The Best Camping Tents
Whether you’re going camping in the wilderness, at a cushy campsite, or at an outdoor festival, you’ll need a dependable shelter that you can rely on. A good camping tent should be capable of protecting you from the elements so that you can get a good night's sleep wherever your journey takes you. To help you choose the right camping tent for your next adventure, we’ve rounded up a few of the best ones on the market.
What to Look For
When you’re setting up camp for the night after a day of trekking or the like, you’ll want to be sure you’re in for a good night’s sleep. No matter how routinely you check the weather forecast, you could always be in for a rainy surprise, so we’ve been sure to highlight waterproof materials. Trawling through pegs and poles in the dead of night can be a confusing affair, so quick assembly is always a bonus too. Our favorite tent for two is the Coleman Sundome. Sturdy and quick to set up, this is a dependable tent for festivalgoers or serious hikers alike. If you’re looking for a tent with room to spare, check out the roomy ten-person cabin tent offered by Coleman. Read on below and you’ll be stocked for your next adventure in no time.
Coleman Sundome
Safe and warm
Batton down the hatches with this two-person tent ideal for warmer weather. While some tents might help you stave off the cold in an arctic expedition, the Sundome is built with breathability in mind. Large windows and a ground vent create a gentle circulation of air indoors, keeping you feeling fresh whether you’re waking up to the sun or shielding from a downpour. You’ll be safe from the elements thanks to the thick Polyguard fabric, which is built to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at you.
Pros:
- This lightweight frame is surprisingly sturdy, with a flexible strength that will withstand high-speed winds.
- Thanks to the snag-free continuous pole sleeves, you won’t get caught in a tangle during setup and pack-down. Plus, the whole tent can be constructed in under 10 minutes.
- The built-in storage pockets on the inner walls offer you a safe spot to store valuables before you call it a night.
Cons:
- This tent can fit two in a pinch, but it won’t leave much additional room for your backpacks and camping supplies.
Pacific Pass 2-Person Dome Tent
Rain, rain, go away
Though most of us set our hopes high for blissful weather when we head out with a tent packed, you can never be sure what the elements have in store. This dome tent is built to handle any eventuality, with a ripstop polyester lining that’s built to withstand serious punishment. This hardy fabric also boasts 800MM water resistance. The separate rainfly above will keep rain from running down the tent’s zippers and drizzling into the tent’s interior, so you can listen to the gentle pitter-patter while you’re warm and snug inside.
Pros:
- This ultra-lightweight tent weighs in at just under six pounds. Pack it up into the compact carry case and you’ll be ready to set off on a hike without feeling encumbered.
- Thanks to the spacious base, there’s room inside for a queen-size air mattress plus a few bags.
Cons:
- The large gauge net between the tent and the rainfly offers great air circulation, but it can make this tent a little chilly in in colder climes.
Coleman Cabin Tent
Outdoor sleepover
If you’re setting up basecamp for a small squadron of wilderness explorers, this easy-to-install 10-person tent will have your shelter ready in record time. Its welded corners and inverted seams keep trickles of rain from falling within, and thanks to the included rainfly, your spirits won’t be dampened if the weather takes a turn for the worse. The colossal floor surface will fit up to ten people. In fact, there’s room for four queen-size airbeds with room to spare for your trail kit.
Pros:
- Festival campers might often find themselves rudely awakened by the early morning sun. This tent’s darkroom technology blocking 90% of external light will ensure you can choose the hour you rise.
- Pre-attached poles mean this tent goes up fast despite its impressive size. Thanks to that, you’ll have more time to unwind.
- The tent’s central room divider offers added privacy for groups or family trips.
Cons:
- Though this pop-up design makes set-up easy, packing it away requires complex folding that can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Campros 8-Person Family Tent
Me time
Though we do all we can to come together with our camping buddies as a team, at some point we might want a little alone time in the tent. This roomy eight-sleeper offers the ideal compromise, with an elongated form separated by a zipped internal curtain that turns your open-plan camping abode into a two-bed suite in an instant.
Pros:
- The internal mesh pockets offer plenty of storage room for handy items like your wallet, cellphone, or holiday reads.
- This tent is about six feet tall, so most people won’t have to stoop as they walk around inside.
- The five mesh windows and a mesh top help air circulate through the tent, so it won’t get hot and stuffy when temperatures rise outdoors.
Cons:
- Though the central divider provides privacy, there’s only one entrance to the tent, so you might awaken your fellow campers if you need to sneak out to the bathroom at night.
Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent
Lone wanderer
If you’re camping alone, you might be willing to forsake some of the luxury adornments of larger shelters for a tent that prioritizes practicality. This pop-up tent from Coleman is the perfect ally for solo explorers. Pre-assembled poles will see you set up in seconds once removed from the circular bag. The adjustable rainfly lets you respond to rainfall in an instant, or open up the roof for maximum ventilation on a hot and humid night.
Pros:
- Unlike some easy-up tents, this pop-up option is just as easy to pack down. Thanks to the easy folding poles, you can pack it into the bag in seconds.
- Though this single-bed design isn’t tall enough to stand, there’s plenty of room to sit comfortably on an air mattress inside.
Cons:
- The limited selection of pegs means this tent might not survive gale-force winds if left empty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring any extra tools along to set up my tent?
When you arrive at the campsite after a long day’s trek, the last thing you want is to struggle to assemble your resting spot for the night. Most of the tents we reviewed are easy to construct and feature either a quick assembly or pre-installed poles, meaning you’ll be able to set the frame up at a moment’s notice. The only challenging job can be the pegs, and while wet soil can be easily punctured with manual force, it can be handy to have a hammer to hand when pitching up on arid dirt.
If my tent has a mesh top, won’t it let in the rain?
Many tents are constructed with a mesh top to allow warm air to escape as you snuggle up inside and snooze at night. While it may seem like the mesh on the roof would be a disaster in a downpour, these options usually come with a separate rainfly that sits above the main body to catch drizzle before it makes contact with the tent. If you’re camping in scorching conditions, you can usually remove the rainfly entirely to maximize airflow during the night.
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