Low-cost vs Costly Backpacking Tents

The massive three in backpacking gear refers to your backpack, sleep system, and tent. They’re the most important and most important elements of your mountaineering package. Out of doors Life has finished intensive subject testing on all three, and we are able to simply direct you to the best-in-class gear. However what for those who don’t have a best-in-class price range? I upgraded from a $70 tent off Amazon to probably the most costly ultralight shelters to carry you some ideas on whether or not you’ll be able to low-cost out in your backpacking tent, or if it’s price a splurge.

My first foray into backpacking began in an AirBnb in Tennessee. I used to be dwelling there on the time, including the most cost effective backpacking gear I might discover to my Amazon cart in preparation for a month-long journey to California. Vaccines had been changing into accessible, rental vehicles had been a steal, and my cabin fever from Covid-19 was changing into insufferable. I assumed there was no higher time to attempt strolling into the forest with the whole lot I wanted on my again.

So, I took a have a look at the massive three: backpack, sleeping bag, and tent. I had heard horror tales about backpacks that didn’t match, dug into your hips, and made your journey depressing. So I made a decision to shell out for a brand new Osprey Kyte 36 off the rack at REI. Subsequent is the sleeping bag. I hate being chilly, so I wasn’t going with a no-name Amazon model on that one. A cumbersome artificial bag on sale had my identify throughout it. 

A tent appeared like the right place to stint. I discovered a little orange tent on Amazon for $70. One of many 5 star evaluations included a photograph of the tent with a foot of snow on prime: Bought. So what if it weighed 5 kilos?

Within the span of a 12 months I moved to Utah, and fell deeply in love with backpacking. A thru-hiker pal was promoting her Zpacks Free Duo (a $900 tent) for $500 to purchase herself a new Zpacks mannequin. As a hungry new hiker, I used to be thrilled to take it off her arms and transition to a sub-2 pound shelter, unlocking longer journeys into the backcountry.

Save or Spend?

After a number of overnights with my price range tent, I made a large improve to one of many lightest and priciest freestanding shelters available on the market. I’m going to make use of this excessive juxtaposition to increase on some motivators to think about earlier than shopping for an inexpensive vs costly backpacking tent. Do you have to shell out in your shelter, or are you able to get away with a budget-friendly substitute?

Weight

Let’s begin with the obvious concern: weight. In a sport the place folks chop their toothbrushes in half, sleep beneath a tarp, or forgo a scorching meal simply to avoid wasting a number of ounces, 5 kilos appears insane. Underneath 2.5 kilos nonetheless, is far more commonplace in relation to the very best backpacking tents. When you can share a tent (and cut up the load) with a mountaineering accomplice or pals, that 5 kilos turns into much more doable. 

This clearly isn’t an ideal system; it will nonetheless be lots nicer to separate a 3-pound tent with a pal than a 5-pound one. However for those who plan to hike with shut pals or a accomplice and also you’re simply dipping your toes into backpacking, it might work out.

The true difficulty arises whenever you’re mountaineering alone. I’ve carried that 5-pound tent into the desert on my own, and it sucked. Going lighter is at all times going to really feel higher in your again. So whenever you’re investing in backpacking gear, you’re additionally investing in how a lot enjoyable you’re going to have in your journeys. 

Once you carry a tent that’s twice as heavy as an ultralight tent, you begin to sacrifice the space of your hike. In case you are making an attempt to cowl critical miles then getting your pack weight down is prime as each further ounce will sluggish you down. 

Packability

The heavier and cheaper your tent is, the bulkier it is going to be, too. Loads of folks carry their tent on the surface of their pack, but when climate rolls in otherwise you fall on a river crossing, you’ll find yourself with a soggy shelter. When you can match at the least the tent physique and fly in your bag (be at liberty to strap the poles to the surface), it’s much less dangerous.

Funds backpacking kits are usually going to be greater than costly ones. And for those who go for an ultralight or smaller capability backpack, you would possibly battle to suit the whole lot inside. The Zpacks Free Duo tent physique packs right into a 7-inch vast dice, leaving extra room for longer meals and water hauls, or a pair beers and a complete bag of potato chips.

Climate

Weight and packability largely come down to private choice. Are you keen to hold extra weight and depart a number of issues at dwelling to avoid wasting cash? Perhaps. But when your tent can’t deal with no matter climate you encounter in your journey, it turns into a security difficulty. 

I’ll be the primary to brag that my cheapo tent has survived nights of continuous rain and harsh desert winds (although, after I climbed inside it was full of sand). As a testomony to its sturdiness, I nonetheless use that tent for automobile tenting. However the stakes are fairly low when within the worst case state of affairs I’ve an uncomfortable evening’s sleep within the backseat of a dry and safe car. That’s not a actuality whenever you’re backpacking. 

I’m undecided what number of storms a tent of that high quality reliably has in it, and I wouldn’t need to discover out in freezing alpine rains 30 miles from my automobile. In case your journeys are quick, in delicate circumstances, you’ll most likely be simply high-quality. However if you wish to go farther, longer, or in substandard circumstances, the danger could begin to outweigh the reward.

Guarantee

Any respected out of doors model has at the least a 12 months guarantee on their merchandise. Lots will provide repairs for a value, too. Once you purchase one of many greatest backpacking tents, you’re getting customer support together with it. After Amazon’s 30-day return coverage, you’re on the finish of your rope with an inexpensive tent.

Low-cost vs Costly: What Backpacking Tent Ought to You Purchase?

Whereas $70 is an especially low priced tent, you’ll discover loads of $200 5-pound backpacking tents from manufacturers you at the least acknowledge the identify of. They’re offered at massive field shops and sporting items warehouses, and I’ve some expertise with these, too. Usually, the standard of these things displays their value. And if a pole snaps on a windy evening, you’ll possible have the ability to get a refund or a brand new tent (with the identical shoddy poles), however you’ll by no means get the eight sleepless hours you spent in an unstructured tent again.

That’s to not say it’s a must to shell out for a $900 tent to get a dependable evening’s sleep on path. If you wish to put money into a top quality shelter that weighs lower than 3 kilos, anticipate to pay $300 to $400. However the very best backpacking tents ought to final you a few years, they usually have the guarantee to again it up. 

Learn Subsequent: Durston X-Mid 1 Evaluation: A Newbie-Pleasant Ultralight Shelter

Alternate options

When you aren’t able to decide to a top quality backpacking tent off the bat, there are higher options than shopping for a tent off Amazon that may have worse luck than the one I ended up with. Strive borrowing gear from somebody to see the way you prefer it first. Or store used to get began. When you’re a veteran backpacker, however quick on money, there are patterns on-line you should utilize to stitch your individual gear, particularly a easy tarp tent.

Remaining Ideas on Low-cost vs Costly Backpacking Tents

With a value distinction of $830, I’ve seen each low-cost vs costly backpacking tent extremes, and the pleased center. I don’t remorse shopping for that 5-pound tent on Amazon (afterall, it was solely $70). However I solely backpacked with it a number of occasions earlier than I used to be prepared for an improve. Go forward and skip a budget tent detour and put your cash in the direction of a tent you’ll be able to depend on. And in case you have costly style like me, take a look at my full overview of the most recent iteration of the Zpacks Free Duo, now known as the Free Zip.