I have had many different tents, used for different types of trips, with different number of occupants, depending on what I have done over the years. If I look back on all of those trips, there are a few things I know that are an absolute must for me to be comfortable. As my family has grown I have purchased the larger family tents to fit my growing family, and it has really opened my eyes up for true comfort. I now look back and wonder why I ever wasted my time and money in buying the smaller tents thinking that I just did not need all that space, and extra weight and bulkiness to pack with me in my truck. There are definitely good reasons to buy a good quality small tent, the main one being for backpacking.I like to be able to fully stand up inside my tent, have open vents, be able to have cots and air beds for comfort when I want to, and I like to have my clothes and food that animals could get into that I don’t use hard to open tote’s or ice chest, and things. The food that goes in a bag or in an easy open lid, goes right there in the tent with me. I also like to have lighting and my propane heater to keep my family warm. These are all things that are just a personal choice for me, but it’s not like the small tents are quicker to setup, the bulkiness and weight is carried to and from the camp site by my truck, and the comfort of being able to stretch out and have the extra conveniences of the larger tents make it worth while. My favorite tent brand is Coleman. I have owned over thirty tents over the years because I am very picky and when I do not like something I don’t hang onto it. I have always found that I need more room, and more height component that I could not stand up in the tent would drive me crazy. The cheaper brands don’t last but a few trips. Some of them have terrible rain fly’s that did not protect me from the rain, and there is a silly design that many tent makers have that tend to have the rain fly suspended so it bounces up and down dropping moisture that forms on the fabric when it’s foggy or rainy that drips all throughout the interior.
The Alps Mountaineering® Camp Creek 6 Person Tent has a roomy free standing design that will have you camping in comfort. It has extremely durable fiberglass poles and steel uprights to ensure this tent will last season after season. This family sized tenthas an extra tall center height to give you that extra head room you need to be more comfortable in walking around the inside of the tent. The design has straight sidewalls that give you more full space for you sleeping cots and air mattresses. There is a large awning over the front door, and rear window, giving you shade and protection from both the wind and the rain. Made from 75 denier 185T polyester and a 150 denier polyester oxford floor with 1500mm coating. This material is resistant to UV damage, and protects you and your family from the moisture. It includes a weatherproof fly that buckles down for a secure and adjustable hold, giving you the weather protection you need without losing ventilation. Size is 10 x 10.
Bass Pro Shops 10 Person Family Sized Cabin Tent
This tent, with it’s buit in large mesh windows, provides you with plenty of air circulation when you want it. It has lots of room for your large family, or small family with your gear. It has a room divider to give you a little privacy. With an easy to setup design, this tent sets up in minutes to get you back to your camping experience. It has strong and durable fiberglass and steel pole frame.It’s roomy 14' x 10' tent has a high 7 foot tall center height to give you that extra room to move around in comfort. This durable tent has 190T polyester walls with a 600 mm PU coating and a full 190T polyester rainfly with a 600 mm PU coating and taped seams for excellent weather protection to keep your family both warm, and dry. It has mesh roof panels, large single door with zippered window, and 5 large zippered windows with mesh for extra ventilation. Size is 14' x 10' with a center height of 7'.
Cedar Ridge Ironwood Five Person Cabin Tent
Giving your family trustworthy shelter from the elements and insects at your campsite, the Cedar Ridge Ironwood Five Person Cabin Tent is the perfect tent for your family camping adventures. It has sturdy fiberglass poles for strength and durability. The free standing frame connects to the tent's pole clips and sleeves quickly for a fast setup at camp. Each side and the roof has large mesh panels for extra circulation to bring the outdoors into your tent with you, when you want it. The rain fly is UV resistant, and includes factory sealed seams to block the rain. The floor is a tub style polyethylene to lock out that annoying ground moisture so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night wet. Size is 8' x 10' with a center hight of just over seven feet at 88”.
Gazelle T4 Overland Edition Pop-Up Hub Tent
The GazelleTM T4 Overland Edition Tent is a unique hub style design tent that pops into place in under 90 seconds, so you can get to your camping experience quicker. This family camping tent has plenty of room for 4 campers and all your gear. The tall 78" height means you can walk around inside of the tent instead of having to crouch down. This tent comes with upgraded all terrain ground stakes that will sink and stabilize in almost any terrain. It will hold up nicely in heavy rain and driving winds.
