Types of tents vary widely, catering to every kind of outdoor enthusiast, from the solo backpacker to large families enjoying a camping trip. Understanding the differences between these types can significantly enhance your outdoor experience.
Whether you’re looking for lightweight and easy-to-assemble dome tents, spacious and sturdy cabin tents for family outings, or specialized backpacking tents designed for the adventurous hiker, there’s something for everyone.
Each type offers unique features and benefits, including varying levels of protection against the elements, space, and portability. By choosing the right tent, setting up your campsite, your memories won’t involve frustrating attempts at pitching a tent.
What does it all mean?! You just want a simple shelter for your next outdoor adventure!
The good news is, that we have the 10 types of tents buying guide, which will help you start at square one, which is what
Some tent styles will be appropriate for your needs, and some won’t.
This straightforward guide will break them all down and help you figure out which type of camping tent is right for you. Some will have a rainfly, mesh windows, mesh roofs, and storage pockets.
Also, there are several tents that have room dividers, perfect for those times when privacy is needed.
Table of contents
- Dome Tents
- Bivy Tents
- Geodesic Tents
- A-Frame Tents (Ridge Tents)
- Pop-up Tents (Instant Tents)
- Bell Tents
- Inflatable Tents
- Tunnel Tents
- Multi-Room Tents
- Cabin Tents
- Factors to Consider When Choosing Types of Tents
- FAQs for Types of Tents
- 10 Types of Tents: Choose The Right Tent For You
- Conclusion
- Craving Camping Gear and Hiking Shoes?
Dome Tents
- Best For: Short people, festivals, and windy weather
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Easy
Dome tents are square or rectangular tents with diagonal poles crossing at the top to each opposing corner. It is one of the most common tent styles, and many have a small tent vestibule on the front.
Because dome-shaped tents are such a classic style of tent, different models are available across the price spectrum. So, they are ideal for those on a budget who need a tent for a one-off occasion like a festival.
And because of their square shape, they aren’t as ideal for tall people who might find the tunnel tent shape a better fit for them.
Pros and Cons
Dome tents are very easy to pitch due to them having only two main telescoping poles. Instant camping tents are popular because of their quick and easy setup.
Their shape also makes them wind-resistant. And because of their popularity, you can find any size, from a one-person tent to an eight-person tent in the dome shape.
But dome tents that are too high become less resistant to wind. They are often too heavy for backpacking, but if you are car camping, you may as well get a bigger (and taller) tent for convenience.
Unless you are on a budget, there are likely better tents for your style of camping.
Check out the NTK Cherokee tent for an excellent example of a dome tent.
Bivy Tents
- Best For: Backpacking, solo mountaineering, and multi-day treks
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Easy
A bivy tent, for lack of a better comparison, is almost like a nylon coffin. Out of all these 10 types of tents, it is by far the smallest and lightest. They are often one-person tents only and provide protection against fauna and adverse weather conditions.
Because they are so small and light, they are great 1 person backpacking tents. Perfect for those on multi-day treks carrying all their belongings on their backs.
This type of tent would not be ideal for families or for car camping.
Pros and Cons
Like dome tents, bivy tents are very easy to set up because they often only have one short pole. Their biggest pros are that they are so light and portable. If you choose one with high-quality fabric, then you’ll also have excellent insulation and wind, rain, and bug protection.
With a bivy tent, the entire great outdoors is your campsite!
But, if you are not doing this style of camping, then bivy tents are one giant con. They are too small to change clothes, grab something from your bag, or do anything other than sleep.
And bivy tents are often water-resistant but not waterproof, which makes a huge difference when wild camping in a storm. Additionally, these are somewhat a 3 season tent, best to leave at home for winter camping.
Check out the GEERTOP Ultralight tent for a good example of a bivy tent.
Geodesic Tents
- Best For: Wild camping and multi-day treks in winter weather
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Medium
Geodesic tents are the next level above bivy tents. While a bivy tent is great for wild camping in mild climates, a geodesic tent (or semi-geodesic tent) is for hardcore expeditions. And they have a similar shape to dome tents but have one or more extra poles to make the tent more robust.
You should buy this type of tent if you want to camp in winter weather. Don’t opt for this tent if you are a fair-weather camper or are on a tight budget.
Pros and Cons
As well as being the strongest tent around, they also offer decent headroom and interior space. Geodesic tents can often withstand winds up to 60 mph, though it’s unlikely (fingers crossed) you will ever need to test the extent of their windbreak capabilities!
Geodesic tents are a little more difficult to set up than tents that only have one or two telescoping poles. And because they are suited to extreme weather conditions, there aren’t many affordable models on the market.
Most geodesic tents are high-quality, have a waterproof camping tent mesh ceiling, and have a price tag to match.
Check out the Eureka! K-2 XT tent for a good example of a geodesic tent. And look at this Homestead Shelter North Face tent for a good example of a semi-geodesic tent. Either of these choices will give you great ventilation too!
