We’ve selected the finest backpacking tents of 2023, whether you want to spend one night or one hundred on the trail.
Choosing a tent boils down to a few key factors, the most important being your intended usage. Check out our buyer’s guide if you’re having trouble choosing. We also have a separate assessment of the best camping tents for those who need more space for vehicle camping or family camping.
Without further delays, we will present you a list of the best backpacking tent below.
Check Out Our List of The 5 Best Backpacking Tents
1. Big Agnes Copper Spur Lightweight Backpacking Tents
If you treat the materials with respect, the Big Agnes Copper Spur tent is perfect for ultralight camping trips. These extras are great for hikers who want to use their devices often or who plan to spend at least one rest day in the tent.
Tents come in a variety of weights and materials, with the lightest being designed for lightweight backpackers and the sturdiest being ideal for individuals who will be camping within striking distance of a vehicle. Overall, this tent strikes an excellent mix between comfort and weight, making it ideal for summer camping, hiking, and any multiday trip.
Key Features:
- Amount of weight: 3 lb 2 oz.
- One hundred and twenty centimeters (40 inches) tall.
- The total square footage is about 29 square feet.
- Nylon, aluminum, and composite are the materials used.
- Size of vestibule: 18 square feet.
What We Like
- Ultra-lightweight
- Very sturdy against the wind
- More spacious than I had anticipated
- Ample storage space and a sleek foyer layout.
What We Don’t Like
- Quite expensive
- A challenge in strong winds (above 40 mph)
- Easily broken
2. Marmot Catalyst 2-Persons Tent
If you’re in the market for a two-person tent that can double as a vehicle camping shelter but won’t break the budget, consider the Catalyst.
Although bulky, it does the job and can be packed down to the size of a laptop computer for easy transport in a backpack, with a minimal trail weight of 4 pounds, 11 ounces. Plus, at 32.5 square feet in size, it’s rather roomy.
The color-coded poles make setup a breeze, and even inexperienced campers have reported success with this tent. It features two vestibules and doors in the form of a D, which may be used to store equipment.
This tent’s only real downsides are its weight and size. Minor criticism: the varying pole lengths might be disorienting if you’re in a rush. To save setup time, it is wise to practice in advance, since this is usually suggested.
The Catalyst has a compressed dimension of 21 by 7.5 inches and a weight of 5 pounds, 3 ounces. A two-person tent such as this one is rather hefty and difficult to lug up a mountain pass.
But the Marmot Catalyst 2P Tent is a fantastic option for novice hikers. Split the tent up between you and your trekking companion, and go on an adventure! If you are unclear of how often you will go hiking, this is one of the finest backpacking tents you can purchase.
Key Features:
- Weight: 4 lb. 11 oz.
- A 44-inch height.
- Space: 32.5 square feet.
- Polyester and aluminum are the materials used.
- Vestibule Size: 11 Sq. Ft., Living Space: 6.5 Sq. Ft.
What We Like
- Extremely helpful
- Spacious
- The color-coded poles simplify assembly.
What We Don’t Like
- Weightier than most hiking tents is a drawback.
- cumbersome when stowed
- Various Lengths of Poles
3. REI Co-op Flash Air 2
This tent weighs in at little over two pounds while yet is packed with features. It includes two doors, one of which opens into a little vestibule, and multiple storage pockets, so you can have your headlamp handy at all times. The hubbed pole design means that you may use your own trekking poles in place of the provided vertical support poles.
The Flash 2 is an excellent piece of weather protection, however, it is not a freestanding tent and must be anchored down.
Since the Flash Air 2 is not a freestanding tent, it must be staked out in six places to prevent it from collapsing. This is a simple chore for the seasoned camper in a woodland or meadow with soft soil. Our team of seasoned testers had to work hard in the high desert outside of Gunnison, Colorado, to set up this tent on top of a rock slab, where they required extra cordage to utilize rocks as anchors, in the face of strong winds. If you want to sell more Flash Air 2s, you need to put in some time and effort into your presentation.
