There are four things that you take out into the wild that will make or break your camping adventure: the boots, the backpack, the sleeping bag and the tent. If any one of these critical pieces of gear fail, you might have to cut your trip short. The best camping tent needs to be trustworthy, durable, inexpensive and relatively light; and most importantly, it needs to meet all your specific outdoors needs such as housing multiple people or a family, being easy to set up, being waterproof and so on. That’s a lot of information to process.

We’ll list the best tent fit for a specific need, such as tents for car-camping families, solo hikers, or hunters; this will save you time from doing the research on your own, but if you’re interested in what parameters are the most important ones when choosing a tent, read the guide below.

tent for mountain camping

Camping tents are bigger and heavier than best backpacking tents. These tents are generally used for car camping, where you park your car and walk a very short distance to the camping site. They’re large and heavier than most regular backpacking tents, and are usually meant for families that go car camping. They’ll protect you from the sun, bugs, mosquitoes, rain and wet ground.

3 Best Tents for Camping Family Trips

1. Eureka Northern Breeze Screen House

For families that are car camping, the Eureka Tent Northern Breeze is the best one you’ll get. It’s big, spacious and rugged, enough to accommodate a family of four’s sleeping bags. It can even fit a folding table and chairs, letting you and your loved ones to have a home away from home while camping. Be sure to bring some board games and cards to make the most of it.

It has near-vertical walls and rain curtains that can convert into awnings, giving you extra shade and space. It’s about 25 lbs, meaning that you should generally only use it when car camping, as it is quite heavy to carry on a long backpacking trek. It has mesh windows and is well ventilated, so you won’t get the feeling of being in a stuffy, damp room.

Eureka Family Tent

2. Eureka Copper Canyon – 4 Person Tent

Few tents match the Eureka Copper Canyon 4 in price, convenience, durability and breath-ability. This tent sleeps 4 people snugly, or sleeps 3 people and gives them a lot of space. It features high-stash pockets and has a gear loft to keep phones and important gear at hand, and a bathtub floor that protects against water. It has only one door, but it’s spacious enough that this isn’t an issue. The 4 windows guarantee a lot of light and ventilation during the day. The Copper Canyon is one of the best inexpensive tents you can get.

Like other family tents, it has near-vertical walls that maximize how much space you get inside. Here’s a good tip: bring an inflatable air mattress if you’re not a fan of sleeping bags. The tent is easy to set up and to take down, letting you spend more time with the family.

Coper Canyon Tent

3. Alps Lynx 4 Person Tent: Winter Camping Tent

The Alps Lynx 4 man tent is great at handling colder climates. It’s the best 4-season tent for that price, and it fits in most people’s disposable cash budget per month.

It’s well insulated, can easily handle stormy and cold weather, and is built to last. It is spacious, has two doors and two vestibules, mesh storage pockets, a gear loft and half-mesh walls. Unlike most other tents, it’s optimized for cold weather and cold weather gear. The two vestibules  let you take your cold weather clothes and boots off before you enter the tent, and they keep your gear dry.

This is a free-standing tent, which is a very big deal in cold weather. You don’t want to be out in the cold, wasting precious time setting up your tent. Aluminum poles and easy to use pole clips are going to save you time, and the entire tent is water resistant and weatherproof.

Alps Lynx 4man Tent

You won’t find many hikers using or praising camping tents; they’re often heavier, bulkier, harder to set up and cheaper than regular backpacking tents. Backpackers have a different set of demands, and they prefer ease of use, very low weight and quick setup. Backpackers and hikers do not have the luxury of having a car nearby that can easily carry a lot of weight, so any tent above 8 lbs isn’t the best option.

The most popular backpacking tents are freestanding ones that require very little time and effort to set up; they’re not the tents held down by ropes and tent stakes you saw in movies.

4 Best Backpacking Tents for Hikers

1. Eureka Midori: 1 Person Tent

For a backpacker on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with a Eureka Midori 1-man tent. It’s easy to use, easy to pitch, waterproof and lightweight. It has two vestibules that allow you to storage your outside gear and change into sleepwear, has an included footprint and 4 pockets. Even if the tent is cheaper than some other options, it has everything you need and it comes with a footprint. Due to how popular and inexpensive these tents are, they make for great gifts for first time hikers.

