Everybody wants to go easy on their pockets when it comes to exploring new places. It might seem a daunting task, but when you have the best backpacking tent under 200 dollars, you will have an affordable way to spend your camping nights protected. Discover the best budget backpacking tents here, and give yourself the best camping experience.
Quick Navigation
What is the Best Backpacking Tent Under 200?
We could say that we traveled the world to find for you the Best Backpacking Tent Under 200 and it’s partially true – we’ve been on the road since 2011 after all.
More importantly, we have done a very thorough research online and have gone through most of the available backpacking tent for less than $200 that you can buy today. We read the comments left by people who bought and used these backpacking tents under 200 dollars.
We also wrote a brief backpacking tents under 200 dollars Buying Guide and FAQ sections to address most questions you may have.
Without further ado, here’s the list of top 5 backpacking tent for less than $200 based on their pricing, specs and ratings by real users.
1. Moon Lence Camping Tent
| Specs |
|---|
| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 6 Pounds (2.7 kg) Size: 83.8 x 59.8 x 48 Inches (212.9 x 151.9 x 121.9 cm) Size: 2 Persons Material: 100% Polyester Waterproof: Yes |
See it in your local store:
The Moon Lence camping tent is a double-layer 2-person tent that is made from 100% polyester. It is easy to set up and pull down and comes in a small handy bag for storage. This affordable tent that cost less than $200 and comes with 190T PU material construction with a 1000mm water-resistance and UV-resistance to provide all-around protection with water-resistance. It comes with two windows and a ground vent for improved air circulation.
For stability, it has 4 guy ropes and 9 lightweight iron pegs to keep the tent balanced in windy conditions. It also has 2 shock cord connecting poles for easy set up and it takes 15 minutes to do so.The lightweight iron pegs and guy lines provide stability against windy conditions, and prevent rainwater from pooling on the tent.
Ventilation is not a problem with the large mesh section, ground vents, and a detachable rainfly that controls the moisture by increasing the airflow.
Another notable feature is the internal mesh pockets that give you an excellent way to store your stuff. The tent also comes with a ceiling hook to hang your lantern and create the best environment at night.
Pros
- Generous two-person tent,
- Small and is easy to store away,
- Wind-resistant with iron pegs and guy ropes for stability,
- UV-resistant
- Several window openings,
- Completely waterproof with tarp material,
- Excellent air ventilation
Cons
- It does not have a tent footprint,
- The zipper occassionally gets stuck
2. Browning Big Horn Tent
| Specs |
|---|
| Price: 💲💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 21 Pounds (9.5 kg) Size: 120 x 96 x 84 Inches (304.8 x 243.8 x 213.4 cm) Size: 5 Persons Material: 75D 185T Polyester Fly, 150D Polyester Oxford Floor Waterproof: No |
See it in your local store:
This is hands down the best free-standing tent with generous space for a family camping trip. It features fiberglass poles with steel uprights that provide matchless strength and stability to survive rough conditions.
This tent can cover your entire family with its generous interior space and 84-inch center height. The tent also provides interior mesh pockets to give your family places for their personal items. Straight sidewalls further add convenience by supplying extra space to store your camping stuff.
When we talk about waterproof abilities, the Browning tent deserves appreciation. It features a 75D 185T polyester rainfly combined with 150D polyester floor with 2000m coating to keep you safe from wet weather.
Stay comfortable with multiple windows, one door, and a mesh roof that allows excellent airflow and reduced condensation. One the downside, it only has one door, which may be an inconvenience for the person at the furthest end of the tent. Here’s something that you need to know. Since it is a large size, it might be an overwhelming task to pitch it for a solo camper. It is also quite heavy at 21 pounds for a backpacking tent. However, it is our premium choice due to it’s high quality construction and size, and it comes with a 60-day manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Super spacious,
- It offers cross ventilation,
- The tent includes straight sidewalls for more room,
- Quick assembly and set up
Cons
- Zippers gets stuck after a few uses,
- Design flaws lead to frequent leaks
3. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Tent
| Specs |
|---|
| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 4 Pounds (1.8 kg) Size: 91.2 x 36 x 33.6 Inches (231.6 x 91.4 x 85.3 cm) Size: 1 Persons Material: 75D 185T Polyester Fly Waterproof: No |
See it in your local store:
The ALPS Lynx tent has won the hearts of many, and the reason is in its features. So, let’s dive right into it.
What sets this product apart from others? For starters, it has an effortless free-standing setup, which makes it a great choice among camping enthusiasts. It also features an aluminum dual-pole design that assembles easily with clips to hold up the tent on the poles.
Stay worry-free on rainy days and nights with the water-resistant and UV-resistant 75D polyester rainfly and factory-sealed seams. The tent also features a 75D poly taffeta floor with a 2000m coating for waterproofing.
