If you are in a hurry and need to know what the best 4 person tent is, we recommend the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-person tent for its quality, accessories, and function.
If you are hiking with a group, or if you are an individual hiker who prefers bigger tents, my goal in this article is to help you pick the best 4 person tent for your next camping trip. I will cover the essentials of a good tent and how to choose the best 4 person tent, and then I will give you my personal recommendations for the best tents out there.
My Top Picks
- COLEMAN Sundome Tent
- TOOGH 3-4 Person Camping Tent
- TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent
- ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
Choosing Your Tent
So, what makes a good tent?
Simple: A good tent should be affordable, easy to use, weather resistant, and lightweight.
Affordability
To clarify, by “affordability,” I do not mean the cheapest tent on the market. It would be easy to find a cheap tent, but most likely, it will also be of poor quality. Finding a cheap tent that also brings great value is a challenge in its own right.
Most people don’t camp for more than a few nights at a time, and the tent stays behind during the day while the campers explore the nearby wilderness. You would want this tent to be secure in moderate winds and waterproof. You would also want this tent to be lightweight if hiking to your campsite and easy to set up. It should come with all the necessary parts, and of course, it should not break the bank.
In other words, you want great value at a good price.
Ease of Use
For some, finding a tent that is easy to set up will be worth the extra bucks. Getting out in the Wild should be enjoyable and relaxing, but the struggle of setting up a tent can turn people off.
Where’s this pole go? What’s this strap for? Where’s the front? This might sound familiar….
Fortunately, many tent manufacturers have invested in tent designs that need little or no effort when setting up. A tent that is easy to use should have few pieces to assemble and require hardly more than an explanation. Yet, it should give you the comfort and security that any other tent would provide.
Weather Resistance
If you’ve ever spent more than thirty minutes outside, you know that the weather can change rapidly no matter where you are. Weather resistant tents provide comfort during sleep and protection for your belongings.
This includes rain, snow, dew, heat, cold, wind, sand, and sun. A weather resistant tent will use durable material, contain ventilation for hot climates, withstand wind, sand, and cold, and keep out water on the bottom, top, and sides.
If you are considering camping in the winter, watch the video below for some great tips!
Weight
Finally, a good tent should be easy to carry. If you are searching for the best 4 person tent, then most likely you are traveling with a group, and you could divide the parts among yourselves. Many hands make light work, right?
In theory, yes…. But if you are hiking with your kids, or if you decided to hoof it alone, sharing the burden might not be an option. Besides, tents are becoming more and more simple, so that even with a group you will struggle to share the tent parts with more than one other person.
As a result, it is important to find a tent that is lightweight, yet that provides the comfort and security of any other tent.
My Personal Recommendations
An Affordable Tent
If you are looking for the most affordable 4 person tent, the COLEMAN Sundome Tent offers great value for all the basic features. This tent has a bathtub floor to prevent leaking, and the walls and fly are made with water resistant polyester.
If you find yourself camping on a warm, dry night, this tent offers excellent ventilation. You can leave the fly off and sleep under the stars, while enjoying the protection of mesh windows in the front and back. Even with the fly on, a ground vent and mesh dome help to keep the air fresh within the tent and reduce condensation on the walls.
This tent is also easy to set up and tear down, and includes an access port for electricity (which is also zippered!), an interior storage pouch, and a loop for hanging a light. The fiberglass frame and guy points offer additional security during high winds.
Pros:
- Spacious
- Waterproof bathtub Floor
- Ventilated
- Power Access Port
Cons:
- Fly does not reach the ground
- Not good for freezing weather
- No vestibules
- Stakes tend to bend easily
An Easy-to-Use Tent
If you are looking for a tent that is quick and easy to set up, the Toogh 4 Person Camping Tent offers many advantages. Its hexagonal design gives it greater stability in windy weather, especially with guy lines attached. The tent comes pre-assembled so that all you have to do is pull up the poles from the center and lock them in. You still have to set up the fly, but this tent is incredibly easy to use, requiring no more than a few minutes.
It contains plenty of room for four people and provides significant vertical height (60 inches). There is a mesh vent at the top of the tent and two doors for easy access.
I would recommend this tent for car camping rather than backpacking, since it weighs over 10 lbs. when packed. The fly only covers the peak of the tent, and the floor and seams tend to leak in wet conditions, so I would check the weather beforehand. For ease of use, however, this tent is hard to beat.
Pros:
- Stable in windy weather
- Super easy set up
- Room to stand for average person
- Two doors, one on each side of tent
Cons:
- 3 feet long when packed
- Mesh vent at top only
- Heavy when packed (over 10 lbs.)
- Seams and floor tend to leak in moderate rain
A Weather Resistant Tent
Many manufacturers claim to have water proof tents, but it is very difficult to find a tent that is anything more than water resistant. A waterproof tent should not leak at the seams, let water through the floor, or allow condensation to collect on the walls. Finding a tent like this is hard to do, but the TETON Sports Mountain Ultra 4 Person Tent has achieved all these qualities.
This tent is also rated high for durability, and TETON Sports offers a limited lifetime warranty on their product. Its dome-like design helps to keep the tent stable in moderate winds. Also, it has a vestibule for storing gear outside the tent, and a second door on the other side provides ease of access.
It comes with a footprint for added protection on the ground, and the bathtub floor prevents groundwater from leaking in. It is easy to set up and tear down, and packs well for backpacking.
Pros:
- Waterproof seams, walls, and floor with footprint included
- Well-ventilated using micro-mesh
- Secure in moderate winds with guys for extra security
- Easy to set up and pack
- Designed with two doors and a vestibule
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- The footprint does not extend beyond the tent floor to the vestibule
- Best for temperatures above 50° F
- Heavier than some of its competitors.
A Lightweight Tent
For a lightweight 4 person tent, the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 person tent is hard to beat, especially when considering the price.
It is made of lightweight polyester that resists water and UV rays. The poles are aluminum, and although not as durable as the more expensive brands, they get the job done and are able to withstand snow and wind. The trail weight is 7 lbs. 9 oz. and can be carried by one person.
I would recommend this tent for backpackers, but it is also great for car camping. It sacrifices some vertical space (the dome provides 4’4” of clearance), but it contains plenty of room for four people.
The high sides and fly (which reaches the ground) help to keep out water, sand, and cold air, while keeping warmth in. The mesh windows provide ventilation, and as a bonus, this tent comes with a loft for some of your more important gear.
The seams have been tape sealed and the tent is made with extra large zippers to prevent snags. It is super easy to set up, and an overall bargain on a lightweight 4 person tent.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- UV and water resistant
- Spacious tent with plenty of room for gear, including two vestibules
- Two pouches and a gear loft for storage
- Excellent customer service reviews
Cons:
- Dome height is 4’ 4”
- Aluminum poles are more apt to bend or break
- Foot print not included
Conclusion
Whether you are an experienced camper or new to the camping experience, the vast number of tents available to you can be overwhelming. If you find yourself in a position where you can’t decide, I personally recommend the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-person tent.
This tent provides superb value for the cost, and bears a competitive price tag. It is lightweight, making it ideal for extended trips in the woods, and it does not sacrifice any essential features to achieve this weight. It is designed to resist wind, rain, snow, and sand. And finally, it is quick and easy to set up.
Beyond these reasons, the large majority of customer reviews have been positive. When problems arise, the ALPS customer service team is quick to respond, and this adds one more layer of security for your camping experience.
