Camping Panda
Backpackers looking for a lightweight camping tent or couples who don’t mind squeezing in a smaller shelter could find a 2-person tent just perfect. A few things to consider before buying include the tent’s water resistance, its ability to withstand rain, as well as the overall durability.
Too challenging to check out all these features? Find the best 2 person tent for you in our rundown.
Waterproof
Is it well protected?
Ventilation
Is it breathable?
Longevity
Is it build for years to come?
Price
Is it the best value for your $?
Set Up
Is it easy to set-up?
Durability
Is it strong enough?
Convenient
Is it designed for comfort?
Sleeping Capacity
Is it spacious and roomy?
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Hours Researched
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Suiting beginner and seasoned campers alike, the Coleman Sundome is one of the best 2 person tents you can buy. This dome-style shelter impresses with a relatively low weight and compact size when packed, two features that make it suitable for hiking.
It’s not the lightest 2-person tent out there, but in exchange, it provides you with a generous sleeping surface. The tent can easily house a self-inflating mattress or two people in bivvy sacks. It’s also easy to set up, and provides good water and wind resistance. No doubt, an excellent choice for most campers.
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The Pacific Pass is a great choice for campers on a budget. This unpretentious tent doesn’t pack any jaw-dropping features, but it’s incredibly resistant and dependable. The interior is roomy enough for two people, or one person and some gear.
With a center height of 47 inches, it also offers sufficient clearance for sitting comfortably. What makes it attractive is the very compact size when packed. This tent is perfect for backpacking, and comes at a price that won’t break the bank.Â
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The Zephyr by ALPS Mountaineering is a premium quality tent designed with all-season campers in mind. It can withstand harsh rain and elements, including burning summer sun and winter snow.
Its solid structure is made from two lightweight aluminum poles and heavy duty fabric. A removable fly adds an additional level of protection, and also extends above the entrances, providing you with two convenient vestibules. Only slightly heavier than the Pacific Pass, this tent is perfect for hiking, backpacking, as well as car camping and tailgating.
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If you’re looking for a 3-season camping tent for two people, this model from BISINNA could also fit the bill. Like the Zephyr, this tent boasts a layered design consisting of a mesh structure with removable rainfly.Â
Besides good protection from wind and rain, the fly also provides protection from UV rays. This tent is a good choice for camping or to use as a beach tent for the kids. No matter your choice, you’ll surely be satisfied with its weight, size, and ease of installation.
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Another 3-season tent that’s made it to our list comes from Forceatt. This tent impresses with its resistance to rain and elements. The dome structure provides both durability and a good head clearance.
While it is slightly smaller than the BISINNA, it does boost a higher quality construction. Despite the conventional pitch, it’s very easy to set up, in around 10 minutes. Ideal for two people or one with lots of gear.
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As its name suggests, this tent is designed with little fellows in mind, but this doesn’t mean it can’t fit adults. If you like its bright, attractive color, this summer camping tent is equally suitable to house up to two adults.
Designed to resist light rain and wind, the tent features large mesh panels for ventilation and a removable fly. The glow-in-the-dark logo is undoubtedly designed to attract children, but it can also make your tent easier to spot after sunset. All in all, an excellent choice for small and big adventurers alike.
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The Coleman Pop-up tent is an excellent choice for hikers looking for no-frills camping. It’s light, easy to set up, and packs to a thin disc you can easily attach to a backpack. The interior is not only roomy enough for two people, but a length of 7’6″ even gives you some space to store your gear.
A low-profile dome shape boosts up resistance to elements, while the fabric is both water and fire resistant. The only downside is the lower head clearance, but it still provides a more comfy sleeping arrangement than a bivvy sack if you’re looking for a minimalist camping experience.
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Another tent from ALPS Mountaineering, the Lynx is a 3-season tent that promises a lot. It provides a generous floor space for a 2-person tent and is light enough to take on your backpacking adventures.
Its removable fly and mesh inner tent provides the perfect combo for camping in all climates. Besides the sleeping space itself, it also boasts 20 square feet of vestibule area. Like you’d expect from such a compact shelter, the Lynx is also easy to pitch and take down.Â
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Perfect for hikers and climbers, the HILLMAN backpacking tent withstands all elements and impresses with its durable construction. Boasting a quick and easy set up, it can be pitched in less than 10 minutes.
