Which tents are best for camping

And finally, the Kelty Wireless 6. Two adults, two kids, and two dogs fit comfortably inside this tent, and the dual vestibules allow for even more storage and organization. Add in the ease of setup, a nice carry bag, and wonderful star-gazing capabilities, and you have a solid tent.

And given the bargain price of the Wireless 6, it's hard to pass it up. When it comes to camping, a tent is the most important item you will buy, so picking the right one is key to a successful adventure.

Think about the type of camping you intend to do and what you find most important in a shelter. Innovations are happening all the time, so if there's a feature you want, you'll likely be able to find it. Now, go get yourself a tent and get outside! GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves.

No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Photo: Rob Gaedtke. Share this article:. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products.

We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more. Looking for the perfect camping tent? We've got you. See which ones stood up to our rigorous testing as we take you on a deep dive into the inner workings of the camping tent market.

We put these tents to the test across some pretty rugged terrain and, most recently, the complicated environment of a family, teenagers, and two moderately trained dogs. With the help of our years of experience, we've gathered all the information you'll need to pick the perfect tent for your next outdoor adventure. Top 14 Product Ratings. Displaying 1 - 5 of Marmot Halo 6. The North Face Wawona 6. MSR Habitude 4. REI Kingdom 6. Show full specification details Hide full specification details.

Space and Comfort 9. Very simple to pitch and tear down. Space and Comfort 7. See all prices 3 found. Space and Comfort 8. Built for stormy weather. See all prices 2 found. Score Product Price Our Take The North Face Sequoia 4. Marmot Limestone 4. Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6. Kelty Wireless 6. NEMO Wagontop 6. REI Grand Hut 4. Coleman 4-Person Cabin with Instant Setup. Coleman Sundome Dome 4. Coleman Evanston Screened 6. Camping tents lined up and ready for scrutiny.

Great design, quality materials, and a low price point, value is this tent's middle name. Value is important, and the Wawona 6 has lots of it. Cooking up dinner in the Wawona's covered and spacious vestibule.

The headroom and pockets on the Kingdom 6 are impressive. Just the right amount of room to eat, sleep and laugh without ever leaving the Halo 6. The dogs clearly don't want the added privacy. The Habitude 4 provided the best layout of all the 4-person models we tested. This 4-person tent is built to feel bigger than its footprint. Floor Plans Be sure to review the floor plan images for a tent before committing. If you are like us, you have air mattresses and chairs that you would like to use inside, so the floor plan can help you map it out.

And remember, most of these tents say they sleep six, but that is six elbow to elbow. Privacy meets open-air with the Limestone 4. The Base Camp 6 is a stout-looking tent that will stand firm through inclement weather. The naked look of the Halo 6 ready for summer fun. The stance of the Habitude 4 is as robust as the quality materials inside.

Stake It Out Wind resistance often comes down to how well you stake down a tent and use the guylines to keep it taught.

Unless you're assured of a balmy, windless night, staking out the guylines as you set up is a good habit to get into as it will keep you from scrambling around and likely getting soaked if bad weather hits. For most tents, we highly recommend buying extra cord, burlier stakes, and a mallet.

Relaxing after pitching the Coleman Cabin in seconds. Plenty of time left to look off at the other campers still unpacking their tent.

Setting up the Halo 6 with the color-coded snaps. Easy breezy. The Kelty Quick Corners make pitching this tent a breeze, even when solo. Don't Forget the Footprint Make sure to seriously consider buying a ground cover — a. It not only helps keep moisture and mud off the underside of your tent thus making re-packing a much more pleasant task , it also helps your tent last longer because it protects it from abrasion.

Most manufacturers sell a footprint separately usually made of the same material as the tent designed to fit the exact floor size of whichever model tent you have. Despite the extra cost, it's a great thing to take along.

The savvy camper's alternative is a cheap plastic tarp, like something you'd throw down to paint your living room. You can often pick one of these up for a fraction of the cost of an official manufacturer's footprint, though it won't have features like rivets to accommodate your stakes. The Marmot Halo 6 sports quality poles, strong fabric, and tight-knit mesh. All critical factors in the longevity of your tent. The Limestone 4 after a rough and windy night.