If you want added protection for your valuable items, then make sure to check out my best waterproof backpacks.
The tent also features a vestibule that offers external gear storage within your reach while the internal gear loft and mesh pocket offers more space for personal items. The tent also allows excellent ventilation with half mesh walls and a door.
Pros
- It has a high-quality and robust construction, Vestibule is spacious enough to keep your gear, Guy lines to secure your tent, Quick and easy to pitch,
- Provides decent wind insulation,
- It comes with an interior mesh pocket
Cons
- ALPS is heavyweight, considering its size,
- It has a fairly compact size,
- Leaks through in heavy rain
4. Wakeman Dome Backpacking Tent
| Specs |
|---|
| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 75 x 57.6 x 42 Inches (190.5 x 146.3 x 106.7 cm) Size: 2 Persons Material: Nylon Waterproof: No |
See it in your local store:
Budget-conscious users are going to love this option. As the most affordable tent on my list, this budget backpacking tent competes with premium tents in quality. Interesting, isn’t it?
The high-quality and durable components of this two-person Wakeman tent are best for long-term use. It features a durable 190T polyester construction with a water-resistant rainfly that prevents rain from getting inside the tent.
The dome tent design offers tons of space and interior pockets for personal items. It also features a large D-style door with mesh ventilation. On the downside, it does not provide decent airflow with just one mesh window on the door. However, the fiberglass poles provide stability against windy conditions, and the tent is suitable for mild weather. It has a 6.25×4.80 base dimension and a center height of 3.50 ft. As the tent dimensions show, the interior space is roomy enough to spend comfortable nights and relax completely.
Pros
- It comes at an affordable price-tag,
- Easy to put up and takedown,
- Comes with a convenient carry bag,
- The material is lightweight and sturdy,
- The bathtub bottom is of good quality
Cons
- Not suitable for hot seasons,
- It includes just a single window
5. Naturehike Lightweight Backpacking Tent with Footprint
| Specs |
|---|
| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 5.1 Pounds (2.3 kg) Size: 84.6 x 70.9 x 43.3 Inches (214.9 x 180.1 x 110 cm) Size: 3 Persons Material: 210T Polyester Waterproof: Yes |
See it in your local store:
If you want the least weight while trekking and hiking, nothing beats Naturehike’s 3-person tent. It keeps you going easy with its ultra lightweight construction at just 3.7lbs.
To make your hiking easier than ever, go through the
You’ll be glad to know that the aluminum poles and stable, lightweight construction holds up well in mild to moderate conditions, and is an excellent option for your backpacking adventures.
You can buy the tent with confidence as the manufacturer provides a 30-day money-back guarantee and lifetime warranty on quality-related issues.
Pros
- Ultra lightweight tent,
- Easy to assemble,
- Good value for money,
- It comes with every essential thing you need,
- Excellent ventilation
Cons
- Poor quality zippers,
- It might not hold up during high winds
Verdict
TLDR: Quick summary of our findings as to what can be considered the best backpacking tent under 200 is below:
Overall best backpacking tent under $200 out there: Moon Lence Camping Tent
Premium Pick if money is not much of an issue: Browning Big Horn Tent
Budget Choice – there’s no shame in spending prudently: Wakeman Dome Backpacking Tent
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying Backpacking Tents Under 200 Dollars
Overview
You do not need to make an immediate decision when shopping for your tent. For starters, you will need to look out for the key features that will complete your needs when you set up camp. In this way, you’ll be able to make the best decision. The buying guide below discusses the important aspects you should consider when buying a tent. So, let us get straight into it.
Backpacking Tent Material
Choosing a suitable backpacking tent material plays a vital role in protecting you against harsh weather conditions.
Most tents feature a nylon fabric construction, which offers the best quality for mid-range tents in normal conditions. It does not hold up well in rough conditions. On the other hand, we have polyester, which is a heavier material than nylon, but it is also a low-quality material commonly found in low-end tents.
Look for a tent with enhanced features that improve the quality of the material. For example, nylon material coated with polyurethane will be stronger, lightweight, and relatively economical. You can also consider a tent material that features a silicone-nylon coating, which offers waterproofing capabilities and wear-resistance to adverse weather elements.
Weight
First, we have the packaged weight, which refers to the tent’s overall weight. It includes everything packaged with the tent when you buy it, such as the tent body, rainfly, guylines, poles, stuff sacks, and tent stakes.
Size
Dimensions and tent size play a vital role when it comes to choosing the tent. You will need to be certain that it has sufficient space to accommodate you and your stuff properly. A tent size of 86×52/40×40 is an ideal choice for a 2-person backpacking tent. Besides the floor dimensions, the peak height of the tent is another aspect to consider. The greater the height, the more room you will have to move freely. Many duo-campers prefer the tents with a peak height of 40-42 inches.
