Best Small 2 person tents- Top tents for two in 2023 for camping and backpacking

Are you ready to find out what the best small 2 person tents are for you? If so, you’re in the right place!

Backpacking and camping tent capacities can be annoying. Sure, they call it a one person tent, but climb in and you’ll feel like you’re stuck in a coffin. We often recommend grabbing a small 2 person tent instead so you have plenty of room to stretch out and keep your gear in.

Whether you want something to head out backpacking, or if you’re looking for a casual camping tent you can take to music festivals, we’ve got you covered.

In a hurry? The top small 2 person tents are:

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Person Tent – Best Overall
2. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Compact 2 Person Tent – Best budget backpacking tent
3. Coleman sundome 2 Person Tent – Best casual camping tent
4. Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent – Best festival tent
5. Bessport 2-Person Backpacking Tent – Best budget all-rounder tent
6. Naturehike 2-Person Cloud-Up Tent – Best beginner backpacking tent
7. ALPS Mountaineering 2-Person Lynx Tent – Most durable tent
8. Marmot Limelight 2P Tent – Most versatile tent
9. ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2-Person Tent – Best tent for summer
10. Nemo Hornet 1 Person Tent – Best not-so-budget tent

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Best Small Tents – Quick Recommendation

If you don’t have the time to read our full review just now, that’s fine. Our favorite small tent we reviewed was the Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent. As far as backpacking tents go, it’s in a league of its own.

If you’re looking for a casual camping tent, you may prefer the Coleman Sundome Tent. Although it might not be the most accomplished tent, it ticks enough boxes for us to be a general recommendation. It’s too heavy to take backpacking but it’s great for car camping trips and music festivals.

What about campers looking to Go Backpacking on A Budget?

For campers looking for a budget backpacking tent then we recommend the Alps Mountaineering Lynx Tent. It’s a low-cost but high-quality tent that will keep you sheltered on backpacking trips.

Reviews of the Best 2 Person Tents in 2021

Here are the full details of the best 2-person tent models on the market right now.

If you’re looking for an ultralight backpacking tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Tent reigns supreme. It’s the quintessential backpacking tent for those who want quality.

It’s an absurdly light tent. The one-person model is only 2.6 pounds in weight. It also folds up into tiny amount of packed space, making it a convenient tent to carry in your backpack.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur has two doors so that you can climb out of either side. Each door comes with a handy vestibule that you can use for storing gear, or prop up as an awning. The awnings are great for getting ventilation into the tent during the day and adding a little extra gear storage space.

The tent is great in rain and wind, with plenty of guyout points and an attachable rainfly. It is a 3 season tent, so you’ll want to avoid taking it out in winter. The tent materials – ripstop nylon and aluminum poles – just scream quality. Big Agnes haven’t held back in packing so much quality into this small tent.

Overall, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL tent is a fantastic backpacking tent, easily winning the award of the best small 2 person tent.

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If you’re wanting for a durable tent that’s good for backpacking or great for camping, the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 2 person tent is an excellent choice. It’s not only inexpensive, but it can also handle pretty much any 3 season weather you throw at it.

This is a classic, small dome tent with a rainfly. It has a conventional setup which will take about 10 minutes for one person. Not as quick as pop up tents like the Coleman, but you’re getting tons of extra quality in return.

It comes with a gear loft and storage pockets to keep your personal belongings organised while you’re out and about, and, for all but the tallest campers, there’s plenty of headroom for sitting up inside when it rains.

All that being said, Alps Mountaineering have had to cut a number of features to drive the cost so low. It’s heavier for starters – almost twice as heavy. The two vestibules have reduced down to a single, small vestibule, reducing the vestibule space by 75% compared to the Big Agnes. And gone are the useful features of the Big Agnes like the awnings, the giant storage pocket, and the plenty of ventilation.

So which one should you choose? If you’re looking for a great small 2 person tent on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the Alps Mountaineering Lynx. If you plan on using your tent regularly, or you’re wanting to buy a backpacking tent that you will always be able to rely on, get the Big Agnes Copper Spur.

