How do you choose the best-traveling tent for hiking, backpacking, and camping adventures?
Are you camping out in the woods, on the beach, festivals, or at the foot of a mountain? Pitching a tent is is genuinely a fantastic way to reconnect with nature. I love to camp and have been every time I go out climbing in Tennessee.
Depending on your needs, weight is probably an essential factor to think about at the time you’re choosing a traveling tent.
I go for light and compact traveling tents, which I can pitch quickly. The tents that I’m reviewing weight under 5 pounds and are fast to set up.
Your options are limited if you are on a tight budget, but there are lots of inexpensive traveling tents out there. Although most of them are not stable and fall apart after a while, cheap pop-up tents are great for festivals. Still, they are heavy and won’t last the wear and tear of regular use when traveling – plus, they are hard to repack.
Make sure to carefully think about what you need this tent for and for how many people would be sleeping in the tent. Most of the time, a three-person tent only weights a little bit more than a two-person tent, so if you will be camping with a buddy, it’s worth picking a bigger tent which would give you more room to move around inside.
When it comes to choosing the best-traveling tent for yourself, here’s what you should consider
§ size when packed
§ size when open
§ Price
§ Weight
§ Pitching time
§ Season
§ Functionality
§ Durability and strength
Having a traveling tent with you opens up a world of possibilities – you can save a ton of money by camping.
These are the five best traveling tents in 2019
Table of Contents
Lightweight tent
Vango Banshee
The best budget traveling tent is the Vango Banshee 300 – it’s inexpensive, sturdy, and reliable.
The company Vango makes quality gear for an affordable price. The tent is the best cheap traveling tent I’ve come across. This tent isn’t like most inexpensive tents. The Vango Banshee is a little heavy and a bit on the small size for a two-person tent, but it’s the best compact traveling tent. It’s sturdy and durable.
The Vango Banshee 300 is a three-person tent, but if you had three people in this tent, it would be very cramped.
If you wanted to save money, the compromises on the Vango Banshee are minimal. Such a traveling tent is the best budget-friendly traveling tent out there!
The main downside of the Vango Banshee is that it’s heavy, therefore not the best tent for hikers because of the extra weight.
Vango Banshee 300 Key Specs:
Best for: Best inexpensive tent for travelers on a budget
Features: 2 doors, small outdoor space, excellent Waterproofing, and fire retardant.
Weight: 6.06 pounds
Dimensions: 110 x 87 x 42 inches
Size packed: 6.3 x 19 in
Pitching time: 6 minutes
Pros
§ Study and durable
§ Two-person
§ Great on a budget option
Cons
§ Not suitable for three people
§ No Long-term durability
§ No lifetime warranty
lightweight backpacking tent
Nemo Hornet-$368.95
The Nemo Hornet is one of the best lightweight traveling tents on the market; it is ultralight, leading in the market for its material technology and design for fast set up. It is one of the best waterproof traveling tents available out in the market.
However, some costumers report of the external section not being optimized for protection against the elements and that the materials are so thin that twigs easily pierce them.
Nemo Hornet Key Specs:
Best: Lightest backpacking tent by far, great for hikers.
Features: 2 entrances, 3 season
Weight: 3 pounds, 7 ounces
Dimensions: 86 x 52 x 40 inches
Size when packed: 7 x 18 inches
Pitch time: 4 to 5 minutes
Pros
§ Ultralight
§ Well designed
§ Two doors
Cons
§ Waterproofing has mixed reviews
§ Not sturdy material
§ No lifetime warranty
Floor and rainfly fabric are both treated with silicone (outside) and polyurethane (inside)
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1-$429.95
The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 is the lightest freestanding tents on the market. If you find yourself on a solo adventure, this is the best choice, as is the best one-person traveling tent. The excellent design, paired with superior materials, makes it hard to beat in terms of efficiency and Durability.
If you’re looking for a traveling tent with easy pitching set up and waterproof, this is an overall versatile tent.
Big Agnes Fly Creek Key Specs:
Best for Ultralight traveling tent from March through September.
Key Features: 1 person, three seasons
Weight: 1 pound 11 ounces
Dimensions: 86 x 28 x 38 inches
Size when packed: 4 x 19 inches
Pitch Time: 5 minutes
Pros
§ Super lightweight
§ Very durable
§ Packs down very compact
§ solvent-free polyurethane tape (no PVC or VOCs)
§
Cons
- Center seam can tear
- Pricey
- § semi-freestanding
ultralight backpacking tent
MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent- $449.95
It’s one of the best lightweight traveling tents for backpacking, designed for stormy conditions and is one of the best waterproof traveling tents all around.
The MSR Hubba Hubba is excellent for two people and is quite spacious for a two-person tent. With its shape that allows you to sit up throughout most of the tent — one of the best couples traveling tents.
MSR is one of the most recognized brands in the traveling tent and well known for its customer service–so you can see it as an investment, it’ll be the last tent you ever have to buy!
One disadvantage is that MSR Hubba Hubba gear is expensive. If you’ll planning to be using your tent, a lot of camping and traveling, then I would recommend investing in it. This traveling tent will be the last tent you ever need to buy.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Key Specs:
Best for Best ultralight traveling tent, excellent weather protection, and use of space.
Key Features: 2 doors, three seasons, color-coded clips to make pitching easy.
Weight: 3 lb. 7 oz
Dimensions: 84 x 50 x 39 inches
Size when packed: 6 x 18 inches
Pitching time: 6 minutes
Pros
§ Ultra Light Weight
§ Great weight to space ratio
§ Leading material in technology
§ Lifetime warranty
Cons
Expensive
Coleman Sundome Tent- $43.34- $173.43
The Coleman Sundome is the classic Sundome series of tents from Coleman. The Sundome sleeps 2 to 4 campers and has a large front door and hooded rear window for easy entry with a hooded fly to provide ventilation. The polyethylene floor is a “bathtub style” (wraps up the sides) for extreme weather protection. It is not difficult to set up or takedown. Has an Electrical Access Port, with a ground vent and an includes interior mesh with storage pocket. This tent has a freestanding design, which makes it easy to set up and takedown.It has one interior storage pocket. This traveling tent makes it easy for clipping and pinning. This traveling tent is stable in storms and high winds.
Key Features: Electrical Access Port. “Bathtub style” for rainproof. All seasons.
Weight: 10.47 lbs
Dimensions: Measures 9 x 7 feet with 4 foot 11-inch center height
Size when packed: 23.8′ x 6.4′
Pitching time: 10 min
Pros:
- 1 Large ‘D’ style front entry door
- “Bathtub style” (wraps up the sides) for rainproof
Cons:
- Doesn’t function well on heave rains
So, what is the best tent for traveling?
I broke down all the information you should need to choose the best tent for your travels. Hopefully, you have found our article helpful and can now pick out the best tent for your needs.
If I had to pick one overall traveling tent, I would say go for the MSR Hubba Hubba.
But it is expensive – the best budget-friendly traveling tent on the market is the Vango banshee
So pick up the best budget traveling tent and head out there! Happy travelings amigos!