Camping Tents SHOULD
Keep You Dry, Comfortable,
and Protected.

What camping tents... Dome, family, 4-season, backpacking or cabin are right for you? They don't repel rain, cold, snow, or biting bugs equally.

First determine what type of camping you'll be doing? Do you only go out in the summer or are you into 4-season camping? Make sure to prepare yourself for the worst possible type of weather you'll encounter. Waking up to a foot of snow inside your summer camping tent because of a late fall blizzard isn't much fun. ;-)

Next, how many people do you usually camp with?

-Troy Sanders

Sizing It Up

Camping tents are rated by the number of people they can accommodate. But these ratings are like getting twenty circus clowns into a Volkswagon Beetle...goofy. :-) When they say it's a 4-person tent, they mean 4 people and nothing else, no hiking gear, no room for boots, just 4 people that hopefully know each other pretty well. Seriously, if you're looking for backpacking tents or hiking tents and weight is a big concern, then get cozy and use the rating system, but otherwise I'd think bigger.

Consider going 1-2 sizes bigger than what you need for a smaller camping tent. Better yet divide the "person rating" by 2 so you'll have a decent amount of room if you have to stay inside due to nasty weather. If you thought cabin fever was bad wait until you're stuck in a downpour with 5 other people in a small tent for a few days.

My 4 man tent with 2 vestibules is perfect for 2 people and plenty of gear. Dry equipment is a good thing. This is still true with kids because the smaller they are the more room they take up with "kid stuff". Something else to keep in mind is that more room makes extended trips easier.

Consider the length and width of the camping tents you're looking at. If you're 6 feet tall you'll want at least 7 feet to stretch out length-wise and 2-3 feet of width depending how much you move in your sleep. Again add more space for other equipment used for hiking and camping.

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Another thing to consider is to make sure you have enough space for an inflatable air mattress. While it's not mandatory I'll have to say it makes camping so much more comfortable than lying on a cold pad. When I wake up I feel 300% better than when I slept on a pad on the floor getting stiff and cold. No it's not a king-size pillow-top, but hey this is camping. ;-)

Since we're on the subject of size, make sure that you'll have enough height to kneel, partially-stand, or stand fully upright, if that's important to you, to change your clothes. Otherwise you'll be relegated to lying on your back as you struggle to pull your shirt and pants on. There's a tradeoff here, more height is convenient and comfortable, but there's also more sail-area on the outside, which means larger camping tents will catch the wind easier and weigh more.

Once in a 10 man cabin type tent at 3:00 am in a gusty downpour. The other time was in a cheap single-wall pup tent that I had to evacuate, again in the wee hours, to stay in a semi-reclined position in my car. I didn't sleep that night and in the morning I was treated to bailing out inches of water off the tent floor. And I let it cut my trip short. Get what you want the first time, you'll spend more money in the long run if you have to buy two anyway.

My Recommendations

Since this is a longer article I'm going to mention my recommendations now for those of you in a hurry. The links will take you to either Backcountry (a 3 year Bizrate award winner) or REI, two great stores that stand behind their products with iron-clad guarantees (links open new windows). The guide continues below at "Camping Tents Vary In Style".

Small

Velo- For solo campers or those that don't mind close quarters and need room for a lot of gear. (This tent is getting harder to find but REI currently has it. Unfortunately I can't find a direct link, so follow the link below and just search for "Velo". If you're interested though, I'd hurry.)

The 2-Person 3-Season MSR Velo Tent is for people who can't get enough space for their gear. The vestibule is huge at 32 square feet, only 1 square foot smaller than the tent floor area... seriously. Want to keep your bike out of the rain, no problem, or save your tent floor and let your dog sleep under it. MSR does it again, the full-rainfly, bathtub floor, and taped seams keep out serious rain and the two mesh doors provide plenty of ventilation. At 9 lbs 8 oz the Velo is more suited for camping than hiking (unless you split the load) but the DAC Featherlite poles, pole sleeves, and 7 GroundHog Stakes do a great job of protecting you from the elements.

If you're looking for a nice "2-person" tent and need lots of storage for your equipment take a look at the MSR Velo.

Small

The North Face Rock 22 Tent

The North Face Rock 22 is another "2-Person" 3-Season tent. And this tent offers serious rain protection, for the money, if you backpack or camp in rainy areas (BackCountry, one of the best outdoor stores, has it, click on the link above). It has a taped bathtub floor and the full-rainfly does a better job than most camping tents with partial flys at keeping the wet drippy stuff off your gear. :-) It weighs in at 6 lbs 11 oz and it has some great aluminum poles. If 2-person tents aren't quite big enough for you or your family the next few camping tents are bigger in size...

