Are You Planning to Camp Soon? Your Tent Can Make or Break the Experience If camping is part of your plans, your tent plays an integral part in how comfortable and capable your experiences will be. A tent that breathes well, regulates temperature effectively, stands up against storms well, and maximizes living space will help make sure that camping trips go as smoothly as possible.
Other considerations will influence your buying guide such as livability, cost and setup ease. Premium options like REI’s Wonderland 6 offer ample storage and features perfect for families while budget-oriented Kelty provides similar comfort and utility with their Wireless model.
MSR Habitude 6
MSR tents feature breathable fabrics that enable moisture to escape, keeping you cool and dry even during heavy downpours. In addition, this also ensures fresh air can circulate throughout the tent – especially important when camping as part of a family unit where it may be challenging to differentiate sleeping quarters from living spaces.
MSR family tents are built to withstand the demands of camping families, making them reliable. Built to protect against kid accidents and primitive camping rigors while offering creature comforts that make outdoor adventure enjoyable, this six-person shelter can sleep six comfortably with plenty of standing-height design space for movement around it; easy pitching thanks to lifting poles with color-coded pole clips; practical mesh/solid fabric balances provide both ventilation and privacy; it can even withstand windy conditions! Plus it boasts a spacious vestibule for gear storage!
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3
The tent body is constructed mostly from mesh material for ventilation and star gazing purposes, with five interior mesh pockets providing space to stow phones, headlamps, and other gear. Vestibules in front of both doors offer additional weather-protected storage space of 20.9 square feet total; making this tent small enough for two adults plus one dog (or three children who don’t mind close quarters).
This tent performed exceptionally well during our testing with both wind and rain. Its pole structure is strong yet lightweight; and comes equipped with extra guy lines to secure its position under adverse weather conditions.
This tent is easy for both new and experienced backpackers to set up, with its symmetrical primary pole design making pitching quick and intuitive. When folded down for storage or transportation, its lightweight nature means minimal packing weight is an additional consideration. If backpacking with this tent, purchase one paired with its manufacturer for reduced weight savings.
NEMO Aurora Highrise
NEMO’s Aurora Highrise camping tent stands out as one of the highest quality hybrid models, providing roomy interiors and plenty of features designed to keep campers comfortable and happy. These include an easy and quick setup process; an impressive peak height of 77 inches in the center; sturdy 150D polyester floor printed with fun patterns; Nightlight Pocket diffusers, gear pockets and Gatekeeper door clips are also provided for added functionality.
Pitching the Aurora Highrise tent is easy thanks to color coded pole tabs and crossover poles that slide into rooftop sleeves before being tensioned via solid pole-clips at each corner. Its unique pole shape, comprised of quality 13-millimeter aluminum poles, brings tremendous stability. Furthermore, large rainproof windows and two doors with vestibules make this four-person tent an inviting home from which you can launch your camping adventures!
REI Skyward 4
This REI Co-op tent offers excellent value. Setup is quick and simple, while its roomy interior can be enhanced by unzipping its front vestibule to increase ventilation. Plus, its large size makes it suitable for groups up to six people!
Although not as lightweight or portable as some of the best car camping tents, this tent is an excellent option for those who require enough room for all sleeping bags as well as additional gear storage space. Furthermore, its all mesh construction provides excellent weather protection with minimal rainfly protection that lets air flow through and lets in light rain showers.
However, this tent doesn’t stand out in any category. We give it two dings for its vertical walls and lack of wind resistance; these factors mean it may not be suitable in conditions requiring full-coverage rainflys. Luckily, its thick carry bag helps alleviate these concerns.