Considering Price and Weight

When it comes to buying a tent one of the first questions we get is, how much does it cost? The other question being how much does it weigh? 

Asking how much a tent costs is a great question. Knowing how much a tent costs can tell you generally how much time and resources a manufacturer put into research and development (design), finding and sourcing quality materials (fabric and hardware), and effort into cutting the trail weight (generally the lighter the pricier). 

Price is also a personal thing (obviously), so if you need the best of the best, you are often going to have to pay for it. And with respect to each category, expect to pay more for a lighter tent. In our experience, lighter is not always better. But again, that all depends on what your end goal is. 

Below is list of some of our favorite tents by price. In our opinion, expect to pay around $200 for a tent that does not cut corners on design or materials, has an acceptable weight, and has features like double doors and double vestibules. At the bottom of the page, you will find a short glossary.

Under 100$

With tents we found there is a price point, around ($100) at which things like quality and durability and function become a huge issue. Corners are cut to save on cost (hardware and material), details are missed, and research and development are nonexistent. 

But don’t get us wrong, if your budget is hovering around $100, tents like this will usually work fine if you aren’t looking at high winds or precipitation in the forecast.  

These tents are great for car camping, backyard camping, and fair-weather adventures, where saving on weight and quality are not as important.

Here are a few around that price point. 

Slumberjack Daybreak 2 Person Tent $89

This tent is a great price for under $100. Good design and materials and will keep you dry if things get wet. The sacrifice here is on weight. Packed it comes in at 6lbs. 

https://north40.com/slumberjack-daybreak-2-tent

Outdoor Revival 3 Person Domed Tent $45

https://north40.com/outdoor-revival-3-person-domed-tent-gray-teal

Under $200

This is where we believe you start to see quality materials (stronger nylons and tougher zippers and poles) and design (double vestibules and double doors). If you are new to backpacking and trying to get into the sport, this is a good place to start without breaking the bank. 

REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 Tent with Footprint $199

This is what REI calls the happy medium between comfort and cost. This tent sleeps two and comes in at 4lbs 14oz for minimum trail weight (5lbs 15oz packed weight). Compared to the Smith and Rogue Vigilante and the REI Half Dome (mentioned below), that is 1lb heaver. A double door and double vestibule provide great functionality. This tent gets goo reviews and won’t empty your wallet in the process. The only drawback we can see is the weight. 

https://www.rei.com/product/164366/rei-co-op-trail-hut-2-tent-with-footprint

Big Agnes C Bar 2 $199

Comes in a 2 and 3 Person options, lightweight enough to take into the backcountry. The C Bar has a single door, one vestibule and is held up by a single pole. Also, to note are reflective guy lines and corners as well as pockets for gear and interior loops for attaching other accessories. *Trail Weight (see footnotes) comes in at 3lbs 9oz and 4lbs packed. The C Bar 2 boasts a 28 square foot floor area and a 7 square foot vestibule area. The head height reaches 41 inches. All seams are taped and the polyester taffeta fabric is coated with 1500mm polyurethane coating. 

https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/backpacking-tents/products/c-bar-2

Smith and Rogue Banditti 2 Person Tipi $195

Not to toot our own horn, but our 2 Person Tipi packs light and carries at 2lbs 4oz. A trekking pole is required for setup (pole-less design), unless you are brave and go for the stick method (it can also be suspended from a tree branch with a guy-line (not included). All seams are sealed from the factory.

Our Tipi is great for setting up quick when on the move in the backcountry when hunting or backpacking. It is one piece, meaning the floor and inner tent is sewn to the outer shell. All you need to do is pitch it and stake it down, if you don’t want it to blow away.

The materials used are a 20 Denier Ripstop Nylon with a silicone coating on one side and a polyurethane coating on the other with a DWR Treatment. The rain fly and floor are made from a 63 Denier Ripstop Polyester that is PU Coated and DWR Treated. 

https://smithandrogue.com/smith-and-rogue-banditti-2-person-tipi

Smith and Rogue Vigilante 2 Person Tent $195

Again, this is one of our tents, so take it with a grain of salt. We designed this one to carry under the 4lb mark, but still have plenty of space for two guys or gals (or one guy and one gal) and gear. The vigilante for under $200 has two doors and a double *vestibule (which means more headroom and space for gear outside your tent under the fly). It uses a 1-piece aluminum pole system and boasts a floor area of 30.4 square feet.  The vestibule area is considerable at 22 square feet (11 on each side). It packs (with stakes and carry bag at 4lbs 8oz). 

The materials used are a 20 Denier Ripstop Nylon with a silicone coating on one side and a polyurethane coating on the other with a DWR Treatment. The rain fly and floor are made from a 63 Denier Ripstop Polyester that is PU Coated and DWR Treated. 

https://smithandrogue.com/smith-and-rogue-vigilante-2-person-tent

Under $350

Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent with Footprint $249

The Tungsten has a peak height of 42 inches and a floor area of 30 square feet. With a minimum trail weight of 5lbs and a packed weight of just under 6lbs, this tent is considerably heavier than the Half Dome and The Vigilante. You get two doors and 2 vestibules and 2 poles, seam taping all around and color-coded tabs for easy setup. 

https://www.marmot.com/equipment/tents/2-person/tungsten-2-person-tent/AFS_195115053277.html

Rei’s Half Dome SL 2+ Tent with Footprint $329

The Half Dome is a generously spaced backpacking tent at a trail wight just under 4lbs (3lbs 15oz). Like the Smith and Rogue Vigilante, it has a double vestibule (22.5 square feet) for stashing gear outside the tent and has two doors. The peak height reaches 42” with a 33.75 square foot floor area. The canopy and the floor are made from 40 denier nylon ripstop and the rainfly from 30 denier nylon ripstop. Rei also provides a pole-repair tube, a nice touch. 

https://www.rei.com/product/185632/rei-co-op-half-dome-sl-2-tent-with-footprint

Glossary

Denier:  Refers to the thickness of the nylon. A 20 Denier is thinner and lighter than a 40D fabric. 

Footprint: a footprint is an additional layer of protection between the bottom of your tent and the ground. Some tents come with a footprint, and some do not. A footprint is not necessary but can add to the lifespan of your tent. 

Rip Stop Fabric: Ripstop fabric has thicker fibers sewn into the nylon so in the case of a rip or tear, the wound will not propagate to the seam of the fabric. For example, a 20D ripstop would have 40D integrated to increase durability. A 20D tent has almost twice the strength of a 10D. So, a cut in weight will lead to a decrease in durability. It is all a tradeoff. 

Vestibule: the protected area just outside your tent door between the inner tent and the rain fly. A double vestibule has one on each side for each person sleeping in the tent. This is great for stashing your pack and stinky boots.  

Trail Weight: trail weight refers to the weight of the components necessary for setup and use. Which really means the wight of the tent without the bag it comes in and without the stakes. Often rocks or tree limbs can be used as stake substitutes.