Hi Ron,

I’ve used a Durston X-Mid 2p on a few trips and found it has much to advise it. I haven’t reviewed it yet because I have some reservations, one involving the tent flapping a lot in wind and the other the fact that it requires significant time to pitch and is more complicated than many backpackers want to deal with in a tent. That said, for the backpacker who’s comfortable with the setup and wants plenty of living space in a shelter that pitches with trekking poles, the X-Mid is a solid choice.

Thanks, Josh. I have not used the Tarptent Dipole 1 or 2 but have tested other Tarptent models in the past and I just looked at it online. At first glance, it uses great materials, is really light per person and has impressive floor and vestibule space and looks like a solid, low-profile design that would hold up very well in wind and weather. My initial impression is that while the peak height is impressive, the sloping walls cut into its headroom, but that’s not unusual in ultralight tents that pitch with trekking poles. I’m intrigued and might try to review one. Thanks for the question.

I’m curious if you’ve tried the Tarptent Dipole 1 or 2. I’ve been hearing great things about them. I was very curious about slingfin products, thanks for reviewing them. I haven’t seen much about them online yet.

Well, that certainly rules it out as a legit choice for backpacking. Thanks, Robert.

Teton Sports must’ve added the weight spec to their website after you checked– and it clocks in at an anvil-like 7.2 lb for the 2-person version! It’s probably a very functional tent and it’s inexpensive, but triple the weight of some of the options on this list.

I’d love to hear what you think of it after your JMT hike. Good luck with both, Mendel.

Thanks so much for the reply! I think I’m going to go for it

Hi Mendel,

I have not tested out the Durston X-Mid 2 but I’ve been asked about it before and I may try it out sometime. I’ve looked at it and there’s much I like about the design. Without having any experience with it, I’d speculate that it looks like a good tent for the JMT. Pretty fair price, too. Good luck on your hike!

I was wondering if you’ve ever tried out the Durston X-Mid 2 (*not* the Pro). If so, would you recommend it? I’m planning on doing the JMT this summer as my first major thru-hike!

Thanks

Hi Timothy,

Well, to be quite honest, I think saying you can’t take this list seriously because one brand is not on it seems a bit overwrought and reflects limited experience with tents. Search for other professional or consumer reviews of the best backpacking tents and you’ll see many of these models on other lists. I just looked at the Teton Sports website and its description of the Mountain Ultra 2 makes it look like many other low-priced backpacking tents on the market. I don’t see anything that stands out about it, although the description is slim and doesn’t even include the tent’s weight.

Thanks for that recommendation, Stuart.

The Hat

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the comment and I intend no snub against Zpacks. I’m aware of the brand, I’ve seen their popular tent used in the backcountry by others, and I hope to get an opportunity to test and review one. Stay tuned.

Hi Benjamin,

No offense taken, certainly, and I appreciate your question about the Nemo Kunai. I haven’t used it but I have looked at its specs and I’ve previously used similar, so-called “convertible” tents, which have a modular design with different configurations that enables using them in 3-season and winter conditions. I agree with you that it’s spacious and very sturdy, capable of handling heavy winds and a snow load, all at a moderate weight and reasonable price for its performance.

I can’t speak to why it may not be included on other lists of best backpacking tents, but I’ll give you my reasons. It’s definitely a niche tent, truly best only for people who want one tent they can use year-round, including in temps well below freezing with the distinct possibility of getting a significant snowfall. The truth is that most backpackers are not interested in camping in winter conditions and would not need a tent built for that. I understand that it gives you peace of mind knowing it’s that sturdy, but practically speaking, you only need a tent like the Kunai if you’re going out in a time of year and place where snow can fall and there’s a forecast for snow. Most backpackers would avoid going out in that forecast. And the typical backpacker taking a typical trip of a week or less can count on a reliable short-term forecast for that period of time. Getting a completely unexpected, major snowstorm is not likely.

The tradeoffs for having that stability and 4-season versatility is a tent that’s heavier, costlier, and does not ventilate as well as lightweight 3-season tents with all-mesh interior walls. I’m confident that Nemo and salespersons in gear stores would offer a consumer the same advice about the Kunai and recommend a lighter, less-expensive tent with better ventilation for strictly 3-season backpackers.

But thanks nonetheless for your suggestion, I suspect there are some readers who will take notice of the Kunai. I’ve had it in my sights and will test and review it if I have an opportunity to test it in the kind of severe conditions it’s built for.

The Kunai 2 person tent by Nemo. A 4-season tent at 3 lbs is always left out of articles about the best backpacking tents. I don’t get it. It’s perfect and very spacious for one person, and it gives me peace of mind knowing I’ll still have good shelter if the weather suddenly turns very bad. It’s the best tent I’ve ever owned.

