The Best Camping Tents of 2024

If you’re going to camp outside, chances are you’ll need a good mobile roof over your head — unless you’re one of those cowboy-camping thru-hiker types. And while we’ve logged some serious shut-eye in hundreds, you won’t catch us sleeping on the best camping tents out today. For this guide, we intensely used more than 40 and winnowed down our gear rooms to the 15 best of the best collected here.

Our team of experts brings decades of camping experience in every sort of condition imaginable, from national park campgrounds to multiday festivals to long road trips. Our experience and exacting standards give us the expertise to make your shopping easier and have shown us that while many tents claim to do it all, many excel in certain circumstances over others.

Some tents are wilder-nests that thrive in a more backcountry-adjacent use, while others are downright front-country palatial. We gathered our most camp-savvy testers and sent them into the woods across the country in search of the perfect camping tent for every type of weekend.

For our evaluation, we focused on weather resistance, comfort, ease of setup, extra features, and value. Using these five guidelines, we’ve compiled a list of the best camping tents of this year. Check out our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide and Price & Value sections for helpful tips, and have a look at our Comparison Chart to steer your decision-making.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Camping Tent guide on August 19, 2024, to revise our testing regimen, add a new Price & Value section, as well as testing notes on our new favorite tent from Big Agnes — The Bunk House 4.

The Best Camping Tents of 2024

• Best Overall Camping Tent: MSR Habitude 6
• Best Budget Camping Tent: Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4
• Best Tent for Families: REI Co-op Wonderland X
• Best Tent for Group Camping: Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4 Tent
• Best Harsh Weather Camping Tent: REI Co-op Base Camp 6
• Best Crossover Tent for Camping and Backpacking: Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3

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Camping Tent Comparison Chart

Camping Tent	Price	Floor Area	Weight	Height	Number of Doors
MSR Habitude 6	$700	83 sq. ft. (120″ x 100″)	14 lbs.	77″	One
Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4	$120	53 sq. ft. (97″ x 79″)	8 lbs., 8 oz.	58″	One
REI Co-op Wonderland X	$999	70.5 sq. ft. (100″ x 100″)	35 lbs., 1 oz.	75″	Four
Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4	$780	62.5 sq. ft. (96″ x 90″)	18 lbs., 9.4 oz.	68″	Two
REI Co-op Base Camp 6	$549	84 sq. ft. (110″ x 110″)	20 lbs., 11.5 oz.	74″	Two
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3	$375	42.5 sq. ft. (90″ x 68″)	7 lbs., 1.2 oz.	48″	Two
The North Face Wawona 4	$400	58 sq. ft. (96″ x 90″)	13 lbs.	68″	Two
NEMO Aurora Highrise	$400	62.5 sq. ft. (100″ x 90″)	15 lbs., 14 oz.	75″	Two
Marmot Limestone 6-Person Tent	$529	82.9 sq. ft. (120″ x 100″)	17 lbs.	76″	Two
Eureka Copper Canyon LX 4-Person Tent	$270	64 sq. ft. (96″ x 96″)	20 lbs., 4 oz.	84″	One
REI Co-op Skyward 4	$299	60 sq. ft. (100″ x 86″)	13 lbs., 11 oz.	78″	One
Coleman Skydome Darkroom 6-Person Tent	$200	85 sq. ft. (120″ x 102″)	18 lbs.	72″	One
Big Agnes Bunk House 4	$600	58 sq. ft. (92″ x 90″)	16 lbs., 3 oz.	72″	Two
Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Easy Camping Tent	$349	46.8 sq. ft. (83.5″ x 80.7″)	18 lbs., 1.6 oz.	52″	Two
MSR Habiscape 4 Tent	$500	62.5 sq. ft. (95″ x 95″)	12 lbs., 11 oz.	73″	Two

How We Tested the Best Camping Tents

You wouldn’t jump headlong into a full weekend outdoors with an untested roof over your head, and thankfully, you don’t have to. Camping tents come in all different shapes, sizes, and qualities, and while many are winners, we’ve run into a few clunkers in our time. The GearJunkie staff may be a diverse bunch when it comes to our sporting specialties, but the one thing that unites us is a near-universal love of camping. We’ve been at this for a number of years, and we’ve learned a thing or two in the process.

All of our outdoor addicts know that not only do you need something sturdy and reliable, but it also needs to be set up easily and packed well. We went to the internet for a deep dive into the research. After hours of research, we narrowed it down to the top tents for a head-to-head test. This involved lots of camping and various testers, and to date our estimated time testing numbers in the hundreds of hours.

