The Best Backpacking Tents for Travelers and Hikers | Reviews + Buyer’s Guide (2022)
The first thing to consider when choosing a backpack is the weight. You want something light enough to carry, but not so light as to have to pack multiple days’ worth of food, clothes, and other necessary gear. A good rule of thumb is to aim for carrying about half your weight in the pack. Another big consideration is how much hiking surface you are trying to cover, or perhaps, which trails to go on.
If you’re heading out on a good-sized backpacking adventure, you’ll need to be carrying at least a week worth of food and supplies. If you’re only planning a weekend trip, it may not be worth carrying any more weight, in the long run, than you need to.
Check out our list of the best 10 backpacking tents below!
Hilleberg Havok 20 UL
What makes this tent so great? Hilleberg’s Havok 20 UL is a top choice for a lightweight tent for a few reasons: its low profile, durable materials, excellent zipper quality, and easy setup. The Havok 20 is extremely lightweight at only 2.85 pounds. You might not think that it’s all that light, but it’s not much heavier than your average day pack, even if it does have the padding for keeping you warm. The Havok 20 UL uses a different fabric on the interior walls, which helps it to be much lighter weight than traditional tents.
It is also much warmer than traditional tents, because of the Vapormat insulation. The material used is not flammable, but you still have to stay extremely vigilant when cooking in the tent, to avoid fire. It also has a very nice footprint, allowing it to fit inside larger size backpacks without having to get all cramped up. The Hilleberg Havok 20 UL is a great tent for every level of hiker.
Mountain Hardwear Puff
The Puff is the quintessential backpacker tent. Just look at how awesome this tent is! If you’re a backpacker with lots of time, you should consider spending a lot of money on a Puff tent like this one. They are such a pleasure to set up and takedown, and they can fit just about any size person. I like this particular tent because it is made of a material that is durable, breathable, and more water-resistant than canvas.
It’s also set up very easily, making it great for inexperienced campers and hikers. The fact that it comes with its ground cloth, water bladder, and the sleeping pad makes it a very nice choice for backpacking that isn’t too far from the city. This is the only tent on this list that’s meant to be pitched on dirt.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2
What makes this tent so great? Even though it’s a little smaller than the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2, I still like this tent better. Its high side walls add an extra element of durability and warmth that sets it apart from other tent options. It has a lot of features like a waterproof bottom, metal zipper, and doors that double as vents.
As far as minimalist tents go, this tent stands out. It can be set up in about 20 minutes. This is another tent that packs down compactly. The Copper Spur UL 2 is a good choice for those who love warm and cozy tents.
Topo Designs Base Camp UL 2
What makes this tent so great? If you are after a sleek, but a somewhat minimalist tent, then look no further than the Base Camp UL 2. It might look like an ordinary ultralight tent, but its highly-insulated body and gussets allow for a high air volume, which keeps you very warm and cozy.
The tight, durable zipper and aluminum poles make it very durable. If you love using a ground pad, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 is still a great choice. The base camp is sleek, sleek, sleek.
Arc’teryx Intensity Lite
What makes this tent so great? At just 2.5 pounds, the Intensity Lite is lightweight enough to be carried in the knapsack, especially if you’re doing a long hike. It is not as spacious as the tents on this list, but it is very light and also durable. Its fabrics are water-resistant and some of the mesh is very breathable.
It’s an all-in-one tent that works well in rain, snow, and wind. The ultra-compact design makes it perfect for both expeditions and day hikes. This tent is designed to fit inside a shirt pocket.
GoLite Sprit 2
What makes this tent so great? GoLite’s Sprit is a super-compact tent that is designed to be the ultimate light, durable, and easy-to-carry tent for the backpacker. It can be pitched very easily in about 5 minutes. I like this tent because it packs down very compactly, weighing under three pounds.
It is very durable and weather-resistant, with an interior that’s made of tough cotter pins. This tent also comes with a rain fly that works. Its windows are also very small, but there is still ample space for head and foot space. A very lightweight and very packable tent.
Whippet Creek tent
What makes this tent so great? The Whippet Creek is a very simple, and light tent. It’s made from soft, tear-proof material that won’t get in the way of your comfort while sleeping or sheltering from the rain. It has a high sidewall that provides excellent ventilation. If you are camping by yourself in a crowded campground, this tent is a great choice.
North Face Lost Lake
What makes this tent so great? The Lost Lake is a compact, super-light tent that packs down very small for use in a backpack or duffel bag. I like this tent because it’s extremely comfortable, yet strong. It has some nice features like a built-in sleeping pad for added insulation. The zipper opening is also nice and wide to accommodate all sorts of gear and clothing. The Lost Lake is a very well-designed, lightweight, and very packable tent.
