Best 2 Person Backpacking Tents

If you are in the market for a trail shelter for two, check out our selection of the best 2 person backpacking tents. Our list comprises lightweight tents from the best-known brands in the outdoor industry.

In fact, some of these 2-person tents are so ultralight that you can use them as solo tents. Additionally, they are still very light, even for solo tents. Our list includes both one and two-door options. The latter implies that you also have two vestibules, which is helpful if you have to protect your gear from lousy weather. However, this also adds weight.

Our list of best lightweight 2-person backpacking tents

Below is the list with the tents ordered by weight from heavier to lighter:

1. Big Agnes Copper Hotel HV UL2 Tent

The letters HV in the name of this tent mean ‘high volume,’ and UL means ‘ultra-light,’ giving you an idea of what this tent is like. Specifically, the inner floor area is 29 ft² (2.7 m²), which is quite average. However, the poles are pre-bent, and as a result, you have more volume than in an ordinary dome structure.

Additionally, this tent also features a gigantic porch and a vestibule, so the total protected area is no less than 65 ft² (6.1 m²). As a backpacking tent, this is simply incredible. Impressively, the tent weighs just 3 lb 13 oz (1.73 kg). Consequently, the total protected area/weight ratio is 3.5 m²/kg, which is excellent.

Best Seller

Pros:

• Huge protected area.
• Large doors.
• Extremely versatile.
• Great ventilation.
• Super lightweight

Cons:

• It’s expensive.

Available from:

AMAZON

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Big Agnes has equipped this tent with DAC Featherlite NFL aluminum tentpoles, which are light and robust. The random rip-stop nylon fabric is silicone treated with a 1200 mm waterproof polyurethane coating. You’ll like how well this tent is ventilated, thanks to the vents and mesh canopy. Additionally, you can also let in plenty of air from the porch.

The peak height is typical for a tent of this size, at 41 inches (104 cm). It packs down to a reasonable (L x D) 19.5 x 5 inches (50 x 13 cm).

2. MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent

This tent is supported by a double-hubbed DAC Featherlite NFL pole that splits at both ends into two sections. Yet another brow pole lifts the side walls where you have two doors.

Best Seller

Pros:

• Very lightweight.
• Great ventilation.
• Stargazer configuration.
• Extra shed option.

Cons:

• It’s expensive.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

MSR has equipped this tent with a full-size flysheet that creates two vestibules. The structure is rectangular and fully symmetric. As usual, for such tents, the materials are thin. This means the following:

• The rain fly is a 20D ripstop nylon with a 1200 mm Durashield polyurethane and silicone coating. Note that you open the vents, and the fly is designed so that you can have a stargazing setup.
• The canopy is a 20D ripstop nylon plus a 15D nylon micro mesh.
• The bathtub-style floor is a 30D ripstop nylon with a 3000 mm Durashield polyurethane and DWR coating.

When packed, the Hubba Hubba NX2 weighs 3 lbs 13 oz (1.73 kg) and packs to (L x D) 18 x 6 inches (46 x 15 cm). In terms of floor space, the tent measures 29 square feet (2.7 m²).

Additionally, the mentioned vestibules add 17.5 square feet (1.62 m²) of protected area. Moreover, the interior peak height is 39 inches (100 cm).

3. ALPS Mountaineering Trail Tipi 2-Person Tent

This ALPS Mountaineering Trail Tipi 2-Person Tent is a unique choice on the list. We like how incredibly affordable when compared to the other tents in the list.

It is a built-in teepee-style tent, but this is a fully floored and nicely ventilated structure. It has a 360 degrees vertical mesh section around its perimeter above the floor. There are also vents on the roof, so you can have plenty of vertical airflow.

Note that there is no pole; you must use one of your trekking poles for support. However, the tent will work with any pole that can be extended longer than 51 inches (130 cm). The tent has a single-layer design, but as you can see from the picture, it also has a mesh door area. In addition, the flysheet creates a useful vestibule.

Best Seller

Pros:

• Great price.
• Easy to use.
• Great ventilation.

Cons:

• No pole.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The floored area measures 38 ft² (3.5 m²), but you also have 12 ft² (1.1 m²) under the vestibule. This is huge, but the volume inside is less significant because of the tent’s angled roof. The weight is 3 lb 10 oz (1.64 kg). The tent is heavier than some on this list. Still, the total protected area/weight ratio is 2.8 m²/kg, which is an excellent value.

The fabric is very durable, so you have a fly built from 75D 185T polyester with a 1500 mm coating that resists UV and stays taut. The floor is a polyester taffeta with a 3000 mm coating. All seams are sealed. It packs down to a reasonable (L x D) 16 x 6.5 inches (41 x 17 cm) for transport.

4. Exped Mira II HL Tent

HL, in the name of this Exped Mira II HL Tent, stands for ‘hyper light.’ But this is a bit inaccurate as the 3.3 lb (1.5 kg) makes it more of a lightweight tent.

The inner floor area is 29 ft² (2.7 m²), and you also have 14 ft² (1.3 m²) under its two vestibules. The internal peak height is 43.3 inches (110 cm), and the packed size is excellent at (L x D) 16.5 x 5.9 inches (42 x 15 cm).

