finish also makes White Duck tents fire-, mold-, and UV-resistant.
With the canvas coating, the tents are field-ready, meaning once you get the tent, you can pack it up and get outside. Each tent includes everything you need, from the tent poles to the ground cloth&#;there are no hidden costs or additional purchases necessary for a package deal. No matter the tent design you choose from White Duck, it&#;s evident they care about product design, environmental impact, and a comfortable outdoor experience for all of their customers.
Best for Basecamp
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If you&#;re looking for the best in expedition or high-altitude gear, look no further than Mountain Hardwear. All their tents are made from Dyneema and Pertrex Y Fuse materials, potentially the most robust and most durable materials for tent construction. Dyneema has incredible tear and puncture resistance, while the Pertrex Y Fuse provides increased waterproofing properties.
Currently, only two tent options are specially designed for use in a high-altitude basecamp. However, Mountain Hardwear has a lot of other tent styles and models that can be used for mountaineering. The largest expedition tent they have is a 3-person while the largest basecamp tent is the Space Station Dome Tent, which can house up to 20 people. This tent is ideal for large groups or used as a meeting place, gear storage, or dining hall in a basecamp.
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MSR Gear is another top-performing brand not only for tents but also for camping equipment like camp stoves, trekking poles, water filters, and avalanche kits. As a long-standing brand in the outdoor industry, it is no surprise that they are very transparent with their consumers about products, including manufacturing and company social responsibility.
The MSR tents span a range of outdoor pursuits, from mountaineering and ski touring to car camping and ultralight backpacking. All of their tents are made from aerospace-grade materials that vary in weight and strength to reflect the tent&#;s intended purpose. Other features that make MSR tents some of the best include waterproof coatings intended to last the tent&#;s life, ergonomic designs, snag-free zippers, reflective guylines, and reinforced stress points for an extended lifespan.
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Formerly made and designed by Tepui, our top pick for the best rooftop tents is now owned by Thule. Thule acquired Tepui, a family-owned tent company, a few years ago. Although it is under new management, the tent designs seem to remain similar and of the same quality. Thule was already recognized for its car accessories like roof racks and bike racks, so it seems fitting for them to extend their reach in the outdoor industry by acquiring a rooftop tent company.
Thule rooftop tents offer a comfortable and functional setup for a wide range of vehicle models. From hardshell tents to classic soft tent setups, it is easy to find a tent design that fits not only your vehicle but also your personal preference and budget. Most tent designs fit two adults comfortably, and the largest size currently available fits four people. The tent setup and weight capacity will vary according to your vehicle and the specific tent you choose.
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Casual campers, weekend warriors, beginners, and beyond have trusted the Kelty brand for their camping gear for years. They are well-known and highly regarded as an affordable yet durable camping option. Compared to a brand like Nemo Equipment or MSR Gear, Kelty brand tents are much cheaper. In terms of quality, they make long-lasting tents with their choice of materials and construction. If you compare an ultralight two-person tent to a Kelty two-person tent, it is obvious which one is better equipped for a backpacking trek. Kelty tents tend to be heavier due to the material construction, but that is the same property that extends the product lifespan.
If you are looking for a tent that isn&#;t too expensive but holds up better than a budget pick, this is the brand we recommend. They offer a wide range of tent options that can fit most individuals&#; needs when camping, and their products do well in the field. The only type of tent they do not have at this time is a 4-season tent.
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If you are a beginner camper or someone who is on a tight budget, Coleman is a decent brand to get you started. While our number one money-saving recommendation is to borrow or buy a used tent, sometimes the best option is to start with a budget find. While Coleman tents are affordable, they are not the cheapest brand available. Brands like Ozark Trail may be slightly lower priced, but they also have lower quality and durability than even Coleman can offer.
Coleman has over 60 tent options available at any given time, making it easy to find a tent that fits your outdoor adventure needs. They could have better backpacking tent options, but if you are car camping or camping with a group, Coleman is an excellent option. The design of most of their tents is simple and effective, making them easy to set up and (when set up correctly) capable of withstanding high winds and rain.
Knowing the best tent brands is the perfect place to start when narrowing down the tent you want to invest in for your outdoor adventures. But should you buy it new or used?
