Backpacking tents
Showing 53 results
- (26)MSR Hubba Hubba 2-Person Tent$679.95
(25)MEC Spark 2.0 2-Person Tent$474.95
SAVE 60%(20)Eureka! Suma 3-Person Tent$99.98$249.95
SAVE 40%(1)Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 2-Person Tent$347.97$579.95
(11)Nemo Hornet OSMO 3-Person Tent$729.95
(24)Sea To Summit Telos TR2 2-Person Tent$559.95
(30)MEC Spark 2.0 1-Person Tent$374.95
SAVE 15%(11)MEC Volt 4-Person Tent$531.20$624.95
SAVE 60%(8)Eureka! Summer Pass 3-Person Tent$179.98$449.95
SAVE 40%(3)Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 3-Person Tent$401.97$669.95
SAVE 25%(9)Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2-Person Tent$509.96$679.95
SAVE 60%(1)Eureka! Summer Pass 2-Person Tent$159.98$399.95
SAVE 34%(18)MEC Ohm 3-Person Tent$263.93$399.95
(143)MSR Elixir 2-Person Tent$399.95
(32)MEC Spark 2.0 3-Person Tent$574.95
SAVE 25%(16)Mountain Hardwear Outpost 2-Person Tent$634.94$849.95
(29)MEC TGV 2-Person 4-Season Tent$569.95
SAVE 15%(11)MEC Camper 2.0 2-Person Tent$271.95$319.95
SAVE 15%(12)MEC Volt 2-Person Tent$339.95$399.95
(123)MSR Elixir 3-Person Tent$479.95
SAVE 30%(11)The North Face Trail Lite 3-Person Tent$363.99$519.99
(1)Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2-Person Long Tent$749.95
(9)The North Face Tadpole SL 2-Person Tent$799.99
(17)Sea To Summit Alto TR2 2-Person Tent$484.95
(2)MSR Hubba Hubba 3-Person Tent$779.95
(4)MSR Hubba Hubba 1-Person Tent$579.95
(7)MSR Freelite 3-Person Tent$679.95
(5)Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 2-Person Tent$849.95
(23)Nemo Dagger OSMO 2-Person Tent$699.95
(24)Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 2-Person Tent$409.95
(81)The North Face Stormbreak 3-Person tent$329.99
(134)The North Face Stormbreak 2-Person Tent$279.99
SAVE 15%(7)MEC Volt 3-Person Tent$446.20$524.95
(0)Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 1-Person Tent$519.95
(7)MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 3-Person Tent$389.95
(15)MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1-Person Tent$269.95
(41)MSR Elixir 4-Person Tent$619.95
(0)Big Agnes Blacktail 3 Person Tent$369.95
(0)Big Agnes Blacktail 2 Person Tent$319.95
(8)MSR FreeLite 2-Person Tent$569.95
(0)Samaya 2.5 2-Person 4-Season Tent$1,595.95
(1)Samaya 2.0 2-Person 4-Season Tent$1,495.95
(2)Exped Lyra 2-person Tent$549.95
(2)Nemo Aurora 3P Tent$479.95
(7)Nemo Aurora 2P Tent$399.95
(2)Nemo Mayfly OSMO 3P Tent$629.95
(4)Nemo Mayfly OSMO 2P Tent$549.95
(3)Nemo Dragonfly OSMO Bikepack 2-Person Tent$759.95
(5)Nemo Dragonfly OSMO Bikepack 1-Person Tent$679.95
(47)The North Face VE 25 3-Person Tent$1,099.99
(21)MSR Access 2-Person Tent 2.0$999.95
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Backpacking tents to make you feel at home outside
Whether you’re gearing up for an overnight trip, a climbing adventure in the mountains, or a multi-day trail that leads far into the wilderness, the tent you carry is one of the most crucial items in your kit. A good backpacking tent is light, roomy enough for everyone to sleep comfortably and built to keep you dry and protected from weather and insects.
Weather and camping seasons
The first choice to make is whether you need a 3-season tent or 4-season tent. A 4-season tent offers secure shelter in winter conditions. They’re designed to shed heavy snow and stay standing in the strong winds you might encounter when ski touring, winter camping or mountaineering. The materials and construction used are robust and high-performance, but they are heavier and less budget-friendly than 3-season tents.
Single-wall tents are a weight-saving option that mountaineers and alpinists might consider. Instead of a rainfly, they use a single ply of waterproof fabric and often have one door and a pared back design that shaves weight. Single-wall tents tend to feel cooler in winter than double-wall tents. In summer weather or when temps rise and fall, interior condensation is a potential drawback.
3-season tents
Most tents are designed for every season except winter. A well-made 3-season tent will shelter you from rain and wind and can handle a summer storm or even a light snowfall. If you expect to use your tent most often in summer, look for a tent with lots of mesh panels for ventilation. But as it rains in summer too, any quality backpacking tent will have a full-coverage rain fly that extends to the ground – cheap tents often have a fly that stops part way down.
Free-standing or non-freestanding tents
A tent that’s described as freestanding can be set up without stakes or pegs on any type of ground. A non-free-standing tent requires some pegs, guylines or trekking poles to give it structure. A free-standing tent can often be pitched in a tight space, but a tent that uses trekking poles and pegs is generally lighter and more compact.
Ultralight 1-person tents for solo camping and bikepacking
Weighing in at kilogram or less, a 1-person tent doesn’t take up much room in your pack and can be strapped easily to a bike frame. Even though these are minimalist structures, they come with quality features like full rain flies, durably waterproof floors and good ventilation. If you’re choosing an ultralight option, note that lightweight materials can be a bit fragile, so you’ll have to be careful to protect the floor and walls from sharp stones and branches. Some people find that gear storage is limited, and the interior space feels a bit cramped, so you’ll have to balance these factors when making your tent selection.
MEC carries a range of ultralight backpacking tents from Big Agnes, MSR and Nemo for solo travellers, couples and 3-person teams.