10 Best All Weather Tents for Camping
For all nature lovers who love to go out and explore, having a reliable tent is essential. And if you want to go out in the winter, then you’ll need a 4-season tent that will protect you from all the elements of the weather.
An all-weather tent will protect you from rain, heavy snow, strong winds, and the cold nights of winter. So, it is important to buy the best one that you can rely on in such conditions and not ruin your camping trip.
In this article, we’ll review some of the best all-weather tents available in the market and give you a complete buyer’s guide. So, read on to learn more!
Things to Look For in Weather Tents for Camping
Here are the most important things to look for when buying a camping tent:
1. Seasonality
There are 3 types of tents available, which are 3-season tents, 3-4 season tents, and 4-season tents. Each one has certain features and is designed for specific weather conditions. So, it’s important to know where and when you usually camp to be able to choose the best tent for you.
- 3-Season Tent
The 3-season tent is the most common and popular choice among campers. It’s designed for the weather conditions of spring, summer, and fall. It’s lightweight and equipped with mesh panels to enhance airflow. Although it can handle rain and light wind, it cannot withstand storms or heavy snow.
- 3- 4-Season Tents
This tent is designed to handle spring, summer, and late fall as well. So, it can handle moderate snow and it also has a more robust rainfly for more protection from rain. They have fewer mesh panels for better heat retention and insulation. However, they are not good for extreme winters and heavy snow.
- 4-Season Tents
The 4-season tent is the most durable option. It’s designed to withstand strong winds, heavy snow, and extreme weather conditions. It has the strongest poles and the thickest fabric out of the 3 options. Moreover, it has extensive flies and fewer mesh panels for further protection and heat insulation.
2. Sleeping Capacity
Another important aspect to consider when buying a new tent is the sleeping capacity. There are a lot of available sizes to choose from whether you’re camping solo, with family, or with a big group of friends.
Other than the number of people, there are also different important aspects that you need to consider. For instance, the size of people, pets, kids, if someone is claustrophobic, etc. If you have any of these factors, then I advise increasing the capacity by 1 person.
3. Poles
The poles of the tent will tell you if it’s easy or hard to set up. The fewer poles your tent has, the easier it is to set up. However, sometimes you need a tent with more poles if you are camping in rough weather conditions to give your tent more stability.
Today, most family tents are freestanding and they don’t need stakes to set them up. So, you can easily set them up and move them around. Besides, poles that are attached to clips are much easier than pole sleeves.
The material of the poles also matters. For example, aluminum poles are sturdier than fiberglass, so they come in handy during heavy winds or storms.
4. Doors
You should also consider how many doors your tent has. If you usually camp with a lot of people, then you should opt for a tent with multiple doors. This will give you more convenience and prevent crowding when entering or leaving the tent or during bathroom breaks.
Another detail that you might miss is the sound of the door zippers. You don’t want noisy zippers that might wake everyone up if you want to take a walk at night.
5. Height
If you want more headroom, then pick a tent with a tall peak height. This will allow you to stand up tall and reduce neck strain. It’s also more convenient for tall campers.
Cabin-style tents give more headroom than dome-style ones that have a bigger slope on their walls. However, dome-style tents are stronger against strong winds and harsh weather.
6. Storage
A tent with many pockets will allow everyone to keep and organize their items. You can use them to place your phone, wallet, keys, glasses, etc. The pockets will give you peace of mind as you won’t have to worry about stepping on your items or losing them.
Moreover, some pockets are adjustable so you can place them wherever you want. Some tents also offer clotheslines to keep your clothes and other items off the floor and keep them clean.
7. Durability
If you want a tent that becomes a lifetime partner, then choose a durable one that is made of high-quality materials. Although it might be more expensive, it’s worth the money in the long run as you won’t have to replace your old tent every year or two.
In addition, a durable tent with good build quality will withstand the harshest weather and protect you on a stormy night.
Best All-Weather Tents to Buy
Down below are my top 10 favorite picks for all-weather camping tents
1. MSR Access
The MSR Access is one of the best camping tents available in the market. It’s a good package of light weight, durability, weather resistance, and versatility. It is a 4-season double-wall tent that can keep you dry on rainy and even snowy days.
The poles are made of advanced composites to resist breaking during strong winds and harsh winters. The tent is fairly easy to set up and the interior is spacious enough for 2 people.
Moreover, the tent is waterproof thanks to the Xtreme Shield coating that keeps all the occupants dry in wet weather conditions.
However, the tent is not suitable for extreme weather conditions. So, it is not recommended to use it in a place like Antarctica or the Alaska Range.
Pros: Lightweight, versatile, spacious, easy to set up, waterproof, and strong poles.
Cons: Small headroom.
2. NEMO Kunai 2P Tent
The Nemo Kunai 2P Tent is an all-weather tent that can handle the heat of summer and the stormy nights of winter. It’s one of the most affordable 4-season tents and offers great value for money.
It has a wind-blocking inner tent to protect you from the cold of winter. Besides, it has strong DAC poles that can withstand all kinds of weather. Also, the design of the tent is tapered, which is meant to shed wind and keep your tent stable.
A pretty cool feature about this tent is that it has light-diffusing fabric in overhead light pockets. These light pockets create a uniform glow over the whole tent.
Moreover, it has a tub floor construction to keep the tent dry on rainy days and even if you place it on wet ground.
Pros: Affordable, versatile, lightweight, and has pockets for storage.
Cons: Not much floor space.
3. Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 Tent
Although the Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 is a heavy tent, it’s one of the sturdiest and most reliable tents in the market. It’s a tough-built tent that will protect you from heavy snow, stormy weather, and rain.
It features a double-wall design, a fully sealed fly, and DAC Featherlight Poles. Moreover, it has a canopy with a zipper and mesh fabric for better ventilation. It also has reflective zippers and guy loops so you can see them better at night.
The Trango 3 tent also has a special design that secures the fly, frame, and tent body together. This makes the tent a very reliable shelter in bad weather.
The tent has a capacity of 3 people, but it’s ideal for 2 occupants to stay comfortably.
Pros: Very sturdy, well-ventilated, double-wall design, DAC Poles, and reflective zippers.
Cons: Expensive and heavy.
4. ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian Tent
If you travel with a lot of gear, then this is the right tent for you. It comes with 2 massive vestibules -possibly the biggest in the market. You can store all your gear and muddy shoes in these vestibules without crowding your sleeping area. Moreover, they are very easy to set up.
It’s a weatherproof 4-season tent thanks to its full coverage rainfly, fully closable vents, sturdy aluminum poles, weatherproof fly buckles, and coated floor. So, you can rely on it for protection in bad weather.
It’s a roomy tent for 2 people, however, this extra space comes with heaviness. But a heavy tent can be a good thing in stormy weather since it’s more stable and harder to move.
Besides the vestibules, it even has mesh pockets to allow you to keep more gear. It also has two doors on each side of the tent for more convenience.
Pros: 2 vestibules, 2 doors, roomy, sturdy build, and mesh pockets.
Cons: Heavy, zippers are not very durable, and takes time to understand how to set up (according to reviews).
5. Marmot Fortress 2P Tent
One of the cons of all-weather tents is their cost. All-weather tents are a lot more expensive compared to other tents, that’s why people usually opt for a 3-season tent. However, the Marmot Fortress tent is a very affordable entry-level 4-season tent.
The tent is roomy for 2 people and easy to set up with its color-coded poles. It features 2 vestibules, 2 doors, and a full-coverage fly. It will keep you warm and dry on a rainy or cold night.
However, the tent is meant for extreme weather. So, don’t take it to a place with very heavy snow or powerful winds.
Luckily, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty that covers any manufacturing defects. The warranty is automatically activated from the day you purchase the tent.
Pros: Affordable, easy to set up, roomy, and has a full coverage rainfly.
Cons: Not suitable for extreme weather and kind of heavy.
6. Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT
The Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT is an expensive tent, but you get what you pay for. The Swedish manufacturer has paid attention to the smallest details. It’s a very reliable tent that you can take to extreme weather conditions. It’s even suitable for military forces teams who camp in stormy weather.
For stability, it features a tunnel-shaped design. It also has 10 mm poles and strong Kerlon fabric. In addition, it has a high bathtub floor to keep you dry and keep the water out if you set it up on wet ground.
Moreover, it has an inner tent for further protection. It’s also very lightweight – and it’s rare to find a tent that does this much while weighing less.
Pros: Very robust, maximum protection, strong poles, roomy, and strong fabric.
Cons: Very expensive and has one door.
7. MSR Advance Pro
The MSR Advance Pro is a small lightweight tent that you can set up on the ledge of a mountain. MSR has designed this tent to be very easy to set up. They have a tutorial video on how to do it while standing on the ledge of a mountain with nowhere to move or sit.
It has a weldable guy out that doesn’t put any extra stress on the fabric and evenly tension the side of the tent. It also has mesh vents on the top for better airflow.
The waterproof coating on the floor of the tent and the outer body keeps the moisture out. But it’s recommended to seal the seams for better protection.
Pros: Lightweight, versatile, and easy to set up.
Cons: limited floor area and no mesh door.
8. Nemo Chogori Tent
The Nemo Chogori Tent is a robust tent that comes with an external pole structure and combined double-wall construction. It’s a great all-weather tent that will protect you from snow, wind, and rain.
It’s very easy to set up so you can pitch it fast without getting wet or cold. Moreover, it comes with DAC poles, and the rainfly is made of silicone-treated nylon for added protection.
Pros: Lightweight, DAC poles, easy to set up, and external pole structure.
Cons: The warranty doesn’t cover wind damage (according to a customer’s review).
9. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Expedition Tent
If you are looking for a roomy all-weather tent that is still lightweight, then the Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent is a good option for you. It’s a sturdy tent that will protect you from the harsh weather.
It is made of durable polyester and nylon and has large diameter poles. It also has a breathable ripstop nylon body. All of this adds to the stability of the tent when facing strong winds and heavy snow, especially in higher altitudes.
In addition, it features UV resistance and protection against moisture fluctuations.
Pros: Lightweight, spacious, UV resistance, and large diameter pole.
Cons: Less bombproof than other options.
10. ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian
ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian is a good option if you are looking for a cheap tent that will offer you great value for money. It will not give you the best protection out there, but it will do the job for entry-level winter campers who don’t camp in extreme weather.
It’s a roomy tent with a large mesh vent for better airflow and ventilation. It’s also easy to set up and has a full coverage rainfly.
Pros: Cheap, full coverage rainfly, easy to set up.
Cons: Heavy, doesn’t give the best protection.
Final Thoughts
Camping in harsh weather needs a durable tent that will protect you and keep you warm. Make sure that it’s durable and sturdy enough to withstand all the elements of weather.