Medium

Kelty Gunnison

The Kelty Gunnison 4 Tent is a 4-Person, 3-Season tent, that offers a full-rainfly so it provides more protection from the weather. Weighing in at 8 lbs 11 oz it's good for car camping but a bit on the heavy side for backpacking unless you split the load with a partner. The DAC aluminum poles are some of the best available and increase durability, while the taped seams, bathtub floor, and again full-rainfly help keep you dry. And the vestibule and storage pockets will keep your camping equipment and hiking gear out of the way. A four person tent is a great size for two people and plenty of gear, and it makes thunderstorms so much better.

As I mentioned more room is better. I wouldn't go with a 2 person tent unless you're trying to save weight/space because you're backpacking or if you do a lot of solo camping. Otherwise 2 people in a two person tent is a tight fit. That being said I want to mention the smaller version of this camping tent for those interested. The 2-Person 3-Season Kelty Gunnison 2 Tent offers a full-rainfly, bath tub floor, and taped seams to keep you dry. And I can't believe this tent has DAC aluminum poles for the price, usually you have to pay 2 to 3 times more than this to get high quality poles.

At 5 lbs 11 oz it's not too heavy, throw in the two vestibules and internal pockets and this Kelty tent is amazing for the price.

Medium Large/Family Tents

Kelty Mantra 7

The Mantra is a bigger family tent that holds up well to wind and rain. If you want to take your family or several friends camping the 7-Person 3-Season Kelty Mantra 7 Tent is 6 feet high and offers lots of floor space (they also offer smaller versions of the same tent). The DAC (Dongah Aluminum Corporation) aluminum poles mean it will take a beating better than fiberglass. The full-rainfly, sealed seams, and bathtub floor go a long way toward keeping you dry although I did hear about one family experiencing a corner leak during an 18 hour thunderstorm that left two inches of standing water outside... considering it's a tent and not a boat, that's not too shabby. ;-)

The Mantra weighs in at 23 lbs 8 oz which makes it ideal for car camping.

Backpacking

Kelty Crestone 2 Tent

If you're looking for lightweight camping tents for backpacking the Kelty Crestone 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season comes in at 4 lbs 12 oz or if you want to go minimal, you can whittle it down to 4 lbs 2 oz. Two doors make getting in and out easier and two vestibules make for 14 more square feet of storage, which beats having stinky hiking boots by your face all night long.

Like the 2 person Gunnison above I can't believe they offer aluminum poles at this price, even if there's only two of them! At 30 square feet it doesn't offer a lot of floor space, so if you insist on a 2 person tent the 7 extra square feet the Gunnison offers might be something for you to consider, but they're both great camping tents. So decide if weight or space is more important and enjoy.

Winter/Rain

North Face VE-25

Most of you can skip this next camping tent as it's built for 4-season use. But if you need winter protection from terrible or unpredictable weather, the North Face VE-25 is right up your alley. The North Face VE-25 is my top recommendation, especially for 4-season weather.

If you're looking for a camping tent that can handle extremely nasty weather from wind-driven rain, to sleet, to snow the 4 season VE-25 North Face tent is your answer. With a 5 layer waterproof barrier, 5 DAC Featherlite SL poles, bathtub floor, and full-rainfly this is the tent you want if you want to stay dry and warm. Whether you're camping during the rainy season or looking for a winter shelter this is the North Face's most popular three-person expedition tent. The polyurethane windows have even been cold-crack tested to -60°F.

The VE-25 weighs in at 11 lb 1 oz but can be whittled down to 9 lb 13 oz, which isn't bad for a serious tent especially if you use it for car camping or even split it up between 2 backpackers. When you consider a tent serves as 'life-support' at times, you'll be happy with this choice if you're ever caught off-guard unexpectedly. If you only camp in dry hot areas though, this tent will be over-kill and you'll most likely want something with more ventilation.

Camping Tents Vary In Style

Shop for tents and you'll most likely come across names, in no particular order, like The North Face tents, MSR tents, Kelty tents, Eureka tents, Sierra Design tent, Eddie Bauer tents, Coleman tents, EZ up tents, Wenzel tent, Hillary tent, and Wenger tents. While some of these tents are excellent, others... well let's just say, they've disappointed people in the past.

Even though tents vary in quality, they do have certain styles in common...

A-frame- A-frame or pup camping tents are usually a single wall (read one vulnerable layer between you and the elements) of fabric that's propped up with a pole or two supported by guy lines. A-frames have a tendency to sag at the walls using up valuable space inside the tent. This means that when you bump it when it's raining (and you will) it's going to leak if it hasn't already. There are some exceptions to this rule, but I like the other choices better.

