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Whether you’re an experienced camper or plan to pitch a tent for the first time, finding a high-quality place to sleep is essential. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the four best tents on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you.
Explore our top choices, comprehensive buyer’s guide, and answers to common questions below.
In This Guide: Top 5 | Buyer’s Guide | FAQs | Why Trust This Old House
Compare the Best Tents
| Product | Sleeps | Seasons | Components | Footprint | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman Sundome Tent | 2 people | 3 seasons | Poles, rainfly, stuff sack, stakes | 5 x 7 feet | 6.8 pounds |
| Core Instant Cabin Tent | 9 people | 3 seasons | Poles, rainfly, room divider, stakes, stuff sack | 9 x 14 feet | 30 pounds |
| Rightline Gear Truck Tent | 2 people | 4 seasons | Poles, rainfly, tie-downs | 6.5 feet (full-size standard bed) | 9.3 pounds |
| Wakeman Lightweight Dome Tent | 2 people | 3 seasons | Poles, rainfly, stuff sack, stakes | 5 x 6.5 feet | 3.1 pounds |
| Product | Sleeps | Seasons | Components | Footprint | Weight |
Top 4 Tents
- Best Water Protection: Coleman Sundome Tent
- Best For Large Groups: Core Nine-Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Best Truck Tent: Rightline Gear Truck Tent
- Most Lightweight Tent: Wakeman Lightweight Two-Person Dome Tent
Best Water Protection: Coleman Sundome Tent
Coleman Sundome Tent
- $69.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Can withstand wind speeds up to 35 mph
✔ Has a sturdy dome structure
✔ Includes easy-to-follow instructions that are sewn into the carry bag
✘ Construction quality is not as high as more expensive alternatives
✘ Difficult to move within when at capacity
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers noted that this tent kept them and their families dry and was a great value for the price. Unsatisfied customers noted that this tent could not comfortably fit as many people as claimed and that the quality of its construction was lacking.
Best For Large Groups: Core Instant Cabin Tent
Core Instant Cabin Tent
- $269.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes in multiple colors
✔ Includes a room divider
✔ Features an adjustable ground vent
✘ More costly than some competitor models
✘ Requires ample room to set-up
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews highlighted this tent’s easy assembly and weatherproof design. Other reviewers loved that they could separate the tent’s space using the included room divider. Negative reviews indicated that the tent tore at the seams and the company had poor customer service.
Best Truck Tent: Rightline Gear Truck Tent
Rightline Gear Truck Tent
- $129.99
- $179.95
- 28% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes in a number of sizes
✔ Features a view vent to see the night sky
✔ Uses water-resistant fabric and tape-sealed seams
✘ Noted by some customers that the seams ripped
✘ Zipper quality could be better
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers noted that this car tent had plenty of room for an air mattress. Others said that installation only took a few minutes. Negative reviews criticized this tent for having ineffective zippers and seams.
Most Lightweight Tent: Wakeman Lightweight Dome Tent
Wakeman Lightweight Two-Person Dome Tent
- $19.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ More affordable than similar models
✔ Features an interior storage pocket
✔ Easily assembles with two fiberglass poles
✘ Limited airflow
✘ Can only fit two people
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied reviewers praised this tent for being waterproof, durable, and compact. Other happy customers said that this tent was easy to assemble and travel with. Unhappy customers said that the tent poles were flimsy. Many of the negative reviews also noted that this tent had poor air circulation.
Buyer’s Guide
Tents give you a place to sleep when you’re camping. This buying guide will help you choose the best camping tent for you and your family or friends.
Capacity
You can find tents of all sizes to fit anywhere from one person to over 10 people. Smaller tents are best for solo hikers or couples, while larger tents are best for groups of friends or family members.
Material
Tents are made from a waterproof fabric or fabric-like material. Thicker materials keep you warmer in cold weather, while thinner materials let in more air in the summer. Popular materials include:
- Canvas
- Felt
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Polyester/cotton blend
Portability
If you’re hiking to your campsite, you will likely want a tent that’s easy to store and carry. Many tents fold into a small size and weigh less than 30 pounds for easy transportation. Additionally, some come with a carrying bag to keep the tent, rain fly, stakes, and other accessories together, while backpacking tents can typically fold to fit into a backpack.
Weather Protection
A good tent should provide at least some weather resistance for when you’re sleeping outdoors. However, keep in mind that tents generally don’t protect you from inclement weather, such as high winds, lightning, hail, and severe wind. If you plan to camp in poor weather, look for a three-season or four-season tent that can help keep you protected from severe weather conditions.
Setup
Some tents are easier to set up and take down than others. Larget options, like cabin tents, feature more floor space and ample height, making setup more labor-intensive than budget models with less interior space. Pop-up or backpacking tents will likely be the easiest to install if you prioritize convenience.
Additional Features
Tents often have bonus features to make using them more convenient and comfortable. These features can include:
- Vents
- Sealable windows
- Stakes
- Hammocks
- Rain covers
- Doormats
- Vestibule attachments
- Storage pouches
- Color-coded components for setup
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to set up my tent?
Most tents are secured using plastic, metal, or wooden stakes driven into the ground and attached to ropes. Some tents will come with their own stakes, while others will require you to purchase them separately.
How do I keep my tent clean?
Wash your tent with soap and water between each use, and allow it to dry before storing it or sleeping in it again fully.
How do I sleep comfortably in a tent?
Most tents have either a thin floor or no floor at all, so find a soft ground to place yours on. You can also bring a sleeping bag or an inflatable air mattress for cushion and blankets for warmth.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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