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Regarding items like tents and backpacks, I almost always encourage people (especially beginners) to buy used gear. Buying used equipment is an excellent way to not only save money but to divert materials from the landfill and minimize the impact the production of that product has on the environment. While buying a used tent may be daunting, so long as the tent is in good condition, it is worth a shot. Some brands, like Nemo, have a lifetime warranty.
Many brand-specific retailers like The North Face or REI sell gear that is gently used, and if it is damaged, it is repaired before reselling. Some tent brands also have sales on last season&#;s styles and refurbished or returned items. If you want a specific brand and tent design, check their website clearance periodically or hold out for sales.
You may be worried that a used tent won&#;t work as well as a new tent, and there may be damage. This is true, but you can also use this as a time to learn how to repair outdoor gear. Examine the used tent for any significant signs of damage, like large holes or rips, loose stitching in seams, or broken zippers. Most of these things are repairable, but it is up to you and the amount of time you want to spend reviving the tent.
Most used tents need to have a waterproofing solution reapplied. Re-waterproofing gear is an easy task with the right solution. We recommend checking out Nikwax or Gear Aid for easy wash-in waterproof solutions and sprays for tents and other products.
If a used tent is something you are interested in buying, here are some places to start looking:
Other excellent things to do is to be on the lookout for bargain bins at local gear shops, pay attention to outfitters and gear rental shops and when they sell their used equipment, and consider asking friends and family like enjoy camping. You may be surprised how many people have old outdoor gear they no longer use and are willing to give it to someone they know will enjoy it.
The first question you always ask should be, &#;How do I plan to use this item?&#; If you are replacing a well-loved tent, you likely have an idea. Or maybe you&#;re getting into a new type of camping, so instead of the standard car camping tent, you&#;re looking for something lighter for backpacking. Identifying your need and the type of tent will help you choose not only the best tent brand but the best tent design for you.
Your frequency of use is also a consideration. For instance, if you only take one or two camping trips a year, buying the most expensive tent may not make sense. However, if you have kids and pets, investing in a more durable and better quality tent may be the best choice.
Each tent brand often sells several types of tents, each best suited to a specific application or use. No one tent type is necessarily better than the other, and there will be some design variation within each tent type.
Common camping tent types:
The construction, design, and materials of a tent determine the durability and functionality in the field. Many tent brands use the same materials and designs across several tent options, so knowing the best tent brands is a great place to start when looking for not only a functional and effective tent but one that is long-lasting and durable.
The tent materials of the body, floor, and rainfly generally are synthetic unless you are looking at a canvas tent; in that case, it may use a cotton polyester blend. Materials like polyester, nylon, and Dyneema are common in constructing tents for camping. While each tent component may use the same base materials or a blend of materials, the denier is the main difference between each part of the tent.
When a tent body is labeled as made from nylon ripstop fabric 70 denier, the denier speaks specifically about the thickness of the fibers that comprise each thread. The higher the number, the thicker and stronger the fabric weave should be. Higher denier fabric is also generally a higher price due to the higher level of durability with a stronger woven fabric.
Tent poles, stakes, and guylines may also come into question. The stakes and guylines are easy to replace and should not be a huge concern when making the initial purchase. The tent poles are important, especially if you want to use the tent for backpacking. Tent poles are generally made from either fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aluminum alloy. Steel tent poles may be used for wall or canvas tents but are uncommon due to the weight of other camping tents. If you want a lightweight and durable tent pole, look for poles made from either aluminum alloy or carbon fiber. These will come at a higher price but are more functional in the field and are less likely to break as quickly as fiberglass.
We ranked Nemo Equipment as the best brand of tent. Since they also sell other camping equipment, they could be considered the best camping brand with one of the best warranties available for their gear. Although they use synthetic materials, they do so in a more environmentally conscious way than many other product producers in the industry.
The highest quality tent may come from various tent brands such as Nemo Equipment, Big Agnes, Six Moon Designs, Marmot, or even some that are not listed here, such as Black Diamond. All these brands have a specific focus within the outdoor industry where their tents fit a need. Some brands like Big Agnes or Nemo may be better equipped for backpacking, Six Moon Designs is well known for being ultralight, and brands like Marmot and Black Diamond are better for high altitude and extreme weather conditions.
