Whether or not you’re seeking to spend 100 nights on the path or need to keep on with a good price range, we’ve discovered the very best backpacking tents of 2022.
From PCT hikers spending 6 months on the path to the nascent hiker spending 6 days on their first solo backpacking journey, a great tent is the cornerstone of out of doors preparedness. The fitting tent could be a shelter from the weather and critters. Within the wild, it’s a house away from house.
Our crew of testers has spent a whole bunch of nights in tents in climate circumstances that run the gamut from excruciating desert warmth to frigid winter nights at excessive elevations to deliver you our choice of the very best backpacking tents for this 12 months. In terms of choosing a tent, one reality stands out: no single tent will work nicely for each state of affairs.
The Finest Backpacking Tents of 2022
Finest General Backpacking Tent: Massive Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
In search of a three-season freestanding tent that suggestions the scales at simply 3 kilos, 2 ounces? Enter the Massive Agnes Copper Spur ($500). Though you’ll find lighter tents available on the market, this tent is gentle sufficient to make it a contender for the very best backpacking tent, even for the gram-counters amongst us.
This tent boasts a great overlap between the tub flooring and the rainfly, making certain a dry evening’s sleep. Above the ground materials, high quality mesh offers a breathable, well-ventilated area that ought to maintain condensation low.
With so little weight in your pack, you get a extremely comfy abode for the path. It has two doorways, two vestibules, 29 sq. toes of flooring area, and 18 sq. toes of mixed vestibule area. The vestibules rework into awnings with trekking poles to prepare dinner underneath or to permit airflow.
Straightforward-to-use tent buckles on the corners the place the fly attaches make for fast setup in a storm. We additionally appreciated the storage pockets on the toes and head for electronics, snacks, or layers. Plus, the ceiling pocket on the head has media pockets with cord-routing for electronics if you’re caught in unhealthy climate.
Specs:
- Weight: 3 lbs., 2 oz.
- Top: 40 in.
- Flooring area: 29 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Nylon, aluminum, and composite
- Vestibule space: 18 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Gentle
- Secure
- Roomier than anticipated
- Glorious storage and vestibule design
Cons:
- Costly
- Struggles in excessive winds (above 40 mph)
- Considerably fragile
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Finest Price range Backpacking Tent: Marmot Catalyst 2P Tent
At $219, the Catalyst two-person tent is a wonderful worth for somebody on the lookout for a stable backpacking tent that may additionally perform as a automotive tenting tent, all with out breaking the financial institution.
At a minimal path weight of 4 kilos, 11 ounces, it’s on the heavy aspect, nevertheless it’ll do the job and packs down sufficiently small to suit comfortably in a backpack. It’s additionally fairly spacious, with 32.5 sq. toes of flooring area.
We love the color-coded poles for simple setup, which most say is a chunk of cake even for brand new campers. It additionally has two D-shaped doorways with vestibules, including room for gear storage.
Specs:
- Weight: 4 lbs., 11 oz.
- Top: 44 in.
- Flooring area: 32.5 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Polyester and aluminum
- Vestibule space: 11 sq. ft., 6.5 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Nice worth
- Spacious
- Straightforward setup with color-coded poles
Cons:
- Heavier than different backpacking tents
- Cumbersome when packed
- Totally different pole lengths
Finest Worth Ultralight: REI Co-op Flash Air 2
The REI Flash Air 2 ($349) borrows the favored one-piece design from the Zpacks Duplex and affords up a reasonably priced various for the backpacker who’s seeking to lower weight with out parting with an excessive amount of of their hard-earned dough. Whereas not fairly as gentle or straightforward to arrange as its high-dollar competitors, these keen to compromise will get pleasure from loads of stunning nights within the backcountry with out breaking their backs to get there.
Weighing in at simply over two kilos, this tent is gentle with out skimping on options. It has two doorways, every with a small vestibule, and a number of other pockets for gear storage so that you’ll at all times know the place your headlamp is at evening. Its hubbed pole design lets you swap out the included vertical help poles with your individual trekking poles for much more weight financial savings..
Specs:
- Packed weight: 2 lbs., 8 oz.
- Top: 42 in.
- Flooring area: 28.7 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Nylon, mesh, Aluminum
- Vestibule space: 16.8 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Gentle
- 2 vestibules
- Could be supported with trekking poles
Cons:
- Setup takes observe
- Not freestanding
Finest Minimalist Tent for Through-Hikers: Zpacks Duplex
For minimalist backpackers and thru-hikers that put weight financial savings on the high of the record, it’s laborious to beat the Zpacks Duplex ($699). This non-freestanding, trekking pole-supported design has been a long-time favourite on the AT and PCT due to its wonderful mixture of minimal weight, ample area, and safety from the weather.
That includes a Dyneema Composite building (relatively than nylon or silnylon discovered on most backpacking fashions), the tent is legitimately ultralight at simply 1 pound, 3.4 ounces. However the distinctive material holds up nicely to tough use and isn’t susceptible to sagging, even in heavy moisture.
The Duplex affords good all-around livability for 2 backpackers with a peak top of 48 inches, two aspect doorways and vestibules, and a symmetrical rectangular flooring.
Specs:
- Weight: 1 lb., 3.4 oz.
- Top: 48 in.
