It’s embarrassing how many tents I have tucked away in our garage. So much so, I’m pretty sure I got an eye roll from my partner when the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 showed up. In my defense, it’s hard to purge our stash of tents, with some feeling like part of the family, like my parents’ old center-pole Kelty, and the four-season Sierra Designs, patched from where a passing black bear took a swipe.

For car camping, we now gravitate toward high-top tents since my partner is 6’1”. We have been using Marmot’s Torreya six-person tent. It’s well-built and luxurious if we’re going to be somewhere for a week or traveling somewhere where we need to hide our bikes inside, but it’s rather massive for overnights. So I was hoping the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 might fill that slot, and it does.

The Aurora Highrise 4 is amply roomy, but not sprawling. It packs better in the car, and it’s lighter to carry. We’ve now used it in the desert and mountains, and have grown to appreciate it enough that it’s already packed in the car for an upcoming 5,000-mile road trip. Here are our impressions so far of the Aurora Highrise tent. 

In short: A huge door, tall ceiling, and ample ventilation are reasons enough to add the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Tent ($400) to your outdoor adventure collection. But this tent also has a jovial personality and an easy set-up. It’s a great fit for a small family (whether the kids are furry or regular) or a cushy setup for a couple who wants extra living space and gear storage. 

To see where the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 tent stacks up in the larger market, check out GearJunkie’s Best Camping Tents Buyer’s Guide. Spoiler alert: We awarded it “Most Livable 4-Person Camping Tent.”

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P

Check Price at REICheck Price at Backcountry

8.4

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 62.5 sq. ft. (100" x 90")
• Weight: 15 lbs., 14 oz.
• Height: 75"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 25" x 8.5" x 8.5"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Camping with the whole family, sleeping on cots, and tall parents

Pros

• Steep side walls bumps up livable space
• Fun print on interior floor
• Both doors stow away completely

Cons

• Rainfly doesn't provide 100% coverage
• A little heavier than comparable tents

Karuna Eberl

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P: Review

First Impressions: Quick Setup and a Cheery Attitude

As soon as the Aurora Highrise 4 arrived, we decided to set off on a last-minute camping trip. It was a bit early in the season, and the wind was blowing, but our excuse to play hooky and get outdoors wasn’t going to be dampened by a questionable forecast. Plus, we were only going across the valley, a 45-minute drive, so it’s not like we couldn’t scramble home if anything went awry.

Because of our haste, he hadn’t even laid eyes on the tent until we got to the campsite. By then, the wind was blowing a solid 20 miles an hour. It’s always a challenge to set up a tent under those conditions, but especially one we weren’t familiar with. Still, it only took us 10 minutes, rainfly and all. (On our second trip, we set it up in five.) 

Once we got it set, we noted that it’s also a strikingly attractive tent. The shape is dynamic, and the color, which NEMO terms “atoll oasis,” brightens a gray day. Plus, the floor is a cheery plaid.

Built for Comfort 

The Aurora Highrise 4 uses steep walls to achieve standing height throughout the inside. As long as you’re shorter than 6’3”, you can walk around with ease. Combined with a 62.5-square-foot floor, it makes for spacious sleeping, eating, storage, and rainy-day activity space.

Another outstanding feature is a massive front door, which includes three zipper sliders so you can control not just how much you want it open, but also where you want it to be open along multiple spans of the door.

The door is also nearly as tall as the tent, which provides ease of entering and exiting. The two 19.5-square-foot vestibules are ample for gear storage or light cooking. The second door is half the size, but is still easy to navigate.

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Voluminous Ventilation

The ventilation on the Aurora Highrise is particularly well thought-out. The top third-ish of the tent is mesh, including the entire ceiling, and there are windows on all four sides.

That means you can create ample cross-ventilation, no matter which direction the wind is blowing from. It also allows you to peek out of any side for safety, or to see who’s on their way to raid the cooler. 

The rainfly doesn’t overly inhibit the ventilation, either. Thanks to a double zipper, you can roll up the fly to expose a large swath of the palatial front door. And since the fly is shaped to create a small awning for the windows, rather than extending to the ground and covering them up, you can be ready for rain and still enjoy the view and the breeze.

Quality Crafting

For a three-season tent, the Aurora Highrise 4 is sturdy enough. It includes aluminum poles and quality no-see-um mesh. The zippers slide smoothly, and there are a lot of nice touches for tying back doors, windows, and the rainfly. The floor is a sturdy 150D PU polyester, so it has no fear of dog claws, sticks, and pine needles. 

While this tent doesn’t have color-coded poles, those are not super-necessary, as the setup is intuitive. Two larger-diameter, longer poles go crossways to hold up the main body of the tent, and two smaller poles keep tension along the ends.

To add to its ease of setup, there are only four stakes on the main tent and four stakes for the fly. The plaid floor also helps by making it easy to identify the bottom. 

This tent has a number of nice touches, too, like a loop with a snap closure on the ceiling, for easy lantern hanging. It has adequate storage pockets, including a nightlight pocket with a headlamp diffuser, plus standards like guylines and sealed seams. It also meets flame-retardant standards without using added harmful chemicals. 

Stormproof?

The biggest question with the Aurora Highrise 4 is how it performs in severe weather. While it functions fine in light rainstorms and holds up decently enough under wind, I fear it wouldn’t fare great in heavier weather conditions.

I haven’t yet been camping in it during a squall, but I can imagine that some rain would come through the side windows. The fly doesn’t cover them vertically, and the windows are only covered by flaps; no zipper or Velcro. This problem would be amplified if the tent were not properly tensioned by the stakes. 

Another hassle is that without the fly on, there are only four stakes holding down the tent, which means wind can blow under from the sides and billow up the floor. The stakes are also just bent-steel style — what we call nail bruisers — because as you pound on them, you’re likely to hit a finger or two. But that’s easily remedied by picking up some stouter stakes from the hardware store.

Finally, the storage bag is a little flimsy, and it’s not particularly easy to get everything back in, but neither of those should be deal breakers. 

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P Tent: Conclusion

The NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Tent is a solid choice for a couple who want to set up an extra-comfortable living space, like an air mattress and camp table, or a small family with a kid or dog or two. Either way, there’s plenty of room to stretch out, horizontally and vertically.

There are certainly other easy living tents out there, such as the North Face Wawona 4 — a $450 four-person tent with equally vertical walls and a voluminous vestibule. That said, the Aurora Highrise does best in a number of different metrics, including floor space (62.5 versus 58 square feet), standing height (75″ versus 68″), and obviously price, at $50 less. For most folks and families, this edges the NEMO into the front-runner position.

This tent particularly excels with comfort and ventilation, and its main door is a prize. If you’re looking for headroom and comfort, through hot days and chilly nights, you’ll be happy to have set your bet on this tent. And if you need even more room, NEMO also makes a six-person version. Either way, the living is easy in the Aurora Highrise.

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Desperate times call for desperate measures. Nearing 10 p.m. and the campfire just hitting its stride, my phone died — along with our tunes. The worse news was that my battery bank hadn’t made it into the truck.

Then a lightbulb, or rather a lantern, lit up — the little inflatable light source illuminating our shindig also had juice to share. And, after plugging in, we were back in business.

The colorful little lights known as Luci Lanterns have been around for a minute (we were even smitten a decade ago). Besides now being produced by off-grid energy masters BioLite, not much has changed. That’s a good thing.

I recently got my hands on three of the classics — the Charge 360, Candle, and Original Clear Lanterns — and set out to fold them into my summer of camping and backpacking. Here’s what I found after a few solid months of use around Washington state and beyond.

In short: BioLite continues to carry the Luci Lantern torch, and across the spread, these inflatable light sources are simple to use, easy to recharge, and just dang dependable. The price is just right to invest in a few of them, and being solar rechargeable means no more dead lanterns when you finally hit camp.

Looking for a new camp light? Check out how the Luci Lanterns compare to the rest of our recommendations in GearJunkie’s Best Camping Lanterns Buyer’s Guide.

BioLite Luci Lanterns: Review

First, a confession: I never owned a Luci Lantern until this summer — something that almost feels illegal to say in my circles. Lanterns, in general, were something that I more often improvised with a headlamp and a water bottle (a solid trick to know, by the way), and the inflatable aspect felt more gimmick than got-to-have.

This review, then, is a mea culpa, as I have seen the inflatable light, and it is good. The Luci Lantern is one of those simple outdoor standbys that have earned their places in the camping bins of many GearJunkie editors and writers, including my own now.

The full lineup of Luci Lanterns includes seven different models, but my review will focus on the three that I found most compelling.

BioLite Luci Charge 360

Check Price at REICheck Price at Backcountry

8.5

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Lumens: 360 lm max; 5 lm min
• Power source: 4,00 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
• Burn time: 110 hrs. on low; 5 hrs. on high
• Water resistance: IP67 water resistant
• Weight: 10.1 oz.
• USB port: USB-C in; USB-A out

Pros

• Compact and affordable
• Lightweight
• Mood-light options
• Charge via solar

Cons

• Smallish solar panel and battery
• Not immune from popping

Nick Belcaster

Bar none, this lantern is the high-water mark for inflatable camp light sources. The Luci Charge 360 ($60) is a 31-LED lantern that pumps out 360 lumens on the highest setting, and can dial it back to a low light that’s perfect for inside a tent.

The standout functionality I enjoyed during my use of the Charge 360 had to be the built-in battery bank, which saved the aforementioned evening. At 4,000 mAh, the rechargeable battery in the Charge 360 is just about the same size as in most modern cellphones, meaning it’s ideal for topping up a low mobile (and keeping the groove going).

USB-C charging ports are now common in camping lanterns, and it was nice to see that BioLite carrying that on in these lanterns. Solar charging has always been a Luci Lantern standard, however, and it’s the main method of recharging I used with the Charge 360.

Recently set outside in the blazing sun of eastern Washington (surprise: half the state is a desert), I was able to get about 50% charge on the 360 after a full day outside. This is about on target with BioLite’s claim of a full charge in 28 hours, and more than enough to keep the lantern going for another night. 

All of the Luci Lanterns are waterproof to IP67, a claim that proved itself recently when I pulled a soaked lantern from my kayak while getting ready to camp. This means that, besides accidental dunks, you can also leave the lanterns out in the rain overnight — something we’re all liable to do once or twice.

If you’re a one-and-done type of person, the Charge 360 is the Luci Lantern that I would steer you toward. Its price point is lower than most full-size hard-sided lanterns, and it has almost all of the same functionality. If you added the ability to cycle through a cool white light to this lantern, it would be perfect.

BioLite Luci Candle

Check Price at BioLite

7.9

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Lumens: 25 lm max
• Power source: 600 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
• Burn time: 28 hrs. on low; 14 hrs. on high
• Water resistance: IP67 water proof
• Weight: 2.5 oz.
• USB port: N/A

Pros

• Realistic candle flicker
• Long burn time even on high power
• Very lightweight and compact
• IP67 fully waterproof

Cons

• Cannot tell how much battery life is left
• Solar panel is quite small

Nick Belcaster

Dialing things back here, the Luci Candle is a more mellow take on camp lighting. At only $20, it’s easy to snag a few to sprinkle across the campsite. 