The Midori 1 is well ventilated and the air exchange system is adjustable. This means that this tent works for all weather conditions, it works perfectly both in deserts and rainy hills. It’s spacious compared to most other 1 person camping tents. For people that want a more traditional tent shape, the Eureka Midori Solo Tent fits the bill; they’re pretty much identical except the shape.

eureka midori 1man tent

2. The Eureka X Loft: 3 Person Lightweight Tent

The Eureka Loft 3 Tent is an affordable, quality tent that sleeps 3 persons. This is a freestanding tunnel tent, meaning it’s easy to pitch and comfortable to stay in. The mesh walls provide superb ventilation and waterproofing. This tent has two doors which means that you won’t have to walk over your sleeping partner in the middle of the night. Compared to most cheaper tents, the Euraka Loft 3 is bigger and made out of more quality material, meaning it will last a lot longer than most tents.

If you’re camping with two friends, or your spouse and a child or pet, this 3 person tent is your safest bet if you want to have enough room. The price-to-weight ratio isn’t half-bad either.

Backpacking Orange tent

3. MSR Mutha Hubba v6: Ultralight 2 Person Tent

The Mutha Hubba NX V6 Tent is one of the best inexpensive ultralight 3 person tents out there. Ultralight tents generally cost more due to the super-lightweight waterproof and weatherproof materials used in their construction, but they pay off when you only have a couple of pounds in your backpack instead of lugging

Even if this is a MSR tent that sleeps 3, it’s a much better for fit 2 persons. They’ll easily have a lot of extra space to store gear or move around the tent.

If you have more questions about how to choose a tent, please read on to find out. We’ll go through the entire process and hopefully clarify everything about tents.

MSR Hubba backpacking tent

3. MSR Hubba v7: Lightweight Tent

The Hubba NX V7 Tent is an affordable solo backpacking ultralight tent. This is a freestanding tent, it’s light, compact and waterproof. The best thing about this tent is that it has a lot of room and a very large vestibule where the gear can be stored.

The best thing about this tent (besides the price, compared to other ultralight weight tents) is it’s super low weight, it’s weighs only 2 lbs 7 oz. As we’ve come to expect from MSR, their tents have a good, low profile and are windproof, and still feel like they have more than enough room inside. This solo tent is a fantastic “home away from home”, and if you’re someone who loves backpacking long-distance trails (or have a friend in a dire need of an upgrade), this is the tent for you.

MSR Hubba 1 Person Tent

How To Choose a Camping Tent

Need help deciding what tent to pick? Answer these quick and simple questions and you’ll be set and learn a thing or two about choosing a quality tent. Before you proceed with planning out your camping trip, please visit the U.S. forest service page about camping and read about the Leave no Trace movement. Keeping the great outdoors great is a shared responsibility and we’re all a part of it.

How often do you camp

This is an important question because most tents are made from very advanced materials, which are sturdy and waterproof. They’re rugged and durable, and can take a lot of use and abuse. The price tag matches how durable they are, most of the time. If you’re an avid camper that camps out every weekend, you’ll need to invest into a higher quality tent. Professionals and serious campers would do well to get the higher quality gear that will “pay itself off” due to heavy use. This saves you money in the long run, as you’ll buy less tents overall.

If you’re looking for something that you’ll only use a couple times per year, like for a music festival or regular camping, you’ll be fine with getting a cheaper tent. These tents can’t take as much abuse, but they’re good enough for light use. These tents are also the ones you’d be willing to share with your friends and family if they take a camping trip; it’s much easier to forgive someone ruining your $100 tent than a $500 tent.

If you’re testing out the waters, wondering if you’ll love camping out in the wild with your family, you’d do well to get an cheaper tent at first and upgrade later. If you and your family are car camping, and are comparatively safe from the environment and you don’t need to get a costly option. Save your cash and get entry level gear for a hobby you’re just dipping your toes in.

You can’t go wrong because used camping tents are a nice gift to a friend that wants to try the backpacking/camping life out but doesn’t want to commit yet.

Tent sleeping capacity and height

Most tents show their sleeping capacity (how many people can fit in sleeping bags in the tent) in their name. People often don’t realize that the tents are rather small and cramped when they try to fit all those sleeping bags in. The manufacturer’s calculations are made with people of average size in mind, with sleeping bags touching each other.

As a rule of thumb, most one person tents are comfortable for one person, but 2 person camping tents are comparatively cramped for two people; if you’re bringing a partner along camping, you’re better served with a 3 person tent. Bigger tents cost and weigh more, and it’s up to you to decide how high (or low) can you go.

