Best Camping Tents: Our Top 9 of 2023

The REI Base Camp 6 ticks all the boxes that need ticking for three-season family camping. It’s roomy, easy to pitch, durable, offers outstanding weather protection, and has a wealth of interior and exterior storage options that help boost livability.

The Base Camp’s geodesic, 5-pole, dome-style design means it lacks a little headroom compared to tunnel or cabin tents. Nevertheless, we found it plenty livable for 5 or 6 adult sleepers. This design, it’s worth noting, also makes it a much better option in blustery weather than cabin tents like the Grand Hut 6 or tunnels tents like the Kingdom 6.

Features-wise, the Base Camp is a bit of a dream. There are two large air vents in the roof, a total of 14(!) pockets for gear storage, hang loops galore, two oversized vestibules, and two extra-wide doors that give all sleepers easy access to both entrances. 

The Base Camp is also one of the most well-made shelters we’ve ever slept in. Its 75D rainfly and body fabric are among the burliest on our list, while the 150D floor is tough enough to let you leave the included footprint at home when you’re keen to shed a few ounces. The thick aluminum poles are also a little more confidence-inspiring than those in similarly priced tents.

In short, this is a shelter that’s truly made to last.

The Base Camp is a little pricier than REI’s Grand Hut 6, but has an extra 10 square feet of vestibule space and is a better performer in wet and windy conditions. And while not as roomy as the REI Kingdom 6, it’s a fraction cheaper and offers better stability in wild weather.

We’re also big fans of the 4-person version of this tent, the Base Camp 4. However, added livability is never a bad thing, and the Base Camp 6’s extra 14” of peak height and 24 feet of interior space seem well worth the 4-pound weight penalty.

Specs

• Type: Dome
• Floor Area: 84 square feet
• Center Height: 74”
• Weight: 20 lbs. 10 oz.

Are you the kind of camper who wants maximum bang for your buck? If so, then the REI Grand Hut 6 is a shoo-in for your shortlist.

This cabin-style shelter is, like all things REI, remarkably well made, using similar 75D and 150D fabrics in the rainfly, body, and flooring. Its bounteous storage options, nearly vertical walls, 78” peak height, and 83.3 sq. ft. of interior space also make it among the most livable on our list, while the pre-bent poles and hubbed pole system make it a cinch to put up and take down.

The 1,500mm HH rainfly, extensive mesh canopy, and double-doored design make the Grand Hut a versatile tent, providing both ample rain protection for three-season conditions and enough ventilation to stave off condensation and stuffiness in hot and humid weather.

All this coming at such a low price point quite frankly makes the Grand Hut a bit of a steal. Which begs the question: what does it lack that pricier options don’t?

Compared to the REI Base Camp, the Grand Hut is a poorer performer in inclement weather, mainly on account of its X-shaped pole system and vertical walls, both of which make it more vulnerable to collapse, billowing, and/or buckling in strong winds. It also has fewer storage options than the REI Kingdom 6 and a little less end-to-end headroom.

Specs

• Type: Cabin
• Floor Area: 83.3 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 78”
• Weight: 16 lbs.

The Coleman Sundome 4 is a great option for campers who tend to do most of their camping in fair weather and spend only 5-10 nights “under the canvas” per year. 

The Sundome has been our favorite low-cost camping tent for several years running. Here’s why…

This four-person shelter has a generous 63 sq. ft. of floor space and a peak height of 59 inches, none too shabby for a dome-style tent designed for 4 sleepers. And given that it weighs a modest 7.4 lbs., its weight-to-space ratio is up there with the best on our list. It’s also a cinch to pitch and stands up well to breezy and blustery conditions thanks to its curved walls. 

As with all budget camping tents, compromises are to be expected, and the Sundome has a few that make it less than ideal for multi-day trips or wet-weather adventuring. 

For starters, the lack of any form of vestibule largely negates the benefit of the roomy interior by forcing you to store gear inside if you want to keep it dry. And while the partial coverage rainfly has a high hydrostatic head rating (3,000mm), its limited coverage means the lower portion of the tent is left exposed to any rain. 

This is also the only model on our list that uses fiberglass poles. We found these to be sturdier than other fiberglass poles we’ve come across in the past, but still harbor a few concerns about how they’d hold up in stormy conditions and over time.

