Compare Winter Backpacking Tents

tent in the sunset image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com

What To Look For

Winter backpacking tents are typically labeled as "four-season" or "mountaineering" tents. They are marked by their steeply-sloped roofs and sides, and by the extra strength of their pole-frames. These two features are meant to handle heavy snowfall and high winds. Good winter tents also have large vestibules for cooking and protecting gear from bad winter weather, as well as good ventilation to prevent moisture from respiration from turning into frost inside the tent.

Common Pitfalls

"Four season" implies that the tent can be used year-round. While technically true, four-season tents are hot in the summer and not really meant for summer camping. The tent type meant for true year-round camping is the "all-season convertible." These tents are essentially three-season tents with provisions for button-on or zip-on flaps and extra tent poles to convert them from summer into winter tents. The main drawbacks of a convertible tent are the extra, time-consuming steps needed to set it up and the extra weight.

Where To Buy

Tent specifications provide a reasonable idea of the tent's dimensions. A sharp, experienced eye can deduce how easy or hard a tent is to set up by its general design. Buyers can shop online or in brick-and-mortar stores. However, mountaineers and back-country skiers, who spend a lot of time in their winter tents, should shop for tents in person before buying one.

Cost

Two-person, four-season tents typically run between $150 and $300 in 2010, depending on the features. Some, like the Sierra Designs Hercules AST 4 Season Tent, can cost up to $400--the same price as the six-person Cabela's XPG™ Expedition 4-Season Tent. At the far end of the scale is a huge base camp-style tent, such as the 15-person Mountain Hardwear Space Station Tent, priced at well over $5,000.