Best Two Person Tents 2020

The time of year you decide to go camping will determine the kind of tent you choose.

A good backpacking tent should give you protection from extreme weather conditions along with keeping you warm, dry, and safe.

3 season tents are meant for spring, summer, and fall and provide enough circulation to ventilate the warmer air.

3 season tents are typically lighter weight made from lower density nylon and polyester.

Always be sure to check the DENIER and THREAD COUNT rating, meaning the number next to the “D” and “T” in the materials description (30D nylon, 330T Polyester).

The higher the number, the heavier the tent will be.. but also the more durable it is.

Rip-stop nylon is also heavier.

Most 3 season tents are built with extra mesh walls for more ventilation with a lightweight rain-fly to be added on as needed.

These are known as double walled tents for the 2 walls of layering.

For those lightweight backpackers traversing the cold and snow, go with a 4 season tent.

A bivy sack will also work great for colder conditions.

As opposed to the 3 season tent, the 4 season will not offer the extra ventilation.

4 season tents are built for winter so they will be made with heavier materials with little to no mesh screens.

A 4 season tent can get very hot in the warmer months but can be fine in the early spring and mid to late fall months.

Don’t feel constrained if you have a 4 season tent to not use it outside of winter, although we do caution against a 3 season tent in the colder months of the year.

Doors and Vestibules

If you plan on traveling with 2 people, then look for an ultralight 2 person backpacking tent with 2 doors.

There are plenty of 2 person tents with one door, but they are very inconvenient for 2 people to easily get in and out of.

2 Person backpacking tents with 2 doors make entry and exit much easier instead of constantly having to crawl over each other.

Ideally, in a tent, you want to do as little walking around as possible.

2 doors make it easier to get in and out of with less stepping around.

Also having the option to open both doors and create a cross draft in the warmer months will make your tent a nice place to lay and enjoy the outdoors.

Air ventilation is one of the most important qualities in a tent, otherwise, condensation and body heat can build up making the tent more uncomfortable.

Also look for tents with VESTIBULES as these give campers more storage space and provide a nice overhang to enjoy the outdoors while protected from sun and rain.

Vestibules will also help the durability and longevity of your tent.

By keeping your muddy, smelly gear outside you help preserve the interior of the tent and keeping it livable, not to mention extra space to lay out.

Freestanding Tent vs. Staked Tent

A lot of people will go for freestanding tents simply because they are easier and quicker to pitch.

Even a beginning camper can have a freestanding tent setup in less than a minute.

Because of their simple design, they can also be set up almost anywhere and seem to be more durable.

The downside to a freestanding tent is that they’re heavier, and not good in windy conditions.

Regular, non-freestanding tents on the other hand use guylines, stakes and trekking poles.

They weigh a little less but pitching them requires more time and space, not to mention the extra stuff you have to bring to set them up in the 1st place.

The biggest advantage of a staked tent is its flexibility when setting up and when packed down.

Staked tents are also better in extreme weather.

There is a small learning curve when it comes to setting up a staked tent.

But once you’ve got the knowledge, the process of setting up and breaking down any tent can be quite easy.