The sheer number of tents on the market these days is out of control. There are hundreds, if not thousands of models to choose from which makes buying a new tent difficult for any first time camper.
Brands are all battling for your hard earned dollars, but which tent should you actually choose? What criteria do you need to consider when choosing a tent? And, how much should you expect to spend on decent tent?
Well, let’s dive into the details in this camping tent buyer’s guide. There’s a lot of information so feel free to skip to the sections you’re most interested in learning about.
Disclaimer: This content is not sponsored. I don’t have any sponsors. It’s my unbiased opinion based on personal research and outdoor experience.
Article Contents:
Match the Type of Tent with Your Adventure
So, before you go out and buy yourself a brand spanking new tent, it’s important to ask yourself these three questions:
- What type of camping adventures am I going to use this tent for?
- Will I be mostly car camping, backcountry camping, or camping with a large group
- Will I be camping with, pets, kids, older adults, or anyone with special needs?
These are important, fundamental questions because all tents are designed and built differently. Generally, tents are made to match certain types of camping adventures and special requirements.
Everything from the geometry, setup complexity, and build quality is a reflection of design elements that you should consider to match the type of adventure you’re seeking.
These things all impact the packed size and weight of tents which varies dramatically for different type of tent as well.
I like to classify tents into three primary types: car camping, backcountry camping, and family/festival camping tents.
Car Camping Tents
When you go car camping, you park your vehicle within your designated camping spot. The car does all the heavy lifting so tent weight is not critical.
Tents for car camping can be more on the heavier side so tent poles made from fiber-reinforced plastic or steel and heavier tent fabrics are acceptable.
You can also bring a larger tent than what’s required. Say if it’s only you and your spouse, you can bring a tent rated for 3 or 4 people to give you some extra space without worry too much about it.
Hiking, Backpacking, Backcountry Camping (Alpine, Paddling) Tents
For more extreme adventures such as backpacking or backcountry camping, the size and weight of a tent reign supreme.
A light-weight and compact tent is critical since you’ll be doing all the heavy lifting… literally! Every ounce matters since the more you carry the more calories you’re burning which means the more food you’ll need to bring to keep you fueled.
These tents include components made from light-weight, high-performance materials such as aircraft-grade aluminum or carbon fiber for tent poles, and nylon or polyester for tent fabrics.
Because of the size and weight limit, backpacking and backcountry tents are usually rated for 4 occupants or less. Anything larger would require heavier duty poles and a much larger tent fabric surface area.
The exception would be “expedition” type tents (e.g., 8-person Dome Tent from The North Face) which are typically semi-permanent structures and rated for bigger groups which can also serve as the “command center” for elite adventure groups. Think base-case for an Everest summit group.
Family & Festival Camping Tents
Family and festival camping tents are large and spacious, typically with multiple rooms or storage compartments with enough space for bedding, backpacks, and extra supplies. These types of tents are usually designed for 4 people, all the way up to 12 people.
Since these tents are so massive, they require larger diameter poles made from steel typically. The fabric is also thicker to support the tensional load of the tent itself.
Family and festival tents are designed to offer respite from inclement weather, with larger doors to facilitate frequent use, power connection ports, large screen windows to increase airflow, and built-in lantern connection rings.
These features help to make the tent feel more “homey” and comfortable for kids, adults, seniors, and party-goers alike. For more information, check out my Festival Camping Guide!
Pro-tip: If you’re camping at a festival, be sure to check the maximum pitch size and compare that against the floor dimensions of your tent.
Camping Tent Criteria to Consider
Next, let’s talk about some tent criteria you should consider before buying.
Freestanding vs. Non-freestanding
All camping tents are classified into two primary types: freestanding and non-freestanding.
As the name implies, a freestanding tent remains erect without the use of ground stakes pegged into the ground because dedicated tent poles keep the tent body taught under tension.
A non-freestanding tent needs to be tied to supporting structures or staked down when pitching. Once pitched, you can’t move it around. It will collapse without being held up by stakes and guy lines.
- For most campers, a freestanding tent is the best option.
- Freestanding tents are easier and faster to pitch, are more versatile when it comes to finding suitable pitching locations, and often offer larger interior space.
So, unless you’re an ultra-light backcountry camper looking to shave every ounce of weight in your pack, I would highly recommend you only consider freestanding tents.
Pro-tip: For more information on freestanding versus non-freestanding tents check out What is a Freestanding Tent?
