A pure polyester tent is lightweight and breathable, and it’s arguably the most popular tent fabric because it’s also less expensive. The fabric doesn’t shrink or get baggy when it gets wet, so it offers you excellent protection from inclement weather. Nylon

The REI Half Dome 2 Plus tent has received a healthy makeover this year and I recently took it to the mountains of Pakistan to see what this tent is really made of. Already a favorite tent choice of mine for years, the new and improved Half Dome 2 Plus is flush with cool features, and crucially… it is still being offered at a reasonable price point. A lot of Big Agnes tents have a tapered design and are wider at the head than at the foot. Some people love this feature, others really don’t like it-it’s a matter of personal preference and doesn’t really affect the overall performance. Family tents - These are spacious and often have separate rooms. See our family tents buyers guide for more info.A tent doesn’t always have to be some tiny build made purely from Wool. Even in real life we can see all kinds of tents: large round ones where people live fulltime to bazaar or even circus tents. The NEMO Dagger also has good ventilation thanks to the strut vents and no-see-um mesh sidewalls which keep air flowing even when it’s raining out. Tent innovations made a massive leap in the 20th century as tent camping became popular. Tents became more durable, lightweight, and even waterproof along with other technical features. Key Types Ridge Tent The REI Skyward 4 is certainly big enough for a group of friends visiting a festival, but it’s also one of the more budget-friendly waterproof tents on our list. It’s not going to hold up to quite the same level of rough weather as some options, but it’s still very durable and well-designed.

The fabric is hard-wearing and waterproof. We appreciated the webbing guide straps, which make it extremely stable even in high winds, as well as the high levels of adjustable ventilation. It is also bug-proof, and the rain cover over one of the two side doors will help keep the worst of the British weather off the groundsheet. After looking through our list of tents, it’s pretty obvious that not many models come with footprints included. This sad but true fact means that you’ll usually need to budget for also getting the footprint if you want to truly waterproof your tent.

Key Types

Some tents have just a single layer and are known as “single-skin” tents, while “twin-skin” tents come with an inner and outer layer for water protection. If you go for the latter, make sure the two layers aren’t touching when you pitch the tent, as this could impact the water protection. What other features should I look out for?

Air Tents: Experience hassle-free setup with our innovative inflatable tents. Perfect for campers who prioritize convenience, these tents can be pitched in minutes, allowing you to focus on enjoying your camping experience. Many travelers will substitute a footprint with a decent tarp. The benefits to using a tarp are that it is more budget-friendly and that it’s easier to replace. The downsides are that the tarp won’t match the exact size of the tent and usually tarps are heavier. Dome Tents: Dome tents are popular for their stability and versatility. These tents offer ample headroom and are ideal for various outdoor activities, from camping in the woods to attending festivals.

Types of Tent Materials

Sea to Summit calls it a three-season tent, and we'd have to agree as the tent has a ton of ventilation but can also stay warm with the rainfly, especially on sunnier days, thanks to its dark color. The Telos series was launched in March 2021 and was Sea to Summit's first tent line. The goal? Boosting space while minimizing weight. To do this, Sea to Summit created a proprietary pole system that angles up instead of the typical down-curved poles. Our testers appreciated the high and roomy ceiling and the amount of freestanding space that comes without staking.