Everything held and no water made it through to the inside. The snaps on the Base Camp are extremely well engineered and very easy to clip. Quality materials can be found throughout, from the floors to the poles, this tent is built to last. The string connecting the poles together snapped on our first setup of the Coleman Sundome 4.

Consider the Long-Term Investment Unless you're only planning on going camping once or twice a year on an idyllic beach, it's worth taking the long view when it comes to the quality — and often thus the price — of your tent. We are fans of quality gear that performs well season after season. The massive four-section interior of the Wagontop 6.

The removable divider setup on the Kingdom 6 keeps the kids and dogs on one side and the parents on the other. Nighty night, Tensleep Station, you faired quite well today. The only tent in our lineup to sport an attached doormat, helping keep the dirt outside. Every Family is Different Sometimes the most family-friendly tent isn't the biggest or the most feature-rich. Instead, it is a wonderful mix of ease-of-use, features that specifically speak to your family and pet situation, and a build that's ideal for your typical camping environment.

Learn More. Massive interior, great construction, easy to pitch. Spacious, great layout, durable, very family friendly, high value. Quality materials, great height, perfectly sized vestibule. Huge doors and large vestibule, lots of pockets, highly weather resistant. Tall and spacious, quonset hut-shaped, lots of pockets, adjustable room divider.

Not the easiest to pitch, only one door, odd bag. Runs warm, views are a bit more restricted. Only one vestibule, back door is more exposed to the elements, lots of poles. The best balance of size, quality, style, and ease of use we've found.

This tent has one of the best uses of space we have ever seen, a great choice for families or campers with lots of gear. Keep in mind that this extra real estate can create a sail-like effect in the wind, so make sure to stake the tent out completely and use the included guylines. Overall, we prefer the more weather-worthy designs from REI, MSR, The North Face, and other brands above, but the Big House is a compelling tent for those who camp in mild conditions and prioritize interior space.

See the Big Agnes Big House 6. Floor area: sq. Capacity: 6P Weight: 25 lbs. What we like: Fast set-up and quality materials. For those that want a fast set-up, tents that have the poles permanently attached can cut down on the total time substantially.

Unlike the popular Instant Tent from Coleman not included here , the hallmark feature of the Rapid 6 is the quality of materials. True, the poles are heavy steel, but everything else stacks up very well at this price point. What's not to like with the Rapid 6? Another downside is the very large packed size, and at 50 inches in length, it can be a challenge fitting into a full trunk.

But if you want a tent with a fast set-up and few compromises, the Rapid 6 is a great choice. See the Caddis Rapid 6. Peak height: 56 in. Capacities: 4P, 6P, 8P Weight: 24 lbs. What we like: A very strong, weather-worthy design.

Mesh vents and windows can be opened to encourage airflow, the front vestibule is generously sized, and you get enough pockets along the interior to keep gear organized. The REI Kingdom above has better organization and more mesh for warm weather, but the Alaskan Guide is the better choice for hunkering down in a storm.

Capacities: 6P, 8P Weight: 25 lbs. What we like: Spacious interior at a great price. This model stretches a substantial 16 feet in length, has a tall inch peak height the side rooms are shorter , and includes near-vertical walls that maximize the usable space. Who should buy the Montana 8P? Families that get out a couple times a year in fair weather are the best candidates.

See the Coleman Montana 8P. Capacities: 4P, 6P, 8P Weight: 82 lbs. What we like: The canvas build is ultra-tough and weather-resistant. All of the other tents on this list are made with varying thicknesses of nylon and mesh, but the Kodiak Flex-Bow takes it to the next level with a unique canvas build.

What does this mean for you? Canvas is known for being super tough: it can withstand heavy winds the steel frame on this tent helps too , serious precipitation, and rough handling. The Kodiak is also nicely appointed with large doors on each side, a relatively high inch peak height, and decent ventilation.

Simply put, the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow is a very solid all-season camping tent that can hold its own in most conditions.

There are, however, a few notable downsides to canvas. First and foremost, this eight-person tent weighs a hefty 82 pounds and will take up a ton of space in your trunk or truck bed. That said, the tent is a favorite among the hunting crowd in particular, which makes sense given its build and feature set.

