So, you are going backpacking and want to know what to look for in a backpacking tent? 

Backpacking is one of the best outdoor activities to burn calories, around 100 per mile, to be specific. So not only are you going out to appreciate the beauty of nature, but also helping your body to stay fit and healthy! 

Let us remind you, though, that you will be hiking for more than a day, which means camping may be inevitable for your journey. And along the trail, you may encounter various natural threats like inclement weather, wild animals, and insects. 

Now, did you pack the appropriate tent for your adventure?

Don’t worry because we are here to help you. We took the liberty of listing what to look for when buying a backpacking tent so you can find the best one you could bring for a worry-free nature trip. Don’t forget to check out our tips how to buy my first tent. 

What To Look For When Buying A Backpacking Tent

We’ve broken down the qualities of a backpacking tent into five — Capacity, Comfort, Portability, Setting Up Difficulty, and Durability and Stability.

Let us dissect each of them and find out what to look for when buying a backpacking tent.

• Capacity

When buying a backpacking tent, remember that SIZE MATTERS! Consider the number of people that will use the tent before you buy one.

A 1-person tent is already enough if you often travel alone, although a small, 2-person tent may be better for you if you feel uncomfortable staying or sleeping in smaller spaces. And if you plan to have four people sleeping in the tent for only one night, it is better to just rent instead of buying a new one.

• Comfort

In all actuality, this section is directly correlated with the previous one since you should consider comfort when picking the size of the tent. 

Your backpacking tent should be able to give you enough room to fit your needs. It should be comfy enough to let you sleep, nap, read, or escape from outdoor elements like bugs, rain, snow, wind, or even the sun.

• Portability

One of the main qualities of a backpacking tent is that you should be able to carry it along for hours of hiking without straining any part of your body with its weight.

That said, we now know that an ideal tent should be lightweight. But depending on the size, some backpacking tents may weigh over 4.5 lbs., so be on the lookout for that.

Aside from that, take into account the poles, stakes, and anything else that comes with the backpacking tent you will also need to bring. Remember, the keyword is LIGHTWEIGHT!

• Difficulty Setting Up

A backpacking tent should be easy to set up even in the worst conditions. It doesn’t matter if it is dark or only one person is setting it up, or two at most in windy situations. 

If you walk into a store, you can ask anyone from the staff to give you a demonstration on how fast or easy it is to put up before you make that purchase. Pay close attention to the demo so you won’t encounter problems setting up the tent.

• Durability & Stability

At night, the only thing that separates you from any outdoor elements is your tent. So aside from being lightweight, what you’re about to get should also be durable.

When backpacking during the winter season, make sure your tent can keep you warm and cozy, and double-check if your tent has sufficient ventilation for trips to hot or tropical places. And rainy days are your worst enemy when hiking, so your tent should not absorb but repel heavy downpours.

But weather and climate are not only about hot days, stormy afternoons, and cold nights because there is also the wind. The tent you are bringing should be able to withstand a strong wind blow and not falter.

Summary

We know all these points are a lot to take in, so let us summarize what we recently discussed!

When picking up a backpacking tent, only get the size for the intended sleeping capacity while also considering comfortability. And it should neither be too big nor small, just the right size and weight of the tent you could carry on your backpack effortlessly, along with its accessories.

The tent you’ll get should also be easy to set up even when it is dark outside, raining or snowing heavily, or you’re putting it up alone. And finally, it has to be durable enough to withstand harsh hiking conditions to give you comfort after a long day on the trail.

We hope you get the right backpacking tent for your journey. Be safe out there!