When it comes down to it, choosing the right camping tent isn’t about choosing the one with the most features or the biggest price tag—it’s about choosing the one that meets your needs. Going for a weekend glamp with the fam? Looking for a seriously insulated winter shelter? Planning a thru-hike on a shoestring budget? Each unique use case has a unique solution – and we’ve got them here. Unless you’re set on backpacking trips, then we recommend you check out our guide on the Best Backpacking Tents.
In this article, we present you with the best camping tents for 11 styles of outdoor adventures. Our pick for best overall camping tent in 2024 goes to the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 2-Person Tent; its ultralight design, durable and eco-friendly construction, spacious interior, and reasonable price point make it a versatile camping tent option across a wide array of activities.
THE BEST CAMPING TENTS REVIEWED
Product Name
- Excellent in wet and windy conditions
- Good ventilation
- Retains warmth in cold conditions
- Extremely durable
BEST BUDGET CAMPING TENT
Experience unparalleled comfort on the trail with the Eureka Midori 2-Person Tent, a lightweight tent that boasts a massive volume thanks to its innovative offset ridge pole design. Whether you're a starfish sleeper or seeking shelter from a storm, the Midori provides ample space to enhance your backcountry adventure. Its increased headroom maximizes livable space, making it ideal for both solo campers and pairs.
With features like the High/Low Vent Air Exchange System for adjustable ventilation and a robust aluminum frame for durability, the Midori ensures dependable performance wherever your journey takes you. Designed with high-quality materials and thoughtful functionality, this tent is perfect for three-season camping.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its spacious design, reliable performance, and exceptional value, making it ideal for three-season camping.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST OVERALL CAMPING TENT
Big Agnes has been kicking grass for over 20 years and their Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 2-Person Tent is no exception. It marks a crossroads between weight, comfort, durability, and price. For its unmatched performance in all these categories, it ranks as our number one choice for best camping tent in 2024.
This 3-season, 2-door, 2-vestibule tent boasts a trail weight of 2 lb 3 oz (1.05 kg) and a fast fly weight of 1 lb 11 oz (756 g). Despite its ultralight construction, the tent floor of the Tiger Wall UL can comfortably accommodate two average-sized adults with all their hiking gear.
You may also be wondering what “Solution Dye'' refers to in the latest iteration of this tent. It has to do with a refined manufacturing process, resulting in greater UV-resistance and a huge reduction in waste byproducts. In fact, according to the company, some of the advantages of solution-dyed fabrics include a 50% decrease in water required, 80% decrease in energy required, and 80% decrease in chemicals used.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Ultralight
- Eco-friendly
- Durable
- Versatile
- Price
Cons
- Not suitable for winter camping
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BEST four PERSON TENT
If you love the Great Outdoors, but prefer the Great Indoors while sleeping, the Big Agnes Spicer Peak 4 Tent is the perfect camping tent for you. A 3-season, freestanding, double-wall tent for car camping, trailhead campgrounds, or long weekends on the river, this is a 4-person tent built for when camping with comfort and room to spread out is a priority.
Featuring two large doors and two vestibules, plus plenty of mesh for ventilation on hot summer nights, Spicer Peak tents make the ideal base camp for all your family frontcountry adventures.
Reviewers say it's easy to set up, and understandably so, with its pressfit aluminium pole set that attaches to the tent body with plastic clips and sleeves. At 11lbs, however, this is definitely not the tent you’d want on a serious hiking trip. It’s best suited for car camping, or as a basecamp from which to explore the surrounding area and return to at night.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its family-friendly spaciousness, comfort, and ease of setup, making it ideal for car camping and frontcountry adventures.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST BACKPACKING TENT
From weekend treks to six-month thru-hikes, the Marmot Tungsten 1-Person Tent is perfect for serious trail junkies. Its packed weight comes in at 3 lb 8 oz (1600 g). What's more, shorter folded pole length makes it easier to fit it into your pack for bikepacking or kayak trips.
