The Best Backpacking tents should provide comfort and sufficient shelter and protection from mother nature’s elements.
However, when choosing the best back packing tents, we need to consider weight, costs and what tent design will be suitable to meet our needs.
These backpack tents below are our choice above the rest on the market. Although each tent will meet the needs of most people, we all have different requirements.
Some want comfort, room and storage space, whilst other minimalist’s want to knock a basic tarp shelter up. This guide is for those that want a good quality camping tent for future adventures.
Best Backpacking Tents – Budget Options
The Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Person Tent
Features/Spec:
- Free-Standing, lightweight, solo camping (8 by 3-foot floor)
- Large sized side opening door with twin track zippers and offset window
- Two large no-see-um mesh ends for even more ventilation
- Main fly and floor seams are factory taped for weather protection
- Center height of 38 inches; weighs 3 pounds, 14 ounces
The no-see-um mesh ends offer good ventilation. The eureka solo is a good inexpensive option by any light weight tents standards ( approx $130.00) that weigh’s under 4 lbs. This two-pole tent sets up quickly and easily, enabled by the 9mm DAC Press-fit 7000 series aluminum poles.
Free standing. The fly will be necessary for cold weather camping, or rain due too the air flow and weather protection. However, a summer’s evening the excellent air flow would be great for comfort and to enjoy stargazing, whilst making it even easier to set up.
The short pole for the fly can be a tight whilst setting up in the slots. Testing the set up at home, will help a person to become familiar with this tent and make adjustments if needed for the fly pole.
- Suitable for:
- Backpacking/Hiking/Camping/Cycle Touring
- One Person
- Those wanting quality on a budget
- Up to approx 6ft tall
The Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7′ 5″ by 4′ 11″ Two-Person Tent
This 3 season eureka tent is said to sleep two people comfortably. However, sacrificing extra weight will come with having two vestibules providing plenty of storage space.
This may not be the lightest of tents although it is for the price. Unless, fixing a tarp shelter up.
- Features/Spec:
- Two mesh gear pockets for internal storage
- Clothes line loop, flashlight loop
- 2 doors, 2 windows
- Area: 36.5 square feet
- Floor size: 7 feet, 5 inches by 4 feet, 11 inches
- Center height: 3 feet, 7.5 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds, 12 ounces
- Freestanding
- Bathtub Floor
- Suitable for:
- Those on a budget
- Using a tent for limited backpacking trips and static campsite trips.
- Like storage space
- Need to weather the 3 seasons
Best Backpacking Tents for Solo Camping-One Person Tents
The MSR Hubba Tent (Spring 2010) is a best-selling freestanding solo tent and weighs less than 1.4 kg (3 lbs.).
- Features:
- Minimum weight is just 1.27 kg (2 lbs 13 oz.)
- Unique pole configuration provides maximum interior space, StayDry entrance, and a large vestibules for gear storage.
- All-in-one hub-and-swivel pole design is strong and simple to use making the Hubba easy to set up.
- This tent is versatile and can be used as a double-wall tent for full protection or in 2 freestanding tarp-shelter modes: with optional footprint, or just the fly and poles only for the ultimate in weight savings.
Another nice feature for the hubba is the ease of entrance and exit via the side. This always makes a tent like this one a good backpackers option by making the tent smaller in width, saving extra weight, without having to clamber in and out.
Suitable For:
Most people looking for the best backpacking tents at a reasonable cost, with the option of cutting weight by using in the tarp shelter mode.
3 Season camping, spring, summer and fall.
The lightweight Big Agnes Seedhouse SL – 1 Person Tent (Spring 2010) is a 3 season, freestanding option.
Hub/pole system is super lightweight and tent body attaches quickly and easily to the pole frame with plastic clips.
Features:
- Full weight 2 lbs. 13 oz
- 3 Aluminum DAC Featherlite NSL Poles
- Vestibule Area is 5 square feet
- Packed size 5.5 x 16 inches
Includes one mesh pocket inside the tent, just above the door. All seams on tent body and fly are sealed with seam tape; features waterproof zipper with storm flap.
The agnes provides plenty of space inside and within the vestibule for gear.
Suitable For:
Those searching for light weight tents whilst also providing room for gear. Those minimizing weight.
The GoLite Shangri-La 1 Person Tent is a lighter option used as a basic shelter that you may consider.
2 Person Best Backpacking Tents
The MSR Hubba Hubba Tent
This Backpacker Editors’ Choice Award winner and best-selling 2-person freestanding tent, now weighs in at under 4 pounds (1.8 kg) and, thanks to an all-new pole-hub system, is very strong. It still boasts unmatched livability, with lots of elbow room, 3 setup options, 2 doors and vestibules, and 2 stay dry entrances that keep the inside dry even with the vestibules open.
The other top rated 2 person tent we like is the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL – 2 Person Tent (Spring 2010)
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- Floor Length: 84″
- Floor Width: 52″ at head, 42″ at foot
- Head Height: 38″
- Full Weight: 3lb 6oz
- Fast Fly Weight: 2lb 2oz
- Packed Size: 6.5″ x 16″
- Floor Size: 28 sq ft
- Vestibule Area: 8 sq
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This 3 season tent is said to be roomy for two and a palace for 1. The same applies with most backpack tents, if room above weight is your preference, then buy camping tents, 1 person above the spec recommendation.
Easy set up system and very light below 4lbs for a solid structure. The single hub/pole design makes set up easy and the plastic clips attach the tent body to the pole frame enable the ease (SL1 features fabric loops instead of clips along the ridge pole to decrease weight).
Suitable For:
2 sharing going lightweight, although a very good option for 1 person that wants comfort and the extra room whilst still keeping the weight down.