We camped through a quintessential Colorado spring weekends, complete with sun, snow, sleet, and gale-force winds. We enjoyed hot summer nights, a few surprise thunderstorms, and plenty of regular ol’ campground outings from Moab, Utah, to the hills of North Georgia.

Field Testing

We start our tent testing with a timed set-up which our testers go into totally blind — no instructions allowed. We’ve found this to be the ideal challenge of how intuitive a tent’s structure is. Then, we ensure that these tents are really up to snuff when it comes to capacity ratings — adding in both 20″ and 25″ camping mattresses to test manufacturer claims and get a feel for overall roominess.

Finally, we put the tents to the ultimate head-to-head test. Each is erected in the same valley and left for a week. Through rain, sun, and some epic wind, we are able to see which tents can withstand the elements best. And, when available, we release a pack of our kiddos into the tents to have their way. It’s hard to put together a better stress test than this.

Bench Testing

Our camping tent testing also gets into the nitty-gritty, ground-truthing manufacturer claims and dials in the hard numbers to elevate the winners over the just-alright shelters. To do this, we first measure the total weight of the tent essentials (body, fly, poles, and stakes) on our own scales and compare them against brand numbers. The same goes for packed size, as well as finding out if a tent can easily be packed back into its storage bag (not always an easy task).

Each tent is then left up in a simulated rain shower for 30 minutes at a time and inspected for leaks or wicking water. We use a rotating sprinkler system to ensure that no odd corner of a tent goes untouched, and we pay close attention to window openings and how the rain fly covers the shelter. Rain ingress can be a trip-killer, and we sniff out weak spots in tent construction to identify them.

From our experience and side-by-side testing in both the field and close to home, we crown our winners on a seasonal basis. Every year rolls out new tent options and our testing never stops — rest assured that we’re considering the latest and greatest in our Buyer’s Guide.

Why You Should Trust Us

Guide author Mallory Paige has spent hundreds of nights sleeping under the stars, and she knows first-hand the importance of a good shelter. She kicked off our search for the most worthy camping shelters in 2021 with an initial 12 tents, and set out a detailed testing regimen that includes tests against the elements, timing how quickly we can erect each tent, and the classic garden hose rain shower test.

Since then, our testing team has added contributor Ryan Baker, who started backpacking and car camping as a child. He also has lived in tents ranging from lightweight tarps for extended thru-hikes to heavy-duty basecamps to withstand extreme conditions. He is intimately experienced in the joys and pitfalls of only having a thin piece of synthetic fabric between the elements and a dry night’s sleep.

And finally, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster has enjoyed more than his fair share of evenings staring up at the canopy of his tent waiting out a rain storm. A veteran of the Pacific Crest Trail, Belcaster has the set up and tear down of his tent limited to mere minutes, and now travels the West testing camping tents for this guide on a rolling basis.

While our camping tent testing typically takes place in the bounding wilderness of the Western U.S., we also pitch shelters across the country in order to gain good insight into regional performance. A tent that buttons up tight might excel in the arid Southwest but become sweltering in the humidity of the southern Appalachians.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Camping Tent

To help you decide what tent is best for you, we considered five categories: weather resistance, comfort, ease of setup, extra features, and value. Each of these bears more importance to certain campers than others. Consider when, where, and who you plan to use your tent with.

We have another guide for the best backpacking tents that focuses on lighter and less bulky tents for your backcountry adventures, as well as a primer article on the basics of camping and backpacking tents. Here, we focus more on car and family camping tents for the kinds of adventures where the car is within reach and the weight of a tent is less important. If you like the appeal of leaving your tent pre-rigged wherever you may roam, the ease of a rooftop tent might be up your alley.

Camping Tent Types

Just as backpacking tents can be broken down into smaller use-profile groups such as ultralight or weekend-warrior tents, camping tents too are generally aimed at a specific camping style or user group, and broadly can be placed in a High-End, Budget, or Crossover category.

High-End Camping

High-End Camping Tents are just that — high-end, and prioritize a comfort-over-all-else ethos that will have you enjoying the outdoors, no matter the weather or group size. These shelters also command the higher end of the price spectrum, but for the dollars deliver on the niceties we’re looking for when camping outdoors. Often pricing out north of $500, tents like the REI Co-op Base Camp 6, MSR Habitude 6, and Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4 serve up hardened designs that jam in the features.