Clever engineering and strategic clip placement give you lots of headroom in case you need to retreat to your tent with a book when the bugs come out. Durable and spacious for a 1P tent, it goes together with a few snaps for easy setup.
As expected with ultralight designs, elements of comfort are sacrificed in the name of weight-savings. While the Tungsten 1 does a good job of withstanding downpours and strong gusts, internal condensation can occur, so expect a few ceiling drips on especially rainy nights.
Hikers who subscribe to the axiom “every ounce counts” will quickly find that the Tungsten 1 fits the bill as a perfect 3-season backpacking companion. Oh, and as a bonus, a footprint comes included.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its ultralight, durable, eco-friendly construction.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST CAR CAMPING TENT
The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV 4-Person Tent is a top choice for car camping, offering exceptional comfort and convenience. Built with silicone-treated ultralight double rip-stop nylon, it provides durability and weather resistance. With two doors, two vestibules, and ample storage options, including 3-D bin ‘mezzanine’ storage and media pockets, it ensures a spacious and organized camping experience.
Additionally, its TipLok Tent Buckle system streamlines setup, while dual low vent vestibule doors and a high fly vent maximize airflow and reduce condensation. Lightweight and easy to set up, this tent is perfect for families seeking comfort and functionality on their camping trips.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its big interior, easy setup, and durable construction, making it the ideal for car camping couples.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST GLAMPING TENT
For the ultimate glamping tent, look no further than the The North Face Wawona 8-Person Tent. With its spacious interior, large windows, and multiple entrances, this tent provides ample livable space for up to eight sleepers. Inside, you can stand comfortably or sit with your legs spread out in a chair. Featuring a rainfly and waterproof fabric for protection in inclement weather, along with a removable mesh and solid nylon divider for customizable privacy, the Wawona offers both convenience and luxury.
Easy setup with colour-coded poles and trims, coupled with external guylines for added security, ensures a stress-free camping experience. Crafted with durable materials and designed for maximum functionality, the Wawona redefines glamping comfort, making it the perfect choice for unforgettable outdoor adventures.
Also check out the The North Face Wawona 6-Person Tent for a more intimate experience. Whichever you choose, we recommend limiting the 6P model to four people and the 8P model to six people. This configuration offers maximum comfort and space.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its many doors and windows, durable construction, and hassle-free set-up, providing the ultimate comfort for glamping adventures.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST WATER-RESISTANT TENT
What’s worse than hiking in a storm? Being stuck in a flooded, soaked, and dripping tent. In humid places like the Pacific Northwest and East Coast, damp and humid conditions are the norm, not the exception. For these conditions, we’ve found that the MSR FreeLite 3-Person Tent is the best solution.
When held captive by a downpour a dry, well-ventilated, and spacious tent are the three most important criteria. On every front, the FreeLite delivers with its Xtreme Shield waterproof-coated rainfly and floor. It also features an easy, semi-freestanding set-up, micromesh ventilation, and Syclone poles made of aerospace composite materials that resist breaking in fierce winds. Besides all that, it also happens to be MSR’s lightest freestanding, double-wall tent.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its waterproof construction, freestanding set-up, exceptional ventilation, and lightweight build.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST BEACH TENT
Forget the woods—time to hit the beach. The Marmot Halo 6-Person Tent is perfect for beach outings, offering exceptional headroom and livable space. It features a super-sized double door, a side D-shaped door, and a large front vestibule for gear storage. The tent is easy to set up with its colour-coded "Easy Pitch" clips and poles, and provides excellent ventilation through zip-open canopy panels.
With a spacious floor area of ~100 square-feet, this tent comfortably accommodates up to six people. Durable materials, such as a 68D polyester ripstop canopy and a 70D polyester Oxford floor, ensure longevity.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its living space, portability, and durability, making it the best tent for beach outings.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST WINTER CAMPING TENT
The Marmot Thor 2-Person Tent is the ultimate winter camping choice, offering plenty of living space, bomber construction, and minimal weight sacrifice. Designed for mountaineering, it features DAC Featherlite NSL poles and a full-coverage fly, ensuring it withstands heavy snow and strong winds. The double-walled construction, with 40D nylon ripstop fabric and a 70D nylon floor, keeps campers warm and dry.
