Last Updated on 12 July 2024 by Cycloscope
6 best 4-person backpacking tents for families and friends
The lightest 4 men tents from cheap to top, for all budgets & seasons! Expert reviews and comparison
When the allure of the wilderness beckons, there’s nothing quite like packing your backpack, donning your trusty hiking boots, and setting off on a backpacking adventure. And sure, many of us outdoor addicts are used to traveling solo, some more are love birds and only venture out as a couple – but there’s a special feeling in enjoying the great outdoors in a larger company.
While solo backpacking can be a soul-searching journey, and two-person outings allow for intimate escapes, a 4-man tent invites a sense of community. It’s where laughter echoes, stories are swapped, and the warmth of shared moments permeates the air.
A group of 4 is indeed a perfect number for a couple of nights in nature, either it could be you and your friends, or a family outing. But not only a group of four may benefit from the best 4-person backpacking tent, the lightest backpacking tents for 4 men can also make a luxury shelter for a couple or a team of three!
When to Opt for a 4-Man Tent?
Choosing a 4-man tent hinges on your backpacking party size and the nature of your adventure. It’s the go-to choice for:
- Group Expeditions: If you’re hitting the trail with friends, family, or a mix of fellow adventurers, a 4-man backpacking tent promotes togetherness, fostering memories that last a lifetime.
- Family Camping: When introducing youngsters to the wonders of the wilderness, a 4-man tent is ideal. It provides ample space for parents and children, ensuring everyone sleeps soundly, even amidst the occasional nocturnal adventure tale.
- Luxury Camping: Backpacking doesn’t always entail hardcore ascents and rugged terrain. For more relaxed trips with creature comforts like extra gear or space to stretch out, a 4-man tent adds a touch of luxury to your outdoor experience.
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Best Backpacking 4 Person Tent in a Nutshell
- Hilleberg Saitaris 4 – best 4-season backpacking 4-person tent
- MSR Elixir 4 – best ultralight 4-person backpacking tent
- Agnes Copper Spur HV UL – best lightweight 4-person festival tent
- Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 4-Man – best budget 4-person backpacking tent
- Kelty Grand Mesa 4 – best 4-person hiking tent (ideal for 3-person)
- Naturehike Opalus – best cheap 4 person backpacking tent
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How we compile our gear guides: during the almost 10 years of cycloscope.net our team personally tested dozens of similar pieces of gear. For what we can't test personally, we involve other people in the cycling community to give their feedback and opinion about gear they have used. Our decade-long experience in bicycle touring enables us to find the key cons and pros of every product we mention.
6 Best 4-Men Backpacking Tents
The very best 4-person tents for all budgets meant for expeditions such as kayaking trips, multiday hiking adventures, long-distance cycle touring, and whatever your spirit of exploration may think of.
Those tents are also ideal for 3-man long expeditions, leaving space for secure gear storage and a less cramped sleep. If you’re looking for family tents, scroll down.
1. Hilleberg Saitaris 4 Camping Tent
Hilleberg Saitaris 4 Review
Let’s start with the very best professional 4-person tent around. Hilleberg is a small Swedish manufacturer of camping tents with a long history and state-of-the-art production… the prices though reflect that this is the most expensive tent on this list.
The Hilleberg Saitaris 4 is a versatile camping tent that can withstand the harshest high-altitude base camps as well as spring camping trips in your local woods. How? Let’s take a look:
The Saitaris 4 has two parts: an inner tent and an outer tent. Both tents are linked but can be separated if required. The inner tent is the main living area; it is spacious and can house four persons with their gear comfortably. The outer tent provides an extra layer of protection over the inner tent from strong winds, snow, and other environmental elements.
The outer tent has two entrances and two vestibules for easy access in all weather conditions. The bigger vestibule door can be opened from the top, bottom, and sideways to accommodate entry in any condition. Both entrances have snow covers as well as removable mesh covers to withstand the toughest environments.
