Best 2 Person Backpacking Tents

If you are in search of a trail shelter for two, view our selection of the best 2 person backpacking tents, all very lightweight and from the best-known brands in the outdoor industry.

In fact, some of these 2-person tents are so ultralight that you can use them as solo tents, and they are still very light even for solo tents. The list includes one and two-door options. The latter implies that you also have two vestibules so this is useful if you have to protect your gear. But this also adds weight.

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Our list of best lightweight 2-person backpacking tents

Below is the list with the tents ordered by weight from heavier to lighter:

 

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1. Big Agnes Copper Hotel HV UL2 Tent

The letters HV in the name means ‘high volume’, and UL means ‘ultra-light’. The inner floor area is 29 ft² (2.7 m²), and this is quite average. However, the poles are pre-bent and you have more volume than in an ordinary dome structure.

But you have seen the word Hotel in the name. So you have a gigantic porch as well, plus a vestibule, so the total protected area is no less than 65 ft² (6.1 m²). For a backpacking tent, this is simply incredible. Now, the tent weighs 3 lb 13 oz (1.73 kg), so the total protected area/weight ratio is 3.5 m²/kg, and this is excellent.

The poles are DAC Featherlite NFL aluminum. The fabric is silicone treated, and this is random rip-stop nylon with a 1200 mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The tent is perfectly ventilated, you have several vents plus the mesh canopy. You can also have plenty of air from the porch.

The peak height is typical, you have 41 inches (104 cm), and the packed size is (L x D) 19.5 x 5 inches (50 x 13 cm).

Pros:

• Huge protected area.
• Large doors.
• Versatile.
• Great ventilation.

Cons:

• The price.

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2. MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent

This tent is supported by a double-hubbed DAC Featherlite NFL pole that splits at both ends into two sections. Yet another brow pole is there as well and it lifts the side walls where you have two doors.

You have a full-size fly that creates two vestibules. The structure is rectangular and fully symmetric. As usual for such tents, the materials are thin. This means the following:

• The rain fly is a 20D ripstop nylon with a 1200 mm Durashield polyurethane and silicone coating. Note that you have vents, and the fly is designed so that you can have a stargazing setup.
• The canopy is a 20D ripstop nylon plus a 15D nylon micro mesh.
• The bathtub-style floor is a 30D ripstop nylon with a 3000 mm Durashield polyurethane and DWR coating.

The packed weight is 3 lbs 13 oz (1.73 kg). The floor measures 29 square feet (2.7 m²). The mentioned vestibules add 17.5 square feet (1.62 m²). The interior peak height is 39 inches (100 cm), and the packed size is excellent (L x D) 18 x 6 inches (46 x 15 cm).

Pros:

• Lightweight.
• Great ventilation.
• Stargazer configuration.
• Extra shed option.

Cons:

• The price.

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3. ALPS Mountaineering Trail Tipi 2-Person Tent

This ALPS Mountaineering Trail Tipi 2-Person Tent is a unique choice on the list. It is also incredibly affordable when compared to the other tents in the list.

In’s built in teepee style but this is a fully floored and nicely ventilated structure. It has a 360 degrees vertical mesh section around the perimeter of the tent above the floor. It is under the flap created by the roof. There are also vents on the roof, so you have plenty of vertical air flow.

Note that there is no pole, you are going to use one of your trekking poles. So the tent will work with any pole that can be extended longer than 51 inches (130 cm). The tent is a single-layer design, but the picture above shows a mesh door area. You also have a vestibule created by the fly.

The floored area is 38 ft² (3.5 m²) and you also have 12 ft² (1.1 m²) under the vestibule. This is huge but indeed the volume inside is less great because of its angled roof. The weight is 3 lb 10 oz (1.64 kg). The tent is heavier than those below, but note that the total protected area/weight ratio is 2.8 m²/kg, and this is an excellent value.

The fabric is very durable, so you have a fly built from 75D 185T polyester with a 1500 mm coating that resists UV and stays taut. The floor is a polyester taffeta with a 3000 mm coating. All seams are sealed. The packed size (L x D) is 16 x 6.5 inches (41 x 17 cm).

Pros:

• Great price.
• Easy to use.
• Great ventilation.

What I dislike:

• No pole.

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4. Exped Mira II HL Tent

HL in the name of this Exped Mira II HL Tent stands for ‘hyper light’. But this is a bit inaccurate, it can be described as lightweight with its 3.3 lb (1.5 kg).

The inner floor area is 29 ft² (2.7 m²), and you also have 14 ft² (1.3 m²) under its two vestibules. The inner peak height is 43.3 inches (110 cm) and the packed size is very good (L x D) 16.5 x 5.9 inches (42 x 15 cm).

