10 Best Backpacking Tents of 2024

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.
The NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 and Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 backpacking tents pitched in a campsite surrounded by granite peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains
NEMO Hornet OSMO & Big Agnes Tiger Wall – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Your backpacking tent will be one of the most important gear purchases you make. Finding one that has the best balance of weight, interior space, convenience, and weather protection will make it much easier to stay happy and comfortable on trail.

Our team of gear experts has spent over a decade testing more than 50 backpacking tents – from budget beasts to minimal ultralight shelters. We’ve hiked upward of 20,000 miles on trails all over the world, including treks through the alpine peaks of Patagonia, summer monsoons in the Rockies, and sweltering days in the desert, with more than 1000 nights in the wilderness. We’ll use our experience in this guide to help you find the best backpacking tent for you.

Though a regular backpacking tent will suit most people, anyone planning a long-distance adventure should definitely check out our guide to the best ultralight tents available. On the other hand, if cost is your primary consideration, we’ve caught some Zs in plenty of budget tents as well as larger camping tents for weekends away with the family.

Quick Picks for Backpacking Tents

Check out this quick list of the best backpacking tents, or continue scrolling to see our full list of favorites with in-depth reviews.

Best backpacking tent overall: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 ($530)

Best ultralight backpacking tent: Zpacks Duplex ($669)

Best budget tent for backpacking & car camping: REI Half Dome SL 2+ ($349)

Best semi-freestanding tent: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye ($450)

Best lightweight & sturdy tent for harsh conditions: SlingFin Portal ($560)

Spacious tent with innovative features: Sea to Summit Telos TR2 ($599)

Great option for UL hikers wanting more space: NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 ($550)

Most affordable backpacking & car camping tent: REI Trailmade 2 ($199)

What’s new

We’ve updated all of our reviews with more long-term testing results after several hundred more miles of experience with each tent over the past year.

  • The REI Half Dome SL2+ remains one of the best deals for a backpacking/car camping hybrid tent.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

Best backpacking tent overall

Price: $530

Weight: 3 lb. 2 oz.

Dimensions: 88 x 52/42 x 40 in. (wider at head, narrower at foot)

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person, 4-Person

Pros

  • Ultralight for a freestanding tent
  • Quick and easy to set up
  • Ample headroom
  • Very useful pocket layout
  • Large doors/vestibules
  • Quality construction/materials

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Rainfly zippers can snag

The Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of our all-time favorite backpacking tents – the CleverHiker team has spent hundreds of backcountry nights in this shelter. Its ultralight freestanding design enables hikers to pitch it almost anywhere, and it doesn’t sacrifice convenience, weather protection, or livability.

The Copper Spur is a popular choice among thru-hikers of the AT, PCT, and CDT, all of which are notoriously tough on gear. Despite the ultralight materials used in the construction of this tent, it can last for thousands of miles if you take the time to clear pokey debris from your campsites. We’ve taken several iterations of the Copper Spur 2 over a thousand miles each on trail, and they’re still going strong.

The bent-pole structure and ridge pole of the Copper Spur create nearly vertical sidewalls – maximizing interior volume and providing ample headroom. The UL2 has enough space inside for two regular-width sleeping pads and some gear. You can even squeeze a tapered wide pad plus a regular pad inside but you’ll likely need to store gear outside in that case. 

If you and your hiking partner both use wide pads (or you just prefer extra space), you’ll want to bump up to the Copper Spur HV UL3. Pretty unique in the backpacking tent category, the Copper Spur 2 and 3 are also offered in Long versions. The Copper Spur Long gives you a whopping 96 inches of floor length, so it’s a lot more comfortable for hikers over six feet tall who prefer to store all their gear inside. Whichever size you go with, you’ll have a backpacking tent that provides an exceptional balance of camp comfort and low packed weight.

Full Review: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

Zpacks Duplex

Best ultralight backpacking tent

Price: $669

Weight: 1 lb. 2.5 oz. (no stakes or poles)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 90 x 45 x 48 in.

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Ultralight
  • Very durable for the weight
  • Spacious
  • Ample headroom
  • DCF material won’t sag when wet
  • Large doors/vestibules
  • Trekking poles can double as tent poles

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Needs condensation management
  • Non-freestanding design has a learning curve

The Zpacks Duplex is our go-to ultralight backpacking tent for thru-hiking and long-distance adventures. This tent provides an excellent amount of interior space and weather protection at a low weight.

The Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) is a big part of what makes the Duplex such a great choice for thru-hikes. It’s waterproof, tough, incredibly light, and doesn’t sag when wet; the downside is that it’s very expensive. That said, the Duplex is a very worthwhile investment if you love to backpack light since it can last for several seasons if you treat it with care. 

The other key to the ridiculously low weight of the Duplex is its non-freestanding, single-wall design. This eliminates the need for dedicated tent poles (you use your trekking poles to create the structure) and a rainfly. It may take a few pitches to get it perfect if you’ve never used a backpacking tent like this before, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it with a little practice. Condensation can also be a bigger issue in single-wall tents because there isn’t a mesh layer to keep the interior separate from the flysheet, so ventilation and campsite selection become a lot more important.

The high ceiling of the Duplex allows you and your hiking partner to sit up comfortably at the same time, and the two-door design will keep you from crawling over each other to get in and out. If you’re looking for the best ultralight backpacking tent on the market, this is your guy.

The Duplex is spacious enough for two hikers, and it’s an absolute palace for one. But pairs of hikers who really like to spread out should look at the Triplex for even more square footage with a negligible amount of added weight. CleverHiker Founder, Dave Collins, has used both extensively, and the Plex tents are his absolute favorites for big mileage trips and hikes with a ton of elevation gain. For ultralight solo trips he packs the Duplex, but when he needs more space to share with a tentmate – like on his JMT thru-hike – he brings the Triplex. On the flip side, solo hikers who prioritize saving weight above anything can’t go wrong with the Plex Solo.

Full Reviews:  Zpacks Duplex, Zpacks Duplex Zip, Zpacks Triplex, and Zpacks Plex Solo

REI Half Dome SL 2+

Best budget tent for backpacking & car camping

Price: $349

Weight: 4 lb. 11.5 oz. (including footprint)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 90 x 56 x 42 in.

Size: 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Less expensive
  • Very roomy interior
  • More durable than many others
  • Freestanding design is quick/easy to set up
  • Footprint included

Cons

  • Heavier than some
  • Bulkier than some

REI’s Half Dome SL 2+ has an unrivaled blend of affordability, durability, and interior space. Its symmetrical freestanding design and very roomy dimensions make it comfortable and user-friendly for hikers of all experience levels. This is our favorite budget-friendly crossover tent for those who want a single shelter that works for camping in the frontcountry and the backcountry.

The spacious interior comfortably fits two hikers plus their gear – you could pack along two wide/long sleeping pads and still have room to spare. The generous amount of headroom also allows two campers to sit up comfortably which is a real perk on rainy days spent inside. While this isn’t the most glamorous camping tent nor the lightest backpacking tent, the Half Dome suits both needs well and costs far less money and storage space than buying a separate tent for each activity.

Though the weight of the Half Dome is more than we prefer for multi-day backpacking adventures, it’s not too bad when split between two hikers. In addition, you can save about 8 ounces by leaving the included footprint at home. Footprints aren’t strictly necessary and we often choose to hike without one. Just taking time to clear your campsite of debris before setting up will go a long way toward preserving your tent floor (but we wrote a whole post that’ll help you decide whether or not you should use a footprint). Plus the Half Dome already has a pretty robust floor as it is (40-denier nylon).

The NEMO Dagger 2 below is in this same crossover category, and – if money was no object – we’d recommend the Dagger over the Half Dome for its lower weight and larger amount of headroom. But budget is a top consideration for many of us when buying big-ticket outdoor gear, and the much friendlier price point of the Half Dome SL 2+ gets you a very comparable tent that won’t disappoint.

Full Review: Half Dome SL 2+

Stock photo of the Tiger Wall 2 with a white background

Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2

Best semi-freestanding tent

Price: $450

Weight: 2 lb. 8 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 86 x 52/42 x 39 in. (wider at head, narrower at foot)

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Ultralight
  • Very useful pocket layout
  • Quality construction/materials
  • Roomy for one
  • Two doors/vestibules (a perk for solo hikers)

Cons

  • A bit tight for two
  • Not as durable as some (floor material is thin)
  • No rainfly vents

Solo backpackers who want some space to sprawl and ounce-counting pairs of hikers will love the ultralight design of the Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2. With enough structure to perform well in inclement weather but a weight that’s barely over a pound per person when split between two hikers, the semi-freestanding Tiger Wall is a more convenient alternative to non-freestanding ultralight tents.

