Since you can’t go camping without a tent, you might as well invest in the best one available. After all, it’s going to be your home away from home while you’re camping out in the wild. If you’re looking for the best 4 person tent to use then you’re probably planning to take a trip with your family or a group of friends.
The good news is we’ve got you covered. We went ahead and did all the preliminary research so you don’t have to. Check them out!
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Best 4 Person Camping Tent
Read on for comprehensive reviews of the best 4 person tents available on the market.
To come up with this list, we looked at a few variables including ease of setup, a spacious interior, a good size to weight ratio, as well as weather protective qualities to ensure that it’ll keep you comfortable.
1. Coleman Sundome Tent
Coleman is one of the premium tent manufacturers in the world and they certainly don’t disappoint with this one.
It offers great value for money considering that it packs at dimensions of 60.5 x 16.5 cm. This makes it portable and easy to carry and it won’t take up too much space on the back of your trunk.
You’ll be glad to know that setup is super easy and can be done in less than 5 minutes, and it’s well-ventilated as well thanks to the mesh covering on all four sides. This is in addition to window openings and floor ventilation as well.
This makes it easier for the tent to circulate air to keep things cool and keep moisture at bay. This tent comes highly recommended for anyone that’s looking for good value for money.
2. AmazonBasics Outdoor Camping Tent
This outdoor camping tent from AmazonBasics is designed for use by four people comfortably. It’s made from durable and long-lasting materials that are comfortable as they are sturdy. It’s great for leisurely camping and its floor area has dimensions of 108″ x 84″ in floor area, and it’s 48 inches high.
Not only that, but this dome-shaped tent features a 1000-D polyethylene floor and a water-resistant polyester shell to protect you from undesirable and extreme weather conditions. The inverted seams, full-coverage rainfly, and the D-shaped floor all work together to create and provide the ultimate camping experience.
We love the tent’s adjustable ventilation and cool-air port which is built into the tent’s silhouette. Speaking of ventilation, your options include a mesh vent roof and a ground vent.
You can also open the back window if you like to create an even more comfortable atmosphere and the front door will come in handy when it comes to keeping the tent moisture-free.
3. Black Diamond Bombshelter Tent
Expedition experts swear by this tent. That’s because it’s suitable for use in windy conditions and it has a unique semi-geodesic design that’ll satisfy even the most discerning camper.
It’ll definitely impress with its all-season construction which is possible courtesy of the ToddTex single-wall fabric that it’s made from.
The best part is that it has two vestibules and two doors that provide ventilation while making it easy to enter and exit. Plus, the vestibules will definitely come in handy as extra storage for all your stuff.
4. ALPS Mountaineering Taurus Tent
Not only is this tent from ALPS Mountaineering large enough to accommodate four people but it’s suitable for use across three seasons.
It’s one of the best 4 person backpacking tents on the market, with fiberglass poles for durable and easy setup, and two vestibules and two doors that provide optimal ventilation.
This is in addition to a mesh window in each door as well as vents on the rainfly. Needless to say, fresh air isn’t an issue with this tent and you’ll always have plenty of air flow to enjoy. It’s one of those tents that’s suitable for cold weather conditions including light snow, rain and wind, which is rare.
However, the rainfly windows can be a problem because it means anyone on the outside can see what’s going on inside the tent.
5. Black Diamond Mega Light Shelter
If you’re looking for something unique and different, the Black Diamond mega light is the way to go. It’s the best 4 person tent for backpacking because it’s lightweight and portable.
But, it should be noted that it’s more of a floorless tarp in its design than anything else, but once pitched, it provides plenty of space to fit up to 4 people at once.
The best part is that it’s weatherproof so you can use it throughout all four seasons of the year.
6. Big Agnes Guard Station Mountaineering Tent
The Big Agnes Guard Station is a great 4 person tent for mountain camping adventures.
It’s made to last from durable materials and it even comes with an external pole that enables it to remain stable in times of wind and harsh weather conditions.
Not only that, but it’s fairly easy and straightforward to set up within a couple of minutes. With a height of 165 cm, this tent offers plenty of space for all of your indoor camping activities. Standing tall at 65 inches in the center, this tent is quite roomy and versatile for a single-wall model.
Plus, it comes with two vestibules that help to enhance the tent’s functionality both indoors and outdoors.
7. Pacific Pass 4 Person Family Dome Tent
This Pacific Pass tent is a relative newcomer but it has already made waves. It’s the best 4 person tent for anyone who’s shopping on a budget because it ticks all the boxes of a good quality, versatile tent.
It’s dimensions of 108.3″ x 82.7″ perfectly complement its 60-inch center height. It means you’ll have plenty of headroom to comfortably move around no matter how tall you are and all of this is available from a tent that weighs only 8.05 pounds when folded and packed.
The only complaint we have against this tent is that it’s not weatherproof and it’s mostly suitable for use in the late spring and summer seasons. Otherwise, it won’t do well in serious winter weather or even rainy weather. However, it makes up for this by offering great value for money at an affordable price point.
