Best Backpacking Tents Of 2023

I remember when I decided I was going to backpack for the first time. I started to research what I should buy and realized how difficult it was to pick out a perfect tent. There were so many choices, and I wanted a tent that would last me for a long time. Luckily, I ended up getting the REI Quarter Dome, which was the perfect tent for me at the time. But just because it was the perfect tent for me doesn’t mean it is the ideal tent for you. Below I list the top 10 best backpacking tents in the market—great tents for beginners, for thru-hikers, and weekend backpackers. I list the pros and cons of each of the tents and who it is perfect for. So if you are ready to start your backpacking adventure with a new awesome tent, keep on reading.

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My Pick For The Best 2 Person Tent Backpacking

I have had this tent for years, and it is still my go-to lightweight backpacking tent. It is comfortable, lightweight, and extremely durable. Even though I have put this tent through hell, it is in great shape.

Best Backpacking Tents

NEMO Dragonfly 2 Tent

If you want a tent that you can take anywhere, look no further! The Nemo Dragonfly is well known in the outdoor community. It is lightweight, yet roomy enough to carry camping and backpacking. This tent is fantastic!

Nemo is known to have some of the best high-quality tents. I have used Nemo tents for years now in the crazy rain and snowstorms, and it has stood up to the test of time. You can not go wrong with their tents.

The main negative is that it is expensive, and it isn’t as roomy as the Nemo Dagger. But if you want to save a few ounces, this is a better choice then the Dagger. The Dagger does weigh slightly more.

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Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent

I LOVE this tent. It is a great quality tent and has so much room. If you aren’t convinced with the Nemo Dagger or the Nemo Dragonfly, then consider this tent. I love that I can take this tent everywhere and still feel comfortable.

The main negative is that it is more expensive than a lot of tents, but that is expected with a high-quality tent. Also, the materials do feel exceptionally delicate, and I have seen people complain about this. I haven’t had an issue with this, though. Although the materials do feel delicate, I haven’t gotten any holes yet on my tent (fingers crossed).

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NEMO Dagger 2 Tent

The Nemo Dagger is another one of my favorite tents in this review. You really can’t go wrong with this tent. I have had this tent for around four years, and it has done a great job of keeping us dry even with crazy rainstorms.

This tent is comfortable, roomy yet lightweight to take on long weekend backpacking trips, and I have also used this tent on regular camping trips. It really can be used anywhere.

I love how it combines lightweight with comfort and ease of use. I can easily set up this tent within a few minutes.

It is, of course, expensive, and it isn’t as lightweight as the Nemo Dragonfly, but the extra room you get from this tent is so worth it!

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Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall is the lightest tent in this review. It is an excellent tent for people that want a tent specifically for backpacking. You can easily take this tent on the PCT trail.

Given how lightweight it is, this tent is still pretty comfortable. You can sit up in this tent, which can be an essential feature for long term backpackers.

It also packs well, is durable, and is made with good quality materials. It is on the more expensive side, and there are concerns over water getting into the tent. Also, the vestibules are on the smaller side.

But if you are looking for an extremely lightweight, compact, good quality backpacking tent, then this tent is for you!

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MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent

One of the most well-known backpacking tents is this MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent. You might have seen this tent on Instagram, and it is for a good reason.

This tent is high quality, durable, super weather protectant, is pretty roomy and comfortable. You really can’t go wrong with this tent.

What I don’t like about this tent is the price point. It is more expensive than the Big Agnes Copper Spur. The Copper Spur is a better quality tent, cheaper, and is lighter.

But if you are ok with the price point, this tent is still a great quality tent that you can use on your backpacking and camping trips.

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REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Tent

The Half Dome is a great beginner backpacker tent, and the price point is pretty impressive. It is roomy, comfortable, tall, durable, and can be used while backpacking and camping.

Of course, that price point does come at a cost :-/ The weight….. At 5 lbs 5 ounces, this tent is one of the heaviest in this review. It is also the worst packed tent in this review (20.5 x 7 inches). I would only consider this tent for a one-night backpacking trip. Any longer, then that would be miserable.

Still, if you are on a budget, this tent is a great quality tent. I have used REI tents for years, and they are pretty durable.