Their construction often aims to fully capitalize on the floor space provided, and sport vertical or close-to-vertical walls and a taller overall height that makes for less stooping once inside. Walls in this category will also use a good amount of mesh in order to increase built-in ventilation, and can be enhanced by using vents that are often built into the rainfly to keep moisture moving from layer to layer.

The rainflies themselves will almost always be full coverage, meaning that they extend from the peak all the way to the ground and help to seal out wind-driven rain. The design of these high-end tents also bulks up on security, sometimes borrowing from mountaineering-styled designs to form tunnel or dome-style tents. Poles will be made from sturdy aluminum and often attach to the tent body using clips or hooks, unlike traditional sleeves.

Budget Camping

If front country or car camping is something you only do occasionally, then there’s not much reason to drop the big bucks on a tent that will only see occasional use. Your budget-style tents typically slide in under $300, and while they give up some in the overall durability and livability metrics, many are still great shelters for tossing up at the campground. Look to the $120 Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 and the even cheaper $100 Coleman Sundome Tent 4P for real savings.

One of the biggest differences you’ll notice here is in material construction, and the overall weight that comes along with it. Budget-style tents are often made with thicker fabrics, and may be treated with cheaper waterproof coatings laid on thick to help resist moisture. This can aid in overall longevity, but at a good ding to overall packability. These style tents also may take shortcuts in their design that create large broadsides of walls that won’t be the most weather-worthy should a storm blow in. For most car camping, however, fair weather is the goal, and this won’t make much of a difference.

Crossover Camping

For those who simply can’t decide what the weekend might hold, or who are at gear closet capacity, the crossover realm offers a solution that both makes your tent decision easier, and limits the impact on your wallet. These tents will often skew closer to backpacking tents in terms of design, but provide a bit more living space like traditional camping tents do. In our line-up today, we’ve narrowed in on the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 as being the perfect crossover option, but have also had good luck with the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 3+ Tent in the past.

Keep in mind that these tents make concessions on overall livable space in trade for packability, and you’ll likely want to purchase a tent with one more camper capacity in order to have adequate space for camping. These tents will, however, be light enough to carry out to more remote camping spots, and can add a lot of comfort over going with a more purebred backpacking model.

Weather Resistance

This is one of the biggest reasons to invest more in a tent. Basic tents handle pleasant weather like a champ and can even manage light rain and wind.

If you plan to camp during storms, it’s worth it to save up and buy a sturdier tent. Premium tents have stronger poles, full rain covers, and sealed seams. It’s things like this that seem less important — until you find yourself riding out an epic storm from the confines of your tent.

While testing, we experienced a major thunderstorm complete with high winds and heavy rain. Each of the tents had been properly staked out, but many of them experienced damage. The Marmot Limestone 4P performed incredibly well, with no leaking or broken poles. The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 is also well equipped for inclement weather thanks to its rainfly and many tiedown points, as is the Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4.

When it comes to camping tents, some may opt to limit the coverage of the rainflies in an effort to limit the overall weight. Unless this is done smartly, it can often lead to water ingress during sideways driving rain. The NEMO Aurora Highrise is an example of a tent with such a fly, and while the overhang between the fly edge and window is substantial, there still is a possibility that a strong sideways rain could leak inside.

Seasonality Ratings

Often, manufacturers will refer to their tents with a season rating, which helps convey the types of conditions that it’s been designed for. While not a hard and fast rule, knowing where you are planning on camping, as well as the weather you may encounter, and what your tent is rated for, can greatly hedge your bets against spending a night in a flattened tent.

• 3-Season Tents: 3-season tents (meaning, spring, summer, and fall) are your lightest-duty tents, and will employ lightweight materials in order to keep overall bulk down, as well as improve ventilation. Typically, the tent body will be nearly or entirely mesh, and mated to a bathtub floor. These tents also tend to be more suited to family use, and will often be taller and sport near-vertical walls. These designs are less aerodynamic, and more prone to bending under gusts of wind. Finally, most 3-season tents will use a rainfly that isn’t full coverage, and may only extend over windows and doors, instead of all the way to the ground. In fair weather, this is no issue, but it is something to keep in mind for less-appealing weather conditions.
• 3/4-Season Tents: Bulking up on weather resistance, 3/4 or 3.5-season tents are similar to 3-season tents material-wise, but in design, they often are more weather-ready, usually employing dome shapes. Rain flies will also go all the way to the ground, forming vestibules where you might store your backpacks during an overnight rain.
• 4-Season Tents: This is the realm of winter, mountaineering, and hunting tents, where weather resistance is in high demand and a tough structure is needed. Four-season tents are almost exclusively double-wall designs, and often shaped in domes or tunnels to better survive the wind. They will also sport many guylines to adequately support the tent, and thicker tent poles and materials to resist wind-driven rain and snow.

