Here’s what people give up when buying a cheap camping tent

Along with your backpack and sleeping bag, your tent is the next big ticket item in your backpacking kit. Even though its walls may be paper-thin, your tent protects you from all kinds of weather – and provides a sense of security from anything lurking in the darkness of the night (hopefully just a raccoon). These three were tested by experienced backpackers backpacking tent Spans budget, mid-range, and extravagance levels, but all have been expert-tested as the best.

Best backpacking tents: at a glance

Best budget backpacking tent: Tarpant Double Rainbow

weight: 2.6 pounds (with aluminum pole)
Peak Height: 42″
Internal Space: 30.6 square feet
Vestibule Location: 16 square feet

Pros and cons
+ light
+ affordable
+ multiple configurations
– evaporation

At less than $300, the Tarpant Double Rainbow is a solid three-season tent that can sleep two people up to 6 feet 6 inches tall. Structural support comes from a single pole and a strut—choose between aluminum and carbon fiber—which expands headroom to a maximum height of 42 inches for comfortable seating. Use your trekking poles to make it freestanding or to add support in high winds or under the weight of snow. “Porch Mode” provides a large covered space in front of the door for cooking or shelter from the rain, and the vestibule folds completely back for uninterrupted views from your sleeping bag.

Our only complaint is that it collects more condensation than other tents. But at a price under $300, we can forgive the minor nuisance.

Best mid-range backpacking tent: The North Face Trail Lite 2

weight: 5.1 pounds
Peak Height: 41″
Internal Space: 30 square feet
Vestibule Location: 16 square feet

Pros and cons
+ affordable
+ easy setup
+ Solid weather protection
– Heavy

Even in wind gusts up to 45 mph, The North Face Trail Light 2 stayed in place. In fact, it’s so sturdy in inclement weather that one Maine-based tester said he would even feel comfortable pitching this double-wall tent at the beginning of winter. Strength comes from pre-attached guy lines, a 9.5-millimeter aluminum pole, a 20-denier nylon ripstop fly with a 1,200-millimeter water-repellent coating, and a tear-proof 75-denier polyester bathtub floor.

agreement? Weighing in at just over 5 pounds, it’s quite heavy for a backpacking tent. But protection from weather is perfect. Even without a fly vent, the all-mesh body allows for adequate ventilation. No worries about condensation here.

Best Splurge Backpacking Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3

weight: 3.8 pounds
Peak Height: 43″
Internal Space: 41 square feet
Vestibule Location: 18 square feet

Pros and cons
+ Great space-to-weight ratio
+ livable
+ versatile
– expensive

Rated as the best backpacking tent overall backpackerThis Big Agnes tent is expensive but worth the investment. The 41-square-foot Copper Spur UL3 is spacious enough to seat three people comfortably. The 90-inch length accommodates campers taller than six feet, and the 43-inch peak height allows for easy conversion. Plus, the 18-square-foot vestibule space is enough room for three sets of packs and boots. Four storage pockets, including a large overhead one, keep the floor organized. How it holds up in inclement weather The blend of 15- and 20-denier ripstop nylon with PFAS-free waterproofing stays dry even in heavy rain.

At a higher price, you’ll get a tent that’s lightweight (just 3.8 pounds) and remarkably resistant to condensation. If you want gear that checks all the boxes then this is the best backpacking tent for you.