Some candle flame–imitating lanterns miss the mark (I’m sorry, Black Diamond Moji — it’s just too dark a hue of red!), but the Luci Candle isn’t among them. The soft orange flicker is just about on the money, and has even fooled a few park rangers doing rounds and checking for campfires.

I’ve used the Candle lantern most frequently when camping in my truck bed, where overpowered lanterns can easily blind you in close quarters, and the most illumination I need is enough to read by. The lantern itself has three light modes: flickering, and two different solid modes of different brightness. 

The Candle is quite minimal, otherwise, and unlike the Charge 360 or Original Clear Lanterns, doesn’t have the onboard ability to charge with a USB port. That means all of your power comes directly from the sun. Thankfully, there’s only 600 mAh to recharge here, and I found that a day in full sun had it ready to run all evening again.

With only one button, there’s no way to tell exactly how much battery life you’ve got left on the Candle, but even on high, it’ll chug along for 14 hours — more than enough for even a week of reading light.

BioLite Luci Original Clear

Check Price at REICheck Price at Backcountry

8.2

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Lumens: 75 lm max
• Power source: 1,000 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
• Burn time: 24 hrs. on low; 6 hrs. on high
• Water resistance: IP67 waterproof
• Weight: 4.4 oz.
• USB port: USB-C

Pros

• High-definition cool white light is great for detail work like food prep at camp
• Budget price
• Tough design can withstand water and abuse
• Recharges in 7 hours with full sun

Cons

• Not the longest burn time on high power
• Cool white light without matte finish can be tough to look directly at

Nick Belcaster

This is the OG, folks. The Luci Original Clear Solar Lantern ($30) is near-archetypal at this point, and really hasn’t strayed far from the original design. Ten cool white LEDs push out up to 75 lumens, making this a more intimate light source than the Charge 360, but a better working light than the Candle.

That cool white light makes it a better high-definition light than the warm glow you get from the 360, and I more often leaned on the Original Clear for tasks such as knifework while cooking. At full output, the light can be a bit harsh to look directly into (it’s good to know that the OG is also available in a matte finish).

Hanging the lantern up is simple and accomplished with the adjustable strap on the top of the lantern. However, this strap isn’t adjustable beyond the single extension point, so you may need to get creative with your use to get it to stay put.

BioLite states that the lantern can withstand 150 pounds of pressure, but it even withstood my 165 pounds (standing on one foot) without issue. I see no issue that would hold this lantern back from being chucked around in your camping kit for a few solid years of use.

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Downsides

The output of the Luci Lanterns is best suited for more intimate settings, and while the Charge 360 does put out a decent amount of light, for campsite-wide illumination, I more often look to another of BioLite’s offerings: the AlpenGlow 500 Lantern. And, 500 lumens is more than enough to cover an entire picnic table and beyond.

Consulting with Luci Lantern loyalists, many brought up the fact that these inflatable lights will eventually fail to hold air, or they’ll tear the hanging strap off. The same flexible plastic that makes these lanterns collapse so small also won’t match the durability of hard-sided lanterns, so understand that there’s a lifespan here.

Finally, because these are fairly simple electronics (with basic push buttons), I could see the lanterns failing at some connection, like the button, and bricking the light. The relatively low cost helps offset this, but I wouldn’t imagine they are repairable in any way, so once they’re dead, they’re done for good.

BioLite Luci Lanterns: Conclusion

Alright, Luci Lanterns, you win — I’m a convert. The Charge 360 is the Luci to get if you want the ultimate version, the Candle adds ambiance to nearly any setting, and the Original Clear has earned a spot in everyone’s gear bin.

Am I jettisoning the rest of my higher-output lanterns for the Lucis? Not quite — I still find the deep functionality of the brand’s AlpenGlow lantern makes it a better all-around choice if you only own a single light source. Having a selection of colors adds a fun element to most camps, and the bigger battery will last longer than any of the Luci lights.

But still, everyone needs a little variety, and adding a few Luci Lanterns into the mix is a solid choice. As a solar-charged backup option, there’ll be few times you actually find yourself running low on juice, and even if it’s your phone taking the dive, these lanterns have got power to share.

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It is bear season in Colorado and across the western U.S. On June 11, the United States Forest Service (USFS) banned tent camping at one of the Roaring Fork Valley’s most popular campgrounds after a black bear swiped at a tent with two sleeping children inside. This week, USFS rescinded the tent ban, but is still encouraging campers to remain vigilant and practice bear safety.

Following the bear incident, USFS relocated or refunded all tent campers who had reservations at Difficult Campground. That incident had not been the first bear encounter that campers had at this campground this year, USFS said, and bears have continued to be seen in the area.

Nevertheless, since there have been no further incidents, the prohibition on tents was lifted on June 20.

GearJunkie visited Difficult Campground and spoke with the host. She asked to remain anonymous, but confirmed that it’s very common to see bears in the area.

“One was just chilling out in my campsite this morning,” she said. “This is their home.”

In fact, she added, the bears are so local to the area, some have names, like Brutus, a bear who’s been frequenting Difficult Campground for around 8 years. So, seeing the bears isn’t unusual; however, their current boldness around campers is.

“They’re not backing down at the moment, which is very concerning to Forest Services and us,” the host said. “Normally, if you yell at a black bear, they run. These guys are like, ‘I might be able to take you.'”

Tents Welcomed Back, Bears Still in Area

Neither of the children involved in last week’s bear encounter was hurt. According to the Aspen Times, their tent had some claw marks from where the bear had punctured the sidewall. But the children “weren’t traumatized” and went hiking with their parents the next day.

David Boyd, a USFS public affairs officer, told GearJunkie that the bear was fine, too. It didn’t get into any food, and no one was harmed, so it didn’t need to be relocated or euthanized.

Still, the incident was one that the USFS didn’t want to take chances with.

“[We] are taking this proactive step for public safety,” Deputy District Ranger Jennifer Schuller said in a press release announcing the Difficult Campground tent ban on June 11. She said USFS was also coordinating closely with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

Difficult Campground is just 9 minutes east of Aspen toward Independence Pass. It’s surrounded by thick vegetation, berry plants, and bushes, and sits just a few hundred yards from the Roaring Fork River.

It’s got 47 sites that are booked out weeks and months in advance due to its proximity to town, as well as many trails, lakes, streams, and more. Even after this incident and during the tent prohibition, the host said she was overbooked with guests.

One camper visiting from the Netherlands told GearJunkie she and her boyfriend received an email from USFS about the tent ban ahead of their stay. Her boyfriend bought a canister of bear spray, “just in case.”

Another family of campers who’d been visiting annually for 11 years said they’d never seen a bear at Difficult Campground. But they always camp in a trailer specifically because it’s safer from wildlife.

“I know it isn’t 100%,” said Michelle, the mother. “But it’s at least a little better.”

Staying Bear Safe During Bear Season

Difficult Campground was not subtle about its bear safety signage when I visited. Two big whiteboards greeted guests as they entered, warning about the tent ban and the presence of bears. Those have since been removed.

The fee station has a large sign about the best bear safety practices. Every campsite has bear-resistant storage lockers for food and signs zip-tied to the tables with even more bear safety information.

“The key is keeping bears from getting a food reward from humans,” Boyd said. “We do not want them to learn that a campground is a good place to find food.”

The Difficult Campground host said it goes beyond what we consider “food,” too. Garbage, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, body spray, soap, toothpaste, or anything else that smells edible to a bear needs to be securely stored at night, either in a bear storage locker, a bear-resistant container, your camper, or a locked vehicle.

“Keeping bears from getting your food keeps you safe, keeps your neighboring campers and the campers who follow you safe, and helps keep the bears safe,” Deputy District Ranger Schuller said.

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If you’re going to camp outside, chances are you’ll need a good mobile roof over your head — unless you’re one of those cowboy-camping thru hiker types. We’ve logged some shut-eye in hundreds of shelters, intensely used more than 40, and winnowed down our gear rooms to the 12 best of the best camping tents out there today.

Our team of experts brings decades of camping experience in every sort of condition imaginable, from national park campgrounds to multiday festivals to long road trips. We weighed them on everything from ease of set-up and headroom to how fun and funky the color schemes are.

Some tents are wilder-nests that thrive in a more backcountry-adjacent use, like the Kelty Discovery Basecamp, while others, like our top pick, the REI Co-op Base Camp 6, are downright frontcountry palatial. We’ve also found having a real gear garage like the The North Face Wawona 4 in the stable to be important on equipment-heavy trips, and a front-to-backcountry tent like the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus to work for a range of different adventures.

Consider these award winners our top seven for pretty much any camper, followed by a series of solid shelters for more specific camping weekends.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Camping Tent guide on June 17, 2025, to revise much of our buying advice and add additional context. We also elevated the North Face Wawona 4 to the award-winning status of ‘Best in Vestibule Storage Space’.

Best Overall Camping Tent

REI Co-op Base Camp 6

$549 at REI

8.9

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor area: 84 sq. ft. (110" x 110")
• Weight: 20 lbs., 11.5 oz.
• Height: 74"
• Footprint included: No
• Number of doors: Two
• Carry size: 24" x 11" x 11"
• Seasons: 3-4 season
• Best for: All-weather camping where comfort is in high demand

Pros

• Huge vestibule
• Excellent weather resistance
• Easy to set up
• Compatible with other REI tent accessories such as canopies

Cons

• Heavy at 20 pounds
• Expensive

Ryan Baker

Read Review: Extended Shade, Seamless Shelter: REI Co-op Base Camp 6 Tent and Vehicle Connector Review

The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 ($549) reigns supreme when it comes to a camping tent tuned to do it all. It may not be the largest, the tallest, or the most affordable, but it does have everything it takes to make camping easy. With 84 square feet of floor space, there’s plenty of room for up to six campers to slumber under the stars.

With a mountaineering-inspired design, the Base Camp 6 employs a durable polyester rainfly that provides full coverage and a sizable vestibule for gear storage, creating 27 square feet of covered space in the front and 17 in the back. Four poles gird the main body and gain strength by intersecting one another, while a final brow pole bumps out the vestibule for added space.

Useful features like pockets, a three-point ventilation system, and reflective trim that shines in the light of a headlamp make this tent the place you’ll want to hang out when the weather is fair or foul. Large doors at either end make for an easy exit when nature calls, without having to crawl over all of your tentmates.

We also tested this tent with the newly released Base Camp Vehicle Connector, an awning specially made to interface with the 4- and 6-person Base Camp tents and connect your living space to the back of your vehicle. This breezeway made a killer spot to park a quartet of camp chairs, and we dug the versatile accessory.

