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The best camping tents are ones you can use for years, maybe even decades. They’re functional, durable, and will continually protect you from the elements during outdoor adventures. The issue when choosing the best tent for you is to narrow down your individual camping needs. For instance, an ultralight backpacker’s version of the perfect tent will look much different from that of a hunter setting up a basecamp for a weeklong hunting expedition.

That’s why we included a variety of categories and reviewed the best tents we could find. Whether you are looking to replace a tent that has reached the end of its life with you or you’re investing in one for the very first time, we’ve collected our top picks for the best camping tents to help guide your search.

Like most gear, choosing the best camping tent is a personal decision that revolves around your needs and the type of camping you enjoy. Although I haven’t owned all of the tents on our list, many of the tents listed are ones other members of the team have either tried or had for several years. 

Other considerations that influenced tents chosen for the best camping tent:

We rely primarily on outdoor experience to guide our gear picks. Where we need to, we fill the gaps with company-specific research, recommendations from others, verified customer reviews, and the general industry or product knowledge. 

Specs

Pros

Cons

If you are looking for an excellent all-around tent, the Marmot Halo 6 is easily the top pick. While it is somewhat heavy, it is a functional design easy to set up and take down. It works best for car camping experiences and is durable enough to stand the test of time even with kids and dogs in the mix. 

The canopy, floor, and rainfly fabric are all variations of polyester with the fly, including some ripstop and water-resistant treatment for added protection. The rainfly creates two amazing vestibule spaces—one having enough room to cook inside them during inclement weather. 

The poles are designed with color-coding to make the setup a breeze, even when the kids are involved. It comes with backpacking-style stakes, so more robust ones can be a good investment if you camp on hard ground often, but they get the job done. 

If you’re someone that likes a lot of space in the tent or needs to share with a group, then this is a durable, long-lasting option. The only downside we spotted with this tent is that it has a high price point, and there will be similar size options on the market for a much lower price. If it is within your budget, though, you’ll be happy with the investment with ample interior storage, tons of headroom, and space for gear, people, and pets inside.

Specs

Pros

Cons

Another six-person tent, the Big Agnes Spicer Peak 6, is ranked in our best family camping tents roundup. It is relatively comparable to our best overall camping tent, with a slightly smaller floor area. 

The dome-style tent offers excellent head and standing room inside the tent. While it would be pretty snug with six adults sleeping in the tent, it can be done. This tent is more suitable for a family of four, providing enough space for parents, kids, gear, and potentially a pet. The two doors and vestibule areas allow for easier access and better gear organization. 

Several interior pockets make staying organized in a group a breeze. This one ranks above other similar market options because of the weatherproofing. All of the seams on this tent are taped to enhance waterproofing, there is a full-coverage rainfly, and polyurethane coating. 

The footprint is sold separately, and using a ground tarp of some kind will improve the durability of the tent floor.

Specs

Pros

Cons

Elk Mountain has several sizes and models of wall tents that any outdoor person will enjoy. They utilize a polycotton canvas material to improve durability and weather resistance. Don’t let the frame and size of the tent fool you. These tents are not challenging to set up with at least two people. 

We rated the 13 x 13 standard tent, which is large enough to sleep up to six people. If you add a wood stove to the mix, it works best with four people. Most of the parts are included with the purchase of the tent, but poles are not. The poles not included could be seen as either a pro or a con. It is a pro for those that want to save some money and cut their poles to fit with the included angle kit. Others prefer the convenience of purchasing it all as a set. 

The use of polycotton fabric has improved the tent’s durability. Anywhere the tent comes into contact with poles, the materials are reinforced with at least two layers of canvas. The main corners of the tent use velcro and ties to close, providing more flexibility and preventing the fabric from ripping when taking the canvas on and off the frame. 

What It Made the Cut: The Thule Tepui Explorere Kukenam rooftop tent is a versatile tent with ample interior space and top of the line weather protection. 

Key Features

Pros

Cons

There are many fantastic rooftop tent options available, and the type of vehicle you drive will influence your choice. Thule makes a wide range of options, but the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 is one of my favorites. 

It is an excellent choice for couples that want to travel and can sleep up to three people if needed. The setup seems to take a bit longer than other Thule designs, but the included entrance awning makes it worth the few extra minutes. 

One stand-out feature of this tent is that it offers 4-season weather protection without compromising too much on breathability. There are plenty of vents and side windows to accommodate warmer weather. Unfortunately, the side window awnings cannot be rolled up, which is a bummer, but they work pretty well in the rain. 

