The Best Budget Backpacking Tent of 2020
Finding the Best Backpacking Tent for Your Budget
It is not always a good idea to play games when searching for the best budget backpacking tent for your camping needs. It is a fact that the cost of backpacking tents is on the rise, but this should not be an excuse for you to relax and disregard the quality of the tent you purchase. no matter how small your budget is. Remember, when you are deep in the wilderness, you will rely on the tent for your comfort and safety. In some cases, the weather may turn nasty, and you will want to trust that your tent will be strong enough to shield you against all the elements. Additionally, being frugal with your money sometimes means spending a bit more to find the best budget backpacking tent for your needs. Just know that spending a bit extra now means you won’t have to refer back to this guide in a year or two.
As much as backpacking tents are getting more and more expensive, a good quality tent doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. If you are on a budget, it is still possible to get very good lightweight backpacking tents that will meet your backpacking needs. However, the most important thing is to know the basics of choosing such a tent, so that, irrespective of your budget, you can always scour the market and get the best deals, and find the best options. To help you out, here is a brief look at some of the factors you ought to consider when shopping for the best budget backpacking tents.
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Our Choices For The Best Budget Backpacking Tent
Now that you have an idea what we would be looking for in the best budget backpacking tent, here is a review of some of our favorite budget backpacking tents you will find in the market today-:
Hyke & Bike Yosemite Ultralight Tent – Best Backpacking Tent Under 100 Dollars
- LIGHTWEIGHT and DURABLE - ultra light weight no-see-um mesh walls, accommodates a free standing ultralight set-up, comes with 12 7000 Series aluminum alloy stakes, reflective guy lines with tension lock cord adjustment, and a proprietary stake presser.
- EASY TO SET UP - 2 poles with Clip-pole attachment for lighter weight, easier set up and better breath-ability. Perfect for 3 season backpacking trips.
- FOOTPRINT and GEAR LOFT INCLUDED - PU 5000 footprint and mesh detachable ceiling loft pocket typically cost extra, but we've included them with your purchase.
If you are looking for the best backpacking tent under 100, then you will not go wrong with the Hyke & Bike Yosemite Ultralight Tent. The tent is designed to be the ultimate tent for any person who desires to enjoy camping, backpacking, and any other outdoor adventure. It is lightweight, but tough, and comes with every feature of comfort and convenience you may desire in a tent. Setting it up is also easy, and it packs perfectly well in a small backpack. That it is waterproof and roomy enough for two people makes it the preferred tent for the majority of couples who enjoy camping together.
Here is a short video highlighting why we think this is the best backpacking tent under 100 dollars.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“I’ve spent a lot of time sleeping under the stars and getting rained on. I bought this tent for a recent backpacking trip, hoping to stay dry, and I was not disappointed. The tent was extremely easy to setup and it kept me as dry as can be despite a severe thunderstorm that lasted more than an hour. The tent withstood strong winds and was roomy inside for me and all my gear.”
Pros of the Hyke & Bike Yosemite Ultralight Tent:
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Lightweight and easy to set up
- Packs small
- It is waterproof and roomy
Cons of the Hyke & Bike Yosemite Ultralight Tent:
- Weak rainfly
- Weak bag zipper
- Not ideal for mountaineering
- Rainfly may leak
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Kelty Salida Camping Tent – The Best 2 – 4 Person Backpacking Tent
- Backpack-friendly compact folding poles, Gearloft loops, Color coded clip and fly attachment.Wall material: 68D Polyester, 40D No-See-Um Mesh,Floor material: 68D Nylon, 1800 mm
- Roll top cube carry bag, Easy set up, Free standing, Fabric/mesh tent walls
- Kelty hug clip, Easy entry D door, Internal storage pockets, Fully seam taped construction
If you intend to go camping as a couple, or with a family or partner of no more than four people, then Kelty Salida Camping and backpacking tent will suffice. The tent weighs so little that you may forget you have it in the backpack, but it is large enough and strong enough to guarantee your comfort and safety when you are out in the wild.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“I serve as a scout master for BSA, and I never thought it was possible for a man like me to get giddy over a tent until setting this thing up in my living room. Seriously, a 2-person tent that is 88 inches long and 55 inches wide that can weigh around 3lbs for $120!”
Pros of The Kelty Salida Camping Tent
- Light, strong and compact
- Easy to set up
- Has a large floor area
- Durable
Cons of the Kelty Salida Camping Tent
- May trap moisture inside
- The mesh has holes
- Tent poles made of aluminum but the tips are not. Made of plastic.
- Flimsy, rain and bugs may slip inside.
