Camping and Hiking Tents
Your tent is your home-away-from-home on outdoor adventures, whether it’s a smaller one-person bivy or a family-sized cabin tent. Choose the right tent for the activities you’ll do the most.
Where will you go?
Larger and heavier tents are best for car camping, and it’s not hard to find large tents for 4+ people at great prices. Napier even produces models that attach directly to your vehicle’s hatchback or fit onto pickup truck beds.
For backpacking, where low weight and durability are important, you’ll have to spend a bit more money. You probably won’t want a tent larger than a 3-person/10 lb model, unless you plan on splitting the weight amongst your group. Ultralight backpackers prefer 1-person tents or bivy sacks, but these can limit space for keeping belongings dry.
The right tent for the right season
Most 3-season tents have large mesh window panels and a separate waterproof rainfly. This allows refreshing airflow, reduces interior condensation, and even lets you use the tent as a nice bugproof netting on rain-free, starry nights.
Four-season tents usually feature zippable solid panels that completely cover their mesh windows. That prevents snow (and sand) from blowing into the tent and it adds warmth to the interior. However, 4-season tents are heavier and can result in wet condensation on cold mornings.
Single wall or rainfly?
An alternative to rainflies for weight-conscious backpackers are waterproof/breathable single-wall tents like Black Diamond’s Ahwahnee. These types of tents often have interior poles, which makes it possible to set up the tent during storms.
Floorless tarp tents like Black Diamond’s Mega Light are an even lighter-weight option. These tents use your trekking pole as support instead of specific tent poles.