Peak height: 84 in. What we like: Almost like a second home. The Copper Canyon LX excels in one key area: size. Updated last year, Eureka made the walls more vertical and boosted interior storage. All this space makes it a prime choice for cot sleepers, festival-goers, and families with kids. And with a full mesh roof, air circulation is excellent in the Copper Canyon even with the rainfly on.

Accordingly, those that might see sustained rainstorms will want to opt for more protection. For a pricier but lighter and more weather-ready option from Eureka, check out their Space Camp 6. What we like: Bargain-basement price. What do you sacrifice by going with such an inexpensive tent? We've found the materials feel noticeably cheap, including everything from the clips and poles to the tent walls.

Additionally, the rainfly covers the main portion of the tent body but leaves part of the sides exposed. Read in-depth review See the Coleman Sundome 6. Liberal use of mesh in the tent body ventilates well in warm or muggy weather, and built-in vents in the rainfly help keep moisture from collecting inside.

In addition, most of these tents can withstand the elements far better than budget options. Nearly all premium models have a full-coverage rainfly or at least the option and strong, aluminum pole designs.

Budget Camping Tents In theory, camping is a way to simplify life and just disconnect for a while. In that spirit, budget camping tents are basic but fully functional options for fair-weather campers. Weather protection is their downfall.

When a storm blows through the campsite, more often than not, the budget tents are the ones with soaked interiors or are in a heap of broken poles. If camping is a new thing or you keep it casual in the summer, a budget tent will serve your needs just fine. Crossover Camping and Backpacking Tents Even tents in the budget category can be a significant investment, so for those who plan on both camping and backpacking with the family, it may be worth considering a crossover model.

Both tents are small and light enough to manage on an overnight backpacking trip especially when divvyed up among group members but still have enough space to make most campers happy. But if you need something to pull double duty, a crossover option can be a good compromise. Nearly every tent on the market will provide information about floor dimensions or floor area , which is a key indicator of overall livability. In general, tents with similar sleeping capacities will have similar total floor areas 80 to 90 square feet for a six-person model.

For example, the REI Kingdom 6 boasts In addition to floor area, peak height and pole structure make a big impact on overall livability. Dome tents with simple, X-shaped pole structures only allow you to enjoy that peak height at the middle of the tent.

On the other hand, a tent with a more advanced pole system can create nearly vertical walls for walking around.

This is one of the main reasons we love the REI Kingdom and Marmot Limestone: both ends of the tents have vertical walls, and the pole designs truly opens up the interior. This listing is based on the number of standard adult sleeping pads that can be laid usually side-by-side inside the tent. For example, the six-person REI Co-op Grand Hut is inches long, so six standard pads inches wide technically will fit.

For example, a group of four should sleep comfortably in a six-person tent, leaving enough living space for playing cards, waiting out a storm, and spreading out while sleeping. And many couples and those with pets prefer a four-person model, which gives you plenty of room to stretch out. For a large-capacity camping tent, we unabashedly prefer two doors. The additional access is convenient if you have a full house, and zipping it open is another way to encourage airflow in summer heat.

A single-door build is one of the notable downsides of budget models like the Coleman Skydome and Sundome, and even some higher-end options like the MSR Habitude 6 only have a single entryway.

Storage is a crucial consideration for many campers, starting with interior pockets. As expected, premium options like the REI Kingdom and MSR Habitude include ample space for stowing items like headlamps, maps, books, and other items inside your tent, while budget offerings generally are more barebones. As far as exterior storage goes, a full-coverage rainfly that protects the door s of a tent creates a space in front of those doors, referred to as a vestibule.

And note that vestibules most often come with mid-range and premium camping tents budget tents with partial rainflies go without. The palatial, pole-supported structure extends out for an additional 61 square feet of space, enough for a card table or area to store bikes. Also, you can zip up the entry door and roll up the sides to create an open and airy shelter from the sun or light rain.

