Best 5 Person Tent: Tried and Tested (2024)

By: Derek Vitiello | Last Updated on October 20, 2024

Every recommendation we make has been used, tested, and expertly selected by us. If you buy from a link,ย we may earn a commission.

We’ve selected the Browning Big Horn 5+ as the best 5 person tent because of its weather proof materials, 7.5 foot interior height, and spacious screen room for bug-free hanging out. It will easily be the best tent you’ve ever owned!

We understand that this may not be everyone’s top pick, so we’ve assembled our other favorite options below – that way you can pick the perfect five person tent that best fits your needs. Since a five person capacity is one of the least popular tent sizes, know that there’s few options to pick from, but we’ve narrowed it down to the best of the best.

We’ve taken the time to do the in-depth research and unbiased product testing on lots of different tents, and only seven have made this final list. There are several really great options that vary widely in price and key design points. With these tents, you’ll find everything from basic and affordable structures to tents with large living spaces and cool features.

Our #1 Recommendation: Browning Big Horn 5+

Affordability: 4.5/5
Quality: 4.7/5
Features: 4.8/5

The Browning Big Horn 5+ is the all around best five person tent because we love it’s 7.5 foot interior height, quality materials, and included screen room for bug-free hanging out. Full Review

Our #2 Recommendation: Mountain Smith Conifer 5+

Affordability: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Features: 4.8/5

The Mountain Smith Conifer 5+ is runner-up because of its quality materials and lifetime warranty. Plus, we love how its unique shape allows for multiple different sleeping configurations. Full Review

Most Affordable: Tetragon NX-5

Affordability: 5/5
Quality: 4.3/5
Features: 4.3/5

A simple design and easy setup make this tent perfect for a quick weekend or week-long getaway, plus it’s great for a variety of weather conditions. Full Review

7 Best 5 Person Tents

These are our picks for the best 5 person tent:

  • Best All Around: Browning Big Horn Tent
  • Runner Up: Mountain Smith Conifer 5+
  • Highest Quality: Zempire Pronto 5
  • Screen Room: Coleman Rocky Mountain 5
  • Most Lightweight: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL5
  • Honorable Mention: ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 5
  • Most Affordable: Eureka Tetragon NX-5

Editor’s Choice – Browning Big Horn Tent

Browning is known for hunting and camping gear, so this Big Horn Tent is intended for heavy use and allows for maximum space with near vertical walls. It’s been recently improved over its predecessor, with an increased max height and larger size. The new design came out in 2022 and also added on an included screen room that has mesh panels that zipper shut for weather protection. The screen room is one of our favorite features in this tent, and it increases the tent size by 80 square feet (8’x10′).

We love that the max height is 90 inches (7.5ft) tall (previously 84″ or 7ft.), so even the tallest of camping buddies can stand up straight and walk around inside. The walls and fly are made of 75-denier and the floor is a whopping 150-denier, which means the quality and thickness of this fabric surpasses most tents that are 3 season. Combine this with a waterhead rating of 2000mm on the floor, and you’ve got a camping tent that’s built to be used.

There’s a waterproof fly that buckles to the main frame, it’s freestanding, and there’s lots of ventilation for warmer nights. There’s several mesh storage pockets, and steel stakes paired with multiple guy ropes really keep this tent in the ground. The steel uprights give this tall tent structure and the fiberglass roof poles cut back on weight and cost. This tent is perfect for group that appreciates the head space while not compromising on quality.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 5 and 8
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 2
  • # of Vestibules: 1
  • Vestibule Square Feet:
  • Weight: 39 lbs. 8oz.
  • Floor Dimensions: 8’x10′ (plus 8’x10′ screen room)
  • Square Footage: 80 plus another 80 in the screen room
  • Max Height: 90 inches (7.5 ft.)
  • Pole Material: Fiberglass poles & steel uprights
  • Fabric Quality: 75D walls and fly, 150D polyester oxford floor
  • Waterhead Rating: 2000mm floor

Pros

  • Spacious cabin style tent
  • Option to split into two rooms
  • Interior space has a large max height and large doors
  • Life-of-product warranty
  • Several mesh windows

Cons

  • Tall tents are more likely to catch wind – otherwise it’s a great overall tent

Runner-Up – Mountain Smith Conifer 5+

Mountain Smith is based in Golden, Colorado, which is situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We know that nothing puts equipment to the test like the rugged alpine landscape in Colorado, and this tent excelled in all our tested categories. This Mountain Smith Conifer 5+ is one of the best 5 person tents because of its interesting layout, lifetime warranty, and heavy duty waterproofing.

The layout is an unusual elongated hexagon, but we can appreciate how that allows for multiple different sleeping configurations depending on the size of your party (see illustration below). While it’s original capacity is intended for 5 people, it allows for some flexibility if you camp with kids or pets.

Mountain Smith offers a ‘Forged for Life’ lifetime warranty, so if anything they make fails in any way, they’ll either replace or repair it. For your entire life.

As for the generous waterproofing, this Conifer offers a 2000mm PU coating on the fly and a 5000mm PU coating on the tent floor, both of which are substantially higher ratings than our minimum requirements. Combine this with several guyout points and the Conifer is one of the most weather and water resistant tents on this list.

conifer best 5 person tents

We also appreciate the large vestibule space, which is enough room for dirty gear storage or even a couple of camping chairs and a small table for a game of cards. There’s two doors, one on either end of the tent. One is larger and offers the oversized vestibule, while the other is smaller with a minimal amount of vestibule space.

There’s extra features like a generous max height (6ft. 2in.), 68-denier fabric, five sidewalls pockets, mesh gear loft, and its color-coded tent poles and hooks. All this adds up to a well-rounded, weather-ready, and spacious 5 person tent that’s ready for your next family camping trip!

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 5 person only
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 2
  • # of Vestibules: 2
  • Vestibule Square Feet: 33
  • Weight: 14 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Dimensions: 120 x 120 inches
  • Square Footage: 84
  • Max Height: 74 inches (6ft 2in.)
  • Pole Material: Aluminum
  • Fabric Quality: 68D polyester on the canopy, fly, and floor
  • Waterhead Rating: 2000mm PU coating on the fly, 5000mm PU on the floor

Pros

  • ‘Forged for Life’ lifetime warranty
  • Color-coded to help setup
  • Substantial waterhead ratings
  • Spacious tent vestibule
  • Lots of interior space

Cons

  • Longer setup time due to more complex shape and extra stakes

Highest Quality – Zempire Pronto 5

zempire pronto best camping tent review

We hadn’t heard of Zempire before researching and testing these tents, but we were super excited when we found their products. REI just recently started carrying their gear, but the company has been around for 16 years and is actually based in New Zealand. Zempire has a policy called “the last 10%” that refers to design features that elevate the product to something you want to tell your friends about. These extra features are typically the little things like glow in the dark zip pullers for middle of the night bathroom trips or lightning fast pack down time. This policy really shows because this tent has some seriously awesome features that make it stand out from the rest.

Let’s first talk about the tent, because it’s a unique layout that we don’t typically see. Looking at the illustration below, four people are meant to sleep next to each other with the fifth person across their feet. There’s a single extra large door at their feet, but at their heads is a vestibule that’s intended as a storage space. There’s a small door from inside the tent that accesses this smaller vestibule so you can easily store gear and shoes out of the way. This means your tent and main vestibule aren’t crowded with this extra stuff laying around.

Each wall is almost fully mesh with a zipper window cover, and the main door is completely mesh with a zipper door cover. Having all these mesh portions open would allow for some of the best ventilation we’ve had in a tent thus far. The awning rolls up for storage, or you can set it up for a spacious sun-protected area.

Perhaps one of the coolest parts of this tent is that it doesn’t use poles for its main setup. There’s a couple of poles to use for the awning and a brow style pole for stabilization, but the core structure of the tent is actually an inflatable frame. It airs up surprisingly quick, so setup time is actually faster than a traditional pole tent, even with a hand pump.

The list of “the last 10%” features are simply too long to include on this breakdown, so we highly recommend visiting the product page for a complete explanation of all this tent has to offer. A couple of highlights include multiple deflation points so air doesn’t get stuck in one section while you take down camp, a superior 3000mm rain fly that’s been tested in torrential rain, and a strong 75-denier fabric that can withstand use after use.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 5 person only
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 2
  • # of Vestibules: 2
  • Vestibule Square Feet: 70
  • Weight: 37 lbs (16.8 kg)
  • Floor Dimensions: 109 x 109 inches
  • Square Footage: 84
  • Max Height: 76 inches (6ft 4in)
  • Pole Material: Inflatable Frame, no poles on core structure
  • Fabric Quality: 75D polyester walls, 180gsm Polyethylene Floor, 150D poly oxford
  • Waterhead Rating: 3000mm fly

Pros

  • Lots of mesh windows for optimal ventilation
  • No poles to worry about in the core structure
  • Two year warranty
  • Tons of great features and add-ons
  • Roomy tent with lots of usable space

Cons

  • Most expensive tent on this list (but it’s worth it!)

Screen Room – Coleman Rocky Mountain 5 Deluxe

coleman rocky mountain five person tent review

Coleman is known for making quality yet affordable camping gear and tents, and this Rocky Mountain 5 is no exception – in fact, it’s one of our favorite Coleman tents currently available. It’s what we would call a tunnel tent since it has a contoured shape in one direction. The intended sleep area is in the back of the tunnel, and this is the portion of the tent with the lowest headspace. As you can see in the diagram below, this is where five people would sleep shoulder to shoulder, and there’s an optional divider that separates it into two rooms. There’s a second divider that separates the sleeping area from the living area, giving you the option to make this a three room family camping tent.

You could use the living area for hanging out, gear storage, or even as extra sleeping space if you need more room. We like using it for storing our clothes and for a hang out spot during rain storms.

The generous max height (76.7 inches or 6ft. 4.7in.) allows you to stand upright in the living space. One of the coolest features is that the sleeping area fabric uses UV Guard to block 99% of daylight, and we loved being able to sleep in a little during those early sunrises in the summer months. This also keeps in cooler inside, and we could really tell a different on sunny days.

The front door doesn’t have a lip, so it’s easy for kids to run in and out without tripping and you could push a stroller or bike straight inside without lifting it. Assembly is quick and easy, but the main downside of this tent is the fiberglass poles. While they get the job done, they won’t last a long as aluminum poles.

This tent has an impressive 4500mm waterhead rating for the fly, meaning it is well equipped in dealing with heavy rain. This is quite exceptional for Coleman waterproofing, actually. Pair this with the waterproof PE ground sheet, and you have superior weather protection. All this adds up to a great family tent that’s perfect for getting everyone outdoors for a fun family camping trip.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 5 person only
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 1
  • # of Vestibules: 1
  • # of Rooms: 3
  • Weight: 37 lbs.
  • Floor Dimensions: 122 x 147 in.
  • Floor Space: 124.5 sq ft
  • Max Height: 76.7 inches (6ft 4.7in)
  • Pole Material: Fiberglass
  • Waterhead Rating: 4500mm

Pros

  • Lots of interior space with the option three separate rooms
  • Darkened sleeping quarters block light, making it darker and cooler inside
  • High waterhead rating

Cons

  • Fiberglass poles
  • Limited ventilation

Most Lightweight –Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL5

Big Ages is a great outdoor gear company that’s based in the heart of the Colorado mountains. We share the same alpine backyard, so we can attest that it offers the perfect testing ground for all their awesome products. You can be sure you’re getting something that’s worth your time and money.

Their Copper Spur series is a line of ultralight backpacking tents that are great for 3-season backpacking and family car camping trips. While it’s a bit more expensive than some others on this list, we think their five person tent option is one of the highest quality options available on the market and it would be perfect for someone who wants the high quality materials that are super light.

But how is this large tent so lightweight? Well, it uses super high quality materials. Things like the DAC tent poles and ripstop nylon make for a tent that weighs less than eight pounds even though it can sleep up to five people. The 1200mm waterhead rating offers weather resistance conditions for most conditions we encounter, and the two large doors each have a vestibule that offers ample space for gear storage.

We found that the simple (but effective) design sets up easily and quickly, especially with the pre-cut guylines and tensioners that are attached to the fly. The dome tent shape allows for wind to fly over and around instead of catching tall tent walls, and the mostly mesh tent body is great for warm nights without the rain fly on.

Overall this 5 person tent would be a great option for something lightweight that’s made of quality materials. It’s the only option on this list that could be used as a backpacking tent, but overall it’s better suited for car camping.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 2
  • # of Vestibules: 2
  • Vestibule Square Feet: 34
  • Weight: 7 lbs. 5oz.
  • Floor Dimensions: 86 x 708in
  • Floor Space: 65 sq ft
  • Max Height: 60 inches (5ft)
  • Pole Material: DAC Pressfit
  • Fabric Quality: mixed denier ripstop nylon
  • Waterhead Rating: 1200mm

Pros

  • Super lightweight for a five person tent – could be great for backpacking
  • 8 interior pockets and 4 media pockets
  • High low ventilation for air circulation even with the fly on
  • Dome shaped tent ideal for weather resistance
  • Lightest tent on this list by several pounds

Cons

  • Higher price point but the quality materials make it worth it

Honorable Mention – ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 5

Since the company’s inception in 1993, they have been striving to make affordable, performance-driven gear that exceeds your expectations. They even have a life-of-product warranty and the company is run by family and a close nit group of friendly team members. Their Taurus 5 is a free-standing five person tent that uses a 2 pole design and a full-coverage polyester rainfly – and it definitely exceeded our expectations. This fly resists UV damage and rain with a 1500mm waterhead rating that surpasses our minimum requirement of 1200mm.

You’ll find that this tent does have some ventilation options both on the canopy and on the rainfly, but overall doesn’t have much mesh. In our experience, this makes the Taurus more ideal for cooler camping conditions, since it will hold in heat better than it will allow significant ventilation. Some other features include a heavy duty floor made from a generous 210-denier nylon, oversized zippers for smoother operation, and aluminum poles for more stable support.

Because of its heavy duty tent floor and small amounts of mesh walls, this tent would be great for anyone who sleeps in cooler conditions (e.g., fall and winter camping) and heavily uses their tent like hunters and families.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 1
  • # of Vestibules: 1
  • Vestibule Square Feet: 32
  • Weight: 12 lbs. 5 oz.
  • Floor Dimensions: 96 x 120 in
  • Square Footage: 80
  • Max Height: 72 inches (6ft)
  • Pole Material: Aluminum
  • Fabric Quality: 75D polyester on the fly and walls, 210D nylon oxford on the floor
  • Waterhead Rating: 1500mm PU coating on the fly, walls, and floor

Pros

  • Life-of-product warranty
  • Quick setup
  • Heavy duty zippers
  • Better for cooler weather
  • Dome shaped tent ideal for weather resistance

Cons

  • Not ideal for warm weather camping

Most Affordable – Eureka Tetragon NX-5

eureka tetragon nx 5 review budget camping tents

Eureka! provided the tent that accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on his Everest expedition and is a company that has been around since the late 1800s. This means you can expect a high quality and well-designed tent that will last several seasons and protect you from the elements. For a simple (but effective) and affordable 5 person camping tent, this Eureka! Tetragon is one of the best choices on the market and we really love the price point.

It’s a classic and trusted dome tent design that involves fiberglass poles, mesh upper sides, and a 1500mm rain fly that covers the top part of the tent. It also comes in a variety of sizes that are all an affordable price, although this is the largest capacity available in the series. There’s a gear loft and mesh pockets to keep the essentials within reach, and the 6ft. ceiling is actually quite generous for a dome tent.

With a 1500mm PU coating on the fly, walls, and floor, this inexpensive tent is ready for mild weather conditions and 3-season camping trips. As a bonus, Eureka! offers a lifetime warranty, and their Tetragon is the best budget camping tent on our list.

Specifications

  • Available Capacity Options: 2, 3, 4, and 5
  • Season: 3
  • # of Doors: 1
  • # of Vestibules: 0
  • Weight: 11 lbs. 14 oz.
  • Floor Dimensions: 108 x 108in
  • Square Footage: 81
  • Max Height: 72 inches (6ft)
  • Pole Material: Fiberglass poles
  • Fabric Quality: 38D polyester on the fly, 63D on the walls and floor
  • Waterhead Rating: 1500mm PU coating on the fly, walls, and floor

Pros

  • Classic tent design
  • Available in a variety of sizes – all at an affordable price
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Most affordable 5 person tent on this list
  • Mesh windows for ventilation

Cons

  • Simpler design with less features

How We Tested, Reviewed, And Rated These Tents

We love outdoor gear, and we love recommending gear that adds value to our outdoor adventure. We know and understand the importance of having gear thatโ€™s worth every penny, so we thoroughly research and test every product we recommend. No matter how we procure an item, our goal is to remain as unbiased as possible, and we put it to the test against its competitors to find the best and worst features.

We also understand that each adventurer is different, and our favorite 5 person tent may not be yours. Thatโ€™s why we rate and review a wide variety of products currently available, so you can see a breakdown of all the features and pick whatโ€™s best for you and your situation. We donโ€™t recommend anything we wouldnโ€™t personally use, so whether youโ€™re looking for highest quality, an affordable price, superior weather resistance, a certain brand, or any other desirable feature, thereโ€™s sure to be a tent on our list thatโ€™s perfect for you.

Additionally, we know the importance of staying within your budget while still obtaining a high-quality tent. To help you find the best deals, we’ve researched multiple retailers and found the best prices for each of the tents we’ve reviewed. This way, you can purchase knowing you’re getting a good deal.

Thing to Consider When Choosing a 5 Person Tent

When shopping for the best 5 person tent, you should take into consideration capacity, assembly, price, and quality of materials before picking the best tent for you. We’ve compared each of the tents above based on these factors and you can find a break down of our findings below.

Comparison Table

This comparison table takes some of the most important specifications from each tent on our list and puts it into an easy to read format so you can directly compare each one to its competitors. You can see that we’ve included price, weight, square footage, peak height, materials, and user reviews.

Tent ModelPriceWeightSquare FootagePeak HeightMaterialsUser Reviews
Mountainsmith
Conifer 5+
$$14 lbs.
11 oz.
84 sq. ft74 in68D polyester canopy, fly, and floor
Aluminum Poles
4.5/5
Zempire Pronto 5$$$37 lbs84 sq. ft76 in75D polyester walls, 180gsm Polyethylene Floor, 150D poly oxford
Inflatable Frame
5/5
Browning Big Horn Tent$$39 lbs
8oz
80+80 sq.ft90 in75D walls and fly, 150D polyester oxford floor
Fiberglass poles & steel uprights
5/5
Coleman Rocky
Mountain 5 Deluxe
$$37 lbs124.5 sq ft76.7 inPolyester body, Fiberglass poles4.5/5
Big Agnes Copper Spur
HV UL5
$$$7 lbs
5 oz
65 sq ft60 inmixed denier ripstop nylon
DAC Pressfit poles
4.5/5
ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 5$12 lbs
5 oz
80 sq ft72 in75D polyester fly and walls, 210D nylon oxford floor
Aluminum poles
4.5/5
Eureka Tetragon NX-5$11 lbs
14 oz
81 sq ft72 in38D polyester fly, 63D walls and floor
Fiberglass poles
4.5/5
Side-by-side quantitative comparison of our favorite 5 person tents

Capacity

Capacity is one of the first things we need to discuss when purchasing a camping tent based on the number of campers. A tent’s capacity is a reflection of the maximum number of sleepers it can accommodate if they’re sleeping in close quarters – think shoulder-to-shoulder or even head-to-toe. This means if you purchase a 5 person tent for five campers, you’re going to be sleeping quite close to each other and not have any space for gear or even a backpack with clothes.

That’s why we recommend sizing up by at least two people if you’re basing your decision on capacity. So if you’re searching for a tent for a group of five people, you should look at an 8 person tent (since 7 person tents don’t really exist). If you’re looking at a group of three adults or smaller, then a 5 person tent would be more ideal.

Kids and pets can be a little complicated when it comes to figuring out numbers, especially since they vary greatly in size. Kids can mean a 2 year old or a 13 year old, and a dog can mean a Chihuahua or a Great Dane. If you’re looking to have the gift of extra space on your side, then we would go ahead and count them as one whole adult. So if you have 2 adults, 1 kid, and 1 dog, that would put you at a count of 4, which would then lead you to a tent capacity of 6 at minimum.

The only exception to this is camping in cold weather, which is a situation where larger tents are harder to heat. If you’re regularly exposed to cold temperatures, then having a tent capacity closer to the number of actual campers would leave you warmer (albeit closer) in the long run.

Another way to compare tents by size is looking at the square footage of each one. Even those the tents above are all considered an eight person capacity, they don’t necessarily have the same square footage. You can use the information in our post about how much space do you need in a camping tent to figure out your optimal square footage per person, then use that to figure out what tent may be best size-wise for your situation.

Shape

There are three different shapes of tent on this list above: dome tents, cabin tents, and one tunnel tent. Each shape has its own pros and cons, so lets talk about each one.

Dome tents are shaped like a dome, and have a more contoured shape that lets strong winds blow around and over the tent instead of catching on the walls. This shape does tend to have a lower max height, so keep an eye on that specification if it’s an important factor for you. These dome style tents will also usually have a more full coverage rain fly, which is preferred if you frequently experience inclement weather conditions while camping. Some examples from above are the Mountain Smith Conifer, Zempire Pronto, ALPS Taurus, Big Agnes Copper Spur, and the Eureka! Tetragon.

Our Editor’s Choice Mountain Smith Conifer is a dome shape.

Cabin tents are shaped like a cabin, and have near vertical walls with a very tall max height. You can usually stand completely upright in cabin style tents, but the upright walls are more likely to catch wind like a sail. This shape is less preferred if you frequently camp in places with strong winds, but are great family tents for casual campers who only enjoy fair weather camping. The main cabin tent on this list is the Browning Big Horn, but the Zempire Pronto could be considered a modified cabin shape depending on who you talk to.

The one tunnel shaped tent above is the Coleman Rocky Mountain, and it’s great for a variety of conditions. The contoured end can be pointed into the wind to give wind resistance benefits like a dome tent, but the taller living space has upright walls that allow for a decent standing height. This gives you the best of both worlds, making it a great option for a family tent.

Max Height

While both capacity and shape are important factors for interior space, max height may be even more important depending on your desires. Stooping height refers to tents that are too short to stand up straight but are tall enough to get off your knees – the Big Agnes Copper Spur has a 5 ft. max center height that fits this description. Standing height allows you to stand upright in at least some parts of the tent – most of the tents on this list fall into category and you can see their heights in the graph below. This does depend on the campers’ height so if you’re a tall camper then you may have to look at roaming height only tents. Only one tent from this list fits into the roaming height category, which lets you stand upright at all times – The Browning Big Horn has a 90 inch max height (or 7.5 feet).

Assembly

The five person tents on this list vary greatly in setup time, and some even benefit from two (or more) people instead of just one. The quickest setup time on this list is definitely the Zempire Pronto 5 (hence the “pronto” in the name) because it uses a dual action pump to air up the support beams in as little as 30 seconds. Add in two brow support poles and you’re done. The simplest set up is the Eureka! Tetragon or ALPS Taurus because of their simple two pole designs. While the Mountain Smith Conifer 5+ is our Editor’s Choice for several other reasons, they actually have the slowest setup time on our top picks list.

Looking for the easiest tents to setup? Check out our Best Instant Tents for Quick & Easy Setup

Essentially, you should take into consideration your normal camp routine, and consider who’s helping you set up the camping tent. Even the longest setup time on this list isn’t very significant, but it’s still something to think about in your search.

The Zempire Pronto has the quickest setup time and uses air beams instead of traditional tent poles.

Price

We’ve selected 5 person tents with a huge range of prices, from our most affordable (Eureka! Tetragon) to the highest quality (Zempire Pronto 5) and everything in between. If money is not a concern for you and you simply want the best, then pick your favorite regardless of price. But we also understand that a lot of outdoor enthusiasts are more budget-conscious than that, which is why you can select from a wide variety of options.

Quality of Materials

The best family camping tents are meant to be used, and if you’re constantly concerned about a pole breaking or a seam tearing, then you haven’t purchased the right 5 person tent. You should always look for a thicker fabric like a denier rating higher than 60. This will help ensure that high wind and heavy use won’t tear the fabric after one weekend.

As for waterhead rating, the minimum rating you should even consider purchasing is 1200mm. This is generally considered the lowest “waterproof” rating and anything less than that is going to be closer to “water resistant.” The higher the number the better, although the 1200mm mark is generally considered adequate for most tents.

While it’s common to see fiberglass poles in more affordable tents (like the Eureka! Tetragon), they aren’t the preferred material. If you’re looking for the most budget option, then fiberglass poles work well and can still provide great support. But if you’re open to spending a little more money on something that will last longer, we recommend tents that have aluminum or steel poles. They are stronger, are less likely to shatter or break, and don’t add much weight to the tent. Read this article for more information about fiberglass vs aluminum tent poles.