The best tent brands for cold mountain weather are designed for high-altitude expeditions. Some brands that make excellent mountaineering tents include MSR Gear, The North Face, Marmot, NEMO Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, and Black Diamond. Regardless of the brand you choose, you&#;ll need a four-season tent to ensure the shelter provides proper protection against extreme elements.
Dome tents are the most popular type of tent. They&#;re very common and easy to identify as they all have two poles that cross at a high point in the center to form semi-circles across the tent body. This construction gives the tent a dome shape, hence the name.
In our opinion, Kelty is the best tent brand for most average outdoor goers that want a good value for the price. They make good quality equipment for a far more affordable price. Their products tend to be very durable, but they are not designed to be as lightweight as other brands. These tents are best for car camping but can be used backpacking in the right circumstances.
The best tent brands are the ones we have trusted for years. While some of our picks may be unfamiliar brand names to you, we chose brands based on their dedication to customer satisfaction, producing the best possible outdoor products, and their transparency surrounding product production. Some brands performed better than others in each point of evaluation, but across the board, all the brands listed have time-tested performance that outdoor enthusiasts everywhere trust.
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product&#;whether it&#;s a bass lure or a backpack&#;we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
Whether you&#;re car camping at your local state park for the week or venturing deep into the backcountry, you&#;ll need a quality shelter that&#;s spacious enough for your group, reasonably weather-worthy for the conditions, and able to withstand regular use and abuse. From popular brands like REI Co-op and Big Agnes to budget options and smaller companies that cater to thru-hikers, the picks on our list represent the most well-known and respected players in the tent world. Below we break down each brand individually, including a brief history and background, their most popular models, and what sets them apart from the competition. For more information and our top picks in each category, see our camping gear and backpacking gear reviews.
Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Popular models: Copper Spur, Tiger Wall, and Fly Creek
What we like: Top-rated backpacking designs with great livability and overall performance.
What we don&#;t: Most of their top models utilize thin and less durable fabrics.
Based in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, Big Agnes sells some of our favorite lightweight backpacking designs. Their Copper Spur series has been on the market for over a decade and developed a very loyal following among weekenders and serious explorers alike. The latest HV UL2 model tops our list of the best backpacking tents for its impressive balance of weight (3 lbs. 2 oz.), interior space (29 sq. ft. of floor area and a 40-in. peak height), and features. Their ultralight Tiger Wall and Fly Creek collections are also very competitive, with user-friendly three-season constructions at strikingly low weights. All in all, if you head into the backcountry with some regularity and don&#;t want to sacrifice convenience with a specialized, trekking pole-supported shelter, Big Agnes&#; designs hit an excellent middle ground.
The biggest drawback to choosing a Big Agnes tent is cost: The aforementioned Copper Spur is a steep $530 for the two-person version, while the Tiger Wall and Fly Creek are similarly pricey at $450 and $400 respectively. And you can spend even more with their superlight Platinum and Carbon variations, which top out at around $2,000. Another knock on Big Agnes is they don&#;t stand out as much in the car camping market, with a smaller and less innovative collection than you get from alternatives like REI Co-op and Marmot. That said, if you&#;re looking for the best mix of build quality, weight, usable space, and all-around performance for backpacking (they also make a couple bikepacking-focused variations of some core models), we think Big Agnes is a clear leader. Finally, we appreciate that they&#;re continuing to push the boundaries by incorporating solution-dyed fabrics, which drastically reduce the amount of water, energy, and chemicals required in the manufacturing process.
Location: Seattle, Washington
Popular models: Hubba Hubba, Access, and Habitude
What we like: A quality selection of highly durable and weather-worthy backpacking designs.
What we don&#;t: Only one true camping option.
Mountain Safety Research, better known as MSR, started in as a safety-focused newsletter for avid climbers and mountaineers (the archives are fun to peruse). In an effort to make equipment safer and more reliable, founder and engineer Larry Penberthy collected donations from subscribers to fund field tests and new product development, which spawned the gear company that we know today. Since then, the brand&#;s collection has expanded considerably and now ranges from backpacking and mountaineering tents to trekking poles, portable stoves and cookware, snow tools and snowshoes, water filters, and more.
