Buyer's guide: How to choose a tent?

The best tent is the one that matches the way you travel. Are you going lightweight backpacking, camping in the mountains, heading out by bike or looking for a tent for cold and wet conditions? Then weight, packed size, wind stability, ventilation and space are at least as important as the number of sleeping places.

Choosing a tent? Start with your adventure

When looking for the best tent, the first thing to consider is how you are going to use it. Are you looking for a tent for trekking, backpacking, bikepacking, camping in the mountains or winter camping in the snow? How you use the tent determines which features matter most.

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Big Agnes

Copper Spur HV UL2 mtnGLO

-25%

MSR

Hubba Hubba LT 2P Tent

-43%

Big Agnes

Copper Spur HV UL3 mtnGLO

-20%

Exped

Cassira 3

-20%

Helsport

Superlight Fjellheimen 4

-20%

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Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1P

-20%

Marmot

Trailfin 3P

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Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2P

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Elixir 2 Tent

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Hubba Hubba HD 1P Tent

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Tent for trekking

By trekking, we mean a multi-day hike where you travel self-sufficiently through nature. That means you do not want to carry too much gear, but you still need enough protection.

For a trekking tent, you want a lightweight tent with a compact packed size that protects you from wind, rain, sun and possibly snow. In most cases, it is worth looking at a 2-season or 3-season tent, depending on your destination and the weather conditions you can expect.

By packed size, we mean the amount of space the tent takes up in your luggage. Packed weight refers to the total weight.

Solo trekking or trekking as a pair

If you are heading out alone, a 1-person tent or a lightweight 2-person tent is suitable. If you are travelling as a pair, a 2-person tent works well, but make sure you have enough vestibule space for your gear.

Tent for backpacking

Whether you need a tent for backpacking depends on how you like to travel. When backpacking, you may also use public transport and hostels. Still, a tent gives you the freedom to camp in nature as well. When backpacking, you travel with a backpack that carries all your gear.

If you travel a lot by public transport, the weight of your tent is slightly less important. If you walk a lot, backpacking starts to look more like trekking, and weight becomes very important again. Packed size is always relevant. Even when travelling by public transport, you want to keep your backpack as compact as possible.

For solo backpacking, a lightweight 1-person tent is generally enough. However, for extra comfort, it can be nice to choose a 2-person tent. With a 2-person tent, you have just a bit more space for your gear and more room to move around.

Tent for bikepacking

Bikepacking tents are mainly focused on low weight and a compact packed size. True bikepacking tents also have shorter pole sections. This is useful because it allows the tent to fit more easily into your bike bags.

When bikepacking, good ventilation options and enough vestibule space are useful for wet gear or bike bags. This helps your gear dry as well as possible before the next day’s ride.

Here too, a 1-person tent can work well if you are travelling alone, but a 2-person tent gives you more comfort and more space for your gear.

Tent for mountain trips and changeable weather

If you are heading into the mountains, you need to be prepared for changeable conditions. Wind, rain, cold and temperature differences can change quickly. Depending on the season, look at a 3-season tent or a 4-season tent. Both can be suitable for conditions with rain and wind, but in cold, snow or prolonged bad weather, a 4-season tent is the better choice.

Tent for winter camping

Are you camping in winter with a chance of snow? Then you need to take cold nights, snow and strong wind into account. Look for a sturdy 4-season tent. These tents are not only built to handle cold and wind, but also designed with snow load in mind. That way, you are prepared for winter conditions.

Are you camping in high mountains or heading on an expedition to polar regions? Then you will be camping in extreme conditions and need an expedition tent.

Want to see quickly which type of tent suits your adventure? In the guide below, you can see which tent type is the most logical choice for each type of trip.

Still unsure? Read on for more information about season rating, space, weight, packed size and tent shape.

Should you choose a 2-season, 3-season or 4-season tent?

