Best Tents for Every Adventurer

Tents are your home away from home in the outdoors.

So why not get one you actually like? Forget stubborn, catchy zippers, flimsy poles and wouldn’t-trust-this-in-a-light-breeze tents for your next outdoor adventure. 

We’ve rounded up the best tents to suit every adventurer. Warning: things are about to get in-tents (sorry).

Best Overall: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Ultralight 2-Person Hiking Tent

 

 

This tent is a favourite of many Wild Earth staff and ambassadors - Steph Devery took hers around the world bikepacking 25,000km! The Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent is everything you could want in a tent - it is lightweight at a total weight of 1.42kg (for the 2 Person), free-standing and super easy to set up. Not only is it a really simple yet practical design, it is sturdy. I took this tent with me to Patagonia last year and it held up in rain and wind gusts at 100km p/h! Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry or on a relaxing weekend camping trip, this tent is a great choice. 

 

Best Hiking Tent: Mont Moondance 2 2-Person 3 Season Hiking Tent

 

 

Speaking of hiking, another awesome option for the backcountry is the Mont Moondance Tent. Its fly and floor tubs are 100% waterproof and seam-sealed, ready for whatever weather is thrown at you. The ‘waterhead’ AKA ‘the part of the tent at the top where water can sometimes pool and soak through to an unsuspecting sleeping camper’ is rated at 25,000mm, more than twice that of any tent in the market, according to Mont. 

The Moondance also offers slightly more internal room as well in comparison to other tents with a 130cm width at the head and toe of the tent, allowing for heaps of room for 2 standard-sized sleeping mats. 

 

Best Family Tent: Big Agnes Big House 4-Person 3-Season Car Camping Tent

 

 

Family camping trips can be fun, but they can also quickly unravel when there is a collision of hungry kids, sleep-deprived parents, a lack of coffee and a tent that just won’t stand up. The Big Agnes Big House Tent is designed for families with its spacious design, dual side entries and it even includes a welcome doormat to kick off your shoes. With a 178cm ceiling, campers are able to stand up in the tent to change or pack away the sleeping gear, and you can comfortably sit in a chair inside the tent for some shade. The Big House tent can also double as a shelter for day trips to the beach or park - just pack the fly, poles, webbing harness and pegs for quick shelter set-up. 

 

Best Ultralight Tent: Hyperlite Unbound 2-Person Ultralight Tent

 

 

For the gram counters out there, you may already be aware of Hyperlite’s range of super lightweight gear and the Hyperlite Unbound 2-Person Ultralight Tent is a great choice for ultralightweight adventures. Weighing in at only 680g, it shaves off extra grams by using your two hiking poles to pitch the tent. The tent is completely seam-sealed for waterproofing and is made from a Dyneema composite fabric which is strong and durable in tough conditions. An American couple I met on the trails in Patagonia had this tent and it held up against the gusty winds and heavy rainfall we encountered on our trip.

 

Best 4-Season Tent: Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT 2-Person 4-Season Mountaineering Tent

 

 

The Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT 2-Person 4-Season Mountaineering Tent is a staple for any extreme explorer. The heavy-duty Kerlon 1800 outer tent fabric is robust and will withstand harsh weather, including alpine conditions. At 3.1kg, it is relatively lightweight given the high strength of the materials and poles. The tunnel design allows for a low profile against strong winds as well as a maximum space-to-weight ratio. The Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT is a favourite of polar explorer, Geoff Wilson, and he has taken this tent on numerous expeditions, including his recent exploration with Project Zero, while he and his crew were caught in an Antarctic hurricane!

 

Best Value: Naturehike Star River 2-Person Ultralight Hiking Tent

 

 

Budget doesn’t mean you have to skimp on features or quality. The Naturehike Star River 2-Person Ultralight Hiking Tent includes a lot of the great features of other high-quality tents but at a fraction of the price. It is suitable for car camping, backpacking and bikepacking weighing in at only 1.9kg and is also fully seam-sealed for complete waterproofing. This freestanding tent also has dual side entry doors and an insect-proof mesh inner tent for nights spent gazing up at the stars. 

 

Best Bikepacking: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 2-Person Bikepacking Tent

 

 

For bikepackers, the packability of a tent is everything and when it comes to the Tiger Wall UL2 2-Person Bikepacking Tent, Big Agnes has thought of everything. The 30cm Shortstik Poleset packs up small enough to fit onto your handlebars or into your saddlebags or panniers. The integrated daisy chain webbing on the tent’s stuff sack is easy to attach to your bike too. The Tiger Wall UL2 is easy to pitch and there’s heaps of room to store your helmet in the interior 3D shelf and for any wet or bulky gear, you can store it in the outer webbing of the tent or attach it to the daisy chain on the fly. The Tiger Wall now also has solution-dyed fabric which is more durable than previous materials and also reduces energy consumption in production. 

 

Best Solo Tent: The North Face Stormbreak 1-Person Lightweight Hiking Tent

 

 

For solo adventures, the The North Face Stormbreak 1-Person Lightweight Hiking Tent is a great choice. It is super easy to pitch if you’re caught out in bad weather alone and it features a large vestibule to stash your gear. The high-low ventilation allows for breezy airflow and the fully seam-sealed fly and floor will keep you dry in wet conditions. The tent has a total weight of 1.84kg, however, what is a little extra in weight also equals strength and reliability which is the top priority for any solo adventurer. 

If you still need a hand looking for the perfect tent, try our Find Your Tent feature! Pop in what you are searching for in a tent, and we will provide suggestions based on your needs. 

Happy camping! 

 

Still have questions? Come in-store to chat with our experts or shoot us a message online and we’d love to help! Don’t forget to share your running adventures with us on Instagram at @wildearthaustralia and use the hashtag #MyWildEarth to be featured.

 

About the contributor: 

   Jess Fiske is the Marketing Manager at Wild Earth. When she isn’t rollerblading in the streets of Coolangatta, you will find her either hiking in SEQ or strapping on her snowboard somewhere cold. Always planning her next adventure, Jess loves to get outdoors and travel off the beaten path. Follow her adventures on Instagram.