Compared to Big Agnes above, MSR&#;s designs are typically more weather-worthy with robust fabrics and very sturdy constructions. Their Access and Remote are two strong options in the mountaineering realm, and even their backpacking-focused Hubba series&#;which got a considerable update a few seasons back&#;is impressively impervious to the elements with a hubbed pole structure and full-coverage rainfly (here's our in-depth review of the latest version). The company is relatively green in the camping space and currently offers two core models&#;the Habiscape and slightly sturdier Habitude&#;but we&#;re hopeful that they&#;ll continue to diversify. And it&#;s worth mentioning that MSR&#;s parent company, Cascade Designs, also comprises other leading outdoor brands including Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, and SealLine.
Location: Kent, Washington
Popular models: Half Dome, Wonderland, and Trailmade
What we like: Value-oriented tents that don&#;t sacrifice much in the way of performance.
What we don&#;t: Generally heavier than comparable designs from Big Agnes and Nemo.
REI Co-op is beloved among outdoor enthusiasts across the country, and for good reason. Known for being value-oriented, REI&#;s in-house selection of tents typically undercuts the competition considerably without sacrificing much in the way of quality or performance. Plus, they&#;re consistently class leaders in livable space. Their popular Half Dome SL is a case in point: The 2+ model retails for $349, includes a quality aluminum pole structure and steep walls to maximize headroom, and has a generous 33.8 square feet of floor space. Additionally, you get organizational features like two large vestibules and pockets along the interior, along with loops for attaching lights and other gear. The &#;SL&#; in the Half Dome&#;s name is a bit of a misnomer&#;at 4 pounds 11.5 ounces for the two-person version, it&#;s over a pound and a half heavier than Big Agnes&#; Copper Spur mentioned above&#;but the value is undeniably hard to beat.
Unfortunately, REI recently did away with the Flash Air, which was their core entry in the ultralight space. With that tent gone, REI&#;s lineup is decidedly lacking in lightweight and compressible designs for weight-conscious missions into the backcountry. But their camping and budget models remain the cornerstone of their lineup, including the massive Wonderland and wallet-friendly Trailmade series that&#;s a great entry-level option for new backpackers. And a final bonus to shopping at REI is their excellent warranty and co-op membership ($30 to become a lifetime member), which includes benefits like yearly dividends on purchases and additional coupons throughout the year.
Location: Dover, New Hampshire
Popular models: Dagger, Hornet, and Aurora
What we like: Thoughtful and creative tent designs across multiple categories.
What we don&#;t: They don&#;t offer any true budget options.
Cam Brensinger founded Nemo Equipment in after spending a sleepless night bivying atop New Hampshire&#;s famed Mount Washington, which is notorious for its harsh and unpredictable weather. Since then, the brand has assembled a wide-ranging selection of thoughtful and creative tent designs that run the gamut from dedicated ultralight models to bikepacking-specific options, four-season-ready shelters (the Kunai 2P has been a go-to of ours for years), and standard camping offerings. And they truly stand out in the lightweight backpacking category: Their Dagger Osmo is one of our top-rated picks for its reasonably low weight (4 lb. 2 oz. for the two-person version), easy-to-pitch freestanding build, roomy interior, full feature set, and durable construction (check out our in-depth review here).
As with Big Agnes above, you do pay a premium for the Nemo name, with the aforementioned Dagger Osmo coming in at $530. Even their heavier, camping-oriented models are fairly costly, including the recently updated Aurora ($360 for the 3P) and luxurious Aurora Highrise ($400 for the 4P). But price aside, Nemo is known for their attention to detail and creating tents that nicely balance weight, livability, and durability. And if you&#;re just getting started, Nemo's sleeping bag and pad lineups are similarly well made and consistently some of the most comfortable designs we&#;ve tested.
Location: Rohnert Park, California
Popular models: Tungsten, Limestone, and Limelight
What we like: Some excellent crossover camping/backpacking options.
What we don&#;t: Not as competitive as Big Agnes or Nemo in the lightweight backpacking market.
Started by two U.C. Santa Cruz students who met on an Alaskan glacier in the early s, Marmot has built up a good reputation in the tent market over the years for their combination of build quality, spaciousness, and price. We&#;ve been especially impressed by many of their crossover car camping/backpacking options, including the Limelight (5 lb. 15.9 oz. and $299 for the 2P) and Tungsten (5 lb. 14.2 oz. and $249 for the 2P). Stacked up against the competition, both models offer reliable, long-lasting constructions and plenty of space for two adults at very reasonable price points (and again, the option to bring them along on short backcountry trips is very helpful).