All of this means the Sundome is a solid budget tent for summer camping. If you’re looking for a 4-person shelter for 3-season camping trips, however, we recommend you fork out a little more for the REI Base Camp 4 or MSR Habitude.

Specs

• Type: Dome
• Floor Area: 63 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 59”
• Weight: 7.4 lbs.

Looking for a tent that provides the closest feeling to a “home away from home”? If so, your search can probably end here.

The Kingdom 6 is a luxury shelter and, as such, comes with a lofty price tag and fairly ponderous packed weight. But in return for that added outlay and extra heft, you get a feature-rich, family-oriented tent that trumps nearly all others on our list in terms of livability.

The Kingdom has the same amount of floor space as the REI Base Camp 6 (83.3 sq. ft.), but its steeper walls, tunnel-style design, and the fact that its 75” peak height remains uniform from one end to the other means that it offers substantially more headroom and three-dimensional space (i.e. cubic footage).

For families, the Kingdom 6 is a standout. It has a wealth of storage pockets to help keep things organized, a central divider for privacy, and a 29-square-foot vestibule for gear or kicking back with a pre-bedtime beer or Capri Sun. Its color-coded poles and hubbed pole assembly also make it easy enough to set up with one eye whilst keeping the other on the kids. 

Like the other REI camping tents in our review (with the exception of the Half Dome 3+), the Kingdom is built to last. Its 75D fly and body, and 150D floor are robust enough to withstand frequent use and abuse, while the aluminum poles are reassuringly thick. 

There’s no getting around the fact that this is a pricey option, especially if you choose to buy the Kingdom Mud Room and Kingdom Porch to expand the vestibule/garage space. However, it’s well worth the price tag for all that added headroom and the upgrade in livability this entails, and still significantly cheaper than top-tier alternatives like the Marmot Halo.

Specs

• Type: Tunnel
• Floor Area: 83.3 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 75”
• Weight: 21 lbs. 6 oz.

Looking for a shelter that’s big enough to accommodate all the family, a few friends, a canine or two, and still have plenty of room left for your camping gear? If so, the Coleman Octagon 98 should be somewhere near the top of your shortlist.

Over the years, Coleman has earned a rep for producing budget tents that give pricey, high-end models a serious run for their money, and the Octagon 98 is no exception. 

This beast of a shelter has a peak height of 82” and a whopping 122 sq. ft. of interior space. Assuming you have 8 sleepers, that equates to 15.25 sq. ft. per sleeper. (It’s worth noting, however, that the tent’s octagonal shape makes it tricky to squeeze in 8 adult-sized sleeping pads – worth bearing in mind if you tend to use air mattresses as opposed to foam pads.) 

Beyond its oversized dimensions and sturdy build, what we also love about the Octagon are its family-friendly features. The most endearing of these are the huge, D-shaped front door (handy for keeping an eye on the kids while lounging inside), the removable room dividers that let you enjoy a little privacy come bedtime, and the nicely sized interior pockets. 

The only complaints we have with the Octagon are its weight (45 lbs.) and lack of vestibules. While the former is forgivable given the size of the thing and the robustness of the build, the inability to store wet gear, cooking equipment, and other kit outside the main sleeping area may prove to be a dealbreaker for some. 

Specs

• Type: Cabin
• Floor Area: 122 sq.ft
• Center Height: 82”
• Weight: 45 lbs.

With a mighty 86.11 sq. ft. of interior space, 56 sq. ft. of vestibule space, a peak height of 80”, and a veritable shedload of storage pockets in the roof and walls, the NF Wawona 6 is among the most livable and home-like tents out there. 

Despite having a dome-style design, the Wawona’s steeper walls mean its peak height remains relatively high throughout the tent, which allows you to wander around inside without having to duck. The massive, 44.7-square-foot front vestibule, meanwhile, means there’s a whole other area to hang out in if things in the sleeping area start to feel a little claustrophobic. 

The Wawona’s use of a partial-coverage rain fly means it doesn’t offer as much weather resistance as the Base Camp or Marmot Halo. However, the exposed portion of the tent body is waterproof enough to keep the interior dry in all but the heaviest of downpours so we’d happily take it out in all but the gnarliest of wet conditions. 

