Best 4 Person Backpacking Tents

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In this text I present my list of the best 4 person backpacking tents, all below 4 kg, and all freestanding and reliable 3-season tents from renown brands.

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Here is my list of the best 4 person backpacking tents ordered by weight from lighter to heavier:

 

What to bear in mind when choosing a 4-person tent

First to stress that this text is about real tents and not about any minimalist shelters. So here you have the tools that provide:

• full weather protection, and
• protection from insects and snakes.

The weight and space

This is about backpacking tents, therefore the absolute weight is an essential parameter. So the list includes only the relatively lightweight tents, all below 4 kg. Note that in some cases you have a footprint included in the declared weight, but you do not have to use the footprint so such a tent can be very lightweight.

But the weight alone can be misleading and you need information about the space as well, which may include the inner space and vestibules.

Area to weight ratio

This parameter, expressed in square meters per kilogram, tells you how much floor space you have per kilogram. This I use in two ways:

• Area/Weight ratio (AW) for the inner space.
• Total Area/Weight ratio (TAW) for the inner space and vestibules.

Both of these parameters are important. For example, you may have a big AW ratio but the tent may be with only one vestibule, so the TAW may be relatively small. In any case, the bigger the numbers the better.

Area per person

This parameter used in the text includes only the inner area, i.e., the amount of space in the tent to put your sleeping pad.

What should you expect? Imagine a pad 60 cm wide and 200 cm long. This is a narrow space but it is enough (in particular if the tent has at least one vestibule), and this means 1.2 m² per person. So the more you have above this value the better.

Freestanding or not

Definitely, go for a freestanding tent. When you are on a long tour, you may not know what is ahead and where you may want to camp. You can find yourself on rocky terrain or a gravel area where pitching a tent is possible only if it is freestanding. I have had such situations in the Alps and I was in trouble once with a non-freestanding tent.

All tents given here are freestanding, this is why you have the trail weight and the packed weight given. These terms are described in detail in my separate text.

However, a bit of caution here. Typically, the term freestanding implies that the main tent is with such a property. But to have a fully functional fly and vestibules, and to have them secured against winds, normally it is necessary to stake them down. So I would not count too much on the trail weight.

There is also the fast fly weight mentioned with some tents. This may imply that you have a footprint with you, either included in the price and in the weight mentioned in the text, or it may imply that the footprint is available but it should be ordered separately. This is the lightest of all options, but you do not have any protection from insects and snakes. So better forget about it.

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1. Snow Peak Fal Pro Air 4 Tent

The weight of this Snow Peak Fal Pro Air 4 Tent is quite extraordinary, it weighs 4.9 lb (2.23 kg), and this is a true double-layer tent. So this is a great backpacking option for year-round use.

The tent is nicely ventilated and it is supported by quality aluminum poles. The fly fabric is a 20D silicon polyester (sil-poly) mini ripstop with a 1500 mm minimum waterproof rating. The inner tent is also a 20D polyester mini ripstop. On the bathtub floor you have a 30D nylon ripstop with the same 1500 mm waterproof rating. The area is 47.4 ft² (4.4 m²), plus two small vestibules. 

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2. Klymit Maxfield 4 Tent

It is best to start with the weight of this Klymit Maxfield 4 tent, to realize why it is here and in such a position in the list. So the weight is 5.6 lb (2.5 kg) and the trail weight is 5.2 lb (2.4 kg). But see the also the area.

You have the floored space of 53 ft² (4.9 m²), and the two vestibules add 25.5 (16 front + 9.5 rear) ft² [2.4 (1.5 front + 0.9 rear) m²]. So the total protected space is 78.5 ft² (6.12 m²).

So this is an incredibly light tunnel-shaped tent and you have aluminum poles, 2 vestibules, and a full-coverage fly. The tent is also nicely ventilated.

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3. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4 Tent

This is one of the lightest tents in the group, but it provides a 5.3 m² floor area plus 2.6 m² under the two vestibules. So this is plenty of space for 4 users and the gear. The tent is an improved version of the award-winning tent, and this improved version has also received the 2017 Editor’s Choice Award by the Backpacker Magazine.

Everything used in the construction of this tent is of top quality, the poles, and the fabric, but this also implies a steep price. You have silicone-treated fabric here and the poles are incredibly flexible.

