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What to look for in a backpacking tent - Best options to consider in 2018

Matt Avatar By: Matt | Last updated February 13, 2019

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Choosing the right tent when you go backpacking can make all the difference between having a great outdoors experience or ending up hating camping. A good night sleep is always crucial for your overall mood, regardless whether you are sleeping under the starry sky or in your four-walled bedroom. A poorly designed or chosen tent can make you cold, uncomfortable, tired and cranky.

Basic things you have to know about tents

Shopping for a backpacking tent requires at least some basic knowledge on your part. There are a few important aspects to consider: the capacity of the tent, seasonality, its weight is and comfort.

Regarding the capacity, most tents have a 1-person, 2-person, 3-person and 4-person capacity. As a general tip, try to always choose a tent that is a bit bigger in capacity than what you need. If for instance, you know there will be 2 people sleeping in the tent, it is better to buy a 3-person tent. This way, you’ll make sure you have enough space for both you and your camping gear.

When it comes to seasonality, most popular tents are 3-season tents, which can be used during spring, summer and fall. There are also 4-season tents, which can be used during winter, too, even on snow. The fewer mesh panels the tent has, the warmer it will be inside it. Extra poles are also important for a greater stability and strenght during harsh conditions, such as blizzards, heavy winds, etc.

In 4-season tents the rainfly also has a more special design, reaching all the way to the ground.

Other factors to consider when shopping for a backpacking tent

The weight of the tent is another important aspect when it comes to backpacking tents. The reason is simple: if you are a backpacker, you’ll have to carry the tent in your backpack. Therefore, you need as light a tent as possible. The specs to look for regarding the weight are the packaged weight and size of the tent and the minimum trail weight, which is the minimum weight of the tent, if you just take the basic parts with you: the body, the rainfly and the poles.

Comfort is very important too when choosing a tent. There are several aspects to consider when it comes to comfort: how many doors the tent has (for a 2-person tent or bigger), the peak height of the tent, the floor dimensions, the design (whether it has vestibules or not), breathability. All these can affect your comfort. If more than one person is sleeping in the tent, extra doors and vestibules are a good addition, because you want to be able to get in and out of the tent without disturbing the other person. If the tent has vestibules, that means more storage space, so that you don’t have to overcrowd the tent with your boots, backpacks and so on.

The durability of the tent is a final factor to consider, and it very much depends on the quality of construction, materials used and craftsmanship.

Best backpacking tents to consider in 2018:

Hilleberg Niak: great contruction quality and materials, durable, waterproof, but quite expensive. Price: $795. Read our review here: http://www.bestreviewguide.com/en/reviews/outdoor/best-backpacking-tents/hilleberg-niak-review/.

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