Whether you need a 2-season, 3-season or 4-season tent depends entirely on the conditions you expect to encounter. Below, we briefly explain which type of tent suits which conditions.

2-season tent for spring and summer

Are you going camping or trekking in spring or summer in warmer weather conditions? Then a 2-season tent may be enough. These tents often offer plenty of ventilation and good protection against insects.

However, 2-season tents offer limited protection against wind and rain. For example, the tent usually does not have a raised edge, making it less resistant to mud and more likely to get dirty in worse weather.

That is why Snowcountry often recommends choosing a 3-season tent in many conditions, so you are better prepared for unexpected weather. Are you sure you will only encounter warm conditions? Then you can also consider a tarp.

3-season tent for spring, summer and autumn

Looking for a tent for almost all conditions? A 3-season tent offers protection against rain, wind and colder temperatures. This makes it suitable for camping in spring, summer and autumn, as well as winter camping in a mild climate. Only for real winter conditions is a 3-season tent less suitable.

For many trekking trips, backpacking trips and summer mountain tours, a 3-season tent is the best choice.

-20%

Wechsel

Exogen 1

-20%

Exped

Outer Space III

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Are you trekking in colder temperatures? Then the temperature difference between outside and inside can cause condensation in the tent. With a double-wall tent, meaning a tent with an inner tent, you usually have less trouble with condensation on the inside of the tent.

4-season tent for all seasons

A 4-season tent is suitable for all seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. These tents offer extra insulation and stability. This protects you against heavy rain, strong wind and snow. The tents are ideal for winter camping or trips with touring skis or a splitboard.

-25%

Exped

Venus III Extreme

-50%

Bach Equipment

Wickiup 3

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Expedition tent for extreme conditions

An expedition tent is made for the most extreme conditions. The materials are even stronger and more robust than those of a 4-season tent, so the tent can handle almost anything. You use an expedition tent when camping in extreme conditions, such as in high mountains or on an expedition to polar regions.

All tent types in brief:

How many people do you need space for?

Whether you choose a 1-person tent, 2-person tent, 3-person tent or larger depends on what you are going to do and who you are travelling with.

1-person tent

If you are heading out alone and choose a 1-person tent, it is important to realise that you have little living space and limited room for your luggage. You choose a 1-person tent because the weight you need to carry matters more to you than comfort.

2-person tent

A 2-person tent is suitable for two people or for a solo camper who wants a bit of extra space. Here too, two people will have very limited space in this tent. It can therefore be useful to have an extra vestibule for your gear.

3-person tent or larger

Choose a 3-person tent if you are travelling with three people or when two of you are carrying a lot of gear. And so on. Keep in mind that tents become heavier and have a larger packed size as they get bigger. This makes larger tents less suitable if you need to carry everything yourself for a long time.

Are you going as lightweight as possible or do you want more comfort?

More space with a vestibule or gear loft

What is a vestibule? A vestibule is a small covered area at the entrance of your tent. This space is intended for storing your gear. Especially when gear is wet or dirty, you want to keep it outside the inner tent to help prevent condensation.

And what is a gear loft? A gear loft is an extra storage pocket that you can hang inside the tent. It is perfect for storing gear that you want to keep within easy reach. When buying a gear loft, always check compatibility with your tent.

Disadvantages of a tent that is too large

Almost nobody will choose a tent that is too small, because you need enough space for the number of people you are travelling with. But a tent that is too large also has disadvantages.

• Extra weight
• Extra packed size
• Extra space to keep warm

That last point is especially important to keep in mind in lower temperatures. Suppose three of you sleep in a 3-person tent. In that case, the temperature inside the tent is 5 to 7 degrees higher than the outside temperature. If two people sleep in the same tent, the inside temperature will be lower, and if you sleep in it alone, lower still. So the larger the tent, the harder it is to keep the temperature inside comfortable. Especially when the outside temperature is low.

