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Are you looking for the perfect camping tent? We've got you. Since 2012, our team has reviewed hundreds of tents, including the top 18 car camping options in this review. See which ones stood up to our rigorous testing as we take you on a deep dive into the inner workings of the tent market. We put these tents to the test across some pretty rugged terrain and the complicated environment of a family, teenagers, and two moderately trained dogs. With the help of our years of experience, we've gathered all the information you'll need to pick the perfect tent for your next outdoor adventure.
Our in-depth reviews also encompass all the camping gear you need to set up the ultimate base camp. Starting bright and early, we have you covered with the camping stoves and top-rated camping coffee makers to get breakfast cranking to the best lanterns to read by in your tent at night. While this review focuses on car camping, we have also tested some great backpacking gear for those interested in ditching the car and the crowds. To find more tents, see our review covering tents of all kinds.
Editor's Note: We updated our camping tent review on October 25, 2024, to remove a discontinued tent and grant the Coleman Skydome XL 8 with our Best Bang for the Buck award.
Are you a camper with a hobby? Then this is the tent for you. The North Face Wawona 6, a long-standing favorite we've tested, is the perfect basecamp for mountain bikers, rock climbers, anglers, hunters, or anyone packing lots of gear that needs to be protected. Why? The vestibule is like a two-bike garage. The main tent packs an additional 85 square feet, creating a remarkable living space. The Wawona has you covered, and all for a very fair price.
All this space does make a few things less straightforward. Setting up the rainfly and garage in the moderate wind isn't as intuitive as it could be. The North Face went with a pin-and-circle locking mechanism that requires some effort to lock, and because of the height and length of this tent, the guylines are a requirement unless you enjoy watching your tent sail away into the sunset. That said, once it is up, it is massive, comfortable, and withstood some howling winds and rainy nights in Joshua Tree with ease. With some of the best usable space and an excellent price point, the Wawona has been an award winner year after year with good reason. The Snow Peak Alpha Breeze is another tent worthy of mention for its excellent weather resistance.
Boasting nearly 115 square feet of comfy living space, the Coleman Skydome XL 8 is a mammoth of a tent. It is most likely the largest we've ever tested, with the 101.5-square foot Coleman Sundome 6 being the second largest in the lineup, for comparison. We love the spacious design and feel it will hit the spot for families or large groups seeking a larger, reliable shelter that won't break the bank. Specifically, the Skydome can comfortably sleep eight if every camper is dozing upon smaller sleeping pads or foam. If your group is less than eight, our tests revealed there's enough room for a whopping three queen-sized air mattresses. Along with its real estate, we love this tent's tarp flooring. It's easy to clean and can stand up to the inherent wear and tear that comes along with kids and pets. This tent also features an incredible mesh roof, great vents, storage pockets, an electrical port, and fun string lighting that mounts at the ceiling.
There were aspects of the Coleman Skydome XL 8 that we didn't like: It's large, bulky, and not that easy to set up. Its size makes it somewhat unstable, so it requires a full arsenal of ground stakes and guylines to keep it sturdy, especially in the wind. We also think its rainfly is a bit thin, and the overall structure is not as rugged as many of the tents in our lineup. However, for the price, we simply can't deny this 115-square-foot monster's incredible value. If you don't quite need such a large shelter, the Kelty Wireless 6 (87 square feet) is an affordable tent that sleeps 6, and the Gazelle T4 Hub (61 square feet) is an easy-up model that sleeps 4.
Are you looking for a spacious and high-quality camping tent but don't want a massive setup? The MSR Habitude 4 is a great choice. This stylish tent is not only light (12 pounds) and compact, but it's also built with top-of-the-line materials and is both tall (6' 1" in the middle) and spacious (62.4 square feet). On top of that, it features unique touches like a porch light, a large vestibule, and great ventilation.
