When you hit the trail, you’re looking for adventure—not hassle. Take these considerations into account as you're shopping for your backpacking tent.
Weight
Your tent will be one of the heaviest items in your pack, so it’s important to keep weight to a minimum. Tents keep a balance between lightweight materials and durability, which means that the more durable the tent, the heavier it will likely be. Eureka! Backpacking tents are lightweight enough to take on a long trip, while standing up to the elements. Remember that you can reduce individual weight by separating the tent, rain fly, and poles when backpacking with a group.
Space
When shopping for your backpacking tent, you'll want to get one with a good balance of space to weight. Most camping tents come in multiple size options, for instance 1- or 2-person capacity. Backpacking tents tend to stay on the smaller side because of the need for something ultra lightweight, but there are tents that can hold 4+ campers if you’ve got a large group.
Durability
Durability is another factor when you're buying a backpacking tent. The materials won’t let you down in the backcountry with floors that hold up to rough ground and quality components like zippers that won’t quit working.
When shopping for a backpacking tent, pay attention to the materials used in the canopy and floor, like Eureka’s! Breathable polyester taffeta, as well as the type of poles—aluminum alloy poles are dependently durable. Keep in mind how the climate will affect the type of durability you need including more windows for venting or higher coating for heavy rain.