Browning Glacier 4-person Tent
A trusted name in the outdoors, this Browning Glacier 4 person tent will let you enjoy your camping trip no matter what the weather does. The Glacier has all the features you want, and all the feature that you need, in order to enjoy the Great Outdoors with your family. Its 75D 210T polyester fly shields you from both the sun and the rain. It’s strong and durable 210D polyester floor is built to last season after season. It has two doors so that you can exit your tent without having to step over your partner or the kids.
SMALL 2 PERSON TENTS
These small 2 Person Tents are lightweight and perfect for solo camping, couples camping, hiking, backpacking, and kids as they get older and need their own space when on the family camping trip.
The Crua Twin Hybrid tent set is two one person tents that combine by zipping them together to give room for two people. These are a unique hybrid tent that you can set them up on the ground, or you can string them up and they become hammocks. They are highly water repellent, and have a bug mesh layer to let ventilation in and keep the bugs out. They are great for a hiking tent, fishing and hunting tent, or a quick setup for the kids to camp out in the back yard.
What Is A Good Sized Tent For 2 People?
You will need to have about 20 square feet of space for each person in a tent to be able to sleep comfortably and have extra room for some of your stuff. However, what you are doing with the tent, and where you are taking it, will also feed your decision on how much space you need. If you are going for a lightweight load for hiking, you will want to think about exactly how much sleeping space you need so you can get the smallest tent possible. You may want a 29 square foot tent that is small and light to carry. If you are driving up to your camping spot, you may want a larger family sized tent so you can have more space, and have room for all of your stuff, as well as have room to stand up and stretch out.
Small 2 Person Tents Are Also Great For The Kids
I have several small two person tents for my kids. We have a large family sized cabin tent for my wife and our youngest son. But our teenagers wanted their own space, and each of them have their own two person tent to have their own tent and they love it. They also use them at home sometimes on the weekends to camp out together in the back yard.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Small 2 Person Tents
The Big Agnes Coppper Spur HV UL2 small 2 person tents are full featured, yet ultralight to make it perfect for a backpacking tent. Made for three season comfort. Has been redesigned with new features inside and out. Built with materials that are lighter, stronger, and equipped with hardware that makes for a quick and easy setup. Has built in bin pockets to organize your gear without cramping your sleep space.
Klymit Maxfield Backpacking Small 2 Person Tents
The Klymit Maxfield small 2 person tents have a tapered tent design providing you with a spacious living area, but is still super lightweight. The tent rolls up into a stuff sack for ease of carrying and storage. The large vestibules provide a nice amount of storage for your gear. It has a three port ventilation to optimize airflow, and decrease condensation.
Alps Mountaineering Helix Small 2 Person Tents
The Alps Mountaineering Helix Tent is perfect for any night on the trail for one person or a two person trip. These small 2 person tents are made of ultralight 20D ripstop nylon fly and floor that balance both durability and being lightweight, while still providing superior waterproofing that will ensure that you will stay dry even in the wettest conditions. Perfectly matched roof ventilation to minimize moisture buildup. Also has built in mesh storage pockets, and vestibule storage to accommodate your gear. It has a three pole tent design that gives you that extra headroom to sit up without feeling cramped. With it’s excellent ventilation, ultralight materials, and sturdy aluminum poles, this Helix 2 person tent is up for any of your outdoor camping adventures.
Eureka Midori Small 2 Person Tents
The Eureka Midori 2 Person Tent is surprisingly spacious for it’s small and lightweight size, making it the perfect chose for comfortable trips on the trail. The design of these small 2 person tents, the Midori maximizes space with easy functionality. It’s great for solo camping, or if you are camping with a partner. The increased headroom maximizes livable space. The air exchange system gives you adjustable ventilation options for all weather conditions. This tent has a strong frame, and durable fabrics that gives you dependable performance year after year. Whether you are going out on a solo fishing or hunting trip, or a hike with your partner, these five small 2 person tent choices are perfect for your outdoor adventures. All are made with durability in mind, combined with lightweight components and fabrics so they won’t weigh you down on those long hikes.