The tent materials are also UV and mold-resistant, which is excellent when traveling from place to place. The ease of use, comfort level, weather protection, and the fact it can fit on top of most vehicle sizes make the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam an excellent choice for a rooftop tent. 

What It Made the Cut: The NEMO Dragonfly OSMO is rated our best backpacking tent for the superior quality of construction and balance of weight, features, and durability.

Key Features

Pros

Cons

The NEMO Dragonfly OSMO is our top choice for the best backpacking tent on this list because of the outstanding balance they’ve found to accommodate weight, functionality, durability, and protection. Despite the light weight, there’s plenty of storage space inside the tent and well-designed vestibules to accommodate gear. 

The tapered foot section is the one design aspect that some campers aren’t fond of. This helps to cut down on some weight without cutting out any headspace. It does make the interior feel a bit small, and it can feel cramped with another person. If weight is your main concern or you’re a solo camper, this feature shouldn’t bother you. If you are camping alone, you’ll also have no issue setting this tent up alone. 

The tent is tall enough to sit up inside comfortably, and for just one person, you’d have space to store some gear inside along within the vestibules. As far as weather protection goes, it features a double-wall design and excellent water resistance with a full-coverage rainfly. There is plenty of meshing to make this tent usable in warm weather and shoulder seasons. 

Specs

Pros

Cons

Kelty has long been known for making affordable yet durable tents. The Kelty Wireless is one of the best tents out there in terms of value, durability, and protection. If you’re someone who camps with dogs, you know that you want something durable and roomy, but you might not want to invest in an expensive brand just in case they damage the tent. 

The Kelty Wireless comes in a two-person, four-person, and six-person capacity. Although I’ve only personally tried the 2-person tent, I can attest to the fact that it can comfortably fit two people and a large breed dog. You’ll have to store gear in the vestibules, but this isn’t an issue with two doors and two vestibules. 

The tent does not come with a footprint, but even without that, the tent flooring stands up to dogs, even those that are aggressive nesters. If you want the floor to last longer, we recommend investing in a footprint and packing a small mat or blanket for your dog to put on the floor. 

Overall, this tent is easy to set up, pack, and use. It is a bit heavy for most when backpacking alone, but it can work quite well when splitting it up between two people to carry. 

Specs

Pros

Cons

The Coleman Sundome tent comes in several size options, with the 4-person tent being one of the most popular and affordable options. This is an excellent starter tent for small families or couples with pets. It has decent weather protection and can withstand up to 35 mph winds. 

Especially if you are just getting into camping, the setup should be relatively easy with pre-attached poles. It may take a little bit of time to figure it out at first, but after one go, you’ll be able to set the tent up in a matter of minutes. 

Compared to other tents on our list, this tent will not be the most functional or have the most headroom. However, it will be one of the most economical options available while still providing a decent value. Coleman has a long history of providing affordable camping equipment, and this tent is no exception. 

Read through our buying considerations before getting to our top picks for the best camping tents. That way, if you can’t find a tent that fits your needs (or budget) on our list, you’ll have the knowledge you need to make the right choice. 

If you’re looking to buy a new tent, then you likely have an idea of what you plan to use it for. This may seem like an obvious consideration, but it is an essential one if you want to find the right tent for your camping needs. 

Buying a tent that works well for long-distance or ultralight hiking is one thing, but do you want to use that same tent when you are setting up a spike camp for elk hunting? Probably not. Identifying the intended use will help you narrow down your choices much faster and allow you to hone in on essential dimensions, features, and accessories that can enhance your camping experience. 

There are so many different types of tents. We will not feature all of them in our top picks, but knowing them can help you as you shop. Each type of tent has its strengths and weaknesses. Not all stand up well in the wind, while others are designed to withstand extreme elements atop mountains. 

Most common types of tents:

This is not an exhaustive list of tent types, and you may see other variations on top of what we listed here. 

The durability, water resistance, weight, comfort, and more often come down to the tent’s materials. Most tents will be a mix or blend of different materials, increasing the durability and application of the tent. 

Most commonly used tent materials:

Tent fabrics, especially ones like cotton, can have a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) fabric coating. A PVC-coated tent makes it more prone to condensation and needs additional ventilation to counter any interior buildup. PVC-coatings are seen on some tents that have been “weathered” to make them ready to use right out of the box. Note that PVC emits toxic fumes during production and after application. That’s why you may notice a plastic or chemical smell coming from PVC-coated tents. 

