The Best Backpacking Tent Review

Our individual reviews comment on and compare individual features and position each product within the broader test group. Check out our detailed Buying Advice Article. This provides an overview of tent design, features, and technical aspects not discussed here.

Product Selection
There are hundreds of tents on the market. We tested eight self-supporting, double wall, two-person, backpacking models. We selected and purchased these based on their quality, awards from other media, popularity, value, and our previous experience with them. You’ll also notice that we primarily reviewed tents with two doors and two vestibules. There are two exceptions to this: the North Face Tadpole and the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2. Tents are complicated devices and take a long time to test. These eight models are OutdoorGearLab’s first round of tent reviews; we already have other models lined up for this coming summer season. Do let us know if there’s a stellar tent you think is worth reviewing.

Criteria for Evaluation:
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, and vestibule area. We also assessed the overall vibe from each tent. Was it dark and gloomy or cheerful and airy? Did the tent get wet when someone enters the vestibule 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? Below we’ve listed detailed specifications for each tent. As a reference, know that an average sized sleeping pad is 20" x 72”. The most livable tent was the North Face Minibus 23 followed closely by the Black Diamond Mesa. The Marmot Limelight 2 was the most jail-like.

Ease of Setup
Although none of the tents tested here were difficult to setup, some were considerably easier than others. This variable assesses pole design, clip/ sleeve design and quality, and the inclusion or omission of color-coded grommets. We also watched other people set the tents up for the first time without instruction. The later was most instructive in our ease of set up analysis.

Strength
This author has spent roughly eight percent of his life living and traveling in tents. Tons of time in ravaging winds, heavy snow loads, sand storms, and endless rain has created a bias toward durable and strong tents (but our variables are weighted equally). Our strength variable assesses pole diameter, number of pole intersections, hub quality, number of clips/ mechanism for attaching body to fly, material quality, as well as the number and quality of guy points. The strongest tent reviewed here was the North Face Tadpole 23. Its low profile design uses three poles that cross in three places. Second to the Tadpole was the Black Diamond Mesa. The weakest tent was the North Face Minibus 23, which is more of a glorified play house than viable storm shelter.

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 rating as a reference and pack what you want. While all of the tents tested here are light enough for backpacking, the reader will note that our individual reviews distinguish between those that are lightweight and those that are not. Here, we define lightweight as an average packed weight of less than five pounds.

Packed Size
Packed size is roughly proportional to weight. However, some tents have many features that add substantial bulk.

Overall, we were most impressed by REI’s two well-designed and affordable tents and, the superlight, surprisingly strong, and comfortable Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2.

Best tent for specific application:
Ultralight multi-day trips: Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
Car camping: Black Diamond Mesa
Foul conditions: North Face Tadpole 23
Value: REI Half Dome 2
Everything: Black Diamond Mesa

Bottom Line
Our Editors' Choice award goes to the comfortable, strong, and all-purpose Black Diamond Mesa. While its materials aren’t the latest and greatest, it makes for a spectacularly livable and strong do-it-all three-season shelter. Our Best Buy award is presented to the REI Half Dome 2, which combines a shelter nearly as good as the Black Diamond Mesa but for about half the price. We also highly recommend the REI Quarter Dome T2. This is our top choice for people who primarily do multi-day trips but also car camp. Finally, the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 is our top choice for ultralight backpacking.