These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (2024)

Throw one of these expert-approved shelters in your trunk and go.

By Danny Perez, Will Egensteiner and Adrienne Donica
These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (1)

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Part of the fun of camping is bedding down in a tent for the night, reading or telling stories by flashlight, and taking in the sounds around you as you nod off. Determining which tent will keep you comfortable depends on how easy it is to set up, whether it can handle some inclement weather, and the overall durability of the materials.

For relatively casual summer adventures, this all-important piece of camping gear doesn’t demand a large investment—there are tons of affordable tents that’ll last for years with proper care. There are plenty of great options ranging from basic shelters to feature-rich abodes that start to feel more like glamping.

For this guide, we focus mainly on car camping tents that prioritize comfort, weather-proofing, and ease of setup. If you’re hoping to save a lot of weight in your pack or space in your car, check out our guide to the best ultralight tents.

To find the best camping tents on the market, we tested almost a dozen tents that’ll make your next trip the best one yet, whether you’re going solo or hitting the parks with your family.

The Best Camping Tents

What to Consider

If you’re heading out for a weekend to one or two campsites, a sizable car camping tent will keep you the most comfortable. Car camping tents prioritize livability, with most four-person models measuring five feet or more at the tallest point.

Generally speaking, more breathable, more durable tents cost more money—but the most expensive tents prioritize the lightest weight possible, which isn’t an issue if you’re car camping. Durable materials add weight, but also prolong your tent’s lifespan, especially if it rains a lot in your favorite camping spots.

Some deluxe models include multiple rooms, extravagant windows, and other various extra features—these can be more expensive, but car camping tents are available at every price point.

FAQs

These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (9)

How We Tested

To find the best camping tents, we considered spaciousness, features, materials, packed size, weight, ease of setup, and costs. We slept in the most promising models while camping in state parks across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware.

These tents have seen us through rainstorms, clear nights, below-freezing temperatures, humid summer nights, and one severe thunderstorm. As we used them, we judged how well the tents ventilated and how easy they were to pitch and pack.

Pros
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (11)Multiple doors
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (12)Lightweight
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (13)Highly weather resistant
Cons
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (14)Gets hot for some

Key Specs

Packed weight16 lbs., 14 oz.
Floor area59.7 sq. ft.
Peak height5 ft.
Doors2

REI’s Base Camp tent has a classic dome design, is highly weather-resistant, and can fit up to four people, though we recommend keeping it at two. The two wide doors give tent-mates the option to enter and exit without bothering the other, with a solid fabric for privacy and a mesh panel for venting.

The mesh roof provides extra ventilation and gives your the option of star gazing from the comfort of your tent. Color-coded poles and sleeves make setup quick and easy if you’re pulling up to the campsite after dark. The vestibule covers both front and back, with just enough room in the front to keep gear covered outside the tent. The interior of the tent has a bunch of pockets and hang lines for those who like to keep a tidy “home” while out in the wilderness.

The fly on this tent is thick and provides great weather resistance, but it does get a bit warm on sunnier days. The fly makes this a great option for four-season camping, but if summers are exceptionally hot in your area, you may want something with more mesh. The peak height won’t let you stand up completely, but it is comfortable for most.

For the quality, roominess, and price, the REI Base Camp tent is a great option for two or three people looking to get out of the city in a reliable, weather-resistant shelter.

Best Budget

Coleman Sundome 4 Camping Tent

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These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (16)

Pros
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (17)Two windows
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (18)Full mesh on two sides for breathability
Cons
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (19)Only one door
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (20)Not waterproof

Key Specs

Packed Weight9.3 lbs.
Floor Space63 sq. ft.
Peak Height4 ft., 11 in.
Doors1

The Sundome has two large windows and a ground vent to increase airflow and prevent condensation. For a techie touch, Coleman added a zippered port to the front of the tent so you can run electrical cords inside from your campsite’s outlet.

It runs less than half the cost of most four-person tents while boasting more square footage than many competitors—it feels generous in size even without vertical walls or a tall ceiling. Of course, there are some trade-offs: There’s only one door, and a decent amount of water seeped in at the corners after a full day in the rain. Just be sure to seal the seams before your first use and it won’t be an issue.

If you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles and mostly stick to fair-weather adventures, the Sundome is made for you.

Buy 2-Person | Buy 3-Person | Buy 4-Person | Buy 6-Person

Most Durable

Snow Peak Alpha Breeze Camping Tent

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Pros
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (22)Included extended awning
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (23)Spacious floor area
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (24)Tick nylon and canvas materials used
Cons
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (25)Included stakes are a bit short
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (26)Heavy

Key Specs

Packaged Weight24 lbs. 3.2 oz.
Floor Area77.4 in.
Peak Height73 in.
Doors4

The Alpha Breeze performs as well as it looks, with sturdy materials and array of windows and vents. It has four doors that are double-layered with solid and mesh panels, and the A-frame design provides exceptional wind and weather-resistance.

The poles and floor are heavyweight, which is great for durability but makes this one of the heaviest on our list. The combination of thick materials and good ventilation make this a great option for four-season camping because it’s adaptable to more extreme weather including high winds, torrential rain, and summer heat.

