Tents : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentSeven backpacking tents are reviewed here, based on extensive field tests. The Nemo Losi 3P earns the Gear of the Year award, praised for its lightweight spaciousness, ventilation, weather protection and easy setup. The Big Agnes Gore Pass 2 is judged a "killer value," while the Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 is sturdy but the lightest of the bunch. The 2008 and 2007 buyer's guide picks -- the Marmot Aura and Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL2 -- are also worth considering and still widely available.

Our AssessmentThis older review compares 18 double-wall backpacking tents, which are warmer than single-wall tents and less apt to have condensation problems. Based on thorough testing, the tents are rated 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.

Our AssessmentAmazon.com also makes the owner-written reviews and ratings of tents sold here very easy to browse. You can filter the tents by type, and sort the list by average rating. Quite a few tents stand out here for high ratings based on enough reviews to make them significant. It's interesting to see that not all the top-rated tents are at the high end of the price range, though owners do praise the high-end Paha Que brand for its lifetime warranty and excellent rainproofing.

Our AssessmentEditors of this publication aimed at family campers pick two dome tents (one more a hybrid dome/wall tent) as the best new tents for 2009. The April gear guide issue describes eight other tents, but doesn't evidence any testing. The 2008 Editors' Choice list is available online, recommending three family tents that are still available, and a January 2008 review recommends the Kelty Lounge 4 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.

Our AssessmentExperienced 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.

Our AssessmentThis review compares two Eureka series of family tents, the N!ergy and the Copper Canyon. The latter is judged more durable, but the author's tests show that the corner poles on both tents might need some bracing in high winds. Another reasonably recent review at this site, by Steve Mann, recommends the MSR Mutha Hubba -- saying it performs well both for backpacking and car camping, with an excellent balance between space and weight. This site also provides comparison reviews of ultralight tents, three-season tents and four-season tents, but all three reviews are outdated.

Our AssessmentThis retail site has accumulated dozens of owner-written reviews and ratings for quite a few of the tents sold here. Not surprisingly, some of the least expensive tents get lower ratings, but the reviews show some bargains too.

Our AssessmentThese owner-written reviews of backpacking tents are nicely organized into sections, and you can sort the list to show the top-rated tents that are currently available. 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.

Our AssessmentMost of the family and backpacking tents sold here have accumulated only a few reviews from owners, but several tents stand out for their perfect five-star ratings from over a dozen owners.

Our AssessmentAbout.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 nor 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: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentEditors don't rank or test tents here, but you can sort this chart of tent specifications by weight, price, floor space, interior height, vestibule, pack size or capacity, then investigate the tents that match your priorities best.

Our AssessmentThis review doesn't document any testing, but gains some credibility due to the author's experience as an expert in family travel. She's the family adventures writer for Suite101.com, as well as the About.com guide to travel in France. However, the four tents she recommends here don't fare well in owner-written reviews we found at other sites.