In general, Marmot isn&#;t as competitive as brands like Big Agnes, Nemo, or even REI in the lightweight backpacking tent market, but they utilize quality materials, offer decently roomy interiors, and have shifted recently to using solution-dyed fabrics and PFC-free waterproofing (perfluorocarbons are known to be harmful for the environment). One notable ultralight exception is their Tungsten Ultralight, which clocks in at a low 3 pounds 6.5 ounces (for the 2P) but manages to include two doors and vestibules and a fairly roomy interior. It&#;s been around for a while and comes up short of an alternative like Big Agnes&#; Copper Spur, but the price is hard to beat at $379 for the two-person capacity.
Location: West Melbourne, Florida
Popular models: Duplex, Triplex, and Altaplex
What we like: An ultralight specialist for thru-hikers and minimalist backpackers.
What we don&#;t: Targeted designs lack widespread appeal.
Triplecrowner Joe Valesko founded Zpacks in after thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and not being able to find gear light yet durable enough for his trek. Now, just 19 years later, Zpacks stands out as one of the biggest and most revered players in the ultralight market, with a quality selection of feathery yet hardwearing tents and shelters for minimalist backpackers and hikers embarking on long trails like the AT, PCT, and CDT. The key to success is the use of Dyneema, which is a high-tech fabric praised for its strength-to-weight ratio and hydrophobic properties.
Our favorite UL model in Zpacks&#; collection is the two-person Duplex, which checks in at a scant 1 pound 4.1 ounces (with the thicker canopy fabric, no stakes, and using two trekking poles for support) but includes a bathtub floor for protection (many other UL options are floorless) and a fairly generous 48-inch peak height. The biggest compromises are cost and convenience: The Duplex is incredibly pricey at $669 and requires some practice to get a taut, even pitch with trekking poles (you can purchase the freestanding Flex Kit for an additional $149 to streamline the process). We also like the $699 Duplex Zip, which boasts zippered doors with peak vents and performed admirably on a recent backpacking trip in the Pacific Northwest (here&#;s our review). All in all, Zpacks tents aren&#;t for the average camper, but there&#;s a reason for the very strong brand loyalty among ULers. And Zpacks&#; Dyneema offerings extend well beyond tents with UL packs and even a sub-2-ounce rain kilt.
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Popular models: Wireless, Grand Mesa, and Tallboy
What we like: Quality, budget-friendly designs for casual campers and backpackers.
What we don&#;t: Not at the forefront of innovation.
For casual recreationalists, Colorado-based Kelty hits the mark with a healthy selection of value-oriented camping and backpacking tents. The majority of their offerings are priced between $100 and $300, and they&#;ve done a nice job incorporating fun and family-friendly touches. One of our favorites in their camping collection is the Wireless 6, which costs a wallet-friendly $280 for the six-person version and includes several upgrades over most budget competitors, including a full-coverage rainfly and center ridgepole that stretches the walls up and out. They were also one of the first companies to embrace stargazing features on their backpacking tents, with rollback rainflies and mesh-heavy tent bodies that allow for open views of the stars at night.
You won&#;t find any true ultralight models in Kelty&#;s lineup, and they&#;re rarely at the forefront of innovation, but what they do offer is a reasonable balance of price and quality. For casual weekenders who don&#;t want to spend an arm and a leg on their set-up, that combination is hard to beat. And it&#;s worth noting that that value focus extends throughout the rest of the company&#;s lineup, including backpacking packs, sleeping bags and pads, camp furniture, and more.
Location: Frösön, Sweden
Popular models: Nallo and Allak
What we like: Expertly crafted tents that are purpose-built for harsh mountain environments.
What we don&#;t: Overkill for most mild-weather and sub-alpine adventures.
