When you look at the tent market, its easy to feel overwhelmed by choices. The variety of styles, types, sizes, and functions is so vast that even if you think you know what you want, you might end up paralyzed by choices you didnt know you had.

　　Thats totally normal.Just stay calm and remember: The right tent is out there waiting for you — you just need to know how to choose it. Which is exactly what this guide is meant to help with. Follow these tips, and you should have everything you need to choose a tent that will serve your adventures, match your budget, and hopefully last for many years.

　　Once you know what kind of tent you want and need, check out GearJunkies guides to the Best Backpacking Tents, Best Ultralight Tents, Best Canopy Tents, Best Rooftop Tents, and Best Camping Tents. The options spotlighted in those guides are a great place to start shopping.

　　How to Choose the Right Tent

　　The Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight backpack in front of a Fortius trek pole tent; (photo/Outdoor Vitals) Step 1:Assess how you will use your tent. Be honest with yourself. Will you roll it out of the minivan? Or do you need to haul it deep into the backcountry? If so, how many miles? While a 2-pound tent is reasonable for a weekend backpackingtrip, youmay want to go lighter for long-distance hikes. Or, if you will only use it car camping, weight wont be a significant concern — go for comfort.

　　Step 2: Consider the weather where you camp most of the time. If you camp mostly in the heat of the summer, ventilation is a primary concern. Even if you camp occasionally in cold weather, choose your tent based on the majority usage. Three-season tents fit most peoples camping and backpacking needs.

　　But, sometimes people like to camp in the snow — for skiing, hunting, or cinematography —in which case, a four-season tent might be necessary.

　　Step 3: Think about capacity. How many people will you be sharing this tent with? Each person needs at least 2 feet of elbow room. Big and tall folks will want more width and a longer tent. Will you bring a dog? What about kids? Most tents come in two- and three-person sizes. Some come in four- and six-person sizes, and there are even tents out there big enough to sleep eight or more.

　　Choose your tent size based on who you will share a tent with most.

　　In-Store Evaluation: Ask Yourself Questions

　　(Photo/Meyvn Creative) At the store, even if thetent is already set up, request to set another up. Is it intuitive? Do the poles snap together easily? Will you be able to set it up in the dark, with cold fingers, in the wind or rain? Most sales associates at outdoor stores will be psyched to let you set up a sample tent and will be more than willing to help if asked.

　　Once youve set the tent up, crawlinside and stretch out. If your head or toes touch the ends, youll want a larger size. Try sitting up in the tent to ensure you have enough room to dress and undressin it. When you wake up in the night to answer natures call, will you disturb your tentmates when you try to get out?

　　Evaluate the doors and ventilation, too. Make sure the tent has adequate ventilation for the conditions youll be using it in. If theres condensation (there likely will be) consider where it will drip or pool. You need to be able to fit your party inside, in sleeping bags, without touching the walls. That will be the first source of moisture.

　　Pick a Camping Tent

　　(Photo/Iryna Kalamurza) The camping tent is somewhere between a group hunting canvas tents and ultralight backpacking tents. This is the most popular tent style. It includes models like the iconic REI Half Dome 3and the Mountain Hardware Meridian 2.

　　Many of these tents tend to be light enough to carry for an overnight or weekend backpacking trip. But theyre not ideal for long-distance hikes. Some of them will be too heavy to carry beyond a car camping site.

　　For those who car camp regularly but want to hit the trail from time to time, a lighter camping tent is a strong option. Two- and three-person tents weighing 4-6 pounds will work for almost anyone who just wants to drive to a campsite for an evening or a few.

　　Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Review: Shelter From the Storm, Riding on Your Bike FrameThe Big Agnes Copper Spur is designed with bikepacking adventures in mind. But the lightweight style still allows for a solid amount of comfort. Read more

　　Backpacking Tents: How to Choose

　　(Photo/Christian Black) If youre carrying your tent more thana few hundred feet from the car, youll appreciate something lighter than a regular car camping tent. Thats where the backpacking tent comes in clutch.