Thanks to the intuitive color-coded poles and attachment points, our team of campers had no trouble erecting the tent in Colorado this spring. For the uninitiated, very clear setup instructions are sewn into the tent’s storage bag. Compared to the similar Mountain Hardwear Bridger, we agreed that the Base Camp is slightly easier to set up.

This tent is freestanding, meaning it can stay up without stakes or guylines. While this is quick and convenient for when you roll up to your campsite in the middle of the night, going the extra mile and using all the included stakes and guylines is well worth the effort. Once fully staked out, the Base Camp 6 is impervious to rain and also stands up well against heavy winds.

The Base Camp 6 is just a hair over 6 feet at its apex, so taller folks won’t be able to stand straight up, and with a packed weight of 20 pounds, it’s limited to car camping. It’s also one of the more expensive models on our list, but if you’re fortunate enough to get out camping a few times a year, this tent is worth every penny.

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Best Budget Camping Tent

Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Backcountry

6.8

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 53 sq. ft. (97" x 79")
• Weight: 8 lbs., 8 oz.
• Height: 58"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: One
• Carry Size: 23" x 6"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Casual weekends of car camping, festivals, beach camping

Pros

• Easy and intuitive to set up
• Inexpensive
• Pre-attached guylines
• Storage duffel is easy to stuff and unpack

Cons

• Rainfly isn't full protection
• Fiberglass poles

Ryan Baker

While there is a glut of budget camping tents on the market, too many have gone too far in trimming features and comfort. The Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 ($120) isn’t one among them, however, and hits all of the bullet points we’re after, without also coming for our wallets. Done up in an instantly recognizable design, this tent doesn’t take many shortcuts.

Set up with a crossed-pole design, the Discovery Basecamp makes raising the roof easier, including ‘Quick Corners’ — which are short pole sleeves to secure the pole ends. From there, modern pole clips suspend the canopy, which, while not our favorite, helps to keep the price down. When testing in Joshua Tree National Park in early spring, we had little issue setting up the tent sans instructions.

Some other budget-minded tents (like the REI Co-op Campwell 4) attempt to shave ounces (and dollar signs) by hemming the rainfly up high and tight — exposing windows to wind-driven rain, but the Discovery Basecamp makes use of a brow pole to set the porch coverage back far and protect the door window. When fully staked and with the rainfly guyed out, this tent does a commendable job keeping its inhabitants dry, especially considering the price.

While it only has one door, that door is huge, so access is easy. Each side is lined with a few storage pockets, so you’ll have no problem staying organized and keeping the floor free of knick-knacks. While the Discovery Basecamp takes a more traditional approach, it isn’t the tallest tent, and those looking for more vertical should look to the Eureka Copper Canyon LX — a cabin-styled tent that trades weather protection for comfort.

Available in both a 4- and a 6-person size, the Discovery Basecamp 4 is an easy choice for folks looking for their first camping tent, or even just a beater you aren’t worried about leaving it up on the lawn. Don’t expect it to last forever at $120, but for the money, there are plenty of summers in this tent.

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Best Tent for Families

REI Co-op Wonderland X

$999 at REI

8.6

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 70.5 sq. ft. (100" x 100")
• Weight: 35 lbs., 1 oz.
• Height: 75"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Four
• Carry Size: 27.4" x 14" x 12.8"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Mondo-sized camping trips with the whole crew

Pros

• Huge tent for four people
• Doubles as a massive shelter for cooking, entertaining, or eating
• Extremely durable
• The sleeping area is very large and protective from the elements

Cons

• Expensive
• Too big for smaller campsites

Ryan Baker

Read Review: REI Wonderland X Tent Review: A Versatile 4-Person Palace for Car Campers

The REI Co-op Wonderland X ($999) is a very large and unique tent that makes an incredibly spacious abode. Designed as a four-person car camping tent, the Wonderland X is so much more. We’ve tested this tent since the spring of 2022 and are still blown away by the unique tunnel design with interior sleeping quarters — perfect for a weekend with the entire family.

While optimized for a group of four, the Wonderland X serves as a giant camping shelter and a big hangout space. By removing the interior sleeping quarters, the shelter becomes a 13 x 9-foot floorless shelter. It can easily cover a picnic table, the tailgate of a truck, or even a small car.

REI built the Wonderland X with extremely heavy materials, ensuring a very long life if properly maintained. And at 35 pounds, this tent is definitely not coming backpacking — but for those looking at an alternative to canvas wall tents or just a very robust, large car camping setup, this tent is the pinnacle.

Put to the test, the tent performed perfectly in windy and rainy conditions, where the enormous awning provided space for lounging and cooking for four adult men. Copious guylines can be a bit much to get your head around, but in truly unsettled weather, they’re the perfect solution to keeping the Wonderland X where it belongs.

Those looking for a similar design but at a lower price should also consider the Wonderland 4 and Wonderland 6, which work on the same principles but use lighter, less expensive materials. For the real-deal family palace, however, it’s the Wonderland X for us.

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Best in Vestibule Storage Space

The North Face Wawona 4

$450 at REICheck price at backcountry

8.0

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 58 sq. ft. (96" x 90")
• Weight: 13 lbs.
• Height:  68"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 27" x 10" x 10"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Camping with extra kit to store in the vestibules, or just kicking back beneath the shade

Pros

• Unique second door design
• Plenty of interior storage pocket options
• High interior ceiling
• Relatively lightweight for the space

Cons

• Rainfly isn’t the most intuitive to put on
• Rear door isn’t covered by rainfly

Ryan Baker

Recently updated, The North Face Wawona 4 ($450) got a second skin, going from a single- to double-wall design, and its poles have been re-engineered for easier setup — both worthy upgrades. The tent did just become $50 more expensive, which blunts the benefits a bit, but we still think it’s a solid shelter.

It’s the small things that make the Wawona (which, if you’re wondering, was the name of a famous giant sequoia in Yosemite National Park) tick. A unique hooped pole design kicks out the large vestibule to a comfy 28 square feet of space and provides plenty of dry room to shuffle gear about.

Then there are the interior features: A smaller rear door doubles as an organizational center, while an interior height of 68 inches allows for easy walking about inside the tent. We greatly appreciated the breathability built into the Wawona on a night camping in Washington’s San Juan Islands, where moisture from the sea can be heavy, and keeping air moving is a priority. 

We struggled with the rainfly the first go around, as it has an unusual shape that goes to the ground at the vestibule and then up to window height along the body of the tent. Once we figured out which way was up, snapping it into place was an (adjustable) breeze. 

The fly also doesn’t cover the rear door, although it does sport a waterproof zipper. Our testing hasn’t shown this to be a weak point necessarily, but we have our doubts the tent would keep a heavy rain entirely at bay. It’s because of this that the more weather-resistant REI Co-op Base Camp 6 ranks higher in our lineup.

For more fair weather conditions, however, the Wawona 4 offers a boatload of space for families that bring plenty along on their camping trips. Just consider what the weatherperson has in store for you.

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Most Livable 4-Person Camping Tent

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P

Check Price at REICheck Price at Backcountry

8.4

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 62.5 sq. ft. (100" x 90")
• Weight: 15 lbs., 14 oz.
• Height: 75"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 25" x 8.5" x 8.5"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Camping with the whole family, sleeping on cots, and tall parents

Pros

• Steep side walls bumps up livable space
• Fun print on interior floor
• Both doors stow away completely

Cons

• Rainfly doesn't provide 100% coverage
• A little heavier than comparable tents

Ryan Baker

Read Review: Sky-High Ceiling, Down-to-Earth Comfort: NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Tent Review

Forget hunching over — the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P Tent ($400) has got headroom to spare. Sporting a tent pole design that bumps out the exterior walls to near vertical, we had no issues with bumping around inside this tent, and no scrunching was needed. The Aurora Highrise does the most with its footprint, and we think it’s the most livable 4-person tent out there currently.

While the 75-inch peak height isn’t quite the tallest in our testing, this height extends far out from the interior, allowing for easy maneuvering for setting up a sleeping pad or just squeezing past a tentmate. A cabin-style tent like the Eureka Copper Canyon will have more headroom overall, but will suffer much more with high winds.

Behind the two doors (which can be folded away into what NEMO calls the Door Jamb pocket) is a full 62.5 sq. ft. of floor space, which has been printed with a fun argyle pattern to lighten up the tent. It’s the little features like this that really up the livability, and after spending a week in the Aurora this spring in Joshua Tree National Park, we came to love our groovy space.

During testing, we found the dual vestibules to provide plenty of space for storing equipment during the night, though not quite large enough to lounge under shade. The four-person version of this tent was perfectly sized for three testers, though we could easily see a family of four enjoying the space, or even a couple having a luxuriously large camping hideout.

While the large side windows do provide an excellent view (and plenty of ventilation), the rainfly does stop short of providing full coverage over them. While this won’t be an issue in typical rain, wind-driven rain will have the ability to soak into these seams. It’s for this reason that the Aurora Highrise doesn’t find itself higher on our list.

A family-sized tent that’s sized for everyone in the family, the Aurora Highrise is available in both a 4-person and 6-person offering.

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Best Crossover Tent for Camping and Backpacking

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus

Check Price at REI Co-op

(Photo/REI)

8.9

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 35.8 sq. ft.
• Weight: 6 lbs., 3.6 oz.
• Height: 42"
• Footprint Included: Yes
• Number of Doors: 2 doors
• Carry Size: 22.2" x 7.5" x 7.5"
• Seasons: 3 season
• Best For: Everything from frontcountry camping to shorter backpacking trips

Pros

• Extremely spacious with lots of headroom for two
• Very straight-forward, user-friendly setup/breakdown
• Well-thought-out interior with numerous pockets
• Footprint is included

Cons

• Somewhat heavy/large for solo backpacking

Ryan Baker

Read Review: Iconic Tent Gets Retro Redesign: REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Review

With 45(!) years under its belt, the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus ($359) design has been around the campsite once or twice. Newly redesigned this year, the 2 Plus version adds extra room to this two-person shelter, and makes it the perfect do-it-most tent.

The Half Dome 2 Plus is sold as a backpacking tent, but after significant use, we think it lands smack dab between being carried in a pack and working as a stellar front country shelter. Editor Will Brendza (and his trusty pup) recently took this tent out into the early spring of Colorado, where it showed what 45 years of design get you.

Setup is a cinch, and the multi-hub pole design means there’s only one to wrangle here and get clipped into the tent body. Three minutes is about all the time we needed to get the rest of the tent up and settled. From here, we admired the recent updates to the structure that bumped out the headspace, making this a true 2+ shelter.

The floor plan of this tent is 4” longer and wider than the 2-person version, and that (along with the extra 2” of height) makes it roomy enough to enjoy while camping. Other highlights we found were a bevy of internal pockets for wrangling kit, as well as the ability to drop the top on the rainfly on dry evenings, which means stargazing is fully on the menu.

The 6-pound weight makes this a heavy backpacking tent, but a super light camping one. The 36 sq. foot floor area may be a bit cramped for really base camping in this tent, and for those looking for a bit more wiggle room, we’d suggest bumping up to the Half Dome 3.