Founded in , Hilleberg is a family-owned and -operated company that specializes in expertly crafted tents built to withstand harsh four-season conditions and high-altitude environments (it wasn&#;t until that they even introduced three-season models in their Anjan and Rogen). The main ingredient here is the brand&#;s signature Kerlon fabric, which is triple-coated on both sides with silicone (rather than more common polyurethane) and is incredibly strong, weather-ready, and tear-resistant for its weight. For reference, one of our editors purchased the popular Nallo while traveling in the Arctic Circle, where it deftly fended off the notoriously strong gusts, and the Allak has been one of our favorites for ski touring adventures in the Pacific Northwest.
Hilleberg categorizes their tents with a fairly helpful labeling system: Black Label models are the most weather-worthy and purpose-built for four-season conditions, Red Label tents are lighter-weight and a step down in all-out protection, Yellow Label designs are made for warmer and snow-free outings, and Blue Label tents are specialized offerings for specific activities (like the all-season Altai yurt and Stalon XL group tent that can accommodate 14 people). You might also spot GT variations within their lineup, which indicate an extended vestibule for added gear storage. In the end, Hilleberg tents are decidedly overkill for most mild conditions and sub-alpine outings both in price and construction (the tougher and thicker fabrics don&#;t breathe very well). But for the right environment, they&#;re truly hard to beat.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Popular models: FirstLight and HiLight
What we like: Climbing expertise transfers over nicely to mountain-ready tent designs.
What we don&#;t: Exclusively built for four-season adventures and high-altitude basecamping.
Black Diamond is a climbing company first, but that expertise has trickled down nicely as they expanded into four-season-ready tents and shelters. The FirstLight and HiLight are two of their core offerings, both of which boast single-wall builds that undercut most double-wall competitors considerably in weight (at the sacrifice of ventilation). Their mountaineering-focused Mission is another rugged design that&#;s quick to set up (you don&#;t have to expose the inside of the tent to the elements), very stable in high winds, and boasts generous vestibules for organizing gear. Whether you&#;re basecamping in the Alaska Range or embarking on a weight-conscious alpine mission, Black Diamond has a tent purpose-built for the job.
However, Black Diamond&#;s focus on technical mountain pursuits means the brand&#;s offerings have very limited appeal for casual campers and backpackers. In fact, their current lineup comprises only four-season tents and floorless shelters, all of which are decidedly technical and overkill in both price and performance for below-treeline adventures. They&#;ve experimented with three-season backpacking designs over the years, but we have no reason to believe that will be a focus anytime soon. But if you&#;re embarking on a high-altitude adventure where cold temperatures, snow, and high winds are in the daily forecast, BD has a healthy number of options to consider.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Popular models: Wawona, Stormbreak, and Mountain 25
What we like: A popular sight at high-altitude basecamps across the world.
What we don&#;t: Far less variety than most of the brands above.
With a decades-long background in mountain travel and far-off expeditions, The North Face is no stranger to harsh alpine environments. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that you&#;re likely to spot their dome-style tents at high-altitude basecamps around the world. For example, their legendary Mountain 25 (and three-person VE 25) and 2-Meter Dome Tent are trusted in some of the most inhospitable regions of the planet due to their burly double-wall builds and stout and time-tested designs. While newer and less proven, their single-wall Assault is another alpine-ready design for lower altitudes that utilizes their in-house Futurelight waterproof membrane.
We list The North Face farther down our list for one key reason: lack of variety. To be fair, we like their Wawona series (offered in four, six, and eight-person variations) for car camping, and their Stormbreak collection is lighter-weight and a fine crossover camping/backpacking option, but they really only excel in the technical mountaineering realm. Again, there&#;s a reason that the distinctive TNF logo is a popular sight in places like Nepal and the Himalaya, but most campers and backpackers (especially in the Lower 48) will find what they&#;re looking for elsewhere.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Popular models: Sundome, Montana, Skydome, and Instant Cabin
What we like: Some of the cheapest tents on the market.
What we don&#;t: A considerable step down in quality from the brands above.
At the extreme budget end of the spectrum is camping giant Coleman. We&#;ll start off by stating the obvious: By spending less, you can expect to make a number of sacrifices, including all-around quality, longevity, and weather protection. But if you only plan to camp in fair weather, it&#;s hard to beat the savings. For instance, the popular Sundome 6 can regularly be found on Amazon for well under its $130 listed price (just $85 at the time of publishing), offers a decently roomy interior with 100 square feet of floor space, and is quick and easy to pitch. You won&#;t find a full-coverage rainfly, vertical walls, or any fancy features, but it&#;s still a lot of tent for the price.
