Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Best Two-Person Backpacking Tents

There are quite a few models of tents on the market, so it can be really hard to weed through all your choices to pick the best one for your backpacking trip. We have narrowed down the choices to the top-rated backpacking tents in two price ranges



What to Look for in a Backpacking Tent

First, it's important to note the key elements to a backpacking tent: weight of the tent and poles, space inside the tent, and price. First and foremost, it must be lightweight. You need to remember that every extra ounce adds up when hitting the trail with all that gear on your back, so pick a tent that doesn't weigh too much. The number of doors that your tent has will affect the weight due to zippers and extra fabric, but extra doors provide comfort and ease of accessibility. High-quality fabrics perform better in the rain, though it really is best if you treat any tent with a waterproofing spray before taking it for a test run. Be sure to pick a tent that offers enough space for campers, plus your gear, and is tall enough to fit in comfortably. The other two factors will need to be tailored to your personal circumstances.


Top-Rated Two-Person Backpacking Tents




The Hilleberg Nallo 2 comes highly recommended by backpackers. The entire package weighs in at about 5.2lb, including the plies and the bag. This tent does a great job of maximizing the interior space of the tent, making for a roomier feel. There are screens that can be used to make the tent more flexible, and the entire front can be rolled away to provide more protection from the elements. This tent currently retails for $625 on Amazon.com.

The MSR Hubba Hubba tent is also highly recommended in the backpacking world. On Amazon.com, where it retails for $319.95, 14 customers have given the tent a five-star review. It has double walls for extra protection, a 40-inch interior height, two doors, and two vestibules for gear storage. This tent comes with a lifetime warranty and is very easy to set up. It weighs under 5lb and comes with aluminum stakes to hold it down.


Best Two-Person Backpacking Tents Under $100




If you are looking to tighten the budget a little bit more, there are several great backpacking tents available under $100. Eureka-brand tents come highly recommended for a reasonable price. The Eureka Isis 2XT tent is available on Amazon.com for $81.99 with free shipping. It is slightly heavier, weighing in at 5lb 6oz. It features two vestibules, fiberglass poles, a flashlight loop and a lifetime warranty. The tent has a center height of 3ft 7in. People who bought this tent say the ventilation is great and the full-covered vestibules offer extra protection from the elements.

Also highly rated and for only $44.05 is the Coleman Sundome two-person tent. This tent only has one door, but has a super-easy two-pole set up and also has an electric accessibility port. The floor has a bathtub style, meaning it wraps up the sides on the tent for extra protection from the weather. It also features fiberglass poles and a flashlight loop, plus coated polyester fabrics and a ground vent.

These are just a few of the tents that are available for your next camping or backpacking trip. Make sure to figure out what you really want in a tent before you head out to purchase one. And don't forget to check to see if your tent needs a footprint or some extra waterproofing spray. That way, when you are ready for your adventure, your tent will be ready too!

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