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Camping is one of the absolute best ways to enjoy the outdoors. But without fail, even when we try our best to bundle up, we all make that one trip each year that leaves us cold, miserable, and seriously considering heading home early. But we’re happy to report that all changed when we upgraded from a three-season tent to a four-season tent.
Most tents prioritize versatility for variable weather conditions, with breathability, ventilation, and smaller tent footprints. But in order to be comfortable when the wind is whipping, and heavy snow is falling, a four-season tent is the only way to (quite literally) weather the storm. While some tents cater to serious mountaineers on Everest-like expeditions, we selected some more modest (and therefore, more affordable) four-season tents that are lighter in weight (mostly) and will keep you warm and dry in a snowstorm.
The Best Four-Season Tents
1
2
The Heated Portable Yurt
White Duck Regatta Canvas Bell Tent with Stove Jack
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3
Most Capable "Treeline" Tent
NEMO Kunai 3–4 Season Backpacking Tent
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4
Most Bombproof Shelter
The North Face Bastion 4-Person Tent
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6
7
8
What to Consider
Winter camping tents range from light and packable to massive and stove-equipped. All four-season tents are made from waterproof fabrics and are capable of survival in winter conditions, but some are more storm-ready than others. We consider the pole design, style of rainfly, overall weight, and amount of floor space to be the most important factors:
- Pole Design: These tents have heavier poles and structural designs that are made to withstand high winds and carry the weight of snow, should it start to pile up. But as with any style of tent, some options feature fewer, lighter poles to make them more manageable to carry into the backcountry.
- Rainfly Style: A true winter camping tent should have a full-coverage rainfly that extends all the way to the ground to limit sideways snow infiltrating your shelter. But some companies have started using a rainfly that falls just short of a full seal at the ground (“treeline” tents), thus improving ventilation and saving weight.
- Weight: As with any tent setup, weight is an important factor in your preferred style of camping. For winter backpacking, a lightweight option is a must, but it's often worth the added weight to have a tent with extra comforts when snow is on the horizon.
- Floor Space: Some tents have a modest amount of floor space in the range of 30 square feet, which is pretty tight for two people with winter gear, but should work for one person and a pup. For couples or climbing partners, look for an option with upwards of 35 square feet of floor space or consider sizing up to a three-person tent.
Check out our picks for the best four-season tents for winter camping, and don't let the cold weather keep you from enjoying the winter sights and sounds of nature ever again. Who knows — you might just have the campsite to yourself!
Editor's Note: For the purpose of comparability, we selected mostly two-person models (when available), but many of these tents are also sold in three- and four-person models.
Pros
- Incredibly stout
- Ample space for two humans
Cons
- Heavy for one person to carry
Setting up basecamp for winter excursions? You'll want a tent that will stand up to high winds and heavy snow, such as the Trango 2. This four-season tent has a double-wall design with five lightweight poles that provide extra protection from the elements (compared to lighter, single-wall designs), and it's been updated with a rainfly that connects to both the poles and the tent body.
Weighing in at 9 pounds, 10 ounces, and boasting 40 square feet of floor space plus two doors and two large vestibules, this tent is significantly roomier than many two-person tents.
The Trango is heavier than a lot of backcountry-angled tents, but we think the added weight is worth carrying for the extra interior space and peace of mind that you'll stay dry and cozy in below-freezing temps.
If the Trango is too heavy or expensive for you, check out its little sibling — the lighter, more packable, more affordable Outpost 2.
More: 8 Best Glamping Tents for Camping in Luxury
Weight | 9 pounds, 10 ounces |
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Doors and Vestibules | 2 each |
Poles | 5 |
Sizes | 2-, 3-, and 4-person |
Pros
- Thick material traps heat
- Incredibly spacious
- Adding a wood-burning stove will change your life
Cons
- Very heavy
- Time consuming to set up
When comfort is key and space is unlimited (at the campsite and in your car), a canvas tent with a wood-burning stove is second to none. White Duck makes some high-quality, affordable bell tents, which is why they average 4.7 stars from over 500 reviews on Amazon.
