The 10 Best 4-Season Tents of 2021-2022

To find the most steadfast 4-season tents, we tested builds while hunting and ski mountaineering across the country from the treelines of volcanoes to the high-alpine Rockies. Here are our top choices for year-round tents.

Outdoorsy folks who need shelter in unpredictable and potentially savage conditions should opt for the most substantial, enduring tents. While 4-season tents don’t offer the dreamy ventilation or streamlined weight you need for bikepacking along the Kokopelli Trail, they are a security shield for rough or wintry precipitation — which could land any time at high altitude.

For that reason, a range of recreationists heading to remote camps seek the muscle of a 4-season tent, from hunters to mountaineers, alpine climbers, and backcountry skiers. While these tents aren’t typically ideal for summertime trips, they’re usable any time of the year and are especially gold in rain or snowstorms.

If you’re not sure where to start, jump down to our buyer’s guide and FAQ at the bottom of the page before scrolling through the top picks for 4-season tents. If you’re looking for other overnight options for less fierce weather, check out the best backpacking tents.

• Best Overall
• Best Runner-Up
• Best Budget
• Best Rooftop Tent
• Best Truck Bed Tent
• Best for Hunting
• Best of the Rest

The Best 4-Season Tents of 2021-2022

Best Overall: Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent

The freestanding Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent ($700) is an ideal choice for a lengthy, month-long expedition when you have no idea what Mother Nature will throw at you. The design is robust and provides pockets galore, which is a stellar feature for long durations in the field. The entire length of the walls is decorated with broad mesh storage pockets — a total of 11 high-volume hammocks.

For a two-person tent, this layout is generous with ample head, foot, and side space to protect everything from ski boots to ropes or camera gear. For a ski mountaineering trip, our team found the setup was easy and intuitive thanks in part to the color-coded poles, rainfly, and canopy. Everything from the buckles to the zippers is stout enough to withstand burly weather.

The fly can face in either direction across the tent if you need to swap the orientation to better deal with gusts. And the fly connects to poles via gated clips, which are a bit finicky and not totally straightforward. The materials are beefy, including the 70-denier nylon-taffeta floor.

The guy-out spots are placed 18 to 24 inches above the ground around the entire tent’s perimeter. While this is a 4-season tent, we found the build to be excessive in volume and weight for a typical summer backpacking trip but bomber for intense winter conditions.

Specs:

• Type: Basecamp and expeditions
• Weight: 8 lb. 9.7 oz.
• Doors: 2
• Sleeps: 2
• Floor Area: 40 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 12 sq. ft.
• Height: 38″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Wall-to-wall deep mesh pockets are convenient and add structural strength
• Triple-reinforced window funnels in light and provides a bit of outdoor visibility
• Loops for internal clothesline
• Large vestibule entrance features a double door, so you can enter from either side
• Extra stakes included

Cons:

• On the heavier side
• High volume for a regular backpacking trip
• Fewer ventilation ports on the fly compared to other designs

Check Price at REICheck Price at Mountain Hardwear

Best Runner-Up: MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent

One feature that sets apart the freestanding MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent ($700) is the lofty overhead space. When we tested this tent on a ski mountaineering mission, we were impressed with the tent’s roomy ceiling.

While organizing gear and changing layers, it was easy to sit upright or move around and get dressed in a flat-footed crouched position without feeling cramped or head-bumping the roof. We also appreciated the large storage area for gear in one of the vestibules, which features additional loops to hang items.

To exit or enter each vestibule, there’s a side door, so half of the space remains shielded from the weather. Each door’s zipper is double-enforced with Velcro, which is a nice touch but tough to maneuver one-handed. We also liked that the fly featured four vents with snow flaps, which provide ventilation and help reduce condensation while keeping out spindrift.

Likewise, the upper portion of each door features a mesh or fully open window for cross-ventilation. The color-coded pole clips made the tent setup quick. The bathtub floor is waterproof and durable. And the rainfly is a 68-denier ripstop polyester fabric treated for waterproofness.

We haven’t experienced harsh winds or heavy snowfall in this tent, but the construction is protective, warm, and strong. This tent seems both burly and capable for harsh conditions.

Specs:

• Type: Mountaineering and expeditions
• Weight: 6 lb. 11 oz.
• Doors: 2
• Sleeps: 2 adults
• Floor Area: 33 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 22 sq. ft.
• Height: 44″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Generous headroom for sitting upright and changing layers
• Reinforced guy-out points with interior Velcro to guy-out the poles

Cons:

• Only two internal pockets for sorting belongings
• Includes nine stakes for 11 tiedown points excluding guylines

Check Price at MSR

Best Budget: Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P

The Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P ($595) is constructed to barricade gust-filled storms and blizzards. This solid two-person tent is a great choice for backpackers and hunters who need protection year-round from snow and sunshine, especially in cooler, drier conditions. We found the ventilation system is effective, enabling this abode to be comfortable in the summer, and the tent hardly wavered in 50mph winds.