Best Seller

Pros:

• 2 Doors & 2 vestibules.
• Great packed size.
• Quality materials.

Cons:

• Expensive tent.
• Low floor waterproof rating.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The rain fly fabric is a 20D ripstop nylon with a silicone-PU coating and a 1500 mm waterproof rating. The canopy is a 15D ripstop nylon and a 15D No-See-Um mosquito mesh nylon with 1500 mesh/square inch. You’ll notice that the bathtub-style floor is also very thin but strong, thanks to the 20D ripstop nylon with the same 1500 mm waterproof rating. These are all materials free from flame retardants and are Oeko-Tex 100 certified.

Note that you have two-way zippers on the vestibules, so you can unzip it from the top and use an integrated stiffener to create vents.

5. Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Backpacking Tent

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Backpacking Tent is the smaller in a series of two. The Tiger Wall UL3 tent is larger but shares the same basic features.

This tent is supported by a hubbed Y-shaped DAC Featherlite NFL pole plus a small ridge pole that makes the doors vertical. You have 2 doors and 2 vestibules, and a full-coverage fly.

Best Seller

Pros:

• Great packed size.
• Great weight.
• Storage pouches.

Cons:

• The price.
• Not a very large floored area.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The weight of this tent is 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg), and the inner floor area is 28 ft² (2.6 m²). However, the two vestibules contribute 16 ft² (1.4 m²) to the covered space for gear. The peak height is 39 inches (99 cm), which is pretty low. But note its structured foot-end corners create extra volume and space for your feet. Additionally, the ridge pole also adds extra volume.

The fabric is ultra-light, with a waterproof rating of 1200 mm. All seams are taped with waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape (No PVC or VOCs).

6. Marmot Bolt UL 2P Tent

The Marmot Bolt UL 2P Tent is another ultralight and weighs 2 lb 5.1 oz (1052 g) with overall dimensions and other numbers as follows:

• Dimensions: 86 x 52/42 in (218 x 132/107 cm). The two numbers for the width mean that the base is tapered.
• Inner area: 28 ft² (2.6 m²).
• Vestibule area: 6.9 ft² (0.6 m²).
• Packed size (L x D): 19 x 6 inches (48.3 x 15 cm).
• Peak height: 42 inches (107 cm).

Best Seller

Pros:

• The weight.
• The packed size.
• Quality materials.

Cons:

• The price.
• Single door & single vestibule.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

This tent has a minimalist design with DAC Featherlite NSL 9.3 mm TH72M alloy poles. They are pre-bent for some extra internal volume. The canopy fabric is 15D 100% nylon No-See-Um mesh F/R, and the fly is 20D 100% polyester RS, Sil/PU treated, and with a 1500 mm waterproof rating, F/R. It is equipped with vents. 

The same material is used for its catenary cut floor. Note that there are several handy mesh pouches for small items.

7. Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 2 Carbon Tent with Dyneema

This tent from Big Agnes has Easton carbon poles which are incredibly lightweight and robust. The frame can be described as semi-freestanding with a hubbed design.

The full-coverage fly is pretty special, as it is made from Dyneema. Ingeniously, Big Agnes also uses this material for the tent floor. This is the most advanced material used in the tent-building industry. The canopy is a breathable nylon mesh.

Best Seller

Pros:

• Great protection.
• Ultralight.
• Great packed size.

Cons:

• No vents.
• Translucent, no shade.
• The price.
• Single door & single vestibule.

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The tent has one front door with a two-zipper design that allows you to zip and unzip from both sides. It features a vestibule created by the fly. Inside, an oversized ceiling pocket and media pockets above the sleeping area, with an earbud cord routing, add to the convenience of this tent. There are several interior loops for use with gear lofts, too.

The tent comes with 6 DAC superlight aluminum J stakes. Everything is color-coded, and you have pre-cut guylines and tensioners attached to the flysheet, plus reflective guylines and reflective webbing. Therefore, it is easy to use and offers an element of safety for walking around your tent in the dark.

The packed weight is 1.44 lb (652 g), and the packed size is (L x D) 18.5 x 5 inches (47 x 13 cm). The floor area is 28 ft² (2.6 m²), and the vestibule adds 7 ft² (0.65 m²). This tent’s peak height is 40 inches (102 cm), but the floor is tapered. Its length is 86 inches (219 cm), and the maximum width at the door is 52 inches (132 cm).

Final thoughts

If you’r still undecided from our selection of the best 2-person backpacking tents, then here are a few decision criteria that might help.

The weight

If you are only interested in the lightest options available, then your choice is easy; just focus on the tents close to the bottom of our list. But note that some of the heavier tents here offer more protected space and/or are built from more durable materials.

The price

Ultralight backpacking tents are almost always very expensive. This is because of the advanced ultra-thin and ultra-durable materials used in their construction. But you still have some really affordable options here on our list.

Protected space

This is related to the weight mentioned above. If you plan a tour in an area where you must keep your gear protected during your night breaks, then go for the options that offer more space under vestibules. You have seen some of the best ones here on our list.

Also, be sure to check our choices of the best lightweight 3 person backpacking tents, best 4 person backpacking tents, and best backpacking tents for tall people.