Best 2 Person Tent

So you and your partner want to go camping, or maybe you’re spending the weekend backpacking with a good friend. You’re going to need a lightweight backpacking tent to give you shelter overnight.

There are plenty of choices out there, but you don’t want just any lightweight tent. You want the best backpacking tent that you can get your hands on. You want to stay dry and comfortable under all possible conditions. And you want a tent that isn’t too heavy to carry.

That’s why we scoured the web to find the best 2 person tent on the market.

To make our selections, we looked at size, weight, warmth, ventilation, ease of use, and overall value. These are all important criteria, but not all of them are equally important to all people, so we ended up with a list of twelve different backpacking tents that could each qualify as the best.

Best 2 Person Tents Available Online

1. Mountainsmith Morrison

The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent is a large, affordable tent.

Key Features

• Weighs 4 pounds, 11 ounces
• Measures 92” x 56”
• 43” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent provides enough space for even two larger people and both of your gear. It measures 92 inches long by 56 inches wide on the inside, with doors and vestibules on the long sides. The Mountainsmith provides 43 inches of head space, which is the tallest of any tent on our list.

At 4 pounds, 11 ounces, this tent isn’t exceptionally light, but it’s not excessively heavy, either. The fly keeps you more than dry enough and spreads out to provide two 7 square foot vestibules. However, the narrow ventilation slits on the fly don’t let much air through, so it can get stuffy even on a cool night.

The Mountainsmith is a low priced tent, but you get plenty of bang for your buck. If you’re trying to save money on your camping supplies, it won’t fail you.

Pros

• Very large
• Two 7 square foot vestibules
• Affordable

Cons

• Poor ventilation

This is a solid tent for camping on a budget.

2. Big Agnes Copper

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL has two large vestibules and 40 inches of head space.

Key Features

• Weighs 3 pounds, 1 ounce
• Measures 88” x 52”
• 40” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL is engineered to get as much size as possible for as little weight as possible. The designers were pretty successful. This tent weighs 3 pounds, 1 ounce fully packed, and is 88 inches long. It’s 52 inches wide on the head side, and 42 inches by your feet, with 40 inches of head space, so most people will be able to comfortably sit up inside.

Both vestibules are large enough to keep a backpack out of the rain, and the roomy interior is almost entirely mesh, relying on the fly to shield you from wind and rain. As a result, this tent is as comfortable as they come on hot summer nights, but not well suited for cold weather use.

The only thing we didn’t like about the Copper Spur was the fly zippers. They tend to catch on the weather flap, which can slow you down while you’re getting out of your tent in the morning.

Pros

• Airy interior
• Large and lightweight
• Large vestibules
• Easy to pitch

Cons

• Rain fly zippers snag easily
• Pricey

This tent is exceptionally light for its size.

3. Kelty Grand Mesa

The Kelty Grand Mesa is spacious and has a vestibule for storing your gear.

Key Features

• Weighs 4 pounds, 1 ounce
• Measures 85” x 57”
• 43” of head space
• 3-season use
• 1 door

The Kelty Grand Mesa is designed to be as affordable as possible, while still being large enough for two people to sleep comfortably. It’s 85 inches long, and 57 inches wide at the head side. On the foot side, by the door, it measures 44 inches. You’ll be able to sit up if you like, thanks to 43 inches of head clearance. Outside, you’ll find a 6 square foot vestibule that’s just barely big enough to stow a pair of backpacks.

On their way to making an affordable 2 person tent, Kelty had to make some sacrifices in the realm of quality. The tent fabric and fly themselves are well engineered. However, the aluminum poles are extremely flimsy. This tent won’t stand up to high winds, so consider it useful for woodland camping only.

Pros

• Vestibule for storage
• Large interior
• Affordable

Cons

• Doesn’t stand up to strong wind

This is a good budget-rate 2 person tent.

4. Kelty Salida

The Kelty Salida is large and provides plenty of room for storage.

Key Features

• Weighs 4 pounds, 7 ounces
• Measures 84” x 51”
• 40” of head space
• 3-season use
• 1 door

The Kelty Salida is a trapezoid-shaped tent that’s 51 inches wide on the head side, and 41 inches wide by your feet, where the door is located. It offers 40 inches of head space, which is more than sufficient for most people’s comfort.

This is a 3-season tent, but it’s a poor choice for hot summer nights because the fly has no ventilation whatsoever. On the other hand, it’s one of the driest flies we’ve seen, so the Salida is a good choice for rainy weather. We wish we could say the same for the quality of the netting. We understand that this is a budget tent, but the netting is extremely thin, almost sheer. We’d like to see something sturdier for long-term use.

That said, this is a decent tent for beginners, with plenty of interior space, and a vestibule for stowing your backpacks.

