Best Camping Tents

Adventure, they say, fuels our lives. For people who love to partake adventures on a regular basis, be it a treacherous climb or a peaceful trek, there is nothing more important than to have the gear to back your spirit. For it is your gear, which is your most important companion and can make the difference between a successful trip and otherwise.

While every aspect of gear is very important, it’s the roof above your head at such times, which can make or break a trip. It keeps you protected to a climate or environment you aren’t used to and is the equivalent of your home, while on the road. Just like we want our homes to comfortable and sustainable in the long run, your tents also determine your comfort level and how long you can sustain yourself in the face of nature.

In an ideal world, we would like the comfort of our homes to give us company as we traverse unchartered territories, but where’s the fun in that? The fun comes from the experience of giving up control and letting nature and your surroundings take over. And your tent is the balance of where you experience the rawness of nature while still in control of your health and immediate environment.

To make this job, of knowing your tents, easier, we have reviewed the best tents out on the market. Each of their specifications and features has been discussed in detail so that you know what to take with you on that next trip.

Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent

The Sundome 4-person tent is perhaps the backpacker’s dream. Made entirely of polyester, it has spacious interiors which allow you to move comfortably in the tightest of situations. Setting up a tent can sometimes be a tough job. If you’re going on your first trip, you need a tent that can be set up without too much effort. Even if you’re a seasoned professional, the harsh environment around can make it difficult to set one up. With the Sundome 4 Person tent, setup is as easy as it gets. It takes all of 10 minutes to set up the ideal home for the nomadic spirit.

The other most crucial factor when it comes to tents is its resistance towards rough weather. Sure, when the sun is beating down on you, it doesn’t seem all that tough. But what if the weather is not your friend on a particular day? The Sundome 4-Person Tent is all weather compliant and guarantees to keep you and your belongings bone dry even as the rain pours outside. So much so, that you wouldn’t even have to put any tarp underneath as you might have to do on other models. The protection is extended to the seams as well. There is a rainfly which protects the seams and ensures that not a drop water comes in.

The ventilation throughout the length and breadth of the tent is adequate and ensures you don’t feel stuffy even when the rain cover is on. There is also an additional vent by the rear of the tent, which allows for additional airflow to keep the inside fresh and well circulated. Without the rain guard installed, the upper walls of this tent are screened for you to gaze at the Milky Way and admire the sky and stars.

The tent has a comfortable height when erect. You can sit inside comfortably with a couple of chairs and not worry about bumping your head on the roof every time. It also has an opening for you to run an extension cable if you happen to be camping with electricity. With 2 large mesh pockets on the inside walls, your storage is also taken care of. And you can also hang a battery or a lantern on the hook provided on the roof. It’s these small things that sometimes go a long way in determining the good from the best.

Besides all of the features discussed, the tent also comes neatly packed in a carry bag, with tent, poles, rain fly, ground stakes, doormat, and instructions. The folding of the tent and the bag that it comes in, ensures that it is very easy to carry and takes up almost no space when compared to the features it holds within.

While the stakes on the tent aren’t the best, it’ll only set you back around $10 to buy better ones. With that in mind, there is no reason to not gift yourself or a friend the Sundome 4-person tent before setting out on the next big adventure. This tent is currently only exclusively available for shipping within the United States. However, if you are someone who is outside of the country and are interested in this product, you can directly contact the manufacturers and request for an international shipment. While you might have to pay a little more for international shipping charges, the extra fees will be well worth it once you get to experience the Sundome 4-person tent yourself.

The Chilbo Cabbins Best 2-Person Tent

The Chilbo Cabbins Tent has a quality build and is a good value dome tent for camping. It has been built to withstand the elements using premium materials such as a Full Fly Sheet and Oxford Flooring, which ensures that you have a softer and more luxurious base for your tent. It also comes with 200mm Waterproofing and has all its seams sealed to keep you dry while in the tent. It’s just not waterproof, it’s storm-proof.