The tent is extremely durable and stable because the fabric, mesh, and poles are all of excellent quality. The outer tent is made of Kerlon 1800, a high tenacity 66 denier nylon. The fabric is thrice treated with 100% silicone and polyurethane for UV resistance. The inner tent is made from 40 denier nylon; it is durable and 100% waterproof.
The domed shape of the tent can withstand heavy snowfall while the elevated floor design prevents groundwater from seeping inside the tent.
Hilleberg Saitaris 4 Specifications
| Size | Inches: 206 x 86 cm: 523 x 218.44 |
| Packaged Size | Inches: 51 x 9.45 cm: 51 x 24 |
| Weight | 5.6 kg / 12.35 Lbs. |
| Packaged Weight | 6.6 kg / 14.55 |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Vestibules | 2 |
| Vents | 4 |
| Free Standing/ Not Free Standing | Free Standing but vestibule requires pegging |
| Season | All 4 Seasons |
Hilleberg Saitaris 4 – Overall Impression
A sturdy, durable, and freestanding tent, suitable for trips to the local woods in the summers as well as adventures in the most challenging terrains & weather.
2. MSR Elixir 4-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
From one of the most famous outdoor brands out there, here’s the best ultralight 4-season tent for 4 persons.
The Elixir 4-person tent is a lightweight and durable all-weather tent for camping in pleasant as well as extreme conditions. Although the tent is a little smaller than other 4-person tents, the size is sufficient enough to accommodate 4 sleeping bags easily.
The sleeping area is affixed with rainfly flaps so campers can enjoy excellent views. Glow in the light zippers, and built-in gear loft increase the functionality of the tent.
In addition, the tent has two vestibules that have ample space to hold gear. The MSR Elixir 4 is a real expedition tent that won’t let you down in harsh environments and will last for years of heavy use.
It has two large waterproof doors and a patented waterproof flooring that keeps your tent dry in all heavy rain or snow.
The tent is freestanding; however, you need to peg in the vestibules. Finally, It can be assembled quickly and easily.
MSR Elixir 4 Person – Specs:
| Size | Inches: 87.79 x 87.79 cm: 223 x 223 |
| Packaged Size | Inches: 22 x 7 cm: 55.8 x 17.78 |
| Weight | 3.60 Kg / 7.93 Lbs. |
| Packaged Weight | 4.26 Kg / 9.39 Lbs. |
| Entrances | 2 |
| Vestibules | 2 |
| Free Standing/ Not Free Standing | Freestanding with |
| Season | Four seasons |
MSR Elixir 4 – Overall Impression
It is one of the most lightweight 4-person camping tents that’s also durable and spacious enough to accommodate people as well as gear. If you want to travel light, then this tent is perfect, the price tag is also not too high.
3. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL
Another brand that cannot be excluded from this list is for sure Big Agnes, world-renowned for the quality of its products.
The Copper Spur camping tents are available in 1, 2, 3, and 4-men versions. The largest one can host up to six campers inside its spacious interior. Considering the large size of the tent (92 sq ft), the size and weight ratio are excellent. It is a lightweight tent for its capacity.
Other notable features include 2 doors, 2 vestibules, mesh and fabric door closures for versatility, storm flaps, 6 fly vents, reflective guylines, and reflective webbing, easy-grip zipper pulls, gear loft loops, and multiple interior mesh pockets.
The special design of this tent makes it extremely good at withstanding strong winds, thus making this item a great buy for hardcore expeditions.