Key features

• Ultra-lightweight.
• Award-winning tent made even better.
• Area/weight ratio 2.08 m²/kg – the biggest of all tents on the list.
• Total area/weight ratio 2.7 m²/kg – the biggest of all tents on the list.
• Area per person 1.32 m² – not so great.
• High volume.
• Easy setup.
• Top-quality materials.
• Expensive tent for professionals.

Specifications

• Packed weight: 5 lb 10 oz (2.55 kg).
• Trail weight: 5 lb 3 oz (2.35 kg).
• Fast fly weight: 1.87 kg.
• Dimensions: 96 x 86 in (244 x 218 cm).
• Peak height: 50 in (127 cm).
• Floor area: 57 ft² (5.3 m²).
• Vestibule area: 14 + 14 ft² (1.3 sq m + 1.3 sq m).
• Packed size: 21.5 x 5 in (55 x 13 cm).

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4. MSR Papa Hubba NX Tent

This tent is built from top-class materials. So you have 3 DAC Featherlite NSL poles, the rain fly is 20D ripstop nylon with 1200 mm DuraShield polyurethane & silicone coating. The floor fabric is 30D ripstop nylon with 3000 mm rated DuraShield polyurethane.

This tent is rather low and the area per person is not so impressive. But from the picture, you realize that it has many poles and the tent is attached at many points, the walls are vertical and this creates lots of volume.

Key features

• 2 doors and 2 vestibules.
• Area/weight ratio: 1.74 m²/kg.
• Total area/weight ratio: 2.07 m²/kg.
• Area per person: 1.29 m².
• Not all is so great – this tent is very expensive, around $450 at the moment of writing the text. Please check the link below for updates.

Specifications

• Packed weight: 6 lb 8 oz (2.96 kg).
• Minimum weight: 5 lb 15 oz (2.67 kg).
• Fast fly weight: 4 lb 11 oz (2.11 kg).
• Dimensions: 93 x 86 in (236 x 218 cm).
• Peak height: 44 in (112 cm).
• Floor area: 55 ft² (5.14 m²).
• Vestibule area: 11 + 11 ft² (1.02 + 1.02 m²).
• Packed size: 21 x 7 in (53 x 17 cm).

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5. Kelty Dirt Motel 4

This Kelty Dirt Motel 4 is a lightweight and nicely packable tent with 2 doors and 2 vestibules. It comes with top-quality DAC Pressfit aluminum poles, and you have them two main plus a short brow pole, so this is a very simple structure.

The fly is a 40D siliconized nylon ripstop with a 1500 mm waterproof rating. The floor is a 70D nylon with a 3000 mm PU coating. All seams are sealed. The picture above shows its stargazing setup.

The tent weighs 6 lb 14 oz (3.12 kg), the inner area is 55.5 ft² (5.15 m²) but the two vestibules add 9 + 9 ft² (0.83 + 0.83 m²). So the total covered area/weight ratio is 2.18 m²/kg.

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6. Mountainsmith Genesee 4 Person 3 Season Tent

This great tent comes with a 5000 mm waterproofness rating for the floor and 2000 mm for the fly. This is a simple 2-pole design, with 8.5 mm anodized Yunan 7000 series AL alloy poles, fully freestanding.

The floor is a bathtub type and in view of the huge rating, you are completely safe from the ground, even if you have no choice but to camp in an area with very wet ground. You do not have any hub element here, the tent becomes freestanding only after it is attached to the poles.

Key features

• 2 doors and 2 vestibules.
• Area/weight ratio 1.65 m²/kg.
• Area per person 1.3 m².
• Great packed size.
• Great weight.
• Great weather resistance.

Specifications

• Packed weight: 6 lb 15 oz (3.15 kg).
• Trail weight: 6 lb 9 oz (2.98 kg).
• Dimensions: 94 x 84 in (244 x 213 cm).
• Peak height: 52 in (132 cm).
• Floor area: 56 ft² (5.2 m²).
• Packed size: 19.5 x 8 in (49 x 20 cm).

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7. Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 4 Tent

This is yet another very affordable tent with a simple design and an easy setup, from a new 2017 series. This tent comes with the footprint included. One impressive feature of this tent is its high waterproof rating. So you have 5000 mm for the floor and 2000 mm for the fly. These are among the highest numbers given here.

The materials are very durable, and this is what makes the tent a bit heavy. But note that this weight includes the footprint which you do not have to use. On the other hand, the footprint implies that you have the fast-fly option available.

Key features

• Great price.
• Area/weight ratio 1.37 m²/kg.
• Total area/weight ratio 1.91 m²/kg.
• Area per person 1.3 m² is quite modest.
• Footprint included.
• Detachable ceiling loft pocket included.
• Durable materials.

