the best summer tent
You’ll want to look for a few key features when you’re choosing a summer tent.
First, you want a tent that’s lightweight and easy to pack, since you’re carrying it with you on your trek. You also want it to be easy to set up and take down so you can quickly get settled in for the night and hit the trail again in the morning.
Ventilation is important for keeping you cool and comfortable on warm nights. This means looking for a tent with plenty of mesh panels and windows that can be opened for airflow.
Look for a rainfly that can be partially or fully removed to maximize ventilation. There’s nothing worse on a hot summer night than sleeping in a small box with no airflow – you get a crummy sleep and your fun goes down the tubes.
While summer tents tend to be lighter weight, they still need to be tough enough to withstand rugged conditions. This means looking for tents made from high-quality materials, with reinforced seams and zippers.
Lastly, size matters. You want a tent that’s roomy enough to sleep comfortably, but not so big that it’s too heavy or bulky to carry. The typical rule of thumb is, if there's 2 people camping, you want a 3 person tent. If there's 4 people, make it a 5 or 6 person tent.
If your tent doesn't have a good sized vestibule to protect your gear from weather, a slightly larger tent becomes even more important.
summer tent reviews
Big Agnes Copper Spur
This series of 3-season tents is ultralight, durable, quick to setup and provide excellent ventilation. It's designed to provide ample living space, not just sleeping space. Sizes range from 1-person to 5-person and you have a choice of two or three colors. Check out the diagram for the basic tent layout.
The 2-person tent covers a floor area of 29 square feet (2.7 square meters), has a head height of 40 inches (102 cm) and packs down to 19.5 x 6 inches (50 x 15 cm). It weighs 2 pounds 11 ounces (1.22 kg).
A 3-person tent covers a floor area of 41 square feet (3.8 square meters), has a head height of 43 inches (110 cm) and packs down to 21 x 6 inches (53 x 15 cm). It weighs 3 pounds 8 ounces (1.59 kg).
A 4-person Copper Spur tent covers a floor area of 57 square feet (5.3 square meters), has a head height of 50 inches (127 cm) and packs down to 22 x 7 inches (56 x 18 cm). It weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces (2.38 kg).
The 5-person tent covers a floor area of 65 square feet (6 square meters), has a head height of 60 inches (152 cm) and packs down to 24.5 x 9 inches (61 x 23 cm). It weighs 6 pounds 4 ounces (3.19 kg).
High-quality, double ripstop nylon and polyester mesh offers extra tear strength and puncture resistance without adding weight . The fly and floor are durable with double ripstop nylon with 1200mm waterproof coating. A pre-bent span pole and the 4-way high-volume hub design increases stability and sheds rain and snow. Dual low-vent vestibule doors and high fly vent maximize airflow and reduce condensation.
Two doors and two vestibules lead to a 3-D bin ‘mezzanine’ providing elevated storage, an oversized ceiling pocket, media pockets provide cord-routing for electronics, and multiple interior loops to attach gear lofts, accessories and lights. Organize your gear without cramping your sleep space or ability to sit up.
The awning-style vestibules can be customized to expand living space, great for both drizzle and sun protection. The double-zippers provide multiple access options and are protected with storm flaps.
Setup is quick and intuitive. Match colors of the pole ends or rainfly webbing with matching colors on the tent body. Big Agnes' tent corner buckles streamline tent set up by combining 3 functions: pole-tip capture, rainfly attachment and tensioner, and stake-out loop. The buckle equalizes the forces between the tent body, rainfly, and ground stake.
The rainfly provides good coverage and a little condensation buildup only seems to occur during torrential or extended humid conditions. Zippers are the first thing to show signs of wear and tear after extended use. Otherwise, the Big Agnes Copper Spur tent is hardy.
Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO Ultralight
This 3-season tent is for those who need an ultralight, mega compact tent that's sturdy and durable in various weather conditions, and easy to set up. You get a 1-person or 2-person tent in one color choice - vestibule included for storing gear.
We like the Hornet Elite over the Hornet OSMO Ultralight because of the fabric improvements. The Hornet OSMO Ultralight's rain fly is a little trickier to set up. Without practice, the Hornet OSMO Ultralight rain fly can sag and get your gear wet. We didn't like that.
The 2-person Hornet Elite covers a floor area of 27 square feet (2.5 square meters), has a head height of 37 inches (94 cm) and packs down to 19 x 4 x 2 inches (48 x 10 x 5 cm). It weighs 2 pounds 1 ounce (935 grams) when packed.
Proprietary OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop fabric delivers 4x better water repellency and 3x less stretch when wet than previous models. DAC Featherlite poles connect with a single hub for fast setup. A volumizing pole clip brings headroom to the interior. Triangulated guy-outs at the corners protect sleeping bags from tent wall condensation by creating volume at the foot.
Two doors and two vestibules allow easy access and storage space. The vestibules are relatively small for storing gear. And your tent's interior space will be slightly cramped if used by two tall people or those with larger sleeping pads.
Overhead nightlight pockets turn your headlamp into a tent lantern. Tie the doors back or connect the volumizing clips at the bottom of the tent doors to the loops on the rain fly vestibule for more living space. A Divvy Cube™ rectangular stuff sack allows you to split the weight with a partner.
Setup is easy: match grey to grey and blue to blue - pole segments, webbing, anchor points, etc. Grey is the head. Blue is the foot of the tent. Attach the rain fly with Velcro wraps to the poles. Add guylines for additional strength. Proper tension of your tent ensures maximum water shedding and wind resistance.
The Hornet Elite's compact size is a significant advantage for those with limited space in their backpacks. Plus Nemo offers a life-time warranty.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX
MSR delivers a lightweight, durable, spacious tent with their best-selling 3-season Hubba Hubba NX. It's a true rectangle (no taper) with the rain fly creating vestibules for gear storage. Easy to set up and with good ventilation, this one-color tent is available in 1, 2 or 3-person. We're reviewing the 2-person tent here. (Links to the 1-person and 3-person tents on Amazon.com for technical measurements.)
The 2-person Hubba Hubba tent covers a floor area of 29 square feet (2.7 square meters), has a head height of 39 inches (99 cm) - 40 inches (101 cm) in the 2023 model - and packs down to 19 x 6 x 5 inches (48 x 15 x 13 cm). It weighs 3 pounds 4 ounces (1.47 kg).
The tent body is a blend of mesh and solid fabric with a DuraShield™ waterproof coating and taped seams. You get airflow, privacy and weather protection. Dual vestibule doors feature rain gutters, while kickstand vents maximize airflow. The poles are made of advanced aerospace composite materials. They're virtually indestructible in challenging and windy conditions.
Surprisingly, we didn't mind the no-curve tent doors that zipped closed to a single point. We always knew where to open the door in the dark. (Older models have C-shaped doors.) Tech-friendly pockets at the corners, overhead gear loft pockets for headlamps or sunglasses, and a top mesh window for stargazing round out the Hubba Hubba's bonus features.
Setup is straightforward using a unified hub-and-pole system and color-coded clips on a simple rectangle. It's a significant advantage after a long day of hiking.
We've heard that the zippers wear out first. Some experience snagging zippers with use over time. This hasn't happened to us yet.
More deets on Amazon.com - 1-person tent, 2-person tent, 3-person tent
GOT FEEDBACK?
If you've used one of the summer tents I reviewed and you have something to add, I'd love to hear it.
Same, if you have a tent you love (or hate) that's not reviewed here, tell me about it and I'll check it out.
