Topic: The Best 2-Person Tents of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 46 times)
previous topic - next topic
It's your post, so post it!
Topic: The Best 2-Person Tents of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 46 times)
previous topic - next topic
You’ll inevitably spend a little more time in your tent car camping than backpacking. Lazy early mornings, an outfit change after your afternoon hike, pre-dinner nap—so you want a tent that you, and your camping partner, can stretch out in co*fortably in. Besides having the most generous square footage of any tent in my test, what set the Coleman Skydome Tent apart from its co*petition was its height: an impressive four feet. While many 2-person tents only have space for one person, the 60 inches of width means that not only can you fit yourself and your adventure partner (snuggling optional; the tent is wide enough to acco*modate a queen-size sleeping pad), but also a four-legged friend.
The drawback of this tent is that it is less intuitive to set up than others in my test—I had to go back to the directions multiple times to figure it out. The two poles, which are connected to the tent body (a boon to anyone who has ever forgotten their poles at home) snapped into place with the end sliding easily into a pouch on the opposite corner and the tabs clicking into place. But when it came time to put on the rainfly, it took some searching to figure out where the pole slid into the underside of the rainfly. But once it was set up, the trouble was worth it, as this is the best awning I’ve ever seen on a 2-person tent—better than a lot of four-person tents.
Despite being a 2-person tent, the Coleman Skydome only has one door, which is less than ideal if you are on the wrong side of the tent when nature calls in the middle of the night. Worse, the door is pretty small, limiting the view outside the tent on a buggy day. It also has only one dedicated mesh pocket on the interior for stashing odds and ends like headlamps and glasses, while other tents in our test have as many as three per person.
This tent has beco*e a mainstay of the lightweight backpacking co*munity for good reason. It perfectly balances low weight with long-term durability and an intuitive setup—two people exhausted by a big day on trail can easily set up this tent in a couple of minutes. I’ve seen backpackers take the Copper Spur everywhere from thru-hikes of the John Muir Trail to casual trips on the Olympic Coast, and it’s performed equally well in all environments.
Like many lightweight tents, treating this one with some TLC will extend its lifespan over the long haul—I reco*mend taking along the five-ounce acco*panying ground sheet and choosing tent sites free of branches or burrs that could snag on the rainfly.
This has long been one of the top choices for couples heading out on longer adventures into the backcountry, but some men have found that it’s a bit cozier than they’d like when a friend squeezes in. A longer version of this tent is co*ing out in 2023 that should make it easier to sleep facing opposite directions, as well as stash bags inside, if necessary.
There are a number of advantages to having a rooftop tent over a traditional camping tent. It simplifies setup, which can be advantageous when trying to get settled after dark. It maximizes the number of surfaces you can camp on—so long as the ground is level, it should work fine. Finally, it provides protection (or at least peace of mind) against some of the creepy crawlers on the ground.
iKamper wanted to make sure just about anyone could get a roof top tent, and that led to the Skycamp Mini. Modeled after the popular Skycamp 2.0, the Mini weighs 35 pounds less and, at 125 pounds, co*es in well below the 150-pound mark a lot of vehicles max out at when it co*es to rooftop weight. To showcase this, the co*pany advertises the Mini on top of a MINI Cooper to get their point across. However, this is also a popular option for truck beds as well.
Even a lightweight 2-person tent can monopolize space in your pack if you aren’t careful. So, if you’re on a quest for a sub 10-pound base weight, it might be time to turn to the world of tarps. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Flat Tarp has fully bonded seams and excellent UV resistance, and it doesn’t even crack nine ounces (assuming you’ve brought along some trekking poles to help support the interior space). With innumerable setups, there is a variation for just about any three-season condition you anticipate encountering, but the trick is that you’ll need to master the art of the setup to ensure you stay dry, and your shelter stays erect, when conditions start to deteriorate. Still, this camping tarp makes an excellent and lightweight option as one of the best 2-person tents.
Not all adventures require the same level of preparation. Sometimes the forecast is clear for miles and I’m only going to be camping 30 miles from home anyway—I’m not fussed about having a bomber tent.
Which is good, because this tent is not that—there are some noticeable quality differences between this and our higher-priced reco*mendations. The stitching of the floor is considerably thicker and looser, suggesting that this tent may let in some water in the wrong conditions. It also doesn’t wrap up around the sides the way a true bathtub floor does. I’d trust it in a summer PNW drizzle or the fair weather nights of the Southwest. Torrential downpours on the eastern seaboard, or pretty much any day in Colorado’s mercurial mountain ranges? Not so much.
But there are some pros to the Ozark Trail 2 (beyond that two-figure price tag). First off, it’s big. It easily fits both my husband and me and our gear without having to stash anything in the vestibule. The floor is quite substantial—no need for a separate tarp to go under it. It’s also a reasonably straightforward set up—newbie campers should try it out on the driveway before taking it out for an overnight, but if you’re at all familiar with car camping tents, this won’t pose any significant challenges.
Two-person tents range in cost from less than $50 to upwards of $500, with rooftop tents typically costing upwards of $3,000. These price differences typically reflect the quality of material and construction, and, in the case of backpacking tents, weight differences.
Some 2-person tents can easily fit two people; others are more of a squeeze. I’ve indicated in the above awards whether a tent is a roomy fit, a co*fortable fit, or a tight fit.
Most tents today have already been waterproofed, otherwise known as seam-sealed. But, over time, the seam-sealing on tents can start to wear down, and will need to be replaced. In a well-ventilated room (such as your garage), set up your tent, but place the rainfly on inside out. Then follow the instructions on your seam sealant (Gear Aid is a popular brand), being careful to avoid the zippers, to anywhere there is stitching on your tent, including where the guylines connect to the tent. When you’re done, simply wait 10 to 15 minutes for everything to dry.
To clean your 2-person tent at the end of your camping season, start by setting it up in a dry, well-ventilated room (such as a garage), and letting it dry overnight. Check the rainfly for any debris that might be stuck to it before packing it away. Next, open the door of your tent body, securing the mesh to the side. Pick up your tent and shake out any debris that is inside. Then, put your tent body away. Finally, inspect your poles and stakes for any debris before packing them into their respective stuff sacks. Store your tent in a dry area to ensure it’s operating in peak condition for next season.
I’ve tried, and watched others try, numerous tents over hundreds of nights in nine different states, pitching them on everything from alpine meadows to old-growth forests while long-distance backpacking to casual car camping. I’ve had my fair share of mishaps in tents, from getting flooded in Southern California to being blown off a sand dune outside of Death Valley, to bringing the wrong poles for my winter tent during a snowshoeing overnight in Olympic National Park.
The Outdoor Life gear team tested the best backpacking tents, camping tarps, and roof top tents to eventually select the best 2-person tents. The best overall tent was chosen based on its versatility. Everyone from first-time users to experienced outdoor enthusiasts can take the NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P backpacking, overlanding, and car camping.
Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.
Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.
There are a wide range of options on the market today for 2-person tents. We reco*mend choosing the best quality tent that your budget allows, as the weight-savings and reliability will pay dividends over the years.
The post The Best 2-Person Tents of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.
Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.
[/html]