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Choosing a tent for camping and other recreational activities is different than choosing one for an emergency. Along with your survival kit, the best tent for emergency preparedness is going to offer features a regular tent might not have.
When you’re dealing with emergency situations, survival is everything and you need to consider the various worst-case scenarios and make your choice based on those, and then consider factors such as budget and comfort. You want something you can afford and something that’s comfortable, but first and foremost, the tent needs to offer protection in an emergency situation. Your primary concern is some shelter and reducing your risk of injury and death. So, start with those considerations and move on from there when evaluating your options. Far too many people have experienced injuries and worse because their shelter in an emergency situation wasn’t adequate. A bit of planning and research in advance can make a big difference when the time comes to deal with an emergency.
Pick Out a Tent for Emergency Preparedness that Fits Your Needs
One of the most important factors when choosing a tent for emergency preparedness and survival is considering how many people will be using the tent. Do you need a tent for only yourself or will you be sharing with one other person? Do you want a tent large enough for a whole family? How many people are your responsibility should there be an emergency? All of these are factors not only in choosing your emergency tent but also in planning your entire “bug out” or “SHTF” kit.
Keep in mind that emergency tents are not designed to be used for long periods of time. This isn’t to say some of them couldn’t stand up to long-term use or offer protection against extreme conditions—many can. The main goal of an emergency tent, however, is to find something that will provide short-term shelter and offer protection from the rain and wind when the need arises.
When evaluating emergency preparedness tents, you’ll want to think about a few specific things: design, size and weight, capacity, and weatherproofing. These are the most important considerations when shopping for a tent and they should be the first things you look at when narrowing down your choices.
Our picks for the best tent for emergency preparedness include:
- Stansport
- Texsport Camouflage Trail Tent
- Level One
- Grizzly Gear
Stansport Scout Backpack Tent
Stansport’s Scout Backpack Tent is an A-frame tent designed for “three-season” use. It’s large enough for two adults and features a durable, flame-retardant polyethylene coating that is water-resistant.
The mesh door offers protection against bugs but allows air to flow through the tent, but the tent does tend to accumulate condensation because the nylon materials aren’t breathable. It comes with aluminum poles, stakes, cords, and a carrying case. It’s a heavier tent, but offers durability and is reusable.
Features:
- A-frame Design
- 1- to 2-person capacity
- 54 x 36 x 78 inches, 3.8 pounds
- Water-resistant
Pros: Large and durable, easy to set up
Cons: Heavy and bulky
Check out on AMAZON.
Texsport Camouflage Trail Tent
The Texsport Camouflage Trail Tent is constructed from taffeta nylon and features a flame-retardant polyurethane coating that is resistant to water. It’s one of the heavier duty tents on our list, which also means it’s heavier and larger than a few of the other options. It’s also reusable and can stand up to moderate conditions. It’s large enough for two adults and has a traditional A-frame design that’s supported by aluminum poles and stakes. The mesh door features a zip closure to allow for airflow with protection from bugs.
The camouflage fabric of this tent offers a moderate amount of concealment, which can obviously be positive or negative depending on your situation. Everything you need for set up is included with the tent.
Texsport 2 Person Camouflage Trail Tent
Features:
- A-frame Design
- 1- to 2-person capacity
- 54 x 38 x 84 inches, 3.6 pounds
- Water-resistant
Pros: Heavy duty and camouflaged if you need to stay undetected
Cons: Difficult to be spotted by rescuers, heavy and bulky
Check out on AMAZON.
Level One Emergency Tent
The Level One Emergency Tent is made from Mylar material with a reflective coating that allows it to retain up to 80% of your body heat. This makes it a great option for cold-weather emergency situations. Mylar is also windproof and waterproof.
This is one of the least expensive options on our list, so if budget is a concern, this is a great option that still offers protection. It lacks some durability when compared to other tents on this list and it isn’t reusable, but it’s still a functional option in an emergency situation. It offers protection against the wind and rain and is designed for a single user.
Level One Emergency Tent
Features:
- Tube design
- 1-person capacity
- 40 x 36 x 96 inches, 6.4 ounces
- Waterproof
Pros: Lightweight, waterproof
Cons: Basic and not suited for long-term use or more than one use
Check out on AMAZON.
Grizzly Gear Emergency Survival Mylar Tube Tent
The Grizzly Gear Emergency Tent is made from Mylar material and features a one-person tube design. It can retain up to 90% of a user’s body heat and is water and windproof. Like most tube tents, it’s a functional emergency tent that offers protection from the elements, but it’s not going to win any awards for comfort or luxury. This is the lightest option from our picks, making it a great option to pop in a bug-out bag or carry on a hiking trip that doesn’t include plans to stay overnight.
Grizzly Gear Emergency Thermal Tent
Features:
- Tube design
- 1-person capacity
- 40 x 36 x 96 inches, 5.6 ounces
- Waterproof
Pros: Lightweight and affordable
Cons: Two-door design makes it difficult to take advantage of its body heat retention feature
Check out on AMAZON.
SE Outdoor Tube Tent
The SE Outdoor Tube Tent is another emergency option that offers basic protection from the elements and is ideal for any emergency kit should disaster strike. It features an aluminum coating that provides insulation and also has a blaze orange reflective trim so it’s easy to spot in the dark. It’s one of the few emergency tube tents out there that are durable and reusable. The tent comes with 23 feet of rope and steel pegs and features a closure on one end that offers extra protection and better insulation. Condensation tends to accumulate on the interior because the material it’s made from isn’t breathable.
SE Emergency Outdoor Tube Tent
Features:
- Tube design with one door
- 1-person capacity
- 82 x 36 inches, 1.9 pounds
- Water-resistant
Pros: Well-insulated for a tube tent, durable and reusable
Cons: Doesn’t “breathe” so condensation can be an issue
Check out on AMAZON.
Final Thoughts
Whichever survival tent you choose from the list, a lightweight tent that is easy to carry is the thing to throw in with your survival gear along with non-perishable food, glow sticks, waterproof matches, a first-aid kit, and even duct tape to repair any tears in the tent itself.