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REI Co-op Passage 2 Tent with Footprint

Ok, so I know you probably looked on this list and noticed that this is one of the heaviest backpacking tents. At a whopping 5 lbs 10 ounces, this tent sure is heavy! You are probably wondering why I even listed this tent.

It’s because it is one of the best budget backpacking tents in the market. I know how it feels not to have enough money to go camping, so I am thankful that tents like this exist. So if you are starting out and you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a new hobby, then this is a great tent. The best budget-friendly tent!

This tent has so many positives that it may outweigh the negative (the weight); it just depends on what you are looking for. This tent is durable, high quality, roomy, inexpensive, and easy to set up. So this is still a great backpacking tent even if it is so heavy.

I would recommend this tent if you will mainly be camping throughout the year but dabble in some weekend backpacking trips here and there.

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REI Co-op Flash Air 2 Tent

REI has made its way into the ultralight market, and I am so glad they have! This REI Flash 2 tent is exceptionally light, packs small, is durable, roomy, and is pretty affordable! It is the best ultralight tent on this list.

The price when writing this review is around $300, which is pretty sweet for how lightweight and durable it is. Most tents like this go around $600!!! So yes, this is a great deal. I have used REI tents for years, and they are pretty legit and will last you for years. If you want to save even more weight, you can use your trekking poles to set this baby up. It does come with its own poles, in case you do not have any trekking poles.

I recommend practicing setting up the Flash at home before your first trip. This is a non freestanding tent so pitching it up is a little different than the other tents in this review.

Also, the pockets of the tent are pretty small and disappointing. Hopefully, they update this in future models. But as you can see, this tent does not have many negatives. It is a great all-around ultralight tent that the backpacking world is pretty excited about.

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Hilleberg Nallo 2 Person Tent

Are you looking to get outdoors in a wintery wonderland? The Hilleberg Nallo is perfect for this. It does a great job withstanding terrible winter storms and high winds. This is an excellent quality 4 season tent for some crazy weather adventures.

I would not use this tent year-round, though. It weighs too much, and the ventilation is not the best. This tent is mainly made for winter storm type of weather. Another negative is that the price is pretty steep, making it the most expensive tent on this list, but that is to be expected with a 4 season tent.

Overall this is a great tent, but I would only get it if you are looking into winter backpacking this year.

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REI Co-op Quarter Dome SL 2 Person Backpacking Tent

The Quarter Dome Tent (older version) was my first backpacking tent ever! As I have said above, REI backpacking tents are pretty great for beginners. This tent is no exception. It is durable, lightweight, and at a great price point. It isn’t as expensive or as lightweight as the top of the line backpacking tents like The Big Agnes Copper Spur or Nemo Dagger, but for a beginner, it is still a great tent.

When I first started to backpack, I didn’t want to spend a tremendous amount of money on my first tent, but I also didn’t want to get the cheapest thing in the market that will fall apart after a few trips. So the Quarter Dome was the perfect tent for me at the time.

It is annoying that they have changed the design to be non-freestanding (Need to stake it to work), but it is a lot lighter now.

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How To Choose The Best Tent

Weight

A tent is one of the heaviest items in your backpack, so it is best to try to minimize the weight as much as possible. For a comfortable backpacking trip, your backpack should not weigh more than 20% of your body weight.

But sometimes you can’t help but get heavier items because of cost, and you aren’t sure you want to invest so much money into a hobby you might not like. Trust me; I have been in that situation before. These scenarios will help pick out a tent that is perfect for you:

• 5+ Lbs: Should be used on weekend backpacking trips (1-2 nights). Or the tent might be a 4 season tent and should only be used in the winter.
• 3-5 Lbs: Lightweight tent that can be used for week-long trips.
• 1-3 Lbs: Ultralight backpacking tent that will be used for thru-hiking.

As you can see, you don’t need the lightest and most expensive tent to go backpacking. For example, I don’t ever see myself thru-hiking, so I don’t need to buy an ultralightweight tent that is extremely expensive.

Price

Price is one of the key components on which tent to choose for backpacking. Backpacking tents can get pretty expensive. Some tents can go up to $700, so it is essential to choose the perfect tent for your situation, especially if you are a beginner backpacker.