The tent is constructed from waterproof, polyurethane-treated rip-stop and breathable polyester. The fabric is not as good as some of the high-end tents, but it is sturdy and robust. If used carefully, the tent will last you for years.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Specs:
| Size | Inches: 150 x 96 / cm: 381 x 243.84 |
| Packaged Size | Inches: 9.5 x 13 x 23 / cm: 24 x 33 x 58.42 |
| Weight | 8.48 Kg / 18.69 Lbs. |
| Packaged Weight | 9.27 Kg / 20.43 Lbs. |
| Entrances | 2 |
| Vestibules | 2 |
| Free Standing/ Not Free Standing | Free Standing |
| Season | 3 + |
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL – Overall Impression
The Big Agnes Flying Diamond is an excellent option for travelers who are camping in large groups or families. It is durable yet budget-friendly. However, it is not ideal for extreme weather conditions and extremely challenging terrains. Although not cheap, it’s probably the best large-size backpacking tent, ideal for festivals.
4. TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent
Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 4-Man Review
The Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 4-person tent is waterproof, lightweight, ventilated, and an easy-to-setup tent that is perfect for a group of 4. The tent can accommodate 4 sleeping bags easily, and it comes with built-in gear lofts that can hold your gear without hassle.
At only 3.5kg, the Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 4-Man is a great budget backpacking tent for hiking expeditions and other adventures.
The tent is easy to assemble; it is mostly preassembled, and you only have to clip the tent onto the poles for complete assembly. It takes minutes to set up the whole thing. It has an entire mesh body; the mesh keeps the tent ventilated, and it also keeps bugs away in the summer season.
The whole tent is waterproof; the outer cover of the tent is secured through straps to keep the inner tent dry and cozy. The rainfly has vents to keep condensation away, and you can pull the zipper down to enjoy a fantastic view of the sky through the full mesh inner tent.
The 4-person tent has two doors and two vestibules to increase access and storage space. The tent comes with a floor footprint to keep you dry. It is a good-sized tent at a very affordable price.
Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 4-Man Specs:
| Size | inches: 632 x 535 x 381 / cm: 249 x 211 x 150 |
| Packaged Size | inches: 160 x 48.26 x 48.26 / cm: 63 x 19 x 19 |
| Weight | 3.5 kg / 7.7 Lbs. |
| Packaged Weight | 4.3 kg / 9.5 Lbs. |
| Entrances | 2 |
| Vestibules | 2 |
| Free Standing/ Not Free Standing | Free Standing |
| Season | 3+ |
Teton Sports Mountain Ultra – Overall Impression
Lightweight and budget-friendly, the Teton Sports Mountain Ultra is the perfect travel tent for camping in all 4 kinds of weather. Families, amateur campers, and couples can use this tent to create memorable outdoor moments for years.
5. Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
The Kelty Grand Mesa Tent for 4 persons is a no-frills value-for-money tent that is perfect for weekend camping trips with your family or friends.
The two most notable features of the tent are its massive D-shaped door and its packed size. The D-shaped door is huge, which makes it easy for people to come in or go out without bending down to half their size. A bigger door also means that you can shift gears easily.
The packed size and the storage bag of the tent are also quite impressive; the poles separate into smaller segments, so the packed size of the tent becomes compact and easy to travel with.
In addition, the tent is very lightweight, which makes it ideal for travel. You can strap the bag on your shoulder or to the back of your bike; either way, it’s lightweight and easy to carry.
The Grand Mesa is made from good quality material, but it isn’t strong enough to withstand harsh climates. The tents will be perfect for mild weather conditions like summer, spring, and even light winters.
It has mesh and fabric covers to keep the tent ventilated in summer and to keep the condensation down. It also comes with waterproof flooring and a tent cover to protect out from rain and water seepage.
On the downside, the tent may be too small for 4 people. It is a tight squeeze even with the excellently designed gear loft.
Kelty Grand Mesa 4 Specifications:
| Size | Inches: 85 x 57 / cm: 215 x 145 |
| Packaged Size | Inches: 15 x 12 x 4 / cm: 38 x 30.4 x 10.16 |
| Weight | 3.09 kg / 6.81 Lbs. |
| Packaged Weight | 3.71 Kg / 8.17 Lbs. |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Vestibules | 1 |
| Free Standing/ Not Free Standing | Free Standing |
| Season | 3 |
Kelty Grand Mesa 4 – Overall Impression
Simple, effective, and affordable, the Kelty Mesa gets the job done without costing you too much. Ideal for people who don’t want to spend too much money on a tent but want a good functioning product. It is the perfect tent for a 3-person hiking expedition.
