Top 10 Best Backpacking Tents [2022 Reviews]

On trips to the backwoods with your friends or beloved, a hiking tent is one of the most important gear choices for your comfort as well as safety.

While on a worst climatic condition, you should make sure that the tent will stand up those elements and make you feel confident. Thus packing up a good tent will provide with the best comfort, enjoyment along with safety on your wild trips.

However, while going to the market for purchasing a new tent, you will come to know that there are hundreds of options before you and finding out the best one which fits your needs is a tricky job.

There are several important elements which you should consider before making the move since the options are endless.

Weight

Keeping the backpacking weight down is crucial for enjoying your wild trips. Light weight hiking tent will make your trips fun filled and this is one among the four essential items (sleeping bag, backpack, sleeping pad and shelter) you need to carry and hence keep in mind to keep the weight at minimum.

Livability

The tents weight is maintained to a minimum by cut shorting the interior space. Most of the hiking tents have room for two sleepers along with the stuff sacks, backpacks and few gears that are stored within the vestibules of the tent. Check for the size of the tent if you are planning to buy one which has more interior spacing.

Price

You don’t need to spend all your savings for buying a good backpacking tent. Having an idea on your hiking needs will help you to buy the right tent according to your needs at affordable range.

Season Rating

The three season shelters – spring, summer and fall – are the popular tent styles available in the market. Even though these hiking tents can handle a little snowy climate, they are not meant for withstanding in heavy winter as well as snow conditions.

Capacity

1-person tent is the ideal choice for solo adventurers as they can hike fast and light. On the other hand, a 2-person tent will strike a better balance between interior space and weight. 3-4 person tents tends to be somewhat impractical as well as crowded even though they fit well for 2 or 3 hikers for their extended hangouts and their gear storage.

 It is important to keep in mind that for any hiker is it just enough to pack your essential gears and fill up your needs. Adding in additional stuffs will only make your hiking tiresome. Remember that you will spend time in the ten only at night hours and hence it does not need to be larger. 

Doors and Vestibules

If you are using a 2-person tent, then it is good to have two doors and vestibules. This will ensure that you won’t be climbing over your tent mate and holds two sets of gear each time when you want to step out and in.

Durability

Ultralight tents play an important role since they are made out of thinner materials and maintain a good weight-to-comfort ratio. They are made out of delicate fabrics and hence light weighted. They will hold minimal features like one door, small interior spacing and few zippers. Owing to the delicate material used for the construction, they are three-season tents by nature.

Footprint

Majority of the tens available are not coming with a footprint and these are viewed by the backpackers as unnecessary. The major benefit of footprint is that it adds strength to your tent floor, thereby protects the floor from abrasion.

Interior Volume

While thinking about interior volume, you will need to consider certain factors such as floor dimensions, floor area and peak height. Apart from these three factors, think about how the walls and the ceiling is connected since a steeper pitch points to less headroom if you are within the middle of your tent. If you see a steep ceiling, then it certainly weighs less and will also be not spacious as you think. 

So What about Tall People?

It is important for the taller hikers to check the floor length and the peak height of the tent before investing on it.

Check for the actual floor area since there are hiking tents which have the same floor dimensions but holds different interior spacing and shapes. By looking into these factors, one can ensure that there is enough room space for them and make their trip more comfortable.

Consider the Fabric

The lighter the fabric used for the construction of the tent, more comfortable will be your hiking experience.

So think about whether you want to go for nylon that is lighter or a polyester material which is a more water-resistant. Also check for the weight of the fabric to see its durability – lower number refers to finer material and vice versa.

Cleaning and Maintenance – How to Clean Your Hiking Tent?  

The most important rules for to care for your tent is listed below:

• Make sure that you read the instructions carefully
• Be gentle with your poles and zippers
• Never store your tent in a wet condition
• Clean your tent whenever it is dirty

Caring Tips!!!

