Your Outdoor Abode

Camping Tents vs. Backpacking Tents

Much like the difference between camping and backpacking, the gear associated with these activities can have some notable contrasts. A backpacking tent and a camping tent can often look similar, but backpacking tents are quite a bit smaller and lighter for extra portability. Since a camping tent is transported in the trunk of a car rather than a 60L bag, weight and size are less of a priority. In addition, backpacking tents are often built large enough for one (or two) people to “sleep” on sleeping pads; a camping tent is usually large enough to fit a well-cushioned air mattress. Camping tents will often have more vestibules and space to move around and store your gear. If you’re planning a more ambitious outdoor outing this year and won’t be driving straight to the campsite, be sure to look at some of our favorite backpacking tents of 2021.

Types Of Tents

All of the tents in this year’s review can be categorized in several different ways, with many fitting into more than one category. Here’s a brief overview of some of the tent styles you’ll find:

• Luxury tents

  This term is used to describe tents that use more high-end materials and well-thought-out designs to deliver the best possible experience at a higher price point. These are a more considerable investment, but with that cost comes a longer lifespan and better resistance from the elements.

• Budget tents

  These give prospective campers access to the camping experience at a lower cost. Although these tents are often more “fairweather” and are more prone to breakdowns, they can easily meet your needs for occasional outings in warmer months.

• Instant tents

  Many companies have introduced tents with multi-hubbed systems that take all the guesswork out of tent-pitching. These tents are a very attractive option for campers looking to speed up the setup process and kickstart the fun.

• Dome tents

  This is widely considered the more “traditional” tent shape, with a sloped, rounded structure that offers better wind resistance than cabin-style tents.

• Cabin tents

  These look more like a house, with nearly vertical walls that meet the roof at an angle using either pole hubs or pre-bent poles. Although cabin tents provide a bit more interior space than their domed counterparts, they are more vulnerable to high winds.

• Crossover tents

  These bridge the gap between camping and backpacking by combining lightweight design and roomy interiors. You’ll often see a crossover tent shared by two people, with the tent poles and material split between both parties on extended adventures.
  

Anatomy Of A Tent

• Tent body

  This is the floor and canopy of the tent, made up of a combination of water-resistant materials and mesh.

• Tent poles

  Typically made of either aluminum or fiberglass, these form a skeletal structure to hold up the tent and pull out the walls. These structures can either be a simple dome-like structure or more complex cabin-style tents, and some tents even employ more high-tech hubbed systems.

• Tent stakes

  These metal pegs are driven into the ground to hold down the tent and prevent it from blowing away in the wind. They’re also often required to form the vestibule. On windless days, a freestanding tent can be pitched without stakes, while a semi-freestanding tent will require certain areas to be staked.

• Rainfly

  Usually a separate sheet but sometimes integrated into the tent body, this waterproof “rain jacket” drapes over your tent to provide extra weather coverage. Tents may have a partial rainfly that covers the roof and some of the walls, or a full rainfly that extends all the way to the ground. There are typically vents integrated into the rainfly to provide airflow and prevent a buildup of condensation inside.

• Vestibules

  These are the “garages” of the tent, which often act as storage rooms or mudrooms but can also be large enough to function as a sitting area. Some tents will have just one vestibule while others will sport one at each entrance.

• Footprint

  This tarp-like sheet goes underneath the tent to provide an extra layer of protection from the ground and extend the life of the tent. These are typically not included with the tent and will require an additional purchase. Many campers will opt to save a few dollars by purchasing a tarp instead.
  

How We Judged

• Comfort

  This was probably the most significant category since being comfortable may be the most essential part of the camping experience. To evaluate what makes a tent comfortable, we considered quite a few factors. We first looked at the overall dimensions, i.e., the total square footage as well as the specific length and width, along with the maximum headroom. Beyond that, we looked at the verticality of the walls to see how this impacted the interior volume. Dome-style tents will have more slanted walls, while cabin-style tents can be near vertical. This total interior volume is a major determinant in how many parties can comfortably fit in the advertised capacity.

  Another notable factor is the doors and windows. A tent with multiple entrances can be more accommodating to multiple parties, while windows provide ventilation along with views (ventilation is also considered in the weatherproofing category). Next, we looked at the optional features, most notably the vestibules. First of all, does the tent even include vestibules, and do these vestibules function more as storage rooms for extra gear, or can they function as a mudroom or sitting area? Finally, we looked at what kind of storage options are available inside the tent and whether there is a room divider to provide extra privacy.

• Ease of Setup

  We start by figuring out just how much time it should take you to pitch your tent. Most of today’s camping tents should take no more than 15 minutes to assemble, and many will take half this time (or a fraction in the case of instant tents). The time it takes to pitch your tent is determined by a number of things. How many poles make up the tent body, and are they color-coded for easier orientation? Do they lock into the base using grommets or a more antiquated pin-and-ring system? Can one person set this up or will you need your tentmate to assist? Finally, we looked at how easily these tents can be packed away once your journey is complete. Some tents use a duffle or tube bag that may require you to ensure every ounce of air is squeezed from the rolled-up tent body, while others have built-in dividers and even backpack straps that make the packing process an effortless affair.