We’ve previously recommended the Mountain Hardware Mineral King series as a backpacking/car camping crossover and still think it’s a solid shelter, but the Half Dome does it slightly better. Tougher materials, a more intuitive pole design, and a cheaper price all combine to put this tent over the top.

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Other Camping Tents to Bed Down In

There are plenty of camping tents on the market, that’s for sure, and the six we awarded above are the best we’ve encountered in all of our collective time sleeping outdoors. That said, there are several other worthy shelters out there. Consider the line-up below before making your purchase.

Big Agnes Bunk House 4

Check Price at REICheck Price at Backcountry

8.3

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 58 sq. ft. (92" x 90")
• Weight: 16 lbs., 3 oz.
• Height: 72"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 26.5" x 16.5" x 6"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best for: Camping during unsure weather forecasts or in exposed campsites, as well as big group basecamps as a hangout spot

Pros

• Fast fly mode creates a stand-alone sun shelter for hanging out under
• Good amount of headroom
• Easy to assemble DAC hubbed pole design
• Pass-through doors makes it easy to sneak around tent mates
• Near-vertical walls

Cons

• More expensive than similar 4- and 6-person tent options
• Fast fly mode is a bit hard to set up

Ryan Baker

After many summers of using the classic Big House tent, we recently upgraded to the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Tent ($600), and it was 100% worth it. Compared to the lighter-duty version, the newly updated tent drops the fly to the ground, bumps up the ceiling, and boasts a fully freestanding ‘sun shelter mode’ that greatly ups the versatility.

Available in your standard family sizes of 4-, 6-, and 8-person capacities, we tested the 4-person offering in the summer of 2024 across the Pacific Northwest, and it won over our campers left and right. We challenged ourselves to set up camping tents without instructions on the first go, and besides some added helping hands, we had little issue getting the Bunk House up in about 10 minutes.

The 58-square-foot sleeping area is on par with most 4-person shelters, but the added 2” of headroom over the Big House makes a surprising difference in livability. An additional pole supports the ample vestibule space, which sports enough room to wrangle our coolers and chairs, and even rolls out a welcome mat to park your shoes on.

The Bunk House finds itself in good company in our lineup. Other batten-down-the-hatch shelters compare well, though there are a few differences to consider. For true shelter-shaking storms, we found the Base Camp performs better due to its additional crossed poles, and while the vestibule of the Bunk House is spacious, the Bridger is undeniably better suited for hanging out under.

Neither of those tents, however, can set up the fly by itself, and this is the big selling point of the Bunk House. A good canopy tent can act as a mobile dining room or keep tykes out of the sun, and when set up without the inner, the Bunk House accomplishes both and more. Actual setup is a bit finicky (there’s a webbing harness to contend with), but once it’s managed, the canopy rivals even some of our favorite purpose-built options.

At an asking price of $600, the Bunk House 4 is pricier than most similar options, so in our opinion, it comes down to whether you’ll use that fly-only ability. If not, tents like the REI Co-op Base Camp or The North Face Wawona will likely suit you better. But as a two-for-one option, it’s tough to beat the Bunk House.

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REI Co-op Campwell 4 Tent

$229 at REI

5.4

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 59 square feet
• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Internal Height: 62"
• Footprint Included: No
• Carry Size: 27.5" x 9.5" x 9.5"
• Seasons: 3
• Best For: Car campers on a budget looking to upgrade

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Spacious footprint
• Plenty of headspace
• Quick setup with two people
• Robust tent poles
• Large skylight

Cons

• Minimal protection from driving rain
• Lacking ventilation with the rain cover
• No pull-outs for the broadsides of the tent.
• Drafty in stiff winds

Ryan Baker

Read Review: Fair-Weather and Fancy-Free Budget Tent for the Masses: REI Co-op Campwell 4 Tent Review

The REI Co-op Campwell 4 ($229) is our recommendation for fair-weather family campers. Designed as a low-barrier-of-entry option, this tent is ideal for campgrounds, car camping, and folks looking to upgrade from their big-box store tents. We still think that the Kelty Discovery Basecamp is a slightly better budget model, but the Campwell does have a leg up on it in a few places.

Best described as a squat cabin-style tent, the Campwell makes full use of its footprint and sports nearly vertical walls to bump out the interior space. That said, overhead height isn’t towering at 62 inches, but we don’t think that’s necessarily a terrible thing: the tent is a bit den-like and cozy to jump into.

Set-up is simple, which is a bonus when introducing folks to the outdoors (little else sucks the fun out of camping like a complicated tent to wrestle). The two fiberglass poles cross at the top of the shelter and are the same length, meaning no shuffling around looking for the right one. After that, simple pole clips support the canopy.

The toupee-style rainfly was never meant to be the most protective, but it is easy to toss on the tent. We’ve weathered light showers and been perfectly dry, but once the winds brew, you begin to wish you had a more storm-worthy shelter. The rear window is particularly vulnerable, as it is only covered by a flap on the interior.

So, if the skies might open up? Look into one of the more weather-ready options we’ve reviewed, like the REI Basecamp or Marmot Limestone. But if you’ve got confidence in the weather forecast? The Campwell 4 is an excellent option.

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Marmot Limestone 6-Person Tent

Check Price at Backcountry

8.5

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 82.9 sq. ft. (120" x 100")
• Weight: 17 lbs.
• Height: 76"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 24.4" x 10.4"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Any-weather camping where the forecast looks less than optimal

Pros

• Excellent weather protection
• Lighter weight than similar 6-person shelters
• Redesign adds additional vents to the fly
• Close to vertical wall design

Cons

• Rainfly contacts tent mesh in some spots
• Vestibule isn't the largest

Ryan Baker

While testing in the Rocky Mountains, we experienced sudden high winds and heavy rains. Nearly every tent experienced some damage ranging from broken poles to leaks. The Marmot Limestone 6P ($529) was completely unfazed. It remained sturdy and dry through it all.

It’s not as tall or roomy as some car camping tents, but the sacrifice of space is worth it for excellent weather protection. In 83 square feet of floor space, you can fit six people or spread out and sleep comfortably with just four. Near-vertical walls help to bump up the livability, and while the vestibule is a bit snug, the interior is rightfully cozy.

The large double doors make coming and going easy. Pre-bent poles make for a quick setup. There is a vestibule on one side for holding extra gear, and interior gear pockets keep you organized, and there is plenty of mesh that allows for maximum airflow. Newly redesigned, the Limestone gains a few added rainfly vents with integrated struts for propping them open.

Because the rainfly design is closely related to backpacking tents, there are certain areas of the fly where it can touch the mesh of the inner, which can lead to dribbles in high condensation conditions — a result a few of our testers noted. Properly guying out the shelter can help alleviate this, in conjunction with the newly added vents. For most poor-weather trips, we more often reach for the REI Base Camp.

But if the REI Co-op Base Camp is a bit too rich for your blood, the Limestone 6P is built to withstand storms and is a great choice for anyone camping in unpredictable, inclement weather.

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Mountain Hardwear Bridger 6

Check Price at Mountain Hardwear

8.9

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 89.4 sq. ft. (140" x 92")
• Weight: 23 lbs., 15.4 oz.
• Height: 76"
• Footprint Included: Yes
• Number of Doors: Two
• Carry Size: 28" x 14" x 14"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Camping with the whole crew, or bringing along the kitchen sink in gear

Pros

• Vestibules are huge, and can fit entire bikes or coolers if needed
• Many pockets inside the sleeping area and vestibules
• Saloon-style doors open up to easily combine areas
• Simple rope-bag style stuff sack

Cons

• Not the easiest to set up single-handed
• Pretty pricey

Ryan Baker

Borrowing DNA from the brand’s mountaineering roots, the new Mountain Hardwear Bridger 6 Tent ($950) hits all the marks we’re looking for in a group camping tent — and that’s before you even open the door. Twin vestibules boast more square footage than even the sleeping area, making a tent that’s as much about hanging out as it is snoozing in.

Starting from the inside, the Bridger 6 keeps the living large with 89.4 square feet of sleeping quarters, and steep walls that meet at a 76-inch peak height. The tent is supported by a classic two-pole configuration, with an additional ridge pole that props up the peaks of the entry and exits.

A full-coverage rainfly encompasses everything on the exterior and extends 7 feet for the front vestibule. When we initially tested this tent in the spring of 2023, our campers flocked to this spot to kick back and store gear in. It easily accommodates a handful of camp chairs, a cooler, or even a couple of parked bikes — and now with a few seasons under the belt, it’s still the tent to hang in.

The doors also feature a saloon-style zip, meaning the interior can be melded into the hang-out zone. Then there’s the storage: 8 pockets on the interior, as well as 2 organizers that hang inside the vestibule space — each sporting 3 pockets. We found these especially handy during the day, as we didn’t need to enter/exit the tent to snag what we needed.

In terms of set-up, the Bridger does take a few minutes to set up. The extended vestibule is a dream once in place, but it did make single-handed setup a bit of a wrestling match. Breaking down the tent goes smoothly, however, and it packs away into one of the nicest zip-up storage bags we’ve seen in a tent.

Perfect as a camping basecamp for a group, the Bridger Tent brings the party from inside to out, and while it’s nearly the most expensive on our list, it’s amenable to many different camping scenarios and ensures it’ll be around for endless campfires. If the price just won’t fly, consider the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 — a $549 option with more sleeping space, but less room to hang in.

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Eureka Copper Canyon LX 4-Person Tent

$133 at AmazonCheck Price at Backcountry

6.9

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 64 sq. ft. (96" x 96")
• Weight: 20 lbs., 4 oz.
• Height: 84"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: One
• Carry Size: 27" x 9" x 9"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Car camping with a view!

Pros

• Roomy design with plenty of space
• Airy and open with four windows
• Tall internal height
• More budget priced

Cons

• Only one door
• Not great in heavy wind
• Heavier at 20+ pounds

Ryan Baker

If you’re looking for a family tent that feels like a spacious screened-in porch, the Eureka Copper Canyon LX ($270) is for you. The 7-foot-tall interior height means no more awkward stooping.

And with 64 square feet of floor space, there’s plenty of room to spread out. We found this provided a comfortable amount of space for two adults and two young children. Each wall is lined with pockets, which is great for keeping track of your headlamp and storing other essentials.

The best part about this tent is the airy feel and giant mesh windows. Not only does it keep things breathable, but it also means you can easily enjoy the view in any direction. We spent a week camping outside Moab and loved relaxing in the tent while watching the sunrise.

That said, the benefits of this tent are also its downfall. The tall height and large windows can be problematic in stormy weather. High winds will challenge any tent, and that’s especially true of a tent that’s 7 feet tall. Like other cabin-style tents (such as the Eureka Copper Canyon LX we also tested), fair-weather camping is more the vibe for this tent.

The window zip closed, and the included rainfly protects from rainfall. However, in heavy storms, it is possible to experience slight leaking. We also would have preferred a second door.