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This two person tent from Coleman is an excellent option for beginning campers who want a no-fuss tent that doesn’t take up much room. It’s tight for two people, so we recommend this tent mostly for solo campers or two who don’t mind being close. Those who go out with a group but want some privacy could also enjoy this tent.

You’ll need weather protection in case of a storm. This one comes with a partial rain fly that keeps you dry in light rain. Coleman’s tents also include welded corners and inverted seams, as well as a bathtub-like construction on the floor to keep water out. However, if you’re in a major storm, you might get some leakage in the tent body.

Even if you decide to put the rainfly on, the large windows and ground-level vent keep air flowing inside.

This tent is a little too heavy for backpacking, but it’s ideal for car camping. Use the car for gear storage and sleep here with your dog, or set up a couple of these for you and your buddies on a kayak trip.

What many customers love about this tent is that it includes a high-quality hinged door that automatically closes after you. This way, you can get out of the tent with your hands full.

Easy dome tent setup that shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes, even when you’re on your own. It’s just passing two tent poles, and that’s it. For the rainfly, prepare to need a couple more minutes.

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For those looking for an instant tent, it doesn’t really get much easier than this. If you’re looking for a tent to provide a roof over your head when you’re at a festival, this is your pick.

It’s also ideal for quick getaways in your car for a beginner solo camper who doesn’t want to waste time with the setup. It’s also lightweight, but we don’t recommend this for backpacking, because the carry bag is big and round and awkward to take with you.

The tent comes with large mesh windows for natural light and a multi-position rainfly for protection, and the door has a mesh liner for improved ventilation. If it’s raining, you might get some water inside if you’re not careful, since the door is inset. Otherwise, it holds up well in the rain, at least if you protect the floor with a tarp.

It’s big enough for one person with gear or a pet. In case you want to sleep in this tent with two people, you won’t have much space for anything else. The floor height is also pretty low, so it’s not the most comfortable tent available for tall people.

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This tent from Bessport is a good alternative for couples on a romantic camping trip. The tent has doors and covered vestibules on each side, so it’s comfortable for two people to get in and out without climbing over each other. You can also use these vestibules for storing some gear and leaving your shoes.

The tent has large mesh windows and roof, but when you attach the rainfly, it also offers decent rain protection. When you have the rainfly on, there’s hardly any ventilation, so it does get warm inside.

We love that this tent also has mesh storage pockets sewn on the walls inside for your small belongings, as well as a hook to hang a light at the center of the ceiling.

It’s not the most lightweight tent in our budget tents review, but it’s still light enough to take with you for light backpacking. For a budget tent, this tent is comfortable to carry, and the tube-shaped carry bag is easy to attach to your backpack.

It also comes in several different colors, so you can pick the one that best suits you.

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A lightweight budget backpacking tent, we recommend this tent for new backpackers looking for a budget option for one or two people. It’s slightly higher priced than some of the other tents on our list, but we consider it to be a good value for the price.

The tent features a complete rainfly that protects you well from the elements. If you’re camping in dry conditions, though, you can enjoy the mesh windows and roof.

Note that this tent is not made for winter weather, and it’s better for use as a 3-season tent. The 3000 mm hydrostatic rating on the rainfly and tough floors make it tough enough to endure most spring and fall weather conditions.

The tent fits two people without gear or one person with gear. With the rainfly on, you have one vestibule, so you have a little extra room for your backpack. However, this tent is probably not enough for two backpackers to store their gear unless you don’t mind being crowded.

As far as the overall design goes, the door is wide and covers nearly the entire wall. This means you’ll be able to get in even though the overall height is quite low.

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The Marmot Limelight tent is an option for campers that incorporates a fantastic igloo design with vertical walls, two doors and vestibules on each side.

It’s not too heavy to use as a backpacking tent, at 5.6 pounds, but we don’t recommend this tent as the top pick for long stretches of hiking. The carry bag is big and uncomfortable, so it’s better for use as a car camping tent.

