Reviews You Can Rely On

Comparing Backpacking Tents

Showing 18 products | Change
 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Three-Person Backpacking Tent
  Top Pick Award
Best Ultralight Option
Top Pick Award
Best Weight to Performance Ratio
Price $399.00 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$449.95 at Backcountry$420 List$289.88 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$355.85 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
Overall Score
86
60
57
62
77
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pros Lightweight, impressive lateral headroom, large doors, massive overhead pocketLightweight and great space to weight ratio, sturdy buildLightweight, packable, overhead pocketLightweight, good headroom for its size, double side doors, massive storage pocketTwo large double doors, good headroom, excellent balance of interior space and weight
Cons Smaller vestibules, tapered footprint reduces interior spaceLess headroom than our favorites, not the best pockets, less ventilationSingle door, less livable volume, average stakesOdd door configuration, delicate materials, expensive, condensation build upExpensive, delicate materials
Bottom Line A comfortable, lightweight tent for up to three people, great for a weekend or a weekThis lightweight but well-built tent gives you a lot of floor space but less headroom and organizational optionsA backpacking tent large enough for two people to snuggle in and light enough for one person to carry on their ownThis is a lightweight tent for a long-distance backpacking duo that still wants the comfort of a double-wall shelterThis tent balances the key aspects of a backpacking tent and performs admirably in all of our metrics
Rating Categories Big Agnes Copper Sp... MSR Freelite 2 Mountain Hardwear N... Big Agnes Tiger Wal... Big Agnes Copper Sp...
Comfort (25%)
9.0
4.5
3.5
7.0
7.5
Weather Resistance (25%)
7.5
4.5
6.0
3.0
7.5
Space to Weight Ratio (25%) Sort Icon
9.5
9.0
9.0
7.5
7.5
Ease of Use (15%)
9.0
5.0
4.0
7.5
9.0
Construction Quality (10%)
7.0
7.0
5.0
6.5
7.0
Specs Big Agnes Copper Sp... MSR Freelite 2 Mountain Hardwear N... Big Agnes Tiger Wal... Big Agnes Copper Sp...
Measured Total Packaged Weight 3.81 2.36 2.29 2.48 2.99
Measured Floor Area., sq ft 39.20 28.24 28.10 25.45 26.21
Interior Floor Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 10.29 11.97 12.27 10.26 8.77
Measured Headroom Area, sq ft 25.04 8.74 Not measured 7.75 12.72
Interior Headroom Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 6.57 3.70 Not measured 3.13 4.25
Packed Size (length x diameter) 20.5 x 6 in 18.5 x 5.5 in 12 x 6 in 17.5 x 6 in 20 x 6 in
Dimensions (length x width x peak height) 89 x 68/59 x 43 in 83 x 49 x 39 in 86 x 52 x 41 in 86 x 52/42 x 39 in 85 x 50/39 x 40 in
Vestibule Area 18 sq ft 15 sq ft 7.7 sq ft 16 sq ft 18 sq ft
Peak Height 43 in 39 in 41 in 39 in 40 in
Number of Doors 2 2 1 2 2
Number of Poles 1 2 1 1 1
Pole Diameter 8.7 mm 8.7 mm 8.7 mm 8.7 mm 8.7 mm
Pole Material DAC Featherlite NFL DAC featherlite NFL aluminum DAC featherlite NFL aluminum DAC featherlight NFL aluminum DAC Featherlite NFL
Number of Pockets 8 4 3 4 4
Guy Points 4 3 3 3 4
Gear Loft No No No No No
Rain Fly Material Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating 15D ripstop nylon 1200mm Durashield™ polyurethane & silicone 20D ripstop nylon Ripstop nylon, PU coating (1200 mm) 15D 1200mm silicone nylon ripStop
Inner Tent Material Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating 10D polyester micro-mesh and 15D ripstop nylon 1200mm Durashield™ polyurethane & DWR 15D nylon mesh Ripstop nylon, PU coating (1200 mm), polyester mesh Body: 10D polyester mesh, Floor: 20D nylon ripStop
Type Two door freestanding Semi-freestanding Two door semi freestanding Two door semi freestanding Two door freestanding