Backpacking is a way of life–and when your lifestyle involves the great outdoors, the right gear is a must-have. For backpackers, our opinion of fun does not just include day hikes, but multi-day hiking and camping endeavors.
To remain safe, the most important parts of any outdoor backpacking adventure are shelter, water, and food. Your pack will have the necessary gear and water and food, but to ensure you have the best protection, you need the best quality tents that will not weigh you or your pack down.
There are many excellent tents out there that are perfect for the backpacker, both novice and experts. Below you will find our compilation of the Best 7 Highest Rated Tents for Backpacking.
1. Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent
Brand: Coleman
Available in three colors, this Coleman 8 Person Red Canyon tent is roomy, light enough to haul, and very affordable. This tent is intended for family camping expeditions, as it can accommodate eight campers within.
The interior measures 17 ft x 10 ft with a 72 inch center height. The center height is in a dome form. Included inside of the tent are room dividers. These dividers allow you to create three separate rooms. This tent has been tested out in the wilderness for years and comes highly rated by backpackers.
The tent even has some protection aspects such as a Cool-Air port and Variflo an adjustable venting system, which will allow you to adjust the interior airflow and to access your gear.
Setting up this tent is simple too–included are shock-corded poles and easy instructions. Separate storage bags for the tent, the poles, and the stakes are included.
As a backpacker, you must haul this tent. If you are in a party of backpackers, this is an ideal situation, because even though this tent is not incredibly heavy, having one individual carry the tent and the others carry their packs filled with supplies, is ideal.
This tent weighs a total of 21.5 pounds.
You can purchase this Coleman tent in three different colors: Black, Red, and Blue.
You can purchase the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent on Amazon.com from $114 to $140 depending on the color you choose.
2. Sundome 4 Person Tent (Green and Navy Color Options)
Brand: Coleman
Coleman’s Sundome 4 Person Tent is an attractive, lightweight, and very affordable option for backpackers. This highly rated and popular tent is made of Polyester and can sleep four people inside. With a 59 inch (4 ft 11 in) center height (dome shaped), this tent is perfect for small backpacking parties. The footprint measures 9 ft x 7 ft and fits four people or one queen size airbed.
The poles that hold this tent into place are 8.5mm fiberglass and the floor is 1000D Polyethylene for waterproofing and care-free sleeping. WeatherTec system’s patented welded floors and inverted seams help keep any water out. The Insta-Clip pole attachments stand up to wind and will keep any wind chill out of the tent without issue.
This Sundome even includes an electric access port if you need it.
The ground vent and large windows allow for air to move upwards and out for great circulation. The interior is very spacious and gives you room to move around.
The awning is perfect–this rainfly is excellent for shade and protection from rain and wind.
Inside of the tent, there are storage pockets so you and your team can keep your gear organized. The carry bag for the tent is included as well, for easy hauling and transport.
This tent is absolutely no problem to carry for any backpacker. At a total weight of only 8 pounds, hauling this dome around is a cinch.
Depending on which color you choose, this Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent will cost you $61.99 on Amazon (Green), or $67.63 (Navy).
3. Coleman Hooligan Tent
Brand: Coleman
is a versatile and affordable tent to bring on backpacking endeavors. You can choose from a 2, 3, or 4 Person size tent in a highly visible Survival Orange/Red color.
This fiberglass tent features WeatherTec’s patented system with welded floors and inverted seams to keep out water as you sleep. The interior is spacious, with room to move, and the tent itself only takes around 10 minutes to set up. The dome design is great for protection against the wind and rain, and the included full rainfly is added protection from the rain, the wind, sun, and the cold.
The entry has a fully-covered vestibule for a dry entry, and added wind protection near the door. The inner tent contains full-mesh material for superior ventilation. The interior measurements (for the 4 Person model) include a footprint of 9 ft x 7 ft, with a 4 foot 10 inch center height underneath the dome.
The tent comes with snag-free, continuous pole sleeves for a simple outdoor setup.
This highly rated Coleman Hooligan Tent has been tested outdoors for years and is a favorite of hikers and campers. Backpacking is easy with this tent: the 4 Person model weighs only 11.6 pounds!
You can purchase this Coleman on Amazon.com for an excellent price. For the 2 Person model, this tent costs only $48.42; the 3 Person model costs $76.90, and the 4 Person model will only set you back $84.15.
4. Coleman Evanston Screened Tent
Brand: Coleman
The Coleman Evanston Screened Tent is a unique and modern twist on a camping and backpacking tent for the outdoors. It is very popular due to its construction, price, and interior space it offers.
You can purchase a 6 or 8 Person tent in this model design.
6 Person
Made from Polyester Taffeta 75D, the 6 Person sleeper has an incredible footprint of 14 ft by 10 ft with an amazing 68 inch center height. It has room for two queen size airbeds or 6 individuals. This size weighs 20.9 pounds.
8 Person
Made from the same Polyester material, the 8 Person sleeper has a footprint of 15 ft by 12 ft with a 72 inch center height. This size weighs 26.38 pounds.
Both sizes feature a fully screened front porch, which keeps the bugs and critters out of your sleeping space. There are four large windows that allow for maximum ventilation, as well.