If you want to sleep a little more protected from the cold ground, the generous peak height of this 2-person tent allows you to fit a cot inside.

This tent is pretty pricey, especially compared to the lower-priced options at the beginning of our list. Still, we found this tent to be a top option because of its smart design and durability. The fabric is not nylon like most tents, but polyester, which is not as strong but often resists water better.

The groundsheet protects you from the rain and cold, making this tent an ideal option for 3-season use. While it’s not meant for winter use, some campers report using it in the snow and the tent holding up well.

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This tent is ideal for summer trips to the wilderness. It’s small enough for backpacking, though it may not be lightweight enough for serious trails unless you divide the weight between two people.

It has a two-pole design that’s easy to assemble, with vestibules on both sides. The tent also has a gear loft on the roof and storage pockets on the inner walls.

What customers love about this tent is that the inner walls are completely made of mesh fabric. This means that when you’re not using the rainfly, you can lie back and watch the stars. It also makes for amazing ventilation in heated areas.

If bad weather surprises you, the rainfly fabric is polyester, which resists water much better than nylon does. Some customers have had issues with the sealing of the plastic window on the rainfly, which can cause small leaks.

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This tent has the heftiest price tag of the bunch, but we included it in our review because of the fantastic value for money it offers. Top ultralight backpacking tents like this one are usually much higher-priced, so it is an affordable alternative in its category.

If you’re planning a long backpacking trip or just looking to upgrade from a beginner tent to ultralight tents, this tent is more than reasonably priced. It’s also quite spacious for such a lightweight backpacking tent.

The 3-season tent has a vestibule at the front, but if you take the rainfly off, you’ll be able to enjoy the mesh walls and roof. For better privacy, the wall panels are white mesh, which makes it harder to see inside. The tent roof is black and allows you to see the stars better.

While this tent’s ultralight poles generally handle winds well without damage, some campers have had some issues with the thin materials. The problems are mostly with the fabrics that can rip when setting up around trees.

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Which tent is best for each situation?

Which Outdoor tent is best for two campers?

Winner: Marmot Limelight 2P Backpacking Tent

Most 2 person tents are big enough for two people to sleep in (two large men may struggle), but won’t have much room for gear. You also won’t be able to fit a comfortable queen-sized air mattress in these top tents and will have to use sleeping bags.

However, you do have bigger tents in this selection. Some of these budget backpacking tents are quite comfortable for two people and include a vestibule for storing your gear. If you want to maximize space for storage or for a pet, look for tents that are longer. This way, you’ll have enough room to keep your backpacks by your feet and not inside the tents.

If your intention is to go camping with someone else, you’ll need budget backpacking tents with a bigger tent floor size. A couple of the tents in our review also have vestibules for storing your gear. This maximizes the living space and comfort inside the tent.

In the size category, the two person Marmot Limelight buget backpacking tent was a clear winner. It has a wide design with vertical walls, and the floor area is big enough to fit a cot inside. On the outside, the tent has two vestibules on both sides, so you don’t have to occupy floor space with your shoes and backpack.

If you’re open to something a little more expensive, check out our reviews of the best 2 man tent.

Which tent is good for a festival?

Winner: Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent

If you’re planning a music festival in summer, then the Coleman Pop-Up tent is the way to go. The ease of setup on this top tent is INCREDIBLE. Just open the bag and let the tent fly – voila! The tent is already about 99% pitched. Stake the tent down to provide stability in the wind and you’re done.

That’s great for festivals when all you want to do is get the tent up and start partying.

There’s also plenty of ventilation to keep the tent cool throughout your trip as well. We personally think upgrading to the Quechua 2-Second Pop-Up tent with it’s Fresh and Black Technology is worth the cost in this regard. Relax and sleep easily thanks to the dark bedrooms, sheltered from the morning light.

But if you can’t afford the step up, this Coleman tent is the best of the lot when it comes to a tight budget.

Which Lightweight tent is the best budget option for backpacking?

