With the weather warming up and alpine lakes tantalizingly in reach, many nature fiends are starting to set their sights on summer backpacking. Backcountry trips differ from their car camping cousins, though, with a tent's weight, roominess, ease of setup, and weatherproofing top-of-mind for most on-foot travelers.
Seasoned campers know that a tent is perhaps the most crucial piece of gear in a trekker’s pack, but today’s outdoor technology has gotten mind-bogglingly complicated. That’s why we’ve narrowed down the backpacking tent competition into our top picks in six key categories, from solo expedition tents to ultralight shelters fit for crushing big miles, and we’ve even thrown in key stats like vestibule area (the size of your covered outer “porch”) and weight.
Read on for the best backpacking tents for every occasion.
Best all-around backpacking tent
Ditch tricky-to-find shelters and spring for NEMO’s best in class freestanding tent in lime green. Surprisingly roomy for its trail weight of just over three pounds, the large mesh side doors and spacious, trapezoidal vestibules on this three-season home-away-from-home ensure maximum livability for two campers pressing snooze or escaping a bout of bad weather. Plus, the Divvy Sack storage system allows for two hikers to easily split the carry between their packs.
- Packaged weight: 3 lbs. 1 oz.
- Peak height: 40 inches
- Floor area: 29 square feet
- Vestibule area: 10 square feet on either side
Best for beginner backpackers
It’s rare for a tent at this price point to also come with a durable footprint (a small tarp) that protects against abrasive sticks and rocks, but REI’s Passage 2 hits the mark, and is jam-packed with even more desirable features (like adjustable ceiling vents and thoughtful interior pockets). It’s a bit on the heavy side for a backpacking tent at roughly five and a half pounds, but this cozy hut’s rectangular sleep space of 31 square feet and ultra-durable polyester fabric that you won’t have to be precious about help make for a worry-free camping experience that won’t break the bank. New to backpacking? Consider pairing it with a sleeping bag and pad bypurchasing the REI Backpacking Bundle.