Best Tent for Rain and Cold

Camping is a great way to spend time outdoors and “get back to nature,” but it’s not always the most predictable activity, especially winter camping. Finding the best tent for rain and cold weather conditions and even high winds is essential if you’re serious about camping. Single-wall tents may just not cut it. If your goal is to spend time in nature, unwind, and relax, the last thing you need is to worry about the elements while you’re out there.

Buying the best tent for inclement weather requires a few important considerations.

When you’re shopping for a tent, you’ll want to think about:

• Insulation and warmth
• Protection
• Enhanced set up with extra stakes or guy lines made from glass fiber, metal, or carbon fiber material

Asses the Situation

You’ll want to consider the various issues you face when camping in any condition. For instance, are you backpacking alone? How many people will be sleeping in a tent? What about the floor area? What about the waterproof rating? From which materials will the tent be made of? Will you be using an air mattress that takes up space? Most extreme cold weather tents only come with enough space for two to four people, so if more people are camping with you it might be a good idea to invest in more than one tent.

Also, think about how much time you want to invest in setting up your tent. Most people would assume the less time invested in setting up the better, but sometimes it’s worth taking a little extra time for setting up to get the best possible accommodation, such as a four-season tent that can tackle bad weather as well as strong winds. On the other hand, if you’re setting up in the rain and cold, you’ll want to be out from undercover and protection for as little time as possible.

Finally, think about how much you want to spend in your tent for winter camping. It’s important to be willing to invest a little extra money to ensure the proper protection against the extreme cold weather, but there are still plenty of budget-friendly options that are durable and able to stand up to inclement weather conditions.

A great place to begin your search for the best tent to protect against water, cold, and whatever else the weather throws at you, is to consider what other campers have to say about tents. Read reviews and compare the various options based on your priorities in a tent.

What are our picks for the best tent for rain and cold?

• Black Diamond Firstlight
• Bryce 2P
• Hilleberg Nallo GT
• ALPS Mountaineering Taurus
• ALPS Mountaineering 5255605 Tasmanian

Hilleberg Nallo GT

The Hilleberg Nallow GT is a great all-around option that can keep you warm in cold weather conditions. It’s lightweight and easy to carry if you need to hike to your campsite. It features a tunnel construction and is easy to set up.

One of the things we like best about this tent is the amount of space you get compared to how much it weighs. You’re unlikely to find a lighter tent that offers this much room.

Pros: Comfortable for up to two people and features inner and outer tents

Cons: Not the most durable option available, but still very functional for its weight

Check out the tent HERE.

Black Diamond Firstlight

This tent is a great value option and is one of the easiest models to set up. It features two-zippered mesh pocks for storage and comes with DAC Featherlite poles. Experienced campers consider it able to stand up to even the most inclement weather conditions.

This is a lightweight tent but is waterproof—two things that can be difficult to find together. It’s made from nylon, but that’s covered with a Nanoshield fabric that offers even more protection.

Pros: Waterproof construction with Nanoshield fabric

Cons: Single-walled

Check out the tent HERE.

Bryce 2P

This is our pick for the most affordable tent designed to stand up to rain and cold weather conditions. You get great protection for a reasonable price.

It features a quality ventilation system and comes with 12 guy lines and pole repair splints. The two-way inner and outer zipper entranceways make it functional and easy to use. One of the things we like best about this tent is that it comes with 3000 mm PU waterproofing, which means you won’t need to worry about leakage and puddling in even the heaviest of rain.

Pros: Heavy-duty floor that protects against leaking and puddles, one-year manufacturer warranty

Cons: Complicated setup that requires a lot of guy lines and poles (included)

Check out the tent HERE.

ALPS Mountaineering Taurus

This is another budget-friendly option that still offers the protection you need against the wind and rain. It’s a two-person tent that’s durable and easy to set up. It features gear pockets, factory sealed seams, and durable fiberglass poles. Most campers enjoy the convenience of having two doors for entry and exit, especially when the tent is being used by more than one person.

This tent weighs seven pounds so you won’t want to be carrying it along on a long hike to your campsite, but in a pitch, it’s easy enough to carry a bit of a distance.

Pros: All-inclusive, so you don’t need to worry about buying guy lines, poles, a tote for carrying, or even repair swatches

Cons: Heavy

Check out the tent HERE.

ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian

This tent comes with a lot of extra features that make it a joy to camp with, but it’s still one of the most budget-friendly options available. It’s waterproof, durable, and easy to set up. It’s a tunnel tent and has factory-sealed seams and a gear loft for storage.

Users tout this tent’s absolute ability to ward off leaking and puddles, and the mesh windows mean you don’t need to worry about ventilation or condensation building up.

This tent is considered easy to set up by most campers, but those who are inexperienced might have a few challenges. Most users were able to set it up in under 30 minutes, though.

Pros: Spacious, truly weatherproof

Cons: Smaller, but able to accommodate two people

Check out the tent HERE.

Conclusion

Each tent for rain and cold on this list has something to offer and are great choices, so deciding which tent is right for you is just a matter of evaluating your priorities. In some cases, your choice might come down to how much you want to spend on a tent. They’ll all stand up to rain and cold and other harsh elements, if you’re planning an adventurous camping trip or you’re just not sure what to expect at your destination.