Tents and Shelters
Ready for a night out? Whether you’re an ultralight alpinist, family of backpackers, devoted hanger, or comfort camper, you'll find the best tents, tarps, and hammocks for your outdoor overnights right here.
Check out our top picks below—including price comparisons—to shelter you in any terrain, trip, or season: winter mountaineering, three-season thru-hiking, warm weather car camping, hammock hanging, alpine bivys, tarps, and emergency shelter.
Or you can browse our thousands of independent tent and shelter ratings and reviews by product type, brand, or price. Written by real-world hikers, backpackers, alpinists, climbers, and paddlers, Trailspace community reviews will help you select a dependable, field-tested, outdoor abode just right for your next adventure.
The best tents and shelters, reviewed and curated by the Trailspace community. The latest review was added on June 25, 2019. Stores' prices and availability are updated daily.
Recent Tent/Shelter Reviews
Gossamer Gear The One
The One tent from Gossamer Gear met all of my expectations for a solo tent. I found it to be easy to set up, comfortable to be in, and lightweight. It has all the headroom and storage space I need, and I liked the open views and ventilation from the front. Gossamer Gear’s The One tent is a one-person tent that hits all of my requirements in one small package. I’m picky about one-person tents, more so than with a two-person tent. Most two-person tents I’ve tested inherently feel bigger and… Full review
Eureka! Wind River 2
I inherited this tent from my brother, who I remember loved it. Can anyone provide what size poles are required for the tent? I have the tent and fly, which are both in great shape, but no poles!
Thanks for any help.
David Full review
REI Kingdom 8 Tent
This tent has been very reliable, but watch out for the wind. I have been using this tent for about three years now. My kids love it because there is so much room in it. I usually take it out one-on-one with each of my kids so we have room to spare. We are able to set it up with just two people unless it is windy. My biggest problem with the tent is that it is like a giant sail in the wind. You need to tie it down thoroughly. Even with it tied down I now have poles that are bent. Nothing has broken… Full review
YAMA Mountain Gear Swiftline 2P
Great shelter with plenty of space. Unique pitching options. For the size and weight of this shelter you really can't beat it. A palace for one and will accommodate two people as well. I finally found my balance. I've been lighting up my pack weight for the past few years now. Sometimes this meant adding and removing gear to get where I wanted to be in terms of my hiking style and needs. Gen of Yama Mountian Gear has created this balance in the Swiftline 2p Shelter. The space, function, and ease… Full review
Ozark Trail 12' x 10' Family Dome Tent
CAN ANYONE PLEASE TELL ME THE POLE LENGTHS!?! We have had this tent as long as I can remember and I'm 31 now! I just took it out to take my son camping and can't find the poles! I'm heartbroken and don't have the money to get another one this size! If you can PLEASE e-mail me alisonratliff1@gmail.com the pole sizes I would appreciate it SO MUCH! Thank you! Full review
VauDe Taurus UL 2P
Made with typical German quality, a sturdy two-person tent with reasonable space for living in comfort. Stood up to poor weather and great for the British climate as it pitches flysheet first. The Vaude Taurus II UL is great for two people and luxurious for one. It is smaller and lighter than the Marmot Limelight I have used for several years. Though I loved that tent, it was getting too heavy and bulky for my creaking back. We chose the Vaude Taurus because one person does not need to climb over… Full review
REI Kingdom 8 Tent
My family has been enjoying this tent for the last few years. It is super easy to set up and it goes up quickly. My family and I love this tent, we have used it for the last three years and couldn't be happier. We had been torn between this tent and another eight-person tent and aside from the cheaper price we were sold on the double strap making it able to be worn like a backpack when carrying it. We've used it in the rain and have stayed bone dry. With the included rain fly it goes on easy, keeps… Full review
ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3
It's very rain resistant when the fly is up and has a bathtub floor. Durable... I've used this dozens of times in all four seasons. Takes about 5-7 minutes for one person to set up. Easy to disassemble as well. Double access points on either side (no crawling over tent mate). Has two large vestibules for boots and gear. I bought this tent new in 2011. It has been in Eastern Oregon in winter rain, in Modoc County during a fluke early ice storm in the fall, in the Sierras on numerous occasions during… Full review
GoLite Hex 3 Shelter
I use this on short duration backpacking trips and it is great for two people or one person and a bike/dog. Combine with the matching nest and it is excellent in buggy climes. I use it mostly without the nest. I love this tee-pee (single pole) design over the dome type tents. I've had this tent for a number of years and among the dozen tents I own it is still my favorite. Best combination of space and lightweight. In buggy areas the Nest (bug net and floor) are a good idea. I mostly use it in fall/winter… Full review
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What’s the “best” tent or shelter for you? Consider your personal outdoor needs, preferences, and budget:
- Conditions:
First, and most important, in what seasons, conditions, and terrain will you use your tent, tarp, or hammock? Choose a shelter that can handle the conditions you expect to encounter (rain, snow, wind, heat, humidity, biting insects, an energetic scout troop), but don’t buy more tent than you truly need, and don’t expect one tent to do it all. - Capacity:
Tents are typically classified by sleeping capacity (i.e. one-person, two-person, etc). However, a tent's stated sleeping capacity usually does not include much (or any) space for your gear and there’s no sizing standard between tent manufacturers. Some users size up. - Livability:
Will you use the tent as a basecamp or is it an emergency shelter only? To determine if you and your gear will fit, look at the shelter’s dimensions, including floor and vestibule square areas, height and headroom (including at the sides), plus the number and placement of doors, gear lofts, and pockets, to assess personal livability, comfort, and footprint. - Weight and Packed Size:
If you’ll be backpacking, climbing, cycling, or otherwise carrying that shelter, consider its weight, packed size (and your pack it needs to fit in), and its space-to-weight ratio before automatically opting for the bigger tent. Paddlers and car campers have more room to work with, but everyone should consider how the tent and its parts pack up for stowage. - Design:
Tents come in various designs. Freestanding tents can stand alone without stakes or guy lines and can be easily moved or have dirt and other debris shaken out without being disassembled, though they still need to be staked out. Rounded, geodesic domes are stable and able to withstand heavy snow loads and wind. Tunnel tents are narrow and rectangular, and large family cabin tents are best for warm-weather campground outings. - Other features and specs to consider include single versus double-wall, ease of setup, stability, weather resistance, ventilation, , and any noteworthy features.
- Read more in our guide to tents.
