Your camping tent is your home away from home when you’re backpacking or car camping — having a great one can make your adventure more fun, while having a terrible one can ruin the entire experience. But with hundreds of models on the market, it can be hard to know what to shop for, especially if you are just starting out.
I’ve been writing about the outdoors for NBC Selected for years, including guides to hiking shoes, hiking emergency kits, camping for beginners and bikepacking, so I’ve tested and researched lots of tents. Below are the best camping tents you can buy, including some I’ve tested over many, many miles.
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The best camping tents in 2026
My top picks come from highly-rated, venerable brands like REI Co-op, The North Face, Coleman, Big Agnes, Nemo and more. All of my top picks are available in multiple sizes — I’ve linked alternate sizes below each product image.
Best camping tent overall
Also available as: REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Tent, REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Tent
The REI Half Dome is a fantastic do-it-all tent. It marries the ample size and durable materials of a car camping tent with a sub-eight pound weight typically found in backpacking tents.
Unlike many comparably-priced three-person backpacking tents, the Half Dome 3 can actually fit three people comfortably thanks to its large 90 by 70 inch floor (think California King bed). It’s heavy duty enough that you don’t have to worry about every little stone, needle or dog paw damaging the fabric, and comes with a tent footprint included if you prefer extra floor protection.
I wouldn’t recommend it for long-distance backpacking, but for shorter, flatter hikes, it’s easy enough to pack, especially split among two or three people, and for car camping, it’s a cinch.
Best value camping tent
Also available as: The North Face Stormbreak 1 Tent, The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent
This North Face Stormbreak is another excellent three-person do-everything option at a lower price than the REI Half Dome. It’s a tighter fit for three people, but it can still do it in a pinch, and it’s down right comfy for two people and their things. It uses similarly durable materials to the REI Half Dome, and is a great option for anyone who is looking to camp more, but isn’t exactly sure if that means backpacking, car camping or something in between.
Best car camping tent
Also available as: The North Face Wawona 4 Tent, The North Face Wawona 8 Tent
Sometimes bigger is better, and The North Face Wawona tent is one of the best options for camping luxuriously with a large group. This six-person version is absolutely massive — it can fit a mattress, cots, sleeping pads, gear — you name it, it’s going in there. It has a tall 76-inch peak height that lets most people fully stand up without bumping into the ceiling.
The standout feature is probably the vestibule: It creates a giant tunnel-like entryway or porch, great for storing gear like backpacks, a table, a cooler or even a bike. And storing gear inside the tent is simple too, with tons of pockets for phones, books, lights and anything else. Because of its large size, it takes a bit of time to set up, especially for one person. With two people, though, it’s not an issue.
Best budget car camping tent
Also available as: Coleman Skydome 6P Tent with Full Fly Weather Vestibule
Tents can be pricey, especially if you only go camping once a year or want to try it out for the first time. If that sounds like you, consider the Coleman Skydome. It’s priced much lower than most options on this list and gives you a huge amount of interior and exterior space to spread out. The large fly and vestibule area is particularly nice (especially at this price point) — it’s a great place to put chairs, keep wet boots or put gear like a table or lights.
If you only ever plan to camp in fair weather, you can get the standard Coleman Skydome Tent (without the fly and vestibule) for cheaper. Still, even in nice weather, I think the vestibule version is worth the price for the shade and gear storage.
Best bad weather car camping tent
Also available as: REI Co-op Base Camp Tent 4
If you love to camp with a large group regardless of the weather, this tent is a weather-resistant, robust option you should consider. Like the North Face Wawona, it uses very durable materials, but it takes things a step further: The rainfly is reinforced by an additional pole system separate from the tent itself, giving it added wind and weather resistance. Inside, it’s massive, with tons of pockets and ventilation throughout.
If you also purchase the Base Camp Vehicle Connector, you can literally back a car into the tent vestibule, and your gear can go straight from your trunk to your tent without ever being exposed to the elements.
Best backpacking tent
Also available as: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 Backpacking Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Backpacking Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 Backpacking Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL5 Backpacking Tent
This enduring (read: launched in 2008) backpacking tent comes recommended by basically everyone, myself included. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s an excellent backpacking tent that’s a top pick among thru-hikers completing multi-thousand mile trails like the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.
It’s incredibly lightweight at 3 pounds, but still manages to be comfortable inside, with plenty of space and pockets. The rainfly is adjustable too — you can stake it out for full coverage, roll it up for an open air feel or even turn it into an awning if you have trekking poles with you. Like many ultralight backpacking tents, it uses thinner, lighter fabrics than car camping tents, so you’ll want to be careful around things like rocks and spiky plants.
Ultralight backpacking tents don’t typically come in many size options. This tent is the exception, with sizes ranging from one-person to five-person. I use the two-person version which fits one person like a palace or two people snugly.
Best budget backpacking tent
Also available as: Featherstone Obsidian 1P Backpacking Tent
Lightweight backpacking doesn’t have to mean super pricey gear — this Granite two-person tent is a great example of that. It’s far less expensive than similar tents, and while it’s a little heavier at 4.6 pounds, that’s still much lighter than most tents on this list.
