Camping Panda
Don’t you hate the feeling of waking up in a puddle on those nights when it suddenly starts to rain while you’re camping? Or the water leaking through your shelter whenever a summer rain arrives?Â
Many manufacturers dub their tents as waterproof, but how many shelters live up to expectations? If you’re tired of all that trial and error thing, check out our rundown to find the best waterproof tent for you.Â
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?
15
Hours Researched
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Products Evaluated
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Reviews Considered
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Sources Researched
Large enough to accommodate up to 6 adults or two adults and four kids, the KAZOO tent is an excellent choice for families looking for a reliable, 3-season shelter. Ideal for car camping and tailgating, the tent boasts a robust construction and is made from heavy-duty, waterproof fabric that can easily withstand heavy rain.
We particularly like its instant set up that allows you to erect it in seconds rather than minutes. A removable fly brings further value; you can also turn the door into a convenient awning, to create an additional shaded area during the day. The tent also comes in a smaller variant, and overall, it’s the best waterproof tent you can buy.
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Whether you’re camping with an adult friend or with the kids, the Toogh hexagon camping tent is your best bet if you’re looking for a small, wallet-friendly shelter. It can accommodate four adults in sleeping bags, or two adults and two kids sleeping on an air mattress.
What makes it stand out is the hexagon shape than improves both wind and rain resistance. The fly and walls are made from sturdy, 3000mm oxford fabric, while the floor can withstand hydrostatic heads up to 10000mm. Super-easy to install and relative light, this compact tent is perfect for anything, from car camping to backpacking.
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One of the best waterproof tents for backpacking, the GEERTOP tent impresses with an igloo-like construction that provides resistance to all elements. Not only it can withstand heavy rain, but it also holds up well to wind and light snow.
Its design reminds of the heavy-duty military tents. Suitable for backpacking in all seasons, it also boasts a low weight and quick setup. Ideal for hikers camping alone or with an adventure partner.
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The Forceatt tent is an excellent choice for hikers and backpackers looking for a compact and lightweight sleeping arrangement. Ideal to use in all seasons, it can accommodate up to two adults and some additional gear.
It boasts a conventional pitch, but it’s easy to erect in less than 5 minutes. Waterproof and windproof, it also withstands all atmospheric conditions, including heavy rain and light snow. We also like the removable fly that extends past the door to create a convenient vestibule. No doubt, a practical choice for sole adventurers and couples.
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Hewolf is another hexagon-shaped tent that has made it to our list of best waterproof tents. It is designed to house up to three adults, although two adults and two smaller kids could also have sufficient room in it. The rainproof fly resists to moderate to heavy rain of up to 2000mm, while the silver coating on the fly also offers UV protection.
A feature we particularly like is the possibility to use the fly on its own, as a beach or backyard shelter. When the inner tent’s attached, we also like that the door flap is easy to turn into a vestibule. Overall, this tent is versatile and durable. Quite heavy for its size, it’s perfect for car camping and tailgating.
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If you like most of the Hewolf’s features but would rather opt for a traditional, rectangular tent, then you should check out the Night Cat. This 3-season tent is rated at 3000mm HH, so it can easily withstand even the harshest rain. Thanks to its dome structure, it resists well to all other elements, too.
Like the Hewolf, it comes with a detachable inner tent that allows you to use the fly as a beach shelter. A convenient footprint included in the pack can also double as a tarp. Roomy enough to house a queen-size air mattress and additional gear, it’s a great choice for family camping adventures.
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Campers looking for a high-quality warm climate waterproof tent might simply fall for the Outbound 6-Person Dome Tent. Its name says it all. We’re talking about a roomy tent designed to house up to 6 adults or families.
With sufficient floor space to hold two queen-size mattresses, it is a perfect choice for car camping and tailgating. It’s not the lightest out there, but it’s still relatively light and very easy to set up. But the impressive thing is the water resistance, despite the thinner fabric. You can expect to stay dry during tropical rains and summer storms. Wind resistance is also good, and overall, this tent will surely impress you.
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The Moose Racing Basecamp Tent is an excellent choice for backpacking and outdoor expeditions. Sure, it could seem a bit heavy, at 9.5 pounds, but considering that it can hold up to 6 adults, that’s actually light.
In terms of weather resistance and durability, the tent lives up to expectations. You can use it in all seasons without worrying about rain, snow, or gusts. Ventilation in summer might be an issue, but you’ll surely stay toasty when camping in colder climates. More expensive than other waterproof tents, this shelter is a good investment for no-frills winter camping.
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Finding a waterproof tent for large families that truly lives up to expectations is far from easy. Nonetheless, the HIKERGARDEN tent proves that large groups can enjoy the outdoors even when it rains, without worrying about getting soaked inside the shelter.Â
This tent can accommodate up to 8 people sleeping directly on the floor, or up to 3 queen-size air beds. If you don’t mind sleeping in cots, you can maximize storage space by shoving some bags under the beds. Durable and reliable, it boasts 185T polyester walls and fly. Wind resistance is average, but as far as rain is concerned, this tent will keep you dry through summer rains and storms.
