For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Michael Lanza and Editors
Backpacker Magazine conducts year-round field tests of tents in rugged conditions. Most recently, in the Feb. 2008 issue, Michael Lanza rates and ranks five three-season backpacking tents based on reports… from several field testers. The 2008 Gear Guide doesn't rate tents, but provides brief reviews of 35 of the best new tents tested, recommending a few budget tents as well as top-rated tents in each size and type. Also, a useful specifications chart covers all the current tents from major manufacturers. The April 2008 issue gives two tents the 2008 Editors' Choice award. This is a good publication to check for new single-product tent reviews throughout the year.
by Doug Johnson
This review compares 18 double-wall backpacking tents -- warmer than single-wall tents, and less apt to have condensation problems. Based on thorough testing, the tents get ratings for ventilation, wind… stability, insect protection, durability and several other relevant factors. These specific ratings make it easy to pick out the best tent for a specific purpose, while the tents can also be ranked based on their overall average ratings. Though this article is older, many of the reviewed tents are still available. Still earlier articles include a 2004 review that compares and rates eleven single-wall tents, and a 2003 review that tests tarp shelters and bivy sacks. This site also provides detailed single-product tent reviews, and its newsletter often previews new tents.
by Contributors to REI.com
REI.com makes it easy to identify the tents owners like most, since the list of tents shows both each tent's average user rating and the number of owner-written reviews on which that average is based. You… can also filter the list to show just the type that interests you -- family camping tents, backpacking tents, etc. Some of the newest tents haven't accumulated more than a few user ratings, but ample reviews are available for many tents sold here. The site also includes a good buyer's guide.
by Editors of Outside Magazine
Outside Magazine reviews ten backpacking tents in this annual gear guide, giving one tent the Outside Gear of the Year award. Comments are brief but do allude to field tests. The article also summarizes… noteworthy advances in tent technology, and only new tents are reviewed each year. Several tents that earned the magazine's Gear of the Year award in recent years are still available. Also, a more recent article in the March 2008 issue reports on the "green" activities of several tent manufacturers.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
This retailer site lets you sort the list of tents by their average rating based on owner-written reviews. It's especially convenient to browse tents here, because the list also shows the number of reviews… on which the rating is based. We found only two tents with perfect five-star ratings from more than one or two owners, but many tents with slightly lower ratings have accumulated dozens of reviews. Therefore, once you've narrowed your choice to two or three tents, this is a good site for checking to see what owners have said about them.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
We rank this review lower only because of its age. Some of the tents tested here are still available, but more current reviews emphasize that tent technology has moved on since 2005. Although this older… tent review is titled "Family Tents," it includes one- and two-person tents as well. All told, the review compares 24 tents, nearly all domes, in three sizes, determined by square footage and number of people accommodated. Each tent is tested and rated for ease of setup, rain resistance, construction quality and convenience of use. The ratings chart also notes the number of doors, whether or not poles are aluminum, and whether or not the tent has a vestibule for extra storage and doorway protection.
by Sylvia Alarid
Camping Life magazine reviews tents big enough for family camping, but so far, tests only a few. However, two fairly recent tent reviews here do report on field testing. A Jan. 2008 review recommends the… Kelty Lounge 4 family dome tent based on actual usage. Two other family camping tents come in for criticism in a July 2007 review. Based on tests, editors say both the Eureka N!ergy 9 tent and the Wenzel Fern Ridge tent lack sufficient weather protection to stay dry during heavy rainstorms. An April 2007 Gear Review covers nine family camping tents, several of which provide electricity inside the tent. However, no testing or even usage is mentioned, and the tents aren't rated or ranked.
by Contributors to BackpackGearTest.org
Experienced hikers publish very detailed single-product tent reviews here, often including reports of long-term use. Though the site is aimed at backpackers, a few reports cover tents used by families.… Reviews of the same tent by different people are not consolidated in any way, and the site provides no way to compare tents except by reading each review. Hence it's a good site to check once you've narrowed your choice to two or three tents, rather than as a starting point.
by Roland Mueser
Most of the specific tent recommendations in this book are too old to be of much value, though the top-ranked Sierra Clip Flashlight tent is still available. However, this book -- based on a survey of 136… hikers on the Appalachian Trail -- still provides useful buyer's guide information on selecting a backpacking tent. The author concludes that as long as a tent feels large enough, is easy to pitch and enter and weighs no more than four pounds, it's apt to be satisfactory. Therefore, it's better to spend more on a pack where price differences matter more.
by Editors of National Geographic Adventure
by Contributors to Cabelas.com
by Alicia MacLeay and Contributors to Trailspace.com
The owner-written tent reviews and ratings at Trailspace.com are nicely organized into sections, and you can sort the list to show the top-rated tents. Quite a few tents listed here have accumulated only… one or two reviews, while others have been discontinued -- though this makes the site a good place to check reviews of secondhand tents. The guide itself, written by Alicia MacLeay, is a little dated, but still contains useful information.
by Contributors to Moosejaw.com
by Steve Mann
by JT Uptegrove
by David Sweet
About.com's Camping Guide reviews eight family tents here, with occasional references to personal use or testing. We rank this review lower than most primarily because it's apparently several years old and… the tents are neither rated or ranked, though some brand comparisons might still be useful. The author finds no drawbacks for the family tents made by Springbar and Paha Que. (Note that ConsumerSearch is a service of About.com, part of The New York Times Company.)
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
This site aggregates owner-written reviews and ratings from several retail sites, including REI, Moosejaw, Eastern Mountain Sports and others. The list of tents shows each model's average rating plus the… number of reviews on which it's based. If you click on a tent, you can see the number of reviews from each retailer and read the detailed reviews if you like. The site also shows where each tent is in stock, and makes clear that certain tents have been discontinued but may be available second-hand.
by Contributors to OutdoorReview.com
by Kelby Carr
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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 Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3 - Three Person Tent  from Amazon.com New: $477.00 In Stock.
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 Eureka Timberline 2 Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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