Pros

• Strong rain resistance
• Spacious interior
• Storage vestibule
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Poor ventilation
• Flimsy netting

This is a good budget tent for wet areas.

5. River Country Products

The River Country Products Trekker Tent 2 is a basic pole tent.

Key Features

• Weighs 2 pounds, 12 ounces
• Measures 84” x 62”
• 42” of head space
• 3-season use
• 1 door

When set up, it measures 84 inches in length, and 62 inches wide, giving you plenty of space for two people. There’s 42 inches of head space along the ridge, which provides more than enough space for two people to sit up.

This tent is very lightweight, at 2 pounds, 12 ounces. It has a thick bottom that resists condensation, and a waterproof peaked roof that stays dry even in heavy rain. However, this tent is basically built like a tarp with walls and a floor. It doesn’t breathe well, and the single door doesn’t have a vestibule, so you’ll need to stow your backpack outside.

While the Trekker Tent is cheap, dry, and easy to carry, it’s also a pain to set up. You’ll either need to carry Trekker hiking poles or use some paracord and a couple of trees to get your tent assembled, which is a bit more involved than most tents.

Pros

• Small and lightweight
• Spacious interior
• Stays dry inside
• Very inexpensive

Cons

• Poorly ventilated
• Does not include tent poles
• No vestibule

This is a true ultralight backpacker’s tent.

6. MSR Hubba Hubba

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX is roomy, with a symmetrical interior.

Key Features

• Weighs 3 pounds, 8 ounces
• Measures 80” x 50”
• 39” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

The MSR Hubba Hubba is another large, lightweight tent. The interior measures 80 inches long by 50 inches wide, which gives you plenty of room to spread out on a warm night. It weighs 3 pounds, 8 ounces fully packed, with 39 inches of head space.

This two-door tent features two vestibules, which are 30 inches wide, big enough for backpacks and other camping supplies. While the fly extends far past the long sides of the tent, it sits very close to the short sides. In any significant wind, it ends up touching the tent, which leads to moisture getting inside the tent if you’re not camping in a sheltered area.

This tent is on the pricey side, but its durability makes it well worth the money. Regular campers who will use their new tent frequently should give the Hubba Hubba a try.

Pros

• Breezy interior
• Light and durable
• Symmetrical layout

Cons

• Fly touches inner wall in the wind
• Pricey

This tent is lightweight and easy to set up.

7. Big Agnes Tiger

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL is as big as you’ll see an ultralight tent.

Key Features

• Weighs 2 pounds, 8 ounces
• Measures 88” x 52”
• 39” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

If the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL looks familiar, that’s because it has a similar body to the Copper Spur. It measures 88 inches long by 52 inches wide at the head side, and 42 inches wide at the foot side. It offers 39 inches of headspace, which is just an inch smaller than the Copper Spur.

The main difference between the Tiger Wall and the Copper Spur is the design. The Tiger Wall’s designers wanted to shave a few ounces off, and they did this in part by making the foot side of the tent free standing, with a cross-post at the top instead of two downward corner posts.

While this does save some weight, it’s not as stable, and can lead to your tent sagging if one of the corners is sitting on a rock or a root.

Pros

• Impressively lightweight
• Roomy
• Good airflow

Cons

• Pricey
• Foot end tends to sag

This tent is spacious and has good airflow.

8. Nemo Hornet

The Nemo Hornet is relatively large for an ultralight tent.

Key Features

• Weighs 2 pounds, 5 ounces
• Measures 85” x 51”
• 40” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

The Nemo Hornet has a trapezoidal shape, 85 inches in length and 51 inches wide on the head side. It’s 43 inches wide on the foot side, and provides 40 inches of head space. However, the tent comes to a sharp peak at the top, so your effective head space is closer to about 35 inches if you’re actually trying to sit up.

This tent weighs next to nothing, at only 2 pounds, 5 ounces. It claims to achieve this with a free standing frame, but it doesn’t stand well at all unless you stake it out anyway, which makes the “free standing” frame more or less irrelevant.

Still, this is a well-designed three-season tent, with two doors and sides that are about 70 percent mesh. It features a fly that stays close to the tent body, but is never in any danger of making contact. The vestibules are relatively small, so you’ll need to keep your backpack outside.

Pros

• Very light
• Plenty of airflow

Cons

• Fairly small
• Not truly free standing

This tent is as lightweight as they come.

9. Marmot Tungsten

The Marmot Tungsten is large, with plenty of airflow.

Key Features

• Weighs 5 pounds, 4 ounces
• Measures 88” x 54”
• 42” of head space
• 3-season use
• 2 doors

The Marmot Tungsten is another trapezoidal tent. It measures 54 inches on the head side and 46 inches on the foot side. It’s 88 inches long, with a spacious 42 inches of head space. It’s also very durable, with tough mesh sides and a heavy weight fly.