The 20-denier ripstop nylon floor felt tenacious, and the modular design makes the arrangement versatile. Overnighters can set up the full body and rainfly or save weight by using the fly and lightweight footprint.

Specs:

• Type: Alpine hunting and backpacking
• Weight: 4 lb. 3 oz.
• Doors: 2
• Sleeps: 2 adults
• Floor Area: 32 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 50 cu. ft.
• Height: 41.5″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Very lightweight compared to our other four-season tent picks
• Eight interior pockets help with organizing gear
• Internal guylines help reinforce tent in rough elements

Cons:

• Not a great choice for hot or muggy weather
• Without much mesh, there’s less protection in buggy environments

Check Price at Stone Glacier

Best Rooftop Tent: Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 Tent

To maximize your rig’s real estate and ease of camp setup on a road trip, check out the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 Tent ($1,900). One of the top-of-the-line details of this three-person tent is the high-density foam mattress, which is a comfortable, plush way to stay overnight outdoors.

The water-resistant construction is a polyester-cotton mixed with a 600-denier ripstop fabric treated to barricade mold and ultraviolet damage. The mesh skylights are a nice touch when the fly isn’t needed.

Note: Check with your roof rack manufacturer to make sure the construction matches the weight capacity of the tent.

Specs:

• Type: Vehicle rooftop
• Weight: 131 lb.
• Doors: 1
• Sleeps: 3 adults
• Floor Area: 37.3 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: none
• Height: 52″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Four large internal pockets for storing camp items
• Mesh panels offer airflow, ventilation, and bug protection

Cons:

• Setup takes time to master

Check Price at evoCheck Price at REI

Best Truck Bed Tent: Rightline Gear Truck Tent

Have you ever slept in your wide-open truck bed and wished for a bit more privacy? The Rightline Gear Truck Tent ($190) is a nice upgrade. This two-person floor-free tent balloons over an open truck bed, where it’s secured via heavy-duty straps and nylon buckles that won’t damage the rig’s finish.

The face fabric is 2,000mm polyurethane with taped seams to barricade moisture. We give a thumbs-up to the color-coded poles and pole pockets, which help streamline setup and takedown. Worried you’ll miss views of the stars? There’s a sky view vent, too.

Specs:

• Type: Truck bed
• Weight: 8 lb.
• Doors: 1
• Sleeps: 2 adults
• Floor Area: Eight tent sizes available for various truck bed dimensions
• Vestibule Area: None
• Height: Unavailable
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Two interior gear pockets plus a hook for a lantern
• Glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls are handy
• Economic price

Cons:

• Be sure to purchase the correct size for your truck bed
• Good for mild to moderate winter conditions

Check Price at REICheck Price at Amazon

Best for Hunting: KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent

We found the burly construction of the freestanding KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent ($600) is built for fierce weather conditions. We tested this shelter on the top of Berthoud Pass in Colorado during a spring storm. Thanks to the high-tension design and sound engineering, the structure hardly budged under gusts and shed heavy snow well.

The durable floor and tub are constructed with 40-denier ripstop nylon, and the shape is asymmetric to provide extra width at the tent’s head. The waterproof rating of the rainfly is 3,000 mm and the floor is 5,000 mm. We also like the interior webbing loops to help hang gear.

Specs:

• Type: Alpine hunting and backpacking
• Weight: 5 lb. 5.2 oz.
• Doors: 2
• Sleeps: 2 adults
• Floor Area: 29.5 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 16.42 sq. ft.
• Height: 45″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Spacious vestibules at each door
• Eight interior pockets provide space to organize small items
• Adjustable vents help manage condensation

Cons:

• Not an ideal construction for warm weather
• Requires muscle to get the clips onto the poles

Check Price at KUIU

Best of the Rest

Big Agnes Shield 3

Another dependable, lightweight, freestanding four-season abode is the Big Agnes Shield 3 ($800). This construction excels in mountaineering trips and against super-windy conditions. The three-layer material is a robust waterproof-breathable nylon with fully taped seams.

Setup is relatively quick and easy, and the tent comes with 10 lightweight stakes burly enough to use as deadman anchors to secure your mountain slope casa. We like that the design has a weather-viewing window and a second window featuring a mesh or complete closure option.

