The Best 4 Season Tent Review

Product Selection
From the fast and light single wall Black Diamond Firstlight to the hurricane proof double walled Hilleberg Tarra, we selected thirteen shelters that represent an ideal cross section of the freestanding two-person four-season tent market. Six of thirteen tents are single walled, the rest are double walled.

Criteria for Evaluation
We assessed each tent based on its strength, weight, packed size, livability and features. All variables are weighted equally. By including both single and double wall tents in one comprehensive review, we compare both apples to apples and apples to oranges. We also ranked each tent based on its ability to endure various activities, such as alpine climbing, mountaineering, and expedition sea kayaking. We list what we believe to be the best tent for specific applications both below and in individual product reviews.

Single Wall vs. Double Wall
Choosing between a single and double wall tent is critical decision. In general, we prefer double wall tents because they put two layers of fabric between you and the elements. This creates a more comfortable space: the inner tent provides condensation-limiting breathability while the outer tent provides weather protection. The inner tent is water repellant and breathable: it lets vapor pass through, but prevents condensed water from falling on you. Double wall tents are also stronger, more durable, and warmer. All double wall tents have vestibules, which provide a stormproof entrance that prevent snow, wind, and rain from entering the inner tent. When the fly wears out you can replace it; with proper care a double wall tent can last for many years of abuse in the mountains.

At some point your desired adventure may cross a threshold where saving weight is more important than comfort, space, and durability. This is where single wall tents excel. One wall weighs less than two and is generally faster and easier to set up. Single wall tents usually have smaller footprints that allow them to be pitched on tiny ledges or in small spaces. We favor single wall tents for winter trips of shorter duration where moving fast and light is a top priority, or for when the only site available is a small ledge. For everything else we take a double wall tent. In the summer, we believe that double wall tents, tarps, and bivy sacks outperform single wall tents.

Weight
We ranked each tent based on its average packed weight. We chose this measure rather than minimum weight because we always use guy lines, but not always stakes. Use this variable as a reference; you can pack what you want. While all of the tents tested here are portable, their weights range from the superlight Black Diamond Firstlight (3 lb. 5 oz.) to the substantial Mountain Hardwear Trango (9 lb. 13. oz.). Space-to-weight ratio is measured by dividing floor area by average packed weight and is expressed in ft./oz.

Strength
Our testers are slightly biased toward strong and durable tents. Our strength variable assesses pole diameter, number of pole intersections, number of points and mechanism for attaching the inner tent to the poles, number of points and mechanism for attaching the outer tent to the poles, material quality, as well as the number and quality of guy points. The strongest tent reviewed here is the Hilleberg Tarra. Its symmetrical design uses four 10.25mm poles that cross in five places and can be reinforced with additional poles. The Tarra’s inner tent connects to the fly in 39 places, and the fly material, Kerlon 1800, is both extremely strong and lightweight. In drastic contrast, the Black Diamond Firstlight is a single wall windbreaker supported by 8mm poles that cross only once. In general, weight and strength are strongly correlated: the heavier the stronger.

Features
Here we assessed fabric quality, pole quality, the number, design and area of pockets and vestibules. The Hilleberg Tarra and Jannu have by far the best and most practical features, such as door bands and ground straps, which reinforce stitching and zippers. Hilleberg models also have the best ventilation, while the MSR Asgard has the worst. Some manufacturers, such as The North Face, add less vital features such as glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls.

Livability
Here we assessed how tolerable it was to spend time in each tent. We looked at door and vestibule design, zipper quality, number of pockets, peak height, floor area, vestibule area, and assessed the overall vibe from each tent. Was it dark and gloomy or cheerful and airy? Did the tent get wet when someone enters in the rain? Do the pockets hold what you want them to? Are two people cramped? Does the fly protect the inner tent from splashback (water dripping off the fly)? We’ve listed detailed specifications for each tent. As a reference, know that the average size sleeping pad is 20" x 72”. Two tents tied for first place in the Features category: the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 is the most spacious and has the best pockets, but the Hilleberg Tarra is stronger, easier to sit up in, and has two very large vestibules. In contrast, the Black Diamond Firstlight, a compact alpine assault tent, is cramped, has tiny pockets, a single small door, and is not waterproof.

