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A camping weekend is more fun when you still have a roof over your head. Not one of concrete or tiles, but something the raindrops can’t leak, and the stars can shine through. So the best 4-person backpacking tent is the first thing to search for if you plan a hiking season. Before the quarantine era, the tent market was supposed to grow, but it seems it does nevertheless.
Which one to choose? Well, look at Bessport Camping Tent as the default option; if you’re not good with something about it, there are others to go through and see. They offer something more attractive – at least, in some aspects. Lighter, cheaper, or more comfortable – decide what matters.
Backpacking Tent Reviews: Four on the Floor
Picking a tent is a hard task for someone unversed. They all look similar at a glance, but there are differences as you take a closer look… or spend a night inside. There is more to any of these tents than I say, so I focused on the key features.
1. Bessport Camping Lightweight Tent: Top Pick
Hardly is there anything to tell about the dark horse that starts today, except for this vendor from who-knows-where (who said China?) makes great balanced tents, and they are sold by major online stores.
The tent we review is a large two-door space protected by 75D polyester fiber, wind- and waterproof yet breathable (scientists work a lot to combine that). Its seams and zippers are tight to prevent leaks.
Easy installation takes only from three to five minutes (checked) due to simple construction and magnetic poles. You can protect it with guy lines to make it more water- and snow-resistant.
Otherwise, it’s good and stable with a set of 9.5 mm aluminum poles. They don’t even need to be stuck into the ground. Rather, a freestanding tent can be moved with ease, and then you just need to reconnect the guy lines if they are necessary.
The weight of the tent is a solid 9.71 lbs., so it’s made for nomadic life (well, don’t look at #3 until you decide whether you want this one!) It includes the poles, the rainfly, the mesh, the guy lines, and all the ropes and pockets. The floor is 102.4 x 94.5 inches; combined with 66-inch height, it gives quite a large area.
Given its price well under $150, it’s the best 4 person hiking tent for most people, unless you still consider it too heavy or want more secondary options. It comes in grey or orange, so you can choose whether you want it stealthy or insolently noticeable.
- 2 door construction
- Durable materials
- Mesh top
- Easy installation
- Reasonable price
- Not the lightest one around
- The vestibules are rather small
2. TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent: Runner Up
This Utah company is much better known. Established in 2005, now it offers various sports and hiking equipment, including tents. The model I choose from its roster is Sports Mountain; the greatest thing about it is that it’s a 4-season version.
Given this, a 10.1-pound model can be called an ultralight 4 person tent for all the reasons, easily installable and armored with guy lines if necessary.
It’s a bit smaller, with 95″x80″ floor and 58-inch height, yet with two doors and two 11-square feet vestibules. Used in the cold, though, it means the sleepers will get more heat. The materials are also about that. While the rainfly is made of 66D polyester fiber, that used for the floor and the inner tent wall is 150D – way denser than that used by Bessport.
It’s a great option if you plan to go hiking somewhere cold. On the other hand, in warm seasons, you can feel it too heavy, too small, and too dense. The ventilation system may help with that, though, if you select it as your main unit.
The price is about $200 – a bit more expensive, though not unaffordable. It comes in gray, red, or yellow, so choose your color!
- STAY DRY: Waterproof rainfly with a 360-degree ventilation system for optimal air flow that allows a cool, comfortable night’s sleep; 1 to 4 person camping tents available
- 4-season
- Dense yet lightweight
- Two doors and large vestibules
- Easy installation
- Reasonable price
- Rather heavy for warmer seasons
- Not officially winter-tested
3. Big Agnes Copper Spur: Premium Pick
Big Agnes makes premium-class tents and other hiking equipment for two decades. Not so old, but a very enthusiastic company is founded and run by fans who test their products themselves in Colorado, right in the mountains their gear is made for. This young age also grants an innovative approach. Like in this one – the ultimate four person backpacking tent if you don’t mind the price.
The best thing about this is its weight – or rather lack of it. A four-person version is only 5lb 11oz – extremely lightweight! In the Fast Fly version, it’s just 4lb 3oz.
When packed, it fits into most backpacks. It’s all due to 20D nylon (no typo) and unique silicone treating. It stands heavy rains, snow, and wind – though, of course, it’s not completely indestructible.
The tent has everything it takes to provide comfort for four persons, its floor area being 57 ft². Patented pole construction with a pre-bent span pole maximizes the space, so there are two vestibules and enough space for four. There are different sorts of pockets, including media ones that let you connect your headphones and listen to music while in.
The price is, of course, far from the lowest. It’s almost four times as expensive as the one by Bessport. On the other hand, when you’re out hiking, any saved pound may seem priceless. If you’re ready to invest in comfortable hiking, it’s your pick.
- FULLY REDESIGNED - One of our best-selling, full-featured, ultralight backpacking tents, the Copper Spur HV UL series just got better with new features inside and out, proprietary materials that are stronger and lighter, and hardware that makes setting up even easier
- Incredibly lightweight
- Very durable
- Well optimized space
- Lots of pockets and hooks for everything
- Great seams and zips
- Very expensive
4. MARMOT Limelight 4P: For a Few Dollars More
Marmot! That very Marmot, founded in 1971 from a mountaineering social club and then grown into a powerful outfit and equipment brand based in California. You might remember Clint Eastwood wearing Marmot in 1970s movies. As for the tent, though, it looks… heh… just like a tent. Strange as it seems to start a 4 person backpacking tent review like this.
As for this tent, it uses a combo of materials: 150D nylon for the floor, 68D polyester for the rainfly, and 40D polyester for the main canopy. The poles are made of aluminum, and – to ease the setup -they are color-coded, so it’s no problem to figure it out even for a beginner.