The large awning provides a vestibule that gives you useable coverage at both the front and back of the tent—the front can fit two chairs and some gear, while the smaller back area works for boots and shoes. The A-frame inspired design offers ample floor space that’ll fit two single cots with plenty of room in the middle for extra gear or a dog, or three to four single beds with minimal gear inside.

This tent shines when it comes to the durability of materials, but it’s heavy to carry. The provided bag is small enough for a short hike to a campsite if you want to get off the beaten path, but it’s too heavy for thru-hiking trips. Color-coded poles and sleeves help during setup, but it wouldn’t hurt to do a trial run before taking this tent out as the awning can be tricky.

Best 2-Person

REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Camping Tent

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Pros
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (28)Large for a 2-person tent
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (29)Easy to set up
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (30)Footprint included
Cons
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (31)Can’t stand inside

Key Specs

Packed Weight4 lbs., 13.5 oz.
Floor Space35.8 sq. ft.
Peak Height3 ft., 6 in.
Doors2

Despite the trimmed-down specs, the Half Dome still manages to clock in as one of the roomiest two-person tents out there—and now it comes with a footprint that wasn’t included in previous versions.

REI cut the number of roof vents from four to two, lowering the peak height by two inches, as well as updated the door design to remove part of the zipper and used finer fabrics on the floor and fly. What hasn’t changed is the nearly 36 square feet of floor space, which can accommodate campers with four-legged friends or extra gear. It’s roomy enough that we didn’t feel like we had to compete for space with our tent-mates.

Color-coded clips easily snap into place, allowing us to speed through setup. The full-coverage fly didn’t falter despite an all-night deluge during our test, and we appreciated that we could open and close the roof vents from inside instead of outside—and even when they were closed, we had enough ventilation.

Buy 2-Person | Buy 3-Person

Easiest to Pitch

Decathlon 2 Second Easy Pop-Up Camping Tent

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Pros
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (33)Simple set up and break down
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (34)Light-blocking fabric keeps the sun out if you like to sleep in
Cons
  • These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (35)Can feel stuffy in warmer temperatures

Key Specs

Packed Weight10 lbs., 6.4 ounces
Floor Area32 sq. ft.
Peak Height3 ft., 7.3 in.
Doors2

The Easy has a pre-assembled design that works via a connected system of hinged poles, cords, and handles. Pull the two handles, and the tent—fly and all—pops up, though it didn’t exactly happen that fast on the first try. One of the hinges refused to lock in place initially, but it cooperated after a few tries. Breaking down is just as simple: After removing the stakes and guy lines, two buttons collapse the poles, fold in the corners of the tent, and tuck everything back into the bag.

We liked how dark the interior of the tent was and credit the multi-layered fabric that reflects and blocks light. The fly blocked out almost all sunlight, which helped our tester get a restful sleep past sunrise.

The thick polyester fly did make the tent feel stuffy soon after we set it up with the temperature in the 70s, though. Rolling up one of the fly doors helped a lot, but that may not be enough on warmer days.

Our six-foot-two tester appreciated the ample headroom, but the narrow floor felt crowded for two. That said, we were glad that each occupant had their own door. The Easy is the kind of tent that’s not intimidating to use if you’re just getting into camping, and it’ll make more experienced campers at the next site over think twice about their more complicated rigs.

Read Full Review

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These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (37)

Best for Tall Campers

Eureka! Copper Canyon LX Car Camping Tent

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These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (39)

Even the tallest campers won’t have to crouch inside the Copper Canyon LX. This big, boxy tent has vertical walls and reaches seven feet at its peak—we could comfortably stand up, walk around, reposition gear, and change clothes. The LX makes good use of the space with four mesh pockets, two removable gear lofts, and a hook in the center, which we used to hang a headlamp.

Pitching the LX is uncomplicated. The height did pose a minor challenge to our five-foot-four tester when attaching the fly, but it was doable. The tent body is mostly polyester taffeta, and it has four large windows you can partially open to control ventilation. We didn’t experience any stuffiness inside, but we tested early in the season when temperatures didn’t top 40 degrees.

Another feature we love is the zippered cord port to the left of the door. The Copper Canyon has just one entrance, except in the eight- and 12-person versions, which are outfitted with a room divider. Still, the tent is plenty livable and great for longer car camping trips.

Buy 4-Person | Buy 6-Person | Buy 8-Person | Buy 12-Person

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Danny Perez

Commerce Editor

Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.

These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (41)

Will Egensteiner

Director of Product Content

Will is the director of product content for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, leading reviews and gear coverage across Best Products, Bicycling, Popular Mechanics, and Runner’s World.

These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (42)

Adrienne Donica

Editor

Adrienne Donica tested hiking, camping, and other adventure gear as Popular Mechanics' outdoors editor, before going on to edit gear reviews for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Bicycling as Expert Reviews editor. Find her on the trail, working on her latest cocktail project, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.

