The form of tents may differ today to those of 30,000 B.C. made from foliage or animal hides. But the function doesn't: protection from the elements.
Using the hides of mammoths to make tents isn't possible today. Even if it was, it would be an unpopular move. So we use synthetic materials for our lightweight tents instead. In this guide, we're looking at the best tents for hikers and backpackers. These, plus a couple of other popular options like roof tents.
Our shortlist:
Wild Country Helm Compact 1 – Best hiking tent 2023
Sea To Summit Alto TR1 Plus – Best summer backpacking tent
Wild Country Zephyros Compact 2 – Best 3-season wild camping tent
Alpkit Kangri – Best winter hiking tent
Jack Wolfskin Skyrocket III Dome– Best 3-person hiking tent
Rab Ridge Raider Bivi – Best bivvy bag
TentBox Classic – Best rooftop tent
Tent size, shape, and seasonality differ wildly. So too, does price. What we're going to do here is go through a collection of popular categories of hiking tents, from 3-person tents to bivvy bags, recommending the best of each. We've also included some buying advice too.
The best tents for 2023
1. Wild Country Helm Compact 1
Best hiking tent 2023
Description
Introducing the Wild Country Helm Compact 1 tent, venerated winner of the [Trail Gear of the
Pros
- Incredible price
- Small pack-size
- Reliably durable
Cons
- Rarely available to buy
2. Sea To Summit Alto TR1 Plus
Best summer backpacking tent
Description
Like microtechnology, the science of lightweight backpacking tents continues to evolve at an
Pros
- Very lightweight and compact
- Ample headroom
- Breathable fabric
- 2-person version available
Cons
- Waterproof ratings could be better
3. Wild Country Zephyros Compact 2
Best 3-season wild camping tent
Description
To give this tent a proper test, we took it to the Isle of Skye for some wild camping in June.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good waterproof ratings
- Easy to pitch
Cons
- Very snug for 2 people
- Small porch
4. Alpkit Kangri
Best winter hiking tent
Description
For winter camping, a geodesic tent is a no brainer. But which one? This one. Tents of this sort
Pros
- Good value
- Sturdy geodesic shape
Cons
- Inner first pitching isn't good for wet weather
5. Jack Wolfskin Skyrocket III Dome
Best 3-person hiking tent
Description
Three-person tents are usually used by two people who want extra room. Jack Wolfskin's
Pros
- Simple and stable dome shape
- PFC-free
- Good waterproof ratings
Cons
- A tad weighty
6. Rab Ridge Raider Bivi
Best bivvy bag
Description
For those who think a one-person tent is just too spacious, there are bivvies. Our current
Pros
- Spacious
- Freestanding
- Great weather protection
Cons
- Not as lightweight as pole-less bivvies
7. TentBox Classic
Best rooftop tent
Description
The TentBox Classic stands out here like a hiker wearing blazing red hiking jacket on a snowy
Pros
- Super fast to set up
- Hardy and aerodynamic hardshell
- Lots of clever design touches
Cons
- No skylights
What to look for in a tent

Shape
Dome and geodesic tents have good stability and strength – geodesic tents are the best for winter, but these types tend to be heavier and less spacious than other shapes.
Tunnel tents provide the best ratio of space and weight. They can be quite stable too, if using stronger poles, more guy lines, and aren't tall. There are tunnel tents for every season and use, from family camping to backpacking and mountain treks.
Materials
This is an area that contains a lot of acronyms and unfamiliar terms. As a rule, silicone-coated outer fabrics are stronger than polyurethane (PU)-coated ones. Check the denier rating of the fabrics too. A denier rating (e.g., 15D) indicates the thickness of the fibres of the tent fabric. It's a good indicator of fabric strength, but predictably adds weight.
Waterproof ratings
Waterproof ratings (hydrostatic head, or HH) are another important aspect. The figure refers to how much water pressure the fabric can withstand (e.g., 3000mm HH = 3-metre column of water pressure). The higher the figure, the more waterproof a fabric is, but weight often climbs with it because more coating is needed.
Seam sealing is important to waterproofing too. A common tactic is taped seams, but the taping can wear away over the years. Some brands are coming up with alternatives, so have a look into these.
Space and liveability
In the same way, you need to ensure there is enough sleeping space, you also need to check how much storage space a tent has for your gear. This includes vestibules and storage pockets.
If there will be at least two of you in the tent, having a door on each side is always handy. And two-door tents often have two vestibules, which increases storage space.
Weight and packed size
We want our hiking tents to be as light as possible, but there needs to be a balance. If we're 3-season or winter campers, durability and weather resistance are equally important. For all, the right internal space is crucial too.
Some tents have a separate stuff sack for the inner, fly, and groundsheet to help distribute the weight among hikers. But 1-1.5kg backpacking tents and bivvy bags are approaching the size of a Subway sandwich when packed down and therefore aren't such a burden.
How to clean a tent
This is a really simple but also very important step. Tents need to be cleaned properly after each decent use to maintain fabric breathability, waterproofing, and overall condition. UV rays and abrasive dirt wears away at tent fabrics and can cause them to be less effective.
Products such as Grangers Tent and Gear Care Kit and Nikwax Camping Care Kit (below) are ideal for tent fabric care.
8. Grangers Tent And Gear Care Kit
Recommended
Pros
- PFC-free
- Water-based
- Very effective
Cons
- Nikwax Camping Care Kit is better value
Recommended

Pros
- PFC-free
- Water-based
- Dry bag included
Cons
- We prefer tent wash as a concentrate (like Grangers)