Best 2-Person Tents of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

With a whole lot of 2-person tents available on the market, constructed for the whole lot from automobile tenting to roof tops, mountaineering to ultralight looking, it may be laborious to know the place to start out. Nevertheless, over the past a number of months the Out of doors Life gear staff has been testing tents constructed for a variety of totally different classes. To ease your search, we narrowed down the sphere to following greatest 2-person tents accessible at the moment: 

How I Selected the Greatest 2-Individual Tents

I’ve tried, and watched others strive, quite a few tents over a whole lot of nights in 9 totally different states, pitching them on the whole lot from alpine meadows to old-growth forests whereas long-distance backpacking to informal automobile tenting. I’ve had my justifiable share of mishaps in tents, from getting flooded in Southern California to being blown off a sand dune exterior of Loss of life Valley, to bringing the fallacious poles for my winter tent throughout a snowshoeing in a single day in Olympic Nationwide Park.

Along with my very own testing of various fashions of tenting tents appropriate for tenting, backpacking, and river rafting, The Out of doors Life staff has examined the best backpacking tents and best ultralight tents as a part of our annual backpacking gear assessments on America’s lengthy trails.

Greatest 2-Individual Tents: Opinions & Suggestions

Key Options

• Weight: 5 kilos, 3.6 ounces
• Flooring Dimensions: 84.5 inches x 53 inches
• Peak Peak: 41 inches
• Variety of Poles: One
• A cushty match for 2 individuals

Execs

• Wonderful headroom
• Sturdy materials

Cons

• On the heavy aspect for backpackers

The reality is that high quality 2-person tents, one thing that can final you for years and see you thru all method of circumstances, are costly. That goes double for tents which can be mild sufficient to take backpacking: poles and tent materials which can be mild sufficient to maintain your base weight underneath 20 kilos whereas nonetheless having what it takes to resist heavy winds and rains come at a premium.

The Sea to Summit Ikos TR2 does an ideal job of balancing these issues. It’s on the dear aspect, however its versatility makes it an ideal alternative for somebody who desires to experiment with quite a lot of out of doors actions. It’s roomy sufficient for automobile tenting. It’s received a sufficiently small packed dimension for bikepacking. It’s nonetheless mild sufficient for traditional-style backpacking. And the 68D ground coupled with a restricted lifetime guarantee means you may anticipate to get a few years of use out of this tent. The primary night I examined it alongside the Colorado River some severe winds kicked up. Even tents the place the stakes have been held down by bigger rocks noticed motion, and a few began to cartwheel away earlier than being rescued by their homeowners.

The tri-beam stakes (the design of the entire best tent stakes) held the place I used to be capable of pound them into the laborious packed sand. The nylon webbing survived the place I had piled rocks on high of it with out seen abrasion. The poles stood agency with out problem, and the tent ground seemed no worse for put on the place it had scraped throughout the bottom. It was a formidable efficiency.

Its wonderful structural design can also be notable for having essentially the most headspace of any tent I’ve used. Whereas the middle pole of most 2-person tents bend downwards, the Ikos TR2 is designed to bend upward. This maximizes the headspace throughout the middle of the tent, making it that rather more snug for 2 individuals to share.

Buy from Slingfin

Key Options

• Max Head Peak: 44 inches
• Doorways: Two doorways
• Supplies: Ripstop nylon
• Guarantee: Restricted lifetime
• Value: $560

Execs

• Nice inside area (and pockets)
• Simple to attain a fundamental setup
• A number of methods to make your setup extra storm worthy

Cons

• Costly
• Heavy in comparison with different fashions we checked out

At first look, the Slingfin seems to be like another freestanding backpacking tent. Two poles crisscross and join in on the tent corners. Clip up the physique, safe the fly, and also you’re achieved. However when you can completely cease there in your arrange (and a number of other of the testers on our backpacking gear check did, extra on that under), it’s also possible to undergo any variety of extra steps to make an much more bombproof setup for these occasions while you anticipate to come across tough climate. 