Ease of Setup
Properly setting up a four-season tent on snow or ice can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours. Chopping a tent platform in ice or anchoring a tent in snow can be truly burdensome. Here, we looked at pole design, clip/ sleeve quality, color-coded grommets or sleeves, and recorded the amount of time it took to set up each tent. We also watched others pitch the tents without instruction. With only two poles and 13 Velcro closures, the Black Diamond Firstlight is the easiest tent to set up. The Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 is the most time consuming and the Black Diamond Fitzroy is the most physically challenging to set up. It took one tester, who used the Fitzroy for a weekend near Bishop, California, nearly two hours to set it up for the first time in the dark! (He had no prior knowledge of the Bibler series and no instructions.) The most surprising tents in this category were the Hilleberg Tarra and Jannu, both of which set up faster than all other double wall tents and even some single wall models.

Packed Size
We consider packed size to be equally important to a tent’s weight. For alpine climbers, where everything must fit inside a 30-liter backpack, packed size is crucial. Sea kayakers, on the other hand, have tons of space to accommodate a very large tent. The most compressible tent, by far, was the Black Diamond Firstlight, which packs down to roughly the size of a loaf of bread. The Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 was the largest.

Best Tent For Specific Application
All-purpose: Hilleberg Jannu
Fast and light alpine climbing: Black Diamond Firstlight
Extreme conditions: Hilleberg Tarra
Best value extreme conditions: Mountain Hardwear Trango 2
Best value all-purpose: MSR Fury

BOTTOM LINE
Of the thirteen four-season tents tested here the Hilleberg Jannu is the clear winner, and recipient of our Editor’s Choice award. It outshines all double wall and most single wall competitors with a showcase of well-designed features, incredible strength, and unparalleled versatility. Weighing less than six and a half pounds, the Jannu is worth every penny of its $735 price tag. If we were to have just one tent for everything from summer backpacking to alpine epics, the Jannu would be our top choice.

The next most impressive tent is the Jannu’s larger cousin, the Hilleberg Tarra ($835, 9 lb). The Tarra is an exceptionally well-designed fortress-like two person mountaineering tent built for the worst conditions imaginable. This is the ultimate tent for adventures that demand the greatest strength and livability.

There are two less expensive alternatives to the Jannu and Tarra. The MSR Fury ($500, 7 lb.) is a versatile tent for general winter use, and the recipient of our Best Buy award. While it’s not the least expensive tent reviewed here, we believe it offers the most performance for its price. The Mountain Hardwear Trango 2.1 ($525, 9 lb. 13 oz.), however, is a better option for extended trips that require greater strength and livability. While these two tents are cheaper than the Hilleberg models, the difference in quality is significant. We strongly recommend the Jannu and Tarra to those who venture into exposed environments for extended periods of time.

Of the six single wall tents tested here the superlight Black Diamond Firslight ($300, 3 lb. 5 oz.) is the best for hardcore alpine assaults. Being fast to set up, super light, and ultra compact, the Firstlight epitomizes the ideal single wall shelter. It’s also the least expensive tent reviewed here. The Mountain Hardwear EV2 ($600, 5 lb. 14 oz.) is our highest rated single wall shelter and, in many ways, significantly better than the Firstlight. The EV2 is also stronger, easier to pitch, and more livable than the Black Diamond Eldorado ($600, 5 lb. 1 oz.). The Hilleberg Jannu, however, weighs only 8 oz. more than the EV2, and offers greater strength, better features, and increased livability. For these reasons, we prefer the Jannu to the EV2 in most applications.

If we were to have one four-season tent it would be the Hilleberg Jannu. If were to have two, we would choose the Hilleberg Tarra and Black Diamond Firstlight.