In short, if you want to be comfortable and not be snug with the other people in the tent, always upsize the capacity by one or two. Pets and children count as a person; they take up as much space as an adult. Most other retailers count pets and kids as “half-a-person” capacity, but it’s better to stay on the safe side and pick a bigger tent.

What about tent height? Depends on if you’ll move around in your tent. Would you like to setup a table, some chairs and play board games or cards? If so, you’ll need to pick a higher tent. Nearly vertical walls are a bonus, they’ll make a tent more spacious. Campers are usually more concerned about tent height compared to backpackers and hikers.

Tent Size

Large tents have more room, are spacious and comfy, and can have air mattresses in them, but cost more and are harder to carry. If you’re a car camper, having a big tent has very little downsides. One of the downsides is that winds are going to disrupt your large tent during your camping trip. Backpackers can pack big tents too. If you’re going backpacking with friends, it’s usually easy to divide a tent’s weight equally among everyone involved.

Small tents are more reliable, less prone to damage, lightweight, compact, and easier to set up. The downside is that they are very small and can get claustrophobic, and are often best left to backpackers. Depending on how much you and your friends value privacy, it might be a good idea that everyone carries their own tent in their backpack.

Car camping or backpacking – Weight and packed size

If you’re car camping, the weight of the tent is negligible. Most camping tents are lighter than 20 lbs, and no car will have a problem with that weight and packed size. If you’re backpacking, tent weight and packed size become really important. Most backpacks can fit the packed up tent at the bottom of the pack, depending on how big the tent is.

The rule of thumb is that if you’re backpacking with friends is and using a shared tent, that everyone takes 3 pounds “of tent” per person. 1 lbs if you’re going ultralight.

What are tent footprints

Tent footprints protect the tent’s floor. They offer better insulation and stop rocks or other sharp debris from cutting up or puncturing your tent’s floor. The only time you should omit the tent footprint is if you’re concerned with weight and space. They’re the difference between your tent lasting one or two years, or lasting five or more years. Most tents sell them as additional accessories, but some great inexpensive tents come with their own footprint, which is a fantastic way to save some money.

The tent’s footprint’s dimensions and the tent’s floor dimensions should match, in order to get the maximum out of this arrangement.

Tent Ventilation

If ventilation is important for you, look for a tent with mesh windows and lots of vents and openings. Tents can get pretty stuffy, but some people don’t mind. The better the ventilation, the colder the tent is in cold weather. If you’re in a colder climate, please choose a tent with smaller vents that you can zip up if you need to.

Number of doors

Most tents have 1 door, and that’s it. If you’re camping with friends or family, having more doors is a great idea. Nobody likes to have to stumble in the dark over their sleeping partner in the night, just to exit at the one door. Tents with more doors also provide better ventilation.

What are Tent Vestibules

Vestibules are small flaps next to the entrance of the tent. They provide a little extra space and cover to place your gear, and to take your muddy clothes off and change into your sleepwear. Vestibules are important to have in cold, rainy weather or in winter, because they can shelter your gear  from the elements. In a way, they’re like the tent’s “hallway” where you take your shoes and gear off.

Vestibules are not mandatory, but most campers like having them. Car campers and one day campers don’t really need vestibules in most cases.

Extra tent pockets and space for electronics and other gear

Most tents have extra pockets and storage space for small items like phones, wet wipes and other small pieces of gear. These items will be safe from harm and easy to find in the dark. Almost all tents today have this feature, regardless of how much they cost.

Ease of setup – Freestanding vs. Non-freestanding

Depending on how enthusiastic you are about camping, you can choose between the freestanding and the non-freestanding tents.

Freestanding tents are easier to set up, but are heavier in general. They’re the best beginner’s option. They usually have a dual wall construction, the regular tent wall and the rainfly cover on the outside. This type of construction prevents interior condensation. There are no stakes, guy lines, pulleys or cords you have to mess with to set up a freestanding tent.

Non-freestanding tents are harder to set up, require stakes and guy lines (and often require bringing additional ones). They’re lighter and use a simple, single wall construction, but they can get pretty stuffy due to the lack of ventilation. They do allow you to be more creative, such as using a nearby tree to pitch your tent.

