Best Backpacking Tent for Rain – 2021 Buying Guide

Are you going on a backpacking trip when it’s likely to rain? You sure would need to get the best backpacking tent for rain – there are several reasons for this.

First of all, you cannot consider purchasing any tent because not all tents can withstand rain, talk more about heavy rainfall. Secondly, you need to purchase a tent that you can carry conveniently in a backpack, and not every tent fits that.

You’ll have to scout through the many tent choices to pick one that fits. Don’t have the time? There’s nothing to worry about, we’ve done the scouting and here are the best options to go for;

8 Best Backpacking Tents for Heavy Rain – Our Picks

 

1. MSR Hubba Hubba NX

The Mountain Safety Research brand takes it as a responsibility to produce quality outdoor products. We have this Hubba Hubba lightweight backpacking tent, which is ideal for 1 or 2 persons from the brand.

It is a 3 season backpacking tent with a freestanding design that makes it easy to put up. When setting up, the tent reaches a height of 39 inches with a floor area of 29 square feet. There is also a wide vestibule area measuring about 17.5 square feet.

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX backpacking tent is recommended for rain as it features Xtreme Shield Waterproof Coating with a 3000mm polyurethane. Also, the floor fabric is made with sturdy nylon material.

Also, this backpacking tent comes with a rainfly, which is also lightweight at 3 pounds. With the sturdy Easton Syclone Poles featured, they’ll be no worry if the rain comes with the wind. The tent also comes with stakes and guy lines.

Not only is this MSR tent lightweight, but it is also compact when folded. This makes it very portable, as it’ll fit easily into a backpack. MSR issues a 3-year limited warranty.

2. Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL

This Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL is an ultralight backpacking tent that comes in different sizes. You can get the 1-person, 2-person, or 3-person variation. It is a tent with a good living space due to its design.

It features a DAC angle with steep wall architecture and a vertical door; this means that there’s more space, but the tent still maintains it’s lightweight. The tent stands at a height of 40 inches and has a 28 square feet floor area.

With weatherproof features, this backpacking tent would hold up against rain, and thanks to the dry entry vestibule, the tent’s interior will always remain dry. Not to mention, it is a 3-season tent. For even more living space, the tent has three interior mesh pockets.

You set this tent using j stakes. There are 11 of them made with aluminum, and they are all super light with minimal weight. Setup is relatively easy.

3. Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Tent

Like the previous backpacking tent, this Kelty Salida Camping and Backpacking Tent is a 3-season tent, and it comes in different variations. There is the 1-person variation, as well as the 4-person variation.

Kelty produced one of the best backpacking tents for rain when they made this product. It was manufactured with 68D polyester material, which is water-resistant, and 40D no-see-um mesh material. For the floor, 68D nylon material was used. The tent was seam-taped for water protection.

As a freestanding backpacking tent, setting it up is very easy. You only have to deal with two poles and one vestibule. The vestibule space is about 6 square feet, while the floor area is about 20 square feet. Also, the D-shaped door makes entry and exit easy, and there are internal storage pockets where you can place some belongings.

This Kelty backpacking tent is portable as it is lightweight and features folding poles. It also comes with a rainfly and gear loft loops. There is a carry bag included for even more portability.

4. Hyke & Byke Zion 2P

Here’s a tent you would love if you’re conscious of style. The Hyke & Byke Zion backpacking tent has different color options, including lime green, forest green, blue, and orange. Products from this brand are renowned with the lifetime warranty they come with, and this one didn’t miss.

To prevent rain, the Hyke & Byke Zion backpacking tent was made with a nylon mesh lining and zipper closure. There are two doors, so you will find moving in and out very convenient.

It is very lightweight and is freestanding when setting up, which is fairly easy to carry out. Included for the set up are aluminum stakes, aluminum frame, stake presser, and reflective guylines.

You get a PU 5000 footprint when you purchase this tent and also a gear loft. This is ideal for saving money because, for most products, you’ll have to purchase them separately, most especially, the footprint.

Furthermore, the tent comes with a rainfly, and there are two variations available that you can purchase; 1-person and 2-person variations.

5. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL

This is the second Big Agnes product to make this list of best backpacking tent for rain. The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL backpacking tent goes on to show how much quality Big Agnes products are.

It is a freestanding tent that is optimized for three seasons. For more living space, this tent features an intuitive design with high volume pole architecture. The result is steeper walls, and also the tent stays stable thanks to the 4-way angle hub.

The tent has just one door and a zippered vestibule. To protect the tent against rain, the vestibule features storm flaps. Even without rain, the flaps can be let out for more shade. Furthermore, it features a two-tone mesh that is transparent from the inside but not from the outside.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL backpacking tent comes in variations including 1-person, 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person sizes. There are several storage options on the body of the tent where you can keep a few things. The tent features a quick stash on the door to make the storage easy. One more thing, with its lightweight, you’ll find this tent very portable.

6. Camppal 3 4 Person Tent

Camppal makes products for outdoor adventurers. This backpacking tent from the brand has a capacity of 3 to 4 persons and it’s ideal for multi-people backpacking trips. It’s a sturdy tent made from very durable materials.

As a freestanding tent, it is, setting up is easy and can be completed in about 5 minutes. However, it is a bit heavy with 7 pounds of weight. The tent comes with an aluminum pole, and a water-resistant footprint made using 300D poly oxford material.

It includes a fire-resistant mesh with a 45+ UV protection factor, which complements it as a 4-season tent. There is a front vestibule that provides extra space. The tent has two doors, and the front door can be set up with poles to provide an extra shed. There are pockets inside the tent, and it comes with a gear loft.

The Camppal 3 4 Person Tent will be ideal if you’re looking for the best waterproof backpacking tent. Aside from its sturdy materials that protect against rain, it also features a rainfly made with 210T water-resistant polyester material.

ALSO READ: 10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags Under 200 Dollars

7. Marmot Limelight 2P

The Marmot Limelight 2 Person camping tent is a lightweight product with a relatively unique structure. It is available in 2 color options, orange, and black. This tent offers more living space with the body zone pre-bends that it features; these create vertical walls. In addition to this, the tent comes with clips that hold the sides in place and extends the interior.

As the description states, this tent is limelight, so carrying it along in your backpack won’t be a trouble. In addition to this, the tent is easy to set up with easy pitch poles and clips. It features two doors; there’s a D shaped door at the rear side and a large double door in front.

With both doors, this tent will be very comfortable as you can go in and out with ease. The rear door features two vestibules, and there is a lampshade pocket where you can safely place headlamps for illumination.

It comes with a rainfly, with vents, which is seam taped and also a seam-taped floor and a footprint. The rainfly is made with water-resistant polyester material and completely protects the tent from rain. For placing small stuff, there are interior organized pockets.

8. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2P Tent

With smart color combinations, this backpacking tent from ALPS Mountaineering would interest you if you love style. It comes in 3 color combinations: blue & green, gray & blue, and clay & rust. It comes with a gear loft, guy lines, and aluminum stakes for pitching.

The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2 Person Tent is a freestanding tent that is no hassle to pitch. It has a weather-resistant rain fly, made with polyester material. This weather-resistant rain fly not only protects from rain but also sun UV rays, making the tent a multi-season tent.

For more rain protection, the tent features factory sealed seams and a poly-coated floor. There are two doors and two vestibules for easy entry & exit and more space. The storage pockets add even more space. With 5 pounds of weight, the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2P tent has a little bit of weight.

 

Best Backpacking Tent For Rain – Buying Guide

How do you know which tent is the right one to buy? That’s what this buying guide will help you figure out.

Capacity

Always, it is first important to consider the capacity of the backpacking tent no matter what season you’re in. The backpacking tent capacity simply has to do with how large it is, which translates to how many people it can conveniently contain.

Often, backpackers measure tent capacity by the number of sleeping pads it can contain. Smaller-sized tents are often purchased for backpacking because there are not many persons or everyone coming with their tent.