Winner: NatureHike Cloud-Up Backpacking Tent

If you need a low-cost option for your first backpacking trip, we recommend the budget NatureHike Cloud-Up tent. It’s a budget 3 season tent that comes with high-quality materials. This budget friendly tent gets super reviews by backpacking users in all sorts of climates.

Got a lot of Camping Gear? which tent has enough storage space?

Winner: ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr Backpacking Tent

This top 3 season tent really impressed us with the storage options it offered.

Not only are there two tent vestibules which is great for larger gear storage (like backpacks) but inside there are mesh pockets and a gear loft. Internal storage pockets and gear lofts are great for storing personal belongings safely in your tent.

Which tent is most comfortable?

Winner: Marmot Limelight Camping Tent

If you’re going to spending a lot of time inside your tent, you want to buy one that has a comfortable design.

The igloo design of the Marmot Limelight 3 season tent raises the walls slightly to make the inside of the tent feel bigger and give the roof a more uniform height, rather than the steep slopes dome tents usually offer.

Which budget tent is easiest to set up?

Can one person pitch these tents?

Winner: Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent

Generally speaking, 2 man tents are not difficult to set up. Most of them are typical dome tents you can assemble in about 10 minutes on your own.

For those who hate battling tent poles or simply prioritize a speedy assembly, there’s no beating the Coleman Pop-up tent. Just take the gear out of the bag and secure it to the ground.

How much do these tents weight and are they easy to carry?

Winner: Nemo Hornet Backpacking Tent

If you’re planning a long trip in the wilderness with longer hikes, you’ll need a top ultralight backpacking tent. The problem is, ultralight backpacking tents aren’t common in a budget price range. That’s why many campers divide the weight of their tent between two packs.

Table: Top budget tents by packed weight and minimum weight

Tent Model	Packed Weight	Minimum Weight
Coleman sundome 2 Person Tent	7 lbs 5 oz	N/A
Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent	6 lbs 6 oz	N/A
Bessport 2-Person Backpacking Tent	5 lbs 3 oz	N/A
Naturehike 2-Person Cloud-Up Tent	4 lbs 10 oz	3 lbs 12 oz
ALPS Mountaineering 2-Person Lynx Tent	5 lbs 12 oz	5 lbs 4 oz
Marmot Limelight 2P Backpacking Tent	5 lbs 10 oz	5 lbs 2 oz
ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2-Person Tent	5 lbs 8 oz	4 lbs 11 oz
Nemo Hornet 1 Person Backpacking Tent	2 lbs 6 oz	1 lb 15 oz

The Nemo Hornet 2 man tent is an exception at a packed weight of only 2 lbs 6 oz, and a trail weight of 1 lbs 15 oz. This budget backpacking tent is super light weight and the best backpacking tent on our list, with a very reasonable price tag for the quality it offers. At a weight of only 2 pounds and 6 ounces, you’ll barely even notice you’re carrying a tent on your back.

The Naturehike 2 man tent is also light-weight and comes with a small packed size for backpacking.

Best 2 person tent in bad weather

Best budget tent in the rain

Winner: Naturehike 2 Man Cloud-Up Backpacking Tent

Unless you’re only camping in the desert, you’ll need a top tent that can endure some rain and winds.

The best of the bunch is the Naturehike 2 man budget backpacking tent. It has a hydrostatic head rating of 3000 mm, which means it will endure common rainstorms without getting you soaked. The tent also has tough floors that aren’t as likely to break and let water inside as many others.

Other budget tents will likely get you through the night, too, but you may have to treat their seams to maximize the waterproofing.

Which is the best tent for condensation?

Winner: ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 Man Backpacking Tent

This top tent comes with mesh walls that provide excellent ventilation to prevent condensation being an issue. It can get a little chilly in cold weather because of this, but this is the best budget backpacking tent for summer and the warmer months of spring and fall.

Best tent for Wind

Winner: Nemo Hornet 2 Man Backpacking Tent

This tent might come with ultralight poles but that doesn’t mean it struggles in the wind.

The lightweight but sturdy poles provide good support to this tent even in heavy winds.