Our third evening testing alongside the Pacific Crest Path in Washington State’s Goat Rocks Wilderness was alongside a totally uncovered, laborious, non-stakeable ridge. Adam Tycaster, the tester for the Slingfin that evening, was not capable of make the most of a variety of the extra choices for making a taut setup with this tent. Nonetheless, whereas different testers that evening reported heavy winds pushing the partitions of their tents inward, Tycaster — who didn’t even get his vestibule absolutely staked out — skilled no compromise of the tent construction itself.

In order that’s what you get with the Portal while you don’t do something. However along with the guylines (connected on the similar spot on the rainfly because the pole clips for extra structural integrity), tensioners throughout the tent assist you to scale back slack with out even getting out of your sleeping bag. Unusually for a freestanding tent, you may combine your trekking poles into the design (on the midpoint on the doorways), so as to add extra construction. You may even buy more robust poles for this tent, for high-wind environments. 

All this makes the Slingfin Portal one of many extra attention-grabbing backpacking tents that we’ve checked out. It’s an applicable alternative for a newbie simply getting began with multi-day journeys. It’s additionally an ideal alternative for knowledgeable backpackers that need a light-weight tent that may carry out in a number of environments.

There have been additionally user-friendly options on the within of the tent. Pocket-enthusiast Patrice “Regular” La Vigne advised me, “There have been virtually too many pockets! I counted two gear lofts, two pockets on both sides on the head finish, and one giant pocket on the toes.” A number of testers additionally famous the comparatively excessive peak inside top, which was 44 inches (practically 4 toes). Higher but: This tent was roomy sufficient to suit two average-size males comfortably, making it an applicable alternative for non-romantic mountain climbing companions.

So what’s the unhealthy with this 2-person tent? First off, it’s each just a little pricier and just a little heavier than different fashions that Out of doors Life has examined. However on this case, the advantages of this tent — significantly for people who anticipate to camp in uncovered places — outweighs these points. And in comparison with the MSR Hubba Hubba or Nemo Dagger — its equally priced bombproof opponents — it’s a few pound lighter. 

Greatest Backpacking: MSR Freelite

Buy from Amazon

Key Options

• Max Head Peak: 39 inches
• Doorways: Two doorways
• Supplies: Ripstop nylon
• Guarantee: 3 years
• Value: $450

Execs

• One of many lightest semi-freestanding tents we examined
• Good size
• Simple to arrange 

Cons

• Barely narrower inside area than different tents at this value level

The MSR Freelite is each semi-freestanding and shockingly mild, which is crucial for backpackers. Establishing the MSR Freelite (our testing staff checked out the one-person mannequin on a trek down a bit of the Oregon Coast Path) was extraordinarily quick, with one tester setting it up in underneath two minutes on her first strive. Equally, it took minimal effort to attain a storm-worthy profile. Testers reported that it felt bigger than it was, which is a crucial element should you get caught inside ready out a storm. The mesh and fly are extraordinarily light-weight and many sturdy, with the grime falling proper off once we shook it out earlier than stuffing it away for the day. The poles have been even made out of aluminum, versus splinter-prone carbon fiber. Our solely concern was with that 15D bathtub ground — it could profit from a groundsheet on more difficult terrains — however this was strictly theoretical as we didn’t expertise any holes on our testing journey. The inside, whereas not precisely spacious, is loads giant sufficient for 2 of the most important sleeping pads on our check (a full-size rectangular Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir Xlite NXT), with a backpack becoming handily into the vestibule.

Whereas some backpackers desire the load financial savings of a single-wall tent, the acute condensation of the Oregon Coast confirmed some great benefits of a double-wall setup. Whereas the remainder of our testing staff was rigorously packing up for the day, avoiding the soaked sides of their single-walled tents lest they unleash a rainstorm on their sleep system, the tester within the MSR Freelite might sit up, bump their head on the mesh on the high of the tent, and keep dry. 