For mild summer conditions, though, the Copper Canyon 4 is a winner for family camping. It offers plenty of standing room and is a decent value to boot. We were also pleased with how easily it packed back into the storage bag.

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Coleman Skydome Darkroom 6-Person Tent

$200 at AmazonCheck Price at REI

6.5

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Floor Area: 85 sq. ft. (120" x 102")
• Weight: 18 lbs.
• Height: 72"
• Footprint Included: No
• Number of Doors: One
• Carry Size: 25.7" x 9"
• Seasons: 3-season
• Best For: Car camping in the desert or busy campgrounds

Pros

• Budget pricing
• Near-vertical walls
• Black-out fly blocks out ambient light

Cons

• Pre-attached poles are good in theory, annoying in practice
• Front vestibule has poor coverage of door
• Fly only goes half-way down tent body

Ryan Baker

You didn’t think we’d leave out a classic Coleman, did you? The Coleman Skydome Darkroom 6-Person Tent ($200) certainly is classic and brings a good bit to the table for the price. There are also some shortfalls to contend with, but the big draw here is the ‘Darkroom’ aspect of this tent — a blackout rainfly that can help block out late-night campground neighbors.

Compared to a traditional dome-style Coleman, the Skydome series bumps out the headroom by putting a kink in each of the poles, making for nearly vertical walls. And while those poles are aluminum and an upgrade from our budget pick, the Kelty Discovery Basecamp, they are pre-attached to the tent — good in theory, but in practice was a bit fussy to manage.

The tent fly is, as promised, quite dark, and it is pretty easy to get situated on the tent itself. This is, however, one of the more skimpy coverage flies in our review (only the toupee-style fly of the Eureka Copper Canyon LX is smaller), and only comes down to about half the height of the tent walls. And while the brow pole does a good job of covering the door from rain from above, it was no match for wind-driven rain in our testing.

Campgrounds these days can be pretty crowded, and if you end up next to the all-night ragers, it can be tough to get some shut-eye with other tents. That’s where we think the Skydome Darkroom shines, even despite the shortcomings. Stuffing the tent away isn’t the easiest — we cycled through multiple campers before concluding that the tent wasn’t going back into the bag quietly — but it can be made to work.

Available in 4-, 6-, and even an 8-person size, the Skydome Darkroom Tent was made for weekends at the campground.

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Camping Tent Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best Camping Tents

You wouldn’t jump headlong into a full weekend outdoors with an untested roof over your head, and thankfully, you don’t have to. Camping tents come in all different shapes, sizes, and qualities, and while many are winners, we’ve run into a few clunkers in our time.

All of our outdoor addicts know that not only do you need something sturdy and reliable, but it also needs to be set up easily and packed well. We went to the internet for a deep dive into the research. After hours of research, we narrowed it down to the top tents for a head-to-head test. This involved lots of camping and various testers, and to date, our estimated time testing numbers are in the hundreds of hours.

We camped through quintessential Colorado spring weekends, complete with sun, snow, sleet, and gale-force winds. We enjoyed hot summer nights, a few surprise thunderstorms, and plenty of regular ol’ campground outings from Moab, Utah, to the hills of North Georgia.

Our Testing Process and Testing Grounds

We start our tent testing with a timed set-up, in which our testers go in totally blind — no instructions allowed. We’ve found this to be the ideal challenge of how intuitive a tent’s structure is. Then, we ensure that these tents are really up to snuff when it comes to capacity ratings, adding in both 20″ and 25″ camping mattresses to test manufacturer claims and get a feel for overall roominess.

Finally, we put the tents to the ultimate head-to-head test. Each is erected in the same valley and left for a week. Through rain, sun, and some epic wind, we see which tents can withstand the elements best. When available, we release a pack of our kiddos into the tents to have their way. It’s hard to put together a better stress test than this.

Our camping tent testing also gets into the nitty-gritty, ground-truthing manufacturer claims and dials in the hard numbers to elevate the winners over the just-alright shelters. To do this, we first measure the total weight of the tent essentials (body, fly, poles, and stakes) on our own scales and compare them against brand numbers. The same goes for packed size, as well as finding out if a tent can easily be packed back into its storage bag (not always an easy task).

Each tent is then left up in a simulated rain shower for 30 minutes at a time and inspected for leaks or wicking water. We use a rotating sprinkler system to ensure that no odd corner of a tent goes untouched, and we pay close attention to window openings and how the rainfly covers the shelter. Rain ingress can be a trip-killer, and we sniff out weak spots in tent construction to identify them.

From our experience and side-by-side testing in both the field and close to home, we crown our winners on a seasonal basis. Every year, we roll out new tent options, and our testing never stops — rest assured that we’re considering the latest and greatest in our Buyer’s Guide.

Our Expert Testers

Guide author Mallory Paige has spent hundreds of nights sleeping under the stars, and she knows firsthand the importance of a good shelter. She kicked off our search for the most worthy camping shelters in 2021 with an initial 12 tents, and set out a detailed testing regimen that includes tests against the elements, timing how quickly we can erect each tent, and the classic garden hose rain shower test.

Since then, our testing team has added contributor Ryan Baker, who started backpacking and car camping as a child. He also has lived in tents ranging from lightweight tarps for extended thru-hikes to heavy-duty basecamps to withstand extreme conditions. He is intimately experienced in the joys and pitfalls of only having a thin piece of synthetic fabric between the elements and a dry night’s sleep.

Finally, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster has enjoyed more than his fair share of evenings staring up at the canopy of his tent, waiting out a rainstorm. A veteran of the Pacific Crest Trail, Belcaster has the set-up and tear-down of his tent limited to mere minutes and now travels the West testing camping tents for this guide on a rolling basis.

While our camping tent testing typically takes place in the boundless wilderness of the Western U.S., we also pitch shelters across the country to gain insight into regional performance. A tent that buttons up tight might excel in the arid Southwest but become sweltering in the humidity of the southern Appalachians.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Camping Tent

To help you decide what tent is best for you, we considered five categories: weather resistance, comfort, ease of setup, extra features, and value. Each of these is more important to certain campers than others. Consider when, where, and with whom you plan to use your tent.

We have another guide for the Best Backpacking Tents that focuses on lighter and less bulky tents for your backcountry adventures, as well as a primer article on the Basics of Camping and Backpacking Tents. Here, we focus more on car and family camping tents for adventures where the car is within reach and the weight of a tent is less important. If you like the appeal of leaving your tent pre-rigged wherever you may roam, the ease of a Rooftop Tent might be up your alley.

Camping Tent Breakdown

Ready to set up camp? Here’s the lowdown on what makes a good camping tent, and what we think are important features you shouldn’t miss out on.

Tent Body

Think of the tent body as your four walls at home. Most frequently, the tent body works in tandem with a rainfly to protect campers from adverse weather (although we often tuck it away for some star gazing). Tent bodies, on the other hand, provide protection from both the ground below and from flying insects through a mix of windows and mesh panels.

Of course, tents that incorporate a larger amount of mesh will be more ventilated and better suited to summertime camping when conditions are fair and breezes are frequent. Alternatively, designs with solid panels block cold breezes better and can be camped in further into the shoulder seasons. Zippered windows can be a great compromise and can be opened or closed based on conditions.

The bathtub floor of your tent is the ground floor of your setup. It will sport raised sides to protect your living space from creeping water. These floors are frequently made of a tougher material than the rest of the tent to safeguard against wear and tear. If you’re camping frequently (or camp where spiny plants thrive), using a tent groundsheet or tarp can extend the life of your investment.

Rainfly

The next step in getting your camping tent up and rolling will be securing the rainfly. This topside cover stretches over the mesh canopy of your tent and provides weather protection, as well as trapping some warmth — a hot tip for hedging your bets against a chilly night.

Rainflies on many camping tents provide coverage for your average rainstorm, preventing top-down rain from ruining your night. The NEMO Aurora Highrise is a prime example of this, with a rainfly that extends out over the two side windows but doesn’t fully encapsulate them. At the far end of the spectrum is the Kelty Discovery Basecamp tent, which sports a rainfly that just covers the door of the tent. This makes for easier use and access but lower overall weatherproofing.

On the protective end of the equation, tents like the REI Co-op Base Camp borrow from the world of mountaineering-style tents and drop the rainfly all the way to the ground, ensuring that sneaky breezes or sideways rain have no way of entering. If you live in a place where surprise storms are common or want to camp further into the shoulder seasons, invest in a tent like this.

Doors and Vestibules

Of course, you’ll need a way to get into and out of your tent. We prefer two-door designs for camping tents simply because tumbling over your tentmate in the middle of the night is no fun. Tents like the REI Co-op Base Camp and NEMO Aurora Highrise boast full-size second doors, while more budget-minded tents like the Kelty Discovery Basecamp make do with one door.

A final mention here for specialty doors, such as those found on The North Face Wawona, where a half-size door at the rear of the tent adds a unique spot for loading gear or catching a cross breeze.

Vestibules are the garages of tents, and make excellent spots to stash kit that you want to keep close — coolers, chairs, shoes — but likely don’t want to share sleeping space with. Some tents sport an ample vestibule or two that will wrangle an average amount of kit, while others, like the REI Co-op Wonderland X, are built around the vestibule experience and become full-on second rooms.

Poles and Stakes

Here’s the backbone of your tent. Tent poles are most often segmented aluminum affairs that snap together and slide through pole sleeves or clip to the tent body to support it.

Pole structures can take several different forms. Dome-style tents like the REI Co-op Base Camp or Half Dome 2 Plus are classic and erect simply. They provide more weather protection in exchange for overall headroom.

Cabin-style tents like the Eureka Copper Canyon LX raise the roof and bump the walls out to be more vertical, but do struggle more in stiff winds. The REI Co-op Wonderland X is a final type of structure called a tunnel tent, which lands between the two styles.

Tent stakes are your anchors, and even if you don’t expect overnight wind, it’s wise to plant a few to keep your wilderness home from becoming mobile. Most tents will include basic stakes in a number that will keep your tent from flying away, but if you’re going to be using guylines (or expect high winds), it’s wise to invest in a few more stakes, or even stronger versions. A stake hammer can be a useful tool in getting your pegs in place, and we think that the MSR Stake Hammer is tough to beat.

Storage and Organization

Keeping your camping kit organized can be important for maintaining your sanity, and built-in organizing solutions like pockets, sleeves, and gear lofts can help you organize your loose items. Some, like the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P, place a handful of high pockets along the ceiling for stashing items such as headlamps or phones, while others, like the North Face Wawona 4, integrate large mesh panels that can store bulkier kit.

Your tent can benefit from some organization, as well. It will come packed away in a stuff sack that should carry all of the essentials to get you set up. Thankfully, many tent manufacturers have moved away from the true ‘stuff sack’ style storage bag and instead now offer zippered or wide-mouth-style bags that open wide to pack the tent inside. The wide bag that the Wawona packs into is easy to fill, but some aren’t as nice to use, and even our top pick, the REI Base Camp, had points deducted for its old-school stuff sack style bags.