Other tent components, like the tent poles, can also have varying materials. Tent poles can be made from:

Things like the groundsheet or footprint and the tent stakes and guylines can also have varying materials. These can be upgraded or replaced more easily while the tent, rainfly, and poles come standard with the tent and should be considered more closely. 

The size and capacity of the tent is going to be directly related to the style and intended use. You can essentially find a tent of any size and for any activity. However, just because something is labeled as a two-person tent, your comfort level with two people in that tent may vary according to personal preferences, body size, and the gear you have. 

Most camping tents fall into these size ranges:

Large canvas wall tents can likely fit more people, but tend to be used as a short-term living situation at a basecamp of some kind. That way, you can lounge, sleep, organize gear, and cook all under one roof. These are unnecessary for most people’s camping needs but are preferred for some activities. 

The tent ventilation is an important feature to notice because it correlates to the season of use. Most 3-season tents will have far more ventilation than a 4-season tent since they are intended to be used during warm weather. Tents fabric walls and less ventilation make for a better 4-season tent. 

Most 4-season tents will have ventilation on the top and the bottom with areas to open and close to the desired size. Using both the top and the bottom ventilation windows helps with airflow and minimizes heat loss during the night while still preventing condensation buildup. 

The amount of mesh present on the tent can also be related to the weight class. For instance, ultralight tents tend to have essentially all mesh with a tub-style floor. This cuts down on the weight of the tent, allows for more comfort on hot nights, and then if needed, you can add the rainfly for weather protection or privacy. 

Most tents on the market have some water-resistant coating added to the materials. The materials themselves are also likely relatively water-resistant and quick drying. The benefit of having a waterproof coating of some kind is that water and moisture can then roll off instead of sitting and soaking through. 

While water-resistant coatings are nice, no matter the type or quality of the coating, if it is a solvent-based coating like DWR (durable water repellency), you will need to reapply or retreat the fabric from time to time. These coatings wear off with use and washing, and the tent will become less water-resistant. 

Most tent manufacturers will have information regarding tent maintenance and how to reapply these coatings appropriately. 

Some companies are beginning to integrate water-based coatings to their materials as a less toxic alternative. So far, these are rare, but they are gaining traction with some outdoor brands, especially because some of them never need to be reapplied and have similar if not identical water resistance as their solvent-based counterparts. 

How you use the tent can also impact the water resistance. For instance, using a footprint can help protect the floor from moisture. Keeping gear away from the sides of the tent is also essential. When gear is allowed to lean up against the sides of the tent while it is raining or while you are sleeping at night, condensation and moisture can leak through. 

When shopping, look at product descriptions and product tags to know what kind of coating is used. 

Looking at the materials themselves will tell you a lot about the tent’s durability. The materials used matter from the tent poles, the tent floor to the rainfly, and the mesh. Not only that, but how they are constructed can also influence longevity. 

Having reinforced and sewn seams versus glued seams is one example of material construction that can impact how long those seams hold up with use. Even if you aren’t going on a long-distance hike, you’re likely using your tent several times a year or more. I’ve had one two-person tent for over six years, and camp with large breed dogs almost every time. That’s a lot of wear and tear on a tent, but with the right construction, maintenance, and consideration when in use, tents can last a lifetime of use. 

How easy is the tent to set up? How easy is it to pack up and carry around?

How you intend to use the tent will help you narrow down how easy the tent needs to be to set up. If you usually camp alone, then having a tent that you can set up independently within a matter of minutes is helpful. 

If you camp with a partner, a more complicated tent setup may be feasible because you have more help carrying the materials and setting up and taking down the tent. 

In most cases, the lighter weight and smaller capacity tents will take 10 minutes or less to set up because they have a much simpler design. When camping with a large group or a family, the tent will have more pieces, which means it will take longer to get set up. Weigh the impact of convenience versus the level of comfort with your selected group mates. 

For the most part, many tents will have similar features. They will have variations within that particular tent design, but useful features included on tents include:

Other features may include how the tent is supported. Examples of this are inflatable tents that don’t utilize traditional tent poles or tents that can be set up using trekking poles and guylines. 

The best camping tent is one that protects you from the elements, provides your desired level of comfort, and will last you for several years. The types of camping you enjoy may be much different from someone else, making the choice very personal. Even if you couldn’t find the perfect tent for you on our list, we hope the “things to consider before buying” section helps guide you to your next best camping experience. 

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.