The stake-out loops are oversized, so the hook can be stabilized with a ski, ice axe, or pole. We also dig the interior attachment loops for hanging various items to dry, light up the tent, or provide quick access.

Specs:

• Type: Mountaineering
• Weight: 5 lb. 3 oz.
• Doors: 1
• Sleeps: 3 adults
• Floor Area: 39 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: Sold separately
• Height: 43″
• Walls: Single

Pros:

• Reflective, heavy-duty guylines
• Four interior mesh pockets

Cons:

• Only one door
• Footprint is sold separately
• Ventilation could be improved for better airflow

Check Price at Big Agnes

Nemo Equipment Kunai 3-4-Season Backpacking Tent

The Nemo Equipment Kunai 3-4-Season Backpacking Tent ($700) is a solid freestanding choice for a broad range of conditions from hot, humid environments to rain, high wind, or snowy blasts. Setting up the tent was super quick.

For summer and fall backpacking trips, this build is light, strong, and a top pick. For a long mountaineering expedition, it’s a friendly weight for carrying up a mountain but wouldn’t be our first pick for a 2-foot dump or hunkering down in an ongoing blizzard.

That said, we were impressed with the six passive vents around the fly. Inside, there are seven mesh pockets of varying sizes to help organize accessories. A ceiling zippered mesh window provides airflow, as do two side mesh windows and a mesh window on the door. The canopy is a 20-denier nylon ripstop fabric and the floor is even tougher, with a 30-denier rating.

Specs:

• Type: Backpacking and mountaineering
• Weight: 5 lb. 3 oz.
• Doors: 1
• Sleeps: 3 adults
• Floor Area: 36.5 sq. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 13 sq. ft.
• Height: 45″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Good airflow
• Great headroom
• Fairly lightweight compared to other options

Cons:

• Too short in length for some folks
• Zippers aren’t all burly and seem a bit cheap
• Only one door can be a drawback for some travelers
• Not the best build for long mountaineering expeditions

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at CampSaver

Hilleberg Allak 2

For more than a decade, the Hilleberg Allak 2 ($1,095) has served mountaineers, paddlers, peak baggers, and backpackers alike. This super-popular tent still ranks high for good reason. The dome structure is freestanding yet strong beneath a load of winter’s fury, due in part to the crossover design of the three tent poles.

A lightweight and well-ventilated build means this tent serves recreationists year-round, even when they need warm-weather comfort. The exterior fabric, Kerlon 1200, is a 30-denier high-tenacity ripstop nylon that’s silicone-coated on each side for extra strength.

The floor is a 70-denier fabric that’s highly puncture- and abrasion-resistant. And the 30-denier interior is durable and water-repellent.

Specs:

• Type: Mountaineering and expeditions
• Weight: 6 lb. 3 oz.
• Doors: 2
• Sleeps: 2
• Floor Area: 31 cu. ft.
• Vestibule Area: 8.6 cu. ft.
• Height: 41″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Easy to pitch on a variety of terrain
• Vestibules outside each door for ease of use

Cons:

• Expensive

Check Price at CampSaverCheck Price at Hilleberg

Crua Outdoors Crua Loj

If the whole crew wants to take home outdoors, consider the Crua Outdoors Crua Loj ($2,399). The Loj accommodates up to six people overnight with insulated walls that block light and sound. Beyond the footprint, the interior carpet keeps the room even more comfortable and cozy when the temperatures drop.

Thanks to the tunnel design, this large habitat is super stable in wind. The laminated polyester-cotton material is flame-retardant and shields rain and snow. The porch and awning create a protected spot to relax between outdoor jaunts, and three doors make exit and entry easy with a group.

Bonus: Tent users noted that condensation was not an issue.

Specs:

• Type: Basecamp
• Weight: 202 lb.
• Doors: 3
• Sleeps: 6 adults
• Floor Area: 406 sq. ft.
• Porch width/length: 5′ x 14′
• Height: 84″
• Walls: Double

Pros:

• Four large side windows with mesh screens
• Design is wheelchair accessible

Cons:

• Time-intensive setup and breakdown
• Not freestanding
• Ideal to transport with multiple sets of hands

Check Price at Crua Outdoors

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a 4-Season Tent

The burliest four-season tents are constructed to withstand brutal winds, shed heavy snowpack or rain, and comfortably store gear in a protected cubby. The tradeoff? These designs can often retain summertime warmth and humidity.

Year-round tents are protective across variable and tough conditions, but they’re not the most airy for hotter days or nights. Also, the high-end construction requires beefier material that sports a bigger bill than most three-season builds.