Key features include two D-shaped doors, large vestibules for gear storage, and multiple vents to prevent condensation. The Marmot Knees System and internal guy system add stability, while colour-coded clips make setup easy. With its durable design and superior performance, the Marmot Thor 2-Person Tent is an exceptional winter tent for when the weather turns.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its robust construction, ample space, and reliable performance in extreme winter conditions.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST KITCHEN TENT
I know, I know—the Eureka Northern Breeze 10 Screen House is on the pricey side, but believe us when we say its premium features justify the cost. This screen house boasts an easy setup with a lightweight aluminum frame, noseeum mesh walls, high waterproof coatings, and taped roof seams. With beefy #10 zippers and multiple entry options, it offers unparalleled convenience and adaptability.
Four wide-diameter shock-corded aluminum poles that ensure simple setup and unmatched stability. Full external rain and wind flaps create a virtually waterproof seal, and all four flaps can be used as sun awnings (with one awning pole set included). So yeah, it’s clear why this screen house continues to be a best-seller for campers looking to set up makeshift kitchens. Also available in a 12-person version.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its durability, ease of setup, and exceptional weather protection, making it a favourite among kitchen-oriented campers.
Price: 0.00$
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BEST FOR FAMILY TRIPS
Room with the stars. The NEMO Equipment Aurora 6-Person Tent boasts a spacious, standing-height design, vibrant colours, and a not-too-shabby price tag. These are just some of the things that make it perfect for family camping adventures. Steep side walls provide massive interior volume, while large windows enhance ventilation and offer great views. Two large doors and vestibules ensure easy entry and ample room for gear storage. Not to mention a headlamp pocket diffuser adds coziness to your home away from home.
The unique frame design provides standing height throughout nearly the entire interior, enhancing comfort and mobility. With large windows for ventilation, multiple gear pockets, and an oversized duffel storage bag, the Aurora tents are feature-packed and ideal for car camping.
Why People Love It
Beloved for its ample storage, easy setup, and family-friendly features that enhance comfort and convenience.
Price: 0.00$
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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST CAMPING TENT
When shopping for the best camping tents, there are certain specs that separate the good from the bad and from the ugly. Once you know what kind of camping you’ll be doing, you should pay attention to the following factors. We offer you a quick guide here, but if you want all the intel, refer to this handy guide on how to choose your camping tent.
Size
As a rule of thumb, the advertised number of people that can fit in a tent tends to be optimistic. If you’re looking for a spacious two-person tent, it’s a good idea to go with a three-person model. Likewise, a one-person tent is great for devoted ultralighters, but the average solo camper will have more room to move and store gear with a two-person model.
Weight
Today, big brands have been able to market ultralight gear thanks to cutting-edge fabrics that remain strong and durable, despite their impressively light weight. This means modern ultralighters needn’t sacrifice comfort in the pursuit of a lighter pack.
Keep in mind, however, that weight savings aren’t always key—especially for the price. For car campers and glampers, it’s wise to put that money towards a more spacious and decked-out shelter. Likewise, winter campers should consider warmth before weight savings.
Pro tip: To lighten your tent, consider purchasing after-market tent stakes made of lightweight metals like carbon or titanium, instead of traditional aluminum or steel.
Materials
Gone are the days of heavy canvas and leather. Today, most tents are made from some sort of ripstop nylon or polyester. Ripstop refers to a thick grid pattern sewn into the fabric that prevents small abrasions from becoming full-on tears. Polyester itself is a category referring to various blends of synthetic material. It’s known to be fast-drying, weather-resistant, and more durable when compared to nylon.