Are you still heading out with a tent that is too large? Or are you travelling in really cold temperatures? Then make sure you take this into account when choosing your sleeping bag and sleeping mat.

How important are weight and packed size?

If you are trekking, backpacking or bikepacking, weight and packed size are important features of your tent. You carry the tent yourself in your backpack or take it with you on your bike. A lighter and more compact tent makes your trip more comfortable, but the lightest tent is not automatically the best choice.

Lightweight or ultralight tent?

A lightweight tent usually offers a good balance between low weight, comfort and protection. An ultralight tent goes one step further and is designed to keep carried weight as low as possible. That is ideal for long treks, fastpacking or backpacking, but it also requires more conscious use. Ultralight tents often use thinner materials, lighter poles and more compact constructions. This saves weight, but you sometimes compromise slightly on living space, robustness or ease of use.

Are you mainly heading out in mild conditions and does every gram count? Then an ultralight tent can be a good choice. Are you going into rougher terrain, do you expect a lot of wind or do you want a bit more comfort and durability? Then a slightly more robust lightweight tent is often the better choice.

Sharing tent weight during trekking or backpacking

If you are heading out alone, you carry the full tent weight yourself. In that case, a lightweight 1-person tent or compact 2-person tent is interesting. If you are travelling with two people, you can divide the weight: one person carries the inner tent and flysheet, for example, while the other carries the poles, pegs and footprint. This means a roomier 2-person tent can still be a good choice.

Packed size for backpacking and bikepacking

Besides weight, packed size is also important. A compact tent fits more easily into your backpack or bike bag. With bikepacking, packed length is especially important, because long pole sections do not always fit well on or in your bike bags. So do not only look at total weight, but also at the dimensions of the packed tent.

Minimum and maximum weight

Looking for a lightweight tent? On the product page of our tents, you will always see a minimum and maximum weight. By minimum weight, we mean the tent without parts such as pegs and guy lines. By maximum weight, we mean the tent plus the included parts.

If you want to go lightweight, you can consider whether any included parts can be replaced with lighter materials. For example, by replacing aluminium pegs with carbon pegs.

Which tent shape suits you: tunnel, dome or geodesic?

For trekking, backpacking, winter camping and expeditions, you mainly see tunnel tents or tents with a geodesic construction. There are also tents with a hybrid shape between a tunnel tent and a dome tent.

What is a tunnel tent?

In a tunnel tent, the arched poles are placed one behind the other, creating a tunnel shape. Tunnel tents are lightweight and offer a lot of usable space thanks to their elongated shape. This type of tent is widely used for trekking, backpacking and mountain trips. They are quick and easy to pitch with poles that you slide through the sleeves in the flysheet. You then secure the tent firmly with guy lines and pegs.

Always pitch the tent with the lowest side facing the wind direction, so the structure is as stable as possible. The inner tent of a tunnel tent is often attached to the flysheet, so the inner tent stays dry during pitching.

What is a dome tent?

In a dome tent, two or three poles cross each other in the middle at the highest point. This construction makes a dome tent stable and freestanding. That means you can easily move the tent after pitching it. A dome tent is also useful when pegs are difficult to place, for example on rocky ground. However, to pitch and tension the tent properly, you still need a number of pegs and guy lines.

The poles of a dome tent are often connected to the inner tent. One disadvantage is that in rainy weather, your inner tent can get wet during pitching before you place the flysheet over it.

Hybrid shape between dome and tunnel tent

A hybrid tent is a combination of a dome tent and a tunnel tent. Usually, the tent has two arched poles and an extra cross pole above the entrance. This gives the tent more usable space than a dome tent. The hybrid tent has a freestanding shape, which means it also stands without pegs and can be moved after pitching. As with a dome tent, you need pegs and guy lines to pitch and tension it correctly.

Tent with geodesic construction

Tents with a geodesic construction offer the best storm stability. The poles do not only cross at the top of the tent, but in several places. This creates a very strong structure that, like a dome tent, is freestanding. This type of tent is suitable for strong wind, snow and extreme conditions. So if you are going winter camping or on an expedition, look for a geodesic construction.

