How to choose a backpacking tent

Choosing a tent can be one of the most daunting purchase decisions you need to make when you’re getting into backpacking. Our guide will demystify the common tent terminology, outline the pros and cons of different types of tents, and then recommend some of our top picks in different categories.

Terminology

Tents are classified in several different ways, including freestanding vs non-freestanding, single-wall vs double-wall, and tent pole vs trekking pole pitch. Let’s have a look at what each of these terms mean, so you can choose which type of tent is right for you.

Freestanding vs non-freestanding

This refers to whether the tent can stand up by itself or whether it needs to be held under tension by tent stakes.

Freestanding tents are what most people are familiar with, as they’re very popular as car-camping tents. But non-freestanding tents are more popular among backpackers because they’re lighter and easier to pitch in bad weather. In the backcountry, you’ll always want to stake your tent down as a precaution against gusts of wind, so a freestanding tent isn’t any quicker to set up.

Single-wall vs double-wall

A single-wall tent has just one layer of fabric between you and the outside; a double-wall tent has two (separated by a few inches of airspace). This category is sort of a continuum—some tents are marketed as “1.5 wall tents” where e.g. the roof is single layer but the walls are doubled.

The purpose of the extra wall isn’t added warmth, as people tend to think. It’s actually to prevent condensation from getting you and your gear wet.

You exhale a lot of water vapor with each breath. While you sleep, you lose more than 100mL of water. As your water-laden hot breath drifts away, it cools. Cool air can’t hold as much water as warm air, so some of the water begins to condense. In a single-wall tent, your breath deposits a lot of water on the tent fabric as it passes through, because the air gets much colder at this boundary. Then, it drips down the walls, making your clothes and sleeping bag damp.

The same effect occurs in a double-wall tent, but most of the condensation ends up happening on the outer wall. It mostly runs down the wall onto the ground outside. Any drips that fall are caught by the inner wall, which protects you and your gear.

So, double-wall tents have the advantage that they manage condensation better than single-wall tents. The drawback is that double-wall tents are much heavier (they require almost twice as much material, after all).

In the Pacific Northwest, where conditions tend to be cooler and wetter, condensation becomes more of a factor. Beginner backpackers may be happier with a double-wall tent. That said, single-wall tents can still work great. You can minimize condensation in any tent by choosing a dry campsite (preferably under trees, where it’ll stay warmer) and pitching your tent such that air can still pass under the outer wall near the ground.

Tent poles vs trekking pole pitch

Some tents use arc-shaped aluminum poles for support. Others are designed to use your trekking poles to prop them up.

If you already use a pair of trekking poles, then you can save some weight by using a trekking-pole tent (since you won’t need to carry tentpoles). However, when you include the weight of trekking poles, then the two types of tents tend to weigh similar amounts. So if you aren’t a trekking pole user, there’s no need to make the switch just so that you can use a lighter tent. Trekking pole tents are usually a little less sturdy in severe wind than tents that use arc-shaped poles.

Product recommendations

Here are a few tents that we recommend in different categories. These are trail-tested favorites of many backpackers.

Single-person tents

A one-person tent is great for those traveling solo.

For a single-wall, trekking pole tent, the Tarptent ProTrail is unbeatably lightweight and has excellent ventilation. It’s also a bargain compared to many other ultralight, minimalist tents.

If you prefer a freestanding double-wall tent, the NEMO Hornet 1P is one of the lightest options on the market at just 2 lbs. While it’s a good option for summer use, it won’t withstand heavy wind or driving rain very well. For a July or August trip in the Enchantments, this will probably be okay. For shoulder season use, consider the MSR Hubba NX 1, which is 14 oz heavier but much more storm-worthy. Both tents are quick to pitch, thanks to a clever hub-based pole design.

Two-person tents

A two person tent is obviously the way to go if you’re sharing with a hiking partner. But it’s also useful for solo backpackers who like to have extra space to spread their gear out inside, or those who have a fluffy friend that might join them on future adventures (though remember that dogs aren’t allowed in the Enchantments).

If you’re interested in a 1.5-wall trekking pole tent, the REI Flash Air 2 may be for you. It’s easy to set up, weighs under 2 lbs (excluding trekking poles), and has impressive headroom for a tent of this type. It also has great ventilation (mesh doors open into vestibules on both sides, plus two small kickstand vents in the roof) which helps prevent condensation.

Another option is the 1.5-wall semi-freestanding Tarptent Double Rainbow. It’s about 10 oz heavier than the REI Flash Air 2, but doesn’t require trekking poles to pitch (though if you have them, you can use them to make the tent fully-freestanding).

Finally, for a traditional double-wall, freestanding tent, have a look at the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2. Like the single person Hubba, it pitches quickly and will easily withstand foul weather. It’s heavy, at nearly four pounds, but no heavier than other freestanding tents of a similar size.

Minimalist alternatives

Are you a minimalist looking to travel as light as possible? Consider ditching the tent and bringing a tarp instead. Tarps are an age-old backcountry shelter, and modern ones are extremely light. Gossamer Gear’s Solo Tarp weighs just 7.5 oz! Tarps require a little practice to use, but when pitched well they will protect you from rain and ventilate better than any tent.