　　Backpacking tents prioritize weight and packability over interior space. However, forward-thinking engineering also includes pole configurationsthat pop out the walls, allowing more livablespace than ever before.

　　Usually touted as three-season tents, backpacking tents balance ventilation and weather protection. These tents are ideal for most backcountry pursuits and providenearly year-round coverage. Some will be under-gunned for true winter camping, but there are also ultralight hot tents out there like the Seek Outside Redcliff.

　　Look for tents weighing less than 2 pounds per person for serious backpacking. The lighter, the better. Strong options include the Big AgnesCopper Spur HV UL 2 Tent, which weighs less than 2.5 pounds. The MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is another strong option. It has a pole configuration designed to maximize headspace while still proving light and packable.

　　Mountaineering 4-Season Tents

　　(Photo/Bergen Tjossem) Hiking above the tree line, where wind and snow canunexpectedly crash your party, youll want a shelter that can withstandcold winds and winter weather.

　　Four-season tents are often constructed with additional poles and more durable materials, adding weight (and cost). In turn, these bastions of the high country provide more peace of mind and overall protection no matter what kind of weather you find yourself in. Theyre also great for winter campouts at lower elevations.

　　However, tents come in just as many shapes and sizes as other types. So, when youre shopping for one, really consider what layout will best suit your adventure needs (more on this later).

　　All-Weather Basecamp: NEMO Chogori 2P Mountaineering Tent ReviewWe tested the four-season Nemo Chogori mountaineering tent — blurring the lines between single- and double-wall design —  through wind, rain, and snow. Read more

　　Ultralight Shelters

　　(Photo/Christian Black) A whittled-down shelter can provide significant weight savings for those with a few miles under their belt and long miles ahead. Its sometimes a stretch to call these shelters tents. Theyll typically be your second or third tentpurchase. Theyre specifically designed for long-distance, fast-paced adventures. Some are little more than a tarp with guylines and tent stakes.

　　A nichearrow in your backcountryquiver, these shelters often double down usingtrekking poles as tent poles or eschew the poles altogether. Some tents even allow users to set up the rainfly without the tent body to maximize minimalism.

　　Just like amountaineering tent willbe overkill for most, on the other end of the spectrum, these ultralight options can leave the unprepared exposed. But with experience, tarps, hammocks, bivy sacks, and pyramid tentscan also be pragmatic and very lightweight shelters.

　　Pitch a Pyramid: Hyperlite UltaMid 2 Tent ReviewMinimalism meets all-mountain functionality in the next great line of multi-sport tents. We reviewed the ultralight UltaMid 2 tent in Mexico, Colorado, and the Sierras. Made from Dyneema fabric, this is one tough, expensive tent. Read more

　　Glossary: Understanding Tent Material Jargon

　　Everest base camp; (photo/Shutterstock) Perhaps no outdoor purchase has moredata to sift through thantents. Jargon abounds; its helpful to understand what it all means.

　　Tent Materials While you can still find canvas tents on the market, most of todaystents employ synthetic nylon fabric. Measured in denier (grams of massper 9,000 m of a fabrics thread), the lower the number, the lighter (and more fragile) the tentwill be.

　　Some ultralightshelterscut weight by using specialty fabrics, like sil-nylon (silicone-impregnated nylon) and Dyneema (military- and maritime-grade fabric).

　　(Photo/Christian Black) Single-Wall and Double-Wall Tents Most of the tents you see in stores or online are double-walled.Double-wall tents have abreathable inner tent overlappedby a waterproof outer rainfly.This configuration allows condensation from your breath to quickly move to the outside layer, preventing the dreaded midnight condensation rainstorm.