A-Frame Tents (Ridge Tents)
- Best For: Couples staying in campsites and low budget camping
- Usual Style: Non-freestanding
- Setup: Easy
When you think of a classic tent from the 1950s or children’s books, the A-frame tent is likely what springs to mind. Back then, the material was a heavy canvas, but now it is lightweight nylon or polyester, like other tents. It has an “A” shape and is also known as a ridge tent.
If you are on a budget, most A-frame tents are cheap and affordable. But if you are looking for a tent to fit four or more people, ridge tents are not suited to more than three.
Pros and Cons
They are an easy set-up tent and one of the few non-freestanding tents around. This means you can stake it yourself (though you should stake all tents for security). A-frame tents are perfect for couples and you can stand up in many of them.
If you need to buy a large number of tents for a field trip, for example, A-frame tents are a great choice.
But they are not a very stable tent, so would only fare well in mild climates.
Check out the Surplus French Military F1 tent for a good example of an A-frame tent.
Pop-up Tents (Instant Tents)
- Best For: Festivals, backyard camping, and camping in calm winds
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Easy
As the name suggests, pop-up tents are tents that “pop up” into shape when removed from their bag. You only need to stake it, and it’s up. That’s why this type of tent is known as an instant tent, too. They fold up into a large disk when not in use.
You should opt for a pop-up tent if you only camp in summer and in campsites or your backyard. A pop-up tent is not for you if you are trekking in the woods or need to carry your tent for long periods.
Pros and Cons
Pop-up tents are light, super easy to set up, and are available in many sizes. These tents are often cheap and perfect for sporadic, good-weather camping trips.
They are very easy to set up but difficult to re-pack without practice. And most are not made for more than four people.
Check out Abco Tech Pop-up Camping Tent, Moon Lence 4 Person Instant Tent, or Marmot Crane Creek for a good example of a pop-up tent.
Bell Tents
- Best For: Backyard camping and couples with young children
- Usual Style: Non-freestanding
- Setup: Easy
One of the most Instagrammable tents, bell tents (or yurts) have one central supporting pole. You achieve the shape of the tent by staking the outside of the canvas yourself. They are breathable tents but still water-resistant as water rolls right off the side of the tent.
Bell tents are perfect for families with lots of young children. Opt for a different tent if you have to carry or transport this tent more than once – it’s bulky!
Pros and Cons
Bell tents are perfect if you want the glamping experience and they do look cool. They are easy to erect and their height makes them a great stand-up tent.
But canvas tents are an impractical material for most types of camping. If you love camping in campsites or in the wilderness, there are far better tents.
Check out the Danchel Outdoor Cotton Canvas tent for a good example of a bell tent.
Inflatable Tents
- Best For: Car or campsite camping and mid-range budget camping
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Medium
One of the least common tents, you do not use poles to hold up these tents, but use air instead. The inflated ridges hold the tent in place.
Unless you have exceptional lungs, you need a good power source to blow up an inflatable tent, so it is perfect for car campers. But any other camper would find this tent far too heavy.
Pros and Cons
It is one of the easiest types of tents to set up, as long as you have an air pump.
Their material is often excellent, waterproof pop-up tent material but they are also expensive and heavy.
Check out the HEIMPLANET inflatable pop-up tent for a good example of an inflatable tent. Another fun choice is this glamping inflatable bubble tent,
Tunnel Tents
- Best For: Backpacking, solo mountaineering, and tall people
- Usual Style: Non-freestanding
- Setup: Medium
Tunnel tents are a long, cylinder shape and the poles do not intercept. They can be only slightly bigger than a bivy tent, up to a large eight-person tent offering lots of headroom.
The larger ones are an affordable option for car campers, while the smaller ones are better for backpackers.
Pros and Cons
Even smaller tunnel tents offer more space than bivy tents for storage, but larger ones are an affordable option for families.
Though setting up the tent is straightforward, they are more difficult than others and need staking well. Their shape can allow rainwater to collect on the roof, too.
Check out the Naturehike Opulus tent for a good example of a tunnel tent.
Multi-Room Tents
- Best For: Large families or groups of friends and campsite camping
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Difficult
A multi-room tent is any tent that has separate compartments, whether they are a 2-room tent or larger. The separated room design offers privacy as well as space.
Tents with rooms are perfect for families with older children who want their own space. Multi-room tents are one of the largest types of tents, so they would be too large and heavy for backpackers or couples.
Pros and Cons
With the extra space, you have more privacy or room to store large sports gear. Headroom and ventilation are also good in most multi-room tents.
They can be difficult to set up due to all the poles, stakes, and material. And they are heavy, too.
Check out the CAMPROS family tent for a good example of a multi-room tent.
Cabin Tents
- Best For: Tall people, large families or groups, and campsite camping
- Usual Style: Freestanding
- Setup: Easy
Cabin tents are huge, one-room tents that often have windows and a high ceiling. They offer similar features to bell tents. But their material is often a common tent material, like nylon as opposed to canvas.