The Tiger Wall 2 and Tiger Wall 3 are top picks for CleverHiker Managing Editor, Ben Applebaum-Bauch. He’s used the 2-person version on over 1,000 miles of trail – including the Oregon Coast Trail and Superior Hiking Trail – and the 3-person version for his 3,000-mile CDT thru-hike with his partner. Both sizes of the Tiger Wall held up beautifully on trail, and only have minor signs of wear and tear to show for all the hard miles put on them – very impressive for such lightweight shelters.

Semi-freestanding tents can often feel a bit cramped, but – while the quarters in the Tiger Wall 2 are still a bit tight for two – this tent has a wider ridge pole than most others in this category. The ridge pole creates more livable space where we want it most – at the head when sitting up. Additionally, you can save valuable floor space by storing gear in the large mezzanine pocket at the foot of the tent. 

Another comfort feature of the Tiger Wall is the easy-to-use door toggles that give you the ability to roll back both sides of the vestibule to take in grand views or max out ventilation on clear nights. Since the Tiger Wall doesn’t have vents on the rainfly like many other tents, we prefer to sleep with one or both doors rolled back whenever possible for airflow.

Out of the three semi-freestanding tents on our list, this is the one we’d recommend most for pairs of hikers looking to balance weight and space most efficiently. Overall, hikers who prioritize saving weight and don’t mind sharing a tighter space will love the minimal yet functional design of the Tiger Wall 2. If you prefer more room to spread out, the excellent Tiger Wall 3 has extra floor space and a few more inches of peak height but is still lighter than many 2P tents.

Full Review: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2

SlingFin Portal

Best lightweight & sturdy tent for harsh conditions

Price: $560

Weight: 3 lb. 5 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 85 x 51/42 x 44 in. (wider at head, narrower at foot)

Size: 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Excellent weather protection
  • Lightweight
  • Roomy interior
  • Ample headroom
  • Freestanding design is quick/easy to set up
  • Useful pockets
  • Large doors/vestibules
  • Quality construction/materials

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Rainfly zippers can snag

With an extra stable frame, generous headroom, and top-quality construction and materials, the SlingFin Portal is an excellent lightweight shelter for hunkering down when nasty weather hits. 

The Portal can be set up with internal guylines that run along the interior walls at the head and foot to give the structure significantly more strength in wind than external guylines alone. In the most basic terms, the internal guylines take the stress imposed on the structure by wind and transfer it to the stakes where your tent is anchored to the ground. This keeps the tent from bending and contorting in the wind like most other lightweight backpacking tents would. Comfort is increased as a result, but it also bumps safety up several notches since your poles will have a far lower chance of snapping in strong gusts.

Thicker poles, internal guylines, and the ability to attach trekking poles for added structural integrity make the Portal super solid in wind, rain, and even light snow. These features are unique for a lightweight backpacking tent and are generally more common in high-end 4-season mountaineering shelters. Many hikers would probably be better off buying the versatile Portal rather than a dedicated winter tent that’s heavier and less practical for summer and shoulder season hiking.

One of our favorite features of the Portal is its generous headroom, which makes it feel much more livable than the average lightweight 2-person backpacking tent. While we wish there was a smidge more floor space from head to foot on this tent, the solid amount of breathing room up top keeps the Portal from feeling cramped.

Other details like great pockets and included replacement zipper sliders come together with the stormworthy design to make the Portal one of the best backpacking tents we’ve ever tested for staying comfortable and safe in harsh weather.

Full Review: SlingFin Portal

NEMO Hornet OSMO 3

Great option for UL hikers wanting more space

Price: $550

Weight: 3 lb. 5 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 88 x 68/62 x 44 in. (wider at head, narrower at foot)

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Ultralight for the size
  • Well-priced for the specs
  • Roomy for two
  • Convenient pockets
  • High-quality materials/construction
  • Good ventilation
  • Innovative stuff sack makes it easy to split the load

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Rainfly zippers can snag
  • Only one side of the rainfly can be tied back

Ultralight doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. With the NEMO Hornet OSMO 3, a pair of hikers can have the conveniences of a traditional 2-person tent – two doors/vestibules, a roomy interior, and useful pockets – without the additional weight. As an added bonus, this spacious shelter costs around the same amount of money as many of the leading 2-person backpacking tents.

