Freestanding tents are the holy grail of backpacking tents as a result of they are often arrange rapidly nearly wherever, on picket tent platforms, rock, sand, snow, and even climber’s portaledges, with out having to be staked to the bottom first. That is significantly helpful in poor climate when it’s worthwhile to get out of the climate and might’t seek for a protected tent website or dig one out within the snow.
Listed below are the ten finest freestanding tents for backpacking that we advocate throughout a variety of worth factors and weights:
Most freestanding tents are wedge or dome-shaped, making them extremely climate and wind-resistant. Nevertheless, freestanding tents are typically barely heavier than non-freestanding ones as a result of they should be self-supporting, with lengthy tent poles that add further weight. Some two-person fashions may be cramped, significantly ones designed for mountaineering the place consolation is commonly sacrificed within the title of lowered gear weight. Nonetheless, the expertise of organising a freestanding tent is liberating as a result of you’ll be able to pitch one wherever there’s flat floor. That sort of flexibility is extremely precious when it’s worthwhile to get out of the climate and right into a safe and secure shelter.
1. Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2
The Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is a well-liked two-person backpack tent and with good cause. This freestanding tent is simple to arrange and has two doorways so you will get out and in with out having to crawl over your companion at night time. It has a spacious inside with numerous headroom and vertical sidewalls so you’ll be able to change garments and sit up inside with out touching the perimeters. Off-the-floor storage within the type of an outsized ceiling pocket within the head, facet pockets, and media pockets present loads of house for private objects you need shut at hand. Weighing simply 2 lbs 11 oz, the Copper Spur is an exceptionally light-weight however totally featured backpacking palace.
Learn the SectionHiker Copper Spur HV UL2 Evaluation. The freestanding
one-person Copper Spur HV UL 1 can be a hiker favourite.
2. NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 Tent
The NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P Tent is a spacious freestanding double-wall tent for 2 individuals with two doorways and two vestibules. Weighing 3 lbs 6 oz, the tent is made with NEMO’s new OSMO polyester/nylon ripstop material which reduces rain fly sag when moist and improves waterproofing. The spacious inside and quite a few livability accents make the Dagger OSMO 2P an ideal tent for tall individuals or {couples} that need extra room to unfold out.
Learn the SectionHiker Dagger OSMO 2 Evaluation.
3. REI Trailmade 2 Tent
The REI Trailmade 2 is a budget-friendly two-person freestanding tent that’s light-weight sufficient for backpacking and tenting. With a minimal path weight of 4 lbs 4 oz, its X-pole configuration makes it a straightforward tent to arrange and will increase the vertical house on the ends. Its two stake-out vestibules present separate entrances for every occupant and huge coated areas for gear storage with rainfly doorways roll up over the roof for a transparent view of the sky whereas additionally bettering venting and decreasing condensation. Inside, the symmetrical, rectangular flooring supplies an environment friendly, snug structure with inner pockets and kit loops to assist manage your necessities. An elective footprint is included together with stakes and stuff sacks, offering great worth.
Store at REI
4. Zpacks Duplex + Freestanding Flex Equipment
The Zpacks Duplex is without doubt one of the hottest Dyneema trekking pole tents as we speak. Weighing simply 18.1 oz, it may accommodate two adults and has two doorways and two vestibules. It will also be became a totally freestanding tent with the addition of the 11.4 oz
Duplex Freestanding Flex Equipment (trekking poles not required.) The equipment contains two Easton carbon fiber tent poles and easy-to-install adapters that assist you to arrange the Duplex as a freestanding tent so you’ll be able to set it up on rock ledge, snow, or picket platforms, wherever it may be tough to safe tent stakes. Be aware:
The Duplex + Duplex
Freestanding Flex Equipment just isn’t the identical as
Zpacks FreeDuo Tent.
Store at Zpacks
5. NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 2 Tent
The NEMO DragonFly OSMO 2 is a light-weight freestanding two-person tent with two doorways and two outsized vestibules that present ample storage for backpacks and moist climbing boots. Weighing 2 lbs 10 oz, the tent is made with NEMO’s OSMO polyester/nylon ripstop material which reduces rain fly sag when moist and improves waterproofing. The tent’s exoskeleton structure comes with prebent tent poles that maximize head and shoulder house, offering loads of room inside to alter garments or sit out wet climate, whereas massive D-shaped doorways make it simple to enter and exit the tent and will also be rolled again in scorching climate for further air flow. Overhead gentle pockets at each ends use particular light-diffusing material to forged an excellent glow all through the tent whereas inside gear pockets within the corners supply occupants ample storage for private objects.
