List of 10 Best Backpacking Tents 2020 | Lightweight & Ultralight

Camping cannot go without having a tent. And that makes buying a tent our priority when you are planning a trip to nature. To keep you safe in the wilderness, protect you from the scorching sun, keep you dry during an unexpected downpour, and to shelter you against razing winds, the tent will be your only option.

This clearly explains why it is essential to choose a strong and sturdy one, a backpacking tent that will cocoon the residents from the harsh weather conditions and wild intervention. Another thing to keep in mind is that while you are on your way to go camping, you need to travel on your feet a lot. Steep climb, uneven slope, and loose soil are something that you must be prepared to tackle, with a backpack on your shoulders containing the tent in it.

Means when you are trekking, you are carrying a lot of weight on your back, and when those treks reach up to miles in the wilderness, you might start to curse yourselves for buying such a massive tent. A perfect fit for you would be to buy a tent which is robust, lightweight and doesn’t affect your wallet much, saving you some of your hard-earned money.

Best Backpacking Tents 2020 – Comparison Table!

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Now let us see what qualities do a backpacking tent need to have to be suitable for buying,

Qualities of best backpacking tents

• Out there, where there is a little human intervention, especially in the woods or at the top of the mountains, the weather is pretty much unpredictable, sunny now, overcast the next hours, and heavy rainfall the next. So, you need to be prepared for the worst and buy a tent which wouldn’t get overturned in strong winds, make you and your belongings wet during rain. Having a broken-down tent in the wild is one of the worst situations a camper can get in. Buy a good quality tent by spending some extra rather than going for the cheapest product available in the market and land yourself in an unfavorable condition.
• When you are walking miles while trekking, every kilo on your back matters, keep in mind the rough terrain in the wild, you don’t know what is half a mile ahead, and this is the beauty of trekking and camping. Surely, you wouldn’t want to drag your bag instead of enjoying the scenic beauty. All your money and days of planning would go waste. Leave aside the body pain you will wake up with the following day. So, choose a backpacking tent, which will allow your muscles to relax a bit as you enjoy the trek and click a few pictures to carry the memory along.
• Livability is the third and the last quality that a tent must possess. You surely don’t want to cram you inside a small tent with no space to change positions or buy a large tent that is not only troublesome to set up but also heavier to carry. It should also be equipped with adequate vents to maintain a proper supply of air inside the tent, a must for your tired body to relax for the next day.

Best Backpacking Tents Reviews 2020

Here comes our list of the top 10 best backpacking tents to buy:

#1 – Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Series

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In our list of the top 10 best backpacking tents, the first one is the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 weighing only around 2 pounds and available in three options: single occupancy named as UL1, double occupancy named UL2 and triple occupancy named UL3, giving the buyers liberty to choose from.

It has a single door along with a vestibule for enhanced ventilation in the UL1 model, whereas double doors and dual vestibules in UL2 and UL3 models. One of the lightest tents in the market, the UL is made up of a double-walled body with DAC pole support to make it stand firmly on the ground in harsh weather conditions.

Features like interior storage pockets, dry entry door design, storm flaps on exterior zippers make it one of the best backpacking tents available in the market, and a genuine love of frequent campers in unpredictable weather. Media pockets located above the sleeping area, low vent feature on the vestibules are an add-on to the list.

Making it easy to set up, the tents in the series comes with trimmed guy lines and tensioners attached to the fly, always a quick and efficient way to pitch.

#2 – Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Backpacking Tent

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Here comes the Big Agnes in our list of best backpacking tents, the Big Agnes Spur HV UL Backpacking Tent. The Spur HV comes in three types of occupancies: single, double, triple, and quadruple, all available in 3 distinct colors: Orange, Grey, and Olive Green.

Like the previous one in our list of best backpacking tents, this Big Agnes also has DAC featherlight NFL and NSL Poles, which accounts for its strength. It has dual doors for easy access and double vestibules for enhanced ventilation. Suited for use in rainy weather, it has a waterproof rating of 1200 mm along with waterproof seam tapes to block out the water and prevent from getting you and your belongings wet.

Other features are storm flaps on vestibule zippers, a large ceiling pocket, two mesh pockets, eight aluminum J Stakes, and a sizeable meshed pocket with two cord routing portals. Privacy isn’t at risk as the meshes used are double toned. A significant advantage that it exercises over the other is its fully-freestanding nature, which means it is most suited to be used at the top of the mountains or in the rocky terrains without any difficulty.