The Habitude 4 has many great attributes, but it's not flawless. Some disadvantages include a single door that requires two zippers to open, a light that doesn't include a battery, and an awkward bag. Those minor things aside, this tent outscored all other 4-person tents we tested. Another terrific four-person tent option is the Marmot Tungsten, which has its own unique features and lightweight build that might be what you're after.
Its manufacturer touts the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 as one of its most weatherproof general camping tents ever, and we agree. This three-season shelter is engineered to do battle with Mother Nature, and in fact, it even has design elements that pay homage to more rugged four-season tents. Things like full-length pole sleeves, high-end aluminum poles, a low-hanging rainfly, and a large pole-supported vestibule, all point toward a more rigorous shelter system that can handle its own against the elements. The Base Camp 6 also has tons of pocket storage, two massive doors, and a full array of gear loops — and don't let us get started on its optional REI Co-op Base Camp Vehicle Connector. This little beauty takes the Base Camp 6 to an entirely different level by connecting nearly any car directly to your camp.
Though our gripes are minimal, there are some things we weren't thrilled about. We found setup (especially when you include the Vehicle Connector) a little cumbersome and time-consuming during testing. And, while it stands well, we don't feel the Base Camp 6 is a straight up free-standing tent, so it absolutely requires the use of ground stakes to take on its true form. This is particularly vexing if you're desert camping on sand or rock (where stakes are useless) and you must find alternative ways to make your tent sturdy. We listed a few other annoyances in our review, like sticky zippers, but overall this is a superb system, and one of our favorites we tested. If you were drawn to the Base Camp because you like out-of-the-box designs, check out the Gazelle T4 Hub. It offers a whole new slant on camping tents.
The Nemo Aurora Highrise 6 is the total package. It packs tons of space and features into a functional, good-looking design. This tent fits a twin mat and two singles with room to spare, and with a max height of 6' 5", you can add jumping jacks to your morning indoor camp routine. But the list keeps going. With dual vestibules and an extra large front door, along with great privacy options and a fun floor design, you will be hard-pressed to find a tent that pairs form and function better.
On the flip side (because every coin has two sides), the Highrise is a bit complicated to set up the first time — though it does get easier as you learn. Still, you'll want two people for the job. We don't love the window design on this model, and ideally, there would be more storage pockets. Perhaps Nemo will address some of these things in a future update, but even if they don't, this is a great tent that we don't foresee you being disappointed with. If you're looking for a more traditional design that will sleep six, we suggest reading up on the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6.
The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 is ideal for campsites or occasional short backpacking trips. It's also great as a solid backup, sitting in the garage ready to toss into the car with a moment's notice. In our tests, we pitched it in an impressive 4 min 30 seconds and improved upon that time as we became familiar with the design. It features an all-mesh build for incredible views, and the fly can be configured in multiple ways, allowing for both scenery and quick protection from the weather at any time.
The included footprint adds additional value to this well-constructed tent. The mesh is 40D polyester, the tub floor is 68D ripstop polyester, and the poles are DAC Pressfit aluminum. The interior square footage is small, but dual vestibules help to keep everything you don't need for sleeping separate. And while very lightweight, you'll sacrifice headroom in the tradeoff. Overall, this tent is small but mighty and a great addition to any campers toolbox, depending on your needs. Another lightweight option is the Marmot Tungsten 4. It weighs just a little more and offers the same quality.
No assembly required sums up the Gazelle T4 Hub. This tent is so easy to pop into place that the average camper could bypass reading the instructions and still have it fully operational in less than two minutes. The T4 Hub is our favorite instant shelter because it's stable, weatherproof, and full of conveniences. The best thing about this shelter is that it's completely self-contained so that you can say goodbye to bundles of bungee-connected aluminum poles — no more assembling, crisscrossing, bending, or clipping. Instead, to set up the T4, plop it on the ground, pull on each of the four sidewall handles until the wall pops into place, and then lock in the rooftop with a push. We love this tent's removable floor, two large doors, eight massive windows, and seven humongous storage pouches.
