The best tent brands I talk about in this article are what I’ve found to reach everyone’s expectations.
I want to share everything I know about the different brands and what they will do for you š
These are what have worked well for me over the years and the things I want you to consider as well.
I will also explain at the bottom of this article why one brand might be better than another for the same type of trip.
Not all brands work perfect for every type of trip. They are ‘specialized’.
I will be deciphering the different brands and explaining which ones work best.
Let’s do it!
1. Coleman
Most of the time Coleman tents are good and exceed expectations. Other times they are very HORRIBLE.
That is why it’s best to do extensive research when it comes to the Coleman brand.
But, more times than not, they are great.
Coleman specialize in affordability and space but sometimes create one that’s terrible!
Other than that, 80% of the time their tents are good.
Best Use: Family camping, casual use
2. ALPS Mountaineering
These tents withstand more than rain and wind, but minor snow conditions too!
ALPS Mountaineering is my go-to brand for trips where I’m expecting lots of rain and strong winds.
The waterproof and strength are better than Coleman but they’re a little more expensive and smaller in size.
This brand is better for backpackers as they’re designed to be portable.
Most of them are factory seam-sealed too, meaning they’re ready-to-go straight out of the box.
Best Use: Wilderness backpacking, mountain camping (minor conditions)
3. Eureka
Eureka is a jack-of-all-trades kind of brand. They provide tents of all shapes and sizes.
They are one of the biggest and most trusted brands out there who’ve proven to be high quality.
They have a tent that’s fits your needs whether that be for forest camping, mountain camping or beach camping.
But why are they one of the best?
They put the best material on the tent for the conditions (snow camping, forest, dessert, etc).
You’ll be very surprised if you get a Eureka tent that doesn’t stand up to expectations.
Best use: Backpacking, mountain camping, forest camping
4. Kelty
Kelty aren’t THAT well-known within the “casual” camping space.
They focus on quality more than quantity, which is why they have a smaller number of choices.
But the ones they do have are high quality and durable.
The Kelty brand go above and beyond is what I’m saying.
They ensure their tents can handle strong rain and wind before releasing them to the public.
Believe it or not but Kelty are my go-to brand. My favorite is the Kelty Trail Ridge 6.
Best Use: Backpacking, harsh weather camping
So Which Brand Is The Best?
If you want to go family camping, Coleman is the direction you should go.
Coleman take pride in their tents.
They stay affordable so families don’t have to pay an arm and a leg just to have fun in the great outdoors.
Their tents are very spacious, making them my #1 choice for family camping.
Eureka tents are the best brand for backpacking since they are lightweight, high quality and very weatherproof.
ALPS Mountaineering are best for winter camping as they specialize in winter tents!
Even their 3-season tents work like a charm in minor winter conditions.
Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below. I’d love to hear what you have to say š
Cheers and have a great day.
I wish I stumbled upon this article earlier than today! I bought a tent last year, it was very cheap, and I was very disappointed. I tried to camp on the beach, the weather was a bit windy, but not that extreme, and the tent didn’t hold in place and I had to cancel the trip and go home in the middle of the night! Was very bad experience. DON’T buy cheap tents, they are really what they are, “cheap”. You don’t have to spend a fortune either, a medium price would be perfect in my opinion.
I’m sorry to hear. You should NEVER buy cheap tents. They are just not created for the outdoor world. Sure, they might hold up in your backyard as you camp with the kids, but they don’t really perform the way you want them to in the wilderness.
It’s best to spend a little more money and get one that will actually perform they way you want it to. The tents outlined in this article are all GOOD. I would NOT recommend them otherwise.
I really enjoyed your review. As somehow who does mountain hikes in all sort of weather and conditions, I was happy to see that the ALPS Mountaineering made your list! I have really wonderful experiences with their 4 seasons tent, which has kept me dry and comfortable for the last 2 years on my travels! I love the fact that it’s very compact and therefore easy to carry. It’s also very easy to pitch, even in bad conditions.
I get what you mean. ALPS don’t make their tents for casual family campers, they want their customers to camp in rough weather, so they can really experience what they have made for us.
Their tents perform remarkably well. And don’t worry, I didn’t hesitate putting them on the list š
Loved your reviews! As an older child of a small family, we don’t really do as much camping as we should. Camping is a very enjoyable activity for a family, and really is something which every family should at least try out.
Funnily enough, I haven’t even heard of ANY of these brands, so I’m very glad you made this post to let people like me know about some of the popular tent brands out there, and which are the most suitable for the kind of camp we might do.
