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The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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.

4-season Tent Set Up in Snow(Photo/Meyvn Creative)
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Treading into the fourth season is no easy feat, and after you’ve slogged waist-deep and punched in the route, you’re going to need a shelter that’s as tough as the weather. 4-season tents are the elder shelters of the camping world, and are toughened in all aspects to put up with the worst of it on your next mountaineering, ski-touring, or alpine hunting trip.

After a few seasons spent in the high country, these are the tents we find ourselves reaching for time and time again. And while many 4-season tents can feel more like single-season tents, we considered shelters from all ends of the spectrum, from shoulder-season welterweights that are keen to poke their noses into the alpine, to expedition-ready brutes that will shoulder a 24-inch storm on Denali with ease.

Our experts are old hands at this, and have tested more than 20 different burly shelters over the seasons — lugging them up the stratovolcanoes of the North Cascades, and diving headlong with them into the refrigerated high valleys of Colorado. We sought out uncomfortable, persistent, and downright mean conditions to test these tents in, and kept a weather eye out for important functional differences when it came to extreme weather resistance, durability, livability, and overall weight and packed size.

Below are the tents that not only survived, but thrived during our climbs and ski tours. If you’ve only recently begun camping in the alpine, check our detailed buyer’s guide and FAQ sections at the bottom of the page before scrolling through the top picks for 4-season tents. And if you can’t decide between tents, consult our comparison chart to get down to the nitty-gritty.

Editor’s Note: We recently updated this guide on January 26, 2024, to add the SlingFin HotBox, our top-choice in on-route bivy-style shelter, as well as the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 4, one heckuva-good pyramid-style shelter.

The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024


Best Overall 4-Season Tent

Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent

Specs

  • Type Basecamp and expeditions
  • Weight 8 lbs., 9.7 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2
  • Floor area 40 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 12 sq. ft.
  • Height 38"
  • Walls Double
Product Badge The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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
Best Budget 4-Season Tent

Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P

Specs

  • Type Alpine hunting and backpacking
  • Weight 4 lbs., 3 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2 adults
  • Floor area 32 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 22 sq. ft.
  • Height 41.5"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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
Best Bivy-Style 4-Season Tent

SlingFin HotBox

Specs

  • Type High-altitude mountaineering
  • Weight 4 lbs., 2 oz.
  • Doors 1
  • Sleeps 2
  • Floor area 26.8 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 11 sq. ft. in side gear storage areas
  • Height 41"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Bivy-style tent footprint with a full double-wall build
  • Impressive resistance to condensation
  • Side vestibules accessible through internal vents
  • Internal guylines work with external WebTruss pole system for strong support

Cons

  • Slight weight penalty compared to single-skin bivy tents
Best Ultralight 4-Season Mid

Hyperlite UltaMid 4 – Ultralight Pyramid Tent

Specs

  • Type Basecamp and expeditions
  • Weight 1 lb., 11 oz.
  • Doors 1
  • Sleeps 4
  • Floor area 85 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area N/A
  • Height 75"
  • Walls Single
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Very lightweight
  • Versatile with multiple interior accessories
  • Four-season utility

Cons

  • Doesn't pack down as small as some ultralight tents
  • High price point
Best Shoulder Season Crossover Tent

MSR Access 2

Specs

  • Type Treeline ski-mountaineering
  • Weight 4 lbs., 1 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2
  • Floor area 29 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 17.5 sq. ft.
  • Height 42"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Minimal pack size that rivals some backpacking tents
  • Double wall and two door design bumps up livability
  • Impressively sturdy for the weight
  • Mostly solid interior fly holds in heat
  • Studded with guy-out points

Cons

  • Carbon fiber poles aren't the most durable, and need to be treated with care
  • No interior room for gear, has to be stored out in vestibules
Best Hunting 4-Season Tent

KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent

Specs

  • Type Alpine hunting and backpacking
  • Weight 5 lbs., 5.2 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2 adults
  • Floor area 29.5 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 16.42 sq. ft.
  • Height 45"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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
Best of the Rest

Samaya 2.5 Tent

Specs

  • Type Alpinism and basecamp
  • Weight 3 lbs., 12 oz.
  • Doors 1
  • Sleeps 2-3
  • Floor area 34.4 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area (Optional) 20.5 sq. ft.
  • Height 47"
  • Walls Single
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Waterproof-breathable Nanovent membrane canopy
  • 2.5-person capacity provides plenty of space for kit
  • Long and deep storage pockets
  • Smart overhead vent system
  • Self-equalizing guylines

Cons

  • Single door can lead to drips on entry
  • Finicky setup
  • Stakes aren't confidence-inspiring

Mountain Hardwear AC 2

Specs

  • Type High-alpine mountaineering
  • Weight 3 lbs., 15.9 oz.
  • Doors 1
  • Sleeps 2
  • Floor area 25.3 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area N/A
  • Height 45"
  • Walls Single
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Tension Arch design holds strong against gales
  • Proper 10,000 mm waterproofed canopy
  • Bug-net second doors aids in ventilation
  • Many guy-out points for securing tent down to ledge
  • D-shaped door doesn't lay on floor when opened

