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To find the best two-person tent, we researched and tested 10 of the most highly rated products available on the market. We made sure that the poles are durable and made of high-quality steel, that the fabric is waterproof, and that the tent is light enough to carry on your back for long periods of time. We chose tents with a detachable rainfly, as well as those with well-made steel poles so that the tent could stay in place in the mountains or at the beach. Products made from micro-mesh fabric were also added to this list because these tents are waterproof and weather-resistant. Included in this list are the best freestanding tents and the best budget backpacking tents.
After hours of testing, seven made it to our shortlist, with the Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent outdoing all of its counterparts thanks to its sturdy frame that withstands water, heat, and wind. We liked that this two-person tent was both lightweight and yet had heavy-duty steel poles. The Featherstone 2 Person Backpacking Tent came in a close second with its waterproof and breathable fabric—carefully crafted with the backpacker in mind. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite two-person tents and what to look for when purchasing one. If you like, you can check out how they stack up against some of the best tents on the market.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This tent from Coleman is lightweight and naturally assembles with no effort on its own when unfolded. Its rainfly is positioned strategically for maximum protection from sudden rains.
The Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent weighs only 5.6 pounds and sets up in less than 10 seconds with its preassembled poles. You get enough space for two sleeping bags, and it has two built-in storage pockets to help you keep your things organized.
The tent has inverted seams, zipper protection, and weather-proof floors engineered to make the tent stronger and weather-resistant. It’s also built with pre-assembled poles that naturally pop into place in no time. This tent folds flat for easy storage and portability. You may also want to use the best rooftop tents.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The best freestanding tent on our list, this two-person tent from Featherstone is rugged and durable—the perfect tent for backpacking. Its micro-mesh fabric allows for comfort, ventilation, and protection from the rain.
This 3-season backpacking tent is great for hiking, biking, and camping. It weighs one pound lighter than the Coleman Two-Person Pop-Up Tent and can be easily compressed inside a bag. Unlike its counterparts, this tent has two doors and two vestibules for easy storage.
The Featherstone 2 Person Backpacking Tent is freestanding, which means that you can transfer it without disassembly. It also comes with aluminum stakes and a line rope for added protection. It’s suited for three seasons with its polyester rainfly and mesh canopy that prevents insects from entering the tent. When fully opened, the flooring is large enough for two adults, and its peak height is 43 inches. Check out the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Tent as well, which may not be the lightest option on the list, but it can withstand bad weather conditions so you have one less thing to worry about on your next trip. Don’t forget to pack the best uv flashlight too.
Award: MOST SPACIOUS
WHY WE LIKE IT: For a two-person tent, the Bessport tent is very roomy and even has enough space for three people. It has a two-way zipper that doesn’t get stuck in the tent’s fabric.
This tent is quite spacious compared to the Featherstone Backpacking Tent, with a total area of 31 square feet. The 44-inch tall ceiling height gives you great ventilation and enough space for one XL airbag inside the tent.
The Bessport Camping Tent’s fabric is water- and fire-proof, and its seams are heat-sealed to keep outside water from seeping into the tent. Its translucent mesh walls allow just the right amount of sunlight to enter, and its rainfly covers the tent from pole to pole. The Bessport Camping Tent is made with water- and-wind-resistant fabrics, mesh panels for ventilation, and another layer of ripstop panels for privacy. Bring the best backpacking stove with you for meal time.
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This 2-Person Tent is made of polyester fabric that prevents water and UV damage. The poles come with clips that easily lock into it for quick assembly.
This tent is fully equipped with 8 large zippers and storage pockets for camping gear and valuables. Its poles are aluminum and rust-resistant, and you won’t spend much time assembling it because it pops in place once you unfold it.