The two main downsides we encountered in our tests are weight and size. The rapid setup and solid stability are made possible by thicker fabrics and an intricate pattern of fiberglass poles. The result is a heavier tent (31.6 pounds) and a packed size of nearly six feet in length. Bottom line, transportation and storage are not strong suits of the T4 Hub. In addition, it does not have a vestibule feature, and stuffing it back into its duffel bag is difficult. Nevertheless, if you love the unconventional conveniences and simplicity of the design, you won't mind this tent's slight imperfections. Another self-contained, pop-open option is the Coleman Camp Burst Dark Room 4, although it's smaller in size.
Our first time setting up the T4 Hub. We didn't read the instructions and were able to pitch it in just under 60 seconds - our best solo time was 27.5 seconds.
If you've ever been intrigued by vehicle rooftop tents and think you're ready to take the plunge, check out the Thule Approach M. This softshell tent attaches to the top of your vehicle via a mounting track. Once you get past the initial installation, setup is a breeze (illustrated in our video below). The interior is spacious, with 40 inches of headroom at the highest point, and there are large windows that are lovely for stargazing. The Approach locks to your rack, which is a nice feature.
Rooftop tents are not for everyone. You'll need to be okay with climbing up and down a ladder to get in and out of bed. More importantly, you'll need to assess whether your vehicle can handle the weight. If you've taken all this into consideration and you're ready to move forward, the Thule Approach is one of our top picks. Our only real gripes are that the rainfly is semi-frustrating (it's hard to access all the snaps to attach it), and there is nowhere to store the tent's cover when you remove it (you'll need to stash it in the trunk or truck bed). Minor inconveniences aside, we love the Approach and think it's one of the best rooftop tents on the market. We don't have a lot of vehicle-mounted tents to compare the Thule Approach M to; however, the Smittybilt GEN2 Overlander is a great budget-friendly buy.
The Thule Approach M is one of our all-time favorite rooftop tents. Once installed, it's quite easy to set up.
Credit: Ross Patton
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Three of our top-performing tents enjoying an evening under the stars.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
How We Test Camping Tents
To prepare for this review, we scoured the internet, read personal accounts, and dug into bloggers' and YouTubers' thoughts on the best tents on the market. After selecting the most promising options, we purchased 18 of the best camping tents on the market and got to work. We measured, weighed, and inspected each before carting them to the woods and desert for proper testing. We tested them side-by-side in various Lake Tahoe locations, in the hot and harsh conditions of Joshua Tree National Park, across the great state of Utah, and in the ripping wind of Reno, NV. Our team conducted more than 60 individual tests to help you find the perfect tent to match your needs and budget.
Our in-depth testing process of camping tents breaks down into five rating metrics:
Space and Comfort (35% of overall score weighting)
Weather Resistance (25% weighting)
Ease of Use (15% weighting)
Family Friendliness (15% weighting)
Quality (10% weighting)
See more info on our testing processes in our how we test article.
Why Trust GearLab
The center of any great outdoor adventure is basecamp. Having the best camping tent is a crucial part of that (in addition to good food and good people). Our head tester Rob Gaedtke put these tents to the test so that you can choose your next home-away-from-home with confidence. Rob is no stranger to the outdoors or adventure. He has raced across India, done an IronMan in Mexico, and Jeeped through the African safari. He is also a rock climber, backpacker, and avid camper. Over the past 20 years, Rob has set up hundreds of basecamps across various terrain. We took this experience, coupled with a rigorous and detailed testing plan, and got to work finding a diverse set of tents for consideration.
Jason Wanlass, who has spent the last 20 years of his life exploring the outdoors, joins Rob. He is an experienced backpacker who has trekked in Iceland, Nepal, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Argentina, and Chile's Patagonia Region. Closer to home, he hikes weekly in the foothills above his home in Utah and has backpacked countless miles in nearly every Western state. Whether wandering vast U.S. mountain ranges like the Sierras, Tetons, and the Cascades or catching a plane headed for one of the remote corners of the world, Jason knows a thing or two about gear, and he uses his knowledge of backpacking tents to help him pick out the best features of the tents in this review.