The Zpacks Duplex uses lighter and more durable Dyneema composite material, whereas this tent uses ripstop nylon. The Flash 2 costs far less, and if you choose your campsites wisely, you won’t have to worry about rips or leaks. This tent is ideal if you are an experienced traveller looking for a lightweight shelter that won’t break the bank.
Key Features:
- Weight when packed: 2 lb. 8 oz.
- A 42-inch height.
- Area: 20.7 square feet.
- Aluminum, nylon netting, and other synthetic materials
- Total square feet of vestibule space is 16.
What We Like
- Light in weight
- Comes with 2 antechambers
- Allows for the use of hiking poles
What We Don’t Like
- Learned setup is a skill.
- Irreconcilable with the concept of freestanding.
4. Nemo Dagger Backpacking Tents
This tent has plenty of storage spaces for all your things. The mesh light pouches over your head are perfect for securing your headlight (one at each end). If you and your tentmate share this tent, the two entrances and large vestibules will make it seem like a palace, but if you’re the only one in there, you’ll feel like you’re in a castle.
Once we guyed out the Dagger to its maximum extent and pointed it against the wind, it withstood the high gusts with little to no damage. Even though we had previously complained about this tent drooping when wet, the new fabric has made it a far more comfortable place to spend a cold, wet night.
This isn’t Nemo’s lightest tent, but it’s more affordable and sturdy than the company’s ultralight tents, and it’ll be a better fit for campers who do a mix of backcountry and frontcountry trips.
Key Features:
- Exact weight when packed: 4 lbs. 2 oz.
- A 42-inch height.
- Surface Area = 31.3% = 31.3 sq. ft.
- OSMO Ripstop/Nylon mix and aluminum are the materials used.
- Square footage of vestibule: 11.4, times 2.
What We Like
- Roomy enough for two
- Robust enough for camping trips in the automobile
- Rapidly deployable with little effort
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Certainly not the lightest.
5. Kelty Late Start Backpacking Tent for 2-Persons
The Kelty Late Start 2 is a wonderful option if you’re looking for a cheap tent without sacrificing quality. The Late Start 2 costs only $160, making it an affordable option for campers. And it’s made well and costs less than comparable options, so it should appeal to a wide audience.
With its straightforward two-pole construction, it can be quickly and easily erected. Once set up, there is a little gap between the bathtub floor and the rainfly, which might cause splashback in high winds and rain.
The tent folds up into a compact 16 by 7 inches. It’s not quite pocketable, but it can fit in a backpack. It’s hardly lightweight, clocking in at a minimum of 4 pounds, but it will do for day hikes and overnighters.
For budget-minded hikers, the vestibules will have to do, although they are just about spacious enough for a single backpack. There are two discreet compartments for storing tiny essentials.
There are more luxurious tents available, but they will cost you more. This one is worth the $160 price tag since it will last you through many fun camping trips.
Key Features:
- It weighs a total of 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
- One hundred and twenty centimeters (40 inches) tall.
- Area: 29.5 square feet.
- Polyester and aluminum are the materials used.
- Size of vestibule: 7.85 square feet.
What We Like
- Solid monetary worth
- Simple assembly
- High-Quality Fabrication
What We Don’t Like
- Quite heavy to hold
- Not constructed to withstand severe weather.
How to Pick the Perfect Backpacking Tent
To what extent will you be accompanied by family members on your camping trip? Do you like tent camping in the back of a vehicle, or do you often spend a month or more in the wilderness? Do you just camp during the summer, or do you live in a tent year-round?
While there is no definitive answer, knowing how you want to camp helps simplify your search for a suitable shelter. If you’re looking for a lightweight and minimalist solution, the Zpacks Duplex might be for you.
The Marmot Catalyst, on the other hand, is a heavier but more cost-effective choice for individuals who don’t intend to go as far but still need some extra space. Finding the finest hiking tent is as easy as prioritizing the six parameters we stated at the beginning of this post.
Ease of Set-Up
This is your first time setting up your brand new tent and depending on your level of tent-savvy, you may be able to figure things out on your own without even consulting the handbook. There are tents whose poles are all the same length or are color-coded to facilitate assembly.