Weather Resistance and Ventilation

If you plan to camp during storms, it’s worth it to save up and buy a sturdier tent. Premium tents have stronger poles, full rain covers, and sealed seams. It’s things like this that seem less important — until you find yourself riding out an epic storm from the confines of your tent.

While testing, we experienced a major thunderstorm complete with high winds and heavy rain. Each of the tents had been properly staked out, but many of them experienced damage. The Marmot Limestone 4P performed incredibly well, with no leaking or broken poles. The REI Co-op Base Camp 6 is also well equipped for inclement weather thanks to its rainfly and many tie-down points.

Ventilation is also key to camping livability, and windows are your best friend here. We place a high value on windows that can be opened from the interior of the tent, such as those on the NEMO Aurora Highrise. Some rainflys will also incorporate rigid stays, such as seen in the North Face Wawona, which holds open a ventilation port when the weather is good, and can be closed when storms brew.

Seasonality Ratings

Often, manufacturers refer to its tents with a season rating, which helps convey the types of conditions for which they’ve been designed. While not a hard and fast rule, knowing where you are planning on camping, the weather you may encounter, and what your tent is rated for can greatly hedge your bets against spending a night in a flattened tent.

• 3-Season Tents: 3-season tents (meaning spring, summer, and fall) are your lightest-duty tents, and will employ lightweight materials in order to keep overall bulk down, as well as improve ventilation. Typically, the tent body will be nearly or entirely mesh and mated to a bathtub floor. These designs are less aerodynamic and more prone to bending under gusts of wind. Finally, most 3-season tents will use a rainfly that isn’t full coverage, and may only extend over windows and doors, instead of all the way to the ground.
• 3/4-Season Tents: Bulking up on weather resistance, 3/4 or 3.5-season tents are similar to 3-season tents material-wise, but in design, they often are more weather-ready, usually employing dome shapes. Rain flies will also go all the way to the ground, forming vestibules where you might store your backpacks during an overnight rain.
• 4-Season Tents: This is the realm of winter, mountaineering, and hunting tents, where weather resistance is in high demand and a tough structure is needed. Four-season tents are almost exclusively double-wall designs, and often shaped in domes or tunnels to better survive the wind. They will also sport many guylines to adequately support the tent, and thicker tent poles and materials to resist wind-driven rain and snow.

Capacity and Floor Area

Every tent worth its salt today will provide a capacity number for the number of campers it was designed to sleep. Many tent models are also available in multiple versions, with 4, 6, and 8-person capacities being the most common for camping tents. This number is derived from the number of regular sleeping mattresses that can be laid side-by-side in the sleeping area, but take note: this often only accommodates 20-inch sleeping pads.

The floor area number will also give you a good idea of the sleeping area space in any one tent, and is generally given in square feet. For 4-person tents, this typically comes in at around 60 sq. ft. For example, the Marmot Limestone 4-Person Tent slides in squarely at 60, while the more comfort-minded Mountain Hardwear Bridger 4 squeezes in a bit more at 62.5.

When it comes to 6-person models, the number jumps up to around 85 square feet, with the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 being the standard-bearer at 84 square feet, and the budget Kelty Discovery Element 6 surprisingly besting it at 89! It’s important to note here that the Kelty tent has less steep walls, and thus floor area isn’t the end-all when it comes to understanding overall livability.

Construction Materials

The weather resistance of a tent depends largely on the materials from which it is constructed. Nylon and polyester are very common materials used in car camping tents.

Nylon is stronger, more resistant to abrasion, and can stretch considerably. Unfortunately, it absorbs water, causing your tent to sag in storms or high humidity.

Polyester has less stretch than nylon, so it is more likely to tear. This rigidity is a benefit in wet conditions because it will sag less and absorb less water, but it also makes polyester more fragile.

Other Considerations and Taking Care of Your Tent

First and foremost, never put your tent away wet. Remember when we mentioned hydrolysis earlier regarding PU coatings? Water is a major culprit in speeding up that process. Fungi, molds, and mildews love to grow in your dark closet, on your wet tent, at room temperature. These organisms destroy the fibers of your tent and make it smell terrible.

When you get home, set your tent back up and let it air out. This simple chore will pay off later when you are still able to use your tent. If you have no yard or nowhere dry to set it up, your living room makes a great space for this. Check all the seams, especially the floor and fly, before packing it away.

Price & Value

A good camping tent can be one of the bigger purchases when putting together a good summer kit, so it’s important to know what you’re getting for those dollar signs. With a range from just north of a hundo to more than a grand, there’s a lot of territory to cover, and most of it will come down to three important metrics: the number of people the tent will sleep, the weather protection it provides, and the amount of accessories tucked away inside.

Budget

Camping is for everyone, and if you’ve only got a few frontcountry forays on the books for the summer, going to something with a little lower overhead can make a lot of sense. Budget camping tents are generally offered beginning at the $100 mark, and head up to around $200 from there.

A tent like the Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 ($120) is a fine example. It’s not uncommon for tents in this realm to offer rain flies with less coverage over the body of the tent and often only incorporate a single door as an entrance into the tent. The REI Co-op Campwell 4 ($229) is another spend-wise tent we’d recommend to those looking to get further outdoors, but with an eye on the weather, as the tent shines best when the sun does.

Mid-Tier

Understanding the limitations of budget tents will safeguard against overextending them in harsh conditions, but for fair-weather campground camping, many do an admirable job. Beyond the $200 to about $500 mark, camping tents begin to feature hardier materials, full-coverage rainflies, and vestibules, with added niceties like internal storage options and windows. 

You’ll also notice a price difference when looking at tents of different occupancies. For example, the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 is $475, while the 6-person version will run you $549. This nearly $100 difference between a 4-person and a 6-person tent isn’t uncommon, and many other manufacturers replicate this.

Premium

Beyond about $600 are high-end tents, which jam in the features to offer true frontcountry luxury. The Mountain Hardwear Bridger 6 ($950) exemplifies this with a burly mountaineering-inspired build, spacious and livable vestibule area, and an incredible amount of pockets and functionality. The asking price is a pretty penny, but the overall durability of tents like these means they’ll last a good bit longer than other, lesser tents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tents for family camping?

The best family camping tent depends on your outdoor goals. In general, most families appreciate having more room and the ability to stand comfortably.

The MSR Habiscape 4 Tent has earned high marks from our family camping testers. If you regularly camp in adverse weather (hello, spring in Colorado), it’s worth considering a slightly smaller and more durable tent.

What is the best camping tent brand?

The best camping tent brand depends largely on your personal needs and budget.

For a premium tent that can withstand the weather, the REI Co-op consistently delivers. If you’re looking for maximum space and flexibility, the Eureka Copper Canyon is a favorite with families. And for a budget-friendly option that is built to last, check out Kelty.

Are expensive tents worth it?

If you plan to camp regularly, it is worth it to invest in a higher-quality tent. The extra expense means sturdier poles, waterproof seams, and generally an easier setup. If budget is a major concern, don’t let that stop you from getting outside.

We’ve consistently been impressed with the budget-friendly options from Kelty. The Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 costs just $120 and offers plenty of room.

Should you put a tarp over your tent?

Quality tents are waterproof. But if you find yourself camping in an absolute downpour, hanging a tarp can provide extra protection and comfort.

It’s important to tie it up well so the wind isn’t a concern and to be sure that it isn’t touching the tent. In addition to creating an extra tent porch, a tarp is great for protecting your camp kitchen.

What shape of tent is most popular?

While there are many different styles of tents available today, each has a better use profile and ideal adventure to use them on. When it comes to camping tents, the most popular shape is a dome-style tent. This is because of ease of use, as well as the trade-off in canopy headroom to the overall complexity.

Some tents, like the REI Co-op Wonderland X, make use of a tunnel-style structure. These tents often boast more headroom overall, but will suffer some during high winds. For this reason, it’s important to properly guyline out a tunnel-style tent.

Other tents still, like the Eureka Copper Canyon 4 Tent or Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Tent, employ a collapsible style of integrated poles that forms a rigid structure once assembled. These tents are often among the easiest to use, but also the weakest overall, as any strong force against their poles could collapse them.

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The sun dipped below the horizon, and I was set to sleep on top of Wetterhorn Peak at 14,021 feet. Deep in the mountains of Colorado, I was putting my sleeping bag system to a real stress test: Would I be able to stay warm enough at the equivalent elevation of Camp 3 on Denali? All signs were pointing to yes, as my Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Sleeping Bag had a trick up its sleeve: titanium.

Similar to how an emergency blanket reflects heat, the Mythic Ultra uses a super-thin titanium coating on the interior of the bag to really bump up the BTUs — and boy, does it work. Complementing this is a high-loft 900 down fill, 10-denier fabrics, and expertly designed baffles, making the Mythic Ultra one of the best sleeping bag options on the market for those who enjoy packing light. 

I took the Ultra Mythic 180 into the coldest environments I could this summer and came away confident that this was the new bag for me. No cold spots, no hot spots, and a well-fitted foot box; consider me impressed with my three sticking points. 

In short: The Rab Mythic Ultra 180 ($600) is a superbly designed sleeping bag that hits all the marks for someone trying to go light while staying warm. Utilizing a proprietary titanium coating that reflects heat without sacrificing breathability, the Mythic Ultra 180 is a step ahead of other sleeping bags and might be the game-changer I’ve been looking for.

Looking for a new sleeping bag? Check out how the Mythic Ultra compares to the rest of the market in GearJunkie’s Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag Buyer’s Guide.

Rab Mythic Ultra Sleeping Bag

Check 18° Price at REICheck 32° Price at REICheck 32° Price at Backcountry

7.7

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Shell fabric: 10-denier recycled ripstop nylon
• Available temperature ratings: 18°, 32°F (tested)
• Available sizes: Regular, long
• Tested packed volume: 2.7 L
• Tested weight: 14.1 oz.
• Tested fill weight: 6.3 oz.
• Insulation: 900-fill down

Pros

• Titanium-infused inner lining reflects body heat back to you
• Insanely packable at ~3 L compressed
• 900-fill power down is very warm and compressible
• Less than a pound

Cons

• Zipper is quite short at 9.5" (in the 32-degree version)
• Expensive

Ian Atkinson

Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Sleeping Bag: Review

Titanium-Powered Warmth?

When it comes to a sleeping bag, I’m always primarily concerned with warmth. This can come down to personal preference, as some people sleep cold and some sleep hot (like me).

Because of my natural tendency, I was able to push the limits of the Mythic Ultra 180 (a 28-degree comfort/18-degree lower limit rated bag) with some confidence, but is it truly a warm bag? For the weight, I would say yes. 

The headline here is the Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT), a reflective titanium coating that bounces heat back into the bag. My main concern here was whether this coating is breathable enough not to trap moisture and reduce the effectiveness of the down. Thankfully, I found the bag never got wet during my use, even in a fully enclosed shelter and camping near a river. 