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These Camping Tents Will Keep You Comfortable and Dry (2024)

FAQs

How do you stay dry when tent camping? ›

How to Keep Your Tent Dry in the Rain: 6 Tips
  1. Find the Right Site. Finding the right site involves wise decision-making. ...
  2. Pitch Your Tent Properly. ...
  3. Use a Groundsheet or Footprint. ...
  4. Use a Tarp. ...
  5. Line the Inside. ...
  6. Bring Plenty of Dry Bags.

What type of tent provides just enough protection from the elements to stay dry? ›

Bivy tent. For solo wild campers and hikers who want to carry as little weight as possible, bivvy tents are ideal. They provide just enough protection from the elements to stay dry and are very low profile – great for stealth camping.

How do you dry out a camping tent? ›

Thoroughly air-dry your tent after trips and cleanings.

Set it up indoors or in a shaded outdoor spot. If you don't have enough space to pitch it, drape it or hang it until dry.

How do I keep moisture out of my camping tent? ›

We've outlined 8 ways that you can avoid moisture from condensation in your tent!
  1. 1) Ventilate. ...
  2. 2) Do not store wet gear in your tent. ...
  3. 3) Don't sleep near water. ...
  4. 4) Sleep in a bigger tent. ...
  5. 5) Don't touch the sides. ...
  6. 6) Never cook inside your tent. ...
  7. 7) Pitch in a spot that gets a breeze. ...
  8. 8) Camp on dry ground.

How do you keep camping gear dry? ›

Dry bags are your friend

But if you're looking for a cheaper option, resealable bags and garbage bags work, too. If you can, try to reuse them on multiple trips! And consider using trash compactor bags, which hold up better over multiple uses.

What is the most comfortable thing to sleep on in a tent? ›

We have buying guides to help you choose, but to sum it up: go for the best gear you can afford. Inflatable sleeping mats offer the best combination of low weight and sleeping comfort.

What is comfortable to sleep on camping? ›

Sleeping pad: There are three types of sleeping pads—self-inflating, air and closed-cell foam. When car camping, weight is not an issue, so you can enjoy a thicker, wider pad or mattress for comfort. When backpacking, weight is crucial, so a super-lightweight air pad or closed-cell pad may be your optimal choice.

How to make a camping bed more comfortable? ›

Usually it's just sleeping in a sleeping bag with no mattress. the easiest way to make it more comfortable is to use an air mattress underneath. This will give some cushion so you aren't on the hard ground. Is this a camp as in commercial vacation camp, or camp as in going out in the bush and living out of a tent?

How do you dry a tent without space? ›

If you're short on space for drying your tent, try the following.
  1. A shower cubicle;
  2. Over a curtain rail;
  3. Over the backs of two or three chairs;
  4. Over a kitchen table;
  5. On a clothesline (but do ensure that the line is strong enough to take the weight of your wet tent).
Nov 16, 2021

What do tents protect you from? ›

Tents are versatile. They can provide shade in the summer and protection from rain or snow in winter.

What keeps a tent in place? ›

During strong winds, it's best to use sandbags, stakes, or weight, to secure the tent to the ground. The anchoring method will depend on the surface where you place the canopy. For example, sandbags are suitable on the sand and for beach events, while stakes are ideal for grassy areas.

How to stay dry tent camping? ›

Use a Rain Tarp

By draping a tarp over your tent, you keep your tent dry and condensation to a minimum. Those tarps offer another layer of protection against heavy rain. Ensure you set the tarp's roof downhill, so any excess water trickles downhill rather than uphill into your tent.

How do you dry things when camping? ›

Simply tie any type of rope or string you might have between two trees and string'em up. If you can, try and find a spot with some good airflow, as a cool breeze will accelerate your dry time greatly. An alternative to hanging them to dry would be to lay them on top of your tent or a rock in the sun.

How to waterproof tents for camping? ›

Coat your tent with waterproofing spray (DWR).

After you've fully coated the tent, wipe it down again with a dry cloth to remove any excess DWR and give the tent a clean, even coat. Then, let it dry for at least 12 hours or overnight in a dry space.

How do I stop feeling damp when camping? ›

To keep moisture out of your tent, ensure adequate ventilation, use a groundsheet, select a well-drained pitch, avoid cooking inside, hang wet gear outside, and avoid bringing damp items into your tent. This helps reduce interior humidity and condensation for a more comfortable camping experience.

How do you keep clothes dry while camping? ›

Hang your wet clothes on a clothesline or tree branches to harness the sun's heat and dry them efficiently while camping. The sun's heat is a powerful natural source that can quickly dry your clothes. Find a sunny spot where you can hang your clothes and let the sun do its work.

How do you shower when dry camping? ›

Bucket shower: A bucket shower is a simple and low-cost option. Fill a large bucket with water and use a smaller container or cup to pour water over yourself. It's a manual process, but it can be effective. You can heat the water using a camp stove, solar water heater, or any other heat source available to you.

How do you get water when dry camping? ›

Many campgrounds and a few businesses will let you fill up for free or a small fee of $5-10. Some truck stops like Pilot, Flying J, etc. have water spigots at the diesel pumps to refill your tank. Some other gas stations like our favorite, Maverik, have full RV dump/refill facilities for free!

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