Cons

  • Very minimal floor plan requires tip-to-tail sleeping arrangements
  • Ventilation won't be the best in liquid-precip situations

MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent

Specs

  • Type Mountaineering and expeditions
  • Weight 6 lbs., 11 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2 adults
  • Floor area 33 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 22 sq. ft.
  • Height 44"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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

Big Agnes Battle Mountain 3

Specs

  • Type Mountaineering and expeditions
  • Weight 8 lbs., 13 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 3
  • Floor area 44 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 13 + 6 sq. ft.
  • Height 44"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

  • Durable enough to withstand harsh winter conditions
  • Lightweight compared to many 4-season tents
  • Fast Fly mode allows for faster setup and lighter weight
  • Comfortably fits three people and gear
  • Self-equalizing guy points make it easy to pull tent taut

Cons

  • Heavier than most 3-season tents
  • Not super breathable in warmer months

NEMO Equipment Kunai 3

Specs

  • Type Backpacking and mountaineering
  • Weight 5 lbs., 3 oz.
  • Doors 1
  • Sleeps 3 adults
  • Floor area 36.5 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 13 sq. ft.
  • Height 45"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

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

Hilleberg Allak 2

Specs

  • Type Mountaineering and expeditions
  • Weight 6 lbs., 3 oz.
  • Doors 2
  • Sleeps 2
  • Floor area 31 sq. ft.
  • Vestibule area 17.2 sq. ft.
  • Height 41"
  • Walls Double
The Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

Pros

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

Cons

  • Expensive

4-Season Tents Comparison Chart

4-Season TentPriceWeightFloor AreaWallsType
Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent$9008 lbs., 9.7 oz.40 sq. ft.DoubleBasecamp and expeditions
Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P$6454 lbs., 3 oz.32 sq. ft.DoubleAlpine hunting and backpacking
SlingFin HotBox$6504 lbs., 2 oz.26.8 sq. ft.DoubleHigh-alpine mountaineering
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 4$8491 lb., 11.2 oz.85 sq. ft.SingleAlpinism and basecamp
MSR Access 2$8004 lbs., 1 oz.29 sq. ft.DoubleTreeline ski-mountaineering
KUIU Storm Star 2 Person Tent$5995 lbs., 5.2 oz.29.5 sq. ft.DoubleAlpine hunting and backpacking
Samaya 2.5 Tent$1,5003 lbs., 12 oz.34.4 sq. ft.SingleAlpinism and basecamp
Mountain Hardwear AC 2$7503 lbs., 15.9 oz.25.3 sq. ft.SingleHigh-alpine mountaineering
MSR Remote 2 Two-Person Mountaineering Tent$8606 lbs., 11 oz.33 sq. ft.DoubleMountaineering and expeditions
Big Agnes Battle Mountain 3$9008 lbs., 13 oz.44 sq. ft.
DoubleMountaineering and expeditions
NEMO Equipment Kunai 3$6995 lbs., 3 oz.36.5 sq. ft.DoubleBackpacking and mountaineering
Hilleberg Allak 2$1,1656 lbs., 3 oz.31 sq. ft.DoubleMountaineering and expeditions
Samaya 2.5 Tent in Iceland
Four-season tents aren’t only for winter, but rather for rough conditions, and we sought out the worst of it in our testing; (photo/Nick Belcaster)

How We Tested 4-Season Tents

Proving the mettle of 4-season tents is no joke. From driving snowstorms to freezing temps — you have to be fully immersed in the conditions that make them expedition-worthy. To create this guide, the GearJunkie team does just that, and every year, we put each model through its paces in brutal conditions — trying to find the limit of these bomb-proof shelters so you don’t have to.

Our team includes mountaineers, alpine climbers, skiers, splitboarders, and high-country hunters of every stripe, living and recreating in the ice chests of the Rockies, Sierra, and Cascades. Senior Snowsports Editor Morgan Tilton grew up in the mountains of Colorado, and makes year-round travel into the mountains look easy — living and playing in the hills around Southwest Colorado. Tilton has been putting skis, snowshoes, and mountaineering boots on the ground for this guide since 2021, and began our look into 4-season shelters with a slate of 10 of the best from across the spectrum.

In addition, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster also tied in and punched in his fair share of the route in order to test these tents — climbing and mountaineering in the North Cascades of Washington State and British Columbia. Belcaster has a number of years of helping lead the Equipment arm of one of the larger mountaineering guide operations in the country, the American Alpine Institute, under his belt.

His experience also extends further to having coordinated the equipping of a season of guided Denali ascents for around 100 people, wrangling everything from rigging expedition sleds to ensuring it all had a ski plane to fly out on. There’s little space in a turbo-prop Beaver for sub-par tents — and even less in our closets — which demands a hard look at what really works out on the ice.

During testing, we scrutinized each tent with some specific criteria in mind — durability, extreme weather resistance, and livability — to offer a variety of options for different objectives. We also strive to test 4-season shelters in a variety of climates, as the dry and frigid alpine of Colorado is a whole different ball game compared to the tempest-whipped western flanks of the Cascades. Our notes were also compared with the knowledge of experienced AMGA-certified mountain guides, to ensure that these are the best 4-season tents available today.