Don’t Forget Your Tent Camping Heater
HUNTING OUTFITTER TENTS
Large Outfitter Style Tents
If you really like to get out and enjoy the outdoors, from hiking, to fishing, camping, hunting, boating, or anything outdoors, you probably have three to five different tents that each have a purpose for different styles of camping. I have large family camping tent for my typical camping trips with my family, but for my long two week hunting trips I like the large outfitter style hunting tents. For hunting, it’s nice to have a large outfitter style tent that will allow you to have the whole group in one tent, have the room to setup a table with your camping stove to quickly and easily make your coffee in the morning. An outfitter tent has the room to have places to put a lantern, have the ability to have sleeping cots or sleeping pads, camping sleeping cots, and your over sized warm sleeping bags to keep you warm and toasty. Another great benefit, depending on the model and size of the outfitter tent that you go with, you will be able to add a wood burning stove to your tent to keep you warm and toasty. I also appreciate the fact that I can bring in my camping chairs and sit in the warm toasty tent when it’s zero degrees outside on some of my really cold hunting trips. We really have the larger tent to give us more than just room to sleep, we also use it as a living room where some nights we can setup a card table and camping chairs and talk hunting, and planning out the next days adventure, over a few beers.
Kodiak Canvas 12x16 Cabin Lodge and Stove Bundle
Bundle and save! Includes each of the following items:•6116 Cabin Lodge 12x16 Tent•1672 Enclosed Awning Accessory•1577 Stove Mat•1716 Ground Tarp 12x16•Spruce Stove Package (Stove & Pipe, Damper, Spark Arrester)
Cabela's Ultimate Alaknak 13'x27' Outfitter Tent
The Ultimate Hunting Base Camp Outfitter Tent, Cabela's Ultimate Alaknak 13'x27' Outfitter Tent is a rugged, traditional wall tent. It has enhanced safety features and user friendly updates, that offers extreme outdoor extreme weather protection. This tent is tough and durable, and gives hunters and other outdoor adventurers high end performance at a very good price. This tent is built to be rugged enough for the back country, but it is built with the roomy, high wall design of an outfitter tent. This tent is made with modern materials that include features like the highly breathable, UV resistant, and waterproof 250D polyester oxford X-Treme Tent Cloth body and roof. This material is durable and delivers high tear strength with top fire resistance, abrasion resistance, and puncture resistance. The tent walls are extra tall at 5 feet tall, and the center height is 9 feet 8 inches, which offers lots of head room for easy walking around on the inside of the tent. The frame for the Ultimate Alaknak's Outfitter tent includes awning starts at the tent's peak, which directs runoff away from the inverted T-style door for the best in protection in the rainiest of weather. This tent holds steady in heavy and high winds due to the 10 perimeter tent poles, 2 interior center support poles, and an exterior support pole, providing extra strength. Sidewall condensation vents using hook 'n' loop closures around the perimeter of the tent for better ventilation control. Mesh panels behind the tent door and large, multi panel vinyl windows optimize ventilation when you need extra ventilation. The tent material is made with 300D polyester oxford with a 3,000mm waterproof coating for the ultimate in waterproof protection. The tent floor features a zip open panel to allow you to safely add a heat stove to keep you warm and toasty on those freezing cold nights. A five inch stove pipe jack in the tent roof features a roll away storm flap to keep the flap away from the hot stove pipe while it is in use. This tent features fold down shelves on the sidewalls with patented cup holders and gear pockets to hold your gear. There is also an angled roof window. Zippered window covers. Heavy duty YKK® zippers. The tent comes with 12" steel stakes, guy ropes, a repair kit and comes all bundled up in a large zip close storage bag. Ultra rugged outfitter tent packed with modern materials and design.