Almost half of its fabric walls are made of mesh, which gives more ventilation compared to its previous design. Like the Featherstone backpacking tent, this also has two doors so you can enter and exit easily. Its floor seams are factory-sealed, and the rainfly’s fabric is polyester, which protects the tent from rain and harmful UV rays. Another quality tent worth considering is the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2, which is a spacious and lightweight tent that has great durability as well. Thanks to its high volume design, you won’t feel cramped with your camping partner in this tent’s roomy interior space. Use the best headlamp for some lighting when needed.
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: The best budget backpacking tent on this list, the Clostnature branded tent is freestanding and has two dome-styled poles that are sturdy and light enough for backpacking.
The Clostnature Lightweight 2-Person Backpacking Tent is the largest two-person tent on this list with an interior length of 7 feet and 3 inches. The tent is 70% mesh, which is great for ventilation and sunlight. Its rainfly can be attached for sudden rains.
The tent floor is made with 210T polyester, which offers better water resistance, breathability, and comfort compared to its previous model’s tent floor that was made with Oxford fabric. Unlike other two-person tents, this one comes with its own carry bag and two additional poles that convert its rainfly into a roof outside of the tent, giving you more space to lounge around and additional coverage from UV rays. If you’re backpacking in the mountains, and have space, you might want to also consider the best refracting telescope too.
Award: MOST PORTABLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This unique two-person tent’s main fabric is mesh and is built with reflective guy wires for safety and security. Its rainfly is waterproof and detachable from the tent itself.
This Hyke & Byke 2-person ultralight tent comes with its own footprint, which is a protective layer of fabric that prevents abrasions and punctures from sharp objects on the ground. This lightweight 2-man tent pops up when unfolded and folds flat inside your backpack.
Its rainfly and taped floor seams keep the rain from seeping in, and it has two vestibules for gear storage and easy access. The sides of this tent have built-in pole clips, making it more durable and faster to set up. It’s the lightest of all the tents on this list with a total weight of 4 pounds. Its dimensions are 88 x 35 x 42 inches, making it bigger than most carry-on two-person tents. The best tent for a long trip should be lightweight of course, so be sure to check out the Nemo Hornet Ultralight Backpacking Tent as well, where with its packed size, it weighs almost three pounds. It also features a Flybar volumizing pole clip for adjustable expansion of the tent body, privacy mesh on the sides for increased privacy, black ceiling mesh that turns transparent at night for stargazing, and much more. All you’ll need to be prepared for your next camping trip is the best disaster kit.
Award: BEST POP-UP
WHY WE LIKE IT: This tent from Zenph is the best family backpacking tent because it offers a big space and it has enough pockets to store all your gadgets and toiletries. It sets up in 3 seconds, and the walls are equipped with gauzes that prevent mosquitoes from entering.
The tent is 102 x 62 x 43 inches, allowing for a greater interior size. It’s bigger than all the other tents on this list, making it our best 3-person backpacking tent. Aside from having ample space for three people, it also has a three-dimensional ventilation system on its front and back walls. All doors of the Zenph Family Camping Tent have mesh covers with two-way locks for protection against mosquitoes and other insects. It boasts a ventilation system that supports air circulation even on sunny days.
Its polyester fabric and high-quality steel zippers last a long time and can withstand moisture and extreme heat on sunny days. The Zenph Automatic Camping Tent is perfect for the beach, but not suited for rainy days. If you’re looking for an option that does happen to be suited for rain, the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Tent would be a great choice. The tent material has a waterproof coating and there is an additional rainfly included that can be converted into a stargazing form.
We chose the best two-person tents based on their weight, durability, ventilation and other useful features that their other counterparts did not have. We chose tents that are weather-resistant and easy to assemble over tents that need a lot of assembly time.
Moreover, we found that the best two-person tents are made of both high-quality polyester and mesh that resists heat and moisture but still provides good ventilation. We excluded two-person tents that were too heavy and tents that are priced higher than the average two-person tent.
There are two types of two-person tents on the market: tents for backpacking and tents for camping. Here’s what you need to look for in both types of two-person tents:
