Best 2 Person Tent Under $200 & Editor’s Choice – North Face Stormbreak 2

The North Face is a great outdoor gear company that’s been around since 1968 when they were founded in San Francisco. They are named after the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain, and have helped explorers reach all kinds of new heights from rock climbing to the Himalayas. While this tent won’t get you up Everest, it is the perfect choice for a 2-person tent if you prioritize interior space and large vestibules.

The interior space surpasses many camping tents of its size because of the near vertical sidewalls created by two horizontal cross poles that run perpendicular to the main support poles. This widens the top portion of the tent and allows for enough space that both people could sit up at the same time without bumping into each other. Also, the Stormbreak is the same width at the top and bottom, which allows for enough space to sleep shoulder to shoulder or head to toe. These modifications allow the normal-sized floor dimensions to feel much larger. While the doors on this tent aren’t especially large, they do open all the way around, which is something you don’t typically see.

There are two doors, each with their own vestibule. These vestibules are more spacious than other similar tents because they stake down in two places compared to the normal triangle shape that utilizes one stake. This creates a more box like shape compared to a wedge, allowing you to store more gear under the vestibule and keep it completely dry. In our experience, double staked vestibules will be more stable in windy conditions and are ultimately easier to set up. You can also store smaller bits of gear (like headlamps) inside the tent in the several storage pockets.

The material on this tent is quick thick for a two person, coming in at 75D polyester for the canopy, fly, and tent floor. There’s a decent amount of mesh for days you don’t need the rain fly, but the fly does have some higher vents to provide circulation. Because of the thicker material used, this tent does tend to be heavier than other similar options. If you are car camping, then weight won’t matter as much, but this tent would be on the heavier side of backpacking options.

Specifications

• Capacity: 2
• Available Capacity Options: 1, 2, and 3
• Season: 3
• # of Doors: 2
• # of Vestibules: 2
• Weight: 5 lbs. 5 oz.
• Floor Dimensions: 87 x 50 inches
• Max Height: 43 inches (3ft. 7in.)
• Pole Material: Aluminum
• Fabric Quality: 75D polyester on the canopy, fly, and floor
• Waterhead Rating: 1200mm PU coating on the fly, 1500mm PU on the floor

Best 3 Person Tent Under $200 – Eureka Suma 3

Eureka’s journey to making outdoor products began all the way back in 1895 when the company started making custom camping tents and rugged canvas wagon covers. They made tents for WWII and made history again when Sir Edmund Hillary used one of their tents on his Everest expedition. Fast forward to today and Eureka! has some of the best experience in tent making. Their Suma 3 is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable and well-rounded 3-person, 3-season tent.

One of the best features of this tent is the weight, which comes in at less than 5 lbs. This makes it a great lightweight tent that can double as a backpacking tent or a car camping tent if needed. Despite the lighter weight, the fabric is still made of quality 68-denier fabric with a 1500mm waterhead rating on the fly and tent floor. Both of these ratings mean the fabric is a good thickness for durability, while the polyurethane coating is good for keeping the rain out.

We also can appreciate this tent’s vestibule, which allows plenty of space for storing shoes and smaller gear items that can be left outside. For electronics and a head lamp, use the included storage canopy or interior pockets. The ample amount of mesh on this tent allows for a great cross breeze that can be much needed on warmer camping trips, but still allows for cross ventilation with the rain fly on through the use of upper vents built into the fly.

The main downfall of this tent is that it only has 1 door and 1 vestibule. This means crawling over 1-2 people to get in or out (if you’re truly using it for three people, that is). If this isn’t an issue for you, than the features of this tent are well worth the budget-friendly price.

Specifications

• Capacity: 3
• Season: 3
• # of Doors: 1
• # of Vestibules: 1
• Weight: 4lb 13oz
• Floor Dimensions: 88 x 72 inches
• Max Height: 50 inches (4 ft. 2in.)
• Pole Material: Aluminum
• Fabric Quality: 68D 185T polyester taffeta, 20D nylon no-see-um mesh
• Waterhead Rating: 1500mm PU fly and floor

Best Tent Under $200 for 4 People – Slumberjack Daybreak 4

This Slumberjack Daybreak 4 is one of our favorite tents of all time and it traveled the country with us for many years. For the price, it’s hard to beat and it withstood everything we threw at it, including rain, cold, strong winds, bugs, and more. If you’re looking for a four person tent that fits the budget without sacrificing quality, then you’re in the right place. If you’d like to read our full review, you can check that out here.

The floor material and rain fly are both 66-denier polyester with a 1200mm waterhead rating, meaning they will keep out moisture and are considered waterproof. The large D-shaped door is entirely mesh and has a large vestibule with ample storage space. You can either roll up the door cover to keep it out of the way, or stake it out with hiking poles to create an awning.

One of the best features about this tent is the mesh tent body, which is basically all mesh besides the bath tub style floor. You can either sleep with the rain fly on for full coverage and weather protection, or take it off for warm, clear nights. The no-see-um-mesh provides plenty of air flow and allows you to see outside your tent.

The only downside of this tent is that it uses fiberglass poles instead of aluminum. While this isn’t a deal breaker, keep in mind that you’ll have to make sure to take care of your poles to make them last as long as possible. This sacrifice is part of buying a tent for such a great price. That being said, it performs really well in all other aspects and we never had any trouble with the poles splintering.

Best 6 Person Tent Under $200 – Kelty Discovery Element 6

Kelty is a fun-loving outdoor company that prides itself in built-to-last products since 1952. They describe “kelty” as a noun that means “an activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.” They have great sustainability partners, including The Conservation Alliance, which they are one of the founding members of. The Alliance was started in 1989 by big names like REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and Kelty. Since its foundation, The Alliance has saved more than 73 millions acres of wildlands, protected 3,757 miles of river, and so much more. With all that being said, we’re happy to suggest this Kelty Discovery Element as our pick for best 6 person tent under $200.

One of our favorite features of this car camping tent is the canopy being made of mostly no-see-um mesh, which allows for lots of ventilation and even star-gazing from the comfort of your sleeping bag. Keep the rain fly off on warm, dry nights, or put on the robust rain fly to keep out moisture. The rain fly also makes a large vestibule that’s perfect for storing muddy boots and excess gear.

Our second favorite feature of this tent is the height, which is a whopping 77 inches (6 ft. 5 in.). This allows even your tallest family member (see: best tents for tall people) to stand up straight, and makes the tent feel roomy even with 6 people inside.

The main downside of this tent is the fiberglass poles, but ultimately that is to be expected on a larger budget tent. The cost has to be cut somewhere, and this tent chose the poles. The fabric is a high-quality 68-denier though, and with a waterhead rating of 1200mm it’s still a great choice for casual campers who need a 6 person tent.

Specifications

• Capacity: 6
• Available capacity options: 4 and 6
• Season: 3
• # of Doors: 1
• # of Vestibules: 1
• Weight: 14lbs 6oz
• Floor Dimensions: 120 x 107in
• Max Height: 77in (6 ft. 5 in.)
• Pole Material: fiberglass
• Fabric Quality: 68D polyester, no-see-um mesh
• Waterhead Rating: 1200mm

Best 8 Person Tent Under $200 – Wenzel Klondike 8

Wenzel is perhaps one of the lesser known outdoor gear brands, but they’ve been around since 1887 and proudly make all their products in the USA. They make quality tents at amazingly affordable prices so they can help you get outside, whether you’re new to camping or a seasoned outdoor veteran. Their 8 person Klondike tent would be a great addition to a family’s camping gear, whether you’re using it for 8 people or just want something larger.

The headroom on this tent is a generous 6.5 ft., which is plenty of room to stand upright while inside the tent. On a clear day/night, you can leave off the rain fly and expose the full mesh roof and multiple windows. If you’re expecting rain, cover with the rain fly and zip up the windows, then pop open the back vent and mesh opening at the top to provide hi-low circulation.

To keep this tent strong but cut some costs, the aluminum poles are only on the upright supports. The cross poles for the roof frame are made of fiberglass, which isn’t as durable a material but durability isn’t necessary in this part of the tent. The tent material is a Weather Armor polyester fabric with a polyurethane coating, but there isn’t any information readily available about its waterhead rating. Therefore, we wouldn’t recommend this tent for anyone who is regularly exposed to rainy conditions since we don’t know how well it will stand up.

While this tent can sleep 8 people, only 5 people are meant to sleep in the main cabin, which measures 16 feet x 11 feet. The other three are meant to sleep in the attached screen room, which is also weather protected and sealed off from the outside. This section adds another 60 square feet to the overall space of the tent. We’re always a fan of a large attached screen room, so you can either opt to use it for sleeping quarters, or sleep 5 in the main cabin and use the extra room as a kitchen station, chilling space, or gear storage.

Best 10 Person Tent Under $200 – UNP 10 Person Camping Tent

This UNP Camping Tent can sleep up to 10 people in an extended dome style shape with two doors for easy access. It’s one of the best family tents on this list and it has a generous max height (6ft. 6in.). The front door is actually two doors combined, and there’s an optional separating wall in between the two where you could split this tent into two different rooms.

Setup is super easy and UNP advertises that it can be set up in only 8 minutes with 2 people. The tent uses J-hooks to attach the canopy to the poles, a design that has been getting increasingly common over the years. This means a much easier set up than traditional sleeve and pole configurations. There’s quite a bit of ventilation with this tent since it has a large mesh roof, three large mesh windows on each side, and the two doors for 360 degree cross breezes.

The main downside of this tent is the 1000mm PU waterhead rating, which is a measurement of how waterproof the fabric is. While cheap camping tents do typically have a lower rating, this tent being at 1000mm is basically the lowest amount possible to be considered rain-resistant (not waterproof). Even then, some people consider 1200mm to be the lower end of tent ratings. This tent is still a great option for a large family tent under $200, but we wouldn’t recommend using it during rainy or windy conditions.

Specifications

• Capacity: 10
• Available Capacity Options: 6, 8, 10
• Season: 3
• # of Doors: 2
• # of Vestibules: 0
• Weight: 23lb 1oz
• Floor Dimensions: 18 ft. x 9 ft.
• Max Height: 78in (6 ft. 6 in.)
• Pole Material: Fiberglass
• Fabric Quality: Polyester 185T
• Waterhead Rating: 1000mm PU

Best Backpacking Tent Under $200 – REI Trail Hut 2

This REI brand Trail Hut 2 is one of the most highly rated tents on our list, and we’ve selected it as our top pick for best backpacking tent under $200 for several reasons. First off, this tent is an ideal budget backpacking tent that offers great features at an affordable price. The tent floor is 66-denier and the rainfly is 68-denier, which means it’s a thicker fabric than several other tents in its class with similar size and design. This helps it hold up to wind and rain more effectively. In fact, Switchback Travel put it to the test in southern Patagonia and it held up staggeringly well throughout nights of 60+ mph winds and pouring rain. It actually outperformed tents that are twice the price.

The pole design allows for enough headspace for two people to sit upright side by side, but not much wiggle room otherwise (although this is to be expected in a smaller backpacking tent). The rainfly does offer a vent on each side that props open and there’s 2 doors, each with roomy vestibules for gear storage. Normally most tents require that you purchase a separate footprint, but the Trail Hut 2 has an included footprint that’s pre-attached to the floor.

Instead of cutting cost through the materials, REI has opted to cut the cost when it comes to weight. You’re getting all the great features of a sturdy backpacking tent: durability, wind-resistance, waterproofing, and more. But the tent weighs 5 lbs. 15oz. This is almost twice the weight of other similar backpacking tents, but those will run you twice as much money too. If you don’t mind carrying the extra weight in exchange for affordability, then this REI Trail Hut is the perfect choice for a quality backpacking tent. It’s worth noting that the footprint is removable, and can shed 7oz.

Specifications

• Capacity: 2
• Available Capacity Options: 2, 4
• Season: 3
• # of Doors: 2
• # of Vestibules: 2
• Weight: 5 lbs. 15 oz.
• Floor Dimensions: 88 x 52 inches (7ft. 4in. x 4ft. 4in.)
• Max Height: 40 inches (3ft. 4in.)
• Pole Material: aluminum
• Fabric Quality: 66D floor and 68D rainfly
• Waterhead Rating: 1500m

Best 4 Season Tent Under $200 -Geertop 2 Person

This Geertop 2-person tent is an incredible option for a budget 4-season tent that is built to withstand all the harsh conditions winter has to throw at it. It’s made of a surprisingly high waterhead rating at 8000mm for the fly and 5000mm on the floor (the next highest on this list is 1500mm), meaning it’s more than adequate for extreme rain and windy conditions. To add even more stability, this tent utilizes sleeves for portions of the poles instead of just j-clips. This will add a little bit of set up time, but the added stability is well worth it. It’s still super easy and quick to set up though and is a lightweight tent that’s easy to carry.

There is an added snow skirt around the bottom of the tent, which allows you to pack the skirt with snow to keep rain out and decrease the risk of flapping materials in high winds (see other tents for high winds here). The lower max height (39 inches) is ideal for keeping heat inside, but the added upper vents still allow a place to for condensation to release. You can use this tent for backpacking, mountaineering, and casual winter camping as it weighs just over 6 pounds.

The main downside of this tent is the location of the doors, which are at the foot of the tent with the lowest height. While this wouldn’t necessarily deter us from purchasing this tent, it’s worth noting that it’s more of a hassle to get in and out than if the doors were on the sides.

Specifications

• Capacity: 2
• Season: 4
• # of Doors: 1
• # of Vestibules: 1
• Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz.
• Floor Dimensions: 83 x 47 inches
• Max Height: 39 inches
• Pole Material: aluminum
• Fabric Quality: Fly: 20D 360T, Inner tent: 210T breathable polyester + high density fine nylon mesh, Floor: 210T
• Waterhead Rating: 8000mm PU fly, 5000mm PU floor