Guide Gear 12’ x 18’ Canvas Wall Tent from Sportsmans Guide
The Guide Gear® 12 x 18 Canvas Wall Tent creates a warm, dry Base Camp that will keep your hunting group safe against all the untamed trials of nature. Built in the same style and design used by many professional outfitters and hunting guides to keep their hunters warm and cozy out in the wilderness, this tent is an outfitter's wilderness sanctuary. This tent is built to handle any weather that Mother Nature can throw at it with it’s heavy duty 10.8 oz. weather treated canvas that is one of the strongest and best materials available for keeping the elements at bay so you can stay dry and warm no matter what the weather does outside. When you combine that with the sod cloth and stove jack, which allows you to add a wood burning stove inside the tent, and you can hunker down in the Guide Gear® Canvas Wall Tent for a full season and beyond. The highly durable material, and sturdy design, will have your group enjoying this tent for generations to come.
Outfitter Canvas Wall Tent Features
Thick 10.8 oz. canvas walls and roof Weather and mildew resistant treated canvas is also fire retardant Reinforced corners and stress points for added strength 21" x 21" stove jack opening fits 5" stove pipe Sod cloth prevents damp floors and wet sleeping bags 2 side windows and 1 rear window that are 12" x 16" each 57" side walls 12' x 18' x 8.5' peak height Packs to 30" x 15" x 10" Includes stakes and guylines Weighs 55 lbs.
BEST ROOFTOP TENTS
Rooftop Tents
From rugged hard top designs, to economical softshell designs, we reviewed this year’s best rooftop tents available. Rooftop tents are gaining in popularity for campers that like to travel light, and setup camp in an instant. Instead of having to break out the heavy and bulky family cabin tent that can take a long time to setup once you get to camp, with a rooftop tent it can take only minutes to setup camp. They are also very convenient for road trips where you can literally pull into a convenient spot to pull over for the night and have a comfortable bed to sleep in to continue on your journey the next day. Depending on the model tyou choose, the simple to setup rooftop designs pop up or fold out from the top of your vehicle. Most models also come equipped with a comfortable mattresses to sleep on to give you a great night’s sleep. Designs range from economical softshell rooftop tents, all the way up to the fancy hardshell and overlanding models that are built to last no matter what you put them through. Rooftop tents are nice because they get you up off of the ground, are very easy to setup, conveniently mounted on the top of your vehicle which free's up valuable cargo space. The higher end models are engineered and designed to be strong and durable to last the test of time. Rooftop tents can be thrown into three categories. The higher end hardshell rooftop tent, the mid level softshell rooftop tent, and the budget friendly economical rooftop tent.
Best Hardshell Rooftop Tent
Roofnest Condor XL Hardshell Rooftop Tent ($3,395) Category: Hardshell Floor area: 47.8 sq. ft. Peak height: 50 in. Capacity: 3 to 4 Person What we like: This tent is on the larger size of the hardshell rooftop style tents, giving you the extra space of a softshell tent with the strong durability of a hardshell rooftop tent, with easy setup. What we don’t like: Hardshell tents are quite a bit more expensive than softshell tents, but the extra expense does pay for itself with it’s durability and added convenience. Most of the hardshell rooftop tents feature a pop up or clamshell type design that keeps their floorplan over the rooftop of your car or truck, but the fold out styles double the sleeping area with an extended platform and sleeping mattress. Roofnest’s design offers similar quality and a better price in the high end of the quality and price spectrum. This Condor XL compactly packs into a durable, and aerodynamic hard shell and sets up very quickly and easily into a spacious tent for up to four sleepers. This rooftop tent has 47.8 square feet of floor space, and a nice 50 inch peak height that’s one of the tallest on the market. Every Condor tent comes with a built in, custom shaped 6 cm foam mattress with a waterproof cover for that extra comfort for a good night’s sleep. This isn’t your typical camping mattress. This mattress is very comfortable, like a real bed. It’s so comfortable, it feels like a real bed. It also comes with a detachable LED light, and a premium ladder. The Roofnest Condor XL is the ultimate package for serious rooftop campers.