Cabin tents are perfect for large young families or couples who want lots of space to walk around in their tent. Only car campers could use a cabin tent.
Pros and Cons
Space is the main pro, and they are easier to set up than multi-room tents. Even with many people sleeping in a cabin tent, the ground vents, and windows offer plenty of ventilation.
Only car campers can use cabin tents because of their size and weight, and they do take up a lot of room. This also makes them less wind-resistant and couples sleeping in such a large space may find them drafty.
Check out the UNP family camping tent for a good example of a cabin type of tent. If you want to find the biggest cabin tent in existence, then the Ozark Trail 12-person tent is the shelter for you. Lastly, if you want to sleep in, Ozark Dark Rest Instant set up Tent has 3 rooms, inverted seams, and easily fits 4 queen air beds.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Types of Tents
Alright, adventurers, let’s talk tents! You know, that trusty fabric abode that stands between you and the wild unknown. When you’re out in the great outdoors, your tent is more than just a shelter; it’s your fortress, your oasis, and sometimes, your only line of defense against Mother Nature’s mood swings.
Size and Capacity: How Much Room Do You Really Need?
First things first, size does matter – in tents, that is. But here’s the deal, bigger isn’t always better. You want enough room to stretch out and store your gear, but remember, the more massive the tent, the heavier it is. And unless you’ve got a team of Sherpas hiding in your backpack, you’re the one lugging it around.
Think about the number of people and the amount of gear. And if you’re planning a solo expedition, don’t go overboard – a little cozy cocoon will do just fine.
Weather Resistance: Be Ready for a Meteorological Throwdown
Now, let’s talk about weather resistance. A good tent should stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws at it. We’re talking rain, wind, maybe a bit of snow, and yes, even that unexpected summer hailstorm (because, why not?). Look for tents with a decent hydrostatic head rating for waterproofing.
The higher the number, the more rain it can handle before you start feeling like you’re in a submarine. Wind resistance is key too – unless you fancy turning into a human kite in the middle of the night.
Ease of Setup: Because Time is of the Essence
Ease of setup – because sometimes you’re racing against the sunset, or worse, an incoming storm. You don’t want to be fumbling with poles and pegs as the sky turns apocalyptic. Pop-up tents are like magic for quick setups, but they might not hold up against a Bear Grylls level storm.
Practice setting up your tent before you hit the wild. Trust me, trying to read instructions with a headlamp in your mouth isn’t as fun as it sounds.
Recommended Reading: Best Backpacks for Dogs: How to Choose and Fit
Durability and Material Quality: Tougher than a Honey Badger
Durability is key. You want a tent that’s tougher than a honey badger and can take a beating from the elements. Look for high-quality materials and sturdy poles.
Nylon and polyester are your friends here. And don’t forget about the groundsheet – it’s like the unsung hero of tent durability. A good groundsheet keeps you dry and adds an extra layer of protection from whatever’s lurking on the forest floor.
Ventilation: Because No One Likes a Stuffy Tent
Last but not least, ventilation. A stuffy tent is about as comfortable as sleeping in a sauna with a bunch of wet socks. Look for tents with multiple vents or mesh panels. These are great for letting in a cool breeze and keeping out our not-so-favorite camping buddies (hello, mosquitoes).
FAQs for Types of Tents
Geodesic and semi-geodesic tents are excellent for heavy rain due to their stable structure and weather-resistant materials.
While three-season tents are versatile, they may not provide adequate protection in harsh winter conditions. Four-season tents are recommended for winter camping.
Consider the number of people using the tent and the amount of gear you plan to store inside. A good rule of thumb is to choose a tent with a capacity for one more person than the number of campers.
Yes, modern inflatable tents are designed with durable materials and are a reliable option for various camping scenarios.
It’s advisable to reapply waterproofing once a year or whenever you notice the tent’s water resistance diminishing.
10 Types of Tents: Choose The Right Tent For You
You should have a much clearer idea of which, out of the 10 types of tents, is best for your needs. There are, of course, lots of different brands selling each kind of tent, but having this information should help you narrow down your search.
When it comes down to it, the wrong kind of tent is no tent. As long as you choose the best one you can and start getting outdoors, you will soon become a tent expert through practice.
Need to buy more camping equipment? There are tons of camping gear reviews on the site, so you can find the right kit for your style of camping.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks! Choosing the right tent is like picking a reliable companion for your wilderness adventures. Get it right, and you’re set for a great experience, full of stories to tell around the campfire. Get it wrong, and well, let’s just say it’s a learning curve. Remember, in the world of camping, your tent, whether its a pop up tent or a tiny backpacking cot tent, is your kingdom.
Choose wisely, and happy adventuring!
Craving Camping Gear and Hiking Shoes?
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Last update on 2024-10-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API