• Weatherproofing

  The weatherproofing of a tent comes down to two main factors: wind and rain. We didn’t concern ourselves too much with low temperatures since winter camping isn’t exactly a popular activity. While it’s important that your tent won’t roll away like a tumbleweed at the slightest gust of wind, this problem can be quickly sorted by staking out guylines, a feature that is found on nearly every modern tent. However, tents that employ cheaper tent poles or have vulnerabilities in their skeletal structure can be more prone to collapse.

  When it comes to rain, we looked at the water-resistance of the materials in the canopy and rainfly as well as the tent floor. Many tents use what’s called a bathtub floor that extends beyond the corners to ensure that the seams are above ground level. We must also look at the coverage offered by the vestibule, and whether it’s capable of properly protecting any gear that you leave outside your door. Finally, we considered the ventilation options with the rainfly attached, since tents can get stuffy when they lack airflow, which can also lead to moisture build-up that can drip from the bottom of the rainfly onto the inhabitants.

• Durability

  To determine the durability of these tents, we analyzed the materials used for the tent floor, canopy, and rainfly as well as the poles. Ideally, the fabrics should have a high denier measurement that’s less prone to abrasion and punctures. (Denier measurements are the linear mass density of fibers—how thick it is). We also prefer the poles to be aluminum, since these can typically be bent back into place, unlike fiberglass poles that can splinter and break. Equally important is the overall craftsmanship of the tent. It should have high-quality seams and stitching, as well as pole clips and other accessories that can withstand pressure.

• Other features

  Here we looked at the overall family-friendliness of the tent as well as the “party pieces” that add to its appeal. Along with room dividers and multiple storage options, some of the tents featured in our review can double as canopies that eliminate the tent body altogether. Others have “e-ports,” or access panels in the corner of a wall that enables campers to feed in power cords, along with configurable vestibules that can convert into covered patios.

• The Bottom Line

  Finally, we tally up all of these other factors combined with the price of the tent to determine its overall value and relative performance. We wouldn’t expect a budget tent to be able to compete with a luxury tent in terms of features and materials, but we can still rate it on overall build quality and performance. Just because a tent is inexpensive doesn’t mean it needs to be “cheap,” and no one wants to suffer the pain of a leaky tent or shattered tent poles. On the other side, we would expect that the higher price of a luxury tent is backed up by qualities that make it worth the extra cost. For example, it should be well-constructed and built to last rather than laden with novelty features and riddled with overlooked flaws.
  

Best of the Rest

Coleman Sundome 6

Coleman Instant Tent 6

The North Face Wawona 6

Marmot Limestone 6P

Coleman Evanston Screened 6

NEMO Wagontop 6

Big Agnes Big House 6

REI Co-op Kingdom 6

Best Overall Camping Tent

The $499 REI Kingdom 6 is absolutely packed with features that go above and beyond the 10 other tents on our 2021 list, so it should come as little surprise that we named it our Best Overall Camping Tent. What’s not to love about this ten? It is adequately roomy, incredibly rugged, and its smart room divider paired with dual entryways make it perfectly suited for a family camp outing. We also couldn’t get over the nearly two dozen storage pockets, which is borderline excessive but in a good way. However, the front vestibule really only offers enough space to act as a storage area or covered porch, and upgrading to the larger Mudroom will bring the price tag up to nearly $600.

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REI Co-op Base Camp 6

(Runner-Up) Best Overall Camping Tent

Although its interior space isn’t quite on the same level as the monstrous Kingdom 6, the Base Camp 6 still boasts plenty of room for families and furry friends. It’s also just a bit more structurally sound in the wind, and it’s one of only four tents in our review that sports vestibules at both ends. Compared to any other tent, the Base Camp 6 seems like a clear winner; it’s versatile and easy to pitch as well as decently roomy for a dome-style tent. However, the Kingdom 6 has additional mesh that gives it better ventilation, along with several more pockets and a far superior storage bag, which we felt justified spending the extra $30. It was a tight race to name the best of the best, and in the end, the Base Camp 6 took home the Runner-Up trophy for Best Overall Camping Tent.

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Marmot Limelight 4P

Best Crossover Camping/Backpacking Tent

Marmot has set out to prove that you can produce a tent versatile enough to function for couples that enjoy both backpacking and car camping. The $407.95 Marmot Limelight 4P is large enough to provide a reasonable degree of comfort while also being capable of functioning as a backpacking tent. Although it’s a bit too heavy for just one person to heft, by splitting up the components among both parties it can become much more manageable. Along with being durable and well-built, the included footprint, multiple vestibules, and unique “fast pitch” option make this incredibly appealing. As a pure camping tent, there are certainly more attractive options available at competitive prices, but the Limelight 4P’s impressive versatility earned it our award for Best Crossover Camping/Backpacking Tent.