The hub setup on the REI Grand Hut.
Enjoying a rest in the Basecamp 6.
Getting close to my max reach and I still have higher clips to go!
We took these tents far and wide to ensure they were top-notch and ready for your camping journey.
How to Pick the Best Camping Tent for You
While many forms of camping exist, from sleeping on top of your car to spending the night miles away in the backcountry, camping tents are best used for campsites near the car. These tents are large, comfy, and ready for the whole family. If you're looking to sit by the fire with your cooler full of goodies and a cozy camp bed waiting for you, you're looking at the right kind of tent.
Tent Type
Just any ol' tent should be good enough, right? Well, maybe, but you probably won't be all that comfy. You'll want something spacious enough for the whole crew and durable enough to handle a storm, or if you're family camping, kids and dogs running in and out. Camping tents are best suited for established campsites or within a campground.
Four-Season: These tents are slightly more durable than three-season tents and can handle temperature drops in the winter. They have a lower profile to handle wind gusts and snow storms. Four-season tents might be a little overkill if you're more of a warm-weather camper, and they cost quite a bit more. If you camp in the snowy winter, a four-season tent is your best option.
Double-Wall: This review mostly covers double-wall tents and is likely what you have in mind when thinking of a camping tent. They have two “walls” of fabric: the tent itself and the rain fly. The tent walls are breathable, not waterproof, and often have mesh windows - perfect for a night under the stars. The rain fly layers over the top of the tent and is waterproof. Because camping tents are carried a stone-throw distance from the car, there isn't much need to choose ultralight materials. If you specifically want a lightweight option, opt for a single-wall or backpacking tent.
Single-Wall: Primarily used in the backcountry or on mountaineering trips, these tents are very light, compact, and aren't designed to be comfy. Instead of having a separate rain fly, the main body of the tent is waterproof and lacks the same level of ventilation that a double-wall version has. Interested in a lightweight tent? We have an entire review on the best backpacking tents that might interest you.
Tent Sizes
Camping tents are typically available in 4-person and 6-person sizes. This number refers to the amount of people that can sleep in the tent shoulder to shoulder. While you can fit four people in the 4-person tent, it'll be a tight squeeze. Our rule of thumb is to subtract two from the indicated number. So, two people will comfortably fit within the 4-person. If you're a group of four, opt for a 6-person tent. Is a bigger tent worth it? If you can afford the space in your car, we think bigger tents can be more enjoyable, especially if you're family camping.
Camping with a whole family? A large tent like the Wawona 6 is an excellent choice.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Analysis and Test Results
We put these camping tents against the elements, battling kids, wind, dogs, dirt, heat, and a very opinionated husband and wife team. From setup and breakdown to weather resistance and durability to the quality of the space for both hanging out and sleeping, we put these products through a lot to help you find your best match.
What's the Best Value?
Value is all about getting the most tent for the least cash. We like to see a solid balance of performance and price. Generally, when the price goes up in the tent world, so does the performance, though there are some notable exceptions.
A notable contender for value in the 4-person tents goes to the Marmot Limestone 4, which performed well yet still falls slightly lower on the price spectrum. Another value-packed camping tent is the Kelty Wireless 6. We rarely find a quality 6-person tent at a price point this low.
Great design, quality materials, and a low price point. The Wireless 6 is a high value choice.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
On the flip side, if you are looking for a small but extremely versatile tent, the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 packs tons of value into a little package. Since it serves both short backpacking trips and car camping, the value increases.
The Mineral King is the perfect tent for a quick father-daughter campout on Noble Canyon Trailhead, California.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Once you step down into the lower price ranges, it gets complicated. We would be remiss if we didn't give a huge value nod to the Coleman 4-Person Cabin with Instant Setup. This little tent is cheap, sturdy, and a great option to put up with only a moment's notice.