It’s definitely worth considering for the weekend warrior or casual campers that mostly spend time camping in the summer or during spring break.
8. Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup
This Coleman cabin tent is easy to set up and carry thanks to the fact that it comes with pre-attached poles.
Within two minutes, you’ll have a complete structure ready to relax in. It takes about the same time to disassemble it by the way and it’s made from durable materials that can handle most weather conditions.
In fact, it has the ability to remain balanced even in windy conditions, and the only requirement is that you stake it properly during the installation process to ensure proper protection.
The only caveat that we noticed with this tent is the fact that it’s too large to comfortably carry when hiking, climbing or backpacking, so it’s not suitable for those applications. But, it’s the best 4 person car camping tent.
How to Find the Best 4 Person Tent
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. You’re halfway to finding a good tent for your needs.
To help narrow down your options even further, we’ve put together some helpful criteria on the most important features to consider during your search.
Floor Space
While most of the tents on this list are suitable for use by 4 persons, they feature similar measurements. They’re 60 square feet in size on average.
But the key to success when it comes to buying a tent is to ensure that each person has 20 square feet of space to enjoy, which means an 80 square foot tent is more like it if you plan on getting the best out of it.
With that said, if you plan on traveling alone or with one other person, then a 30 square feet tent should do just fine.
It’ll provide enough room to keep you and your companion warm and comfy while fitting easily into your backpack.
Height
The center of the tent should be of a generous height so as to ensure comfortability.
Low ceilings are definitely not the way to go, especially if you’re traveling in a group because they’ll make the space smaller and more difficult to move around.
Tall tents aren’t comfortable for backpacking though because they’re not compact or lightweight enough.
The most important thing is to ensure that the tent you’re buying is large enough for you and your friends or family members that you’re traveling with.
Doors
It’s important to ensure that your tent has more than one door if you’re going to travel as a group because that makes it easier to enter and exit the space without stepping on some else’s toes (literally!).
Type of Trip
If you plan on hiking or climbing during your trip and are going to use that as a means of travel from point A to point B, then you should definitely consider going for a lightweight tent that doesn’t take up much space in your backpack.
It should fold up well and be easy to pack. For the most part, 2 pounds per person is a good rule of thumb to follow.
If you plan on car camping then you can pick any tent with AC opening regardless of size or packing weight because you won’t have to carry it that far from the car to your camping spot.
Season
Most tents fit into the three-season variety which means that they’re good to use in the spring, summer, and fall.
But you also have four-season tents which as the name implies, are suitable for use all year round. These are usually packed with all manner of ventilation and insulation features to ensure comfort throughout.
Obviously, a four-season tent is a good investment because it means that you’ll be able to use it all year round. The only caveat is that this type of tent is usually heavy due to all the features it contains so it’s not the best choice for hikers and backpackers.
Ventilation
Condensation is a common problem with tents, and it tends to happen along the ceiling and walls specifically.
But, you can fight this problem with the right ventilation options including doors, mesh windows, and mesh wall panels.
These can do wonders to keep moisture at bay while keeping the tent cool in the summer. Some tent manufacturers take it a step further by installing ground vents to ensure optimal air circulation even with the openings like doors and windows closed.
Storage
Tents are already small because they’re a makeshift shelter that’s designed for portability. That’s why it helps to ensure that yours has some form of internal storage feature if you want to travel comfortably.
Luckily, most tents come with additional storage space in the form of mesh pockets, vestibules, and gear lofts.
In case you’re wondering, a vestibule is the space provided under the rainfly. Smaller pockets are also great for storing smaller items like keys, chargers, and smartphones and they won’t add any more weight to the tent.
Clip-Ons
Clip-ons and/or sleeves are necessary to connect the tent canopy and poles together. There’s a difference between these two because sleeves offer durability while clip-ons help to optimize airflow.
How Big is a 4 Person Tent?
If you’re going to camp as four average-sized people, then yes because a 4 person tent is designed to fit four adult-sized sleeping bags at once and not much else. This means no extra space for your gear or accessories.
This leads to an uncomfortable situation as most 4 person tents are typically utilized by families with small kids and not groups of adults. For the most part, a 4 person tent can comfortably accommodate up to 3 full-grown adults at the same time as well as their gear.
If you plan on traveling with your three bros on a camping trip, then it’s better to opt for a 6 person or 12 person tent instead.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to announce the winner. Now, we know it’s not fair to play favorites but in this case, we think it’s rather fine to do just that.
In our opinion, the Coleman Sundome Tent takes the prize as the best 4 person tent for all seasons and occasions.
This is mainly because it’s made from premium quality materials, it has spacious dimensions of
60.5 x 16.5 cm when packed, and it’s portable and easy to carry.
It’s also easy to set up, well-ventilated, and comes at an affordable price tag. What’s not to like? Just the single door design, otherwise it’s a great find that offers great value for money.