Capacity and Floor Area

Every tent worth its salt today will provide a capacity number for the number of campers that it was designed to sleep. Many tent models are also available in multiple versions, with 4, 6, and 8-person capacities being the most common for camping tents. This number is drummed up from the number of regular sleeping mattresses that can be laid side-by-side in the sleeping area, though it is important to note two things when settling on a camping tent: this number very often only accommodates average 20-inch wide sleeping pads, and maxing out the capacity may leave you with scant little room to move around.

That’s why we always suggest bumping up a bit in capacity over the total number you plan on sleeping in the tent. For example, a crew of 4 campers would likely appreciate the extra space afforded by a 6-person camping tent — providing enough space for extra gear or just a bit more breathing room.

The floor area number will also give you a good idea of the sleeping area space in any one tent, and is generally given in square footage. For 4-person tents, this typically comes in at around 60 sq. ft. For example, the Marmot Limestone 4-Person Tent slides in squarely at 60, while the more comfort-minded Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4 squeezes in a bit more at 62.5.

When it comes to 6-person models the number jumps up to around 85 sq. ft., with the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 being the standard-bearer at 84 sq. ft., and the budget Kelty Discovery Element 6 surprisingly besting it at 89! It’s important to note here that the Kelty tent has less steep walls, and thus floor area isn’t the end-all when it comes to understanding overall livability.

Construction Materials

The weather resistance of a tent depends largely on the materials from which it is constructed. Nylon and polyester are very common materials used in car camping tents.

Nylon is stronger, more resistant to abrasion, and can stretch considerably. Unfortunately, it absorbs water that causes your tent to sag in storms or high humidity.

Polyester has less stretch than nylon and so it is more likely to tear. This rigidity is a benefit in wet conditions because it will sag less and absorb less water, but also makes it more fragile than nylon.

Coating

Manufacturers will usually coat these fabrics in one or a combination of silicone (Sil), polyester urethane (PU), and polyether urethane (PE). Each of these coatings has benefits and drawbacks.

Most brands use PU because it has been the industry standard for decades. It does absorb water after prolonged exposure and causes fabrics to tear more easily. It also degrades over time (usually about a decade or longer in a chemical process called hydrolysis) and can promote mold growth if put away wet.

PE repels water very well and doesn’t fall victim to hydrolysis. It does reduce tear strength and it is less common than PU.

Silicone is the most water-resistant of these three but does not bond well to other materials — not even itself — and it is expensive. Unlike PU and PE, silicone adds tear strength to the base fabric. Sometimes these materials are used in combination (on opposite sides of a rainfly, for example, labeled Sil:PU).

For waterproofing, all of these coatings are measured in hydrostatic head (HH). This is a measurement of water that can be placed over the fabric before it starts to saturate and allow moisture intrusion.

Imagine a tube of water placed over the fabric that is so many millimeters long. The gravitational pressure of the water exerts force over time to saturate the fibers.

Over 1,000 to 1,500 mm of HH is considered waterproof by industry standards. The benefit of PU is that multiple coats can be applied to achieve an HH rating of 10,000 mm or more.

Fabrics Are Also Measured in Grams Over a Square Meter

This measurement can be helpful, but remember that some fabrics are inherently stronger than others whether through stretch capability (nylon) or coatings applied. More weight of a given fabric does not always translate to strength. Denier is the measurement of the diameter of the specific fibers.

Again, this can add strength, but different fibers have different innate strengths at the same denier rating. Generally, car camping tents are built pretty burly without much of a worry for weight or packed size, as these will not be hiked very far. These measurements and ratings are a good place to start when selecting a tent but are not the final word on strength.

Comfort

The comfort of a tent depends on personal taste and priorities. To evaluate comfort, we looked at ventilation, door and windows, floor space, and peak height. While a waterproof tent is a must, remaining breathable is a major concern.