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The last best waterproof tent on our list comes from CORE. It can accommodate 6 adults or up to 2 queen-size air mattresses. Ideal for families and smaller groups, it’s also relatively light and easy to haul from car to campsite.
It’s advertised as a 3-season tent, however, the manufacturer doesn’t provide an official waterproofness rating. Tested on the field, it holds up well to normal rain, but resistance drops when wind and rain combine during storms. That said, this tent is a great choice for usual camping adventure with your family.
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Sleeping in a tent is all fun and games, at least until the rain starts to pour. If you don’t want to wake up in a puddle, you should invest in a waterproof tent. Before investing, however, you should understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant tents. Here is a quick guide to choosing the best waterproof tent for you.
Most inexperienced campers looking for their first tent often forget to check the waterproof rating of the shelter they want to buy, assuming all tents are waterproof. However, this isn’t always true.
While all tents are water-resistant, a wide range of models isn’t fully waterproof. Summer tents, for instance, are often made from an umbrella-like fabric that will withstand light to moderate rain, but that will start to leak eventually. Canvas tents – such as most bell tents – may also leak in heavy rain even though cotton canvas usually provides excellent water resistance even when not treated with a waterproof spray.
With this in mind, the first thing to check if full water resistance is essential to you is the waterproof rating of the fabric.
Tents are made from either canvas or polyester, two fabrics that are not water resistant on their own. To prevent leaks, manufacturers coat these fabrics with either Teflon or polyurethane, as these materials add water resistance while still maintaining the breathability of the fabric.
Once coated, the water resistance of tents is measured through a hydrostatic head test with results expressed in millimeters.
According to the legal requirements, a tent must have a hydrostatic head (HH) of at least 1,000 to be considered waterproof. However, 1,000 mm fabrics might not withstand more than light rain.
For this reason, you should look for a HH rating of 3,000 or over if you want to camp in all seasons and stay dry even in a downpour.
The table below should help you understand the HH rating of the most popular tents on the market:
Hydrostatic Head (mm) | Resistant to |
1,000-3,000 | Light rain, dry snow |
3,000-5,000 | Moderate rain, average snow |
Over 5,000 | Heavy rain, storms, wet snow |
The hydrostatic head rating is undeniably the most important thing to check when buying a waterproof tent, but you shouldn’t ignore the seams and stitching if you want to stay dry. Indeed, water can leak through these joints if they aren’t sealed properly.
Seam sealing is a process used by manufacturers to cover the small holes made by the needle during the sewing process, and can be of two types:
Needless to say, you should get a tent with fully taped seams if you want to achieve the highest possible level of water resistance.
The waterproof rating discussed above usually refers to the tent’s walls and roof, but you may notice that tent floors usually have higher ratings. Picking a tent with a fully waterproof floor is important because this part of your shelter is in constant contact with the ground below.
If you mostly camp during summer, a rating of at least 3,000 mm for the floor should be enough to withstand light rain and short showers.
For 3- or 4-season camping, the floor should have a hydrostatic head of at least 5,000 mm. Furthermore, you should pick a tent with groundsheet sewn onto the walls in a tub style, to prevent any leaks at floor level
DWR stands for durable water repellent – usually known as a waterproof spray. New tents usually don’t need DWR treatment, but you could enhance your shelter’s water resistance by applying a coat of repellent. This method could come in handy if you want to buy a cheaper tent that isn’t fully waterproof.
While new tents don’t usually need any treatment, you should know that mud and dirt may build up in the fabric over the years, damaging the polyurethane or Teflon layer. Thus, you should treat your tent with waterproof spray before each season to keep it in pristine conditions and prevent leaks.
Besides the above, there are a few other things to consider before buying a waterproof tent:
If you’re looking for a family tent you can use from early spring to late fall, the KAZOO waterproof tent is undeniably your best bet. For backpacking trips, a tent such as the Toogh hexagon camping tent is lighter and will surely keep you dry even in the heaviest downpour.
Among the things that make a tent waterproof we can mention the thickness of the material and the polyurethane coating. Some tents are also treated with a silicone coating, that prevents water from soaking the fabric.
Waterproof ratings are measured in millilitres, and 2000mm means the tent can bear up to 2000mm of rain a day before it starts to leak. This is usually the equivalent of moderate autumn rain. If you want a tent that can withstand heavy rain, go for a minimum of 3000mm.
While a waterproof tent should keep you dry in the rain without issues, you can enhance water resistance by using a tent footprint under your shelter, as well as a tarp above it. For both accessories, make sure the fabric is rated at least 3000mm. If you bought a water resistant tent with a rating of 1000mm or below, you can also raise its resistance to rain by sealing the fabric with waterproof spray.