If you intend to go backpacking maybe a couple of times a year and for 1-2 nights, then you don’t need to break the bank. Some of the cheaper tents will do just fine, like the REI Passage tent.

If you are backpacking multiple times a year for 3+ nights, I highly recommend getting a lightweight tent, like the NEMO Dagger. I love how light it is, but still roomy and comfortable. A lightweight tent (3-5 lbs) is usually my go-to backpacking tent.

Typically the ultra-lightweight tents are the most expensive out there. These tents are for people that will be thru-hiking or love carrying ultra-lightweight tents for regular backpacking trips. I do like that the REI Flash 2 tent is not that expensive but still ultra-light.

Interior Tent Space

When it comes to a backpacking tent, the interior space is pretty important. Tent manufacturers try to shave off as much weight as possible, so if a tent states that it is a “2 person tent”, then it most likely will only fit two people and maybe a small pack. Usually, you have to store your backpack and shoes outside in the vestibules.

If being crammed right next to someone else makes you uncomfortable, then I recommend going up in size. A three-person tent is an excellent pick if you want a bit more room between you and the other person. It is also great if you have a dog, children, or a baby.

Season Rating

The most popular tents in the market are, of course, 3 season tents. These tents are used in the Spring, Fall, and Summer. I have used 3 season tents in the winter, but it has only been for one night when the conditions weren’t too terrible.

Four season tents are usually expensive and very heavy. I would only use these tents in the winter because their weight and ventilation isn’t the best.

Doors and Vestibules

If you are backpacking with other people, I recommend getting a tent with at least two doors. Getting in and out of the tent in the middle of the night when you need to go to the bathroom can be a pain, but it makes it easier if you have two doors.

Vestibules are usually the area outside of the tent but underneath the rain fly. I like to store my backpacking backpack and hiking boots in this area. It will stay pretty dry if it does rain, but it won’t take up crucial space in your tent.

Durability

The more lightweight a tent is, the least durable they will be. If you take care of your tents well, then getting a lightweight tent should be no problem. It will still last you for years, but as I said, you have to take care of it.

If you are pretty harsh with your tents then I recommend getting some of the REI or NEMO tents. After using those manufacturers for so many years I have realized just how durable they are.

Height

The peak height is pretty essential when it comes to sitting up. The size of backpacking tents usually ranges from 38″- 44″. If you are a tall person, I would think about the height. There is nothing worse than having to scrunch down while you are eating a meal inside your tent. I will also note that the taller a tent is, the less it will hold up in crazy wind storms.

Weather Protection

There have been many times that I have backpacked or camped and had the worst weather ever (hello Banff National Park 2018). And I have been thankful every time that I have a good quality tent that protects me from the elements. Having a tent that can save you from crazy weather is super important. Getting hypothermia while you are in the middle of nowhere can be extremely dangerous. All the tents I have listed here will protect you from rainstorms.

Ventilation

Most of the tents on this list have excellent ventilation when there is no fly on. The mesh helps with weight, and it has excellent ventilation. Having no rainfly on is great on a cool, sunny, beautiful day!

But when the weather is crappy or when it is too cold, it is best to put on the rainfly. Ventilation isn’t always the best when the rainfly is on, so many manufacturers have added ventilation flaps at the top. Ventilation is super important when you are backpacking because there is a chance of waking up to a dewy wet tent in the morning.

Set Up

Most of the tents I listed in this post are freestanding tents. Freestanding tents are tents that use poles to stand up on its own. No matter where I put the tent, it will be able to function and does not need to rely on stakes on the ground. These types of tents are usually easier to set up, but they do weigh more because of all the poles they need.

Non-free standing tents are more lightweight but can not be set up on boulders or hard grounds(need to stake it into the ground), also they require practice to master.

Final Thoughts On The Best 2 Person Tent For Backpacking

Thanks for reading all about tents, and I hope you found the perfect one for your outdoor adventure. Don’t forget to check out some other great posts on the outdoors:

• How To Plan A Backpacking Trip
• Best Headlamps
• The 7 Principles Of Leave No Trace
• Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags For Women
• The Best Backpacking Water Filters

Pin For Later: Backpacker Best Tents