Not only does a poorly ventilated tent get too hot and stuffy, but interior condensation can also become a problem. This is another area where investing more in a tent pays off.

Higher-end tents have more mesh and an outer rainfly that is completely separate. The REI Co-op Wonderland X has an exoskeleton of poles and unique hanging interior mesh walls. The Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 features a fully separate rainfly and plenty of mesh at an affordable price. Budget models, such as the Coleman Sundome, lack the extensive use of no-see-um mesh but are more affordable for occasional campers.

Most larger tents have two doors. We were disappointed to see the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 4 Tent and the Kelty Discovery Element have just one exit. Two doors make it much easier for multiple people to share the space without having to crawl over sleeping bags.

In general, it keeps the interior space cleaner and is convenient for midnight bathroom breaks. The MSR Habiscape has two large zip-down doors that make entry and exit convenient.

Pay attention to the direction of the door flaps. Most doors zip to the side like a regular door, but the Wawona 4 from The North Face rolls away to the top. Preference reigns here, but it is an attribute worth consideration.

Floor space in a tent equals comfort. Tents have a stated number of people they can sleep, but how roomy or cramped they will be at capacity varies by body size, bed size, and the amount of gear you need to store inside.

Pay attention to floor dimensions and you can get a better idea of how many sleeping pads will fit. The average-sized person can sleep fairly comfortably with 24 by 76 inches of room, but the more space the merrier.

Car campers will find maximum comfort by subtracting a person or two from the stated capacity. It is a joy to be able to stand up and stretch out in taller and larger family tents like the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 or Eureka Copper Canyon 4, but they can be a challenge to set up.

Taller tents give more headspace, but they can be more challenging to set up solo if the height of the clips or joints is hard to reach.

Ease of Use

Given their large size, it’s no surprise that some camping tents can be a challenge to set up. Over the years, we’ve wasted a lot of time fighting gear, and we’ve learned that it’s not worth dealing with poorly designed gear. It can quickly take the fun out of your time outdoors.

Whether you camp every weekend or once a year, ease of use is a major concern. Every tent on this list can be set up by one person (although some are easier than others). Our 5’5″ editor set up and took down each tent solo.

The Eureka! Copper Canyon didn’t give us much trouble during setup thanks to its pole design, while the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 was more difficult to set up alone.

A tent like the Decathlon Quechua 2 Second sets up in seconds, thanks to integrated poles that fold out already seated in the tent material. These tents unfold like a giant jack in the box and then pack away just as easily. While this is very convenient, storage and care are paramount, as there are many hinges and moving parts to accomplish this time-saving task.

Extra Features

One of the most important extra features of a camping tent is storage. Not all tents offer pockets and pouches for stashing gear, but they can make a big difference when deciding between two products.

There’s nothing more annoying than having to rifle through all of your belongings to find your headlamp. Luckily, most family camping tents come with a bevy of pockets to help things stay tidy.

The Eureka Copper Canyon has walls lined with convenient storage pockets to keep the whole family organized and the tent free of clutter. Conversely, backpacking crossover tents such as the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 only have a couple of corner pockets to save weight.

Other extra features we like had to do with stuff sacks and storage. The Eureka Copper Canyon packed down considerably well.

Another example of a thoughtful extra is the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 instructions sewn into the stuff sack. Extra features are just that, but they display a level of integrated convenience that can elevate one product over another for the benefit of the user.

Other Considerations and Taking Care of Your Tent

We have talked about materials extensively. Coatings, base fabrics, and pole construction all contribute to the strength and longevity of your tent, but the single most important factor in the life of your tent is you.

First and foremost, never put your tent away wet. Remember when we mentioned hydrolysis earlier in regard to PU coatings? Water is a major culprit in speeding up that process. The fungus, molds, and mildews love to grow in your dark closet on your wet tent at room temperature. These organisms destroy the fibers of your tent and make it smell terrible.

Set your tent back up when you get home and let it air out. This simple chore will pay off later when you are still able to use your tent down the road. If you have no yard or nowhere dry to set it up, your living room makes a great space for this. Check all the seams, and especially the floor and fly, before packing it away.

Poles

Poles tend to break when they are not properly seated. When you are setting up your tent, never throw your poles. Some poles have an elastic cord in the center to keep them together. These are not meant to snap the pole into alignment, and tossing them around will crack and break fiberglass or aluminum.

