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There’s nothing worse than camping when it is pouring down rain. What makes it even worse is if your tent is not waterproof and begins leaking. Everyone is sleepless and soaking.
Choosing a tent is not an easy task. So we’ve reviewed various categories of the best tents so you can be sure to find the right one for your next adventure. If you want happy campers, get a tent that is right for your camping expedition.
Depending on your group size and activity, one may be better than the other. Remember to consider the time of year and the weather when you are camping. We’ve chosen the best camping tents by category and reviewed them below.
Without further adieu, our tent reviews covering some of the best camping tent brands.
Backpacking | 4-Season | 2-Person Backpacking | 4-Person | 6-Person | 8-Person | Car Camping | Family
Best Backpacking Tent: Eureka! Solitaire Review
We chose this Eureka! Solitaire tent as one of the best backpacking tents. It weighs only 2 pounds 9 ounces and fits one person in its 2’8″ x 8′ space, making it great for your backpacking trips.
We consider this to be the best instant tent because it has a fast set up, so if you hike until dusk, it’ll take you no time to pop up. It has a large mesh roof for ventilation and has a full coverage fly, that is why it’s in this camping tents review.
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Best 4-Season Tent: ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian Review
Do you like camping in all weather climates? This 4-season tent from ALPS is the tent for you, then. It weighs 8 pounds 10 ounces, is 4’6″ high, the base measures 6’7″ x 7’8″, making it possible for three people to fit comfortably in it. This tent has excellent ventilation and two doors for access. The inside has storage pockets to hold your flashlights and other gear.
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Best 2-Person Backpacking Tent: Kelty All Inn Review
The Kelty All Inn is lightweight and easy to set up and tear down. It packs many features into only three pounds, including polyester walls, silicone nylon ripstop, waterproof floor, and rainfly.
The whole upper part of the tent is open for ventilation, which helps keep air flowing. And there are three doors so you and your sleep mates can enter and exit without disturbing slumber.
This is the tent that I own, and I love it! We’ve camped during light rain showers, and we were able to stay dry with the rainfly.
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Best 4-Person Tent: Coleman Sundome Review
Coleman is one of the best tent brands. This Coleman Sundome 4-person tent can be set up in less than 15 minutes. It stands 4’11”, tall and the base is 9′ x 7′. The large windows help with airflow, and there are pockets inside to keep your gear organized. The Weathertec System keeps you dry during rainstorms in addition to the bathtub style floor.
My husband and I purchased this tent so we could camp with our dog. It’s very spacious and kept us dry during the worst rain/thunder/lightning storm I’ve ever experienced at Wind Cave National Park.
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Best 6-Person Tent: CORE Dome Review
The CORE Dome 6-person tent is 11′ x 9′ and stands 6′ tall. It has panoramic mesh windows and ceiling to help with ventilation. The fabrics used for this tent repel water to help keep you dry. It also has an electrical cord access point.
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Best 8-Person Tent: Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent Review
By far, the most talked-about feature for this Coleman Red Canyon Tent is its waterproof technology, Weathertec System. We read review after review of people saying this tent kept them dry in the biggest rainstorms. It’s 6 feet high and 17×10 feet in size—this can easily fit three queen size beds in it.
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Best Car Camping Tent: Rightline Gear 110907 SUV Tent Review
The Rightline Gear 110907 SUV Tent can be attached to any size SUV, minivan, wagon, or pickup truck with a cap. If you need to take a vehicle somewhere, all you have to do is detach the tent and close up the opening, and you’re off. This tent can stand on its own while you cruise around sightseeing. The fabric is water-resistant, and it can sleep up to six adults.
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Best Family Tent: Wenzel 8-Person Klondike Tent Review
This tent from Wenzel can fit up to eight people. It has two rooms sectioned off, a screened sunroom, and a sleeping room. Five people can fit in the sleeping room, and you can fit another three in the sunroom.
If you have a family of five or fewer, you can use the sunroom as a place to store your shoes and gear or spread out more, so you’re not sleeping on top of one another. There are two doors, and the fabric is water repellent.
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Food Tastes Better When You’re Camping
We are not kidding here. Whether it’s a lunch meat sandwich, trail mix, or fruit, it all tastes better when you’re camping. Be sure to plan your meals for every day you’re away from home, including your travel days to and from your campsite, so that you can enjoy a delicious meal after your outdoor excursions and save money too. Make the meals easy to prepare. Remember, you’ll have to wash the utensils and pans that you use, so you’ll want to keep meals as simple as you can. REI has these tips to share with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G28YPvkcok
Camping Spots And Other Outdoor Gear
Read our guide to the best camping gear
Do you go on a camping trip every year or have a favorite spot you like to camp? Share your adventures with us! We’d love to hear about your tent camping hacks, including ways to keep things simple when you’re enjoying the outdoors.
What are you looking for in a tent?
I have had my tent for over 20 yrs. Every year. I water proof the tent and and rain fly. I didn’t have to in the first 5 yrs but it has seen some rough times. I wish I could find this tent again,it’s a Hilary tent. I can fit 2 queen size mattresses in it and have room for my duffel bags. I seam seal the floor also. I’ve been in some atrocious rain storms and only got wet once, the tent was sitting downhill, other than that I’ve never had it leak. A tarp that measures smaller than the tent goes under first. If it’s going to rain for a few days I’ll put a tarp up over the tent and picnic table and the firewood, so I can still sit outside and enjoy the day. To me Coleman was the worst tent I ever bought….but to be fair that was 10 yrs ago. The wenzel tent sounds so much like the Hillary that I may try that next. After 20 yrs I know I’ll need another tent. I am also interested in the tent that attaches to my Subaru.
so which tents would you reccomend then for someone who doesn’t like camping? I’m more of a glamper, so I guess I should stay at a hotel? LOL although your article did convince me to be more outdoorsy and adventurous!