There are just a few small quibbles with this tent. One is the doorways: They’re on the small aspect in comparison with the remainder of our area, forcing our tallest tester (5 toes, 10 inches) to pretzel her limbs greater than she would have preferred when getting out. The included stakes (needle stakes) are additionally decrease high quality in comparison with different choices within the MSR arsenal. Think about upgrading to both the light-weight MSR Carbon Cores or the MSR Groundhog Minis, which have nice holding energy. 

Greatest Ultralight: Zpacks Free Zip

Buy from Zpacks

Key Options

• Max Head Peak: 43 inches
• Doorways: 2
• Supplies: Dyneema
• Guarantee: 2 years
• Value: $900

Execs

• Very storm worthy
• Light-weight

Cons

• No vestibule
• Tight squeeze for 2 individuals
• Costly

OL Affiliate editor Ashley Thess raved in regards to the tent she used on the Tour du Mont Blanc, and, after our testing staff had the possibility to take a look at the Zpacks Free Zip, we will see why. Like all semi-freestanding ultralight tents, it takes little or no time to set this one up. In contrast to different semi-freestanding ultralight tents, you get a surprisingly bombproof pitch with little or no tweaking. 

Unusually for a 2-person tent, there are 4 separate pole sections, all the identical size. Two poles crisscross to type an X on both sides, creating the construction of the tent. All our testers discovered this to be easy and intuitive. Helmuth, who struggled mightily with the Zpacks Plex Solo, rated the Free Zip a 5 for setup; in actual fact, it had practically good scores throughout the board. 

In our expertise, whereas it’s potential to arrange the Zpacks Free Zip with out stakes, our testers aren’t recommending it. First off, the stress from the 2 opposing cross-pole sections desires to clamshell the tent, which is annoying. However even when you get inside it and pressure the tent form down along with your physique weight, you’re going to be lacking some ground actual property. The stakes are additionally important if you’re planning to make use of this tent in uncovered or windy circumstances. However as soon as it was correctly staked out, testers have been impressed with its stormworthiness, with one noting that it “felt prefer it might face up to a hurricane.”

Whether or not or not you assume the Free Zip has sufficient inside area relies on your expectations from an ultralight tent. Zpacks charges the smaller mannequin of this tent as being for one to 2 individuals (and the bigger as being for 2 to 3). Our expertise helps this advice. Whereas two medium-sized ladies with ultralight kits have been capable of match into this tent collectively, this one wouldn’t match two common sized males. One other consideration with this tent is condensation. Like all single-wall tents, it’s liable to amassing moisture on the inside, however when absolutely zipped up it’s much more susceptible than most: it was one of many few tents on our Goat Rocks Wilderness trek to battle with condensation (on the second evening, whereas camped subsequent to a river). The shortage of vestibules makes this a further problem. 

The small dimension of the vestibules are maybe probably the most noteworthy options of this tent. Their taut design is a part of what makes them so stormworthy; nevertheless, it additionally signifies that you aren’t going to suit way more in there then your footwear. Whether or not that’s a dealbreaker or a non-issue for you’ll rely on the scale of your present package. Magic additionally famous that the low entrance to this tent was tough to get out and in for him, resulting from stiffness from Parkinson’s. 

We will’t finish this evaluate with out mentioning the worth. It’s very excessive (actually partly as a result of excessive value of Dyneema and carbon fiber), and certain out of attain for many ultralight backpackers. 

Learn our full review of the Zpacks Free Zip Tent for extra info.