Related: If you’re unsure about which tent poles are right for your tent, check out our guide to fiberglass vs aluminum tent poles.

Great tent for summer

Winner: ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 Man Backpacking Tent

All the mesh that provides ventilation to prevent condensation forming makes the two man Zephyr tent the best cheap tent for summer. As the temperatures start to rise outside your tent, the mesh design pushes warm air out whilst bringing cool air from closer to the ground into the tent.

Best budget tent for winter

If you’re looking for a two man tent that you can take out winter camping on a budget, you probably should look elsewhere. These budget backpacking choices might be versatile enough to deal with the weather from Spring to Fall but as this cool in the winter, none of these tents will cut it.

See our guide to the best 2 person backpacking tent for tents which are better suited to winter camping.

Top tent for durablility

Winner: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2 Man Backpacking Tent

The budget two man tent that impressed us most in terms of durability was the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx tent. Although it has a low price tag, this tent comes with quality parts. Those heavy-duty materials were tough enough to help the tent last longer than we had predicted they would on a budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: If you’re looking for a small, outdoor tent that can handle backpacking, consider a bivy tent. They’re not the best in humid climates due to the risk of condensation, but they’re great for acting as a mini tent. Find out more in our review of the best bivy tent.

Single-Walled and Double-Walled Tents – which is best for Backpacking?

Budget single walled tents have only one wall that functions as your tent’s inner wall and your rain fly. They’re faster to set up, and usually lighter than budget double-wall tents.

Budget Double walled tents, on the other hand, have a separate rainfly and an interior tent that’s often a lighter material and has larger mesh windows.

Double walled budget tents are ideal when camping outside in humid conditions because they add an extra layer of protection. Sometimes the outer material isn’t enough to repel the water, or you may see some condensation on the inner walls of the budget tents. Another layer of fabric will prevent this from happening.

This is even possible when it’s not raining. If the place where you’re camping has lots of dew, you may wake up with some condensation on your tent walls. The tent walls can start sagging due to the moisture, and you and your gear will wake up soaked.

In general, we recommend budget double-walled outdoor tents as a two person backpacking tent or for camping for longer periods, especially if you’re far from civilization. This way, you won’t risk spending the night in a wet sleeping bag.

For short periods, quick weekend getaways and occasional festivals in dry weather, budget outdoor single-wall tents will probably be fine. You’ll benefit from a faster setup and a lighter carry. To err on the safe side, though, budged two-wall tents are best.

Can you fit a queen size airbed in these top Camping and Backpacking tents?

These best budget tents might not be the largest tents on the market but you should be able to fit a queensized air mattress in each of these tents. The Coleman Sundome tent’s door might be too small to fit the bed through but you can pump it up inside the tent if you need to.

What other 2 person tents are available?

We haven’t covered all budget tents in this review. Some have been recently discontinued and some we will include in future updates. These budget backpacking options include:

• Kelty Salida (see our review of the best Kelty tents for camping)
• REI Half Dome and REI Half Dome SL
• REI Co-Op Passage (the REI Passage is a good if you’re on a budget)
• REI Trail Hut
• North Face Stormbreak (North Face tents can get quite expensive)
• North Face Eco Trail

Best Budget 2 Person Backpacking Tent – the Verdict

We found the Coleman sundome camping tent to be the best budget 2 person tent on the market. It’s accessible for every pocket, and we love how good the overall quality of this tent is. If you’re interested in finding out more about it, travel on over to our Coleman Sundome 2 person tent review.

The 2 person tent is easy to set up and endures light rain well. The tent has a ground-level vent to give you air when you have the rainfly on and an e-port to pass your cables inside.

Overall, we loved these good features and the durability of such a low-priced tent. But don’t take our word for it; check it out for yourself!

Optionally, you can upgrade to the Naturehike budget tents for durability focused options that come with aluminum tent poles rather than a cheaper fiberglass tent pole.

Next up: If you’re trying to balance quality with affordability, one of the most difficult choices is the material of the tent poles. Check out our guide on fiberglass vs aluminum tent poles to see which material is best.