It has ample interior space and a simple, traditional pole setup. Little things are less refined, though, there are no pockets to slot in the cross pole, for example. But it’s hard to argue with the price, plus, at the time of publishing it has a 4.7 star average rating from more than 1,000 customers on Amazon.
Best bikepacking tent
Also available as: Nemo Dragonfly OSMO Bikepack 1P Tent
This is my go-to bikepacking tent. It has shorter tent poles (16-inches long) than a typical camping tent (typically 21 to 27-inches long), which makes it much easier to pack into small biking bags. It’s very similar to the Big Agnes Copper Spur: It’s super lightweight but spacious inside, with plenty of pockets and an adjustable rainfly. I particularly love the headlamp pocket — put any headlamp in this little orange ceiling pocket, and it warms and diffuses the light into a perfectly dim reading light for nighttime. I use the one-person version, but I’m recommending the two-person above. The extra space is downright luxurious, and it’s not much heavier than the one-person version.
How I picked the best camping tents
There are hundreds of tents available to buy right now from online stores — having too many options often makes it harder to find the best one for you. To pick the best camping tents, I selected models keeping the following qualities in mind:
- Size: There is no “best” sized tent — it all depends on what you are looking to do in the outdoors, and with how many people. That’s why I included a wide range of tent sizes, and prioritized models with multiple size options.
- Weight: How heavy your tent is matters a lot more for backpackers than car campers. I selected tents ranging from ultralight backpacking models to massive car camping dwellings.
- Weather resistance: Plenty of people only camp when the weather is clear, but conditions can change fast. I made note of each tent’s vestibule coverage and any additional weather resistant features it offers.
- Comfort: The best tents aren’t just big fabric domes. I selected options with comfort-forward features like interior pockets, multiple vents, adjustable rainflys and vestibule areas.
How to shop for a camping tent
The biggest thing you need to iron out before shopping for a camping tent is what kind of camping you see yourself doing. Your ideal tent will look very different depending on if you are planning a solo mountainous excursion or a family trip to a national park campground.
Consider sleeping capacity
Camping tents are categorized by sleeping capacity, basically, how many people can fit sleeping inside. But a popular rule of thumb for most campers seeking comfort is to size up by one: a three-person tent for two campers, a six-person tent for five, etc. I’ve camped in one-person tents before and can confirm that you basically get zero space to spread out.
Understand seasonality (3-season vs. 4-season tents)
Most tents are three-season tents — great for summer, spring and fall weather, perfect for most campers doing most things. That’s why all of my tent recommendations are 3-season tents, and why most people buy a three-season tent.
Four-season tents are built differently; they prioritize a stronger, more weatherproof design to combat high winds and heavy snow. As such, they are heavier, less spacious and often pricier than comparable three-season tents. The most extreme type of four-season tent is a mountaineering tent, designed specifically for camping at high altitudes and standing strong against severe wind and heavy loads of snow.
Test out your tent before a big trip
The best way to test out a new tent is by sleeping outside in it, but that’s not always an immediate option, especially for anyone living in a big city. Still, you should always test out your tent before going on an extended trip. Not only will you get more familiar with its materials, setup and teardown process, you’ll get a better idea of if it’s right for you, and can leverage a store’s return or exchange policy more effectively.
Frequently asked questions
The popular rule of thumb among outdoor enthusiasts is to size up to the number of people in your tent plus one. So, a three-person tent for two people, a six person tent for five, and so on.
Tent lifespan can range wildly depending on the tent, what you are doing with it, how it’s stored and how you maintain it, but broadly between three and 15 years is standard. There are a few things you can do to maintain your tent so it stays in working condition, though:
- Store it dry: Always dry your tent out completely before putting it away long-term — a wet tent stored is a recipe for mold and mildew. It’s also good to store your tent away from direct sunlight and to roll it up, not fold it. (Folding and storing a tent means you’ll get creases in the fabric more easily compared to if you roll it.)
- Use a tent footprint: A footprint can protect your tent floor from wear and tear.
- Spot-clean only: Never put your tent inside a washing machine or dryer — both are typically too rough for tent fabrics.
Car camping tents and backpacking tents are made for two different use-cases.
Car camping: You are packing all of your camping gear into the trunk of a car, driving to a campsite and unloading your gear a couple of feet (or hundred feet) to a designated spot in the campground. As such, car camping tents are generally large, spacious and comfortable. That makes them heavy, but extra weight is not that big a deal for car campers.
Backpacking: You may start out in a car (or train, or bus), but at some point you will exit the vehicle and hike multiple miles (sometimes a handful, sometimes dozens) into the wilderness before settling down to camp. Tent weight is very important here — carrying a 10 pound tent for miles (plus all your other gear) is a lot harder than carrying a smaller, lighter one.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Selected who covers technology, fitness and outdoors, including stories on hiking boots, wireless earbuds and fitness trackers. I also cover health and preparedness topics like air purifiers, power outage kits and hiking emergency kits. For this piece, I used my personal experience and past conversations with outdoor experts to select and recommend different camping tents.
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