Best Best Backpacking Tent For 2021 Reviewed
You’re not going to find many things more enjoyable than a weekend of backpacking.
The sound of birds, the smell of trees – and if you’re lucky, maybe even an animal or two! But one thing that can make your trip less fun is the wrong gear – from forgetting essential items like water bottles to bringing equipment that’s too heavy for your body type.
In this article, we’ll cover all the factors and considerations that go into our decision making process when determining what is the best backpacking tent.
The enjoyment of nature and living a simple life is what drives people to be outdoors. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning with your tent right next to a lake as you watch deer go about their day.
But for many, this experience ends too soon when they realize that bringing the wrong gear can make the whole thing not so enjoyable – from forgetting essential items like water bottles to bringing equipment that’s too heavy for your body type.
In this article, we’ll cover some tips on what kind of tent will be best for you, as well as other essentials you should bring on your next hiking adventure.
While there are many great benefits of going to box stores for camping supplies, their tents are far from perfect.
Traditional tent poles and fabric can be cumbersome and limiting when you’re trying to set up camp in a hurry. You’ll also have the limitation of only being able to use this type of tent once before it’s destroyed – not exactly sustainable!
This is why we recommend investing in a high-quality backpacking or hiking tent instead. It’s difficult enough packing all your gear on top of what feels like an unending list that needs to be checked off before heading out into nature.
So the last thing you want is for something as simple as forgetting water bottles or dirtying clothes because they got wet due to improper rain gear, which made your whole trip a nightmare.
Top Backpacking Tent Comparison Chart
Best Backpacking Tent
1. Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent
Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent
It’s not uncommon for a tent to list their weight as two pounds, but when you’re carrying this in your backpack and have an additional 20+ pounds with all your gear – that extra pound can start to weigh on you.
Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent weighs in at just over one pound (or about .45 kilograms)!
The poles are also made from ultralight aluminum, making them both stronger and lighter than traditional materials used in most camping equipment.
This means that setting up camp will be easier, but every step is taken throughout the day! As a result, you’ll need less energy when hauling around heavy objects, and you’ll be more likely to explore all the sights around you.
In addition, you won’t have aching muscles at night when trying to sleep because your backpack is too heavy! Backpacking tents can also offer better weather protection than traditional camping tents.
Many companies are now making designs with steep walls that help protect from rain or snow coming in through any gap on the top of the tent – which means less worry for things like wet clothes and moldy gear.
Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent is very lightweight. The poles are made from ultralight aluminum, and it’s not uncommon for a tent to list their weight as two pounds, but when you’re carrying this on your backpack – that extra pound can start to weigh on you! Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent weighs in at just over one pound.
2. Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Ultra Lightweight Backpacking Tent
Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Ultra Lightweight Backpacking Tent
The tent is another excellent choice because it’s waterproof on the outside, so if there’s any rain or snow while camping, everything inside will stay dry!
Along with being lightweight (just over two pounds!), it also has plenty of space for three people to camp comfortably without feeling claustrophobic.
Many different brands sell high-quality hiking tents – which one you choose depends on what your needs are. For example, you might want something like Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight Backpacking Tent, which offers protection from the weather while considering how heavy each item is when packing up at the end of the day.
Marmot Crane Creek backpacking tents are also an excellent choice for people who want to ensure their gear stays dry and doesn’t get ruined from the rain or snow!
3. MSR Expedition Ultralight 4-Season Backpacking Tent
MSR Expedition Ultralight 4-Season Backpacking Tent
It features two doors, with each having its vestibule for gear storage space.
It has an adjustable height ceiling that can accommodate both taller people or those who want more headroom when sitting up inside the tent.
The canopy of this product provides enough space even in windy conditions because it’s designed to block the strong winds blowing from every direction.
The MSR tents are made of high-quality materials, which make them very durable. You won’t have worries about using your money wisely as you will not need frequent replacements after a few years as other brands offer at much higher prices. This model also provides greater protection from the rain because it has a watertight fly.
The MSR tent is perfect for backpackers who want to spend less on expensive gear and save money that can be used in other aspects of their backpacking adventure, like buying food or clothing and enjoying nature more than they usually could do at home. So if you’re looking for an ultralight four-season camping tent that will get the job done well, then this model should be considered as your top choice!
4. ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2-Person Backpacking Tent
ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2-Person Backpacking Tent
The company is currently owned by Coleman, who is the most popular camping brand out there. They’re known for making high-quality products at affordable prices that last many seasons without breaking or wearing down too quickly.
In addition, the ALPS mountaineering zephyr backpacking tent offers plenty of space inside with two doors and vestibules on each end so you can enter from either side, giving more ventilation when needed as well as storage space to store all your gear while still having enough room to sleep.
The tent is also very lightweight, weighing in at just under six pounds, so you won’t be carrying a heavy load when hiking to your campsite.
It’s made of high-quality materials that will last for many years and can hold up to the harsh environments it might experience while on your backpacking trip.
The poles are constructed from aluminum that is light enough to carry but durable enough not to bend or break easily like some other metal options.
They’ve also included an extra-large vestibule space on each end of the tent with doors that zip open and closed for quick entry into both sides of the tent without having to get wet if one side has higher winds than the other. All these features make this an excellent tent to take on any backpacking trip and make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep.
5. Naturehike VIK 1 Person Ultralight 4 Season Backpacking Tents
Naturehike VIK 1 Person Ultralight 4 Season Backpacking Tents
It weighs just over two pounds for the whole package of groundsheet tarpaulin, tent body, and instructions.
The Naturehike VIK’s bright orange color means you are easily spotted when camping or hiking in woods or mountains during low visibility periods like dusk, dawn, foggy weather, and rainstorms.
Likewise, this tent’s built-in lantern hook allows you to hang an LED light inside your shelter from overhead branches so as not to waste batteries on extra lights outside of your shelter.
The flysheet has mesh panels that provide ventilation while keeping out insects. The Naturehike VIK tent offers an open living space that offers enough room for a single person to change clothes, store gear, and sleep with their head at either end of the front porch area in warmer months.
The height is 26 inches from ground level, so you can sit up while having your dinner or writing postcards home without feeling cramped.
Naturehike also includes a door located on one side of the house that allows easier access than through the top and high-quality zippers made by YKK Inc., Japan’s leading zipper manufacturer since 1920. Naturehike VIK tents offer all these features but are still reasonably priced compared to other ultralight backpacking tents available today.
Top Backpacking Tent Features To Consider
Top Features
Warmth, lightweight, and durability are the three most important aspects of any backpacking tent. Canvas tents offer better insulation than nylon tents in cold climates, but they’re heavier to carry on long trips.
Other Gear
The size of your backpack will dictate how small or large a tent you can take with you. Keeping this in mind, make sure that there is enough room for all members inside the tent without feeling cramped up at night time and during daytime activities like cooking and eating meals.
Door
A double door design offers more headroom while single doors reduce water buildup near your entry point; each has its advantages depending on where it rains around you most often (elevation). If the terrain is relatively flat, a single door may be your best bet. A vestibule can also be great for storing gear or cooking in inclement weather; it should be about the same size as the tent body to offer enough space and keep weight down.
Assembly
Consider how difficult you find assembling things when determining if a particular brand of backpacking tents will suit your needs well. If directions are complicated and there’s an abundant amount of parts that need to fit together with precision, you might want to reconsider this option altogether. A few simple pieces make setup much easier on most occasions!
Stability
Ask yourself what type of ground conditions you expect during use before selecting a model that has minor anchor points available on its outer perimeter. A one or two-person backpacking tent should be able to hold up in winds of about 35mph and rain that’s light but still manages to penetrate the waterproof coating.
If you plan on camping during heavy rains or windstorms lasting multiple days, a family-sized four-person backpacking tent might suit your needs better with more space for protection against leaks. Also, consider looking into these models, which are made from heavier duty materials and can withstand over 90 miles per hour winds without any issues whatsoever.
When selecting a camping tent, many factors need to be considered, including size, the material used, how easy it sets up, and how much weight it will add to your backpacking trip.
After testing out various tents, we recommend the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL series if you’re after something lightweight that also packs up small but can handle different conditions (including rain), or even for base camp use in many cases. The tent you might prefer will most definitely depend on what your ideal backpacking trip requires.
Watch This Video Before You Buy A Backpacking Tent
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you find the best tent for your needs – let us know which one was your favorite below! Happy Hiking.