This is truly a game-changer, as anyone would know who has spent time huddled in a space blanket, warm yet soaked to the bone. But it seems that Rab has hit the mark here with adding some warmth with the most minimal weight penalty, and the brand has even expanded to using the tech in its high alpine insulation apparel, such as the Mythic Ultra Jacket we’ve reviewed previously.

Bag Construction and Cut

After warmth, I look at the baffle construction and cut on any new sleeping bag I jump into. Compression of down via your sleeping position can cause the loft to collapse, meaning minimal warmth can be collected by the bag. This often happens for me near my butt and knees when sleeping on my side and my shoulders when sleeping on my back.

The Mythic Ultra, however, is one of the few sleeping bags in which I didn’t develop cold spots. This is owed to the expertly engineered baffles and differential cut.

A differential cut is a feature where the inner fabric circumference is cut smaller than the outer fabric. This means that when you press the inside of the bag taut, it does not compress the outer layer, helping to retain loft.

Finally, this sleeping bag sports an angled foot box with an emphasis on comfort. I’ve had some poor experiences in the past with tight foot boxes, causing my calves to contract all night — not fun when trying to recover. I was pleased to find that Rab considered this in its design and made sure the foot box was snug without constricting the feet into an unnatural position.

An Unreal Packed Size

The Mythic Ultra 180 is wildly light and packable for the amount of warmth it can deliver, and uses a 900-fill power goose down. Down produces warmth by the amount of air it is able to trap within its loft, and the fill rating quantifies its ability to loft to a certain volume after compression.

900 fill is top of the line, and it compresses much better than the 650 or 700 fill downs commonly used in other backpacking sleeping bags. In fact, during my bench testing, I discovered that the Mythic Ultra 180 can be compressed to a mere 2.7 L! This type of packability is important to me, as I often find myself packing into the backcountry with a 36L pack, meaning every inch of volume is needed.

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Sustainable Build

Not only is the Rab Mythic Ultra 180 designed exceptionally well for comfort, warmth, weight, and packability, but it is made with recycled fabrics and a fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment. You wouldn’t know it by touch or sight, but the ultralight 10-denier Atmos fabric is made of 99% recycled material, and the DWR treatment for water repellency is free of any PFAS “forever chemicals.” 

Props to Rab here for making these decisions based on sustainability and the environment — it really shows they are trying to be an industry leader in more ways than one, and that you don’t have to give up these metrics to score high marks in warmth and weight.

Short-Sheeted by the Zipper

My complaints are limited to only one with the Mythic Ultra 180: a tight fit when getting into and out of the bag due to the short 9.5-inch-long entrance zipper. I unfortunately found myself putting undue stress on the stitching multiple times, and even once, I felt like I might have popped a stitch. As a 6’0” 190-pound human, it would be tough to recommend the regular-sized bag to anyone larger than me. 

I will note that this is an issue unique to only the 30-degree version of this sleeping bag, as the 20-degree cut hosts a half-length zipper. Still a bit short, but much more room to get in and out of the bag.

If I could suggest any changes, it would be making the entrance zipper at least 6 inches longer and adding a second zipper pull — the weight penalty would be minimal and the ingress would be easier.

Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Sleeping Bag: Conclusion

All in all, I’ve loved my time so far with the Rab Mythic Ultra 180. It’s warm for the weight, packable, ultralight, and made with sustainable materials. It managed to quell my concern of cold spots and tight foot boxes, and it kept me comfy on the summit of not one but two 14,000-foot peaks here in Colorado. 

The Mythic Ultra 180 is made for thru-hikers, fastpackers, bikepackers, and mountaineers alike who prioritize weight and packability while staying warm. It’s also perfect for folks who are looking to invest in a sustainable sleeping setup given the recycled fabric and PFAS-free DWR treatment.

If you’re looking for something more affordable and don’t mind the extra weight or volume, you might find the budget Kelty Cosmic Down 20 or Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 a better fit. For exceptionally cold sleepers, you’d want to find a bag that leans further into the warmth versus weight side of the spectrum.

Outside of those cases, however, the Rab Mythic Ultra 180 is a bag well worth the consideration, and will undoubtedly be my personal sleeping choice for years to come.

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Camping and comfort aren’t words that always pair together. Although most camp setups don’t hold a flame to a fancy hotel (or even a glamping setup), it is possible to sleep under the stars while being maximally comfortable. If you have the right gear.

A big fan of sleeping outdoors, I’ve cumulatively spent over a year of my life sleeping and living in a tent. I worked at a summer camp for seven summers, was a proud member of my college’s backpacking club, and took any and every opportunity to go on weekend camping and road trips. 

Through my years of sleeping outdoors, I have had the opportunity to test out a lot of different sleeping pads. I can confidently say that not all of them are created equally. Some sleeping pads are designed to be ultralight for backpacking trips, while others are created to be as comfortable for car camping as humanly possible.

If you’re looking for the latter, and aren’t worried about weight or bulk (or price), you’ll love the EXPED LuxeMat Duo. 

In short: The EXPED LuxeMat Duo is one of the most comfortable and luxurious camping mats I have ever rested my head on. Four inches thick and insulated with polyurethane foam, the 7.2 R-value ensures you’ll stay toasty warm all year round. This sleeping pad is ideal for car campers who want the plushest and most comfortable sleep setup.

Looking for a new camp mattress? Check out how the LuxeMat compares to the rest of our favorites in GearJunkie’s Best Camping Mattress Buyer’s Guide.

EXPED LuxeMat Duo

Check Price at EXPEDCheck Price at REI

(Photo/EXPED)

Specifications

• Size (Medium): 41" x 72" x 4"
• Size (Long Wide Plus): 52" x 77.6" x 4"
• Cover materials: Organic cotton, tricot wool, and recycled ripstop polyester
• Core materials: Recycled tricot polyester, TPU polyether film laminate, hydrolysis resistant, honeycomb embossed, OEKO-TEX 100 certified, DWR-free
• Insulation: 16 kg/m³ PU foam, OEKO-TEX 100 tested

Pros

• Extremely comfortable
• Fits in truck beds and large vehicles
• Double 'deflate' valves aid in deflation speed
• Cotton and wool topper improve comfort and moisture management

Cons

• Heavy
• Bulky
• Inflation takes a while (especially without a pump)
• Deflation takes a while (especially without a pump)

Rebecca Parsons

EXPED LuxeMat Duo: Review

The LuxeMat Due comes in a medium ($500) and a long, wide option ($550). That means you don’t have to hang your feet off the end if you’re tall. The single mat is plenty spacious when you’re sleeping alone.

However, the duo has ample room for two people, making it a great option for couples, parents with kids, or dog parents who like to sleep with their pup beside them.

It may feel like close quarters for two friends. But it’s about the same width as two normal ground pads set up side by side. If you’re unsure which you prefer, two single EXPED LuxeMats can be zipped together, so you can sleep solo when you want or join them together for some snuggle action.

What Makes It Luxe?

EXPED offers four different levels of comfort: firm comfort (DeepSleep), soft comfort (MegaMat), plush comfort (MegaMat Max), and Luxury comfort (LuxeMat). The new LuxeMat Duo mats all feature double deflation valves, and all of EXPED’s mats have a new foam coring design. Both of those features help with deflation speed.

The LuxeMat takes the fan-favorite MegaMat even a step further, adding an organic cotton and tricot-brushed wool insulation cover. It provides warmth and moisture management at once.

LuxeMat Duo Setup

Many sleeping pads these days claim to be self-inflating, but most require at least a little bit of help from your lungs. Because the LuxeMat is generously sized, manually inflating it is incredibly difficult. Luckily, EXPED includes a mini hand pump that helps take the burden off your lungs. The LuxeMat also claims to be self-inflating, although it will never reach full capacity without the user topping it off.

The first time I set out to inflate the LuxeMat, I struck out. The ground pad comes with a simple set of instructions that aren’t extremely helpful but the one thing I did notice (after I got to the campground) is that the instructions suggest you unfurl your LuxeMat and open the one-way inflation valve for 24 hours before your first use. Oops.

I found the above video to be far more helpful than the written instructions that come with the mat. The second time I inflated the LuxeMat, I did everything correctly. As instructed, I first let it inflate for 24 hours at home. Much to my delight, it did indeed fill with air.

I deflated it, packed it back up, and when I used it in the field, it inflated to almost full capacity within an hour. It was inflated enough that I could have used it, but for good measure, I attached the included hand pump and filled it until it was firm.  

Comfort Features

With the LuxeMat, EXPED didn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to comfort. The first, and possibly biggest comfort features of the LuxeMat is the wool-insulated, organic cotton tricot topper. As mentioned, this is the biggest distinguishing factor between EXPED’s MegaMat series and the LuxeMat.

The wool is certified to the highest animal welfare standard and is equal parts comfortable and warm. It delivers moisture management, and it’s breathable in the summer yet warm and cozy in the winter. The entire topper is also removable, so you can easily throw it in the wash after a camping trip.

Because the mat is 4 inches thick, it is comfortable whether you are sleeping on even ground or somewhere with some rocks and debris. The ripstop shell is incredibly durable and came away damage-free even after realizing I had laid it out over broken glass. I wouldn’t recommend this, but it’s good to know the pad can withstand a lot.

The LuxeMat also comes with a repair kit, which I haven’t needed yet. However, it’s nice to have if I eventually encounter any inflation trouble. And if the repair kit doesn’t fix your problem, EXPED has a lifetime warranty on all of its gear. Send it back to the brand, and they’ll repair it for you.  

Thoughtful Features

The LuxeMat Duo is oversized (especially if you’re using the Long Wide Plus version). That can make carrying it a bit awkward. Luckily, EXPED thought this through. The mat has a series of handhold straps down the side and along the corners, which are easy to grab onto and helpful when carrying or adjusting the inflated mat. 

The LuxeMat also has pockets in the front and rear of the pad for stashing essentials. There are mesh pockets and zippered pockets, which I found to be the perfect place to store my cellphone, headlamp, and an evening beverage. The zippered pockets are a secure place to store your car keys or anything you don’t want to get lost in your tent. 

Insulation & R-Value

The LuxeMat is designed to be incredibly warm, making it a great option for cold-weather camping. It is 4 inches thick, delivering both comfort and warmth as you lie off the ground.

The pad is also insulated with 16 kg/m polyurethane foam that is OEKO-TEX 100 certified, further contributing to its R-value of 7.2. This is a proper four-season sleeping pad.

I split time between Santa Cruz, Calif., and Oahu, Hawaii. Oahu is warm year-round, but Santa Cruz drops into the 40s and 30s in the coldest months of winter. I tend to be a cold-weather wimp and get cold easily while sleeping, so the higher the R-value, the happier I am.

If you’re worried that the pad will be too warm, don’t. I found that it works well in warm weather, too. Having a high R-value doesn’t mean that the pad generates heat; it just prevents cold air from the ground from passing through the mat. When camping on Oahu, I typically just sleep outside or throw the pad in the bed of my truck and enjoy sleeping under the stars. 