It is built to be roomy enough to accommodate 2 people with their gear and can even accommodate 3 people if you’re okay with a cozier setting. The tent also contains internal pockets for storage and is further reinforced with cross-wound poles, which makes it sturdy. The carry bag it comes in is sufficiently roomy and ensures that it’s a quick hassle-free wrap up every time.

This camp tent comes with a covered entryway that provides shelter from the elements of Nature enabling you to take off those muddy boots before you retire to the inside. and has a sturdy frame which is responsive to wind. This makes for quick, easy shelter while backpacking or hiking. Another interesting and hugely useful feature is the No-See-Um mesh which helps protect you from critters and other insects.

The tent also ensures easy access in and out along with adequate ventilation. It has large D-frame doors and receives cross-ventilation from the 2 mesh window panels. Even with all of these features, the tent sets up and disassembles in minutes without the need to use any tools at all.

However, the issue with this tent resides in the fact that it has no reinforcements at stress points and hence can sometimes pose the issue of not being a free-standing tent. At 8 lbs, it certainly isn’t the heaviest model but is not ideal for a multi-day backcountry trip. However, with all its specs, they’re perfect for music festivals, car camping, weekend trips and overnights in the backyard and at a cost that won’t break your bank. This tent can be shipped within the United States as well as various select countries outside. To know more about qualifying shipping destinations, please inquire with the vendor.

Browning Family Camping Tent

Whoever says camping is only for the solo traveler and not a group or family expedition clearly didn’t use the Browning Family tent. The tent comes with fiberglass poles and steel uprights which give it extra strength and support. It also lends it a free-standing design which serves as a huge advantage.  With a Base Size of 10′ x 15′, a Centre Height of 87″, this tent is more than adept at accommodating an entire group or family.  The relatively taller center is a boon for those of us who always have to buckle our heads while inside. Additionally, the straight walls and wall divider for two rooms ensures that there’s maximum space for all the inhabitants.

The tent also comes with two large doorways, six windows and a mesh roof that offers easy entry and sufficient ventilation. It also comes fully equipped with mesh storage pockets, polyester fly, guy ropes and steel stakes ensuring that all the needs and belongings of the group/family are properly stored and protected from the elements of nature. Also known as the Big Horn, this product is adequately equipped to ensure that you enjoy your campout even when the weather gods are against you and the conditions extreme. The full coverage 75D 185T Polyester fly buckles on for extra strength and adjustability and will keep you protected from Mother Nature, even when she is in full wrath. And in case if all that wasn’t reassuring, the fly and floor seams are factory sealed to give you the best weather protection.

But the heavy-duty sturdiness and durability do not come at the expense of excessive weight or not being able to enjoy the weather when the going is good. Staying true to its nature as being a tent for a family or group, the tent comes with wall dividers to create two rooms and lend the necessary privacy even on the road. The durability of the tent is greatly bolstered by the 150D oxford floor, which is about twice the weight of normal nylon floor material. The two large doors at the front allow for easy entry into either room individually.

The one major issue with the tent is that it is that the entire ceiling is mesh, which is great for 2 season camping. However, if you are going to the next level where you expect rain or cold wind then you might need to get another big tarp to put over the mesh and under the rain fly. Additionally, this tent is not for you if you aren’t good with guide ropes and if you find it difficult to tie a granny knot. While it may not be the ideal beginners, but it does work wonders if you’re a pro-camper. This tent can be shipped within the United States as well as various select countries outside. To know more about qualifying shipping destinations, please inquire with the vendor.

Gazelle Pop Up Portable Camping Hub Tent

The Gazelle Portable Camping Tent lives up to its name as it takes all of 90 seconds to set up. While there are other such tents in the market, they are likely to be tricky to figure out and are usually built with flimsy components. The most important difference this the Gazelle camping tent boasts of is the interior space. Once set up, it can accommodate up to four people fairly comfortably and at 78 inches tall with 61 square feet of floor space, and has you covered.

The attachable rain fly that accompanies the tent connects to the corner roof receptor poles and snaps on in seconds and provides absolute shelter from the elements. It is also as sturdy as it gets thanks to the durable polyester. The six, removable, tight-weave mesh windows ensure ventilation is never an issue.