You might want extra space for a variety of reasons – maybe you want to fit two wide sleeping pads with room to spare, or you travel with a large dog or an adventurous kid, or you just want a little more breathing room when sharing your tent with a partner. Whatever the case may be, the generous floor dimensions and peak height of the Hornet 3 will accommodate.

NEMO’s proprietary OSMO fabric repels water better than standard nylon or polyester flysheets, and – best of all – it stretches far less when wet. This means your pitch stays taut in the rain, and you won’t have to worry about saggy rainfly material creating wet spots on the tent body, your sleeping bag footbox, or your head.

We’ve always been big fans of NEMO’s attention to detail, high-quality construction, and innovative designs, and the Hornet OSMO 3 doesn’t disappoint. For those who prioritize saving weight over having extra space, the NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 is also a great choice and is a bit more affordable than similarly designed tents.

Full Review: NEMO Hornet OSMO 2

Sea to Summit Telos TR2

Exceptionally spacious tent with innovative features

Price: $599

Weight: 3 lb. 10 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 84.5 x 53 x 43 in.

Size: 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Excellent headroom
  • Quick/easy to set up
  • Very light for the amount of space
  • More comfortable living space than others
  • Excellent ventilation
  • Large doors/vestibules

Cons

  • Expensive
  • A bit heavier than some in this price range

The Sea to Summit Telos TR2 is an innovative tent with a lot of unique features to love. The biggest standout is its pole structure which provides far more headroom than any 2-person backpacking tent in its weight class.

The inverted ridge pole of the Telos points upward instead of sloping downward like most others. This creates tall door openings and practically vertical sidewalls that translate to a massive amount of headroom throughout the length of the tent. We find that having ample headroom inside a tent considerably increases comfort, and the Telos is certainly best-in-class for this spec.

CleverHiker Senior Gear Analyst, Casey Handley, took the Telos on a rainy test hike over the 40-mile Timberline Trail with her partner. This spacious tent provided a cozy retreat for the pair to wait out inclement weather when the rain really started coming down. There was plenty of room to keep gear dry inside as well as enjoy a game of cards until the weather quieted down.

The Telos also has exceptional ventilation – it features a huge apex vent that can be opened or closed plus low venting on the vestibules that can be deployed when necessary. We find that the vents create truly excellent circulation and provide comfortable and practically condensation-free nights. Other creature comforts, like the light-dispersing Lightbar and shady Hangout Mode, add to its livability and make the Telos feel like a little slice of luxury in the backcountry. 

Though it’s pretty spendy, the comfort the Telos provides is worth the cost if you’re looking for a versatile 2-person backpacking tent with all of the details dialed in. There’s really nothing else on the market like this tent, and we recommend it to hikers whose main priority is comfort on trail.

Full Review: Sea to Summit Telos TR2

NEMO Dagger OSMO 2

Best crossover tent for backpacking & car camping

Price: $530

Weight: 4 lb. 2 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 90 x 50 x 42 in.

Size: 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Very spacious
  • Freestanding design is quick/easy to set up
  • Light for how much space it offers
  • Durable
  • High-quality materials/construction
  • Large doors/vestibules
  • Great pockets

Cons

  • On the heavy side
  • Expensive

The NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 offers a ton of interior space at a reasonable weight, so it’s perfect for those wanting a tent that’s comfortable for both backpacking and car camping.

When split between two hikers, each will carry just over two pounds. While that’s not as impressive as some others at first glance, it’s actually very respectable when you consider the whole picture. The Dagger offers significantly more interior space than much of the lighter weight competition thanks to its long, rectangular floor and nearly vertical side walls. 

Since the Dagger has enough floor space for two wide/long pads and plenty of interior volume to comfortably hang out inside, it works quite nicely for car camping as well. Crossover tents like this one will save the user storage space at home and a ton of money over buying a dedicated tent for each activity.

The Dagger has many convenient features built in, like two huge, trapezoidal vestibules for gear storage, light-dispersing headlamp pockets, and an included tub accessory for the vestibule that keeps your gear clean and dry. The innovative OSMO fabric also doesn’t sag when wet (unlike Silnylon), and it remains waterproof for longer than the coated fabrics used for many other tents.