In general, however, we recommend committed campers steer clear of Coleman designs. A step up in price to brands like REI or Kelty above will get you considerably better protection and longevity with upgraded materials (many of Coleman&#;s tent poles are fiberglass rather than aluminum), hardware, and seam sealing. But for weekenders and families who don&#;t mind the inherent performance trade-offs, Coleman tents are undeniably appealing. And for those who prioritize convenience above all else, Coleman&#;s &#;instant&#; tents and sun shelters can be set up in around a minute with pre-attached poles.
Location: Perth, Australia
Popular models: Telos and Alto
What we like: Innovative Tension Ridge pole design is a real boon for livability.
What we don&#;t: Still very new to the tent market.
Australia-based Sea to Summit only recently started making backpacking tents, but they entered the competitive market with a bang. A few years back, they introduced two models: the semi-freestanding Alto TR and fully freestanding Telos TR. Last year, they followed up with the more spacious and budget-friendly Ikos TR. The headliner among all three is the unique Tension Ridge (hence the "TR") pole, which gently bends upward at each end rather than the more common downward-sloping design. It&#;s a small tweak in construction with a significant effect, resulting in taller doors, increased livable space, and better airflow (the vent naturally remains agape at the apex rather than drooping closed). All three tents also boast a creative fly that sets up in multiple configurations, and the original two include a snap-on &#;Lightbar&#; that diffuses your headlamp&#;s beam for a nice, even glow.
Sea to Summit is still new and relatively unproven in the backpacking tent market, and they have yet to enter the camping space (although their Ikos is roomy enough to pull double duty for occasional car camping). We also experienced a noteworthy flaw in the Tension Ridge design while testing all three models: During heavy rain, water tends to pool in the concavities of the fly and slowly drip inside through the vent opening, even when it&#;s closed. But most tents need to go through a few iterations before reaching perfection, and we really like the direction that Sea to Summit is headed.
Location: Biddeford, Maine
Popular model: UltaMid and Unbound
What we like: Another UL Dyneema specialist with a focus on functional simplicity.
What we don&#;t: Backpacks are their strong suit.
Like Zpacks above, Maine-based Hyperlite Mountain Gear is a UL leader that specializes in featherweight Dyneema tents and shelters for thru-hikers and other minimalist backpackers. This company is the antithesis of luxury: You won&#;t find any frills or extra features here, and the designs are decidedly dull-looking and muted. But the goal is functional simplicity, and we think they&#;ve accomplished that: Like Zpacks&#; offerings, Hyperlite&#;s tents are strikingly light for the level of protection they offer.
All that said, Hyperlite is more of a pack specialist&#;their Southwest and Windrider collections are two of our favorite UL models&#;and their tent offerings are limited. Their two- and four-person pyramid-style tents are customizable with varying combinations of mesh inserts and flooring, but they&#;re highly specialized designs with limited appeal for most. Hyperlite also recently released the more approachable Unbound 2P, which bears a strong resemblance (and performance) to Zpacks&#; Duplex mentioned above, including the use of strong but lightweight Dyneema fabrics (see our in-depth review). But again, none of these tents are for the average camper: All require trekking poles to set up, and most variations don&#;t come with floors. But for the right user, Hyperlite tents are strong, well constructed, feathery light, and handmade right here in the U.S.
Location: Sidney, Nebraska
Popular models: Alaskan Guide and West Wind
What we like: Storm-ready designs at pretty reasonable price points.
What we don&#;t: Lacking in versatility.
Best known for their hunting and fishing equipment, Cabela&#;s isn&#;t as much of an all-rounder as many of the brands above. But we&#;ve included them here for one collection in particular: their four-season-ready Alaskan Guide. This tent has been a favorite for rough weather and hunting trips for years, with a strong, six-pole geodesic shape and full-coverage rainfly that prioritize stability, durability, and protection above all else. In fact, the tent is rated to withstand gusts up to 50 miles per hour, but mesh vents and windows still allow decent airflow in mild temperatures.