Season Rating
The vast majority of tents are rated for 3-seasons, which means they are suitable for weather conditions for spring, summer, and fall. They are built for sun, rain, and perhaps a very small amount of snow or sleet.
A tent rated for 4-seasons implies it is designed for year-round adventures, including camping in winter. A 4-season tent is designed for snow/ice loads on the tent structure without collapsing which means larger tent poles and heavier tent fabric.
If you’re just getting into camping, a 3-season tent is probably all that you need. Truthfully, my wife and I only own 3-season tents since we only camp in late spring, summer and early fall.
However, if you plan on alpine or winter camping, you should consider a 4-season tent. It’ll shelter you from all types of weather conditions, and keep you protected from the elements.
Waterproof Rating (Rainfly)
Typically, manufacturers specify the waterproof rating of tent fabrics in millimeters (mm). This is an indication of how resistant the fabric is to water penetration, so the higher the number the better.
When looking at a tent, the waterproof rating is listed for the rainfly, the outermost shell, and/or the floor portion.
For example, our Kaiju 4-person tent has a polyurethane coated rainfly, which has a waterproofness rating of 1200 mm.
Tent Shape
The vast majority of tents are either dome-style or cabin-style tents.
Dome tents are great for windy conditions as the shape evenly distributes the forces on the tent to limit over-stressing. This is a large reason why many alpine climbing expeditions favour them wind-swept base camp locations. They are usually also easier and faster to setup and disassemble.
Cabin tents are typically more spacious since the floor area and internal volume can be more effectively utilized. For example, a cabin style tent can be rated for more people than a dome tent because sleepers can use the floor space more effectively.
In other words, laying flat in a rectangular shape is more efficient than in a circular shape.
Setup Time
When it comes to setup time, there are a few features that make some tents better than others.
A hub design pole system ensures all the poles remain connected and that there’s only one way they can all pop together. This saves you from fumbling around with multiple lengths of poles trying to figure out how they all connect properly.
Another super helpful feature is colour-coded pole ends and grommets. I really wish all tents included this. Especially because color matching is way more intuitive for kids and adults to understand.
Warranty
An under-rated criteria for purchasing a particular tent is the manufacturer’s warranty. And, if it’s not obvious, not all warranties are created equal.
Reputable tent companies such as Big Agnes, Kelty and The North Face offer a limited warranty for the product lifetime.
Now, I’m no lawyer, so interpreting company warranty fine print can be a little confusing but let me help break it down. The biggest differentiators for warranty are the coverage period (months or years after initial purchase), damage covered, and repair or replacement policy.
But, at the end of the day, it’s up to the company’s interpretation of the warranty and assessment of the defect or damage to determine what is covered.
Companies usually bake the cost of warranty coverage into the price of their equipment. So, prepare to pay a premium price for a tent that has a rock-solid warranty.
Pro-tip: For in-depth information including company specific policies, check out Outdoor Equipment Warranties Explained.
Choosing the Right Tent Size & Capacity
When purchasing a tent, you’ll need to decide what capacity you need.
The rated capacity of a tent is an indication of the maximum number of adults who can sleep inside.
- For backpacking adventures, you’ll want a tent rated for exactly the capacity of people who plan to sleep together inside. This ensures no extra weight and space is taken up in your pack.
- For car camping trips, or perhaps a longer camping adventure, a slightly larger tent is beneficial. You don’t have to worry about weight or space constraints. Plus, the extra room makes for more comfortable nights.
- For growing families with kids or festivals, a slightly larger capacity tent is always helpful. A larger tent ensures there’s a bit more space inside for supplies, room to change or hangout if the weather is bad, all without feeling too cramped.
9 Built-in Tent Features to Consider
Just like many other purchases in life, different tents offer different built-in features that you may want to consider when buying. Here’s a list of 8 tent features I recommend considering when purchasing a tent.
1. Storage Pockets & Lofts
Interior mesh storage pockets and lofts provide space to hold small and medium sized equipment such as headlamps, glasses, multi-tools, keys, books, bear spray, or a small sweater.
More pockets mean more storage space and more access to items that would otherwise be left on the tent floor.
2. Air Vents
Whether it’s camping in summer or winter conditions, air vents in tents allow for wind to cool the interior and moisture to escape.
More air vents allows for better temperature regulation and a more comfortable nights rest.