Though the Dagger is among the more expensive tents on our list, its ability to pull double-duty as a luxurious backpacking tent or a comfortable car-camping tent makes it a versatile option that’s worth the high price tag. Those looking for lightweight livability in a convenient design will find that the NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 is among the best of the best.

Full Review: NEMO Dagger OSMO 2

MSR FreeLite 2

Good balance of weight & livability for solo hikers

Price: $450

Weight: 2 lb. 5 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 84 x 50 x 39 in.

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Ultralight
  • Roomy for one
  • Two doors/vestibules (a perk for solo hikers)
  • Convenient pockets
  • Rainfly gutter prevents drippy entry

Cons

  • Tight for two

The MSR FreeLite 2 is a great option for those looking to go lighter without sacrificing the convenience of a double-wall tent. It has two large doors/vestibules, a smart rainfly design that prevents drippy entry in the rain, and a lower weight than many similarly designed tents.

We view the FreeLite as more comfortable for solo hikers since the interior headroom can feel a little cramped when spending any extended amount of time inside. But for pairs that value saving weight over having more interior space, the FreeLite has the dimensions to accommodate two people.

The rainbow shape of the FreeLite is effective at shedding precipitation, and the unique rainfly gutters direct water away from the zippered entry to prevent it from pooling up and pouring onto the floor while moving in or out of the tent in wet weather. 

Solo backpackers wanting the best mix of weight, livability, and weather protection will love the FreeLite, and pairs who would opt to save weight and don’t mind tight quarters will find that this tent delivers excellent performance.

Stock photo of the REI Trailmade 2 tent with a white background

REI Trailmade 2

Most affordable crossover tent for backpacking & car camping

Price: $199

Weight: 5 lb. 7 oz. (including footprint)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 88 x 52 x 40 in.

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Durable (strong zippers & thick material)
  • Freestanding design is quick/easy to set up
  • Large doors/vestibules
  • Footprint included

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Bulky
  • Lack of ridge pole limits headroom a bit

The affordable REI Trailmade 2 is a great tent for backpackers on a tight budget or those wanting to save money on a crossover tent that works for both car camping and backpacking. 

Though none of the Trailmade’s specs (other than price) are really standouts, the tried-and-true dome design holds up well in bad weather. The quality materials and construction of the Trailmade (strong zippers and thicker material) ensure this tent will remain reliable through many seasons of use. And the symmetrical free-standing design is quick and easy to pitch, so this is a great starter tent for beginners.

What holds the Trailmade back from ranking higher on our list is the lack of a ridge pole across the top. Most backpacking tents nowadays include this pole to pull out the sides of the tent and increase headroom – significantly increasing livability without much added weight. Since the Trailmade omits this pole, it feels a bit narrow inside across the spine – especially when the space is split between two hikers.

While we consider the Trailmade a bit heavy for backpacking, the weight and bulk aren’t too bad when split between two hikers. You can also save about 8 ounces by leaving the included footprint at home.

The budget-friendly Trailmade is an excellent investment for beginners and those wanting to get into the backcountry without spending a fortune. We would recommend trying to stretch your budget a bit for one of the more comfortable options on this list if you plan to backpack often, but you won’t be disappointed by the Trailmade if you really just need to keep costs down.

Full Review: REI Trailmade 2

Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo

Affordable & spacious ultralight backpacking tent

Price: $395

Weight: 2 lb. 13 oz. (no stakes or poles)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 90 x 54 x 45 in.

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person

Pros

  • Spacious
  • Affordable
  • Ultralight
  • Small packed size
  • Very durable for the weight
  • Ample headroom
  • Excellent ventilation
  • Large doors/vestibules

Cons

  • Seam sealing costs extra
  • Needs condensation management
  • Non-freestanding design has a learning curve

The Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo is one of the best value backpacking tents on our list due to its excellent blend of space, weight, and durability. CleverHiker Gear Tester, Heather Eldridge, has put the Lunar Duo through the wringer on multiple thru-hikes covering thousands of miles, and it continues to hold up like a champ.

