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The best 2-person tent is a camping stalwart.
If you keep a reliable, versatile one of these in your arsenal, you'll be all set for trips ranging from front-country camping to longer backpacking excursions. Even when I'm solo, a two-person allows enough space to stash my gear inside the tent while still keeping my sleeping bag away from condensation-covered tent walls.
Many of my favorite models are light enough to comfortably be carried by one person, and split up, it's even easier. I look for models with two doors and two vestibules, which helps avoid awkward crawling around for after-dark bathroom breaks. Check for a good space-to-weight ratio as well—my baseline is around 28 square feet of interior space, and weighing no more than four pounds. Aside from the two doors and vestibules, I love horizontal spreader bars as part of the pole system, which offers more shoulder room for a minimal weight penalty. Other nice additions include taller bathtub floors to keep splashing rain out of the tent, durable zippers and pole systems, and a few mesh interior pockets for organizing small gear.
Most of my recommendations here are semi free-standing, which means they come with a pole system and can stand up on their own, though they need to be staked for complete structure. I did include one trekking pole shelter, which is lighter weight, though you'll experience more condensation from the single-wall design, and one car-camping tent, which is heavier but more spacious and less expensive.
1. Best Overall 2-Person Tent
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 - Moosejaw, $449.95
At 2.8 pounds, 28 feet of interior space, and two doors / vestibules, the Tiger Wall hits all the points for a backpacking tent that you can carry on your own, share with a partner, and take car camping. It's slightly smaller and has a lower weight than the Copper Spur, which means it's my go-to for solo backpacking when I want the space and flexibility of a two-person semi-freestanding tent. I also don't mind sharing this tent with a hiking partner, but it will feel smaller than other models. Unlike the Copper Spur, the Tiger Wall does require stakes at the foot for structure, and the foot area is narrower to save weight. This shelter vents well in muggy conditions, and has less condensation than other tents I've used. Overall the durability is excellent for such a lightweight model, though when the fly material gets wet, it can get caught in the tent zippers if you're not careful. This tent pitches quickly with the single-hub, color-coded pole system, and the shock-cord segments snap together quickly and don't stretch out even after multiple seasons of use.
2. The Most Versatile Option
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 - Moosejaw, $549.95
Big Agnes has cornered the market on space-to-weight ratio for their semi-freestanding line, and the Copper Spur is a prime example of this achievement. This tent weighs just over three pounds, and has 29 feet of interior space with two large vestibules and dual side-entry doors for easy access. Much of this space comes from a brilliantly designed pole system, which has a horizontal spreader bar that drops the sidewalls to nearly vertical, stretches the tent to nearly 50 inches in the middle, and allows a peak height of 40 inches. This is more interior space (and better utilized) than other similarly styled tents on the market. This tent pitches quickly with color-coded poles, durable buckles for the fly, and multiple guy-out points to keep the fly away from the tent body. This is my go-to tent when I'm backpacking and sharing a tent with a partner—when it's split between two people, the weight is barely noticeable in my pack. I listed this as the most versatile, since it's light enough to carry on my own, but big enough for car camping and sleeping in with a hiking partner.
3. The Best for Car Camping
Coleman Skydome Camping Tent - Amazon, $79.99
Everyone needs a good old-fashioned, reliable car camping tent in their garage, and this beast of a tent from Coleman gets the job done. I throw this classic tent into the bed of my truck for times when I know I won't be packing a tent into the backcountry and I want room to spread out at base camp. It has nearly four feet of head room, a quick pitch, durable zippered door closures, and mesh interior pockets for organizing gear. This is the kind of tent you use with a full-on inflatable mattress for roomy front-country campsites, and while it doesn't have the highest rating for waterproofing, it'll be just fine in most weather conditions.
4. The Best 2-Person Trekking Pole Tent
The Two by Gossamer Gear - Outdoor Gear Exchange, $375
I avoided trekking-pole shelters for a long time, but for fast, solo backpacking, Gossamer Gear's wildly popular shelter converted me. I use their one-person version, but the two-person follows the same design and construction, with more than enough space for two people to sleep comfortably and keep gear protected from the elements. Unlike a freestanding or semi-freestanding tent, this style of shelters gets structure from trekking poles at the front and back, then tight guylines and staking around the perimeter. They take some practice to set up correctly, and the single-wall design means fighting condensation, but they can't be beat for space and weight savings. This model has a terrific space-to-weight ratio, with generous vestibules, durable mesh doors, and a tall bathtub floor that keeps mud and splashing rain out of the tent. The whole shelter weighs just under two pounds and is 83 inches long, 48 inches wide at the head, and 43 inches tall.
5. The Best Four-Season Tent
MSR Access 2 - Moosejaw, $659.95
I'd be remiss not to include a four-season option here, and this sturdy tent is well designed for space without a massive weight penalty. I've felt suffocated in other four-season tents, but the venting and spacious shoulder room make this feel more like a lighter-weight backpacking tent than a winter-ready option. It still holds its own in the snow though, with a steeply domed roof, sturdy poles that won't snap or fail even in the most frigid conditions, and a 20-denier ripstop nylon fly treated with XtremeShield PU coating that holds up to wind gusts and pelting sleet. This tent's pole structure looks different from three season tents, with a hooped, central support frame that can handle snow loading without collapsing, and steep sidewalls to shed the load. You do feel more enclosed in this tent, as the only true mesh are two small windows on the tent body, with more secure ripstop nylon for the majority of the tent body. That just comes with the territory of a winter-ready tent, and it's worth it.
6. A Small, Lightweight 2-Person Tent for Backpacking
Amazon
Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent - Amazon, $76.00
Fortunately, you don't need to splurge on a Big Agnes to get your hands on a great backpacking tent. This option from Clostnature might not be quite as light, but its portability and sturdiness are more than serviceable. The tent is free-standing with a quick two-pole setup, and the interior design is optimized for ventilation with its mesh walls. It's also on the larger side for backpacking tents, so you can still give yourselves plenty of space while keeping your pack light.
NEXT: 7 BEST CAMPING BEDS FOR THIS SPRING & SUMMER