LuxeMat Accessories

EXPED has created a handful of accessories compatible with the EXPED LuxeMat Duo (and single). These include a wool blanket, pillow, and electric pump. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to test out any of the accessories.

Packing the LuxeMat

Like a lot of sleeping pads, packing away the LuxeMat can be tricky. It includes two deflating valves to help speed up the process. I really appreciated those. But I did find that if I didn’t seal them after rolling out the air, then the pad would start to inflate again.

It’s definitely possible to deflate the mat by hand. But I found that using a pump or a handheld vacuum to suck out the air made for a much easier and faster experience. Without an electric pump, it takes a diligent rolling technique to ensure all of the air is squeezed out.

The LuxeMat comes with a stuff sack for storing and transporting the mat, complete with a handle for easy carrying. 

EXPED LuxeMat Duo: Final Thoughts

The LuxeMat is too large for backpacking, but it’s a great option for car camping trips. If you plan to use the LuxeMat inside a tent, just be sure your tent is large enough. This thing is big. It won’t fit inside a two-person backpacking tent, but it fits nicely in most three- or four-person camping tents.

In addition to traditional car camping, I found that the LuxeMat is a great option for use inside your vehicle. EXPED does offer a Megamat Auto, which is shaped to fit between a vehicle’s wheel wells. However, the LuxeMat Duo fits pretty well.

It fits in the back of my car and could easily fit inside a built-out van. And if you’re short on extra beds in your home, it’s comfortable and big enough to use as an inflatable guest bed.

If comfort is your top priority when camping, you should look into the EXPED LuxeMat. It’s available in single and double options, and its 7.2 R-value ensures that you’re comfortable and warm all year round. Although the price is steep, the LuxeMat delivers the comfort of sleeping in your own bed wherever you choose to roam.

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Nothing screams “summer” quite like a backyard griddle party. The smells of cooking meat and veggies in the air, people chatting, cold beverages in hand — it’s a recipe for good times and fond memories. And Solo Stove wants in on the action with its latest release, the Steelfire 30 Stainless Griddle.

On June 12, 2025, the brand, known for its smokeless fire pits, announced its first propane-fired griddle system. The griddle has a patent-pending “Solo Racetrack Burner Configuration” that supposedly heats up faster than conventional cast iron griddles. Solo Stove said it heats evenly, requires no seasoning, and cleans up in a flash.

In a press release, Solo Stove said that it aims to “disrupt the griddle market” with this new release.

“We are thrilled to enter into the outdoor griddle space, with an innovation that goes beyond cooking,” John Larson, CEO of Solo Stove, said. “With the Steelfire 30 Griddle, we are introducing another product into our portfolio that will create unforgettable moments and lasting memories with family and friends, all while enjoying the simple joy of easy, outdoor entertaining.”

You can purchase the Griddle alone ($900) or buy the “Stand Bundle” ($1,200), which includes a modular stand.

Solo Griddle

This latest innovation from Solo Stove follows its Windchill Cooler, which was released earlier this spring. The brand that made its name on fire pits continues to branch out into new territory (it already boasts backyard torches and propane pizza ovens).

But griddles are a competitive space. Brands like Traeger, Camp Chef, and Weber have decades of experience designing and dialing their products. So, Solo Stove had to come out of the gate swinging.

To set the Steelfire Griddle apart from its competition, Solo Stove engineered a unique heating system it calls the Solo Stove Racetrack Burner Configuration. Solo Stove claims this heats up 35% faster than traditional cast-iron griddles. In just 7 minutes, it purportedly reaches 300-800 degrees Fahrenheit — the optimal heat range for cooking meats and veggies to perfection.

The Racetrack Burner is also said to eliminate hotspots and dead zones for a consistently hot cooking surface.

The griddle also has an integrated grease trap. It funnels the greasy juices from burgers, steaks, bacon, and other foods into a container.

Customers who invest in the Griddle + Stand Bundle will also receive the modular griddle stand. The stand has folding side shelves and an integrated housing for the propane tank. It’s made of powder-coated steel and is built to handle season after season of outdoor griddling weather. The basic package (without the stand) only includes the griddle itself.

The Griddle Stand can be purchased separately ($400), but you can save $100 if you buy them bundled.

Solo Stove: More Griddling Action to Come

If you’re excited by the Solo Stove Steelfire Stainless Griddle, you aren’t alone. GearJunkie is working on getting a sample for testing to write a full review sometime this summer.

This isn’t the last griddle product we’ll hear about from Solo Stove, either. The brand promised that later this summer, it plans to release a full lineup of griddling accessories in a Burger Kit, Chef’s Kit, and Essentials Kit. The kits will “make everything from Saturday morning breakfasts to smashburgers or hibachi nights a breeze.”

The Steelfire Stainless Griddle is currently only available for preorder. According to the brand, units are expected to start shipping sometime in mid-July. Buy yours now, and be ready to hit the ground running when griddling season hits high water. The Griddle, the Stand, and the Griddle + Stand Bundle are all on the Solo Stove website now.

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As I trudged up the nearly 1,000-foot vertical trail leading to the top of the mountain I was camping on, I watched the sunset and the storm clouds building. The conditions weren’t ideal for pitching the new Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker Backpacking Tent for the first time, but I was going to put it through a serious test.

About an hour later, as the last light disappeared over the ridge line, fat raindrops started to splat all around me. No sooner had I inverted my trekking poles and inserted them into the tent than the skies opened up and rain started pelting the hybrid double-walled trekking pole tent. 

Perhaps one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with a new tent is to hole yourself up in it for a night in a rainstorm — the good news is the Skyscape Trekker ($275) kept me warm and dry. While I would not call the small one-person tent “spacious,” it did fit my large, tall frame, as this model is designed for tall hikers like myself.

In short: If you are a tall ultralight backpacker looking for a versatile three-season ultralight tent, the Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker backpacking tent is a great option. It has an 8-foot-long floor, and weighs a scant 26 ounces. It is ideal for tall backpackers who spend lots of time on the trail and like to go light. The tent is easy to set up, and the double-wall vestibules can open for a 300-degree view of the night sky.

Check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Tents.

Six Moons Skyscape Trekker Tent

Check Price at Six Moons Design

Specifications

• Type: Tent, hybrid double wall
• Cost: $275
• Sleeps: 1 person
• Weight: 28 oz.
• Coverage: 23 ft²
• Vestibule Size: 16 ft²
• Pack size: 11" x 4.5"
• Entry: 2-door
• Comes with: Tent, stuff sacks, guy lines
• Frame: Two 45" poles (not included)
• Stakes: 6 (sold separately)

Pros

• Hybrid double wall
• Extended 8’ long floor
• Two large doors
• Flies can be left open for 300° views/airflow

Cons

• Stakes not included
• Expensive

David Young

Six Moons Skyscape Trekker 1-Person Tent Review

Weight

The first thing you’ll notice about this tent is its minimalist design. The entire thing weighs just 26 ounces (not counting the stakes and trekking poles used to pitch it). Only one tent on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Tents is lighter — the Gossamer Gear The Two, which is a mere 23 ounces.

No matter how you slice it, this is a light tent. But take note: The tent stakes and trekking poles are not included with your purchase — those you have to provide on your own.

Setup

The initial setup at dusk with a storm approaching was a little confusing. I followed the instructions on the stuff sack and at first tried to keep the trekking poles upright and outside the tent. 

After realizing they needed to be inverted and inside the body of the tent, it popped up easily. Subsequent setups took a matter of minutes. I got better at figuring out the tension on the three stakes that keep the tent upright over time. 

With a little practice, you can get this tent up and ready to jump into really fast. I had to remove the pads and baskets on my Gossamer Gear LT5 three-piece carbon trekking poles to insert them into the slot at the top of the tent. It helps to notch your poles at 45” so you can quickly adjust them to the right recommended length for the tent.

There’s a built-in bar at the top of the tent on either side of where the trekking poles go. That offers additional support. The two vestibule guy lines can be staked out on either side if the weather is bad. Or, you can roll them back, which is essentially like sleeping in a mosquito net bivvy. Stakes and trekking poles needed to set up this tent are not included when you buy the Skyscape Trekker.

Long but Not Spacious 

Standing at nearly 6’3”, I’ve grown accustomed to tents being a bit cozy if not downright cramped. At times, I’ve carried a two-man tent just for myself to ensure that I have a little extra space. The Skyscape Trekker Backpacking Tent is designed with tall backpackers like me in mind.

This one-person model of this double-walled lightweight tent extends to 8 feet. It ensures I have plenty of room to stretch out after a long day. The tent is also designed with 60% head space versus 40% foot space, creating more room for my head and shoulders. This means I can sit up in the tent and change clothes.

There are two side entrances with an 8-foot vestibule space. I was able to stash my pack and boots under there during the rainstorm. There is a bathtub-style floor to the tent. However, rain and mud still splashed up on the netting when it was really coming down.

The vestibule canopy, depending on how you set it up, leaves about a 6-inch gap between the ground. While good for airflow, this is where the water splashed back up on the tent. 

Overall, this tent is great for rainy conditions thanks to the hybrid double-wall. I was positioned where the heavy rain got one side of the tent a bit wet and muddy. Despite the length of the tent, it is still relatively narrow at about 4 feet across at its widest. The head of the tent comes to a point, so space is at a premium there.

Hybrid Double-Wall & Skyscape Mode

At 28 ounces, this is one of the lighter tent options out there, especially for a hybrid double-wall tent. That means that 80% of the canopy is separated from you by a mesh wall. This is key for major rainstorms, as I experienced. It kept the wet canopy from dripping on me. 

The Skyscape Trekker’s body is made of 100% silicone-coated polyester. The canopy is 20D polyester, and the floor is 40D for additional strength. I used it without a footprint and had no issues.

One of the best features of this tent is that you can roll back the vestibule, converting it into a net tent with great airflow and 300-degree views. I wasn’t able to utilize the feature when it was raining. But on clear starry nights, it is an awesome feature.

The two doors on either side are large and easy for bigger hikers to get in and out of. It’s also nice for tossing larger sleeping pads and sleeping bags into the tent. 

Six Moon Skyscape Trekker 1 Plus: Who Is It For?

If you are a tall thru-hiker or weight-conscious backpacker, then you will appreciate the Skyscape Trekker. At less than 2 pounds, it’s a great option for fast and light backpacking trips and thru-hikes. For bigger backpackers like me, it’s one of the best single-person tent options I’ve come across. It weighs almost nothing, sets up easily, and I fit without issue.

While the tent will work for an overnight trip, from car camping to backcountry excursions, the price will be a hindrance for anyone who is not serious about spending many nights each season. 

At close to $300, this is intended for serious trekkers who are after a lightweight home away from home. It’s a steep price for such a minimalist tent, but for a 26-ounce tent, it’s priced to compete with other similar tents.

For any trip where I just need a tent for myself, and I want to move quickly and as light as possible through the backcountry, this tent has earned a permanent spot in my backpacking setup.

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