10 Best Backpacking Tents of 2024

From the ultra-lightweight minimalist designs to the beefier, fortress-in-a-bag tents, these are the ten best backpacking tents for every adventure.

If you love camping outside, you already know how important it is to find the right backpacking tent. But finding the best one isn’t easy. There are just too many tents to choose from.

 

Sometimes it can feel like buying a new car with all the different features.

 

Do you want the backpacking tent with extra space, the ultralight backpacking tent, or the one that comes with that timeless wood paneling? (Side note: this doesn’t actually exist.)

 

These are difficult choices, indeed. And before you know it, you’ve spent more time shopping for a backpacking tent than you ever thought possible.

 

I’m going to help you fix that with this list of the best backpacking tents available on the market today.

 

You’re probably thinking, what makes a backpacking tent truly great? I’ve curated this list of tents to make sure you find the one that fits your needs. From the ultra-lightweight minimalist designs, to the beefier, fortress-in-a-bag-style tents, I’ve got you covered.

1. MSR Hubba Hubba NX: Best Overall Backpacking Tent

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX is an all-around winner that takes the cake as my all-time favorite as it doesn’t sacrifice too much space or utility for the sake of weight. MSR is one of the best tent brands on the market because they truly understand how to strike a balance.

 

The tent weighs three pounds, 13 ounces for the two-person version, and for that, you get enough space to fit two adults comfortably.

 

The tent also includes the standard two-door and two vestibule design. This makes it easy for two people to enter or exit and store all of their gear.

With an easy setup design and decent ventilation, it’s also a breeze to get into position quickly and remain comfortable once you’re inside.

 

If you’re looking for even more wiggle room for two adults to fit comfortably, the Hubba Hubba features asymmetrical design, meaning you can sleep head to toe to get a little more shoulder space.

 

The floor is also constructed of 30-denier ripstop nylon, making it durable enough for the trail, while still keeping it relatively light.

 

All in all, it’s a well-rounded and accommodating tent. Roomy enough, light enough, and durable enough to suit most folk’s needs on the trail!

2. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL: Runner Up Overall Best Backpacking Tent

Big Agnes clearly understands the balance between functionality, ultra-lightweight design, and comfort. The Copper Spur is another Big Agnes tent that comes in at almost exactly three pounds for a two-person tent, which is an impressive feat.

 

This tent manages to offer just a little bit more headroom, floor space, and vestibule space than its little brother the Tiger Wall. The additional space isn’t much, but maybe that’s the tipping point that makes this tent big enough for you. The Copper Spur is fully free-standing, and setup is easy.

As you might expect, the low weight of this tent makes it less durable than some of its peers. Like the Tiger Wall, the Copper Spur uses a proprietary double ripstop nylon. You really need to think about what you need your tent to do. If you’re roughing it off the beaten path, this ten’t durability may be an issue.

 

Despite its questionable durability, the Copper Spur is a fantastic tent midway between its lighter counterpart the Tiger Wall and the beefier/heavier tents such as the REI Half Dome and Marmot Tungsten.

3. REI Quarter Dome SL: Best 1-Person Backpacking Tent

REI tent design has bounded forward in the past few years. They’re no longer just a generic store where you buy big brands like Big Agnes, Nemo, and Marmot. Their own brand now makes some of the best backpacking tents you can get, and they have excellent prices too.

 

If you’re looking for a well-made backpacking tent that fits one person and won’t cost you an arm and a leg, the REI Quarter Dome is for you. They make a 2-person version, as well, which is just as good—just a little larger.

The Quarter Dome clocks in at two pounds, 14 ounces, making it a little heavier than some of the other tents in this class, but don’t let that deter you. The abundance of mesh pockets inside, internal access to the fly vent, and decent space for both you and your pack make it a solid choice for a lightweight backpacking trip.

 

The fly and tent body are made of comparatively thin 15 and 20-denier ripstop nylon. From my experience, they hold up to the elements reliably.

 

Thin materials do have their downsides, though—they’re more prone to becoming damaged. You should be careful when setting this tent up near sharp objects like rocks and branches. It’s worth buying a tent footprint to increase the lifespan of your Quarter Dome.