Preserve the Flooring of Your Tent

The biggest enemies of the floor of your tent is the ground in which it is placed. Gravels, plants, roots and rocks can all lead to damage of the tent.

Try to get a ground mat which matches the size and shape of your tent. These are labeled as footprints and they will help you extend the life of the tent. Remember, cuts can also come from the inside portion and hence before stepping inside, make sure that your remove your hiking sandals or hiking boots outside.

Packing Up

Once you wind up your trip, take some time to clean your tent by turning the tent inside out and then shaking out to remove the dirt.

 If you can wash it well and dry it before you pack. If the material of your tent is nylon, then you don’t need to worry about the moisture content in it, however the coatings, thread, tapes and the zippers can be damaged.

 Place your tent in a cool and dry area and keep in mind not to store in direct sunlight. Try to keep it in an over sized and breathable cotton bag instead of stuffing it inside a stack.

How to Deal With Mildew?

If you are wrapping up the tent while it is wet or you are storing it in a damp area, then the chances of mildew forming are high.

These funguses are having the strength to get inside the waterproof urethane coating and grow between the coating and the nylon, which in turn eventually destroy the coating and the tent.

Take extra caution while cleaning as there are high chances to peel off the polyurethane coating if you mishandle. Diluted bleach will work well with cleaning your tent and allow it to dry outside to get off the smell. If mildew is present on any other areas, simply wash it with your hands using a mild non-detergent soap or water solution.

Leaky Seams

After long use, the seams of the tent might potentially fail. Keep the seam sealant handy so that you can mend the leaky seams.

A conditioned tent is an essential stuff of outdoor gear. By properly placing your tent in the right spot, using it rightly and finally packing it up carefully will make you feel that a piece of nylon cloth and some rope can feel like home. 

Review of some of the best Hiking Tents

1. Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent (Citron Green) (4.5/5.0)
2. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent (4.6/5.0)
3. NEMO Dagger 2P Tent (4.6/5.0)
4. Kelty TN 2 Person Tent (4.3/5.0)
5. REI Co-op Quarter Dome 1 Tent (4.7/5.0)
6. Marmot Catalyst 2P Tent with Footprint (4.4/5.0)
7. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent (3.8/5.0)

Our Recommendation

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​REI Co-op Quarter Dome 1 Tent

​The REI Co-op Quarter Dome 1 is designed specially with light weight materials that make you feel comfortable while backpacking. It combines all the new architecture and makes room for a single hiker amazingly. The tent can be set-up easily without any hassle.

There is liveable interior spacing and hence one can sit really comfortable. The adjustable stakeout points will help in the placement and permits quick vestibule tensioning. The tent comes with stakes, guylines, tighteners, pole-repair tube, stuff sack, stake bag and a pole bag.

Major Features:

• Dual-stake vestibule is 46 percent larger
• Easily shelters your gear from the elements
• Vertical sidewalls are there
• Roof vent with internal zippered
• Reflective stake loops and guylines
• Fly/footprint minimalist pitch option is present

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Dagger 2P Ultralight Roomy Backpacking Tent

​The Dragger 2 Person Ultralight Roomy Backpacking Tent provides you the best light weighted backpacking tent that provides room for you to stay comfortable even in the worst climatic conditions.

The pole supported technology used for the making of the tent points to its durability factor. It offers better interior volume and is easy to set up as well.

Major Features: 

• Pole Supported Technology
• Wind resistance power
• Advanced material development and testing is employed
• Fabrics used are undergone rigorous testing
• Better performance and durability

Foot Note!!!

One of the major qualities of a best hiking tent is that it should fulfill all the needs of the hikers who are using it. It depends on the number of persons who are taking along with you in your trip and the climatic condition during your journey.

Once you have an idea about this, it is really easy to make your final move. It is always better to settle on these things and start with the hiking rather than finding out another tent during the middle of your hiking trip. Make your trip a memorable one with the right kind of gears.

Image credits: amazon.com, amazon.in,rei.com