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CORE 6-person Cabin Tent w/Screen Room

Best Budget Camping Tent

Over the past few years, hiking and camping has become a much more prominent pastime, and with that we are seeing some new competitors entering the market. Amongst these newcomers is CORE Equipment. Our favorite amongst its sizable lineup is their 6-person straight wall cabin tent with screen room. At a price of around $200 (or $140 if purchased through Costco), CORE would appear to be making a run at Coleman in the best-bang-for-your-buck arena. It boasts massive interior space, decent materials and build quality, and a spacious room at the front for taking in views. However, it is far from simple to pitch and the screen room offers very little protection from the elements. The highly appealing price point for the CORE paired with its many positive qualities were enough for us to name it the winner of Best Budget Camping Tent.

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Other Tents

Coleman Sundome 6

At only $136.99, the Coleman Sundome 6 offers a budget alternative to its high-end competitors, while still managing to squeeze in a few bells and whistles. With 100sqft of interior space, it would appear at first glance to be the largest tent in our 2021 review, however its slanted walls and lack of a vestibule give it quite a bit less interior space than you might think. And although it has a rather durable floor and a decent choice in materials for the canopy and rainfly, the vulnerable fiberglass poles give cause for concern. In addition, Coleman’s somewhat infamous build quality gives the Sundome a questionable lifespan. However, for occasional use this tent should serve its intended purpose.

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Coleman Instant Tent 6

If you’d prefer to pitch your tent in a matter of seconds rather than minutes, the Coleman Instant Tent 6 has you covered. At only $146.99, it’s one of the cheaper 6-person camping tents on the market, and it delivers a foolproof approach to tent-pitching that can easily be accomplished by one person, perhaps even one-handed. Beyond that, it’s really just a budget tent that’s lacking in bells and whistles, along with less flashy inclusions—such as ventilation, better weatherproofing, and a second door—that would definitely boost its value. For those cloudless summer nights, this could make for an attractive option for families in search of low-cost camping, however there are still several competitive options out there at similar price points.

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The North Face Wawona 6

The North Face pays homage to Yosemite’s Wawona Tunnel Tree with a 6-person tent that’s fit for a sequoia. You’ll be able to pack a boatload of gear and multiple campers into this spacious tent that boasts a total of 150 square feet if you include the two vestibules. We loved the roomy front vestibule as well as the impressive headroom, and its level of weatherproofing cannot be understated. That being said, we found this tent just a bit difficult to pitch and pack away, and the location of the storage pockets could have been a bit more thought-out. At $449.95, it’s no small investment and it’s not without its flaws, but it’s absolutely a well-constructed tent that will leave you prepared for a range of weather conditions.

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Marmot Limestone 6P

If you’re looking for a tent that’s built to be reliable and you don’t need to be impressed by a bunch of bells and whistles, the Marmot Limestone 6P may be right up your alley. With the Marmot Limestone 6P, you can confidently bring the whole family without being overly concerned about running out of room. Its uniquely designed vestibule can act as either a storage space or even a covered patio, it’s made of high-quality materials and should hold up well in rain and wind. However, it does have a few drawbacks: quality doesn’t often come cheap and this $545 tent is just a bit pricier than others we’ve found that deliver a similar value. In addition, its vestibule is small when sealed off, and the storage bag isn’t our favorite design.

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Coleman Evanston Screened 6

Coleman once again proves that they are a go-to brand for budget camping with the Evanston Screened 6. The $159.98 Evanston is the most expensive of our three Colemans (even if it is only $13 more than the Instant Tent 6), but its enormous vestibule gives it a great deal more square footage than the others. At first glance, the Coleman Evanston 6 appears to have a lot going for it; the 90sqft interior and 50sqft vestibule make it seem like a two-room tent at one-third of the price of high-end brands. However, dig a bit deeper and you’ll find some fairly noteworthy drawbacks. It’s far from simple to set up, its 5’8” of headroom will prevent many campers from standing up straight, and the vestibule lacks sufficient waterproofing, plus the materials do make it feel a bit “cheap.” For families on a budget, the Evanston could certainly fill a void, but it may warrant a replacement tent with moderately heavy usage.

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NEMO Wagontop 6

There’s plenty to love about the NEMO Wagontop 6. Its high walls, sturdy materials, and integrated rainfly are incredibly appealing; it’s also quite stylish and is sure to turn a few heads. However, its $649.95 price tag is a very large investment, and the tent is far from flawless due to the complicated pole system and somewhat strange placement of the room divider. Those who find NEMO’s design choices particularly appealing will not regret adding this to their camping arsenal, however we felt that there are more versatile options available at even lower prices.

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Big Agnes Big House 6

The Big Agnes Big House 6 is indeed a big house that’s well-crafted, relatively easy to pitch, and simple to pack and unpack, with a decent number of storage pockets and loops. The Shelter Mode option also adds a great deal to its value, since it makes this almost a two-in-one purchase (albeit a purchase of $474.95). However, we weren’t particularly impressed with some of the aesthetic choices for the doors and windows, and the lack of a vestibule was a notable exclusion. All in all, we wish that Big Agnes had put a bit more emphasis on conventional features rather than focusing on making this tent look unique, though the welcome mat is a nice touch.

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