The Lunar Duo is a bit heavier than many other ultralight non-freestanding tents, like the Zpacks Duplex above, but we find the weight tradeoff is worth the significant monetary savings for hikers on a budget. One thing that makes the Lunar Duo unique among non-freestanding tents is the arched brow poles over the doors. These poles maximize headroom along the entire length of the tent and give the Lunar Duo the most luxuriously spacious interior of any model in its class. 

The large vestibules are designed to open completely without disturbing the structure of the tent so you get the same ventilation and view benefits as a double-wall tent. On top of that, the floating canopy and peak vents work together to create ample airflow in the Lunar Duo – cutting down significantly on interior condensation. 

If you’re looking for a roomy ultralight shelter at an exceptionally affordable price, few tents come close to the Lunar Duo. 

Solo hikers wanting to cut down on weight even more, should check out the Lunar Solo. It’s one of our top 1-person tent picks because it’s very spacious for one hiker and their gear, it’s easy to set up, and it’s incredibly affordable for the specs. 

Full Reviews: Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo & Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo

Stock photo of the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 with a white background

MSR Hubba Hubba 2

Great balance of weather protection & weight

Price: $550

Weight: 3 lb. 4 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 84 x 50 x 40 in.

Size: 1-Person, 2-Person, 3-Person

Pros

  • Great weather protection
  • Freestanding design is quick/easy to set up
  • Durable
  • Lightweight for the weather-worthiness
  • Great pockets

Cons

  • Lack of headroom makes interior feel a bit tight
  • Expensive

The long-time crowd favorite MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is a standout on the backpacking tent market for its durability and weather protection. The rainbow shape of this tent leaves very little surface area along the spine to catch gusts of wind, and there aren’t any flat surfaces on the fly for water to pool. 

One of our favorite details of the Hubba Hubba is the gutter on the vestibule doors. This little feature directs water down a groove behind the rainfly closure providing a drip-free entry in wet weather.

The Hubba Hubba’s symmetrical freestanding design makes it quick and easy to set up and provides just enough space to squeeze two wide pads inside. However, we find that the pole structure causes the walls to slope inward – limiting interior headroom. 

That said, if you tend to be hard on gear or you often backpack in places with temperamental weather, the Hubba Hubba is still a top choice for its high-quality build at a relatively low weight.

Full Review: MSR Hubba Hubba 2

The Zpacks Triplex pitched in a rocky, high-alpine campsite on the John Muir Trail
Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

What’s Most Important to You in a Backpacking Tent?

WEIGHT

Your backpacking tent will be one of the four heaviest items in your pack – tent, backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad – so this is a great place to save weight. We consider weight one of the most important specs for backpacking gear. The lighter your backpack, the more comfortable it will be, the more miles you’ll be able to hike, and the more enjoyable your trip will be.

Best lightweight backpacking tents

Best ultralight backpacking tents

PRICE

We’re typically willing to spend a bit more for a high-quality backpacking tent with a low packed weight because we truly believe that leads to more comfortable and enjoyable backcountry trips. Livability and weight tend to trump cost in our books, but we recommend quality options at a variety of price points in our list below. If price is a key issue for you, make sure to check out our Best Budget Backpacking Tent list.

Best mid-range backpacking tents

Best budget backpacking tents

Best high-end backpacking tents

SPACE

When choosing a backpacking tent, look for one with a good balance of space and weight. Many backpacking tents come in multiple size options (1P, 2P, etc.), but it’s very common for tents to feel smaller than their capacity ratings imply. If you plan to share your tent with another hiker, think about how comfortable you are with tight spaces and the width of your sleeping pads (many 2P backpacking tents won’t fit two wide pads).

Most spacious backpacking tents

DURABILITY & WEATHER PROTECTION:

If you tend to be tough on gear or you often backpack in harsh, exposed conditions, picking up a more durable backpacking tent will likely be a smart choice. Small abrasions can easily be fixed, but all tents have their breaking points. If long-term durability is one of your top concerns, it may be beneficial to go with a tent that’s a bit more burly. Sturdier tents usually weigh more, but they’ll shed nasty weather easily and last a very long time.

Most durable backpacking tents

BEST 1-PERSON BACKPACKING TENTS

Going with a 1-Person tent is an easy way for a solo hiker to drop a lot of bulk and weight out of their pack. However, some solo hikers prefer having more space and would be happier in a lightweight 2-person tent. You’ll need to decide which is more important to you: saving space and weight in your pack with a 1P tent or having more room and versatility with a 2P tent.