On extended camping trips or in large groups, this is a valuable add-on. As we touched on in the section above, a weather-worthy tent is one of the main reasons to upgrade to a premium camping model. In most cases, the pole materials aluminum is better than fiberglass and designs are more robust, seam sealing and waterproof fabrics improve in quality, and the inclusion of full-coverage rainflies help keep out blowing rain.

It's good to keep in mind that the weather can still get plenty rowdy in the summer, particularly in the mountains and some national parks. The Cabela's can even be used for snow camping in less extreme conditions for designs meant to withstand serious winter weather, check out our article on the best 4-season tents. And in general, performance is closely tied to price tag.

Many premium models utilize a double-wall construction the outer rainfly is separate from the inner tent body and lots of mesh, which help keep things reasonably cool and limits moisture build-up. When you take your new tent out for its first test drive, remember to bring a footprint or tarp and enough stakes. Look for rips, tears, and weak tent poles, and consider re-waterproofing your tent with a spray coating or seam sealant.

We speak from experience when we say nothing will throw a wrench in your camping trip like a broken tent. To find the best camping tents, we considered the spaciousness, features, materials, weights, constructions, and costs of 33 contenders. We slept in the most promising 11 models for at least one night while camping in state parks across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware. Hamstrung by travel restrictions in the early days of the pandemic, some testing also took place in a backyard in Ohio.

These tents have seen us through rain storms, one severe thunderstorm, clear nights, below-freezing temperatures, and humid summer nights. Read about the six that impressed us the most below. Packed weight: 18 lb 6. Doors: 2. The Kingdom is one of the most spacious four-person tents you can find, not to mention it has an incredible amount of storage room and provides exceptional weather protection. Tall, circular doors and vertical walls allowed us to enter and stand inside without crouching in fact, reaching the ceiling in places proved to be challenging for our five-foot-four tester.

And the nearly 70 square feet of floor space meant we could spread out when we slept or legitimately fit a party of four within the tent. In the larger sizes, a center curtain can divide the ample square footage into two rooms to create a separate space for mom and dad, pets, or gear storage.

Gear storage abounds with 20 mesh pockets, including several overhead that can fit a headlamp or other small camp light. The four-person model is an plus-pound beast, but it packed neatly within a backpack carrying case that has several pockets to keep the components organized. It helped that the main support pole is hubbed, which limits the number of poles to just three. The vented rain fly buckled easily onto the Kingdom at each of the four corners and offers almost full-coverage—unusual for a tent this size.

One side has a very small awning instead of a true vestibule. This gave us a protected place to stash our boots and also provided quick access into the tent, through the exposed door, when we needed it. And when bad weather rolled in, the Kingdom was practically bombproof. It was still standing after a night of severe thunderstorms and high winds, during which only a nominal amount of water got in. Buy 4-person Buy 6-person Buy 8-person. Packed weight provided : 4 lb Despite the trimmed-down specs of the model, the Half Dome still manages to be one of the roomiest two-person tents out there.

REI shaves weight by cutting the number of roof vents from four to two, lowering the peak height by two inches, updating the door design to remove part of the zipper, and using finer fabrics on the floor and fly. The Half Dome stays standing via a hubbed pole that combines the supports for the tent body and the ridge line into one.

Color-coded clips easily snapped into place, allowing us to speed through setup. Still, the Half Dome had enough ventilation, even with them closed. Buy 2-person Buy 3-person. Packed weight: 9 lb 3. Doors: 1. Dome tents have reigned supreme in the camping category for a reason. The Sundome has two large windows plus a ground vent to increase airflow and keep condensation from making it damp inside.

And it runs less than half the cost of most four-person tents, while boasting more square footage than many competitors. It felt generous in size, even without vertical walls or a tall ceiling. Of course, there are some trade-offs. More concerning: A decent amount of water seeped in at the corners where the polyester walls meet the bathtub-style tarp floor after a full day in the rain. So just be sure to seal the seams before your first use.

Packed weight provided : 10 lb 6. Decathlon, a European outdoor and sports gear manufacturer, is known for making accessibly priced equipment and apparel that still performs. The newest model in its 2 Second Tent lineup fits that bill. The Easy, which earned our Gear of the Year award , has a pre-assembled design that works via a connected system of hinged poles, cords, and handles.