Nylon, on the other hand, is a softer and lighter option. For tents, it’s often blended with silicone to create silnylon, a fabric that maintains its softness and weight, while improving its resistance to tears and weather. In general, most tent fabrics are treated with some kind of water-repellent coating—Durable Water Repellent (DWR), silicone, and polyurethane are among the most popular. Waterproof coatings may also be added.
When reading a list of tent materials, you’ll commonly see the word denier, sometimes denoted as ‘D’. Denier is a unit of measurement for textiles. It refers to a particular fabric’s thickness—the greater the number, the thicker, heavier, and more durable the fabric tends to be. A higher denier is recommended for car camping, glamping, and festivals, while a lower denier will appeal to ultralighters.
Use
CAR CAMPING
Car camping means you won’t be physically hauling your gear for long or gruelling distances, so focus on choosing a spacious and comfortable tent as opposed to one that’s compact and ultralight. Vestibules, drying lines, and mesh pockets are all great features to keep your space organized.
BACKPACKING
Weight is key here. If you plan on spending more time hiking than sitting around a campfire, choose one of the best camping tents that’s compact and portable at the expense of frills and features. Something easy to set-up and takedown is definitely a plus.
MOUNTAINEERING
A good mountaineering tent needs to keep you safe while withstanding the elements. High-quality materials are a must—they should be especially durable and waterproof. In order to increase stability, the frame of a mountaineering tent is heavier than that of a traditional backpacking tent.
Features
VESTIBULE
A vestibule lets you store gear under an awning created by the rainfly and the external wall of your tent. Vestibules are useful if you have a lot of gear, are sharing a tent, or are hiking in damp and humid conditions. In the latter case, vestibules allow your gear to dry away from your body. This also reduces the potential for condensation during the night.
FOOTPRINTS
A footprint is always a good idea. It’s a flat piece of fabric that’s placed between the ground and your tent. It protects your tent against abrasion, moisture, and cold. Some tent models include a footprint, while others are sold separately. If you’re on a budget, the price of a footprint can sometimes be discouraging. A good alternative is to purchase some Tyvek from your local hardware store and cut it to size.
OTHER FEATURES
This is all about personal preference. A Lamp Shade Pocket—as seen in many of Marmot’s models—is a nice feature for lighting your tent. Colour-coded attachments are a great feature for making assembly quick and easy. If you’ve got a lot of essentials, ample mesh pockets may be a good feature for keeping your tent organized.
FAQS FOR CAMPING TENTS
Are expensive tents worth it?
Like most things, the unfortunate answer is: it depends. The better question to ask yourself is, what will I use the tent for? A few weekends of frontcountry camping? A family or festival getaway? A six month thru-hike? The truth about tents is that you often get what you pay for.
While expensive tents are usually better quality and offer more features, you shouldn’t be paying for quality and features you don’t need.
Can you set up a tent on the beach?
Yes, but this is much easier to do with free-standing tents. Of course, the drawback of pitching a free-standing tent is that it can easily be blown away. To avoid this, use heavy materials like rocks to hold down the guy lines. No rocks in sight? Fill some ziplock bags with sand and use those to weigh down the lines. You can even mix water into the sand to make it heavier and then bury the bags in the ground for added stability.
What colour tent is coolest in summer?
When it comes to tents, the most important thing for keeping it cool isn’t colour—it’s airflow. In fact, a dark tent with good ventilation always beats a light tent with none. On hot days, it also helps to pitch your tent in the shade. Ultimately, what you want is a solid colour, as a transparent material would effectively become a mini-greenhouse.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully our round-up of 2024’s best camping tents has simplified your search for the perfect backcountry home. If you’re just starting out, our advice is to go with a camping tent in your price range and see how you like it.
With experience, you’ll begin to understand which features you crave and which you can live without. For seasoned campers, a closet filled with tents isn’t uncommon. As our list demonstrates, each adventure needs its own unique set of tools.
For a lightweight, comfortable, and affordable tent, look no further than the Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 2-Person Tent. Whether you’re a wilderness veteran or new to the Great Outdoors, its versatility makes it the perfect choice for a wide range of activities and skill levels.
As always, happy trails!
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