We can all agree that camping is fun. But nothing ruins a trip faster than having uncertain shelter. The last thing you want is a tent that will fly this way and that at the slightest hint of wind. And in the spirit of adventure, we’re going to share with you the best tents for high winds.
These high wind resistant tents are the best form of shelter to have when traveling in high wind conditions. And you can rest assured that we’ve made sure to include an option for everyone regardless of your unique circumstances, budget, and needs.
Table of Contents
Best Tents for Windy Conditions
And so it begins! Our quest for the best tents for windy conditions starts here, and hopefully, by the time you get to the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which tent you should opt for:
1. Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent
The CORE Dome Tent is considered to be the best tent for high winds due to its unique construction and wide dimensions. It’s 72 inches high in the middle with a rainfly that covers the entire thing to keep you and your party of 9 securely sheltered.
This tent comes together with fiberglass poles that have built-in shock cords for added durability. Other great features include an electric cord port to help power your devices during your trip, a lightweight hammock, pockets for extra storage all along the walls, and a lantern hook right in the middle.
The only downside is that although this tent is large enough to accommodate two queen air mattresses and up to 9 adults, there’s only one entrance. But, this is a small price to pay for a tent that’s so tough that users laud it for its ability to stand up to both wind and hail at the same time.
And all of this from a tent that can be set up in just 10 minutes. Just make sure to replace the stakes it comes with first to really get the most out of it. Sure, it’s an extra expense but it’s an investment that’ll enable you to enjoy your tent for many years to come.
2. High Peak Outdoors Pacific Crest Tent
The Pacific Crest tent from High Peak isn’t the largest option out of our selection of the best wind resistant tents, but it makes up for this with its combination of useful features. For example, it comes with a full rain cover and a large vestibule to protect it from the elements while providing more than enough ventilation.
It’s 53 inches high inside and lightweight enough to carry and travel with anywhere. Fiberglass poles hold this tent up and it has a useful and practical tub-style floor that helps to prevent condensation and water from building up into a puddle inside. Another handy feature of this tent is the dedicated lantern hanging mechanism which really comes in handy in the evenings.
As you may have guessed, this tent is only designed to accommodate up to 2 people at a time but the vestibule opens up the space by providing you with extra gear storage.
Some of the issues reported by users of this tent include lack of ventilation and protection from heavy rain. But, it will definitely stand up to high winds if that’s what you’re most worried about.
3. NTK Laredo GT Camping Tent
The NTK Laredo GT is a windproof tent suitable to fit 8 people with plenty of headroom for tall users at 74 inches in the center. For optimal weather protection and comfort, there’s an aluminum and polyurethane coated and well-ventilated rainfly with head-sealed seams. There’s only one door though, with an overhang and no vestibule.
To keep it standing, this high wind tent comes with special NANOFLEX fiberglass poles that have built-in shock cords in them. It’s also very well-ventilated thanks to its extra fine mesh interior which also serves to keep bugs away while providing you with all the privacy you need.
Other great features of this tent include the anti-fungal floor which has been treated with a thermal silver coating to prevent condensation and this works in tandem with its tub design to achieve the same.
We especially like the fact that this tent’s rainfly goes all the way to the ground to provide even more protection from the elements and you can easily fit two queen-sized mattresses in here if you wanted to.
4. Eureka Alpenlite XT Backpacking Tent
The Alpenlite XT from Eureka is a mid-tier option for regular adventurers who like camping in pairs. It’s only big enough to accommodate two people after all.
Eureka is one of the most well-known brands in the world when it comes to manufacturing tents and adventure gear and they certainly don’t disappoint with this model.
This is one durable tent that can handle whatever mother nature throws at it but this comes at a price.
It’s much heavier than expected and more suited to car camping but it’s a great investment. It also comes in various creative colors from bright to camouflage ones.
5. NTK Arizona GT Sport Camping Tent
Next in our quest for the best tents for high winds is the NTK Arizona. With a 72-inch center height, this tent is large enough to accommodate up to 8 people and the best part is that it comes with a divider that separates it into two different rooms for privacy and storage.
Notable features include heat-sealed seams and a large rainfly to protect it from the elements while optimizing ventilation. It stands on NANOFLEX fiberglass poles which you may have seen on a few of these tents thus far and this gives shape to the tent’s 140 square feet of size.
The antifungal floor is coated with thermal silver to further protect it from the effects of liquid exposure, while the walls are lined with storage pockets for your convenience.
This model is pretty well ventilated, considering that it comes with two doors and three windows as well as the rainfly of course. And its rounded sleek frame means that you can position it in a way that makes it favorable when the wind hits. Speaking of which, you’ll be glad to know that this tent is super easy to set up which is great considering how big it is.
6. ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 4-Person Tent
If you’re looking for the best tents for high winds for you and a couple of friends, then look no further. It’s perfect for general outdoor camping and it’s proven to be resistant to wind, rain, and even storms which is a lot considering the fact that it’s in the middle range, price-wise.