Ensure that each joint is seated before installing the poles into the tent. When putting them away, treat them with the same care in reverse. Even though they seem strong, they are not meant to be thrown or hit against themselves or the ground.

Zippers

Zippers are best left zipped to protect the teeth from wear. Simply zip them up before you roll the tent up to put it away. You can stuff your tent into the sack or roll it up neatly.

Some outdoor enthusiasts argue that rolling and folding in the same areas can create crease lines that put stress on the same area if the folds are always done in the same place. (Think about when you fold a piece of paper back on itself in the same spot to tear it easier.)

We have never had an issue with this, and it would take very specific creasing to accomplish that sort of wear, so pick whatever works better for you.

Most tents come with a stuff sack large enough to fit all the pieces. Cinch that sack tight before you store it so no pieces wander off. Now your tent is put away properly for its next adventure. Keep it away from harmful UV rays and temperature extremes, and your tent will give you optimum performance.

Footprint

When it comes to protecting your new tent, one important consideration is a footprint. This is a ground cloth to set the tent upon. It provides an extra layer to protect the tent floor from punctures.

Some brands sell a footprint with the tent, such as the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3. Manufacturer-paired footprints usually pack down small and perfectly fit the size of the tent. On the downside, they add an extra $50 or so to the cost of the tent.

Some people prefer to use a basic tarp instead, which can be picked up for less than $20. A tarp doesn’t pack up as easily and doesn’t match the size of the tent.

You’ll either need to tuck the extra under the tent or trim the tarp to fit. You don’t want any of the footprint material sticking out from under the tent, as this can lead to water pooling underneath.

Weight and Packed Size

These are more important when choosing a backpacking tent and less important when car camping. They are still something to consider. Some tents function as backpacking tents as well as car camping tents.

Most of the tents in our test come with a useful storage sack that contains the tent, fly, poles, and stakes, though some models are easier to pack away than others.

The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 packs down small enough to carry into the backcountry but is by no means a “lightweight” tent. Most of the tents on our list are too heavy to be practical for backcountry travel.

Camping Gear: What Else Do You Need?

Depending on the outing and your style, camping can range from minimalism to a bring-everything-including-the-kitchen-sink adventure. In addition to a tent, you’ll need a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. That has your sleeping arrangements mostly covered, although you could certainly opt for a camping pillow or camp cot.

Next, think about your camp kitchen setup. A good camp stove allows you to make everything from scrambled eggs to multicourse meals. If you’re just looking to boil water, a backpacking stove is all you need to quickly make coffee or cook up a dehydrated meal.

For camp lounging, you may want a camp chair or hammock. And don’t forget the camping lantern. If it sounds like a lot to remember, don’t worry. We’ve made this handy camping checklist that will help you pack the essentials.

Price & Value

A good camping tent can be one of the bigger purchases when putting together a good summer kit, so it’s important to know what you’re getting for those dollar signs. With a range from just north of a hundo to more than a grand there’s a lot of territory to cover, and most of it will come down to three important metrics: the number of people the tent will sleep, the weather protection it provides, and the amount of accessories tucked away inside.

Budget

Camping is for everyone, and if you’ve only got a few frontcountry forays on the books for the summer, going to something with a little lower overhead can make a lot of sense. Budget camping tents are generally offered beginning at the $100 mark, and head up to around $200 from there.

A tent like the Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 ($120) is a fine example, and it’s not uncommon for tents in this realm to offer rainflies with less coverage over the body of the tent, and often only incorporate a single door as an entrance into the tent. 

Mid-Tier

Understanding the limitations of budget tents will safeguard against overextending them in harsh conditions, but for fair-weather campground camping, many do an admirable job. Beyond the $200 to about $500 mark, camping tents begin to feature hardier materials, full-coverage rainflies, and vestibules, with added niceties like internal storage options and windows. 

You’ll also notice a price difference when looking at tents of different occupancies. For example, the REI Co-op Basecamp 4 is $475, while the 6-person version will run you $549. This near $100 difference between a 4-person and a 6-person tent isn’t uncommon, and many other manufacturers replicate this.

Premium

Beyond about $600 are high-end tents, which jam in the features to offer true frontcountry luxury. The Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4 ($700) exemplifies this with a burly mountaineering-inspired build, spacious and livable vestibule area, and an incredible amount of pockets and functionality. The asking price is a pretty penny, but the overall durability of tents like these means they’ll last a good bit longer than other lesser tents.

Frequently Asked Questions