Value is important, and the Wawona 6 has lots of it.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Space and Comfort
This is arguably the most important category when it comes to car camping. When your campsite is only a few yards away from your trunk, a little extra weight in exchange for better comfort and space is an easy choice. For this metric, we looked at the overall footprint of each tent, including the vestibule space. We checked the height and headroom, doors and windows, and the general airflow with and without the rainfly. And finally, we looked at pockets, clips, and storage options.
Let's dive into The North Face Wawona 6 first. When you combine the spacious and tall interior (6' 6" max height and 85 square feet of floor space) with the large double-doored vestibule (and additional 44.7 square feet), you have a comfortable masterpiece. The new design also allows the Wawona to be used without the vestibule, adding a great option for warm-weather camping. We also love the tall, full-sized door feature that allows you to enter without ducking.
The giant vestibule of The North Face Wawona 6 is by far one of the most comfortable to relax under.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The Nemo Aurora Highrise 6 also receives great marks here. With 83.3 square feet of floor and a super tall interior measuring 6' 5" plus two vestibules, this tent can provide both space and comfort for a family of four, all sleeping on air mattresses. The overall pocket count could be better, but it is adequate, and there are many hanging options.
The large floor plan of the NEMO Aurora Highrise 6 fits a family of 4 and then some.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 provides 84.3 square feet of floor space and has a maximum height of 6' 2". This tent can comfortably sleep six, and it offers tons of thoughtful extras including two massive doors, 14 storage pockets, gear loops, two generous vestibules, and a large mesh rooftop. the Base Camp is also compatible with the REI Base Camp Vehicle Connector which provides an additional 62.2 square feet of canopy coverage, and seamlessly connects your tent to your car.
Getting the full scope of the Base Camp 6 and its vehicle connector accessory.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Coleman Skydome XL 8 also received top marks in this metric, namely for its gargantuan 114.5 square feet of floor space. This monster tent can sleep eight, and even has the space for three queen-sized inflatable mattresses. The Skydome maxes out at 6' 1" in height, has a massive mesh rooftop, offers six pockets and interior string lighting.
Measuring the flat length of the Skydome. We almost didn't believe what our eyes were seeing. This tent is huge.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
There are a few other tents that scored respectability in this category. The Big Agnes Bunk House 6 has a max height of 6' 9" and offers a unique shelter option giving you more versatility. But the tallest tent in our lineup is the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6 with a 7' tall clearance. And, thanks to the near-vertical sidewalls, that height isn't just in the center.
The shelter mode feature with the Bunk House 6 makes for an awesome covered eating area.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
We don't often see a 4-person tent score so high in this category. The MSR Habitude 4 has just enough room, features, and comforts to rise to the top. It offers 62.4 square feet of floor space, a perfectly sized vestibule, and seven pockets, making it worth a look for those not interested in setups for 6+ people.
Although it earned fairly low scores across the board, we did like one unique feature of the Coleman Camp Burst Dark Room 4. In this metric, we certainly focused on how many people a tent would sleep, but we also considered any special features that made each tent stand out from the rest. In the case of the Dark Room, its name says it all. The walls of this tent are completely blacked out. And, when the optional rainfly is affixed, there is almost no light at all.
It's late afternoon, and it's almost completely dark inside our Coleman.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Floor Plans
Be sure to review the floor plan images for a tent before committing. If you are like us, you have air mattresses and chairs that you would like to use inside, so the floor plan can help you map it out. And remember, most of these tents say they sleep a particular number, but that is usually elbow to elbow.
Both the Big Agnes Bunk House 6 and The North Face Wawona 6 have massive outside storage areas. These tents offer great storage and covered cooking and cleaning stations, and they are plenty big enough to handle loads of gear.
The Bunk House 6 has the biggest vestibule in our lineup, offering plenty of room for covered hangouts.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Weather Resistance
Getting wet, poles breaking in the wind, and roasting in the hot sun. These are all deal-breakers when camping, especially if you have children. So for the weather resistance category, we considered all of the following: hot day options, cold day options, rainfly coverage, aerodynamic-ness, stakes, poles, and guylines. We tested these in a mix of real-world situations and fabricated ones, thanks to a sprinkler rig and backpack blower. We got these tents hot, cold, wet, and winded. Here is how they stood up.