Weighing around 1.25 Kg, this tent is sure to give you an excellent camping experience without causing much stress to your shoulders.

#3 – Nemo Dagger Ultralight Backpacking Tent

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The Nemo Dagger Ultralight Backpacking Tent is available in 2 options: 2-seater and 3-seater. It has nearly vertical walls, with increased height and has a structure made up of pre-bent DAC Featherlight poles, which gives strength and durability to the tent. It has two doors for getting in and out of the tent and contains vestibules that enhance the airflow inside the tent.

For ruggedness and allow you to use the tent in harsh terrain, the body is made up of integrated 30D Nylon with a 50D Nylon Fly attached to it. The fly is 1200 mm rated waterproof, whereas the flooring is 3000 mm waterproof. The strut vents present in the tent allow the moisture to vent out of the tent and the presence of overhead lights making residing inside the tent easier at night.

Measuring 90 inches in length, 50 inches in breadth, and 42 inches in height, the dual seater tent weights around 1.5 Kilograms and thus becomes a spacious option having a lightweight. The setup of the tent is one of the easiest and can be set up by anyone within a few minutes.

For tall campers, it is a must buy, which will allow more room to relax than just being cramped in.

#4 – Mountainsmith Morrison 2-person 3 season tents

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The Mountainsmith Morrison 2-person 3 season tent measures 92 x 56 x 43 inches and measures around 4 pounds. It has a bathtub floor, which means that you and your belongings are safe from getting wet during a massive outpour.

The body of the tent is made up of polyester and has two doors along with two vestibules, which make the ventilation extremely good, space much needed for the claustrophobic campers. It also contains reflective guy lines with tension lock cord adjustment making the tent stand firmly on the ground.

Notably, this spacious tent is a freestanding one and has around 35 square feet of floor area, enough for two campers with their belongings. It has a maximum height of 43 inches, so not recommended for tall people. Other features are: taped seams, guy out attachment points, multiple grommet pole attachment points, aluminum alloy Yunan poles, tent fly with adjustable ventilation windows, and aluminum reinforced V-Stakes.

Mesh wall panels also improve ventilation while allowing you to have a look at the surroundings and keeps you safe from bugs and insects. A big thumbs up to the manufacturer for providing a lifetime warranty on the product, which will help in saving a few bucks of the customers.

#5 – Big Agnes Seedhouse SL Tent

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Big Agnes has been doing exceptionally well in the backpacking tent market all over the world. The third Big Agnes in our list of best backpacking tents is named as the Seedhouse SL Tent Series and comes in 3 options in terms of occupancy: single, double, and triple.

With a length of 84 inches, breadth of 52 inches and a height of 43 inches for the 2-seater variant, this might not be one of the tallest in the market but surely is one of the largest. It has a framework of aluminum DAC Featherlight poles with a Pressfit pole system and weighs around 2 pounds when packed, making it quite easy and lightweight to carry.

Like the majority of the tents in our best backpacking tents list, the tents in this series is also a freestanding one with included guy cables. The double walls of the shelters in the Seedhouse Series enables the occupants to beat the harsh weather, while the seams protect them from getting wet in the rain.

The tents are ready to pitch and comes with pre-cut reflective guy lines and tensioners attached to the fly. Big Agnes also provides a lifetime warranty on the tents in the Seedhouse SL Series, which is indeed a significant selling point.

#6 – Kelty Late Start Backpacking Tent – 2 Person (2019 Model)

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With an 1800 mm rated waterproof floor of 29.5 square feet, the Kelty Late Start Backpacking Tent has dimensions measuring 85 x 54 x 40 inches. It has a single door with a unique vestibule inside the tent to store with a storage space of 7.85 square feet.

The tent body is protected with a waterproof rainfly, and all seams sealed to keep water out of it. It is also a freestanding tent, allowing you to set up and move it to s more suitable place. Besides the vestibule, the tent also contains a ceiling storage pocket. Other features include Guy line pockets, color-coded fly attachment, aluminum poles, and translucent mesh walls.

The Kelty quick corner technology allows the camper to easily set up the tent and get inside as quickly as possible. However, the low maximum height of only 40 inches might be a problem for tall campers, and carrying a comparatively more massive tent weighing around 4 pounds might not be that much satisfying.

The manufacturer also ships a shark mouth stuff sack, making it easier to pack the tent and carry along.

#7 – MSR Hubba Hubba NX

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The nest on in our list of best backpacking tents is the MSR Hubba Hubba NX Model, which is a 2-person 3 season tent with a modern design. It has two options to choose from: with extreme, waterproof coating and without extreme, waterproof coating.