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Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 – A Great 1 Person Backpacking Tent
- There's no assembly frustration with our Lynx tent Series; This free-standing, aluminum two-pole design is a breeze to setup
- Polyester tent fly resists water and UV damage while adding one vestibule for extra storage space
- Fully equipped with #8 zippers, storage pockets, gear loft, stakes, guy ropes and one doorway
If you love going for hikes as a lone ranger and you are looking for the best backpacking tent under 100, then you will be very pleased with what the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 – Person Tent has to offer. It comes with every feature you would need for a solo getaway, including a freestanding design that takes minutes to set up, extra-large zippers on the door and vestibule, and meshed walls for increased ventilation. This is one of our top choices for the best budget backpacking tent under 100.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“I am so pleased with this tent I’d recommend it to anyone. I honestly can’t come up with a criticism of this tent, it was absolutely perfect for me. It was amazing falling asleep staring up at all the stars. This trip was during monsoon season so I expected I would get at least one storm. I saw the storms coming up and I put the rain fly on, it took me about two minutes which was right on par for the amount of time it took to set up the tent (5 minutes). The weather got pretty rough and the wind was gusting over 50 mph and the rain came down hard, more than an inch in 30 minutes during the first storm. The tent stayed perfectly dry and upright, amazing!”
Pros of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1:
- Easy to assemble
- Resistant to water and UV rays
- Comes with storage pockets and guy ropes
- One of the best-selling tents currently
Cons of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1:
- Ideal for solo campers
- Relatively new design, hence, no reviews from past buyers.
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Alps Mountaineering Lynx 2 – The Best 2 Person Backpacking Tent
- There's no assembly frustration with our Lynx Tent series; this free-standing, aluminum two-pole design is a breeze to setup
- Polyester tent fly resists water and UV damage while adding two vestibules for extra storage space
- Fully equipped with #8 zippers, storage pockets, gear loft, aluminum stakes, guy ropes and two doorways
Here comes an ideal tent for those looking for the best backpacking tent under 200. This is the best budget backpacking tent if you want to go camping with a partner or a couple. It features the freestanding aluminum two-pole design that is extremely easy to set up, strong and durable at the same time. Also worth noting is the fact that the tent is fully equipped with #8 zipper, as well as gear loft, guy ropes, and two doorways. If you are in the market in search of an ideal tent for two, then this is one of the best options you will come across.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“Have used this tent probably half a dozen times in the ~2 years since i bought it. Overall I am very satisfied. Like others, i wish the floor was made of a tougher material. I wouldn’t dream of not using a ground cloth with it. One reason i chose this tent is that the rain fly goes all the way to the ground. That’s a great feature to have in heavy rain or if it rains for a long time. Have not been caught in heavy rain with it yet, but am confident it will ‘weather the storm’ if all the guy lines have been staked out and are taut. I can erect this tent in about 5 minutes NOT including the guy lines for the rain fly.”
Pros of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 2:
- Easy to assemble
- Resistant to water and UV rays
- Comes with storage pockets and guy ropes
Cons of the Alps Mountaineering Lynx 2:
- Poles are weak. May bend or break
- Windows tear very easily
- Comes with weak stakes
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Abco Tech Portable Tent – The Best Pop Up Tent
- EFFORTLESS CAMPING - Pops open into a read-to-use form (auto-setup) in a blink & proves easy to fold into a compact form - Abco Pop up tent is ideal for casual camping and accommodates 1-2 persons. Like a beautiful spot enroute? Setup your tent instantly!
- DOUBLE DOORS - With double doors on both left and right side, it's easy to step out from either side. Moreover, a combination of inner zippered screen plus outer zippered nylon layer give an ability to easily switch between high breathability and complete privacy.
- HIGH BREATHABILITY - Two mesh windows on the front and back add further to the air circulation while the solid nylon flaps over the windows allow for privacy. Not only breathability, you can just open everything and enjoy the surroundings too.
The Abco Tech Portable tent is what you need if you are in the market searching for the best pop up tent. It gives you the versatility to camp anywhere and at any time, without compromising your comfort, safety or privacy. Setting it is as easy as counting 1 – 3, and with mess double doors, moving in and out of it is not only easy, but it also comes with great breathability. The tent comes with a carry bag that also has enough room for other camping accessories you may need for your camping trip. A pop up tent is a very popular style when searching for the best budget backpacking tent.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“We bought this tent to take on a beach trip to keep our baby out of the sun. The pop-up feature makes it easy to set up and the bag makes it easy to carry and store. I recommend searching for a video to actually see how to fold the tent before you use it. We did after struggling to get the tent back to the correct size (so it could fit in the bag) and it was much more informative than the illustrated directions that are included with the tent.”
Pros of the Abco Tech Portable Tent:
- Easy to set up
- Large double doors for high breathability
- Comes with a carry bag
Cons of the Abco Tech Portable Tent:
- Weak brackets
- Weak screen. May also have zipping problems
- Holes in the screens.