This tent is much different than most others in this review, but it's a tent that we cannot live without for hunting. The four-season Regatta has sewn-in groundsheet, heavy steel poles with center support, and is made from a hefty, waterproof canvas, which makes it incredibly sturdy and weatherproof when winds are whipping and rain is dripping. There are plenty of screen windows and two screen doors, too, for better airflow when the sun blazes overhead, too.
The Regatta features a 5-inch diameter stove jack to vent your wood-burning stove (sold separately) and does an excellent job at trapping heat inside when you need it most. It can be paired with this massive awning, which serves as an entryway, a drying station for wet gear, and a covered outdoor cook station.
Weighing over 50 pounds, this winter tent is a real behemoth. But it's one of the most comfortable options for a family, and well worth the setup time if you'll be out for more than a few days.
More: 100 Camping Essentials We Can't Get Enough Of
Weight | 66 pounds |
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Doors and vestibules | 1 double door, 1 vestibule |
Sizes offered | 8-, 10-, 13-, and 16-foot |
Poles | 2 |
Pros
- The lightest tent capable of 4-season camping
- Priced like a 3-season tent
- Tapered shape is aerodynamic
- High brow pole prevents snow accumulation
Cons
- No fold-out snow flaps
- Only one door and vestibule
The Kunai is Nemo’s three- to four-season backpacking tent, and we think it falls perfectly into this category. It's an excellent combination of weight savings and comfort at a price that's not impossible to stomach.
This tent has a double-wall construction, using three poles and an aggressive brow pole that forms a tapered profile for aerodynamics that doesn't shy away from intense wind gusts. The inner tent body has large mesh panels and multiple vents for breathability for improved moisture management. And the bathtub-style floor and waterproof full-coverage rainfly seal out snow and rain.
With just 26 square feet of floor space, one door, and one vestibule, this tent is a bit on the small side for two people. But it's sufficient space for a couple and more than enough space for one person and a dog.
I’ve used this tent in Colorado for backcountry elk hunting in mid-October, where temperatures varied from the low 50s and sunny-to-low 20s with bone-chilling wind gusts and sideways snow. For weather conditions this erratic, the Kunai was an ideal balance of protection from the elements, packability, and weight-savings.
Weight | 4 pounds, 5 ounces |
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Doors and Vestibules | 1 each |
Poles | 3 |
Sizes | 2- and 3-person |
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Pros
- Super strong dome shape holds up to fierce winds
- Floor zips out and doubles as a rescue sled
- Roof vent is adjustable for airflow or heat trapping
Cons
- Expensive
Though it's not quite as badass as their top-of-the-line Dome Tent that you've seen in mountaineering films like Meru, this tent is still a worthy alternative, with a price that is much more approachable. It features a double-wall design and full coverage rainfly, with fabrics that are durable and plenty waterproof for camping on snow.
The Bastion has five hubbed aluminum poles that are super stout, with a high strength-to-weight ratio, and it can be staked out for impressive resilience in high winds. Weighing just under 19 pounds, it's the perfect basecamp for winter adventures when you're not on a movie-making budget.
This tent's 136 square feet of floor space is plenty for four people and lots of winter gear. Adding two doors and two vestibules, the Bastion 5 is ready to host a whole crew of snow-loving adventurers.
Weight | 12 pounds, 4 ounces |
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Doors and Vestibules | 2 each |
Poles | 5 for tent, 1 for vestibule |
Sizes | 4-person |
Pros
- Completely waterproof, even in rain
- 14 possible guyline attachment points for security
Cons
- Snow flaps only on vestibules, not on tent body
For winter expeditions to snow-covered peaks, you'll want a tent that balances weight with comfort and protection from the elements. MSR's Remote 2 does just that — it's a four-season, double-wall tent that withstands harsh conditions and is light enough to stuff in your backpack. With a packed weight of just right around 7 pounds, the Remote 2 is just slightly heavier than one of our favorite backpacking tents, the MSR Hubba Hubba 2, and it's one of the lighter tents in this four-season list.