Specifications

• Trail weight: 7 lb 1 oz (3.2 kg).
• Packaged weight: 8 lb 6 oz (3.8 kg).
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 95 x 84 x 51 in (241 x 213 x 130 cm).
• Packed size: 20 x 9 in (51 x 23 cm).
• Floor area: 56 ft² (5.2 m²).
• Vestibule area: 22 ft² (2.04 m²).
• Peak height: 51 in (114.3 cm).

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8. Mountainsmith Bear Creek 4 Person Tent

This is one of the most affordable tent included here. However, it is one of the tents with the biggest area per person as well. This is already very impressive, but see also the following: this tent has a 5000 mm waterproofness rating for the floor and 2000 mm for the fly.

The tent is with one door and one vestibule, but it has a unique feature, a rear storage vestibule visible in the picture.

Please see more about the tents from this series in this short video from the brand:

Key features

• Great price.
• Footprint included so it allows for the fast fly variant.
• Very simple structure.
• Area/weight ratio 1.67 m²/kg.
• Total area/weight ratio 1.96 m²/kg.
• Area per person 1.62 m² – the largest of all tents on the list.
• Rear panel closet door and storage vestibule.

Specifications

• Trail weight: 7 lb 2 oz (3.23 kg).
• Packaged weight: 8 lb 9 oz (3.89 kg).
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 92 x 112 x 56 in (234 x 284 142 cm).
• Packed size: 19 x 8 in (48 x 20 cm).
• Floor area: 70 ft² (6.50 m²).
• Vestibule area: 12 ft² (1.11 m²).
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9. Pacific Pass 4 Person Family Dome Tent

This Pacific Pass 4 Person Family Dome Tent is incredibly affordable and it weighs 8 lb (3.6 kg). With such a weight it can be carried on the trail. It is easy to use simple dome with one door and two windows, and nicely ventilated.

The tent offers 63 ft² (5.8 m²) which is lots of space, but note that there is no vestibule for storage. Because of its incredible price, this tent is very popular.

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10. Alps Mountaineering Lynx 4 Person Tent

This incredibly affordable tent comes with a price tag which at the moment of writing this text is only $109. So no other tent here in the text is a match for it. But this is not all about the price, see below all the impressive features.

You have 2 doors and 2 vestibules here, the poles are 11 mm durable 7000 aluminum, the material is polyester. The floor is with 2000 mm waterproofness rating, and the fly is 1500 mm. See more about it here:

Key features

• Great price, currently around $110 only.
• Great floor area.
• Area/weight ratio 1.52 m²/kg.
• Total area/weight ratio 2.11 m²/kg – this is one of the biggest values of all tents in the list.
• Area per person 1.49 m².

Specifications

• Total weight: 8 lb 10 oz (3.91 kg).
• Minimum weight: 7 lb 15 oz (3.6 kg).
• Base size: 8′ 6″ x 7′ 6″ (259 x 229 cm).
• Peak height: 52 in (132 cm).
• Area: 64 ft² (5.95 m²).
• Vestibule area 25 ft² (2.32 m²).
• Packed size: 23.9 x 6.5 x 5.9 in (61 x 17 x 15 cm).
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11.  Marmot Tungsten 4P Tent

This is a lightweight freestanding tent with the footprint included. The tent is with two doors and two asymmetric vestibules. The floor area is relatively small, but this is compensated by the covered space for gear in the vestibules.

The floor is 68D polyester taffeta with a 2000 mm rating, and the fly is the same material with a 1500 mm rating. The poles are quality DAC aluminum 9 mm and 8.5 mm.

Key features

• Footprint included.
• Quality materials.
• 2 doors & 2 vestibules.
• Area/weight ratio 1.24 m²/kg.
• Total area/weight ratio 1.68 m²/kg.
• Area per person 1.22 m² – not so great.

Specifications

• Weight: 8 lb 11 oz (3.96 kg).
• Min. weight: 7 lb 14.5 oz (3.59 kg).
• Dimensions (H x W x L): 93 x 82 (236 x 208 cm).
• Peak height: 52 in (132 cm).
• Floor area: 53 ft² (4.9 m²).
• Vestibules areas: 11 + 7.8 ft² (1.02 + 0.72 m²).
• Packed size: 24 x 9 in (61 x 22.9 cm).

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Final thoughts

Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below if you have any questions or comments. Have a nice day.