A unique trait of the Gazelle camping tent is the completely detachable floor panel. This allows you to shake out dirt and sand with ease and keep the tent cleaner and more hygienic. The tent also comes with a variety of handy accessories such as a removable rain fly, removable gear loft, ground stakes and tie-down ropes. At only 30 lbs, the Gazelle packs up conveniently into a 68″ duffle carry bag. Be it camping, an overnight outdoor, or setting up a clubhouse for your children in the backyard, it does not let you down.

The issue with this tent, however, is its length. At 68″, it isn’t the smallest thing to carry and you might find it difficult to accommodate it in your car. However, in a car and or a larger pick-up truck, it would fit in just fine. The other drawback is that it is hard to set up on your own. You are supposed to pull on the handles to push the walls out. But, the walls do not want to come out owing to their naturally concave shape and structure. If you pull too hard, there is a chance that the tent will move forward with your force. A good way to counter this is to stand on the tent peg strip, pull out on the tab with one hand, and push backward on the top of the tent with the other hand to get the side out. If you got that covered, you should be all set. This tent is available only in the United States and does not qualify for international shipping.

12-Person Instant Cabin Family Tent

When it comes to tents for large groups, the 12-person Instant Cabin Family Tent, as its name suggests, instantly comes to mind. With a setup time of under 2 minutes, it does not require any assembly as the poles come pre-attached to the tent. All you have to do is unfold and extend! Once set up, you’ll be surprised how such a large tent took such little time to come up. And with little or no effort to boot.

If it claims to fit 12 people, as its name suggests, you’d hope for the tent to be sufficiently big. The tent absolutely does not disappoint on that part. Measuring 20′ x 10′, it can fit up to 4 queen airbeds comfortably or accommodate 12 people in sleeping bags, with room left to move about. The tent comes with a 3-Room layout divided by the 2 removable room dividers that come with it. The tent also includes a rainfly and has factory sealed seams to keep you protected from the elements. Air and light are constant companions, when available, with the 2 oversized side vents with improved air circulation. The extra-large windows and the shaded porch lets you enjoy the panoramic views.

The features of the tent are pretty standard and comfortable with 2 doors: 1 in the front and 1 on the back. For the effort to keep the tent organized and neat, it comes with 2 media pockets and 2 storage pockets. You can also keep yourself connected with the electrical cord access. The carry bag accommodates the entire tent quite comfortably along with all its stakes. However, there have been instances when some poles don’t slide as easy as you’d expect. Also, the tarped floor material doesn’t extend up the side as is the case with other Coleman tents. That aside, it is the ideal tent for the family or a large group. This tent is available only in the United States and does not qualify for international shipping. If you are outside of the country and are interested in this product, you can directly contact the manufacturers.

The Sundome 2-Person Tent

The Sundome 2-Person Tent is plenty spacious on the interior allowing you to move comfortably. The tent comes with snag-free, continuous pole sleeves which means you only have to feed the poles once, which means it takes all of 10 minutes to set up a comfortable abode while you’re on the road. The Sundome Tent comes with WeatherTec system patented welded floors and inverted protected seams that help ensure you stay dry, and the Instant-Clip Pole Attachments stand up to wind. This keeps you comfortable across all sorts of climates.

The tent comes with large windows which ensures enough air goes in and out. It also has a specially-designed ventilation system with a ground vent which keeps the air moving while keeping the insects out as well. Be it the Sun beating down on you or the rains pouring down, the rainfly awning offers you ample shade while protecting you perfectly from the rains. Coming to storage, there are pockets on the inside of the tent which help you keep your gear sorted and organized. Measuring at 7 x 5 feet with a 4-foot center height, it accommodates one queen airbed or up to three people with sleeping bags and still has room to move about. When it’s time to head home, the tent easily fits into the carrying bag which comes along with it. The bag also expands with a rip-strip for extra storage.

That being said, there have been complaints from people who have used this tent stating that the materials could have been better. The metal stakes aren’t the sturdiest but if you go about it with ease, then it’ll usually be more helpful than anything else. This tent is available only in the United States and does not qualify for international shipping.