The floor space is generous, while two vestibules add further covered space for gear storage. Not only the rainfly resists rain, but it also protects from UV lights. Coming in a variety of colors, this tent is up to anything, from providing shelter out in the wilds to keeping your kids away from sun in the backyard.
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Standing among the lightest backpacking tents on our list, this 2-person tent impresses with its very compact dimensions when packed, yet a generous floor space. Not only it can house two adults, but even provides additional storage space, thanks to the convenient vestibule.
Designed to withstand heavy rain, it boasts a mesh inner tent and thick, sturdy rainfly. You can pitch it in around 5 minutes, and it’s also very easy to take down.
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A small tent comes in handy in many situations. It is ideal for solo campers, hikers, and backpackers alike. Besides providing shelter from the night, you can also use one during the day to stay in the shade while enjoying the seaside.
Indeed, 2-person tents come in so many types and styles that finding one to suit your needs shouldn’t be difficult. Here are a few essential things to keep in mind before buying.
Essentially, 2-person tents can be divided into three main categories – backpacking tents, mountaineering tents, and camping tents.
Once you decided which kind of tent suits you best, you must decide what tent configuration to opt for from the multiple choices on the market.
The difference is as intuitive as it gets. Freestanding tents have a pole structure that keeps the tent erect even when it’s not fixed to the ground with stakes and guy ropes. Non-freestanding tents require you to stake them to the ground, or they collapse.
Freestanding tents are easy to move around the campsite without breaking them down. This allows you to move the tent quickly, for instance, if it starts to rain and you figure out water is gathering under the tent.
Non-freestanding tents are not as easy to move but are often lighter and cheaper than freestanding models. Which is the best 2 person tent is ultimately down to you, based on your needs and budget.
If you want a lightweight freestanding tent, pick a model with aluminum poles. These tents might be more expensive, but the poles are very light and sturdier than fiberglass.
When camping with kids, your main concern is to keep them safe. This means providing them with a dry, secure shelter in all kinds of weather.
Four-season tents are known for their durability and performance. They are constructed to withstand strong wind and a fair amount of rain or snow, but despite their 4-season title, they aren’t your best choice for mild weather camping.
Indeed, these tents often have smaller windows and fewer mesh panels than 3-season tents, and they can become quite hot in warmer weather.
If you’re mainly camping in the warmer season – from late spring to early fall – a 3-season tent will undoubtedly provide adequate weather resistance as well as proper ventilation for a comfortable sleep.
Like most tents on the market, two-person tents can fit two people at a tight squeeze or a camper plus gear. If you’re a couple or a pair of buddies looking for more comfort, we recommend sizing up and going for a 3-person or 4-person tent.
In terms of actual size, you can expect a footprint of around 90 x 50 inches and a head clearance of around 30 inches.
Compact, 2 people tents are often preferred by adventurers. If you also like to explore the wilderness in all seasons, it only makes sense to wonder whether you should get a 3-season or 4-season tent.
If you’re camping alone, a simple tent with one door and maybe lateral mesh windows will suffice. However, if you plan to share your sleeping space with another individual, it is recommended to get a tent with two entryways – one on each side of the tent – even if it lacks windows.
Air vents will provide sufficient ventilation when the doors are zipped up, but each occupant will have their own door, making it easier to get in and out of the tent during the night, without disturbing your camping buddy.
If you’re looking for a tent that adds minimum weight to your backpacking gear, the BISINNA 2 Person Camping Tent is one of the lightest. This tent weighs 4.75 pounds and packs compactly, just perfect for hiking and climbing.
Most 2-person tents cost around $100, but you can easily find quality options in the $50-$200 range. Needless to say, you’ll have to look at the higher end of the spectrum if you plan to use the tent in all seasons. For casual summer camping, a more affordable tent could save you some bucks.
To assess the quality of a tent, you must consider its overall durability, resistance to elements, portability, and price. The Coleman Sundome brings the best value for money, but it could be too cumbersome for backpacking. If you don’t mind spending a bit more, the ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr is the best 2 person tent.
If you’re looking for the lightest, most portable option, a 2 person tent is your best bet. However, if you really plan to share the sleeping space with someone and also keep your gear inside, a 3 person tent could be more comfortable.
A cheap tent that won’t start to leak at the first rain will cost you around $45-$50. You could find cheaper tents, too, but make sure to check their overall durability before buying.