Best Softshell Rooftop Tent
Thule Tepui Explorer Autana 4 Softshell Rooftop Tent ($2,699) Category: Softshell Floor area: 48 sq. ft. Peak height: 56 in. Capacity: 4 Person What we like: This tent provides for a lower price than a hardshell tent, with great quailty, and extra space for your gear, or to get dressed. What we don’t: Hardshell tents provide better weather protection than the softshell tents, are easier and quicker to setup, and last longer. Thule has a large selection of different rooftop tent models, with affordably priced entry level models, to high end models that provide an extended canopy for added privacy with space to get dressed. Made with quality materials for added durability, and quick and easy to setup. Constructed from coated 600 denier and a 260g poly cotton blend that is made to withstand the elements of any season. The tent fabric is UV resistant, and mold resistant. The mesh panels offer extra ventilation. Has four large internal pockets to store your gear and camping accessories. It comes with a very comforable high density foam mattress for a better night’s sleep.
Cottages and Vacation Home Rentals For Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Looking for a vacation rental for any destination you wish to go? Vrbo has vacation homes, cabins, and cottages for many locations that would be great for your next family outdoor camping adventure.
Roost Explorer Hardshell Rooftop Tent
Roost Explorer ($2,998) Category: Hardshell Floor area: 36 sq. ft. Peak height: 59 in. Capacity: 3 Person What we like: Great quality tent, amazing vibrant color selection, even a camo version. What we don’t: Hardshell tents provide better weather protection than softshell tents, are easier and quicker to setup, and last longer. The Roost roof top tent (RTT) provides you with a new level of comfort and flexibility that makes it easy and convenient to enjoy your your outdoor recreational and entertainment activities. These tents can be used pretty much anywhere, and is designed to provide quick and easy shelter and a safe resting place. The Roost roof top tent was developed with a universal mounting system that will allow you to install this tent on the rack of an SUV, a pick up truck, a trailer, a boat and many other vehicles. These Roost tents give you the freedom to play, as it can be easily converted into a cargo carrier if you remove the foam mattress and tent fabric from the Velcro fastening strips. This will give you 13 inches of closed height in the rear the unit will easily carry ski equipment, small pieces of luggage, tools, and even lumber for your home repair project.
Smittybilt Overlander Gen 2 Softshell Rooftop Tent
Overlander Gen 2 XL ($1,599) Category: Softshell Floor area: 64 sq. ft. Peak height: 51 in. Capacity: 4 Person What we like: Nice looking tent, great quality, large size. Annex addon provides extra sleeping space at ground level, privacy area, or gear storage. What we don’t: This tent sits a little high on your rack in it’s folded closed position, though the reason is that the tent is built to be setup in an instant, which takes up a little extra space, along with the durable frame. The simplicity of the fold out design is worth the extra height of the tent in it’s folded position. The Overlander Gen2 softshell rooftop tents have been developed for tough and repetitive outdoor use. This tent is built tough, will stay dry, and provides for a quick, and simple, setup and tear down. It is designed to protect you from the elements, such as moisture, rain, airflow, insects, dirt and mud. It has been engineered for stength and durability using a thicker and larger frame design, and a super heavy duty 600D rip stop skin.It has an extended rainfly and awaterproof polyester canvas that provide superb moisture and rain protection. The new fast fold tent design makes this tent a little larger when fully folded in it’s closed position, but it makes for an instant, quick setup and teardown. It comes with a 2.4 inch high density foam mattress with a removable cover, and an interior LED light strip. It’s mesh screens protect you from bugs and misquito’s. It has a telescoping heavy duty ladder. For an upgrade, the Smittybilt Tent Annex can attach to the Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent to provide you with more room, additional sleeping at ground level, extra room for storing your gear, and added privacy when you need it. It easily attaches to the overlander tent in minutes using durable and rugged zippers. It is made from the same durable polyurethane impregnated polyester, so it will hold up even under tough conditions.
Sleeping Bag For Your Tent Camping Trip
Sleep comfortably, even when it’s zero degrees and greezing outside, with a super warm Coleman Big Game Big and Tall Sleeping Bag with cotton canvas cover and cozy cotton flannel liner. The full-cover construction locks in the heat by eliminating quilting cold spots, making it perfect for cold weather sleeping.