Unless you truly need the burly, weather-ready build, however, we think there are better options out there. For instance, the tunnel-shaped REI Wonderland 6 boasts significantly more usable space, ventilation, and interior storage at a much lower weight (by over 10 lb.). And in terms of other models, Cabela&#;s does offer their West Wind and Outback Lodge, both of which are also very robust and sturdy, but most campers simply don&#;t need the specialized, storm-ready constructions and features.
Location: New Haven, Missouri
Popular models: Tasmanian and Lynx
What we like: Nice combination of price and performance.
What we don&#;t: Not the lightest or most premium designs.
Short for Active Lifestyle Products and Services, Alps Mountaineering strikes a nice middle ground between true budget designs from Coleman and more premium models from companies like REI and Marmot. In other words, Alps doesn&#;t make the lightest or most innovative tents, but they&#;re affordable, decently durable, and often a great option for beginner backpackers. And for added convenience when assembling your first kit, Alps offers a wide-ranging selection of other equipment too, from sleeping pads to bags, camp chairs, and more.
One standout model in Alps&#; tent lineup is their Tasmanian, which is a sneaky-good four-season option for less exposed, below-treeline winter trips. The two-person variation retails for a reasonable $250, boasts a full-coverage rainfly and sturdy aluminum poles, and uses hardwearing (75D) materials along the floor and fly for added assurance against the elements and rough ground below. And their Lynx ($150 for the 2P) is a step down in all-out protection but nevertheless serviceable for casual backpacking trips.
Location: Binghamton, New York
Popular models: Copper Canyon, Space Camp, and Midori
What we like: Affordable designs for casual outdoor-goers.
What we don&#;t: A little gimmicky and cheap-feeling.
For a step up in quality from Coleman, Eureka targets the entry-level and mid-range end of the market with affordable but functional options for casual outdoor-goers. These aren&#;t the most weather-worthy, feature-rich, or well-built options, but they&#;re decently cheap and will get the job done in most mild conditions. The cabin-like Copper Canyon, for example, is a classic choice for warm summer camping trips and festivals: The 6P model is big enough for a group of six-foot adults to walk around in comfortably, boasts a full mesh roof for stargazing and airflow, and costs a pretty reasonable $330 (and you can often find it on sale for less).
As expected, the affordable price tags come with a corresponding drop in performance. In general, Eureka&#;s tents aren&#;t very protective (the Copper Canyon&#;s fly only covers the mesh roof) and require more care than the pricier competition. But for those just getting started or if you don&#;t head out in inclement weather, there&#;s a lot to like. And to help narrow your search, Eureka offers a handy tent finder that takes into account your preferred activity (car camping, bike touring, festivals, etc.), seasonality, conditions, number of people, desired features, and more.
We included a couple of smaller players above, including Zpacks and Hyperlite Mountain Gear, but there are a healthy number of other cottage backpacking tent brands that push out quality, competitive designs. Notable players include Gossamer Gear, Tarptent, Six Moon Designs, SlingFin, and Durston (all of which are represented in our ultralight tent round-up). Overall, these brands push the boundaries on ultralight fabrics and construction, which we&#;ve seen trickle down into the wider backpacking market (Big Agnes, for example, uses Dyneema and carbon in some of their tents, and REI has toyed around with a couple trekking pole-supported designs over the years). In other words, these cottage companies have played a crucial role in normalizing and mainstreaming ultralight backpacking. If your goal is to cover long distances with minimal weight and bulk, there are some excellent models to consider.
We&#;ll start off by noting that there&#;s no substitute for walking into your local gear shop and stepping inside a tent to get a feel for the interior space, organizational layout, etc. However, in , buying online often brings additional convenience and a wider selection of manufacturers and capacity options. REI Co-op is one of our favorite retailers and carries many of the brands above (and if you live close to one of their locations, they often have displays set up for you to step inside certain models). Plus, you get the convenience of their well-documented return policy and member benefits (10% back for full-price items). Backcountry also excels in the camping and backpacking markets, with good variety, free standard shipping if you spend over $50 (which you will for a tent), and a helpful chat tool for questions. And Amazon is where you&#;ll often find the best prices on cheaper models from Coleman, Eureka, and Alps. Finally, a number of the companies above have modern websites that allow you to access their full collections, including Big Agnes, Nemo, MSR, Kelty, and more.
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