We put the Marmot Limestone 4 up against the wicked hot days of the southern California desert and the windy nights of Reno, NV. Its shape held up perfectly to both, and the full-covered rainfly kept everything dry. Two extra poles on the tent's roof add just enough extra height to feel open without turning it into a flat-walled sail.
The latest update to the Marmot Limestone 4 includes a clothes line feature that is pretty handy.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Breaking the dome shape mold but still scoring top points are the MSR Habitude 4 and Snow Peak Alpha Breeze. Thd Habitude is very capable in both hot and cold weather. And while a touch on the broadside, the included guylines and slanted vestibule face make this tent very wind worthy. The Alpha Breeze sports thick canvas and a robust A-frame-inspired design — features made to handle the elements with ease. It also has super thick poles, metal guylines, and a whopping 20 stakes. Bad weather, watch out.
A perfect view of the unique shape found on the Alpha Breeze.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Several other tents scored among the best in the weather resistance category. The Wawona 6 rainfly only covers the side mesh a little bit, allowing for moisture to sneak through in windy situations, but it remains a burly tent in every other way. The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 has an amazing, reinforced rainfly that nearly reaches the ground on all sides, and provides two huge vestibules. One of the more surprising tents to score so well in this category is the very tall REI Co-op Wonderland 4. Thanks to a ridiculous amount of stakes and guylines, this tent holds strong in bad weather, and with the large mesh top and large side vents, the tent breaths quite well.
Loads of guylines and stakes hold the massive 4-person Wonderland tent securely to the ground.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Stake It Out
Wind resistance often comes down to how well you stake down a tent and use the guylines to keep it taught. Unless you're assured of a balmy, windless night, staking out the guylines as you set up is a good habit to get into as it will keep you from scrambling around (and likely getting soaked) if bad weather hits. We highly recommend buying an extra cord, burlier stakes, and a mallet for most tents.
The stance of the Habitude 4 is as robust as the quality materials inside.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Ease of Use
Setting up and tearing down camp can make or break your trip. We have all been there, rolling into camp at 11 pm, tired and ready to relax — the last thing you want is a fight with your tent or your partner about the tent. We took one for the team here and got the frustration out so you can be prepared. We also noted whether each tent easily fit back into its bag, the total packed size, and the packed weight.
Before digging in further, we should point out that any tent you pitch enough times will get easier. However, we made it a point to judge the first pitch, as many folks only use their tent once or twice a year, and who knows what you will and won't remember after most of a year has passed. Especially if you happened to throw out the directions.
The Coleman 4-Person Cabin with Instant Setup scored the highest here. This thing went up in under 60-seconds and came down nearly as fast. But ease of use isn't just about setup and tear down — we took one point away here due to its weight being on the heavy side for a small 4-person tent and the struggle required to fit the tent back in the bag. We also hope the mechanisms that make this tent so quick to set up stay smooth and easy to use over time. But if you're looking for a camping tent you can toss up after a few beers or in the dark, check this one out.
Relaxing after pitching the Coleman Cabin in 43-seconds. Plenty of time left to look off at the other campers still unpacking their tent.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The Gazelle T4 Hub sets up even faster than the Coleman Instant. In fact, some of our testers had it pitched in under 40 seconds, making it the easiest tent to set up on our list. However, in this metric, we also considered weight and packed size, and this is where the Gazelle T4 falls behind a bit, as it's the heaviest tent in our lineup and it has one of the largest packed sizes. But, when graded solely on its ease of setup and many convenient accessories, the T4 scores very well and is very easy to use.