Internal Space
Thru-hikers mostly prefer the 1-person tent to save on money and weight. Long-distance hikers tend to go for a 2-person tent for proper resting with a generous internal space. Buying a tent based on the space per person may be a good idea.
You should consider a tent that has high-roof to allow additional space to move or place your things comfortably. Along with a high-roof, do not forget to consider the rectangular design of the tent. It provides more dry storage space for things like cooking incase of poor weather.
Ventilation & Heat Resistance
How much of the tent body is mesh? It is one of the factors you will consider when buying a multi-season tent. In hot temperatures, you will need several mesh windows to get a substantial flow of air. Alternatively, you can pitch your tent away from the direct sun to pull the rainfly cover and allow the tent to ventilate. Rainfly covers usually have a waterproof coating, which inhibits proper air circulation in warm weather and often causes condensation inside the tent. So, is there any solution? Yes, consider getting a tent with roof vents on the inner tent to minimize condensation problems.. With the rainfly covering the inner tent, the spacing in-between these two fabrics gives the tent ventilation while still having protection from the rain.
Durability
When we talk about durability, we look at the denier rating of the fabrics used, which is visible on the product description. The denier indicates the weight of the fabric’s yarn. In case you might be wondering, a lesser rating means a lighter, thinner and less durable material, and vice versa. It also means that the denier is a significant factor in the tent’s weight, and you will need to balance these two factors. Some premium tents feature a silicone coating added to the fabric to increase durability while maintaining the lightweight advantage.
Poor quality backpacking tents with a low denier rating are vulnerable to getting tears on the tent floor, which can compromise their usability. To protect the groundsheet of a lightweight tent, you can opt to use a
Water, Wind And Snow Resistant
Weather protection is the foremost reason why you cannot compromise on quality at any cost. Most good quality tents can withstand moderate conditions like a champ, but what about the unexpected wind storm? For this, you may need to invest in a tent with stronger poles and more exterior ties to anchor you, and it can also serve you for longer in the years to come.
You should also consider a reasonable tent that is sturdy enough to survive in nasty weather. Look out for the heavy poles, rain flys, covers, and sealed seams.
The rainfly is an added waterproof protection that is added as an exterior covering of the tent. They are useful for keeping you dry during heavy rain. Looking deeper, you will find that there are two types of rainflies. Roof-only rainflies can light up your whole tent with sunlight due to their design that only covers the roof, and they provide a fair protection from rain. Full-coverage rainflies that cover the entire tent to the ground are best for protecting against adverse weather situations.
Poles are another important consideration. They maximize the interior space for livability by keeping the tent walls almost vertical. Also, make sure to include pole clips that connect to the canopies and sleeves of the tent. The pole clips further strengthens the tent’s pitching and minimizes saggy areas.
Setup
Everybody wants a tent that is easy to set up and take down. When you arrive at the campsite, you will most likely be worn out and you will not want to end up in a frustrating situation with a difficult tent.
Make sure you have all the accessories that come with the tent to assemble quickly. Most modern tents come with fewer poles and asymmetrical shapes which set up within a few minutes.
Here is a pro tip for you. If you are a beginner, you may want to practice assembling and pitching up the tent in your home garden before leaving on your trip.
Design
Moving on to tent design, the more complex the design, the more room you will have to live in. However, many renowned brands use a simple design with extra features such as vestibules, generous headroom space, air vents, and internal pockets for your gear.
It is advisable to go for a simple free-standing design that allows you to set up and take down your tent quickly. Semi-freestanding and non-freestanding tents may take up more time to pitch because they require to be staked out.
Additional Features
The tent porch or vestibule in your tent is a convenient option to ensure that your essential gear stays covered during the night, and it frees up space inside the tent. Modern tents feature multiple interior pockets to keep your important belongings.
As for the poles, many backpacking tents come with aluminum poles that are sturdy and fairly lightweight. But, there’s a small caveat with these poles, which is, you may get a generic variety instead of the original. You could consider hubbed pole designs which are pretty much in demand for their incredible rigidity.
Questions and Answers About Backpacking Tents Under 200 Dollars
How can I maintain my 2 person backpacking tent in a good condition so it lasts me for years?
There are a myriad of ways to keep your tent in tip-top condition. The following are some of them
Store your tent in a dry place and away from UV light,
Treat the poles carefully,
Use a footprint that is custom to your tent,
Use the zippers with both hands,
Seal the seams to prevent leakage
How to clean your Waterproof tent?
You can use a non-abrasive sponge to clean the tent. However, try not to overwork the waterproofed areas as you may damage the protective coating. Target the soiled areas by soaking it in a bathtub of warm, soapy water, and let it dry out for some time.