　　A few scenarios makea single-wall tent a viableoption. High-alpine environments will freeze any condensation to the tent wall.Tents with enoughventilation will allow moisture to freely escape before condensing. Single-wall tents are also typically easier to set up because they only have one wall and dont require adding a rainfly.

　　Pitch on a Ledge: MSR Advance Pro 4-Season Tent ReviewThe MSR Advance Pro 2 is lightweight, has a small footprint, bomber construction, and a single climber can pitch it standing in one spot. We review this highly desirable tent for the hardcore alpinist or mountaineer. Read more

　　No-See-Um Netting No-see-ums are small flies that bite, though the term has becomeubiquitous foranysmall bug that bites. No-see-um netting(mosquito netting)is often used to reduce weight and provide superior ventilation on double-walltents.With the rainfly removed, the mesh tent can turn your shelterinto a hotel room with a 1-million-star view.

　　(Photo/Katie Eichelberger) Tent Poles Mosttents have aluminum tubing poles connected with an elastic cord.The poles slide through nylon sleeves or into durable plastic clips to loft the tent. At the end of the pole, a pin is inserted into a ringed grommet.

　　More complex tent designs will color-code the poles with hooks and grommets for an easier setup. Some tent pole configurations come as a single piece with hinges. Others are separate poles that come together to raise the tent. As mentioned, some lightweight tents allow people to use trekking poles for a center tent pole.

　　(Photo/Josh Wussow) Tent Stakes Tent stakes should come with the tent and match its purpose. Lightweight tents will have lighter-weight stakes, and heavy camp tents will have heavier-gauge stakes. Aftermarket stakes can be purchased to cut weight, add durability, and replace those you lose.

　　Pro tip:Look for native stakes — rocks, roots, trees — to tie down the tent. And if you lose a stake, look around empty campsites —nine times out of ten, someone else lost one, too.

　　Tent Vestibule We all love the great outdoors, but the tent door is where we draw the line. Avestibule is to a tent as the covered porch is toyour house — its aprotective awning to stowyour gear and a place to kick offyour muddy boots. Its a space-saving additionthats worth considering when making a purchase.

　　Theres nothing quite like returning to a big shady awning after a big ride or hike; (photo/Eric Phillips) In-Tent Storage The last thing you want to do en route toa midnight bio break is fumble for your headlamp. Pockets and lofts are great ways to keep small sundries and personal items organized and within reach. Many tents come with internal loops to string a clothesline todry out wet clothes.

　　Doors If theres a chink in the armorofa tent, its usually the door. A good one will have a smooth zipper, providing ample room to wiggle outwhile sealing out the elements. One door canwork fine ifitexits the front. Buta pair of campers might appreciate having separate ports of entry instead ofcrawling over one another to get out a single side door.

　　(Photo/Nathan Lemin) Guylines Tents often come with a knotof cord. These are yourguylines and help draw the tent taut. Some tent shapes, like dome tents, dont needguylines to keep them pitched. Other designs, like pyramid tents, oftenrequire guylines. Either way, its a good idea to sling the tent before hitting the trail to ensure that your tent will be camp-ready when you get to your site.

　　Pro tip:Reflective guylines are easy to spot when hit with a light at night, preventing an accidental fall. If the tent doesnt come with them, theycan be purchased aftermarket. Or you can add reflective tape to your non-reflective guylines.

　　Tent Rainfly Weve all seen it — the dome tent at the campground with the blue tarp drapedover the top. Dont be like that guy. The basic function of a tent is to protect you from the elements. Manyrainflies can be peeled back for a night view. Some tents, like Sea to Summits Ikos, allow for multiple different rainfly configurations (or modes).

　　Pro tip:Consider the color if you expect to spend several days in a tent. Sunflower yellows will be more cheery for your disposition thandark blues.

　　(Photo/Bergen Tjossem) Tent Height Wall Shape Tents are built around the physical forces of tension and compression of fabric and poles. Like most things, tent form follows function, so consider your needsand the designs will follow suit.