Learn the SectionHiker DragonFly 2 Evaluation.
6. SlingFin Portal 2
The Slingfin Portal is a light-weight two-person tent that can be utilized year-round in additional excessive climate (Slingfin was based by Martin Zematis, the man who began Mountain {Hardware}). Weighing simply 2 lbs 13 oz, it has a singular inner guyline system that provides excellent wind resistance with out further weight. Two massive vestibules and quite a few inner pockets present best-in-class livability, whereas its freestanding, dome-shaped exoskeleton makes it simple to arrange. Kickstand door vents present unrestricted cross-tent airflow for wonderful condensation administration with out sacrificing climate safety.
Learn the SectionHiker SlingFin Portal Evaluation.
Store at SlingFin
7. NEMO Aurora 2 Tent w/Footprint
The NEMO Aurora 2 is a freestanding two-person tent with two doorways, two vestibules, and a whole lot of inside house. Weighing 4 lbs 11 oz, it has steep partitions and a flooring plan that’s huge sufficient to accommodate 25″ huge sleeping pads. Constructed-in gear pockets supply ample storage for private objects, whereas overhead gentle pockets use particular light-diffusing material to forged an excellent glow all through the tent.
8. Mountain Hardwear Facet 2 Tent
The Mountain Hardwear Facet 2 is a spacious two-person tent with two doorways and two vestibules that weighs simply 2 lbs 14.7 oz. Regardless of its extraordinary light-weight (for a tent of this dimension), it’s made with sturdy materials together with a 40 denier flooring guaranteeing a few years of use. The rain fly is coated with silicone on either side for longevity, waterproof safety, and enhanced resistance to the solar’s dangerous rays.
9. Tarptent Rainbow
The Tarptent Rainbow is out there in a number of fashions: as a one or two-person tent, as a single or double-wall tent, and made with silnylon or Dyneema Composite materials. More often than not, the individuals stake out the corners and vestibules of the Rainbow once they pitch it on floor that’s tender sufficient to carry tent stakes. Nevertheless it will also be arrange as a totally freestanding tent by connecting the corners to the tops and bottoms of a pair of trekking poles. There’s no add-on equipment required. You might set it up that means on a regular basis if you happen to wished.
Store at Tarptent
10. MSR Hubba Hubba 2 Tent
The MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is a superb tent for 2 individuals. It’s simple to arrange and has two doorways so you’ll be able to come and go at night time with out disturbing your associate. Freestanding, the pole configuration creates an inside house that has near-vertical partitions and a really rectangular flooring plan, enabling the usage of huge 25″ sleeping pads. With a path weight of two kilos and 10 ounces, the Hubba Hubba 2 is light-weight sufficient for backpacking use when shared by two individuals.
Learn the SectionHiker evaluate.
Freestanding Tent Choice Standards
When evaluating freestanding tents, it helps to analysis the local weather circumstances you count on to make use of the tent in, as it will inform the diploma of tent pole energy and breathability required.
Tent Air flow
Tents home windows, doorways, and vents are Essential to reduce and scale back inner condensation. That is achieved by maintaining the door(s) open when possible, by way of peak and facet vents, and in some circumstances by way of the usage of breathable wall materials. You possibly can by no means have an excessive amount of air flow in a tent, though the addition of doorways and zippers can lead to elevated weight.
Tent Pole Structure
Most freestanding tents have two or three crossed poles, anchored inside or outdoors the tent partitions. Exterior poles which are anchored in sleeves are a lot stronger than poles that hook up with an interior tent utilizing clips or velcro tabs. They’re rather more wind-resistant and able to withstanding heavier snow hundreds.
Inside Tent Area
Freestanding tents designed for prime alpine mountaineering use are sometimes smaller and extra cramped than these designed for four-season use as a result of weight financial savings are so crucial when you must climb many hundreds of ft to succeed in your vacation spot. When deciding on a tent be real looking about your size and width necessities, significantly when selecting a two-person wedge-style tent.
Variety of Doorways
Tents designed to carry two occupants are extra snug and handy to make use of if they’ve two doorways and vestibules as a result of you’ll be able to come and go with out waking your tent associate. Dome-style tents typically present higher coated vestibule storage, which might make a major distinction in livability.
See Additionally:
Verify Out All of SectionHiker’s Gear Guides!
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely earn a living if you are going to buy a product by way of our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.