4. REI Half Dome SL+: Best 2-Person Backpacking Tent

Where the Quarter Dome trims and nit-picks features to reduce weight, the REI Half Dome SL+ maximizes your space and comfort and doesn’t shy away from that fact.

With vertical side walls to improve headroom, mesh pockets nearly everywhere you look, and enough interior space to make you feel like the king of the castle, these tents have everything you need—and they’re really reasonably priced (for tents, anyway).

But, a large tent at a low price point does come with its disadvantages—and in this case, that disadvantage is its weight. The one-person tent is a hefty four pounds, two ounces, and the two-person tent is four pounds, 15 ounces.

A lot of that weight is coming from the 70-denier nylon floor fabric—but that’s not entirely bad. The extra thickness significantly improves the overall durability of the tent. Combine this with generous storage under the 40-denier nylon fly and impeccable waterproofing, and you’ve got yourself your own wilderness fortress.

The extra weight is well worth the unparalleled comfort this tent offers. If you’re looking for something middle-of-the-road between the Half Dome and the previous ultra-light options, I have a few more options for you.

5. Nemo Dagger: Best 3-Person Backpacking Tent

Whereas the aforementioned Hornet is lightweight and portable, the Nemo Dagger focuses on durability and spaciousness.

 

At three pounds, 12 ounces for the three-person version, the Dagger is often compared to the MSR Hubba Hubba in terms of comfort and durability.

Like the Hubba Hubba, the Nemo Dagger also features a symmetrical design instead of tapered walls. This design choice helps to maximize the usable space for two people.

 

The Dagger offers lots of storage space thanks to its high-ceilinged fly cover vestibule space. This high ceiling is also evident inside the tent with a 42-inch height for some nice space to sit up.

 

This tent also features a 30-denier nylon floor, along with 15-denier fly and canopy fabric. This fabric is sufficient for serious backpacking.

 

Still, you’ll want to be careful when setting this tent up. The denier count isn’t as high as other tents, so it can get damaged from sharp objects. I recommend you purchase a tent footprint if you want to increase the lifespan of your tent.

6. Marmot Tungsten: Best Budget Backpacking Tent

The REI Half Dome isn’t the only ruggedly-built backpacking tent out there. The Marmot Tungsten hits the sweet spot as one of the best tents for backpacking. It has a durable and lasting design that comes with a very budget-friendly price tag, making it the best budget backpacking tent on this list.

 

Even better? It has a 68-denier polyester fly and floor fabric, and equally as strong mesh and canopy. This means that the tent will hold up against whatever the trail throws at you. The ample amount of mesh on the tent body also allows for decent ventilation.

There are a few drawbacks to this tent, however. The noticeable increase in weight counterbalances the durable construction. The two-person version weighs in at just an ounce lighter than the REI Half Dome. But, it offers significantly less space inside. This is at least in part due to the tapered construction of the tent body. If you like a lot of space, this tent may not be for you. You cannot sleep head to toe in it.

 

The lower price of the tent makes up for many of its shortcomings. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable tent, or just getting started with backpacking, this is a great choice. And for those who want a durable tent that will stick with them over the long haul, consider the Tungsten UL version.

7. Big Agnes Tiger Wall: Best Semi-Freestanding Tent

If you and a friend are looking for an all-around solid, ultra-light two-person tent, then the Tiger Wall by Big Agnes is definitely worth checking out. This tent is exceptionally easy to haul for long trips as it only weighs two pounds, eight ounces. It achieves this low weight because of its semi-freestanding design and thin material.

 

This semi-freestanding setup means the tent pole connects part-way on one side of the tent, and stakes are required to pull the tent out to its full size.

While this setup may not be as easy as fully-freestanding designs, it does cut down on the overall weight.

 

The tent also features a full mesh wall, instead of the standard part-mesh and part-nylon design. This produces noticeably improved ventilation, while the generous fly design provides enough space for pack storage for two people.

 

This tent is roomy enough that you won’t feel claustrophobic as you try to sleep. I’m not suggesting this tent’s a palace, but it isn’t the smallest tent on the market either. It splits space right down the middle and passes the savings on to you. This means it’s an excellent middle-of-the-road design.

