How to choose your backpacking tent?

Planning a multi-day trek and wondering how to choose a backpacking tent? Whether basic or premium, tunnel or dome, 2-season or 3-season, today’s outdoor market offers an impressive range of options. It can therefore be tricky to find your way around and identify the ideal shelter that strikes the perfect balance between comfort, weight and performance. Whether you’re heading for a night of wild camping or a multi-day expedition, knowing how to choose your trekking tent is a crucial step to ensure the success of your adventure. Follow our comprehensive guide to find THE tent that perfectly suits your needs and becomes your most reliable adventure companion!

Contents

What are the different types of backpacking tents?

At Glisshop, we distinguish two main types of tents: domes and tunnels. Whether you’re stargazing from your garden or admiring the midnight sun in the Norwegian mountains, each design has its own advantages depending on the situation.

Tunnel tents: lightweight and wind-resistant

These tents have an elongated, low tunnel shape. Although you can’t stand upright inside, their aerodynamic profile gives them excellent wind resistance. Spacious, they often feature a generous front vestibule to store your gear away from moisture. However, as they are non-freestanding, they require solid anchoring (pegs, guy lines or weights), which can be tricky on hard or rocky ground. Lightweight and compact, they are the go-to choice for performance-oriented adventurers.

Dome tents (or igloo): versatile and freestanding

These are the most common on the market. With their rounded shape, dome tents have the major advantage of being freestanding. They adapt to a wide range of terrains, though pegging out is still necessary for stability in wind or bad weather. From basic camping tents to high-altitude expedition models, the igloo design offers excellent liveability thanks to its crossed pole structure.

Freestanding or not: which is best for trekking?

Understanding the pitching difference is essential when deciding how to choose your trekking tent for a long-distance route.

Freestanding tents (often dome-shaped):

• Advantages: stand on their own, easy to move without dismantling, ideal on hard ground, very quick to pitch.
• Drawbacks: generally more expensive and pitching often starts with the inner mesh (less practical in rain).

Non-freestanding tents (often tunnel-shaped):

• Advantages: excellent wind resistance, very durable over time, great weight-to-price ratio.
• Drawbacks: cannot be pitched on bare rock, requires more skill to achieve proper tension.

Understanding waterproofness and hydrostatic head

A tent’s waterproof rating is measured using the hydrostatic head test (also known as the Schmerber index). The higher the water column (in mm) a fabric can withstand before leaking, the more waterproof it is.

For a bivvy tent, the minimum recommended standard is 1200 mm (ideal for 2- or 3-season use). Note: do not confuse waterproofness with water repellence. A water-repellent coating causes water to bead on the surface but does not guarantee protection against heavy rain.

Liveability and season rating: 2, 3 or 4 seasons?

Capacity (1-person, 2-person, 3-person or more) depends on your comfort tolerance: do you prefer extra space at the cost of more weight or do you travel ultra-light? Beyond space, the season rating determines the conditions in which your tent will perform best:

• 2-season: summer bivvying (late spring to early autumn) in mild weather.
• 3-season: the most versatile choice (spring, summer, autumn), suitable even for rainy or stormy conditions.
• 4-season: for high-altitude and winter use (snowstorms, strong winds). Note: a 4-season tent doesn’t generate heat; it simply provides better insulation from extreme elements.

Weight and dimensions: the challenge of carrying on the move

When trekking, every gram matters. An overloaded pack leads to fatigue and loss of balance. For a backpacking tent, we recommend not exceeding 1.5 kg per person (including flysheet, poles, and pegs). A 2-person tent weighing around 3 kg is an excellent compromise.

Also consider the packed dimensions. Pack volume is just as important. Glisshop tip: separate the poles from the flysheet to distribute the load in your rucksack (or between hikers) and optimise space.

Tent fabrics: nylon or polyester?

When choosing a trekking tent, the fabric type is a key factor as it directly affects both weight and price:

• Polyester: highly resistant to UV rays and waterproof, it doesn’t stretch when wet. It’s an affordable material, ideal for camping and summer bivvying, though slightly heavier.
• Nylon (polyamide): the king of ultralight designs! Much lighter and more tear-resistant than polyester, it’s used in most high-end trekking tents. Its only drawback: it tends to stretch slightly when damp, so you may need to re-tension your guy lines during the night.

Denier

You’ll often see this unit (e.g. 15D, 20D). It indicates thread thickness. The lower the number, the lighter the fabric, but the more care it requires to avoid snags.

Choosing tent poles: the skeleton of your tent

The poles ensure your tent’s stability in windy conditions. There are three main types:

• Fibreglass: economical and flexible, commonly used in entry-level camping tents. However, it’s heavier and more fragile in cold weather.
• Aluminium: the benchmark for backpacking tents. Aluminium (often DAC type) offers an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio and excellent wind resistance in the mountains.
• Carbon fibre: only seen on premium ultralight (UL) tents. Extremely light and stiff but requires careful handling as it can snap if misaligned.

Single-wall or double-wall tent: a comparison

The tent architecture plays a major role in comfort and condensation control:

• Single-wall or single-skin tent: ultra-light and quick to pitch. The trade-off? Less breathable, prone to condensation and no vestibule. Ideal for fast hiking and weight-conscious minimalists.
• Double-wall or double-skin tent (inner + outer flysheet): creates airflow that drastically reduces condensation. Slightly heavier, but far more comfortable and usually includes a vestibule. This external storage area is essential for keeping your rucksack and boots outside, avoiding sleeping with damp or smelly gear.

The best tent for your activity (trekking, camping, etc.)

To wrap up this guide on choosing a trekking tent, here are our recommendations based on your intended use:

• Occasional / static camping: weight is not a concern. Choose a spacious double-skin tent with a generous vestibule. Prioritise comfort.
• Summer hiking (1–2 nights): a 2-season tent, either dome or tunnel, will do perfectly.
• Frequent bivvying and variable weather: a 3-season double-skin tent is essential to limit condensation and provide reliable rain protection.
• Trekking and mountaineering (long-distance itineraries): go for ultralight and compact. A 3- or 4-season tent designed to withstand wind and adapt to unpredictable terrain.