- Not as strong and durable as others on the list
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River County Camping Tent – Our Favorite Budget Backpacking Tent
- Super fast and easy set up! Great for hiking, camping, or adding to your survival bag, this compact tent will fit into your backpack without filling it up.
- Great one-person and gear tent or two-person tent without gear.
- Trekking poles are NOT included (they are included in the Trekker Tent 2 Combo pack also on Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BNQXKDN ), this tent is intended for use with your own trekking poles, but can be used with almost any stick that is over 42 inches tall.
River Country Camping Tent is among the best budget backpacking tents you will find under 100 dollars. Setting it up is easy and super fast, making it ideal for hiking, camping or even including in your survival bag. With gear, it makes a great 1-person camping tent, and without gear, it makes a great 2-person backpacking tent. This is another affordable option for the best backpacking tent under 100 dollars.
A Review on Why This is the Best Budget Backpacking Tent:
“All i can say is Wow! This tent is absolutely amazing. Simple to set up and just as easy to take down. I have been in Boy Scouts as a leader for many years and I have never had a tent that was so simple. What surprised me the most was the amount of room that was inside. This is truly a two-person tent. I used the tent this past weekend at our boy scout campout; all of the boys were intrigued by the hiking poles I used as tent poles.”
Pros of the River County Camping Tent:
- Easy to set up
- Has more room inside than similar tents on the market
- Lightweight
Cons of the River County Camping Tent:
- Doesn’t come with trekking poles
- Has condensation problems
- Not ideal for wet conditions
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A Buying Guide for Finding the Best Budget Backpacking Tent in 2020
The Camping Ideal Tent Capacity
One of the most important considerations you will have to make when shopping for the best budget backpacking tent is the capacity of the tent. Most of the backpacking tents are categorized from 1 – 4-person models and your choice should be primarily anchored on the number of people you intend to use that tent. If you will be camping alone, then you can take a tent enough for just one person, but if you will be going out as a couple or a family, then you should also choose an appropriate tent that will cater to all of you.
The Right Type of Tent for Backpacking or Camping
Tent types vary considerably, and they have a direct impact on the cost, as well as the versatility of the tent. The common types you can expect to find in the market today include-:
- Double-wall tents – these are mostly easy to pitch and offer very good protection against the elements. They are also comfortable, but they are among the heaviest. These are great if you are camping during a windy season.
- Free-standing tents – these stand up by themselves and they are ideal if you will be going out with one or two friends because of their capacity. They are durable, and mostly preferred for camping in harsh weathers.
- Semi-freestanding tents – these come with dedicated poles and will have to be guyed to achieve full volume. They come with the comfort and security of double-wall tents, but with the added advantage of being lightweight. Perfect for a few days at a campground.
- Tunnel Tents – they are almost similar to semi-freestanding tents and they come with one or more hoop-shaped poles used to pitch them so that they can stand upright. They have a higher space-to-weight ratio, and they also offer more comfort and strength than other tent types.
The Best Budget Backpacking Tent Depends on the Season
When it comes to backpacking tent seasonality, you will have to choose between 3-season and a 4-season tent. Most hikers, especially those looking for best tents for beginners will always go for 3-season tents due to their versatility, and the fact that worst weather scenarios will not always be the same for during the trips. However, frequent and experienced backpackers usually invest in multiple tents so that they can have some flexibility when it comes to the choices. So while you may start out looking for a summer tent, you may return to the article when looking for the best budget backpacking tent in the winter.
The Proper Weight of a Good Tent
The weight of the tent is another key consideration you have to make when shopping for a backpacking tent. It forms a big part of your overall load and depending on the terrains that you will be exploring, the weight can be one factor that may make or break your backpacking experience. If you want a lighter tent, you may have to contend with less space, fewer features and also compromise on the durability of the tent. But if you can’t compromise on these features, then be ready to deal with the extra load you will be carrying along your journey.
Finding Good Tent Livability
The tent’s livability simply refers to the “living” experience you are likely to get from the unit. Of course, you don’t expect a lot of comfort in the wild, but there is a certain level of comfort and convenience you will expect from the tent. As far as livability goes, you should check on the floor area, the peak height, wall shape, ventilation, doors, and the setup. I have not personally tried all of these products but I scanned the reviews to make sure each of the best budget backpacking tents had good livability.
Our Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Budget Backpacking Tent
It goes without saying that the choice of your best budget backpacking tent will go a long way in ensuring that you have a great camping experience. But with so many tents to choose from, knowing which one is ideal for your needs can be a big problem, and hopefully, the guide provided above should help shed some light on what you need to look for when shopping for a tent. Again, the fact that you are on a budget should not be reason enough for you to compromise safety and comfort during camping. Highlighted above include the best backpacking tent under 200 and best backpacking tent under 100, which is decent enough to get inexpensive tents that will make you enjoy your camping experience.