This combination of size and toughness requires some sacrifices in the weight department. The Tungsten weighs in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces, adding a little more heft to your backpack than you’d otherwise prefer.

That said, if you go camping one or more times in a month, you’re probably looking with a durable tent, and this tent can take some abuse. It’s well engineered, with sturdy poles, and includes a footprint to help keep you dry while you sleep. Our only real complaint is a minor one; the fly is asymmetrical and has a larger vestibule on the right side than it does on the left.

Pros

• Durable
• Generous head space
• Large interior
• Lots of airflow

Cons

• Heavy
• Vestibules are not symmetrical

This tent is heavy but very durable.

10. Big Agnes Fly Creek

The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL is lightweight and dry.

Key Features

• Weighs 2 pounds, 5 ounces
• Measures 86” x 52”
• 40” of head space
• 3-season use
• 1 door

At 2 pounds, 5 ounces, the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL is one of the two lightest tents on our list, but it doesn’t sacrifice space. It’s 86 inches long on the interior, and 52 inches wide at the head. By your feet, it’s 42 inches wide. It features a generous head space of 40 inches, with a broad top that allows for two people to sit up comfortably.

This tent is surprisingly dry for the weight, with a fly that’s thin, but stays clear of the tent body, and extends almost all the way to the ground on all sides. However, Big Agnes saves weight by making the Fly Creek a single-door design, which means you only get one vestibule. It will fit two backpacks in a pinch, but they’ll be pressed against the fly, so expect some condensation under those circumstances.

There’s plenty of airflow in this tent, which makes it ideal for summer. However, it’s strictly a three-season tent.

Pros

• Very light
• Spacious interior
• Dry and breathable

Cons

• Only 1 vestibule
• A bit pricey

This is a premium single-door tent.

11. Geertop

The Geertop Portable 2 Person 4 Season Tent is a well engineered four-season tent.

Key Features

• Weighs 6 pounds, 2 ounces
• Measures 83” x 39”
• 39” head space
• 4-season use
• 1 door

The Geertop Portable 2 Person 4 Season Tent is different from most of the other tents on our list because it’s a four-season tent. To keep warm in the winter, it needs to be staked out as tightly as possible to prevent the fly from contacting the body of the tent. Once you’ve done that, the Geertop is as weatherproof as they come. It doesn’t budge in the wind, and you can spend a night in freezing rain and wake up bone dry.

The interior of this tent measures 83 inches in length and 39 inches wide. It offers 39 inches of head space and an ample, 12 square foot vestibule outside the single door. The only thing we didn’t like about it was the zippers, which are made of flimsy plastic that’s lower quality than the rest of the tent’s material.

Pros

• Large vestibule
• Windproof and waterproof
• Very stable
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Heavy
• Flimsy zippers

This tent will keep you warm and dry in the harshest winter weather.

12. Luxe Tempo

The Luxe Temp 2 Person 4 Season Tent is weatherproof and well ventilated.

Key Features

• Weighs 5.7 pounds
• Measures 78” x 51”
• 41” of head space
• 4-season use
• 1 door

We searched hard for the best budget 4 season tent, and the Luxe Temp 2 Person 4 Season Tent fit the bill. This puppy is heavy, at 5.7 pounds, but you expect a 4 season tent to be on the hefty side.

The interior is 78 inches long and 51 inches in width. It features an enormous, 14 square foot vestibule, with a large front door on the tent for plenty of ventilation in warmer weather. In cold weather, you can close the heavy polyester fly, and still be able to sit up thanks to the 41-inch head space.

This tent only has one significant flaw, and that’s the stake straps on the fly. They’re too close to the tent shell, which makes it difficult to stake them down just right, which is essential if you don’t want the fly to make any contact with the shell.

Pros

• Weatherproof polyester shell
• 14 square foot vestibule
• Warm enough for winter use
• Large front door for summer ventilation
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Heavy
• Stake straps are too close to the tent body

This is the best budget four-season tent available.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are plenty of good options, each with its own advantages. Now, it’s up to you.

Are you looking for an affordable backyard tent? Or are you looking for the best ultralight tent for trekking through the deep woods? Does it get exceptionally cold in your area? Or is hot weather the norm? How much money are you looking to spend?

All these questions and more will come into play when choosing a 2 person tent.

One thing a lot of people overlook when they’re shopping online is weight. It just doesn’t seem real when you’re not holding something in your hands. But rest assured, you’ll feel the difference between a 2-pound tent and a six-pound tent after a day on the trail.

We like to think that no matter what you’re looking for, one of the tents on our list is going to be just what you needed. Even if you decide to go another direction, we hope our reviews have helped point you in the right direction.