Best 1-person backpacking tents

Best 2-person backpacking tents for solo hikers

Critical Tent Considerations

PRICE

You shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to get a great backpacking tent. That’s why this list contains an array of solid options at a variety of price points. If you backpack a lot, it probably makes sense to spend more for a quality product that will get many years of use. If you’re on a limited budget, you may want to check out our budget backpacking tent recommendations, but they do tend to be much heavier. 

CHOOSING A SIZE

The reality with tent sizes is that a lot of manufacturers exaggerate how many people can sleep comfortably in them. For example, many two-person backpacking tents are a tight fit for two average-sized people. If you plan on sleeping two people in your tent and want more space, you may find a three-person tent to be more comfortable. Extra space will add weight, so you’ll probably want to choose a lightweight tent to keep your backpack light. Check out our Tent Size Guide for more info on finding the right fit for you.

NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)

When researching tents, you’ll likely notice a few different specs listed for weight and it can get a little confusing.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)

PACKAGED WEIGHT VS. MINIMUM TRAIL WEIGHT

When researching tents, you’ll likely notice a few different specs listed for weight and it can get a little confusing. Some manufacturers may even exaggerate how light a tent is to make it seem more appealing. Unfortunately, there is no required set standard for measuring backpacking tent weights across the industry, but here are some tips to help you decipher all the numbers:

Packaged Weight

This spec refers to the weight of all parts of the tent plus any accessories it comes with when you buy it. This is usually the most accurate measurement to consider, and it’s the spec we’ve listed with all the tents on this list. After all, you’re going to be using tent stakes with your tent, right?

Minimum Trail Weight

This one gets a little hairy. Since there’s no required industry standard for calculating this, some manufacturers exclude more items than others. Minimum trail weight is generally accepted to mean just the essential components to keep you dry. It will always include the tent body, the rainfly, and the poles. This measurement usually excludes tent stakes (unless your tent is semi-freestanding), guy lines, and stuff sacks.

MINIMUM TRAIL WEIGHT

This one gets a little hairy. Since there’s no required industry standard for calculating this, some manufacturers exclude more items than others. Minimum trail weight is generally accepted to mean just the essential components to keep you dry. It will always include the tent body, the rainfly, and the poles. This measurement usually excludes tent stakes (unless your tent is semi-freestanding), guy lines, and stuff sacks.

DO YOU NEED A FOOTPRINT?

Almost every backpacking tent on this list comes with the option to buy a footprint that will help extend the life of your tent floor. Footprints are not necessary, though, and many choose not to use them. It’s totally a personal choice, but a footprint will ensure that your tent floor lasts as long as possible. If you need help deciding if a footprint is right for you, check out our post Do You Really Need a Footprint for Your Tent.

Left to right: Tent footprint for Copper Spur, Polycryo & Tyvek – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

PROTECTION

A backpacking tent that doesn’t protect against the elements is worse than worthless, it’s dangerous. So be careful about extreme budget tents you’ll find elsewhere. Every tent on this list will provide excellent storm protection to keep you safe, dry, and warm.

Zpacks Triplex – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

INTERIOR SPACE

Backpacking tents keep weight to a minimum by limiting interior space (and thus, use less material). One-person tents are great for dedicated solo hikers looking to travel fast and light. Two-person tents tend to be the most popular, because they strike a good balance between weight and interior space. Most two-person tents have just enough room for two sleepers and a few stuff sacks, with backpacks and extra gear stored in the vestibules. If you want more interior space for camping comfort, you may want to bump up one size in tents (for example, buy a three-person tent to fit two hikers). Just remember, interior tent space is a tradeoff between comfort and weight. Check out our Tent Size Guide for more information on choosing which model to go with.

SEASON RATING

Three-season shelters are the most popular backpacking tents and the style we’re focusing on in this guide. They’re built for spring, summer, and fall trips where you’ll need to keep bad weather out while promoting ventilation, which helps keep interior condensation to a minimum. Three-season tents can usually handle a little snow, but they’re not made for heavy snow and harsh winter conditions. If you’re looking for a winter worthy tent, make sure to check out our list of the Best 4-Season Tents.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 – Photo credit: Heather Eldridge (CleverHiker.com)
BA Copper Spur HV UL3 – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

SETUP

Freestanding tents are generally preferable because they’re easier to use and quicker to pitch. They come with a fixed pole system that can be set up almost anywhere – even on solid rock. Non-freestanding tents use stakes, guylines, and trekking poles for pitching. They save weight by cutting out tent poles, but require more time/space to pitch and will take more practice to master.