Coleman Evanston Screened Tent

The Coleman Evanston Screened Tent is usually a tad heavier than others owing to the fiberglass poles which lend it durability and sturdiness. That being said, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to set up, even on your own. It’ll hold up exceptionally even in the face of heavy downpour and strong gusty winds.

The tent is sufficiently roomy for 2 and can even accommodate up to 4 people with a little effort. If you’re going solo, it’s nothing short of a palace! The screen-room allows you to lie down on the floor and enjoy an incredible view without having to adjust or move around too much. Because of this feature, you can watch the rains lash down or admire the milky way while comfortably snuggled in your bed. You can maximize the usable area in the screen room by using 2 backpacking chairs. This will give a serious headroom with room left for more. One important factor to keep in mind while pitching the tent is to not make the area on the floor at the back of the screen room too tight. This might result in the floor area rising up and cause you to trip.

The tent also comes with color-coded (grey) poles with rubber tips to help open the awnings up. While it can be set up by one person with relative ease, two people are ideal to set up the tent in no time. The usefulness of the porch area is two-fold. It serves to keep some items away from the elements and to trap the dirt from entering the tent. The built-in awnings over the windows in the main tent are nice to keep rain out but do block your view a bit. You would also do well to replace the tent stakes for a strong secure pitch. The clean-up can occasionally become an issue owing to the ridge pole holding the porch section. You can use a towel to brush away the debris that inevitably comes in with your shoes. A little bit of moistness might also seep into the corners from the rain. However, using sealant to secure the crevices would help prevent this entirely.

The one true issue with this tent is that the rain fly doesn’t cover the mesh covering. This means in the face of heavy rain, a little water does get in. However, it does well to keep dirt and debris out. This tent is available only in the United States and does not qualify for international shipping.

Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin

The Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin is a solid American tent made of heavy-duty 150D polyester taffeta. It is every bit as sturdy as its traditional counterparts. This 4-person tent is made from rugged Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric that stands up to the rigors of the outdoors, so you can use it reliably season after season. The tent offers enough room for a queen size air bed and comes with integrated storage pockets to help you keep small items organized. And when it’s time to pack up, the camping tent stores away in the included expandable carry bag that lets you tear away the rip strip for easy packing.

Nothing kills a campsite buzz like a tent with too many poles and too little instruction. Enter the Coleman Instant Tent 4, a four-person tent that sets up in less than a minute. The tent is made using an innovative one-piece design, with poles that come pre-attached to the tent. That means there’s no frustrating assembly and no parts to lose. Simply unfold the tent, spread out the fabric, extend the poles, and click and lock. The only thing easier is rolling out your bag and sleeping in the open.

As is with most other Coleman tents, this one too comes with the WeatherTec system – patented welded floors and inverted seams to help ensure you stay dry in the face of rain and storms. WeatherTec tents are built with a coated polyester fabric combined with anti-wicking thread, webbing, and zippers, all designed to keep you dry when the rain comes down. The tent’s welded waterproof floor and inverted floor seams, meanwhile, dramatically increase the water resistance by hiding the needle holes inside the tent and away from the elements.

It also comes with an Integrated vented rainfly for extra airflow which offers added protection from the rain. All this, without any extra effort at the assembly. Add to that a strong, wind-responsive frame and you have a shelter that performs like a brick house during a storm. In fact, Coleman is so confident in its WeatherTec system that it exposes its WeatherTec tents to a rain room that simulates nasty downpours, and to a wind machine capable of blowing hurricane-force gusts. The results? Even after the tests, Coleman guarantees its WeatherTec tents will keep you dry.

The 4-Person Instant Tent, which sleeps up to four people in its 8-by-7-foot footprint, stands 59 inches tall in the center and includes room for one queen airbed. The tent weighs 35.55 pounds and carries a limited one-year manufacturer’s warranty. The only issue that a very few people have experienced with this tent has been its ventilation, which is at times patchy. However, more people would be likely to recommend this tent than take anything away from it, so it still makes for a pretty good buy. The Coleman 4 Person Instant Cabin is currently available for shipping only within the United States.

Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent

If you are planning for a large group of people, the Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is probably a good option to consider due to its large capacity size. One big benefit of these large tents is that they save you a significant amount of space since you will only have to carry one tent instead of multiple smaller tents. With a mission to design and deliver superior products so that people can enjoy the outdoors with their loved ones, the Core 9 Person Instant Cabin comes with numerous features which are highlighted below.

The fabric of the tent is water repellent with an active bead technology that boasts faster water runoff with sealed seams and rain-resistant doors and window seals. This feature ensures that your camping party will remain safe and dry even when you go out during the rainy season. Moreover, the fully-taped rainfly is removable in warmer weather thus exposing the panoramic windows and ceiling. This feature comes in handy especially when you are camping in a scenic location and want a great view from inside the tent.

The Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent also comes with a Pre-Assembled Frame which means you can instantly set up the tent wasting minimal time and effort. The integrated frame system makes it so easy all you need to do is just unpack, unfold and extend! The time it takes from unpacking to the tent being fully setup requires only about 60 seconds total.

Even with a large group, the massive interiors of the tent ensures that your entire group can fit inside with comfort. The 14 x 9-floor plan can fit up to nine people which means you can have endless hours of playing games or telling stories with the entire group throughout the night. Moreover, the large floor plan can also alternatively accommodate up to two queen sized beds meaning your entire group can sleep in peace. The icing on the cake with this tent is the extra tall 6ft 6in ceiling-height that allows people inside to walk and move around comfortably.

In case your group has people who want to turn in early or require separate living quarters, the room divider features make all of this possible. With the divider, you can create a separate living space and sleeping space or create two separate sleeping quarters within the same tent itself. Overall, if you are going out with a large group that likes to focus entirely on just having fun without the burden of setting up your camping space, the Core 9 Person Instant Cabin is something you should consider. This product only ships within the United States.

Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent

Similar to the Core 9 Person Instant Tent, this 9 Person Extended Dome Tent comes from the same manufacturer. While the setup takes a little longer especially for one person, the Extended Dome Tent also comes packed with key features and benefits that will ensure you and your camping party will not only enjoy yourselves but also live in comfort. The key features and benefits of the Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent are mentioned below.

The fabric of the tent is water repellent with an active bead technology that boasts faster water runoff with sealed seams and rain-resistant doors and window seals. This feature ensures that your camping party will remain safe and dry even when you go out during the rainy season. Moreover, the fully-taped rainfly is removable in warmer weather thus exposing the panoramic windows and ceiling. This feature comes in handy especially when you are camping in a scenic location and want a great view from inside the tent.

One of the issues often faced with tents comes during hot weather season where the interiors tend to get hot making for an uncomfortable living space. This especially becomes a problem when you want to get some rest while the sun is still up but being unable to due to the high temperatures inside the tent. This problem, however, is not an issue with the Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent which comes with Advanced Venting. This incredible feature has an adjustable air intake vent that draws in cool air from the ground ensuring that cool enters the tent while the mesh ceiling allows for hot air to escape the tent. The advanced venting feature ensures that you and your camping party will stay comfortable all season long!

Even with a large group, the massive interiors of the tent ensure that your entire group can fit inside with comfort. The 16 x 9-floor plan can fit up to nine people which means you can have endless hours of playing games or telling stories with the entire group throughout the night. Moreover, the large floor plan can also accommodate up to three queen-sized beds meaning your entire group can sleep in peace. Lastly, the extra tall 6ft ceiling allows people inside to walk and move around comfortably.

A common issue faced when you have too many people and things all under the same tent is a disorganized mess where you constantly have to search for the things you want. This issue is something you will never have to worry about with the interior organization features that come with the Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent.  The key piece of this feature is the integrated gear loft where you can put small items above and keep the mess off of the tent floor. The gear loft also comes with a lantern hook providing the entire tent with enough lighting. Moreover, you can stay even more organized with the multiple interior pockets that are present on the tent walls.

The Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent is ideally meant for large camping groups who also prefer their tents to be a place of comfort where they can stay dry or cool depending on the season as well as an uncluttered and organized space. The tent is available for shipping throughout the US and some select countries outside.

What to Look for in the Best Camping Tent

Now that we’ve covered 10 different types of tents and the various features that come along with them, you can clearly see that there are various options available to you out there. Choosing the right tent for you will come down to which one is in your desired price range, the number of people in your camping party and the frequency of how often you will use it. However, here are some of the main features that you should be aware of before you purchase a camping tent of any sort

Space

Typically, a general rule to keep in mind is that the number of people that are listed as being able to fit in the tent is a little exaggerated. For example, if a camping tent fits three people, this will be shoulder-to-shoulder while lying on your back. You will definitely not be able to stretch out your arms and legs diagonally. As a result, consider the space to hold fewer people than as advertised. For best results, get a 3-person tent, for example, for yourself. Get a 5-person tent for two people, and so on. In any case, do not follow the space guidelines verbatim unless you don’t mind having plenty of shared space.

Durability of Materials

When purchasing any sort of product, the durability is something which should be a primary concern. This is especially true for camping tents. Some tents come with plastic poles, stakes, and easy-to-tear materials. Always be sure to check the materials of the tent and make sure that they use high denier fabric and plenty of sturdy upholsteries instead of basic parts and materials which are easy to break. Many tents will tightly seal the seams to make sure that water will never be able to seep through.

Seasons

Typically, most tents you can find come designed for use in three or four seasons. Three season tents are typically used in the warmer seasons: summer, spring, and fall. Four season tents are used in all four seasons: summer, winter, spring, and fall. If you are the type of person who likes to go out camping in winter conditions such as a blizzard, never get anything other than a four-season tent. However, if you are the type of camper who goes out in the warmer climatic conditions, you could get away with a three-season tent.

Height

Although this may only apply to tall people, having a tent with a height tall enough for you stand up inside can be a nice convenience. For example, on days where it is raining outside you might easily start to feel confined and claustrophobic inside your tent if you are forced to remain in a sitting or standing position. As a result, always make sure to check the height of the tent before you purchase it to ensure that it reaches up to a comfortable position. This is, of course, if you care about this feature in the first place.

Rainfly

Usually, this is something which comes with most camping tents. Although many of the best camping tents already will come equipped with seams and materials which will hold out rain and precipitation, you never know when a tiny hole will develop. This is where having a rainfly really comes in handy. Rainflies are an extra layer of defense which will ensure that precipitation stays out for good. Just be sure to keep all dry items inside the tent away from the fabric. If your sleeping bag is touching the exterior of the tent, water can easily condense and soak into the sleeping bag regardless of how well the tent itself keeps water out.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is something which will help prevent condensation and also keep fresh air coming into the tent. People who get tents with a lot of ventilation are also typically the ones who get a three-season tent since they also help keep the heat out of the tent. For best results, get a tent with a proper amount of ventilation only if you think you will also use it in hot conditions, or you are simply concerned about the amount of fresh air coming into the tent.

Best Camping Tent: Our Pick

We personally recommend the Sundome 4 Person Tent which ticks all the boxes we look at when evaluating tents. It provides the best value for money as it comes packed with features that include quick setups that allow for easy setup and packing, keeps you cool in hot weather and dry in wet conditions, pockets and storage areas that allow you to stay organized, and a roomy interior that allows you to stretch out in comfort.

Moreover, with the Sundome 4 Person Tent, you won’t have to break the bank since it comes with a reasonable and affordable price tag. In fact, other people who have purchased this tent have come away fully satisfied with the majority of them rating the tent 5 out 5 stars. You can be sure that by selecting the Sundome 4 person tent you won’t ever go wrong.

Remember:

Finally, while tents are the main focus of this guide, we would like to urge you to read up on the other things like safety and precaution measures you should take while out camping, especially if you are a beginner. Camping out can be a wonderful experience and a great way to build lasting memories with families and friends but only when all safety measures have been taken into account.