One of my biggest concerns when hiking: Will I have a dry, comfortable place to sleep tonight? No matter what the day holds, that’s my priority. A tent is one piece in making sure you have that comfort. Whether you’re heading out for a thru hike or a weekend backpacking trip, it’s important to have a place to sleep each night. Use this guide to find the best backpacking tent for you.
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Best 2 person backpacking tent
Tiger Wall ULA 2 | Big Agnes
Specs:
- Seasons: Three season
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 person
- Floor Dimensions: 86 x 52/42 (head/foot) in / 218 x 132/106 cm
- Peak Height: 39 in / 99 cm
- Vestibule Area: 8+8 ft / 2.4+2.4 m
- Pack Size: 5.5 in x 18 in / 14 x 46 cm
- Pack Weight: 2lb 8oz / 1.13kg
- Trail Weight: 2lb 3oz / 992g
- Minimalist Setup Weight: 1lb 11oz / 765g
What I like:
I’ve sat in this tent during all kinds of weather: freezing rain, snow, temperatures below 20, thunderstorms, heatwaves, perfectly clear starry nights, etc. We traversed 2,200 miles on the Appalachian Trail together and the worst damage it got was a small tear in door netting, which I easily patched up with the tape I had on me at the time.
All of this to say, my Big Agnes Tiger Wall is my favorite tent. Easy to pitch, color-coordinated poles and snaps, handles anything. It’s lightweight and yet feels roomy (for an ultralight tent).
What I don’t like:
The zippers. There are two zippers per door, one arching up, and one flat across the bottom edge of the door. It took me a bit to figure out that I can only open one section per zipper, and that I must operate both zippers to get out of my tent.
The upper pocket on the tent is big, which is fantastic. But it can’t take much weight before it starts to sag down on you and feel a bit claustrophobic. I usually just put my rainfly there if I’m sleeping without and any clothes I might want to dry a little bit.
Where to buy
Hornet OSMO Ultralight 2P Tent | Nemo
Specs:
- Seasons: Three season
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 person
- Floor Dimensions: 85 x 51/43 (L x W head/foot) inches
- Peak Height: 39 inches
- Vestibule Area: 7.1 square feet
- Pack Size: 7.5 x 12.5 inches
- Pack Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.
- Trail Weight: 2 lbs. 1 oz.
What I like:
The Nemo Hornet is another go-to tent by many backpackers as they look for lightweight, durable gear. The OSMO fabric is 100% recycled, which is always a good feeling. The white no-see-um mesh at the side increases privacy, while black mesh at the top of the tent will turn virtually transparent at night so you have a clear view of the stars.
Plus, there’s a divy bag, so that you can easily break the tent apart between both hikers and share the weight of the tent.
What I don’t like:
Depending on the weather outside, you might have to deal with condensation. For most people, it appears at the head of the tent, where the rainfly is close to the mesh of the tent.
Where to buy:
Best ultralight backpacking tent
Duplex | Zpacks
Specs:
- Seasons: Three season
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 person
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 90 x 45 x 48 in.
- Weight: 1 lb. 2.5 oz. (no stakes or poles)
What I like
The Duplex is one of the most common backpacking tents you’ll find among long-distance thru-hikers for a reason. It’s extremely durable, insanely lightweight, and can be set up almost anywhere. It handles weather very well
If a trekking pole tent isn’t your vibe, you can also purchase tent poles or “upgrade” to a semi-freestanding version of the tent.
All in all, if you’re looking for a tent to withstand whatever you throw at it and yet also lightweight enough you forget it’s in your backpack, the Duplex is the tent you’re looking for.
What I don’t like
It’s expensive. As far as backpacking tents go, it’s one of the most expensive tents you’ll find in the hiking sphere.
Trekking pole/tension tents can be a bit to figure out. Most people who have them will admit that they’re a little bit trickier than your standard freestanding or semi-freestanding tents. However, with practice, you soon can become a pro at it and the clumsiness dissipates.
There is a bit of condensation that can happen since it’s a single-wall tent.
Where to buy
Best budget backpacking tent
UL Granite 2P | Featherstone Outdoor Products
See my full review of the UL Granite backpacking tent here.
Specs:
- Seasons: Three season
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 person
- Floor Dimensions: 84 x 51 in / 213 x 130 cm
- Peak Height: 43 in / 109 cm
- Vestibule Area: 25.6 in / 65 cm
- Pack Size: 16 x 4 in / 41 x 10 cm
- Pack Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz (2.10 kg)
- Trail Weight: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
- Minimalist Setup Weight: 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg)
What I like:
The first time I tried this tent out, we got hit with gusts of wind up to 50 mph. I spent that night listening to the UL Granite flapping and swaying under the gusts, but it held its ground. It didn’t collapse or have any issues.
It feels roomy inside despite the small space. My sister and I, when we took it on a weekend trip near us, were both able to sit up simultaneously without bumping into one another or feeling crowded.
It’s actually affordable. One of Featherstone Outdoor Products key values is that the outdoors welcomes all. With that, they strive to make affordable, accessible backpacking gear. The Granite is one example of them doing just that.
What I don’t like:
It’s weight. For a backpacking tent, it’s weighty. Coming in at twice the weight of the Big Agnes or the Duplex. However, the lower price does even out the weight of it.
Additionally, there’s no pocket or other type of fastener on the rainfly to put the cross pole in. As such, as the wind blew or the tent poles naturally shifted, this pole was usually off of the reinforced fabric. I’m sure that, eventually, it will need a patch there.
Where to buy
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