There is nothing quite like camping. You get to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature, cook your favorite food over a fire or camp stove, and fall asleep to the sounds of nocturnal critters and the wind rustling the leaves above you. My kids come alive with curiosity and wonder, noticing things they otherwise overlook. It’s what core childhood memories are made of!
That being said, it’s important to remember that you are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and she tends to be… unpredictable. Thankfully, choosing the right gear can prepare you for whatever she may have in store. This is especially true of camping tents. Whether you're new to camping or a seasoned camper looking for an upgrade, there are various factors to consider when choosing a family camping tent.
Read on for a breakdown of those factors and a few of our favorite tent recommendations to ease the stress of choosing your next (or first!) family camping tent.
Type of Camping
To start, you need to consider whether you're looking for a backpacking tent, a car camping tent, or a rooftop tent. The type of camping you plan to do will greatly influence which tent works best for your family. If you are primarily planning to car-camp (driving to a campsite and setting up your gear near your car), a larger, roomier tent would be just fine. However, if you’re planning to backpack with your family, the size and packability of your gear matter tremendously.
Weather
Camping in the heat of summer is a very different experience than camping in the cold winter months. You’ll want to choose a tent that can withstand whatever the weather may have in store for your adventure. If you plan to camp mostly in the warmer months, a 2- or 3-season tent would suffice. However, if you are a year-round camper who may encounter cold rain or snow, a sturdier 3 or even 4-season tent is a better fit. Here are a few other things to consider when factoring in the weather:
Rain Protection
One of the biggest downfalls to the cheaper tents on the market is their lack of waterproofing. Unless you live in an area with very little chance of precipitation, a double-walled tent with sealed seams can help provide the peace of mind that you won’t get soaked in an unexpected downpour. In addition, regardless of whether you choose a 2-season or 4-season tent, be sure it has a full-coverage rainfly with fully taped seams. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a leaky tent!
Sturdy Poles and Guylines
It always amazes me how an invisible force (wind) can wreak havoc on anything in its path. I’ve seen whole tents go flying (thankfully they were mostly empty) when not secured properly. Check out the reviews of any tent you're considering to see how the tent poles and guylines hold up to wind and rough weather. The last thing you want is your tent fly to come undone or a tent pole to bend/break during a windy camping trip.
Tent Size
Tents are generally labeled based on the number of adults they can fit. Keep in mind, that these numbers usually don’t include the gear you may want to store inside the tent. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a tent size to fit your family.
Size of Family
The size of your family (including pets) will help dictate the tent size you need, and I’m not only talking about the number of people. Camping with gangly teenagers and tall adults or a couple of large pups may require you to “size up” your tent (though I generally recommend sizing up regardless… I like having extra room). This is also true for the height of your tent. It can get quite uncomfortable to constantly have to bend over or scrunch down in shorter tents, especially when trying to change clothes.
Consider Gear
When choosing the size, consider the gear you plan to keep inside the tent. A family of 4 sleeping in a tent with just sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and a few backpacks would likely be just fine in a 4-person tent. However, a family of four traveling with a pack-and-play, toddler gear, and a large dog bed may want to consider sizing up. I always suggest laying everything out as if it's placed inside a tent. Then measure the length, width, and height of your gear and compare it to the size specifications of the tent options you’re considering. This helps prevent unwanted surprises at the campground.
Camping Location
Some locations just aren’t built for large tents. We regularly use a 6-person REI Co-op Basecamp 6 tent while car camping, and while its square footprint isn’t considered large, we have had to squeeze it between trees or other natural features at smaller campsites. I have seen people cancel their camping adventure upon discovering their glamping tent wouldn’t fit the campsite. If you plan to regularly camp at a site with smaller sites or many trees, consider your tent size carefully.
Layout and Features
The list of features in a tent description can be overwhelming. Here are some key layout options and features to take note of when choosing your ideal tent.
Number of Rooms
You can find tents with as many as 4 separate rooms for those large extended family camping getaways. It may sound excessive, but if you’re camping with many different ages, it’s nice for the grandparents, teens, and family members with babies to all get their own space. Consider what you find important. Do you want to give your tweens freedom to have their own “room” in the tent? Do you want your baby or toddler to have their space so you can still read and chat in a separate area? If so, a multi-room tent may be a good option. Note - they tend to have a large footprint, which can make for a tricky setup in those smaller campsites.
Vestibule
I’ve always thought of a vestibule like a mud room. It’s a covered space connected to part of your tent and a great spot to store extra gear like backpacks and shoes to keep the inside of the tent tidy. The larger vestibules are also a great place to change wet or muddy kids into cleaner clothes before entering the tent. Not all tents have built-in mud rooms, while others have massive mud rooms capable of housing a cozy sitting area. Most popular tent brands have vestibule options compatible with their tents for an extra fee if it's not already included.
Ventilation
Ventilation is important for both airflow and preventing condensation from building up in your tent. A tent and rainfly with various mesh vents (especially ones that can zip closed when needed) tend to provide a more comfortable sleeping environment. Without proper ventilation, the warm air breathed out at night interacts with the cold wall of the tent, resulting in condensation that can build up inside your tent and make you and your gear wet.