Please note: even with a freestanding tent, you still need guy lines and pegs. Without them, a vestibule will hang loosely, making the tent less usable. A properly tensioned tent also stands more firmly and is more resistant to wind.

Materials: nylon or polyester

In the Snowcountry webshop, you will find tents made from polyester and nylon. To make tent fabric waterproof, it is treated with a PU or silicone coating.

The most durable tents are made from nylon with a silicone coating. However, the material is sensitive to temperature changes, which can cause the tent to sag slightly. You can prevent this by loosening the tent a little with the guy lines in the morning and tightening it again in the evening. In short: this type of tent needs a bit of extra attention.

Polyester is less sensitive to temperature changes, but it has a PU coating. In general, these tents do not last as long as a tent with a silicone coating.

What else should you consider when choosing a tent?

When choosing the right tent, it is also useful to look at pegs, a footprint and whether a tarp adds value to your trip.

Pegs for different surfaces

Your tent comes with guy lines and pegs. The included pegs are almost always all-round and suitable for most surfaces. Still, it is useful to know that different types of pegs exist for different ground types. There are special pegs for snow, sand and stone, for example. There are also lightweight pegs for when every gram counts.

Do you need a footprint?

A footprint is the groundsheet you place underneath your tent. With a footprint, your tent stays cleaner and you have an extra layer of insulation. A footprint is always slightly smaller than the floor of the tent to prevent moisture from collecting between the footprint and the tent. What not everyone knows is that a footprint also helps reduce condensation in the tent.

All footprints on our website are made to fit a specific tent. So always choose the footprint that belongs to your tent. When buying a tent in the Snowcountry webshop, you can easily add the matching footprint.

Using a groundsheet or tent liner as a floor layer

Looking for a more affordable alternative to a footprint? Then you can consider a groundsheet, also known as a tent liner. Make sure the material does not contain plasticisers, as these can damage the tent floor.

Tarp for extra living space, shade or shelter

A tarp is a large sheet of fabric that you can use for shelter from sun, wind and rain. It looks a bit like a shade cloth, but offers many more possibilities. You can use a tarp for:

• Extra living space
• Shelter from wind and rain
• Protection from sunlight

Read all about it in our Snowhow article: Tarp as an addition to your tent.

Exped

Tarp II Extreme

Wechsel

Tarp S

Wechsel

Wing M

Slingfin

SplitWing Floor

Exped

Tarp Pole 240

Fjällräven

Abisko Tarp Large Pine Green

Fjällräven

Abisko Tarp Pine Green

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What is the best tent for your adventure?

Which tent is best for your adventure depends on your destination, season, group size and how much weight you want to carry. For trekking and backpacking, you usually choose a lightweight tent with a compact packed size. For bikepacking, a short packed length is especially important. Heading into the mountains or expecting snow, wind and cold? Then a sturdy 3-season tent, 4-season tent or expedition tent is the better choice.

View all tents for your adventure

Which tent is best for your adventure depends on what you are going to do, which season you are travelling in, and how important weight, packed size and living comfort are to you. View all tents and use the filters to find the best tent for your trip. Still unsure? Our team of outdoor experts is happy to help you make the right choice.

Extra Snowcountry tips

• In many tents, the pole sleeve is large enough to fit two poles through the sleeve. This creates extra stability.
• For most surfaces, the included pegs are fine. But it is useful to know that there are special types of pegs for different surfaces, such as snow, sand and stone.
• Many tents come with a repair sleeve. Take it with you to quickly and easily repair a broken pole section on the go.
• Take duct tape with you. Of course, you would rather not have to use it, but it is useful for quick repairs on the go.
• Take safety pins with you to easily close a broken open zip. Always insert the pins through the zip tape and not through the tent fabric.