You write about ‘best backpacking tents.” There aren’t many 4-season tents that are this light and reasonably priced. No comparison. I’m just curious as to why no one mentions it, that’s all.. I hope you didn’t get offended by my “angry outrage,’ again…if that what you call it.

Hi Ben,

I would argue that expressing angry outrage over someone’s recommendations in backpacking tents seems much more ridiculous than any specific tent’s omission from any list. I’d encourage you to reserve your outrage for topics that deserve it, of which there are many more important than gear.

But that aside, I’ll answer your comment. The Nemo Kunai has a lot going for it and Nemo makes good tents. (I’ve included a Nemo model in this article.) This article focuses on three-season tents and the Kunai’s steep price tag is validated in part by its four-season versatility. My advice to someone shopping for a three-season tent would be to pay extra for qualities you need rather than qualities you don’t need.

One significant shortcoming of the Kunai is the 26 square feet of floor area in the two-person version—that’s very tight living quarters even for two average-size people. (In fact, 28 square feet can feel very cramped, and two extra square feet is more noticeable than it might sound.) A buyer who doesn’t need four-season versatility might be disappointed to pay extra for that and have a tent that feels too small.

I’ll stand by my picks above for consumers looking for a three-season tent.

Hey Brett,

Good to hear from you. I haven’t used the bikepacking version of the Copper Spur HV UL2 but just checked out Big Agnes’s video of it. I agree, it largely resembles the backpacking version, except with the shorter poles and some other bike-specific features. I think for someone using it for both bikepacking and backpacking, this would be more versatile than the version I reviewed.

My only concern, though minor, would be the reality that making shorter pole sections demands having more points of connection in the lugged pole structure, thus potentially more points that could feasibly fail (break). But in reality, those points of connection are quite strong and the likelihood of failure seems pretty small, especially if you’re pitching the tent in relatively protected campsites.

Again, I offer that opinion without having used that tent, but I’m very familiar with the Copper Spur series. If you get it, I’d love to hear what you think after using it.

Thanks for the good question. Stay well.

Thanks Michael. Appreciate it.

Hi Slade,

I haven’t carried a ground cloth for a tent in 20+ years, but that’s partly because I’m often testing out new tents. Yes, it’ll help preserve the tent’s floor, but in reality, tent zippers are often the first part to fail, and tent mesh or lighter wall fabric will usually tear before the floor (which is usually made with heavier fabric).

If you’re really concerned about preventing a tent floor from tearing, I think it makes more sense to just buy a tent with a thicker floor—which is heavier than a tent with thinner fabrics but you eliminate the weight, bulk, and labor of using a ground cloth. If you’re carrying a ground cloth, you’ve kind of lost the benefit of a lighter tent.

Thanks for the question.

Slade, I’m chuckling. The question is how much do you think is too heavy for a two-person tent? The Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 Platinum is 9 ounces heavier than the Gossamer Gear The One solo tent and will fit two people snugly or give one person lots of space. It really comes down to personal decisions of budget, weight, and needed versatility.

Also, my wife says she wants to start joining me, but I know her ha. I hope she likes it but I’m not counting on it. Just in case she does, I’ve been looking into 2-person tents because I figure if she doesn’t, I can still enjoy the extra room they provide even if solo. But they all just seem so much heavier. I’m torn between 1 and 2 person but the weight discourages me. How many pounds is too heavy for a 2-person tent?
Thanks,
Slade

Hi Slade,

Well, I’d agree based on looking at the Eureka Solitaire AL that there’s not much to the vestibule, plus you have to crawl through it going in and out, so I’d assume it doesn’t have space for a pack. Maybe the length is adequate for leaving your empty pack at your feet or under your feet (doubles as insulation against the ground, allowing you to use a shorter pad/air mat). Otherwise, I’d plan to throw a rain cover over the pack and leave it outside your tent.

Look for gear sales. See my “10 Tips for Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

Thanks Michael for the swift response. Appreciate the advice. I’ve actually been looking at the Eureka Solitaire AL and really like the way it looks and figured it would be a good warm season solo tent and was about to buy it. Read several good reviews but then came across some reviews stating you wouldn’t be able to fit your pack inside it and that the vestibule it claims to have wasn’t really much of anything. It’s hard to tell from reviews and I generally don’t read reviews because there are alway Debbie downers out there that complain about everything.

The reason I’m looking at a low budget solo right now is because as you know from our previous conversations, I’ve day-hiked my entire life and was raised in the woods but my family didn’t camp so I wasn’t brought up doing it. I’m ready to take my adventures to the next level but had to buy a lot of gear that I never had all at once. I’m a minimalist by nature and am fine cowboy camping and actually prefer it but need a shelter from rain mainly this time of year down here.