Storage Pockets
Oh, how I love a tent with a variety and plethora of storage pockets! It makes organizing the little bits that get lost among the sleeping mats and bags (like headlamps, books, toys, keys, etc.) way easier. It also helps prevent the leaking of water bottles since they can be stored upright in a mesh pocket. I always recommend keeping sweatshirts, flashlights, and any nighttime essentials (like extra diapers) in a pocket near the door to make them easy to grab for those late-night potty breaks.
Blackout Material
They’ve thought of just about everything when it comes to tents (like how hard it is to sleep in when the only thing blocking the sunlight is a thin layer of polyester or nylon). Thankfully, they now have tent options with blackout material to help you go to sleep earlier and stay asleep later. This is especially helpful if you have little ones that have trouble sleeping with too much daylight, or kiddos that still need to nap during the day.
Ease of Set-Up
A big deterrent to camping is gear set-up. You can have a tent that checks all your feature boxes, but if it’s too hard to set up, you likely won’t be camping often. Take our family for example. As much as I love our 6-person tent for the space and features, I have a difficult time settling it up by myself when we camp without my husband. I’m petite and my kiddos haven’t quite gotten to the “helping rather than causing more chaos” stage yet. Therefore, when I take them camping by myself, we usually use our 4-person tent that I can set up fairly quickly with minimal help. It may not be as fancy or spacious, but at least I won’t be cursing my life choices while trying to set it up and wrangle my boys at the same time.
On the flip side, those “easy set-up” and pop-up tents may sound ideal, but they come with some downfalls. They tend to be super bulky, leaving little room in your trunk for the rest of your gear. Also, many reviews of popular pop-up tents complain that they leak, with rainflies that don’t fully cover the tent and poles that snap or bend easily.
Price
That topic nobody wants to talk about. How much is this mythical unicorn tent going to cost me? That depends on various factors, but once you've narrowed down the type of tent you want, you can start scouring the internet for sales and gently used options. Here are some avenues for saving money on family camping tents:
- Sales and Coupons: I rely heavily on the REI coupons and sales that happen at various times of the year for larger outdoor gear purchases. 20% off a tent can provide a pretty hefty savings! Also, various companies offer discounts during the year, especially at the end of the camping season and during holidays.
- Used Gear from Trusted Companies: If you don’t mind gently used gear, various companies have “garage sale” items they are looking to resell at a very discounted price. Companies like REI closely inspect these items to ensure damaged parts are repaired or explained before purchase.
- Discontinued Models: Gear companies constantly improve and change their popular items. This could be as simple as changing the color or adding a few minor extra features. You can find “last year's model” at discounted rates, especially at the start of peak camping season.
- Online Marketplaces and Yard Sales: You’d be surprised by what you can find on online marketplaces and even yard sales. People get rid of tents all the time, whether they’re upgrading, deciding that camping isn’t for them, or just want to downsize. I recommend asking to see the tent set up to inspect it yourself before purchase. Tiny tears can be easily patched, but larger rips or missing parts are a bit harder to remedy. NOTE: Always err on the side of caution when buying outdoor gear this way. Unfortunately, there are many scammers out there!
Our Recommendations
There are tons of tents on the market with some pretty amazing features. There are also a few we have loved that are discontinued, but still amazing if you can find them (I’m looking at you REI Grand Hut 6!). Here are just a few options that we have used and loved that are still on the market today:
Backpacking:
REI Halfdome 2
This tent has been popular for decades, and it’s easy to see why. It stands up to rain, wind, and sun while keeping you comfortable inside. It’s easy to set up with color-coded poles and pole hub windows to ensure the poles are fully secured. This tent has been continually updated with the latest features, but it is still one of the best, affordable backpacking tents on the market.
Nemo Aurora 3-Person Tent
This is a great option if you’re looking for a roomier backpacking tent that can sleep 3 adults (or 2 adults and a couple of kiddos). It may be heavier than other backpacking tents, but the rectangular stuff sack allows you to split the weight with a hiking partner if needed. It also has a handy pocket with light-diffusing fabric that turns any headlamp into a nightlight.
Car Camping
REI Co-Op Basecamp 6
This is our main tent, and likely will be for years to come. It’s easy to set up (especially with 2 people, I have a hard time setting it up solo since I’m vertically challenged), has tons of pockets and ventilation, and the roomy vestibules offer ample gear storage. It has stood up to downpours and howling winds (and a pollen apocalypse that somehow stayed on the outside of the tent). The two large doors on either side of the tent make it possible for our clumsy older kiddo to embark on a nighttime potty break without waking up the whole tent, and the ample space allows us to spread out and avoid the nighttime flailing of our youngest.
Blackout: Sierra Designs AlpenGlow 4
When you have a kiddo that does best with a solid nap and bedtime schedule, this tent may be your answer to successful family camping trips. The tent material blocks 98% of sun rays, keeping the interior dark and cool, and allowing you to get to sleep sooner and stay asleep longer. It also includes various interior pockets for storage, ample mesh for ventilation, and a sizable vestibule for shoes and other gear.
Rebecca is a transplant Coloradoan living in Hawaii with her husband (Derek) and their two boys. She’s a teacher turned freelance writer/ homeschool mom working towards exploring as much of the Hawaiian islands as possible before the next move takes her family elsewhere. You can follow her family hiking, kayaking, SUPing, geocaching, camping, and all things outdoor adventuring on Instagram @frazzlednaturemom
