When you’re logging miles on the trail by day, a backpacking tent is your priceless refuge by night. It’s the shelter that will keep you warm, dry and away from bugs, where you’ll snooze, change clothes, check your gear and, when the weather’s foul, just hang out, too. We ask a lot of our tents, and when we’re choosing the best backpacking tents, we ask them to provide that refuge, privacy and protection from weather while also being very lightweight and packable, too. From our top pick, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2, to our ultralight backpacking tent of choice, the Zpacks Duplex, you’ll find that all of the backpacking tents on this list are light, durable and reliable.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is our favorite backpacking tent overall for when you need to … [+] travel light and set up quickly.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Best Budget Backpacking Tent: Kelty Discovery Trail 2 Tent
Best One-Person Backpacking Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Tent
Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent: Zpacks Duplex Tent
Best Four-Season Backpacking Tent: MSR Remote 2 Tent
Most Versatile Backpacking Tent: Sea To Summit Alto TR1 Tent
Best Backpacking Tent For Thru-Hiking: SlingFin SplitWing Shelter Bundle
REI
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
Capacity: 2 people | Packed size: 19.5 x 6 inches | Trail weight: 2.69 pounds | Floor area: 29 square feet | Peak height: 40 inches | Freestanding: Semi
Pros:
Superb blend of space, quality and weightSecure, easy set-upDual vestibule awnings provide extra room and protection
Cons:
Some users report that it’s a bit narrowDelicate materials make it a little less durable than others
Although the Copper Spur may not be superlative in any one particular category (height, weight, price or durability), this well-designed sub-3-pound tent is packed with tons of features and does a lot very well. That’s why it perennially earns a spot on countless roundups. For example, its triple-function tent buckles serve to secure the pole tips, rainfly and stakeouts. And couples will love the fact that its two dual-zippered doors can be separately propped up as vestibule awnings (providing extra shade from direct sunlight and protection from light rain) or just as easily stashed away in special pockets. Speaking of which, lots of storage options and multiple interior loops for attaching accessories round out this fan favorite.
Amazon
Kelty Discovery Trail 2 Tent
Capacity: 2 people | Packed size: 15 x 6 inches | Trail weight: 4.31 pounds | Floor area: 32.63 square feet | Peak height: 42 inches | Freestanding: Yes
Pros:
Very affordableEasy for beginners to set upRoomy interior
Cons:
Relatively heavy
The Discovery Trail 2 isn’t just the most affordable tent on this list—by a wide margin—it’s also a great tent for beginner backpackers. Features that include Quick Corners and pre-attached guy lines make it easier to set up (and more stable in windy conditions). And it offers other common features, such as internal storage pockets, lightweight aluminum poles, a rainfly, vestibule and handy carry bag. Really, everything you need to get started as you make the move from car to backpack-based camping.
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Amazon
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Tent
Capacity: 1 person | Packed size: 11 x 4.5 inches | Trail weight: 1.63 pounds | Floor area: 26.25 square feet | Peak height: 49 inches | Freestanding: No
Pros:
Smallest packed size on this listSuper light, at less than two poundsHighly affordable
Cons:
Not freestandingTakes a little practice to set up
If you’re used to setting up traditional freestanding tents, the Lunar Solo may take a little getting used to. But after a couple of times figuring out the order of tensioning all the guy outs, this single-pole tent looks like a cinch to set up. Given its space and durability, it’s very affordable. And the adjustability of the floating floor and canopy means you won’t have to sacrifice comfort in a wide range of conditions just because you’re solo.
Capacity: 2 people | Packed size: 12 x 6 inches | Trail weight: 1.16 pounds | Floor area: 28.1 square feet | Peak height: 48 inches | Freestanding: No
Pros:
Lightest tent on this list, making it perfect for long-distance backpackingDyneema composite fabric and taped seams help keep out waterFour independently opening storm doors offer 360-degree protection
Cons:
Expensive—and the price doesn’t include the poles or stakesSloped walls may make it feel less spaciousCan feel a little drafty in certain conditions
It’s no coincidence that one of the lightest tents on this list is also the most expensive. After all, they’ve pulled out all the stops—along with the two tent poles and six to eight stakes you’ll need to set it up. However, the Duplex offers a bunch of distinctive features, such as overlapping storm doors that close with a custom metal hook at the bottom and a loop fastener in the middle. This keeps you protected and avoids the kind of zipper failures you might expect after years of mixing dusty trails and rainy nights with cheap metals. Also, the overhead tarp extends past the floor by a few inches on each side, so you don’t have to worry about annoying drips when the storm doors are peeled back. Furthermore, a screen situated between the sewn-in 8-inch bathtub floor and walls is held up at an angle by an elastic band, thereby increasing ventilation while preventing flooding.
The Duplex comes in different weights, depending on the fabric you choose—though the “heavier” ones only add a couple of ounces. Zpacks offers an optional kit to make the Duplex freestanding, an XL version that adds 6 inches to the floor length and a Triplex version if you want to add another person or pet (or just prefer more space).
MOST POPULAR
Gossamer Gear
Gossamer Gear The One Tent
Capacity: 1 person | Packed size: 10 x 5 inches | Trail weight: 1.1 pounds | Floor area: 17.75 square feet | Peak height: 45 inches | Freestanding: No
Pros:
Extremely small and lightweightEasy setupRelatively roomy interior for a small person
Cons:
Limited floorspaceNot freestanding—requires a trekking pole
According to Pratt, Gossamer Gear’s The One is “a no fuss, easy to set up tent that can feel rather palatial, especially for a one-person shelter.” He continues, “It’s also a great tent to get if you’re not sure about non-freestanding tents, as it has many similarities to traditional tents while still using the trekking pole and stake design.” Pratt used it on his 2018 thru-hike of the PCT and gives it high marks for simplicity, internal volume and ease of setup.
Capacity: 2 people | Packed size: 7 x 20 inches | Trail weight: 6.7 pounds | Floor area: 33 square feet | Peak height: 44 inches | Freestanding: Yes
Pros:
Sturdy and stableWeatherproof, pull-through hooded guy linesDecent balance of weight and price, given its versatility
Cons:
Not the best choice for really high temperaturesOn the heavier side for a backpacking tent
If you’re planning to camp in a variety of landscapes and conditions at different times of the year, this is a fantastic choice. Although zippered mesh windows and a strut flap help improve circulation, the ventilation on super hot summer nights isn’t stellar—as tends to be the case with all-season tents made to survive frigid temps. In fact, the Remote 2 would be more at home near an isolated treeline or in alpine locales in wintertime. Its tapered shape and ripstop polyester rainfly make it virtually impervious to wind, rain and snow. So the bottom line is: The Remote 2 is great if you don’t want the calendar or climate to dictate when or where you camp.
Sea to Summit
Sea To Summit Alto TR1 Tent
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