Whether you’re making an assault into the Alaska Range, or overlanding into the backcountry on a hunting excursion, we’d feel confident recommending anything on this list for the toughest of adventures.

Pyramid Tarp Shelter on Ptarmigan Traverse, North Cascades
The Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades demands a shelter that is both lightweight and burly to see climbers through to the other side; (photo/Nick Belcaster)

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.

Hilleberg Tunnel Tents on Mt. Shuksan
Properly guyed-out, tunnel tents like these Hillebergs can be some of the most robust in turning away wind; (photo/Nick Belcaster)

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.

4 season tent - space
The 40 square feet of interior space in the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 was much more spacious than typical 2-person shelters; (photo/Eric Phillips)

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.

Best 4 Season Tents — Storage
Keeping kit off the floor goes a long way in maintaining a tidy tent; (photo/Nick Belcaster)

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 pounds, 12 ounces. 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 three adults that weighs close to 9 pounds. Our lightest choice is the Samaya 2.5 Tent, which utilizes Dyneema Composite Fabric and is only 3 pounds 12 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.

Ultamid 4 + half insert in Fairy Meadows, Cirque of the Unclimbables
The Cirque of the Unclimbables requires a bush plane to get in and a packraft to get out, and the versatility of the UltaMid met the uncertainties of the trip; (photo/Christian Black)

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.

SlingFin HotBox in the Indian Himalayas
Side ventilation port hole on the inner tent of the SlingFin HotBox; (photo/Christian Black)

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.

Best 4 Season Tents — Single Wall Shelters
While single wall shelters can be very lightweight, they often forgo a vestibule, and transitions in and out need to be quick; (photo/Erika Courtney)

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 ($599) is constructed with a 40-denier ripstop nylon tub and floor and a 30-denier tent body that has a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating. The tent is 29.5 square feet and weighs 5 pounds, 5.2 ounces.

In contrast, the NEMO Equipment Kunai 3 ($699) is 36.5 square feet but only weighs 5 pounds, 3 ounces. The tent is constructed with ultralight waterproof-breathable nylon and a polyurethane-coated floor.

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.

nemo 4 season tent
The NEMO Kunai 3 lands closer to the 3+ season designation, but is a much more versatile shelter for it; (photo/Eric Phillips)

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 Battle Mountain 3 has the DAC NSL aluminum poles, which are still lightweight yet slightly stronger.

best 4 season tent - setup
(Photo/Meyvn Creative)

FAQ

What features should I consider in a 4-season tent?

When you shop for a four-season tent, you should first consider your preferred capacity for your size, any potential partners, and the equipment. Take a close look at each tent’s width, length, height, and volume in the central space and vestibules.

After you determine tent size, consider how far and often you’ll need to haul the shelter and if you’d appreciate fewer pounds versus a larger footprint and room to shuffle gear around or lounge. Another consideration of a four-season tent is how well-ventilated the design is and if it’s suitable for the amount of time you’ll be posted up in your tent.

When you examine the finer features, it’s nice to have interior storage space — pockets and loops — to help organize gear items and apparel.

What’s the difference between a 3-season and a 4-season tent?

A three-season tent is generally lightweight and breathable for activities like backpacking in the spring, summer, or fall. These versatile builds provide protection against insects, wind, and rain. Typically these packages have a tent body and a fly, so they’re a double-wall setup.

The weight varies from tent to tent, including a segment that serves ultralight trekkers. To learn more, check out The Best Ultralight Tents, According to Thru-Hikers buyer’s guide.

A four-season tent has more substantial, hardy shapes and materials to block snow, ice, harsh wind, hail, or even rock. As a result, mesh is not commonly featured in the body of the tent in order to maintain warmth and security. However, these tents still need ventilation, which is strategically placed on the main body and fly to help prevent the uncomfortable buildup of condensation inside.

Many four-season tents have one or two vestibules to help protect gear from the elements. Lighter weight models are single-wall for efficiency of setup and ease of travel.

How do you stay warm in a tent during winter?

Check the overnight lows and make sure your sleeping bag and pad are rated for the temperature swing. For extra comfort and protection from the cold, you can stack two closed-cell pads or layer a foam pad with an inflatable pad.

Dress in layers and don’t let yourself get too hot or sweat, which will become a downward spiral of getting cold. Keep a warm pair of socks for tent use only to prevent lounging or sleeping in damp socks, which can lead to serious foot health issues.

Make sure to eat a hearty dinner and hydrate well. Before dinner, you can top off with a cup of hot chocolate for calories your body can burn throughout the night. You can also fill a Nalgene bottle with hot water and put it inside your sleeping bag for a boost of warmth.

Is buying a 4-season tent worth the investment?

If you find yourself venturing to high-altitude, alpine, or remote environments in the shoulder seasons or during winter, it’s a good idea to invest in a shelter that will protect you in a blizzard. If you’re pursuing a winter hunting trip, polar expedition, or mountaineering adventure, a four-season tent is an obvious good choice.

A three-season tent is typically constructed with a mix of mesh and the structure is not engineered to withstand the weight of snowfall or extreme wind.

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