I’ve looked into several tarp set ups but honestly everything I’ve found that I like tarp wise is either just as heavy if not more than a solo tent plus actually more expensive in some cases. Planning on a few 2-3 night trips in the next few months solo because my wife doesn’t share my passion for the outdoors and just wanted something decent to get me through the next few months before moving to Ontario and planning on then buying a better set up so just didn’t want to shell out a lot of money for shelter and sleeping system until I get back to Canada.

Thanks buddy!

Slade

Hi Slade,

Well, I’m fortunate in that I generally use high-quality gear so I have not used a budget tent for many years. But to answer your question I went to my affiliate partner and a good gear website, backcountry.com, and searched on backpacking tents using filters for 1-person, 3-season, and prices under $200. It produced two good suggestions:

The Marmot Tungsten 1-person, a version of the Tungsten reviewed in this article.

The Eureka Solitaire AL 1-person, which I have not used, but I’ve used other Eureka tents in the past. My educated estimation is that it’s less expensive because it uses heavier materials. But other than that, it’s a hoop tent that should shed wind and weather well and perform just fine as long as you don’t pitch it in any sites exposed to extreme wind.

Those links above are affiliate links, so a purchase made through them supports my blog.

Good luck.

Thanks for the recommendation, Tim. ZPacks is on my radar, I’ll look at that tarp.

You’re welcome, Slade, glad to help. Send your questions to me anytime.

Thanks so much Michael for the advice. I greatly appreciate it. And you are right, doesn’t sound like an option for me.
Thanks again!
Slade Smith

Hi Slade,

Always good to hear from you, thanks for a thoughtful question. I may not give the answer you were expecting in that I wouldn’t recommend a bivy sack for backpacking. I haven’t actually spent a night sleeping in one, although I have had a variety of similarly cramped sleeping experiences outdoors, ranging from very small solo tents to sharing a solo tent with another person (not recommended unless you really like that person a lot) to very tight snow caves. I’ve also slept under the stars countless nights and love doing that, too, but I often had a tent available as a backup for bad weather.

I had this conversation with a couple of good friends recently who had bought a couple of bivy sacks for backpacking and then, after hearing my thoughts, decided against using them for backpacking. Short answer is that bivy sacks are intended as very minimalist shelters for one person in extreme conditions, generally climbers needing some kind of shelter on the side of a mountain, sometimes in terrible weather. These are not designed for comfort, by any stretch. I can’t see any argument for backpackers to use a bivy sack.

Consider a few metrics. Some of the two-person tents in this review are the same weight as two bivy sacks, but these tents provide much more living space than any bivy sack. You can’t even sit up in a bivy sack. In hours of rain, at least a tent lets you move around and sit up. Not so in a bivy sack.

While bivy sacks are typically waterproof-breathable, the close quarters and very limited ventilation options, plus the single-wall design, means that condensation can often build up inside, getting your bag and clothing wet. A bivy doesn’t have a vestibule for storing wet boots, shells, and a pack.

There are very good, lightweight and ultralight solo and two-person tents out there that rival the low weight of a bivy sack and make much more sense for backpackers. I suggest you get one of those.

Thanks for asking. Good luck.

Any thought on bivy sacks or recommendations on specific ones if you’ve used them any? The weather where I mainly backpack right now averages low temps at night in the 20-30 degree F range. I’m an ultralight backpacker and also starting to bikepack and always looking for the lightest and most convenient items to use. I’m interested in how fast bivy sacks are to set up and how versatile they are.

Plus, I love sleeping on the ground wild-style. Something special about it. I’m mainly hiking in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas right now and this is perfect backpacking weather down here. I’m also nervous for other readers to see this because it’s not on many backpackers’ radar… just kidding of course. But it should because I’ve been all over the country, and the Ozarks Mountain Range in Arkansas and Missouri is without a doubt one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

Anyway, just wondering what you could recommend about bivy sacks.

Thanks as always!

Slade Smith

No problem, Brett. You can see from my review that I’m impressed with the 2020 update of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2.

Ugh. Just saw the link to your review. Sorry; early Monday and not enough coffee yet.

Thanks for saying so, Susan, I appreciate that.

Hello Tai, I’m glad my blog is helpful to you. In fact, I used the SlingFin Portal 2 backpacking in the Grand Canyon in May and I plan to post a review soon. In short, it has good stability and decent space for its weight and other strengths, but I’ll get into more detail in my review.

Evan, I haven’t used the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Expedition 2-person or 3-person, but a cursory look at its design suggests to me that it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a tent that traps heat more efficiently and is stronger than typical three-season tents in wind and under the weight of fresh snow. Instead of mesh, the walls are solid, but there are “window” panels you can upzip to roll back the solid panel and have mesh to add some ventilation, and the pole design looks stronger than lighter three-season tents. But I strongly suspect the Battle Mountain tents are stronger because of the more elaborate pole architecture, and they have more living space than the Copper Spur HV Expedition.

