I've Backpacked All Over the World, and I Just Found an Amazon Tent That Rivals My $630 Version—for Just $78

Travel + Leisure

3 days ago

After spending countless nights outdoors in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, England's Lake District, and the Central Highlands of Tasmania, I know exactly what qualities and features I prefer in a backpacking tent. The best-selling MSR Hubba Hubba is my go-to, and it's kept me dry and warm while camping for years. However, I realize the $630 price tag isn't for everyone—especially not for beginners or those sticking to a budget.
If you're planning a multi-day excursion and are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, you're in luck: I found a three-person tent that reviewers say 'mimics' my tried-and-true MSR portable shelter. Better yet, it's even on sale for just $77 right now, thanks to an on-site coupon.
The tent's interior floor space is just large enough to accommodate three adults snugly. Unlike dome-style camping tents, backpacking tents have a low profile to reduce weight in your pack and minimize wind resistance on the windy slopes of mountains, and this version gives you just enough height to sit up inside.
Similar to the MSR Hubba Hubba, the top half of this tent is lined entirely with bug-proof mesh—an added bonus for star-gazing on clear, warm nights—and it has two D-shaped doors on either side. The rain fly is designed with vestibules on both sides, which is super handy for keeping your hiking gear sheltered and your boots out of the dew and rain. In terrible weather, I've even cooked my dehydrated dinners under the shelter of the vestibules (if you do the same, just make sure the space is properly ventilated).
In addition to the tent, the fly, and the aluminum poles, this three-person backpacking tent kit also includes stakes and guylines (cords or ropes attached to the outside of a tent that are staked into the ground to help keep the tent stable and upright). The footprint, however, is sold separately and costs $25. Much like the MSR Hubba Hubba, my favorite thing about this tent is the quick and easy setup. You don't have to feed the poles through any narrow tubes of nylon; this tent has just one pole that you hook into an eyelet at each corner of the tent, that is then clipped onto the tent via plastic clips. The entire setup process is so fast, that one five-star reviewer shared it took less than a minute.
Along with the simple setup process and affordable price point, this backpacking tent's water-resistance is one of the most-loved features among Amazon reviewers. 'I picked this up to replace an old MSR; I loved that tent, but I was on a budget and this looked close enough to work until I could replace it,' one reviewer wrote. Despite two nights of heavy rain, including an hour-long period of torrential downpour, the tent had zero leaks, they wrote.
Another camper said they tested the tent multiple times, but 'the real test' was a camping trip in a Nebraska national forest. 'A massive thunderstorm came through on our second night with over an inch of rain and 50-plus-mph winds,' they wrote. 'I set up this tent using a ground mat, the rain fly, and the provided tent stakes and guy lines.' Thanks to the tent's sealed seams and leak-proof construction, 'there wasn't a drop of water inside the tent the next morning.'
The brand says the tent is rated for all four seasons (a rare find at this price), and reviewers attest it has served them well in snow and temperatures as low as 20 degrees. 'This tent is one that I could easily justify for a backpacking trip with two buddies without having to break the bank,' another customer wrote. Previously $86, this three-person tent is on sale for $78, due to an on-site coupon—but there's also a smaller two-person version that costs only $60.
Getting your camping supplies in order for a backpacking trip this summer? Read on for more Amazon backpacking tents, starting at less than $100.
At the time of publishing, the price started at $78.
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