The weathering system is top-notch and is guaranteed by Coleman to keep the occupants dry. The setup of this tent is quick and easy and is designed to be put up and taken down with speed.
Amazon.com has this attractive Green Coleman Evanston Screened Tent available for a great price. The 6 Person size will cost you $118.99 and while the 8 Person size will only cost you $140.56.
5. Coleman Instant Cabin
Brand: Coleman
Coleman’s Instant Cabin is a wonderful backpacking tent that has a ton of extra features that make this model perfect for anyone seeking to weather the outdoors on a multi-person trip.
Available in 4, 6, and 8 Person tent sizes, this beautiful light blue, grey, and dark grey tent is sturdy, protective, and easy to setup and take-down.
Taking the middle size, the 6 Person tent as an example, the center height is an astounding 6 feet 2 inches, with an interior size of 10 ft by 9 ft. The center height makes it person to stand in for most individuals. This allows for better comfort, airflow, and protection.
For larger backpacking groups, the 8 Person Instant Cabin has 14 ft by 8 ft of room. The smallest tent, the 4 Person size, has an interior of 8 ft by 7 ft and contains a smaller center height of 4 ft 10 inches.
As for weight, the 4 Person tent weighs only 15.4 lbs; the 6 Person weighs 22.44 lbs; and the 8 Person size weighs 29.59 lbs. It can hold four people or a single queen size airbed.
The Illumiline reflective guy lines allow for excellent visibility at night for when you need to excuse yourself from the tent. The spacious interior can hold two queen size airbeds or 6 individuals.
For superior protection, the built-in vented rainfly is perfect for keeping out the elements, such as rain water, wind, snow, etc…
Like the best Coleman tents feature, this Instant Cabin also has the WeatherTec system, which is patented by Coleman and features welded floors and inverted seams to keep water out of your sleeping and storage spaces.
When it comes to setting up this cabin, the poles are pre-assembled and quick to set up–if you have set it up at least one time in practice, it will only take you a minute to do so outdoors!
Amazon.com is selling the Coleman Instant Cabin for an excellent price for all three sizes.
The prices for the Coleman Instant Cabin on Amazon are as follows:
4 Person: $118.99
6 Person: $159.63
8 Person: $237.13
6. ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 2 Tent
Brand: ALPS Mountaineering
Alps Mountaineering has one of the best backpacking tents on the market for a price less than some of the less important hiking gear you carry. Protection from the elements is important, and this tent will help keep you dry and out of the elements.
The Meramac 2 Tent by Alps Mountaineering is a two-person dome tent made from Polyester Taffeta and features factory sealed fly and floor seams to offer backpackers the best weather protection as they sleep. The Weatherproof Fly has a Ridge Pole, which makes for a great awning over each door, which are angled to repel water away from the tent.
The interior dimensions are as follows: 5 ft x 7 ft 6 inches. This is enough room for a two-person sleeper. And at a weight of only 7.65 pounds, it is easy to haul with you as you hike.
The Easy Entry is designed with 2 doors and contains a single zip operation, which makes for easy coming and going while keeping the interior clean and dry.
The Meramac 2 Tent offers excellent ventilation, which is extremely important whether you are camping out in hot or cold territories. There are 2 zippered windows in the doors as well as large side mesh panels.
The set up is also very simple with shock corded fiberglass poles and a free standing 2-pole design. This is a very sturdy tent that can withstand wind, rain, and other elements you may encounter in the great outdoors.
As a very popular and high rated backpacking/camping tent, the Alps Mountaineering Meramac 2 Tent is available on Amazon.com. You can purchase this tent for $69.97.
7. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 Tent 2015
Brand: ALPS Mountaineering
Another Alps Mountaineering model has made the list and rounds out the Top 7 Highest Rated Tents for Backpacking.
The Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 Tent (2015 edition) is another fantastic choice and is the only tent on this list that is created especially for one person occupancy. The Lynx 1 Tent is made of the famous Polyester Taffeta material and features a dome design that allows for more interior room, greater center height, and aerodynamics in order to repel rain away and withstand the wind.
Once assembled, the base size of this 1 person sleep is as follows: 7 ft 6 in by 2 ft 8 in, with a center height of 3 ft at the center dome. The tent takes up an area of 20 square feet. The total weight is an incredibly light 3 lbs, 15 ounces.
When you have it packed away in your backpack, the size of this Lynx 1 Tent can shrink down to 6 in by 17.5 in, unassembled.
This tent has a free standing, 2-pole design using 7000 Series Aluminum poles. Pole clips are included help make assembly easy. The Fly is made from 75D 185T Polyester and is rated to resist UV damage as well as designed to remain taut so it does not sink in during rain.
Polyester Taffeta is also used for the floor, which has a factory sealed fly and floor seams for superior weather protection. The 75D 185T Polyester Taffeta floors have 2000mm of coating for water and weather proofing (as well as to make cleaning easier), and the tent has extra large zippers.
Ventilation is not an issue with the Lynx. The half mesh walls increase natural ventilation easily.
Included with this tent are mesh storage pockets, gear loft, 7075 aluminum stakes, and guy ropes. There is even a vestibule for gear storage and protection as well as weatherproof fly which buckles on for maximum protection and adjustability.
You can purchase this excellent, lightweight, 1 person sleeper on Amazon.com for only $79.77.
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