The MSR has a floor area of around 29 square feet, among the largest in the category. With a vestibular storage area of about 17.5 square feet, it provides enough space to keep the essential items handy. The MSR weighs around 3.5 pounds and has a dual door set up for easy access and ventilation.

Features include Easton Syclone Poles to protect the tent stuck in razing winds, 30D Nylon Floor Fabric with 3000 mm extreme shield polyurethane, unified hub, and pole system, rainfly, stakes, color-coded clips, and guy lines provided by the manufacturer.

At the same time, footprints are sold separately if needed. Mountain Safety Research provides a limited warranty of 3 years on the MSR Hubba Hubba NX for added customer satisfaction.

#8 – Marmot Tungsten

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The Marmot Tungsten series is our 8rth member in our best backpacking tents list, having a dome-shaped 3-season built with an included footprint. It is available in 4 options in terms of occupancy: single, double, triple, and quadruple.

Weighing around 5 pounds, the tent has two doors and vestibules with a floor area measuring 32 square feet. The nylon body with meshes is provided proper ventilation, keeping in mind the privacy of the occupants.

Its bent framework gives a higher slope to the walls increasing its shoulder room while providing extra support to the tent in harsh weather. However, with its weight, you might have to be strong enough to let others feel jealous of you as you take rest inside this beautiful tent.

#9 – REI Co-op Quarter Dome SL 2 Tent

When it comes to dome tents, REI outruns its competitors. The REI Co-op Quarter Dome SL 2 Tent is such a dome tent with length measuring 88 inches, breadth measuring 52 inches, and a maximum height of 38 inches. It has two doors and weighs around 2 pounds.

The vertical sidewalls provide more shoulder room, and the trapezoidal floor creates a floor area of about 28.7 inches, not the largest available but undoubtedly one of them. The floor and the rainfly are made up of ripstop Nylon, while the pole is made up of aluminum.

This tent has a shock-corded pole assembly with strategic color coding, making it easy and straightforward to setup. Storage isn’t a problem in this tent, thanks to the two large stake-out vestibules, quite a few pockets and hang on loops, a must to keep your essential items handy.

The roof vent combined with the meshed walls is enough to let the cool breeze make the ventilation system one of the best in our list of best backpacking tents. Reflecting stake loops and guy lines are shipped with the canvas, making the tent easier while in dark surroundings.

Other accessories included with the tent are a stuff sack for storage and easy carrying, stakes, guy lines, tighteners, pole repair tube, a pole bag, and a stake bag. However, it is of the semi-freestanding type so, you won’t be able to enjoy the benefits of a freestanding one.

#10 – REI Co-op Flash Air 2

Here comes our last item in the list of best backpacking tents, the REI Co-op Flash Air 2. One of the unique features about this tent is the vertically hubbed roof poles, which give the occupants an extra shoulder room for smooth movements inside the tent.

Alongside, the foot poles do make little space for your feet to move about. The 3-season tent provides a place for 2-persons with a floor area of 28.7 square feet. The dimensions are 88 inches, 52 inches, and 42 inches for the length, breadth, and height. The hybrid design contains a fly that can be rolled up if you want to enjoy the night sky and spread in front of the door to create an awning. It is a double-doored tent, which signifies easy access and better ventilation.

In the interior, the tent contains meshed pouches for storage and better organization of your belongings. A significant drawback of the tent is that being open and well-ventilated, the tent doesn’t prevent you from getting wet.so, it is better to use it only when you are camping in some dry areas. Despite its, features, this tent is quite lightweight, around 2 pounds and thus more comfortable to carry along.

Accessories included with the tent are guy out loops, a stuff sack for storage and carrying, stakes, guy lines, tensioners, two long poles, two-pole hubs, and one short pole.

Conclusion

We have reached the end of our list of the best backpacking tents. As you are now equipped with the knowledge of the best backpacking tents available in the market, do give proper thinking and make out a plan before you buy one. Some of the information that you need to keep with you while you are purchasing a tent are:

• How many people are traveling with you?
• In which region are you planning to camp, and what is the climate of the area?
• What is the maximum amount you can spend on a tent?
• Is someone there in your group who is claustrophobic or having respiratory problems and need more open space? In that case, it is recommended to buy a tent with a seater more than the total number of people camping in it to provide them with adequate space.

With all that information in your hand, you are quite good to go to buy your new tent.

Happy camping!