When choosing a tent for a hike or a backpacking trip, there are several important factors to look into. The tent needs to be easy to pitch, light enough to carry without much issue, and very stable in snow and all other environments. It’s also important to have ease of access and enough space for one’s needs. Making sure that the tent is waterproof and that it breaths, even in humid areas, is a must. The following are 5 of the best-rated tents to check out in 2021!
1. Zpacks Free Duo Tents
This ultralight tent weighs only 30 ounces (not including the poles) and offers 26.25 square feet of space. The setup is simple and the tent is freestanding. Because no stakes are required to set it up, it can stand on any type of terrain. With two entrances, bug mesh, and storm doors, it provides great ventilation whenever needed.
2. Big Agnes Fly Creek 2
This is one of the best freestanding tents for individuals. It’s a single-hub pole structure tent that provides 28 square feet of interior space while weighing as little as 2 pounds and 4 ounces. The material Big Agnes is using for the Fly Creek in 2021 is an excellent solution-dyed fabric that’s UV-fade resistant. The tent has useful interior pockets and dry-brow entry for keeping one’s gear safe from the elements.
3. Zpacks Duplex
Sitting at just 1 pound and 2 ounces, this tent is ultralight and big enough for two hikers. Zpack trekking pole tents are well known for being durable and suitable for a summer-long trail. The single-wall DCF is waterproof and the floor doesn’t require a groundsheet. There are two vestibules for gear protection and a fully-enclosed bug mesh for the hikers.
4. MSR Hubba Hubba NX2
Great for a pair of hikers that want to maximize space, this tent has an interior of 29 square feet. It has two doors, two vestibules, and weighs 3 pounds and 14 ounces. Its main appeal is the design that allows for more foot, shoulder, and headroom. The materials used for the poles and the tent itself are heftier and quite durable, so the tent is very stable and waterproof.
5. Tarptent ProTrail Li
A popular among trekking pole tents, the Tarptent ProTrail Li stands at only 17.2 ounces of weight, including the stakes. It offers 21 square feet of room to the hiker and an 11.2 square foot vestibule. It’s a single-piece, A-frame shelter that’s easy to pitch and has a rugged bathtub floor. Its smart ventilation design is definitely a plus!