DOORS & VESTIBULES

If you plan on sleeping two people in your tent, it’s more comfortable to have two doors and two vestibules. Having separate entrances will ensure that you’re not climbing over a tentmate and two sets of gear every time you want to get in or out of your tent. That’s a huge benefit, and it’s why almost all of our backpacking tent recommendations have two doors and vestibules.

SlingFin Portal – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
Sea to Summit Telos TR2 – Photo credit: Heather Eldridge (CleverHiker.com)

WALL CONSTRUCTION

Double-wall tents come with two separate parts – a mesh tent body and a rainfly. The mesh inner-tent acts as a barrier from condensation that forms on the inside of the rainfly. Single-wall tents reduce weight by attaching the fly sheet directly to the mesh inner-tent, but that leaves hikers vulnerable to interior condensation in wet/cold conditions. Rubbing up against a wet tent interior is the pits, so we mostly recommend double-wall tents unless you usually backpack in arid, dry climates. For ultralight hikers open to the idea of single-wall shelters, have a look at our Best Ultralight Tents list.

DURABILITY

The main trade-off with lightweight backpacking tents is that they’re built using thinner materials, which tend to be less durable than heavy-duty shelters. That said, ultralight tents will literally last for thousands of miles if treated with care. It’s also important to remember that a sharp stick or rock will puncture just about any kind of tent fabric. If you’re tough on gear and don’t want to deal with lightweight materials, we recommend choosing one of our heavier recommendations built for durability or adding a footprint to to increase the durability of your tent floor. For our personal use, we think lightweight tents are well worth the tradeoff.

MSR Hubba Hubba – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
The Zpacks Duplex has large doors that are perfect for taking in big views.
ZPacks Duplex – Photo credit: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Honorable Mentions

The following backpacking tents didn’t make our final list, but they’ve still got a lot of good things going for them. You never know, one of these tents might be perfect for you:

REI Flash 2

REI has made some of our favorite tents over the years, but few have been as impressive as the Flash 2. This tent was a new offering from REI in 2023, but it’s currently out of stock for the foreseeable future. It’ll be back at some point down the line, which is why we felt it still deserved an Honorable mention on our list.

This freestanding tent has a weight and interior volume that rivals some of the most popular backpacking tents, but it costs far less than anything in its class. With its unique pole architecture, the Flash 2 manages to feel more spacious than tents with the same dimensions – like the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2. The headwall of the Flash 2 stands vertically and is supported by an arch pole that pulls the sidewalls out. As a result, you end up with more headroom where you need it most.

We’re eagerly looking forward to the return of the REI Flash 2.

REI Trail Hut 2

The affordable REI Trail Hut 2 is almost identical to the REI Trailmade 2 on our main list. The biggest difference is that the Trail Hut has a ridge pole at the peak that creates more headroom than the Trailmade has. The other key difference is that the Trail Hut has more opaque nylon on the walls for privacy, while the Trailmade includes more mesh on the walls for airflow.If you’re after a crossover tent that you’ll mostly be using for car camping and only backpacking with it occasionally, you’ll probably find this tent more comfortable. If you’ll mostly be using your crossover tent for backpacking, we recommend saving the money and going with the lighter Trailmade 2.

NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 2

This tent feels a little tight for two, but it’s a roomy option for solo hikers. This tent is very similar in design to our top pick – the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2.  We prefer the ridge pole design on the Copper Spur since it pulls the headroom out more and creates more interior volume at the peak where you really want it.

The Dragonfly is very light for a freestanding tent and has a tiny packed size, so it’s a good choice for hikers looking to shave weight and bulk from their packs. 

The proprietary OSMO fabric on the Dragonfly makes it a great choice for hikers who frequently go out in foul weather. OSMO sags less than sil-nylon when wet, doesn’t absorb water, and stays waterproof for longer than standard coated fabrics.

A granite peak over the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo
Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo – Photo credit: Heather Eldridge (CleverHiker.com)