Its weight is typical for a 3-season tent: 8lbs 8oz, and a fast fly setup is just 4lbs 2oz. It features one D-shaped back door and a double-size front door, both with vestibules.
The ventilation system is thought of greatly. It comes with a footprint and a doormat, equipped with various pockets, including one for the lamp. The floor area, though, is just 92 x 81 inches – less than other 4 person tent dimensions reviewed here.
Not as lightweight as the one by Big Agnes, it still has its pros. So the price almost reaching $400 does not look hyped. Not advertised as a four-season tent, it can be used in winter when it’s not extremely cold and snowy.
- Limelight 4P-CINDER RUSTED ORANGE
- Easy to set due to color-coded poles
- Large doors and vestibules
- Fast Fly supported
- Comes with a footprint
- Snowproof as well
- Rather expensive
- The floor area is smaller
5. MOON LENCE Pop Up Tent: Very Affordable, Very Chinese
Ever heard about this brand? Neither have I before. Owned by Hangzhou Jihuan Trading Co., Ltd., hardly is this trademark seen anywhere but on Amazon. So, you can already visualize what you expect from such a vendor: simple and cheap.
This tent is quite large with 94.5*82.6 inch floor area and 49.2 inch high. Two large doors are here, as well as vents and vestibules. The inside is only equipped with simple pockets.
The material is said to be 190T PU + 210D Oxford cloth – rather dense, though not making this tent a four-season one. Neither is it, alas, as waterproof as one might expect. So if you like hiking in the rain, you better search elsewhere. Luckily, these complaints are not common.
The carcass contains ten steel pegs and four guylines, but the latter ones are necessary only in severe weather. Otherwise, you can just use its simple, instant pop up mechanism to set it up within a couple of minutes.
It’s the only tent under $100 here, and if the price is the key for you, this is the best 4 man backpacking tent. It comes without a footprint, but did you really expect it for such a price? But what you might expect but will not see here is a rainfly. Well, at least you can save enough to afford a compatible one separately.
- Easy Setup and Portability: Experience quick tent assembly with our pop-up design. Just lift the hub tent's top, press down the top mechanism, and snap the bottom joints into place. This lets you have more time to enjoy your adventures. When it's time to pack up, the 4 person tent conveniently folds into a compact size and fits snugly into the included carrying bag(32.7x7.1x7.1in), making it easy to carry and store
- Simple setup with Instant Pop
- Large floor area
- Durable materials
- Available in various colors
- One of the most affordable tents
- Rather heavy
- Comes without a footprint and a rainfly
- Not as waterproof as promised
4 Person Backpacking Tent Buyer’s Guide
In this section, let’s examine what to look for when choosing a 4 person backpacking tent. I`ve defined several criteria for you to be attentive during the shopping process.
- Length and destination of the hike. The more you go, the more you need to select a lightweight 4 person tent, as you naturally get more tired. Select one that can endure the weather in the places you enter.
- Density. It is measured in deniers (not negativists, but special fabric density units). The more is the D value; the denser is the material.
- Seasonality. The season and the expected weather may differ, so you can be good with a fast fly setup. If you plan to enter cold areas with a winter climate, opt for a 4-season tent. Otherwise, a 3-season one will be enough.
- Ease of setup. It’s especially important for beginners who have not mastered the camping art yet. But even hiking vets will benefit from an easier set.
- Vestibules and storage. There is always a golden balance between weight and dimensions, but the layout and the pole geometry can change it all, providing the best ratio. Look at the floor area, the height, and the extras like pockets that make the space inside more usable.
- Number of doors. A two-door tent is more comfortable for a party of four, but it means an extra vestibule and thus increased weight.
- Footprint. This piece of fabric is laid under the tent floor to protect it from water, grass, small stones, twigs, and everything that can scratch or tear it. If the tent comes with a footprint, that’s a great option, given that its weight is usually insignificant.
- Cost. Again, there is always a sort of balance between parameters and cost. But they are not always the-dearer-the-better type. That’s why I have written these reviews.
FAQ: Learn and Get Compe-Tent
It’s great to ask questions – way better than to keep from it to conceal your unawareness and then be caught by it. While you can still ask yours in the comments, here are the answers to the most common ones I have heard.
What is the lightest 4-person tent?
Among the four person camping tents I have reviewed, the lightest 4 person tent is certainly Copper Spur 4 HV UL by Big Agnes, where UL is for Ultralight. It’s under 6 lbs., extremely lightweight, and surprisingly durable. If you can afford it, it will be a great investment. Otherwise, any other has its pros.
How heavy should a tent be for backpacking?
Though not many of them can challenge the Copper Spur series, even ten pounds is a good value. More than that: two of the tents I have chosen as worthy (TETON and MOON LENCE) are even heavier, and still they are not too heavy to carry around. Durability and comfort are worth it.
What is the best 4 season backpacking tent?
Among those above, there is only one the only truly 4-season tent – TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent. There are other models worth a look at, but I did not add them to the list – mostly because of the price. Though, of course, more expensive models are richer in tricks and gimmicks.
The Tent Is the Beginning
So, which 4 person backpack tent should you choose? My recommendations are above, along with the reasons I have chosen these. If you know other tents worth a look, you can mention them in the comments.
Your stories would be a great addition too. There are always hiking stories under tents and about tents. Did yours save you, or let you down, or just witness a funny situation? Drop a comment to share it and share the article for not to drop it.
After reading the article we decided on this option https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085WVCSLX?tag=best4personbackpackingtent-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1.
Thanks for the detailed description and specifications. The only thing left to do is to buy a camping mat and we can go camping.