Hi Evan,

In fact, I’ve reviewed many MSR products, including tents, and you can see a menu of those reviews here.

MSR has a long history and a strong reputation for making quality gear; that’s why they’re a brand I like to review, because honestly, I don’t bother reviewing gear that I wouldn’t want to own.

I’m not surprised you saw some negative comments on MSR products. I occasionally read online comments about gear that get posted at the websites of outdoor brands and at other blogs. I see some as insightful and useful, and others as misleading because they’re based on little experience with the product or a general lack of experience with gear.

I also see many high-quality brands that occasionally receive similar negative comments. That can reflect dissatisfaction with a specific product, sometimes legitimate and sometimes due to a misperception of the product’s intended use; sometimes the brand will eventually either improve or discontinue that product. Not all new products succeed. Some have production flaws that get worked out, and any reputable brand will stand behind gear that fails with a repair or replacement of it.

But I don’t see isolated negative comments as a reflection of a brand’s overall quality. I take a longer view on brand quality, making judgments based on a variety of products. I’ve been doing this for 25+ years. I’ve seen some brands go through a bad spell, and I’ve seen some come out with new stuff that didn’t make the cut. However, I’ve seen many high-quality brands survive and maintain their reputation in a highly competitive industry, which the outdoor industry still is (with many small, innovative companies), because they consistently make very good to excellent gear that users like. MSR remains a brand I trust.

All that said, reading online reviews is useful, but look for significant trends in those comments, not isolated criticisms.

I hope that’s helpful. Thanks for the good question.

Hey Evan, thanks for asking a good question. You’re right that all of the tents above are three-season tents, designed for good ventilation to keep occupants cooler on warm nights, but also to minimize or prevent condensation buildup inside on nights that drop below around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They would feel cold inside on nights that drop well below freezing. But they would still protect you from most wind, certainly from precipitation, and you can obviously use a warmer sleeping bag for cold temps.

Tent designers largely focus on making three-season tents lighter, adequately sturdy, and well ventilated. If you want a tent that traps heat better, you’re looking potentially at a four-season tent, one that’s made for winter temps and conditions (including stronger winds and possibly a snow load on the tent) and mountaineering at any time of year. That generally means much less mesh, replaced by small vents of some kind (you still have to release moisture from the inside to prevent condensation).

The tradeoff is that they’re much heavier and bulkier when packed and usually uncomfortably hot in mild temps, not to mention considerably more expensive. Single-wall tents are lighter but often plagued by condensation.

Some of the better tents in this category are the Big Agnes Battle Mountain 2, Black Diamond First Light, Mountain Hardwear Trango 2, and Hilleberg Jannu 2.

Some tent models seek a middle ground between full-on winter/mountaineering and the lightest three-season tents, meaning they are good for colder temps and lots of precip, but not really for mountaineering or huge winds or snowfall. One of the lightest models is the MSR Access 2.

If you need a stronger tent for weather more severe than typical three-season conditions, look at one or more of these tents. If you just want to be able to camp on colder nights but don’t really need a stronger, heavier tent, I suggest you get a warmer bag, a good insulated air mattress, and use a three-season tent.

Hi Dana, yes, I’m a fan of the Big Agnes Copper Spur series, and there is a UL4 version. I think other good options are the Marmot Limelight or Tungsten. I haven’t used a 4p in a while, but those tents series are good ones.

Thanks for the testing report, Chris. Yup, I’m a fan of the Copper Spur tents.

Thanks for that detailed field-testing report, John. I know that you know tents and gear well, and I’ve heard good things about the Anjan 2 before. Keep the comments coming please, my friend.

I have a couple friends contemplating new tents. This will be helpful.

I have been using a Hilleberg Anjan 2 for the past three years. It is a tunnel design, single door with a mesh window at the foot. It is not free standing but sets up very quickly. The fabric is Hiieberg’s proprietary Krylon which is a silicon impregnated nylon. The tent is light, strong, very versatile. The tent and fly are integrated, but can be quickly separated to allow use of the tent alone or the fly can be used like a tarp using the two poles and guylines.

I have been in 50-60 mph winds and it solid as can be.

My only niggles are venting with the fly on could be better (disclosure: I am a condensation machine in a tent). This primarily because the fly at the foot sits close to the ground. I have recently started using my titanium poop shovel as an extra tent peg to elevate the fly. The fly fabric attracts fine desert sand, like in Utah, that has to be washed off.

Hilleberg tents are expensive but the quality and design are exceptional.