8. Nemo Hornet: Best Backpacking Tent for Rain

The ultralight Nemo Hornet is another one of the best backpacking tents on the market. Built in one-person and two-person configurations, it weighs one pound, 16 ounces, and two pounds, five ounces respectively. For how light they are, these tents are “sturdy little shelters.”

 

The Hornet offers full bug and weather protection while remaining one of the lightest freestanding tents (you don’t need to use trekking poles) you can buy on the market.

The two-person version even offers a two-door design, which is an excellent perk for such a lightweight tent. Both the one-person and two-person versions also include good air circulation that limits annoying condensation buildup on the inside of the fly.

Throw in the minimalist seam construction (known as tub-design), and internal pockets to store a little gear, and you have a well-rounded, lightweight backpacking tent.

 

The Hornet accomplishes these features by truly living up to its label as “a sturdy little shelter.” The company sacrificed size to lower this tent’s weight., This is something you’ll notice when you try and share the two-person with another adult.

If the occasional elbow in your space is the price you’re willing to pay to increase your range for a phenomenal hike, then the Hornet may be the tent for you.

 

If you’re a solo hiker that likes a little more breathing room, I’d recommend going for the two-person and enjoying that extra space.

9. Zpacks Plexamid and Duplex: Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent

If weight and durability are something you value, this is the right tent for you. I’m talking to you hardcore PCT and ATers.

 

Your hikes are already intense enough as it is. That’s why you need to shave every single ounce you can, and you’re willing to pay for this luxury.

If that sounds like you, check out the Zpacks Plexamid (one-person) and Duplex Flex (two-person). Zpacks is the best ultralight tent brand on this list, and these two models are easily the best options in terms of weight.

 

These are ridiculously lightweight tents. I’m talking so light that you won’t believe it. They take up minimal space at just 14.8 ounces, and one pound, 3.2 ounces for the one-person and two-person respectively. This tent’s portability is something that separates it from the rest.

 

These tents are constructed out of Dyneema, a material that’s renowned for its strength to weight ratio and commonly used in boat sails. Zpack’s decision to use Dyneema in their tent design makes this tent incredibly weather resistant and as durable as they come.

 

You’d think a tent on a diet would be cramped. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. These tents are surprisingly roomy given their low weights. I’m not talking get up and walk around in them big, but these tents also won’t make you feel like you’re sleeping in a coffin.

Still, these tents aren’t perfect.

 

It’s time I address the elephant in the room, and by that, I mean the price. This tent is extremely pricey. Coming in at over $549 for the Plexamid, and $725 for the Duplex Flex, you need to be a diehard backpacker before you consider these prices.

 

The Zpacks ultralight tent also takes a little bit more work to set up than most standard tents. This may not be the best option if you want a tent you can pitch and sleep in quickly.

 

The base designs of the one-person and two-person tents come without poles. Instead, you use your trekking poles. I recommend you practice setting this tent up before using it. Unless, of course, your idea of fun is trying to pitch a tent in the pouring rain.

 

Note: If you don’t want to use trekking poles, there is an option to buy tent poles, which means upgrading your order to the Duplex flex, or adding tent poles to your Plexamid order.

10. Hilleberg Jannu: Best Backpacking Tent for Mountaineering

Hilleberg is known by many as one of the top tent makers in the world. And it shows with their Jannu design. This tent is built for extreme mountaineering. It’s for the rugged backpacker that wants to brave the elements and needs a reliable tent that can survive it all. The distinctive aerodynamic shape and strong pole design allow this tent to stand up to the worst weather.

 

As for setting this tent up? It’s a breeze. The intersecting pole design only requires the single vestibule to be staked. Talk about smart design!

The double-wall also allows for impressive ventilation, while the tent floor area is ideal for two hikers. Despite its comparatively heavy weight, this tent also functions well for a single hiker. You can sprawl out in it with a fair amount of gear, making it a reliable choice for lengthier, or more arduous trips.

 

The extreme quality and ruggedness of this tent come at a steep price. At almost $1,000, this is the most expensive tent on the list. But when it comes to high-intensity trips, this is the backpacking tent you want by your side. If you plan to try some riskier hikes, this tent is worth every penny.