Basecamp is at the core of any great adventure, so it’s essential that your tent be roomy enough for all your family members and sturdy enough to weather whatever Mother Nature may throw your way. Our experts put these tents through rigorous tests, rating them on quality, functionality, and value.

REI Co-op Base Camp 6 earned top honors, boasting 84.3 square feet of floor space and a max height of 6′ 5″. Plus it featured thoughtful extras like storage pockets, gear loops and dual vestibules – making for an exceptional camping experience!

Size

No matter if it’s car camping with family or backpacking miles from civilization, setting up a comfortable basecamp is at the core of any outdoor experience. That means having an adequate tent that provides shelter from harsh elements as well as somewhere to sleep for the night.

Size matters when selecting the ideal tent to meet your needs. A single person typically requires 20-25 square feet for comfort.

Tents with floor dimensions between 80 to 100 square feet can comfortably house two adults and their gear, providing enough room to move freely inside. Many tents include mesh vents and pockets to promote airflow as well as upgraded features to increase comfort even in rough conditions.

Weight

Tents designed to be ultralight or minimalist can compromise durability for weight savings, giving them more of an advantage over more durable materials. You can get an indication of this by viewing a tent’s fabric spec; lower denier numbers indicate more robust fabrics while higher denier numbers represent weaker materials.

Your peak height and floor space specifications may provide some indication of roominess; however, these don’t reveal everything about how a tent feels when pitched. Some tents come equipped with footprints – custom-cut ground cloth accessories designed to protect floors from wear-and-tear and make packing up simpler – that help provide protection.

Ventilation

Ventilation is essential in any tent used by multiple sleepers, particularly one set up in humid environments. Ventilation prevents suffocation and minimizes condensation that can become an issue quickly.

Vents help prevent moisture from collecting on the roof of a tent, making pitching it simpler. Some models include built-in ventilation features while others can be further improved with accessories like gear lofts and awnings.

Some tents designed specifically for family camping include doors on both sides. They tend to be spacious with vestibules for storing extra gear while leaving ample sleeping space available. Many have factory taped seams which eliminates the need to seal it manually prior to each camping trip.

Weatherproofing

Camping tents designed for optimal performance will stand up well under all kinds of weather, from extreme temperatures to rain and snowfall. Look for tents equipped with an ample rainfly that forms a protective canopy over its body to shield from water, wind and snow battering the walls of your tent.

Consider tents with vestibules, which provide extra storage space outside the door and can help protect sleeping area without taking away from floor space for sleepers. Furthermore, look at hydrostatic head ratings of tents you are considering; this indicates their waterproof qualities; but keep in mind that these ratings alone don’t guarantee waterproofness – you should also think about seam sealing to seal off leaks.

Design

Tents come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles; your decision depends on what activities you intend on engaging in within it. Tents designed specifically for family adventures tend to feature multiple rooms while backpacking tents tend to be much smaller and lighter weight.

Attentive inspection can reveal wear and tear that could impact a tent’s durability over time, as can open communication with vendors regarding its history and current state. Many tents now feature hooks for connecting poles directly, providing buyers with more convenient connectivity without running it through small sleeve.

Comfort

Tents can quickly become your home away from home. Our team’s camping experience in the western US, mountaineering expeditions and car camping with families provides us with invaluable insight into creating comfortable shelters in various climates and weather conditions.

Premier tents provide an aesthetically pleasing space without succumbing to the elements. These tents usually boast full-coverage rainflys and large vestibules equipped with ample pockets for gear storage, as well as strong aluminum pole designs capable of withstanding wind and precipitation. Furthermore, thicker fabrics like nylon and polyester sag less, absorbing less liquid when damp drippings occur than cheaper models.