If your trip doesn’t involve a few persons, you’ll need a relatively large tent just like the Camppal 3 4 Person Tent. On the other hand, if it does consist of a few persons, the MSR Hubba Hubba tent would be a good purchase choice.

Weight

When it comes to backpacking, weight should always be checked. Not just for the backpacking tent but for every other gear you’ll be carrying along. You don’t want to get uncomfortable because there’s some heavy stuff in your backpack. A backpacking tent should be light in weight; however, it shouldn’t be too light else it’ll be too delicate. The Big Agnes Fly Creek will be a perfect option here.

For rain, you might have to go for a tad heavy tent. It is not just because of the tent alone but also for other parts of the tent required to hold it in place. The best way to go is to share the weight by dividing the tent parts and putting them in separate backpacks. If you’re going backpacking with multiple persons, one person shouldn’t carry everything.

Material

Here is where you have to consider the best waterproof backpacking tent. Remember that we’re talking about rain here, so it is necessary for the tent to be waterproof, maybe not fully waterproof but at least water-resistant.

The material options you have are the usual tent materials, which can be canvas, nylon, polyester, etc. Ordinarily, these materials are not really water-resistant, but they pass through processes that make them.

For example, the canvas is usually blended with synthetic fibers, while polyester and nylon can be coated with silicone or even multiple layers. The result is a water-resistant fabric. There are some pure waterproof fabrics out there, but there are rare and hardly used for tents. Besides, they are usually high priced.

Setup

No one likes stress; that’s something we can all agree on. Therefore, it’s only normal that you would want a tent that’s easy to set up. You don’t want to spend 10 – 30 minutes simply because you want to set up a tent. What if the rain comes quickly? You’ll get wet before the tent is up and that’s not good.

Generally, 1 or 3 person tents are the easiest to set up while larger ones, like a 7 to 9 person tent would surely take up a bit of time. Nevertheless, they can still be optimized for quick setup by the manufacturers.

Some tents are super easy to pitch and will still hold up very well for rain. Some examples are the Hyke & Byke Zion tent and which were reviewed.

Living space

The tent living space somehow relates to the tent capacity, but it’s still different. There is some tent optimized to provide more space for the inhabitants. Tent living space is most important if there’ll be many persons on the trip. Everyone should have sufficient space to store their stuff.

Accessories

When it comes to rain, the most important accessory to have is a rainfly. These are waterproof coverings you place atop of the tent to prevent rain. Most tents do come with a rainfly included but if yours doesn’t, you’ll have to purchase one separately.

Cost

You have to put the tent cost into consideration. How much are you paying for the tent? Are you comfortable going for a high priced tent, or you need an affordable option? The answers will depend on your budget but, everyone wants to get the value of their money, whether it’s a large or small sum.

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Backpacking Tents FAQs

Q: What is the difference between a camping tent and a backpacking tent?

A: Simply put, backpacking tents are also camping tents, but what sets both apart is the weight and size. Campers normally move out with vehicles, trucks, etc., so there is enough space for them to carry any size or weight of a tent. Backpackers, on the other hand, carry their stuff in a backpack so they’ll need a lighter tent to save space, and so it’s not heavy for them to carry.

Q: What is a good tent weight for backpacking?

A: For backpacking, it’s usually the lighter the tent, the better. However, most times, if a tent is very light, it’s likely that it was made with not-so-sturdy materials. So, to be on the safe side, a tent of 2 – 2.5 pounds is good enough for backpacking.

Q: Should I get a 2 or 3 Person Tent?

A: The number of people that’ll be on the backpacking trip should determine this. However, there’s no harm in purchasing a tent that can contain more persons even if fewer people are on the trip. They could still prove useful in future trips, which may involve many backpackers.

 

Conclusion

Considering the many products out there in the market, you can find it tasking to figure which one is the best backpacking tent for rain. This article aims to narrow the choice, so now, you have a few quality options.

The products listed have been reviewed, so you know what they offer and if they meet your match. What you should have in mind is that hundreds of customers have used them and found them satisfactory. So, there’s every assurance that you would find the right product that’ll be worth the money. There’s also the buying guide to help.