Buy from Amazon

Key Options

• Weight: 9 kilos, 10 ounces
• Flooring Dimensions: 84 inches x 60 inches
• Peak Peak: 48 inches
• Variety of Poles: Three
• A roomy match for 2 individuals

Execs

• Tallest ceiling of any 2-person tent I’ve examined
• Low value
• Heavy-duty bathtub ground excels at holding puddles at bay

Cons

• Small vestibule door
• Fly setup is much less easy than the tent

You’ll inevitably spend just a little extra time in your tent automobile tenting than backpacking. Lazy early mornings, an outfit change after your afternoon hike, pre-dinner nap—so that you need a tent that you just, and your tenting accomplice, can stretch out in comfortably in. Apart from having essentially the most beneficiant sq. footage of any tent in my check, what set the Coleman Skydome Tent other than its competitors was its top: a formidable 4 toes. Whereas many 2-person tents solely have area for one individual, the 60 inches of width signifies that not solely are you able to match your self and your journey accomplice (snuggling non-obligatory; the tent is huge sufficient to accommodate a queen-size sleeping pad), but additionally a four-legged pal. And the very best but? At lower than 100 {dollars}, that is an especially affordably priced tent.

The downside of this tent is that it’s much less intuitive to arrange than others in my check—I had to return to the instructions a number of occasions to determine it out. The 2 poles, that are linked to the tent physique (a boon to anybody who has ever forgotten their poles at dwelling) snapped into place with the tip sliding simply right into a pouch on the alternative nook and the tabs clicking into place. However when it got here time to placed on the rainfly, it took some looking to determine the place the pole slid into the underside of the rainfly. However as soon as it was arrange, the difficulty was price it, as that is the very best awning I’ve ever seen on a 2-person tent—higher than quite a lot of four-person tents.

Regardless of being a 2-person tent, the Coleman Skydome solely has one door, which is lower than splendid if you’re on the fallacious aspect of the tent when nature calls in the midst of the evening. Worse, the door is fairly small, limiting the view exterior the tent on a buggy day. It additionally has just one devoted mesh pocket on the inside for stashing odds and ends like headlamps and glasses, whereas different tents in our check have as many as three per individual.

Issues to Think about Earlier than Shopping for a 2-Individual Tent

Objective of the Greatest 2 Individual Tents

Campers can anticipate to face quite a lot of circumstances relying on the time of 12 months and the a part of the nation they’re exploring, so understanding the extremes of doubtless circumstances is crucial for selecting a tent. The tents on this choice are three-season tents, that are applicable for summer season and shoulder-season circumstances.

Set-Up of the Greatest 2 Individual Tents

The vast majority of 2-person tents available on the market are freestanding, which signifies that when you snap poles into their grommets, you’ll have an affordable approximation of what the ultimate construction will appear to be. Though, in lots of circumstances, staking out the tent will noticeably enhance your usable ground area. Freestanding tents are an ideal alternative for first-time tent purchasers, as there tends to be much less guesswork throughout the preliminary arrange. Lots of the tents on this roundup additionally use colour coding to sign to first-time customers learn how to appropriately align the poles, the tent physique, and the rainfly.

Weight of the Greatest 2 Individual Tents

Automotive tenting tents, together with pop-up tents and the best rooftop tents, are cumbersome. Even the lightest fashions weigh upwards of 5 kilos per individual. The best backpacking tents are a lot lighter and usually weigh lower than three kilos per individual, with some ultralight (UL) fashions approaching one pound or much less. There’s normally a tradeoff with weight financial savings for sturdiness and value with backpacking tents. Backpackers targeted on quick journeys might desire a heavier possibility whereas those who plan on high-mileage days would do higher with a light-weight mannequin. 

Learn Subsequent: The Best Ultralight Tents

Measurement of the Greatest 2 Individual Tents

A serious cause people search for a 2-person tent is {that a} one-person tent is often a good squeeze for anybody over 5-foot 10 inches—neglect about squeezing in your pack and the remainder of your gear. It’s not unusual to see bigger people go for 2-person, and even three-person, tents to get sufficient leg room. However there will also be substantial variations in headroom top between totally different tents. 

Learn Subsequent: The Best One-Person Tents

FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Greatest 2-Individual Tents

There are a variety of choices available on the market at the moment for 2-person tents. We suggest selecting the highest quality tent that your funds permits, because the weight-savings and reliability can pay dividends over time.