Cheap vs. expensive backpacking tents

The big three in backpacking gear are your pack, sleep system, and tent. These are the largest and most crucial pieces of your hiking gear. Outdoor living has done extensive field testing on all three, and we can easily point you to the best-in-class gear. But what if you don’t have the budget for the best in class? I upgraded from a $70 tent on Amazon to one of the most expensive ultralight shelters to give you some thoughts on whether you can skimp on your backpacking tent, or if it’s worth spending more money on.

My first foray into backpacking began in an AirBnb in Tennessee. I was living there at the time and adding the cheapest backpacking gear I could find to my Amazon cart in preparation for a month-long trip to California. Vaccines were becoming available, rental cars were a steal, and my Covid-19 cabin fever was becoming unbearable. I figured there was no better time to hike into the woods with everything I needed on my back.

So I looked at the big three: backpack, sleeping bag, and tent. I’d heard horror stories about backpacks that didn’t fit, dug into your hips, and made your trip miserable. So I decided to buy a new Osprey Kyte 36 off the rack at REI. Next up is the sleeping bag. I hate being cold, so I didn’t go with some no-name Amazon brand. A large synthetic bag on sale had my name on it.

A tent seemed like the perfect place to skimp. I found one small orange tent on Amazon for $70. One of the five-star reviews included a photo of the tent with a foot of snow on it: Sold. So what if it weighed 5 pounds?

Over the course of a year, I moved to Utah and fell head over heels in love with backpacking. A thru-hiker friend sold her Zpacks Free Duo (a $900 tent) for $500 to get herself a new Zpacks modelAs a hungry new hiker, I was happy to take over from her and switch to a shelter that weighed less than 2 pounds, allowing me to take on longer trips into the wilderness.

Save or spend?

After a few nights with my budget tent, I made a huge upgrade to one of the lightest and most expensive freestanding shelters on the market. I’m going to use this extreme contrast to expand on some motivators to consider before buying a cheap vs expensive backpacking tent. Should you spend money on your shelter, or can you get away with a budget-friendly alternative?

Weight

Let’s start with the most obvious concern: weight. In a sport where people will chop their toothbrushes in half, sleep under a tarp, or skip a hot meal to save a few ounces, 5 pounds seems insane. However, under 2.5 pounds is much more standard when it comes to the best backpacking tents. If you can share a tent (and split the weight) with a hiking buddy or friends, that 5 pounds becomes a lot more doable.

Obviously, this isn’t a perfect system; it would still be a lot more fun to share a 3-pound tent with a friend than a 5-pound one. But if you’re planning on hiking with good friends or a significant other and you’re new to backpacking, it could work.

The real problem comes when you’re hiking solo. I’ve carried that 5-pound tent into the desert by myself and it sucked. Going lighter always feels better on your back. So when you invest in backpacking gear, you’re also investing in how much fun you’re going to have on your trips.

When you’re carrying a tent that’s twice as heavy as an ultralight, you’re starting to sacrifice the distance of your hike. If you’re going to be logging serious miles, it’s essential to reduce your pack weight, because every extra ounce will slow you down.

Packability

The heavier and cheaper your tent is, the bigger it will be. Many people carry their tent on the outside of their backpack, but if the weather turns or you fall at a river crossing, you end up with a soaked shelter. If you can at least fit the body and fly in your bag (feel free to attach the poles to the outside), it is less risky.

Budget backpacking kits tend to be larger than expensive ones. And if you opt for an ultralight or smaller pack, it can be tough to fit everything in. The Zpacks Free Duo tent body folds down to a 7-inch-wide cube, leaving more room for longer hikes with food and water, or a few beers and a whole bag of chips.

Weather

Weight and packability are mostly a matter of personal preference. Are you willing to carry more weight and leave a few things at home to save some money? Maybe. But if your tent isn’t designed to withstand the weather you’ll encounter on your trip, it becomes a safety issue.

I’ll be the first to brag that my cheap tent survived nights of relentless rain and vicious desert winds (despite being filled with sand when I climbed in). As a testament to its durability, I still use that tent for car camping. But the stakes are pretty low when, at worst, I have an uncomfortable night in the backseat of a dry, secure vehicle. That’s not the reality when you’re backpacking.

I’m not sure how many storms a tent of that quality can reliably withstand, and I wouldn’t want to find out in freezing rain 30 miles from my car. If you’re on short trips, in mild conditions, you’ll probably fine. But if you want to go further, longer or in substandard conditions, the risk can outweigh the reward.

Warranty

Every reputable outdoor brand will have at least a one-year warranty on their products. Many will also offer repairs for a fee. When you buy one of the best backpacking tents, you will also get customer service. After Amazon’s 30-day return policy, you will be at your wits’ end with a cheap tent.

Cheap vs. expensive: which backpacking tent should you buy?

While $70 is an extremely cheap tent, you can find plenty of $200 5-pound backpacking tents from brands whose names you can at least recognize. They’re sold at major retailers and sporting goods stores, and I have some experience with them. Generally, the quality of these items reflects their price. And if a pole breaks on a windy night, you can probably get your money back or a new tent (with the same shoddy poles), but you’ll never get back the eight sleepless hours you spent in an unstructured tent.

That’s not to say you have to buy a $900 tent to get a reliable night’s sleep on the trail. If you want to invest in a quality shelter that weighs less than 3 pounds, expect to pay $300 to $400. But the best backpacking tents should last you for years to come, and they come with a warranty to back that up.