3. Vestibules & Awning
Tent vestibules are covered areas of a tent that can be used to store equipment such as backpacks and shoes.
Likewise, some tents include an awing to provide a covered area when entering and exiting your tent, which can double as a storage area for extra equipment.
4. Internal Walls
For family and festival camping, large cabin-style tents typically include internal sub-compartments separated by fabric walls.
These walls help to separate the internal tent space, allowing you to dedicate space for storage, sleep or lounge.
5. Internal Hooks
Tents with hooks or rings strategically located at high points and walls allow you to hang lanterns to illuminate the inside at night.
Plus you can string a line across the inside of a tent to hang damp cloths to dry.
6. Power Ports
Some campgrounds offer power connections for continuous electricity. So, some larger tents include a power port built-into the tent that you can use to run an extension cable from the inside to the outlet.
This feature allow you to connect electronics directly to the power grid to re-charge and operate things like blow-up mattresses, camera equipment, phones and tablets, or heaters for cold weather camping.
7. Windows
Especially for smaller tents, a window built-into a tent allows for more natural light to illuminate the inside. It makes the interior space feel less cramped.
And, it allows you to easily peak outside without having to open a door which might let in blood-sucking flying demons… Yes, I hate mosquitoes with a passion.
8. Guy Lines
In windy conditions, you want to make sure your tent is anchored to the ground as secure as possible.
Guy lines are additional anchor points you can establish between your tent and the ground to better secure it in the wind.
Additionally, guy lines keep the tent body shape more taught which helps to shed rain and snow loads.
Pro-tip: Check out Tent Guy Lines for more information.
9. Color
The colour of a tent isn’t just for aesthetics. As you can imagine, it also serves multiple purposes. Here are a few things to consider when picking a tent color.
If you are wandering into the backcountry, and depending on what you’re doing out there, you may want to purchase a camouflage color and pattern to blend in with the foliage while hunting.
Or, you may want something that stands out from everything else so that you can easily spot your tent from afar. This is also helpful for rangers and rescue personnel if they’re looking for you in an emergency.
Also, lighter colours reflect more sunlight and radiated heat, keeping a tent cooler during the day. Whereas darker colours absorb sunlight and radiated heat, warming up a tent throughout the day.
How Much to Spend on a Tent
A tent is most likely going to be one of the most expensive pieces of equipment you’re going to buy for camping. Thankfully, there’s a massive range in tent prices, with loads of options at every price point.
However, for a brand-new, high-quality tent from a reputable tent manufacturer*, the average price (MSRP in USD) per tent occupant is as follows:
- 1-person: $324
- 2-person: $216
- 3-person: $177
- 4-person: $101
- 6-person: $70
* This information is based on prices from Big Agnes, Black Diamond, Kelty, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, MSR, and The North Face.
A great way to save some cash is to wait for a sale. Outdoor companies and tent manufacturers ALWAYS have sales.
So, whether it’s Black Friday, Boxing Day, or end of the season, be patient and keep an eye on the price. If it’s reasonable to you, then make the purchase.
Should You Buy a Used Camping Tent?
Used camping tents are an excellent choice if you have a limited budget. Loads of people end up buying top-end gear only to use it once and then shelf it. If you’re lucky, those people might end up selling a next-to-new tent for a bargain!
On the other hand, a well used tent might need some TLC before it’s ready for its next adventure.
Pro-tip: Check out the Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Tent.
The biggest issue might be if the durable water repellent (DWR) coating needs to be replaced, there are leaky seems, or tears in the fabric. The good news is that all of these things can be fixed!
- DWR can be sprayed onto a tent fabric to re-instate the waterproof coating [GEAR AID DWR Spray]
- Seam sealant can be used to stop seam leaks [GEAR AID Seam Grip SIL Silicone Sealant]
- Speciality repair tape can be used to patch pinholes and larger fabric tears [GEAR AID Tenacious Tape]
You can even find replacement ibreglass tent poles and replacement aluminium tent poles to repair damaged poles.
As mentioned above, a used tent won’t be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, as you’ll need to have been the original purchaser for it to be valid.
Where To Buy a Used Tent
You can hunt for a tent on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, gear swaps, and used good stores. You might your next tent for a steal.
Pro-tip: Check out Where Can You Buy a Used Tent for more information.
So there you have it, how to buy a camping tent made clear. I hope you’ve found the information practical and useful.
Happy camping, and see you out there!
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