Where this shelter really excels, however, is in warm weather. It only has one door, but this is big enough to provide ample airflow throughout the interior. There’s also a duo of large ceiling vents and plenty of mesh in the roof, so stuffiness and condensation are kept to a minimum even when humidity is soaring. 

Specs

• Type: Extended dome
• Floor Area: 56 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 80 inches
• Weight: 20 lbs. 15 oz.

The highly popular REI Co-Op Half Dome 3+ has undergone something of a makeover in the last year. The latest iteration offers everything we loved about its predecessor – solid weather resistance, a small packed size, bluesign-approved fabrics, and idiot-proof pitching – but this tent weighs over a pound less. 

The previous version was already one of our favorites for backcountry camping, but the new, improved Half Dome 3+ is even more ideal for small families or couples who like to do their camping off the beaten track. 

This tent weighs 5 lbs. 11.7 oz, the lightest option in our review. And while its 48.75 square feet of floor space also make it the smallest, there’s ample room for 3 adults and a pooch, or two adults and two small children. 

What we love most about the Half Dome is that it makes very few compromises in order to achieve its light weight. Its weatherproofing is robust enough to stand up to three-season weather, its pre-bent pole structure amps up livability, and there are enough pockets and gear loops to keep the interior tidy and clutter-free. 

The only real issue we have with this tent is that the materials are slightly flimsier than others on our list. Whether or not this is an issue for you, however, depends on where you plan on doing your camping, how careful you are with your kit, and how much ruggedness you’re willing to sacrifice to get a tent that’s light enough to carry further afield than the roadside. 

Specs

• Type: Dome
• Floor Area: 48.75 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 44”
• Weight: 5 lbs. 11.7 oz.

This super-spacious shelter is an ideal pick for families or groups who want plenty of livability without having to splurge on a pricier and heavier 6-person tent.

The Habitude is one of the most versatile options on our list. Whilst not lightweight, its 12-pound packed weight makes it just about light enough for shorter backcountry forays, while its 73” peak height, 62.4-square-foot sleeping area, and 23.5-square-foot vestibule make it livable enough for car campers. 

The walls on the Habitude aren’t as vertical as either the Kingdom 6, Grand Hut, or the Wawona, so it feels a little less roomy. Its curved shape and semi-geodesic pole structure, however, translate into superior stability in strong winds. The Habitude is also over 8 lbs. lighter than the Wawona, 2 lbs. lighter than Grand Hut, and over 9 lbs. lighter than the Kingdom 6. 

In terms of waterproofing, the Habitude’s a bit of a standout, with its 1,500mm rainfly and 10,000mm PU flooring it is resilient enough to handle the worst 3-season conditions and even the odd winter camping trip, something that can’t be said of competitors like the REI Co-Op Grand Hut or Coleman Sundome 4. 

The only real downsides to the Habitude are that it’s a little tricky to put up and it only has one door – both highly forgivable given its stellar performance in every other metric.

Specs

• Type: Dome
• Floor Area: 62.4 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 73”
• Weight: 12 lbs.

Six-person camping tents that strike the perfect balance between weather protection, size, quality, and ease of setup are few and far between. The Marmot Halo 6, however, is just that kinda tent. 

The Halo is, simply put, a bit of a beast. Its 96.7-square-foot floor area makes it the second-largest shelter on our list and the roomiest six-person tent model by over ten square feet. It also has a healthy 75.5-inch center height, meaning there’s more than enough headspace to walk around inside without having to duck or stoop.

Other beast-like characteristics include the 40D/68D body, 150D/3,000mm flooring, and ripstop 68D/1,800mm rain fly, all of which place it very near the top of the class in terms of toughness and waterproofing. 

Brawny, burly, and badass as it may be, the Halo also has a handful of more subtle touches that make it wonderfully user-friendly. The most endearing of these are the color-coded clips and poles, oversized D-shaped doors with “jingle-free” zipper pulls, neatly arranged wall pockets, and sizable overhead shelves.

The only grumble we have with this Halo is the price tag. Given the tent’s overall quality and extra-commodious interior, however, the added expense is well worth it for campers prone to cabin fever or who are willing to pay top dollar for top-notch and long-lasting materials.

Specs

• Type: Extended dome
• Floor Area: 96.7 sq. ft.
• Center Height: 75.5”
• Weight: 20 lbs. 1.3 oz.