Showing off some of the many conveniences that make the T4 Hub easy to use. One of our favorites is the removable floor.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 not only went up fast but also was a snap to tear down and get back into the bag. Add to that the simple fly deploy, perfectly sized bag, and intuitive center clip, and you have a hassle-free tent. While not our favorite, the hub also allows for easy solo pitching. It's the only 3-person tent in our lineup and weighs in at only 7.1 pounds for the full package with a trail weight of 6.2 pounds — this tent is light enough to trek a few miles into the wild.
The Mineral King is the smallest and lightest tent in the lineup and slides snugly into a 65L pack -- just don't plan on bringing the kitchen sink, it won't fit.
The Mineral King has a very fast pitch thanks to an intuitive hub and clip system.
The Mineral King 3 is lightweight and easy to set up thanks to its center clip.
Another notable tent here is the Marmot Tungsten 4. Pitching this tent garnered one of our fastest times, and at just 7.9 pounds, this is the second lightest tent in our review. A large carry bag allows your fold and roll to be less than perfect when you just want to get on the road, and excellent design elements such as color-coded poles and clips are the icing on the cake.
The hub system allows for the Tungsten to be pitched solo with very little frustration.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
We would be remiss if we didn't share two features of the Kelty Wireless 6 that speak directly to ease of use. Kelty added what they call Quick Corners to aid in solo setup. These are essentially pockets on all four corners that make the poles stand erect without needing to hold them. They also have just a single side color-coded. While this seems strange, having only one color to look for versus two is a great simplification that we hope other brands copy.
The Kelty Quick Corners make pitching this tent a breeze, even when solo.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
While this category of tents is focused mainly on car camping, weight still factors into the equation. Lugging a heavy tent across a field or a few campsites away can add up when you are hauling over 20 pounds.
Don't Forget the Footprint
Consider buying a ground cover — a.k.a. “footprint” — for your camping tent and laying this out first. It helps keep moisture and mud off the underside of your tent (thus making re-packing a much more pleasant task). It also helps your tent last longer because it protects it from abrasion. Most manufacturers sell a footprint separately (usually made of the same material as the tent) designed to fit your model tent's exact floor size. Despite the extra cost, it's a great thing to take along. The savvy camper's alternative is a cheap plastic tarp, like something you'd throw down to paint your living room. You can often pick one of these up for a fraction of the cost of an official manufacturer's footprint, though it won't have features like rivets to accommodate your stakes.
Tyvek “Home Wrap” is our favorite footprint for car camping and basecamping because it's waterproof, highly puncture resistant, and exceptionally durable. We prefer clear polycro plastic groundsheets for weight conscious applications.
Credit: OutdoorGearLab
Family Friendliness
Family Friendliness doesn't just mean actual family. It begs the question, how useful is the tent for a small group? Will it fit two dogs and a friend or three and still be comfortable? We looked at how comfortably each tent could fit at least four people, whether it had phone/jewelry storage options, if it provides a space to clean your feet before entering, if there are multiple room options for privacy, and if it is dog/animal friendly — among other things. Though some of these aspects fall under other categories, we felt it was important to our readers to look at them again but with this viewpoint in mind.
The North Face Wawona 6 checks most of the family-friendly boxes, easily sleeping a family of four with great height, storage, and covered outside space. Because of the large, tall vestibule, we were able to set up a camp shower for a quick rinse after a sweaty day of climbing. Just remember not to ask your kids to take the fly off, as the locking mechanism requires some serious force to get out.
Chilling out in style. Take note of the open floor in front which can easily extend the sleeping area.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The Coleman Skydome XL 8 is another family favorite for its sheer size and spill-safe flooring. This tent boasts 114.5 square feet of sleeping space. It also has a tub-style tarp floor that is super durable, easy to clean, waterproof, and ready to handle the rigors that come from camping with kids and pets.
The Skydome's tarp flooring is durable and very easy to clean -- a plus for any large family.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Nemo Aurora Highrise 6 is another fantastic family-friendly camping tent with a little funky style. The super high ceiling, large footprint, and dual vestibules give this tent plenty of room and options for everyone.