The last time we did any sort of camping was when we stayed overnight at an airshow a few years back; unfortunately, I had a small, super cheap tent from our local supermarket, and wouldn’t you know it rained hard in the night, so I was absolutely drenched by the morning. I should’ve had an ALPS Mountaineering one! š
You really have been living under a rock haven’t you? Haha, just kidding. These brands are a few of the most common, so I am really surprised you haven’t heard about any of them.
Oh no. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Hopefully it doesn’t stop you going on camping trips in the future.
Best of luck to you.
I go camping a lot. Over the years I have had a few tents, mostly Coleman. They are decent quality for an affordable price. If I were going to more extreme camping though, I would definitely upgrade. Over the years I have been privy top the unexpected rain/thunderstorm more times than I can count.
My Coleman tents have pretty much always stood up to the weather, but I did get my tent flooded one time. I had set up in a dip in the terrain without realizing it. When we suddenly had a torrential downpour my tent site turned into a small river. Not really the tents fault that it got flooded, I jumped camped in the wrong spot.
One complaint I do have though is that the sides often get moist in the from the dew. So you roll over while sleeping to swipe a big wet patch…not pleasant.
I have combated this (and space issues) by getting a tent that is bigger. Typically there are just the two of us using our tent and we have an 8 man tent. It allows space to move around, stand up, and get away from the edges.
Well, that got a bit wordy..thanks for the article. I am really excited to try one of the Alps or Kelty tents sometime soon. It seems like it always rains when I go camping, so it would be great to have a tent that is really made for the weather.
Pitching tents in the wrong places is a common mistake from newbie camp goers. But I guess it’s the best way to learn. You won’t do it again in a hurry, or if at all!
Condensation buildup can vary between different tents. I’ve reviewed some that gets none, and reviewed some that gets a lot. Doing research is key if you want one that’s going to do you right.
Thank you for your feedback on Coleman tents. Have a great day š
Thanks for the comparison of all the different brands of tents and the best ones for particular uses. I always thought Coleman tents were a safe bet because they seem to be popular and the brand is well known. It really does depend on the intended use. Personally, I would never dream of camping in harsh conditions, but many people enjoy it and it is very important to get the right tent for those conditions.
For the most part they are safe. It’s just more preferred to do proper research first. Camping in harsh conditions is definitely not for the feint-hearted, but in my honest opinion it’s good for people wanting to take their outdoor skills to the next level.
Hello! I enjoyed the article. I have the opportunity to get a Browning Big Horn tent for $132 (normally over $300) or an Alps Camp Creek Two Room Tent for $192 (Normal price $350). I do casual camping with the family and my son is joining boy scouts so I’ll use it sometimes with him as well… these tents are both pretty large but I need to fit 2 sons, my wife and myself and like to have a bit of room to move around. Are Browning Tents a good brand? Which tent would you buy? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for reaching out, Paul.
Personally I would go with the Browning Big Horn Tent. It has more purchases than the Alps Camp Creek, so it’s a lot easier to find the true quality of it.
Tents with little-to-no reviews can be bad, because we do not know how well they perform in the field.
And yes, Browning is definitely a good brand š
Good evening Brandon. I’ve heard of those brands mentioned..a little pricey but I’m sure worth it. I do most of my camping with our Boy Scouts during Spring / Summer and Winter. I still have my 1st tent which is a Coleman. But I now enjoy the Bushnell tents. I know that they do have thicker better material then others. It has withstood High winds / Some thunderstorms in occasions and of course Cold fronts…that part I hate. In your honest opinion what do you think of the Bushnell brands compare to top brands you have mentioned? I kinda thinking of looking more into the Alps Mountaineering brand. Now you got me curious. Thanks.
Hello Johnny – I just had someone purchase a Bushnell tent through one of my affiliate links the other day and that was the first time I heard of this brand.
Without doing a full review on this brand, and while I’m scrolling through Amazon at the different Bushnell tents, they definitely do seem unique in their own way and I might actually dig deeper and see what I can find.
Thanks for your comment, and don’t forget to hit me up if you still have anymore questions š
Iām in the market to again find a tent. This one is gunna be the investment that will last beyond the next storm, season, decade. I have spent a great deal of money and time thinking I was getting the best. Sadly finding out the hard way that I was in error m, again. Asking if this list of reviews is still holding strong as we entered the fall of 2021? Open to hear whatever opinions any may have.