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One of the most important pieces ofcamping gearis shelter.
Steffen Schrägle via Adobe Stock
And if you’re abeginner looking for camping gear, it can be heavy on the wallet.
Think about how you plan to use your tent so youre not spending extra on unnecessary upgrades.
Next, youll want to ask how many people you plan to camp with exactly.
Most of the time, a two-person tent really meansjusttwo people.
The Nemo Hornet tent isMichelle Markel, a long-distance hiker and founder ofsupportpubliclands.comtop choice for her solo trekking adventures.
It hits virtually all of the important features, she says.
Its larger than traditional two-person tents to allow space for your pup or additional gear, she says.
Ive had this tent for almost five years, and its my go-to for car camping.
And, for those camping with three people, REI also makes athree-person version of the Half Dome.
Whitt recommends the tent for two people so they have extra room for gear and packs.
Marmots have been one of the best investments weve made in tents, says Whitt.
Reviewers were particularly pleased with its waterproof fly and interior storage pockets.
Gabi Rosenbrien, the product development manager forNEMO, also recommends using astanding-height shelterfor extra comfort.
Bradford also recommends tents with room dividers to give families and large groups more privacy if needed.
However, the Wawona also allows ample airflow thanks to its mesh front door.
The tent sets up in under a minute with snap-in poles that are durable and easy to use.
The tent has fully taped seams and can withstand 35-mph-plus winds thanks to strong fiberglass poles and guylines.
It also has plenty of ventilation with the mesh ceiling and angled mesh windows at both ends.
This tent has two doors, with one hinged door making getting in and out super easy.
you’re free to also try the NTK Arizona GT tent if youre looking for weather protection.
Thebest backpacking gearshould be light, multifunctional, and durable.
For durability, look for tents with ripstop nylon material and aluminum poles.
These two tarps are highly rated by Backcountry customers for their durability and lightweight.
Keep in mind, however, that trekking poles are not included in either of them.
Reed loves the Tiger Wall tent for its weight (2 lb.
), two doors and vestibules, and durability.
It also features ripstop nylon in the body that helps resist wear and tear, says Reed.
Rosenberg also recommends the Tiger Wall for folks who are new to backpacking and dont plan to winter camp.
Its a great little lightweight tent thatll do the job, she says.
Its also got some nice pockets and is spacious.
Plus, the aluminum poles are all connected, making setup and takedown quick and easy.
The MSR Hubba Hubba tent has stolen the hearts of numerous backpackers, including two of our experts.
Its not exactly a budget tent, but it makes up for it with exceptional performance in all conditions.
The tent is lightweight (3 lbs.
Backpacker, fly-fisher, and mountain bikerShelby Sawyeralso loves her MSR Hubba Hubba.
I like the ample headspace and generous vestibules, she says.
The tent is also super sturdy, with ripstop nylon.
It barely weighs anything [1 lb.
These tents are going to need to hold up to potential heavy snow build-up and provide extreme weather protection.
If youre in the market for a winterized tent, look for tents that sayfour-seasonorall-season.
Rosenberg swears by her Hilleberg tents for extreme weather worthiness.
After decades in the industry, I can say there really isnt a better company making tents.
Especially for extreme weather conditions, she says.
Ive used these tents in winds over 70 mph.
Ive used them in complete whiteout conditions, with snow dumping a foot per hour, says Rosenberg.
She uses this tent for car camping or when guiding ontruck-based overnight trips.
One of our writers was happy with how theDecathlon Quechua 2-Second Easy tentperformed in her trail test.
However, its weight makes it a better option for car camping rather than, say, backpacking.