Enjoying the views from the cozy Aurora Highrise.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The Kelty Wireless 6 fits two adults, two kids, and two dogs comfortably inside, and the dual vestibules allow for even more storage and organization. Add in the ease of setup, a nice carry bag, and wonderful star-gazing capabilities, and you have a solid tent. And given the bargain price of the Wireless 6, it's hard to pass it up.
Getting ready to start a new day after a cozy night in the Wireless 6.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Typically, this section is reserved for larger 6-person tents; however, the Marmot Tungsten 4 packed enough family-friendly features to make the cut. If you are looking for a smaller, lighter alternative to a 6-person tent that can still handle a family, this is a great tent to explore.
The view from above shows the added privacy of the white mesh walls found on the Marmot Tungsten 4.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Every Family is Different
Sometimes the most family-friendly tent isn't the biggest or the most feature-rich. Instead, it is a wonderful mix of ease of use, features that speak to your family and pet situation, and an ideal build for your typical camping environment.
Quality
For this metric, we looked at the materials used, the general feel of the poles and stakes, and details like how the stitching and seams are constructed. We also tap into our experience and knowledge to judge overall quality and potential long-term durability. But let's face it, when it comes to buying long-lasting gear these days, the age-old saying does hold: you get what you pay for.
The MSR Habitude 4 checks every box for quality materials. From the 7000-series aluminum poles to the DWR 68D polyester taffeta on the floor — everything down to the guyline tighteners is top-notch. The only complaint you will have in the quality department is the included porch light and bag, but these are minor issues.
Quality materials can be found throughout, from the floors to the poles, the Habitude is built to last.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The Wawona 6 is a long-standing champ in our review for many reasons, not least of which is how well it has withstood the test of time. The main tent is made out of 150D polyester taffeta, the floor out of 68D polyester, and the poles are DAC MX — strong and light. And, of course, all seams are seam-sealed with a tub-style floor.
The North Face Wawona 6 has quality materials all around.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 is another high-quality tent that is built to last. It offers high-end aluminum poles, thick polyester fabrics, double-stitched sealed seams, and full-length pole sleeves. A lot of the features on this tent resemble more robust four-season tents.
Full-length sleeves give greater strength to the tent's aluminum pole structure, allowing it to better resist wind and the weight of snow.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Several of our tents scored high in this category, but one worth calling out is the Snow Peak Alpha Breeze. This tent has a 300D fire-resistant PU-coated Oxford polyester floor, crazy thick poles, metal guylines, smooth zippers, soft pole sleeves… the list just keeps going.
Even with the vestibule in awning mode, the Snow Peak Alpha Breeze stayed firmly in place even during heavy winds.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
For anyone hoping to set up something with feet inside the tent (like a cot or small table) without puncturing the floor, the Marmot Limestone 4 and Coleman Instant Setup sport 150D polyester material floors.
If you are looking for a budget camping tent, the single best upgrade to your durability is swapping out the fiberglass poles and getting a set of aluminum ones. Poles and mesh are where the budget tents fail. Except for the impressive Kelty Wireless 6, the mesh areas on the budget tents we reviewed are at least twice as large as the other tents and feel significantly cheaper in quality. Get better poles and be cautious around your mesh, and a budget tent can last you for years.
Exposing the high quality mesh top after a warm nights sleep in the Kelty Wireless 6.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Consider the Long-Term Investment
Unless you're only planning on going camping once or twice a year on an idyllic beach, it's worth taking the long view when it comes to the quality of your tent. We are fans of quality gear that performs well season after season, which often means investing more upfront.
The North Face Wawona 6 is a tent with a true garage, ready to store all your toys
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Conclusion
A camping tent is the most important item you will buy when it comes to camping, so picking the right one is key to a successful adventure. Think about the type of camping you intend to do and what you find most important in a shelter. Innovations are happening all the time, so if there's a feature you want, you'll likely be able to find it. Now, go get yourself a tent and get outside!