All options considered, these heavier-set tents are a dependable choice for mountaineers, expeditionists, and other seasoned outdoor travelers who want a dependable structure any day of the year that provides protection in the harshest elements.

Seasonality

Tents are typically built for three-season or four-season conditions. A three-season tent will suffice if you plan on using your tent across the spring, summer, and fall.

The infrastructure of a three-season tent can handle rain and light snow. Usually, these builds are not ideal for heavy snow, super-high winds, or vicious storms — like the blizzard conditions you might face while ski mountaineering. A four-season tent is a better choice for full-on winter, the weight of snow, and strong winds.

Types of 4-Season Tents

A spectrum of designs exists within the four-season tent category. For instance, our lineup here includes year-round tents for vehicles from truck beds to rooftops. Folks often seek four-season tents for backpacking and hunting in inclement weather in the winter, along alpine routes, or during the shoulder seasons.

People need four-season shelters for mountaineering, with or without skis, or winter backcountry trips. Some of these tents are better suited above or below treeline, while others are perfect for polar exploration.

Mountaineering tents are often streamlined and constructed with a single wall to save weight and easily move camp day to day on a long, challenging expedition. In contrast, a basecamp tent is roomier and weighs more.

Basecamp tents are a comfortable choice for a shorter haul to a lower point where adventurers need to spend time acclimating to altitude or waiting for a safe weather window. Most of these designs are double-walled to help enhance ventilation and prevent condensation, and a broad range of capacities exist to house large groups or a ton of gear.

Tunnel tents can withstand brutal wind — think 70 mph — better than dome or wedge-style tents, which can hit a limit of around 50 mph. But tunnel tents are not freestanding.

Capacity & Doors

Folks aiming for lighter weight four-season tents can invest in a one- or two-person design. Three- and four-person tents are a common choice, too, while some four-season basecamp options are large enough to fit big groups of six or more people.

Your ideal tent capacity depends on the number of campers, their overall size, and how much equipment you need to store inside the tent or vestibule. Brands generally categorize their tents based on the number of people, but the dimensions — length, width, height, and vestibule size — vary from tent to tent.

The tent’s peak height, which is where the tent is the tallest, also differs between each model. It’s nice to have a generous height in a four-season tent when the weather turns south and you really need to hunker down.

Get out your tape measure as you research. If you’re tall or wide, pay extra attention to the width and length of the tent dimensions as well as the area of your sleeping pad. And consider how much storage space you’ll want for gear. It’s also a good idea to visit a local retailer where the tent can be set up for you to check out in person.

You’ll want to consider whether one or two doors are more functional for you. Two doors can be helpful for each sleeper to have their own exit and entry or to access gear organized in multiple vestibules. But, eliminating a door can cut weight and cost.

Vestibule & Interior Storage

To help protect equipment, four-season tents have one or two zipper-enclosed vestibule doors — but not all vestibules are created equal. They each have a unique volume, height, and shape.

Some vestibule entries include a double door like on the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent or interior loops to hang items like in the MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent. The Remote 2 also features a storm flap along the bottom and a ventilation window along the top, which are strategic additions.

Compare your body and sleeping pad measurements to the tent’s width and length. If your expedition requires a lot of gear, it can be nice — or necessary — to have extra room to bring cargo inside the cabin. Otherwise, the vestibule can be a great spot to leave the pack or boots. The foyer is also a good place to cook over a compact, portable stove if you’re stuck in the tent due to hair-raising weather.

Inside, four-season tents usually have mesh pockets along the wall to store items like a phone or headlamp. Again, these features are not universal. The Remote 2 only has two mesh pockets, while the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent has more than 10 pouches that line the walls and ceiling.

Generally, lighter tents don’t have as many storage compartments as heavier tent designs. Another nice touch is interior loops for hanging a clothesline, carabiners, or to clip a lantern.

Weight

A dwelling’s weight hinges on the materials, size, and whether the walls are single or double. Most four-season tent specs include a trail or minimal weight and a packaged weight — the former doesn’t include stakes, guylines, or stuff sacks. (We highlight the minimal weight of the products listed in this guide.)

One of the lightest four-season tents on the market is the Hilleberg Akto 1 Tent for a single person, tapping in at 3.75 pounds. By comparison, the Hilleberg Allak 2 is 6 pounds 3 ounces.

The sizes and weights of the tents in our guide widely vary. The heaviest option is a basecamp tent with room for six adults that weighs 202 pounds. Our lightest choice is the Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P, which is only 4 pounds 12.8 ounces. Weight is most crucial if you’ll be hauling your tent for consecutive days and want to minimize the heft of your load.