6. Naturehike Opalus
Naturehike Opalus review
The only tunnel tent by Naturehike in 2023 is the Opalus, available in 2-man, 3-man, and 4-man versions, this is more of a family tent suited for car camping than a backpacking tent.
The Opalus’s best selling point is its large lobby typical of a tunnel tent. This is big enough to allow cooking and spending some time on rainy days.
Besides that, I don’t see much value in this tent. It’s marketed as a 4-season tent but I won’t take it with me in a freezing climate, maybe good enough for temperatures around the 40s (4/5C).
Like any tunnel tent, it’s also not freestanding, meaning it can’t be put up where the stakes are unusable (platforms, soft sand, rocks, and the like; it’s also heavier than other Naturehike tents.
The materials are the usual, keep in mind that the orange version is a lower quality 210T nylon while the green one is a more proper 20D. The weights in the table refer to the green 20D version.
Naturehike Opalus Specs
| Colors | Orange / Green |
| Capacity | 2-persons / 3-persons / 4-persons |
| Seasons | 4 Seasons |
| Materials | Fly & Floor 20D silicone coated nylon ripstop/PU4000MM |
| Features | 1 door (2-man) 2 doors (3/4-man) / 1 vestibule |
| Inner Dimensions | 235cm L * 90cm H * 135cm W (2-man) |
| Packed size | 18.9″*7.5″(2-man) / 21.7″*6.9″(3-man) / 21.7″*7.9″(4-man) |
| Weight | 4.4lbs | 2kg (2-man) / 6lbs | 2.7kg (3-man) / 8.6lbs | 3.9kg (4-man) |
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Characteristics and Differences in 4-Man Tents
Not all 4-man tents are created equal, and your choice should align with your backpacking needs. Consider these characteristics and differences:
- Seasonality: Tents vary in their suitability for different seasons. Three-season tents suffice for spring, summer, and fall, while four-season tents are built to withstand winter’s fury. Choose wisely to stay comfortable and safe.
- Materials: Lightweight materials like nylon and polyester minimize backpack weight. Additionally, rainfly materials influence waterproofing and ventilation, so prioritize your preferences.
- Design: Dome tents offer stability and spaciousness, while tunnel tents excel in harsh weather. Freestanding tents are easy to set up, while non-freestanding options are lighter but require stakes for support.
- Price: Budget-friendly options provide essential features, while higher-end tents offer durability, advanced weather resistance, and enhanced comfort.
Selecting the Right 4-Man Tent for Your Adventure
Each backpacking journey presents unique challenges and rewards. Here’s a quick guide on what to use for different circumstances:
- Summer Bliss: For warm-weather escapes, a three-season 4-man tent with excellent ventilation is your ticket to breezy nights under the stars.
- Winter Wonderland: When tackling snow-covered terrain, opt for a four-season tent with a robust frame and superior insulation to brave the cold.
- Ultralight Adventure: If shaving ounces is paramount, consider a minimalist, lightweight 4-man tent that keeps your backpack nimble.
- Family Funtime: For family outings, prioritize spaciousness, ease of setup, and durability to withstand the youthful exuberance of little adventurers.
In conclusion, the 4-man backpacking tent is your companion on the journey, your sanctuary amidst the wild, and your catalyst for unforgettable shared experiences.
It’s a symbol of unity, an embodiment of convenience, and an assurance of shelter, all rolled into one.
So, gather your hiking comrades, choose your ideal tent, and embark on a voyage where laughter echoes beneath the canvas, where stories come to life under the starry sky, and where the great outdoors becomes a cherished memory etched in the annals of your adventures. Happy backpacking!
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