CVT Pioneer Rainier Series Softshell Rooftop Tent
Pioneer Rainier ($2,395) Category: Softshell Floor area: 48 sq. ft. Peak height: 50 in. Capacity: 3+ Person What we like: Really like the slick looking grey. The tent is tight, not sloppy like some of the other tents on the market. Quality craftsmanship, with durable materials. Annex addon provides extra sleeping space at ground level, privacy area, or gear storage. What we don’t: A little pricey, getting close to the hardshell tent costs, but you do get extra quality and attention to detail as you will notice the difference on how sharp and well put together that this tent looks. This CVT Pioneer Rainier rooftop tent is a great choice for those looking for a nicer quality look and feel that is more like the more expensive hardshell tents. Comes with a Telescopic Ladder, so you can climb with confidence. It also includes a three inch thick mattress protected by a washable Mattress Cover that can stay in your tent permanently. The tent body is made of 280 gram poly cotton rip stop fabric. The Rain Fly is permanently attached with integrated Stargazer Windows that let you enjoy the sky whatever the weather. Most models come with the annex included, which is an added cost on other brands. The annex gives you extra space for your camping gear, and additional privacy.
Camping Chairs For Your Tent Camping Trip
Good quality, and durable camping chairs are a nice thing to have when you are out camping with your new rooftop camping tent. Take a stroll down the virtual camping chair aisle and find the perfect chair for you.
iKamper SkyCamp 2.0 Hardshell Rooftop Tent
SkyCamp 2.0 ($3,899) Category: Hardshell Floor area: 44 sq. ft. Peak height: 48 in. Capacity: 4 Person What we like: Available in three appealing color styles. Extremely fast one minute setup for nearly instant tent setup. Locking feature to keep your tent locked when not in use during everyday driving. What we don’t: A little pricey, as with other RTT hardshell rooftop tent brands. Due to the Skycamp 2.0 rapid instant setup, this is one of the best rooftop tents out there. It can be setup in under a minute, and ready for use. A family of two adults and two small children can sleep comfortably in this rooftop tent. The hardshell tents are more aerodynamic when driving down the road with the tent in it’s folded up closed position. The locking feature, and hard shell, enable you to leave this tent on your car or truck year round, so you can be ready to spend the night in your tent at a moments notice. The floor of the tent is set with durable insulating honeycomb aluminum panels. The tent fabric is made from breathable 300gsm poly cotton canvas. The rain fly is a waterproof polyester 150D (PU 3000mm) material. It comes with a 1.8" high-density polyfoam comfortable mattress.
Ice Chest Cooler For Your Tent Camping Trip
When it comes to storing your food, you definitely want to have a nice quality, large sized cooler ice chest to keep your food and drinks cold and fresh. The Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler has a heavy duty, blow molded construction, with an insulated lid to to keep your ice for up to 5 days in 90°F weather.
Camping Stove For Your Tent Camping Trip
One of the best camping stoves on the market, with the latest technology, is the Camp Chef Expedition 3X Triple Burner Stove packed full of great features like three 30,000 BTU burners for massive cooking power to cook your food fast and completely even in high altitude. It has a 3 sided windscreen to keep the flames going and not blow out on those windy evenings. This camping stove also comes with a matchless ignition system for easy lighting of the cooking burners, and a professional style griddle ready to use right out of the box.
Portable Power For Your Tent Camping Trip
The portable power generators are perfrect for Rooftop Tent camping. They are completely quiet, lightweight, and will provide you with plenty of power for your trip to power your electronic devices, or charge them up, while on your family camping trip. Whether it’s for when the power goes out, or when you are out on a road trip, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, or boating, this power station will keep your electronics and other devices charged and running.
Camping Gear Rental For Your Tent Camping
Having your own camping gear is a great idea if you camp several times or more a year, but if you only go once in a while it is hard to make the large investment, especially when you have to store it and maintain it until your next trip. Rent your camping gear by submitting your reservation for free today and you can change or cancel your order anytime before your order ships. Get what you need delivered anywhere in the contiguous United States. This process is so simple, every order includes a free return label to place items back in your box and adhere the label and drop off at any FedEx location to ship the gear back. Check out the camping gear rental options today!About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Tent Camping Experience Awaits!