Cabin Camping Tents or Canvas Tents- like at kwikkamp.com are VERY heavy duty, based on a frame, and roomy. Some actually allow room for a picnic table or a wood stove so they're great for winter hunting. They are heavy (35-160+ pounds plus frame), bulky, take longer to dry, and take about an hour for two heavy packers to set up. Although not ideal for typical camping they do have their place.

Dome Camping Tents or Geodesic Tents- These dome shaped camping tents are the most popular. They shed snow and rain and resist wind well with a rain-fly. They can be very strong with aluminum poles. The free-standing design doesn't require tent stakes or guy lines to remain upright, only to keep it from blowing away. :-) Offer a nice amount of headroom.

Summer Camping Tents- Light-weight with very good ventilation and designed for warm summer weather. Not quite as versatile as some of the tents recommended below, but it can be a good choice if you do hot weather camping.

Tunnel Camping Tents or Hoop Tents- (Of which the Exped: Sirius Extreme Tent is a great example.) Straight and narrow in shape. They can be pretty light for their size because they use less poles and fabric, this also means they're not going to be as strong. Due to their shape I consider them 3-season camping tents.

And last but not least kid tents.

Recommended For Backpacking and Ultra Light-weight Camping

Bivy Sacks or Shelters- A bivouac is a small shelter used by the minimalist concerned about weight or where bigger camping tents would be inappropriate. They're big enough to accommodate you and your sleeping bag, and that's about it. While they're good for climbers who need to spend the night on vertical rock, they're not designed for someone who wants to move around inside, like a tent. Weight: Less than 1 pound to 3 pounds. Height: Approximately 1.5-3.5 feet.

Camping Hammock- A combination between a hammock and a tent. This is a great way to backpack if you like going light.

Sleep Screen- Another light-weight minimalist warm-weather shelter that may or may not be enclosed. Sleep screens use mesh to help keep away bugs but NOT rain, the main benefit is weight savings.

Tarp Tents- A minimalist 3-season shelter to help keep most of the rain off you and your sleeping bag, the bottoms are usually open. If don't like creepy crawlies you probably want to consider other options. For the average person not concerned with a few extra pounds who travels alone, I'd suggest looking at two person camping tents for the extra gear space.

I recommend Sierra Design's Meteorlight for 3-season 2-person backpacking. It's bigger than most 2-person camping tents and weighs about 7lbs., so you might want to split it up between two people. It performs well in the wind and rain. I like the idea of a lifetime warranty too.

Recommended For Recreational Campers

3-Season- 3-Season tents usually have more open and zipped mesh panels to aide in ventilation for spring, summer, and fall camping in temperate areas. They do a good job of protecting against wind and rain, but the poles aren't designed to support the weight of snow. More than a couple inches might snap the poles. These are great camping tents for recreational campers.

Peak Height (decreases at sides): Approximately 3.5-5 feet tall. Weight (varies with the camping tents construction, material, and size): Approximately 4-10 pounds. Easier to transport in a small car. Nice for backpacking unless you want ultra-light gear.

Convertible- Convertible camping tents are much like a 4-season that converts to a 3-season tent. To change from 4-season to 3-season remove the tent cover, a pole or two, and open the zippered windows for ventilation.

Peak Height (decreases at sides): Approximately 3.5-5 feet tall. Weight (varies with construction, material, and size): Approximately 5-12 pounds. Easier to transport in a small car. Nice for backpacking unless you want ultra-light gear.

4-Season Tent- These are serious winter camping tents shaped to shed snow for winter camping and mountaineering expeditions. They're stronger to hold up under the weight of snow or strong winds. Extra poles that increase strength add a bit of weight. Because of the added strength they run $400+. They don't offer as much mesh for ventilation, consider this if you do a lot of hot weather camping.

Peak Height (decreases at sides): Approximately 3.5-5 feet tall. Weight (varies with construction, material, and size): Approximately 4-15 pounds.

If you do any winter camping get a 4-season tent. Also consider 4-season camping tents for end of fall or early spring camping in case you get caught in an unexpected snow, or at least get a convertible tent. If and when you do get caught in a heavy snow you'll be glad you have it.

Also you'll probably want at least a little ventilation even in the winter to let water vapor escape outside, otherwise it will condense inside on the cold walls.

Expedition camping tents are beyond the scope of this article, please talk to others who have done what you want to do and get their recommendations.

Bigger Tents

Family Tents- Family camping tents are designed for large groups of 4-6+ people. They work very well for campground camping as well as for basecamps. They offer from 1-3 rooms for privacy and/or equipment used for camping. Weight (varies with construction, material, and size): Approximately 9-40+ pounds, so divide the weight with a partner if used for a backwoods hiking tent.

Family camping tents are taller, ranging from about 6-8+ feet at the peak (the middle of the tent) and decreasing down to 3-4 feet or so at the sides. So if standing upright in the center of the tent is important to you, keep this in mind.