- Flooring area: 28.1 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Dyneema
- Vestibule space: 11 sq. ft.
Professionals
Cons:
- Costly
- Onerous to arrange
- Requires giant space, stakes, and guylines
The Better of the Relaxation
REI Arete ASL 2 Backpacking Tent
The Arete ASL 2 ($449) affords a number of versatility in an inexpensive bundle. With a minimal path weight of 5 kilos, 10 ounces, it’s not ultralight by any stretch, however it’s surprisingly gentle and fairly priced for a winter-ready four-season tent. It does nicely in the summertime too, with loads of mesh.
We discovered the four-pole setup fast and simple, due to intuitive color-coding. The vestibule offers sufficient room for 2 packs and mountaineering footwear. The nook pockets and hold loops maintain necessities at hand. For higher sturdiness and luxury, we advocate including on the footprint, which is bought individually.
We don’t love the single-door design, however a minimum of the door is giant and simple to entry from both nook of the tent. Earlier fashions of this tent skilled points with the rainfly seam sealant, however it seems that REI has fastened that downside with this latest replace.
General, the Arete ASL 2 is a sturdy, all-season tent, and is available in at about half the worth as different four-season tents. This tent is nice for any winter fanatic not prepared to spend so much of money on a specialised winter tent, nevertheless it’s too heavy for many warm-weather backpackers.
Specs:
- Weight: 6 lbs., 5 oz.
- Top: 43 in.
- Flooring area: 32.9 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Nylon and aluminum
- Vestibule space: 8.7 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Worth
- Storm-ready
- Light-weight for a four-season tent
Kelty Late Begin 2
If value is your major concern when shopping for a tent, however you continue to need good high quality, the Kelty Late Begin 2 is an effective place to look. At $160, the Late Begin 2 is a modestly priced tent. And it has high quality building whereas hitting a value level that most individuals gained’t balk at.
It units up tremendous quick with a easy two-pole design. As soon as up, the tub flooring affords a slight overlap with the rainfly, so splashback might be a problem in heavy rain and wind.
The tent packs right down to 16 x 7 inches. Whereas definitely not tiny, it would work in a backpack. Equally, at a minimal weight of 4 kilos, it’s not ultralight, however works for brief backpacking excursions.
The vestibules are barely sufficiently big for a single backpack, however they may suffice for hikers on a price range. Two small pockets supply area to stash a few essential gadgets.
There are higher tents on the market, however you’ll pay extra for them. For $160, this one is a worth that ought to final by means of a lot of glad tenting.
Specs:
- Weight: 4 lbs., 8 oz.
- Top: 40 in.
- Flooring area: 29.5 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Polyester and aluminum
- Vestibule space: 7.85 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Good worth
- Straightforward setup
- High quality building
Cons:
- Heavier
- Not constructed for excessive climate circumstances
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REI Quarter Dome SL 2
The REI Quarter Dome SL 2 ($379) is a very talked-about, inexpensive tent. It’s well-rounded for automotive tenting and backpacking. With a minimal path weight of two kilos, 8 ounces, this tent hits a candy spot that ought to enchantment to a broad cross-section of hikers and campers.
The freestanding tent units up shortly and simply. The primary tent physique has tons of mesh and a small bathtub flooring that extends barely above the overlapping rainfly. It stays dry in rainstorms however might see somewhat splash-over from runoff.
4 pockets within the mesh present enough storage for small gadgets, and the 2 giant doorways give every camper quick access to the inside or the vestibules on all sides.
As for complaints, it’s a cosy structure for 2, nevertheless it ought to suffice so long as you and your accomplice don’t thoughts being cozy. Additionally, it’s in all probability not nice for heavy storms because of the quick bathtub ring across the flooring.
We favored the Quarter Dome SL 2, particularly on the cheap value level, as a flexible tent at a really gentle weight. Given the large quantity of mesh, it needs to be a powerful performer in sizzling, dry climates the place air flow and safety from bugs are high priorities.
Specs:
- Weight: 2 lbs., 8 oz.
- Top: 38 in.
- Flooring area: 28.7 sq. ft.
- Supplies: Nylon and aluminum
- Vestibule space: 21.5 sq. ft.
Professionals:
- Worth
- Light-weight
- Loads of air flow
Cons:
- Tight match for 2 folks
- Might not face up to heavy storms
What Is a Footprint, and Ought to I Use a Footprint for My Backpacking Tent?
Many tents supply footprints as an aftermarket add-on. A footprint is a chunk of cloth that matches the form of the tent flooring. It typically will clip into your tent poles or stake system to combine along with your setup underneath your tent.
The footprint affords safety towards sharp objects on the bottom and will improve the lifespan of your tent. Nonetheless, carrying a footprint provides to the burden of your pack. So, you have to stability the necessity to shield your tent with the added weight of the footprint.
For ultralight tents such because the Hyperlite UltaMid or Zpacks Duplex, a footprint is commonly essential to stopping harm. That’s considerably ironic, because the tent is supposed to be as gentle as attainable.
For that purpose, typically a barely heavier flooring construct, as on the REI Arete, makes extra sense, as you’ll be able to depart the footprint behind. For automotive tenting, a footprint is at all times a good suggestion, as it would improve the lifetime of your tent.
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