From backpacker-friendly to luxe multi-room camping.
The right camping tent should elevate your outdoor experience by providing an optimal space to rest and relax, store gear, and take shelter from the weather. Whether you prefer scaling mountains, relaxing beachside, or sitting around the campfire at a recreational campground, there is a tent meant for you. Read further to explore the types of tents you can choose between or jump ahead to a tent option you already have your eye on.
A-Frame
Dome
Modified Dome
Cabin
Hammock
Truck/Car
Mountaineering
Instant
Beach
Backpacking
Recreational
If you're looking for a basic, travel-friendly tent to sleep in, this could be the one for you. Also known as ridge tents, A-frame tents are humble yet functional camping tents with a simple, classic design. The A-shaped frame and interior provides just enough room for one or two people to sleep comfortably, without much more mobility. Older models tend to be heavier, but there are plenty of modern lightweight models meant for hiking and backpacking excursions. Unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer, A-frame tents may not have the construction and material durability to withstand wind, rain, and snowy conditions, but they're perfect if you need a sleeping option after a long day of exploring because they're quick and easy to set-up and disassemble.
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The dome-style tent is a great tent option for recreational or lightweight on-the-go camping due to its spacious, easy-to-assemble design. There are usually only two poles you need to slide through the top of the tent in a criss-cross pattern and connect to each of the four corners of the tent floor in order to successfully pitch it. This also means you don't usually need to anchor the tent to the ground or another structure in order for it to stay up. This makes the tent set-up process quicker and easier, so you can spend more time enjoying the great outdoors and less time on pitching the tent. The curved dome shape provides more headroom than an A-frame tent and can typically accommodate anywhere from two to four people, with larger varieties accommodating up to eight people.
An added bonus, the dome's unique curved design makes it easy for wind and water to wick over it, keeping your tent roof upright and keeping you cozy and dry. However, this may not be the same for larger dome configurations.
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Tip!
Check out our guide on How to Set Up a Tent for Beginners for step-by-step instructions to follow.
The modified dome tent, sometimes called a geodesic or semi-geodesic tent, takes the functional shape of the dome tent we love and enhances it to create even more space to sleep, relax, and store gear. This tent option works well for recreational camping, with room for about eight to 10 campers. The modified design does take longer to pitch than the original dome design, as it has more poles and frame components, but the more intricate frame design also promises better strength and durability against the elements. That’s why it’s a smart option for camping in weather-prone areas. Some modified dome tent designs even include a screened-in vestibule where you can enjoy a drink or meal minus the bugs!
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Cabin tents are ideal for families due to their spacious interiors and multiroom layouts. These types of tents are best suited for recreational campsites where you can just drive up, unpack, and pitch the tent. This is because cabin tents are typically larger, and they’re heavy to carry when disassembled. Cabin tents vary in size and complexity, so you can find one that fits your needs and tent-pitching experience level. Ultimately, cabin tents are best for families or groups of four or more people who plan on camping in one spot for more than a few days and who want all the comforts of home in the great outdoors. With the potential to have multiple rooms and even a screened-in or covered porch area, it's no wonder this is a popular option for recreational camping.
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Hammock tents work best for one person when backpacking, mountaineering, or taking a quick nap at a recreational campsite. This is because of hammock tents' lightweight, compact, and often frameless designs. Most hammock tents can hang between two trees, but some also have a flexible ground option or a freestanding component for instances when there aren't mature trees nearby. These models may or may not have overhead cover, and sometimes the overhead cover is a screen meant to keep bugs out – not wind, rain, or cold temperatures. You can remedy this by suspending a weatherproof tarp over your hammock.
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Truck/car tents are optimal for camping excursions when you want the comfort of your vehicle with a little more room to spread out and relax. Truck/car tent shapes are meant to be flexible enough to affix to a truck bed or as an extension of a car's trunk area with the car’s back seats lowered. In some cases, the tent affixes to the car's roof. Keep in mind that truck/car tents may work best with pickup trucks or SUV models that have an open back configuration, as opposed to a sedan with a separated trunk compartment. Pitching a truck/car tent is easier than setting up other types of tents because you don't have to find even ground, but some truck/car tent models might have multiple frame components to assemble to properly attach it to the car.
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Mountaineering tents are usually lightweight and compact, which makes them ideal for carrying them on your back as you explore mountain ranges and hiking trails. They are also more likely to have weather-resistant insulating features to help keep out the cold, wind, water, and snow so you can sleep comfortably and take shelter when needed. Mountaineering tents vary in size, shape, and camper capacity, but they can usually accommodate one to four campers. They also have varying frame components so some may take longer to assemble than others.
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Instant types of tents, also known as pop-up tents, require almost no assembly (apart from anchoring the tent to the ground). Instead, you just unfold the tent and its flexible frame pops it into shape. This makes instant tents ideal for lightweight, stress-free camping and relaxing outdoors. However, instant tents may not be able to withstand the same weather conditions as more sturdy, weather-resistant tents. You can drape a waterproof tarp over the top of the tent to help limit water exposure if needed. These are popular tents for recreational or car-camping activities where you aren't too far away from a vehicle or building should the weather require you to find better shelter. Instant tents are also popular for using on the beach, but more on that, below.
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Beach tents are ideal for quick and easy shade from the sweltering sun as you enjoy a day by the water. These tents have an overhead cover and either one or more screened-in sides for good ventilation. Some even come with an unfoldable floor mat so you can stretch out and relax. Beach tents can come with anchoring mechanisms to go in the sand, but you may need to anchor it yourself depending on the instant/freestanding model to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.
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Backpacker-friendly types of tents are lightweight, portable, and take up minimal space amongst your other gear, which makes them perfect to take with you on your trek through the countryside. These typically consist of A-frame or dome-style tents with simple frame components for easy pitching and storage. They provide enough room for one to four people to sleep comfortably (depending on the model), which works well for quick overnight stops as you move from town to town. Depending on their design features, they may vary in their ability to repel wind, water, and other weather conditions.
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Recreational tent types are optimal for carside campsites and weekend excursions because of their home-away-from-home designs and interior space. These include modified dome, cabin, and other tent options that provide more space and durability, which can also be heavier and more complex to set-up. These tents can fit anywhere from two to 10 campers or more depending on the model.
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Quick Note:
Always reference the manufacturer instructions and guidelines before using a tent (regardless of the tent type) to ensure the tent is suitable for the weather conditions and environment you plan to camp in.
Tip!
Take a look at Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Camping Tents for more in-depth information on tent seasonality, sizing, and must-have features.
Start planning your next outdoor adventure, now!
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