Canopy tents can also give you more space for storage, protection from the rain and help to keep your dining area a bit cleaner.

What to Look For

Bathtub Floor- Get a tent with sealed/taped seams for water resistance and reinforcement. Just as important is a polyurethane-coated "bathtub floor" with as few seams as possible and extending 6-8 inches up the tent wall. This prevents water from seeping through the floor, otherwise you will get wet when it rains.

If you already have a leaky camping tent set it up at home and apply a liquid seam sealer. Allow it to dry before you take it down.

Footprint- Tent Footprints are pieces of material that protect tents from abrasive grit, rocks, and branches. (Other things to consider when selecting your tent site.)

Heaters- Like footprints these are usually sold separately. If you do any cool or cold weather camping, high quality camping heaters can make a bitter night much more comfortable.

Material- Better camping tents are constructed of rip-stop nylon or a polyester blend. Nylon is durable and polyester resists the suns UV rays better and sags less when wet. No-see-um mesh stops small biting flies.

Multiple Doors- Make for easy access or an alternate exit if one side of your tent is drifted over by snow. Multiple doors also make it easier to get out for a midnight walk without stepping on your buddy.

Poles- Fiberglass and aluminum tent poles are usually connected with elastic shock-cord to make for easy set-up. Fiberglass poles are less expensive but aren't as strong as 7000 series or DAC aluminum. If you avoid cold and bad weather camping though, the fiberglass poles can hold up decently. I still have my original fiberglass poles and they're 6 years old. If you're concerned go with aluminum.

Rainfly- This very water resistant shield stretches over the top of the camping tent and extends nearly to the ground. It serves to block even wind-driven rain from penetrating inside. It should extend like a visor over the door so rain won't drip in when you open the door.

Vestibule- A storage area outside the main interior to keep your hiking gear and other equipment used for camping. Do you need a big vestibule so that you can cook in it if there's rain or do you not need one at all?

Extras- Color coded poles make for easy set-up. Mesh pockets are nice for stashing small gear.

Screen Tent

Tent Reviews

More tent tips.

Tent maintenance

Find out how to remove tree sap from a tent.

Or, maybe you are looking for information on how to clean a tent.

Tent Trailers Tips

To Summarize: Free-standing dome camping tents are great designs for shedding water and snow and do well in the wind. The best camping tent will last longer and stand up to heavy rain and fierce wind. It will have better rip-stop nylon or polyester, stronger aluminum poles (7000 series or DAC aluminum), use more stitches per seam-sealed inch, and coated bathtub floors. Also, no-see-um mesh keeps out tiny biting flies that can drive you nuts.

Better canopies (tents) also avoid coating the inside walls so they breathe better. Add to that the better ventilation they provide and you'll appreciate them more on humid nights.

If you're not sure if you'll like camping and don't want to buy a camping tent don't waste money on a cheap one, borrow a friends. Borrowing or renting a camping tent is also a good idea if you decide to camp with a bigger group than usual and your tent will be too small. Get the camping tent that will protect you in your worst-case scenario.

3-season's are light all-around camping tents with good ventilation. 4-season's provide year around protection. Convertibles convert from 4-season to 3-season camping tents. Also consider what floor design suits you best for sleeping and storing gear.

The North Face, Sierra Designs, and Kelty all offer lifetime warranties. The North Face would be my first choice in camping tents because of their reputation for durability. I'm sure this helped clarify which 3-season,4-season, convertible, or family camping tents are right for you.

So here's a quick recap on my tent reviews and recommendations...

The 2-Person 3-Season MSR Velo Tent is for people who want a good amount of space for their gear.

The North Face Rock 22 is another "2-Person" 3-Season tent. This tent offers serious rain protection, for the money, if you backpack or camp in rainy areas.

The Kelty Gunnison 4 Tent is a 4-Person, 3-Season tent, with a full-rainfly which provides more protection from the weather.

The 2-Person 3-Season Kelty Gunnison 2 Tent offers a full-rainfly, bath tub floor, and taped seams to keep you dry. And I can't believe this tent has DAC aluminum poles for the price.

The Mantra is a bigger family tent that holds up well to wind and rain. If you want to take your family or several friends camping the 7-Person 3-Season Kelty Mantra 7 Tent is 6 feet high and has a lot of floor space (there are smaller versions of this tent).

If you're looking for lightweight camping tents for backpacking the Kelty Crestone 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season comes in at 4 lbs 12 oz or if you want to go minimal, you can whittle it down to 4 lbs 2 oz. The two doors make getting in and out easier and two vestibules make for 14 more square feet of storage.

The North Face VE-25 is my recommendation for nasty 4-season weather.

I hope your next camping tent is a great one. :-)