In short, families and casual campers should get a freestanding tent to save them the hassle of having to set up a tent, while professionals and avid backpackers and campers can get the lighter (with some variants coming in ultralight) non-freestanding tent.

Season ratings – What kind of weather can the tent be used in

Most tents are 3-season tents. This means that they’ll do a great job in the spring, summer and fall. They’re not meant to take winters on, or snow. Most newcomers should get a 3-season tent. Mountaineering tents are meant for camping in snow and winter conditions, and are heavier, rugged and safer than the other two types of tent. These are meant for professionals (like mountain rescue) and veteran campers, which is reflected in their higher price.

Extended season tents are in between the 3-season and mountaineering categories, they can take mild winters but shouldn’t be counted on to brave dangerous freezing conditions. These tents are meant to be used by casual campers in harsher environments.

What’s your budget

The most important parameter is knowing how much cash you have to spend on a tent. Most cheaper camping tents for casual campers and car campers are in the $100-$200 range, and are good enough. Bigger tents, like family ones, cost more, but do not offer any special benefit except space. You can also find extremely cheap tents, but they’re usually low quality and shouldn’t be counted on protecting you from the elements.

Tents for backpackers and more serious campers go from $200-$500, and should be considered an investment. As a serious outdoors-man (or a professional) away from civilization, you do not want to have your tent fail on you as a storm or heavy rainfall rolls by.

Why do quality and ultralight tents cost so much?

Because they use specialized light fabric and pole material like carbon fiber. They’re made for the enthusiast backpacker market, and most people are better served with the cheaper alternatives. Shaving off a pound or two off your tent’s weight can be quite costly, and is often outside of most people’s budgets.

Reputable tent companies

We’ll list the tent brands we trust.

EUREKA Tents

The Eureka! Tent Division has existed for over 120 years, and they’re a full line tent manufacturer that makes tents for campers, the military, and large commercial application tents. Eureka! was established in 1895, and back then they used to make wagon covers, horse blankets and tents.

Eureka! enjoys a great reputation and has made many quality products and innovations in the industry, and their tents are widespread, well-made and affordable by all.

MSR Tents

MSR was founded in 1969 by a Seattle engineer and mountaineer Larry Penberthy. Its acronym MSR stands for Mountain Safety Research; and that’s precisely what you’ll get with their tents. They’re rugged, durable and safe, and are fit to take any mountain on.

They make premium tents at high prices; meaning that these tents are something you can trust out in the wild.

ALPS Mountaineering Tents

ALPS Mountaineering began in 1993; it was formed by their designer and company founder Dennis Brune. Alps Mountaineering makes great gear for an affordable price; this is their company’s unofficial modus operandi “premium products, approachable price”. Their tents are one of the greatest in the world, and no camper will have second thoughts about their quality.

ALPS is an acronym, it stands for Active Lifestyle Products & Services. Not related to the European mountain range in any way.

Camping Tent Accessories

Ripstop Repair Kit

Tents are usually made out of ripstop, a special nylon fiber material that helps against tearing. While this material is very durable, rips will inevitably happen sometimes in the tent’s life, and when it does, having a Nylon Ripstop Repair kit can save your trip. Ripstop repair kits can be used on all other nylon fabrics too, such as totes, sleeping bags, sails, parkas and such.

Canvas Repair Kit

Canvas Repair Kits feature pieces of waterproof fabric that can patch bigger holes on camping tents. It needs 2 hours for the glue (canvas cement) to set in and the patch must not get wet during that process. This can be a life-saver on long trips.

Gear Shed

The MSR Gear Shed addon that can be  fitted to MSR tents (such as the Hubba NX and Elixir tents). This gear space practically doubles the amount of storage space you get, and gives you a place to stash your gear in.

Vestibules and Footprints

Some camping tents do not come with vestibules and footprints right out of the box; these tents have optional vestibules and footprints you can buy. Not all vestibules and footprints match every tent out there, so be sure to choose compatible ones.

Vestibules are small “roofs” that provide a place for you to change your clothes and stash your gear away, and footprints are “carpets” that are laid on the ground before you set the tent up. Footprints keep the tent safe from ground debris and prolong its lifetime.

Stakes, awning poles, repair kits and miscellaneous gear

On offer, we have many spare parts and accessories, such as stakes, awning poles, repair kits and other miscellaneous gear. We know that most tents don’t ship with enough awning poles or stakes, and you can grab extras here.