The rain fly fabric is a 20D ripstop nylon with a silicone-PU coating and a 1500 mm waterproof rating. The canopy is a 15D ripstop nylon and a 15D No-See-Um mosquito mesh nylon with 1500 mesh/square inch. The floor is also very thin but strong 20D ripstop nylon with the same 1500 mm waterproof rating, and it is a bathtub style. These are all materials free from flame retardants and they are Oeko-Tex 100 certified.

Note that you have two-way zippers on the vestibules so you can unzip it from the top and use an integrated stiffener to create vents.

Pros:

• 2 Doors & 2 vestibules.
• Great packed size.
• Quality materials.

Cons:

• Expensive tent.
• Low floor waterproof rating.

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5. Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Backpacking Tent

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Backpacking Tent is smaller from a series of two, there is also the Tiger Wall UL3 tent available on the market. They share same the same basic features.

The tent is supported by a hubbed Y-shaped DAC Featherlite NFL pole plus a small ridge pole that makes the doors vertical. You have 2 doors and 2 vestibules and a full-coverage fly.

The weight is 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg), and the inner floor area is 28 ft² (2.6 m²). The two vestibules contribute with 16 ft² (1.4 m²) of the covered space for gear. The peak height is 39 inches (99 cm) so it is quite low. But note that you have structured foot-end corners that create extra volume and space for your feet, and the mentioned ridge pole also adds extra volume.

The fabric is ultra-light and the waterproof rating is 1200 mm. All seams are taped with waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape (No PVC or VOC’s).

Pros:

• Great packed size.
• Great weight.
• Storage pouches.

Cons:

• The price.
• Not a very large floored area.

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6. Marmot Bolt UL 2P Tent

The Marmot Bolt UL 2P Tent is another ultralight and weighs 2 lb 5.1 oz (1052 g) with overall dimensions and other numbers as follows:

• Dimensions: 86 x 52/42 in (218 x 132/107 cm). The two numbers for the width mean that the base is tapered.
• Inner area: 28 ft² (2.6 m²).
• Vestibule area: 6.9 ft² (0.6 m²).
• Packed size (L x D): 19 x 6 inches (48.3 x 15 cm).
• Peak height: 42 inches (107 cm).

This is a minimalist design with DAC Featherlite NSL poles where they use the TH72M alloy and the diameter is 9.3 mm. They are pre-bent for some extra inner volume. The fabric is ultralight and ultra-thin. The canopy is 15D 100% nylon No-See-Um mesh F/R, and the fly is 20D 100% polyester RS, Sil/PU treated, and with a 1500 mm waterproof rating, F/R. It is equipped with vents.

The same material is used for its catenary cut floor. Note that there are several very useful mesh pouches for small items.

Pros:

• The weight.
• The packed size.
• Quality materials.

Cons:

• The price.
• Single door & single vestibule.

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7. Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 2 Carbon Tent with Dyneema

This tent has Easton carbon poles which are incredibly lightweight and strong. The frame can be described as semi-freestanding with hubbed design.

The full-coverage fly is again something special, so this is Dyneema and it is used also for the tent floor. This is the most advanced material you will find used in the tent building industry. The canopy is a breathable nylon mesh.

The tent has one front door but with a two-zipper design so both users have the same access. You have a vestibule created by the fly. Inside, you have an oversized ceiling pocket and media pockets located above the sleeping area, with an earbud cord routing. There are several interior loops for use with gear lofts.

The tent comes with 6 DAC superlight aluminum J stakes. Everything is color-coded, and you have pre-cut guylines and tensioners attached to fly, plus reflective guylines and reflective webbing.

The packed weight is 1.44 lb (652 g) and the packed size is (L x D) 18.5 x 5 inches (47 x 13 cm). The floor area is 28 ft² (2.6 m²) and the vestibule adds 7 ft² (0.65 m²). The peak height is 40 inches (102 cm). Note that the floor is tapered. Its length is 86 inches (219 cm) and the maximum width at the door is 52 inches (132 cm).

Pros:

• Great protection.
• Ultralight.
• Great packed size.

What I dislike:

• No vents.
• Translucent, no shade.
• The price.
• Single door & single vestibule.

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Final thoughts

If you’r still undecided from our selection of the best 2-person backpacking tents, then here are a few decision criteria that might help.

The weight

If you are only interested in the lightest options available, then it is easy, just focus on the tents close to the bottom of the list. But note that some of the heavier tents here are with such a weight because i) they offer more protected space, and/or ii) they are built from more durable materials.

The price

Ultralight backpacking tents are almost always very expensive. This is because of advanced ultra-thin and ultra-durable materials used in their construction. But you still have some really affordable options here in the list.

Protected space

This is related to the weight mentioned above. If you plan a tour in the area where you have to keep your gear protected during your night breaks, then go for the options that offer more space under vestibules. You have seen some of the champions here.

Our Top Pick

Check out this video for more information about this tent:

Also, be sure to check our choices of the best lightweight 3 person backpacking tents, best 4 person backpacking tents, and best backpacking tents for tall people.