In a single-walled winter tent, the fabric often has to be stretched so tight that the poles can’t fit. Still, there are tents that can’t stand on their own without a lot of man lines.
However, the simpler the tent’s assembly, the better. Domes for alpine basecamps are certain to be more challenging than a simple insect net for two people.
A Journey from the Ocean to the Top of the World Telos requires a lot of time to set up because of the various hubs that link poles of varying lengths. If you want to set up a Hyperlite UltaMid, all you need are two trekking poles and some equalized man lines to lash them together in the middle. No matter what style you choose, it is recommended that you put in some practice time at home before you go to ensure a smooth setup.
Persistence and Materials
Backpacking tents often use nylon, polyester, or cuben fiber textiles. Each of these materials offers a different set of advantages, such as cheaper costs, improved weather resistance, or increased ripstop properties.
Cuben fiber has been shown to be a superior material due to its low weight and high resistance to environmental factors. It’s tear-proof and high-end, but it’ll set you back quite a little. It tears readily, but the crosshatched reinforcing keeps the holes from spreading.
Nylon may be cheaper, but it doesn’t hold up as well as other materials. Polyurethane, silicone, or acrylic coatings are often used to increase its durability and weather resistance. Because of this, it is more impervious to water, yet less permeable. Polyester is less breathable than nylon and also more cumbersome.
Denier units, which measure the density of fibers in grams per square meter, are used to quantify the thickness of the material. The lighter the fabric, the lower the denier number. Lower deniers are fantastic for saving weight in a pack, but they need to be handled with extra care to avoid tearing.
Fly and ground cloth materials for lightweight tents typically range from 15-20 denier. And a winter or heavy vehicle camping tent will have a rating of 75 or above.
Make sure the ground around your tent is free of sharp rocks and sticks before setting up camp. Tents are not immune to these dangers, and they may easily rip through even the strongest ones. Photograph by Eric Phillips
The poles are another component. Some lightweight tents, such the Zpacks Duplex and Hyperlite UltaMid, forego their own poles in favor of using trekking poles for stability. You should always make sure your tent is suitable for use with your trekking poles.
Tent poles may be made of carbon fiber, aluminum, composite materials, or a mix of these. Even while aluminum is rather light, it can’t compare to the lightness of carbon fiber or some of the unique composites on the market today.
Cheaper types often include aluminum poles since they are strong and durable. For instance, aluminum poles may be found in both the NEMO Dagger and the REI Quarter Dome.
We recommend a footprint, which is often sold separately, for long-term usage. The absence of grommets and attachment points on a produced footprint means that it is possible to create your own by cutting a piece of Tyvek, which is sold at most hardware shops. Only accessories purchased directly from the manufacturer will guarantee a snug fit and will generally snap, click, or tie in to the tent’s design.
Tent pegs, too, may be made from a number of different materials. Tent pegs made of carbon fiber, like those sold by Hyperlite, are both lightweight and strong, but they are also much heavier and bulkier than its aluminum counterparts due to their larger diameter. Weighing in on how much you’re willing to invest is as vital as the aim itself.
Quantity and Dimensions When Packed
If you’re only going to be sleeping in your vehicle, portability and weight aren’t that important. Anybody who wants to take a tent into the bush, nevertheless, ought to give some serious thought to the points below.
Backpackers might benefit from bringing an ultralight tent like the NEMO Hornet Elite, which weighs in at only 2 pounds, 1 ounce. It won’t add much bulk to your bag, so you may carry your favorite flask and some additional nibbles. But because of its lightweight construction, it needs more maintenance and is not as sturdy as a conventional tent. The Kelty Late Start 2 weighs in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces, which is more than twice as much as the other pack, but it costs just about a third as much.
You must strike a balance between the necessity for lightness and the demands of durability and affordability. Certain tents, such as the Zpacks Duplex, combine the best of both worlds with their use of ultra-strong, super-light Dyneema (cuben fiber) fabric.