The North Face Stormfly 2
What makes this tent so great? The Stormfly 2 is a great little tent for use in places that get cold or wet. It’s a little difficult to pitch in windy conditions, but the lightweight material of the fabric will not cause any problems. I like this tent because of its lightweight and size, it is easy to carry in your pack. The doors are very convenient for packing into the backpack. The North Face Stormfly 2 is a very basic tent that packs down small and weighs less than four pounds.
The North Face Talladega Xlight
What makes this tent so great? The Talladega Xlight is a simple tent, but it offers a lot of value for the price. It’s a very lightweight tent, weighing only two pounds, but it still packs down very compactly. I like this tent because of its impressive build quality. The tent has very effective ventilation, and its handles are quite easy to use. It’s also highly packable. The Talladega Xlight is very lightweight and packable.
Big Agnes Fly Creek
What makes this tent so great? The Fly Creek is a versatile tent that is great for both campers and travelers. It weighs less than four pounds and it offers great ventilation, weather resistance, and storage capacity. This tent is a pretty good choice for long car trips where you want to stay in one place for a few days. It’s also one of the most versatile tents you can buy, and it works equally well for three-season as for four-season use.
You get a lot of camping for the price of this tent.
Aerogarden 30-Inch
What makes this tent so great? The Aerogarden is a very nice tent. It weighs just 2 pounds, yet it packs down into a very small compact space that’s easy to carry. I like this tent because it’s extremely comfortable, and it comes in a variety of bright colors. The tent is made from durable nylon, so this is a very durable tent. This is a very nice compact, durable, lightweight, and good-looking tent.
The North Face Ghost 20.
What makes this tent so great? The Ghost 20 is a nice tent that weighs only two pounds, yet it packs down into a surprisingly small space. This tent is very lightweight, yet it offers a lot of space. The Ghost 20 is one of my favorite tents because it has a very breathable, very light, very easy-to-set-up interior. The canopy is made of ripstop nylon which makes this a great tent for warm weather. The Ghost 20 is extremely light and packable.
The North Face Warbonnet 20
What makes this tent so great? The Warbonnet 20 is a very lightweight and ultralight tent. It weighs only one pound and it packs down into a very small space. The Warbonnet 20 is extremely lightweight and packable. This is a great tent for use in warm, tropical climates, or for travel where you want to camp in places where it’s too hot to sleep on the ground. The Warbonnet 20 is a very cheap tent with a very large interior.
The North Face 20-Inch
What makes this tent so great? The 20-inch 20-Inch offers more than most tents. Its fabric is highly durable and very wind resistant. The ceiling of this tent is designed to be highly breathable and it has a lot of mesh for air circulation. This tent is very comfortable, because it is very easy to set up, and it also provides great ventilation. This is a perfect tent for travelers. It has a very comfortable and very breathable interior.
Big Agnes Pantheon
What makes this tent so great? This tent is lightweight and lightweight yet durable. The rain fly is made from rip-stop nylon and it’s very durable. It’s also easy to set up, and you can use this tent all year round. The gusseted tent body is rated for use in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great all-around tent that you can use for camping, backpacking, travel, and more.
The North Face 25-Inch
What makes this tent so great? This tent is very lightweight and extremely packable. The rainfly is made from polyester ripstop which is very breathable, yet it’s rated to operate in temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The body of this tent is polyester fabric with a polyester rainfly, and it’s very durable. The quality of this tent is very good, and it’s well worth the money.
Hilleberg Storm 32
What makes this tent so great? This is one of the best tents on the market. The entire tent is made of rip-stop nylon with an exterior waterproof coating. The vestibule is just 3 feet in length. It packs down to less than one pound, and it features an included rainfly which is designed to be used with or without a rain fly.
It has quite a few comforts, and it’s very comfortable and lightweight. This is a tent you will be able to travel with or sleep under if the weather is too cold for a tent. The rainfly on this tent is rated to be more than 30 years old. The Hilleberg Storm 32 tent is one of the best lightweight tents you can buy.
Conclusion
There are many good tents on the market, and the best lightweight tents are capable of serving the needs of all types of backpackers. Pick out a good tent for your needs, and you’ll be sure to enjoy the camaraderie with fellow backpacking comrades.
Do you know any good lightweight tents? Leave a comment below, and help someone else to pick the best tent for him/her!