Regardless of weight, you’ll need to select a tent that delivers the protection and features you need — like two doors, the capacity for three people, or a large vestibule. Generally, the lighter a tent is, the less headroom there is. But cutting ounces isn’t as important as being adequately protected in the conditions where you plan to go.

If you’re picking a four-season rooftop tent that will be stationary, the weight matters less but needs to be within your manufacturer’s roof rack requirements.

Ventilation

The nemesis of four-season tents is the challenge of providing excellent ventilation. While ultralight tents often feature walls constructed of mesh, storm doors that furl back, or no walls at all for airflow, four-season tents don’t. These structures feature minimal windows to optimize structural protection and warmth in wind, rain, and heavy snow.

Walls constructed of mesh decrease the overall temperature inside the tent, so the majority of four-season tent walls are solid fabric. Simultaneously, if you’re posted up inside your tent for a bout of stormy weather, you’ll want good ventilation to minimize indoor frost and moisture.

Well-designed four-season tents have integrated passive ventilation ports or windows in the tent and rainfly. These vents can keep out snow while minimizing condensation, so the inside of the tent doesn’t feel clammy. The MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent fly features four vents with snow flaps, which provide ventilation and help reduce condensation while keeping out spindrift.

A handful of basecamp tent designs deviate from this closed-wall rule, like the Crua Outdoors Crua Loj, which has four large side windows and three doors.

Single-Wall vs. Double-Wall Tents

Tents are either single-wall or double-wall designs. Single-wall tents are lighter weight, nonbreathable, waterproof, and don’t include a rainfly. They typically don’t offer as much storage for gear.

A double-wall tent actually contains two items: a breathable tent paired with a waterproof rainfly. The setup usually offers vestibule space to stash equipment.

The kit weighs more and requires more time to set up compared to a single-wall tent. Single-wall tents are less breathable and produce more condensation but can be worthwhile for light, fast, difficult mountaineering missions where minimal weight is preferred.

Material & Durability

A price tag is usually reflected in the balance of the materials’ durability and weight. Ultralight, strong materials often cost more than heavier fabrics. The KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent ($600) is constructed with a 40-denier ripstop nylon tub and floor and a 30-denier tent body that’s has a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating. The tent is 29.5 square feet and weighs 5 pounds 5.2 ounces.

In contrast, the Big Agnes Shield 3 ($800) is 39 square feet but only weighs 5 pounds 3 ounces. The tent is constructed with ultralight waterproof-breathable nylon and a polyurethane-coated floor.

On the other hand, the 3-person Nemo Equipment Kunai 3-4 Season Backpacking Tent ($700) weighs the same as the Shield 3, costs $100 less, and is slightly smaller. The Kunai’s canopy is a 20-denier nylon ripstop fabric, and the floor is rated at 30-denier that’s 3,000 mm with a 1,200mm fly.

In contrast, the Shield’s tent body has a 9,000mm waterproof rating and the floor has a 10,000mm polyurethane coat. Overall, the costlier choice provides more substantial protection in an ongoing storm.

A separate footprint, or groundsheet, isn’t required for an enclosed single-wall tent. Lightweight materials are pretty durable, but they tend to break down if they’re roughly handled. Investing in a lighter weight bundle means the recreationist should be mindful with gear care.

Bathtub Floor

A bathtub floor means the waterproof fabric comprising the floor extends a few inches off the ground and up the tent walls. Often four-season setups have a bathtub floor for extra protection during a weather event.

Waterproofness

The material used in tent construction is either inherently waterproof or treated with a DWR coating to block precipitation. If the fabric is treated, it’ll eventually need a refresh, depending on the conditions faced, user care, and volume of use.

Tent Setup & Poles

The majority of our top four-season tents are freestanding. This type of skeleton takes more time to assemble because the ground needs to offset the stake just right — especially if it’s windy or rainy out.

In contrast, tunnel tents or ultralightweight tents and shelters are nonfreestanding, meaning they don’t include tent poles to be hoisted. Instead, one or two trekking poles plus stakes are used to elevate three-season tents. And four-season tunnel tents need to be staked down extremely well with rocks in summer or grippy stakes in winter.

Many four-season tents have color-coded poles and pole clips or pockets on the canopy and fly. That addition helps recreationists efficiently put up their shelter when time is crucial and they need to get out of the elements. These year-round designs also feature strategically placed guylines, often with reinforced attachment points, and many loops to stake down the tent.

The poles vary from tent to tent. The KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent features DAC NFL poles, which are a super-lightweight aluminum alloy blend that’s extra strong and stiff. The Big Agnes Shield 3 has the DAC NSL aluminum poles, which are still lightweight yet slightly stronger.

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