　　With their vertical walls, family tents allow campers to stand up (or at least sit up) and change, while a low-profile backpacking tentwill sling low to the ground todeflect wind and rain.

　　GearJunkie editors enjoying the sunshine in camp chairs by the tent; (photo/Eric Phillips) Tent Trail Weight Turn over a tent label and youll often see two listed weights. The packaged weight is the off-the-shelf weight — cords, repair kit, extra stakes, and all. The trail weight refers tothe minimum weight to erect the tent: the tent body, fly, poles, and minimum stakes.

　　Ground Cloth (or Footprint) This is the one necessary tent item usually sold aftermarket. If your tent doesnt come with one, you should seriously consider purchasing one. A ground cloth serves as a buffer between the tent and the underlying rocks and roots, saving wear and tear on the tent floor. Some brands will void their warranty on tents if a footprint isnt used with it.

　　Pro tip:Dont want to shell out for the brand-name drop cloth? DIY with a sheet of DuPont Tyvek from your localhardware store. Tarps can also be substituted in a pinch.

　　How to Care For Your New Tent

　　(Photo/Honey McNaughton) So, you pulled the trigger and bought a tent. Congratulations! Hereare a few tips to ensurethat it has a long life.

　　Many tents will come with taped seams. That means the holes caused by sewing are covered or sealed at the factory. But some tents still come with unsealed seams from the store. If yours is unsealed, apply seam sealer to the floor andinside the fly stitching before taking it to the field. Or, if your seams are sealed but theyve started leaking after years of hard use, seam sealers can save the day.

　　Rig your tents guylines and practice setting up the tent in a park or your yard. Figure out how to stake it out for bothfair and foul weather. Check for any manufacturing flaws.

　　During yourfirst trip with the tent, be sure to stake it down securely. An empty tent is a box kite in disguise — putting a hefty rock, or a filled backpack inside helps weigh it down while you stake it out. Try to keep debris out of the tent.

　　After each use, remove the fly andlet it dry out — hanging on something or laying out in the sun. Before breaking camp, open the tents door and shake it out to remove debris.

　　At home, continue to dry the tent and store it loose (not rolled up tight). Avoid folding your tent, as the creases can wear out the fabric.

　　After a season, give it aonce-over. Repair any small holes with seam sealer. Use mild soap and waterto remove any stains. Check the poles and guylines for any damage, and store the tent in a dry area.

　　Frequently Asked Questions

　　(Photo/Nick Belcaster) How do you choose a tent site? Choosing a site for a tent is one of those things you get better at over time. The first thing you want to make sure of is that youre using a flat area. If you set up your tent on an angle, gravity will pull you down the sleeping mat overnight and youll wake up crumpled in a corner.

　　Some people will use a Nalgene bottle as a makeshift level, testing the ground to see if it rolls in any one direction. And obviously, look for tent sites that arent covered in rocks, roots, or other obstructions.

　　It also helps to consider your morning. Are you trying to sleep in? Or do you want to wake up with the sun? If your tent isnt in a shaded area, the sun will likely wake you as soon as its up. If you want to sleep in, pick a spot where youve got some good cover.

　　How do you choose a tent ground cloth?

　　Many brands sell ground cloths (or footprints) specifically made for tent models and sizes. Go to the brands website (or REI) and search for the name of your tent plus the word footprint, and the right one should pop up. Similarly, if youre buying in a store, just ask one of the sales associates, and they should be able to direct you.

　　You can also buy more universal or generic tent footprints on Amazon. They typically come in one-, two-, and three-person sizes and wont fit your tents shape perfectly. But they do the job, and theyre usually cheaper.

　　How do you choose a tent size?

　　If the tent is just for you, you can choose a single-person tent or a bivy. However, if youve got a partner or just want a little more room by yourself, get a two-person tent. If the tent is for you, your significant other, and your dog or child, size up and get a three-person tent. Really, this is a matter of preference.

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