Contents
1 to 2 person backpack tents are very popular, but 4-person tents are quite rare. Here, OutdoorSports.Review have researched and picked the best 4 person backpacking tent, whether you’re doing a multi-day backpacking trip, car camping with friends or family, or camping. If you can do both, the tents below can do it.
Our Choice
1. Coleman Sundome Camping Tent
Coleman is one of the best tent manufacturers if you’re looking for affordable family tents.
Most Coleman tents aren’t exceptionally high-quality or equipped with as many bells and whistles as tents that cost a little bit more, but they still do the job.
One of the most popular tents is the Coleman Sundome. And considering how inexpensive it is, it’s surprising how well this tent holds up.
Even with its less expensive components, it is solid and waterproof, and thanks to the fiberglass poles, it is also reasonably light.
It’s not quite an incredibly quick tent in terms of setup, but it only takes about 10-15 minutes.
The Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent is a good choice if you’re looking for inexpensive four-person tents that are straightforward, simple to set up, and don’t have much extra to them.
Remember that this tent performs better in warmer climates than in colder ones.
If you want to fit four people in your tent and you’re camping with gear, I’d suggest sizing up to the Sundome 6 because there isn’t a vestibule.
%product_cta:1%
2. Kelty Late Start 4 Person – 3 Season Backpacking Tent
The tent measures 99” x 81”, giving you an interior of 55.7 square feet. The peak height is 56 inches. There is a single vestibule that protects 9.14 square feet of space dedicated to storage. Late Start works perfectly with just two stakes and takes perhaps a third of the time to set up as a similar “freestyle” tent.
The only feature that I might be interested in is that there is no roll lanyard to pull the vestibule door out of the way that I could find. I could hide it out of the way, but a windy night defeats that and causes flapping. I was also surprised to discover a seam across the floor. So all I did was set up the pitch quickly, but that was enough to know that this tent was good enough.
Can’t go wrong with the Kelty tent. You will certainly set up your tent in low light or even in the dark. This configuration poses no difficulties at all. We love our Kelty tents and this one did not disappoint.
%product_cta:2%
3. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
The ALPS Climbing Lynx Tent is loaded with premium, high-end features. Rather than fiberglass poles, Lynx has aluminum poles. This 2-pole rectangular dome tent is simple to erect and comes with quick-mounting column clips. With the Lynx, you’re sure to find everything you could want in a tent, including a weatherproof fly-lock, two doors for convenience, two vestibules for extra gear or weather protection, and an extra-large number 8 zipper.
This is my favorite tent of the many I have owned. I could set it up by myself in less than 5 minutes, and it hardly takes up any room in the trunk. It weighs about 10 pounds or less. Before this tent, I could scarcely finish the setup, so I’m relieved that I can now complete it on my own if necessary! I hope to test that this fall even though I haven’t used it in the rain yet because of the tarp. My husband and I can both fit comfortably in the extra-large double sleeping bag, and our two children have plenty of room for their belongings—excellent tent value, in my opinion, a 5/5. Even if you don’t use it for backpacking, I recommend it!
Cons: An air mattress is a little too small. It will fit if I use an 11-inch Queen. However, it doesn’t leave much room for additional factors. Additionally, it’s a little too small for taller people, which makes it challenging to change inside. Finally, when the vestibule is locked, there is poor ventilation. Pulling everything up won’t be much ventilation because the fly only has two tiny openings.
Overall, it’s a great little tent that’s simple to set up for a couple. The water resistance is a plus compared to the pair I’ve found.
%product_cta:3%
Buyer’s Guide
-
Weather protection
Your rain fly is your first line of defense during spring showers and summer storms. The fly should have a robust material, such as ripstop nylon, taped seams, and a DWR (durable water-resistant) finish. To prevent water from collecting around the tent, ensure the fly is taut and extends beyond the tent when you pitch it.
Although the roof is your first line of defense, poorly built floors are the leading cause of leaks. The tent floor should have a DWR finish and taped seams like the fly. The floor should also be made of a material with a higher denier rating than the fly.
%product_image:5:3%
Consider purchasing a footprint or ground cloth beneath your tent for rain protection. Some backpacking tents include an impression, but the majority require additional purchases.
It all comes down to the tent’s design regarding wind protection. Vertical walls are excellent for maximizing interior space, but if you’re not careful, they’ll catch the wind in a strong storm and knock your tent over. When the wind picks up, pitch the fly on a tent with vertical (or nearly vertical) walls so that the angled shape of the fly makes your tent aerodynamic.
%product_image:6:2%
-
Ventilation
Even though it might seem odd to talk about breathing fresh air right after discussing how to secure your tent against the wind and rain, trust us when we say that ventilation is essential.
For starters, you’ll need some airflow to keep the air inside the tent from becoming stale (and trust us, with four people inside, it will become stale very quickly). But, more importantly, it would be best to have enough airflow to keep condensation from building up, which could cause your equipment to get wet overnight.
%product_image:8:3%
The upper part of backpacking tents has typically meshed for the best airflow. This works well on warm summer nights, but the fly gets in the way when the weather changes. A good tent should incorporate one or more vents into the fly to get around that. These vents ought to be constructed to keep out cold wind gusts and rain while letting in some outside hile let.
-
Durability
The materials used to build backpacking tents are synthetic, lightweight materials like nylon and polyester. Polyester dries more quickly and is more abrasion-resistant than nylon, typically softer, firmer, and breathable. Most of the best backpacking tents are made of ripstop nylon, a woven fabric with special reinforcing that makes it more resistant to rips and tears.
Paul Fuller is a former professional soccer player who now writes reviews of sports, travel, and outdoor products. He and his business partner, Martha Graves, have a website where they share their thoughts and earn a commission on products purchased through their links. Currently, Paul Fuller and Martha Graves have jointly founded this website. Having a website of their own helps them satisfy their passion for writing while ensuring a life. For Fuller alone, he can still live with his unfinished dream.