The Remote 2 tent has a three pole design — a classic dome shape plus a door-to-door pole for even more stability and headroom. Its three Easton Syclone composite poles are lightweight and designed to flex under stress (rather than break), so will hold up confidently in high multidirectional high winds.
It's plenty weatherproof, too, thanks to a hefty ripstop polyester rainfly and bathtub-style floor that are completely waterproof, plus fold-out snow flaps that reduce the amount of wind and snow that can blow up under the rainfly.
With 33 square feet of floor space, it's great for one person and winter gear, but you might want to consider the three-person Access 3 for the versatility of having a two-legged or four-legged partner join.
Weight | 6 pounds, 11 ounces |
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Doors and vestibules | 2 each |
Poles | 3 |
Sizes offered | 2 and 3-person |
Pros
- Impressive in harsh conditions
- Surprisingly lightweight
- Rainfly extends all the way
Cons
- Only one door and vestibule
Hilleberg's shelters are a staple among winter campers and mountaineers, and the Nammatj is one of their most popular.
The Nammatj features thick, 10-millimeter poles that create a low-profile tunnel design that shrugs off high winds with ease and prevents snow loading. Its double-wall nylon body is treated with silicone, making it much more durable than most backpacking tents. And the rainfly and vestibule extend all the way to the ground, making it nearly impossible for snow to creep its way inside.
Weighing just 6 pounds, 8 ounces, this tent packs a ton of punch in a lightweight package. It's one of the few tents in this review that is genuinely comfortable in sub-zero, polar conditions, yet is still light enough for a strong person to reasonably carry for long backpacking trips.
Though 31 square feet of floor space is on the lower end, the high ceilings, nearly vertical walls, and oversized vestibule make this tent feel much larger and more livable than many.
More: 11 Best Down Sleeping Bags for Camping
Weight | 6 pounds, 10 ounces |
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Doors and vestibules | 1 each |
Poles | 2 |
Sizes offered | 2- and 3-person |
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Pros
- Cost is unbeatable
Cons
- Not ideal for the extreme cold
By far the cheapest four-season tent in this review, we’d be crazy to recommend venturing out into the backcountry in the dead of winter with this tent. But if you’re camping in cold climates where light snow is a possibility, this tent will provide more protection from the elements than a three-season alternative.
It’s a double-layer option with a durable, waterproof rainfly, plus a breathable inner layer with mesh and windows for ventilation. The most notable feature is the built-in snow skirt, which keeps snow from infiltrating under the rainfly.
Weighing just 6 pounds, 7 ounces, this is certainly light enough to take backpacking. With nearly 30 square feet of floor space, it's similarly sized to many backpacking tents, but the side-entry doors and smaller vestibules make this a tight squeeze for two adults.
Weight | 6 pounds, 4 ounces |
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Doors and Vestibules | 1 each |
Poles | 2 |
Sizes | 1-, 2-, and 4-person |
Pros
- Affordable
- Easier to get in and out
Cons
- Not as stormproof as heavier, pricier tents
REI’s Arete ASL all-season tent is perfect if you’re on a budget and delivers solid protection in cold-weather camping. It’s another tent that falls in the “treeline” category, which means it’s prepared to minimize suffering in cold temperatures, but not meant to be an igloo-like shelter in a blizzard. This tent has a stout, four-pole design that increases stability, while also maximizing living and storage space.
Weighing in at just 6 pounds, 5 ounces, it's much lighter than basecamp tents. Just one door provides access to the 32 square feet of living space, but the large vestibule offers plenty of extra room for gear storage.
We like the Arete ASL for cold-weather backpacking (or car camping) when you'll be moving camps nightly, especially when cold temperatures are highly likely, but not guaranteed.
More: 9 Double Sleeping Bags for Camping With Your Snuggle Buddy
Weight | 5 pounds, 10 ounces |
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Doors and Vestibules | 1 each |
Poles | 4 |
Sizes | 2-person |