Searching for the best backpacking tent can be grueling. Tents are not a one size fits all product. Now that would be nice, but it just isn’t the case. Picking the right tent really depends on budget, weight, and hiking situation.
What are the Best Backpacking Tents?
Carrying a tent on your backpacking trip can bog you down in weight. There are tons of variables and options out there. However, generally speaking, the lower the weight, the higher in price a tent will be.
While there are tons of tents out there to choose from, below are listed the best tents based on price, weight and durability.
The tents below are not listed in any particular order
Nemo Hornet Elite Ultralight 1 Person
1 Person: Amazon | REI 2 Person: Amazon | REI
- Packed Weight: 1 lb , 14 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 1 lb , 8 oz
- Packed Size: 19.0 x 4 in
- Floor Area: 27.3 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
Nemo has some of the lightest backpacking tents out there. The NEMO Hornet Elite Tent is a lightweight, 1-person and 2-person option backpacking tent. The pole is made from an aluminum featherlite material.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1 Person
1 Person: Amazon | REI – 2 Person: Amazon | REI – 3 Person: Amazon | REI
- Packed Weight: 2 lbs. 6 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 2 lb , 2 oz
- Packed Size: 17.0 x 5.5 in
- Floor Area: 20 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
Big Agnes is a brand that has been getting very popular over the past couple of years. Lightweight and durable for both backpackers and bike-packers. The poles are made from a DAC NFL material. The Big Agnes Copper Spur is available from 1-person all the way up to a 4-person options on Amazon, and offers a variety of colors. Although, not as light as other brands, it’s still great option.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 1 Person
1 Person: Amazon | REI 2 Person: Amazon | REI
- Packed Weight: 2lb 2oz
- Minimum Weight: 1lb 4oz
- Packed Size: 5.5 x 17 inches
- Floor Area: 86 x 38 inches
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
If the copper spur seems a little too much in price the Tiger Wall UL may fit your budget a little more while still packing ultralight. The design is a single pole system to keep this tent ultralight with a single vestibule.
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 2 Person
1 Person: Amazon | REI
- Packed Weight: 2 lbs. 4 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 1 lb , 15 oz
- Packed Size: 6 x 19.5 in
- Floor Area: 28 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
Another great Big Agnes option is their Fly Creek 2 Person tent. With a total pack weight with only 2.4 lbs this is a great option if a 1 person is just too tight and you want more space without carrying more weight. The poles are made of aluminum DC NFL as other Big Agnes Tents.
REI Co-op Flash Air Tent 1 Person
- Packed Weight: 1 lbs. 10.5 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 1 lb , 4 oz
- Packed Size: 16.0 x 6 in
- Floor Area: 21.3 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
I feel the REI brand gets overlooked. Similar to buying an off brand cereal opposed to a name brand. REI makes some great products that produce just as well, if not better than the competition. This tent is ultra-lightweight and go even lighter if you choose to use your trekking poles. This is a great budget option for how light this tent is. The only downfall is no mesh wall or removable rainfly so condensation could be an issue.
Kelty Salida Tent 1 Person
1 Person: Amazon | 2 Person: Amazon
- Packed Weight: 3 lbs. 14 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 3 lb , 6 oz
- Packed Size: 11 x 14 in
- Floor Area: 20 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
Kelty does not get the much needed attention the other brands above get. They produce great packs and their tents are not far behind. While this is not the lightest or packs down as small as the others its a great tent for the price. The SALIDA design won Backpacker Editors’ Choice 2011 award. With a pack weight of a little shy of 4lbs. It has a single door and double wall. Mesh/rainfly. This model is available in a 1 person up to a 4 person.
BUDGET: Ozark Trail 1-Person Tent
- Packed Weight: 3 lbs. 14 oz
- Minimum: Weight: 3 lb. 4 oz
- Packed Size: 22.5 in. x 4.5 in. x 4.5 in
- Floor Area: 22.5 sq ft
- Footprint Included: No
- Season: 3
This is not the best nor the lightest tent out there. It will get the job done. Coming in at 3.4lbs I’d say that’s pretty good for a Walmart branded product. This comes with two basic tent poles. This will need to be staked down with the 8 steel stakes for sturdiness.
Budget should not keep us from experiencing the great outdoors, but that’s just not the world we live in. If you are new to backpacking and are unsure about dropping a decent amount of money on other brands, head to Walmart or another outdoor store and find something within your budget.
I have used, and still use many products from Ozark Trail at Walmart and while the quality might not be the best, it has held up and done its job. I still use my Ozark Trail 3 Person Dome Tent with no issues.
Don’t get suckered into the mindset of “I have to buy the lightest and most expensive item to be on the trail” because that’s far from the case. I backpack to get away from people, not to impress them. So do your research, buy within your budget, and hit the trailhead.