Picking a tent that ticks all the boxes for these material quality guidelines will help ensure that your tent is ready for wind and rain and that it’s built to last more than one casual camping season. Having high quality materials is especially important if you want to use your tent for longer camping trips and more than just quick weekends away in ideal weather conditions.

FAQ

What is the best tent for a family of 5?

Our top pick for the best 5 person tents is the Mountain Smith Conifer because of its large vestibule and “Forged for Life” warranty. Other options that are great contenders are the Zempire Pronto 5, ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 5, Coleman Rocky Mountain 5, Browning Big Horn Tent, Big Ages Copper Spur, and the Eureka! Tetragon NX-5.

How big of a tent do I need for 5 people?

While 5 people can sleep in a 5 person tent, that’s close quarters sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder. For a more comfortable design, we recommend sizing up by at least 2 people. That means a group of 5 would enjoy an 8 person tent (since family camping tents don’t typically come as a 7 person capacity).

Is a 5 person tent big enough for four people?

Yes, a 5-person tent could be a good size for a group of four people. That being said, we typically recommend sizing up at least 2 people for more comfortable sleeping quarters. That means for a family of four, we would suggest looking at 6-person tents instead.

Can you fit a queen sized air mattress in a 5 person tent?

Yes, but only one will fit and it will take away from the total capacity of the camping tent. If you have five people and want to use mattress(es), we would recommend sizing up to a significantly larger tent.

Conclusion

Now with all that being said, the only person who can really pick the best 5 person tent is… you! Take into consideration your normal camping situation, what kind of elements you’re typically exposed to, how many people are in your party, and what kind of shape/construction you would enjoy most. From there, the decision will be much easier. Either way, you can’t go wrong with any of these best camping tents on this list.

Our #1 Recommendation: Mountain Smith Conifer 5+

The Mountain Smith Conifer 5+ is the all around best five person tent because of it’s quality materials. generous max height, and lifetime warranty, plus its unique shape allows for multiple different sleeping configurations based on your party size.

Share on Social Media

Why Trust Know Nothing Nomads?

Since 2017,ย Know Nothing Nomadsย has cemented itself as the “approachable experts” in everything camping, hiking, and adventuring in the Great Outdoors.

With over 60 years of experience in the outdoors, we don’t just talk about outdoor gear or recommend a good hiking trail.

We USE the gear we talk about. We’ve hiked 1000’s of miles and camped 1000’s of nights in the wilderness.

We don’tย just know a few thingsย about the outdoors โ€” WE EAT, SLEEP, AND BREATHE IT.

We are not journalists from a magazine telling someone else’s stories from behind a computer. We are the ACTUAL outdoorsmen that those people write about.ย 

We are not a “gear lab” that runs tests on gear in life-like conditions.ย We are the seasoned, “trial-by-fire” experts who have taken the gear into the wilderness and USED IT.ย Read about our gear testing process here

We started Know Nothing Nomadsย to share our passion and expertise with our readers to inspire, educate, and enable you to explore the outdoors in the way that we have. And you will be more equipped and capable than ever before with the knowledge you gain here guiding you along the way.

And the best part? We are real people that LOVE our readers and this community. If you need anything or have a question about any of the things we have to write about, just reach out. Normally, one of us can respond within 24 hours, sometimes within minutes.

You should also know that advertising does not influence our gear reviews in any way, shape, or form, and it never will.

While we always focus our attention on gear that stands out to usโ€”sometimes we discover that things aren’t up to our standards. This is exactly why we will always talk about the downfalls and compromises that we find while we are testing anything (If we find any).

About The Author

Derek, Co-Founder at Know Nothing Nomads

My goal with my writing and Know Nothing Nomads as a whole is to share my passions of hiking, camping, and a love of the outdoors with our readers.

Making the difficult and uncertain feel more approachable to people that might not know enough to feel comfortable taking their first steps into the wilderness is a driving factor for me.

When I'm not writing you can find me on a trail, in a forest, or next to a river with hiking shoes on my feet and a fly rod somewhere close by.

Related Posts

Hey there!

We are Derek and Ashley of Know Nothing Nomads. Whether it is hiking, camping, or just generally being outside, we love it. We are so happy that you have found our little blog and hope that you stick around a while. Feel free to contact us with any questions or get in touch with us on social media!

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Know Nothing Nomads