All of this is made possible by its hard wearing poles and bathtub-style floor to make sure that it can keep up to 4 inches of water out.
It has a traditional frame with a dome shape that’s kept up by a single-pole intersection. What does this mean? That setting this tent up is super easy even for beginners and it can handle a lot of abuse and regular use.
To ensure proper airflow, it comes with a meshed roof, 2 openings on the front and back as well as a du of meshed doors. Although this is great for your ventilation, this also means that your privacy may be compromised because the windows can’t be closed and only the mesh stands between you and the elements. But then you have the rainfly to cover you.
7. MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Backpacking Tent
MSR’s Hubba Hubba NX 2 definitely deserves the distinction of being one of the best tents for high winds. Although portable and lightweight, it provides the perfect protection from even the most hectic wind and weather conditions.
Being a backpacking tent it’s very light and easy to set up and pack and it’s made from high-quality nylon fabric that can handle all that you can throw at it. In fact, it’s so well made that it can withstand winds going up to 60 mph.
Now you would assume that a tent that durable would come with a whole complicated design but not this one. It actually follows a simple hub and pole system that anyone can figure out.
The only issue is that the mesh parts might be susceptible to getting wet so that’s something you’ll have to watch out for.
8. FLYTOP Double Layer Backpacking Tent
Next, we have the perfect backpacking tent for budget shoppers. It offers plenty of protection from the rain and wind particularly through a series of features that make it incredibly useful for use all year round.
We were pleasantly surprised to notice that it’s made from premium quality materials to weather all conditions despite its relatively reasonable price. This includes anti-tear polyester fabric which can stand up to wind, rain, and even snow so no matter the weather you will be comfortable in this tent.
Another benefit of this tent is the fact that it can be set up on uneven terrain and this stability is conferred to its by its aluminum poles and thick walls. However, both features also make this tent heavy to carry.
There’s also a rainfly to provide more protection and extra vestibule space. This is in addition to multiple small windows to make sure that there’s ample airflow and this really comes in handy when it’s hot and humid.
How to Pick the Best Tents for High Winds
Well, now you know what we consider to be the best tents for high winds. How do you pick out a favorite that works for you? Keep reading to find out!
Durability
Your tent’s durability will largely be determined by factors such as its weight and price as well as the materials it’s made from.
The heavier a tent is, the more durable it is and the better it’s able to mount a defense against the elements. Lightweight tents are easy to carry and move around with but they are also very fragile though.
Height
Next, think about how much height you want your tent to have.
If you’re going to be traveling with tall companions or plan to accommodate people of different heights in the future, then you should ensure that it’s a tall tent that stands at about 70 inches or so at the center.
However, lower tents tend to offer better resistance to strong winds so there’s that to think about so perhaps you’ll want something that offers the best of both worlds.
Weight
Make sure you look at the watch’s weight.
The larger it is, the better its chances of standing up to high winds and other extreme weather conditions. A large tent will also be roomy enough to accommodate more people and gear.
With that said, heavier tents are usually also heavier so you have to consider that too if you’re an avid backpacker. But they’re more than suitable for car camping.
Shape
Your tent’s shape will also play a role in its ability to handle high wind conditions.
For the most part, A-frame tents tend to be more vulnerable while dome tents are more apt to stay balanced and sturdy no matter what happens. Also, elongated tents work similarly thanks to having a narrow frame.
Doors
When it comes to outdoor camping, the more doors you have the better, especially if you plan on camping with multiple people.
However, if the place you’re setting up at is famed for having high winds then you’ll want to stick to one door or entrance instead.
While this might make it a pain for you to enter and exit the tent it’ll definitely protect you from the wind and keep the whole structure stable.
Other door features to consider include sealed door seams that help to fortify the structure even more from the elements, while windows should be easy to open and close as well.
Stability
Tent stability is largely dependent on how its poles are configured as well as their quality. This is in addition to considerations like the quality of the stakes and how the guy lines are positioned.
Ideally, you want your tent to have longer stakes so that you can really drill them into the ground and you also want as many guy lines as possible as well.
Poles
We also want you to consider the poles used to keep your tent up.
The more poles a tent has, the stronger it is against the elements and materials like aluminum are great for poles because it’s lightweight yet durable and sturdy.
Most reasonably priced tents come with fiberglass poles instead which are actually heavier than most people imagine and can be difficult to set up.
Price
Price is another important variable to consider when shopping for the best tents for high winds because hey, everyone has a budget right.
It all depends on what your budget is of course as well as things like your camping style and how often you actually go out camping. This will determine how much of an investment you’re willing to make in a tent that’ll last for a long time.
We have both premium quality and budget options to choose from on this list so you’re truly spoilt for choice.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! Now you’re ready to find the best tents for high winds. If we were to pick just one option, it would be the Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent. Not only is Core a reliable brand, but their 9-person dome tent is perfect for use all year round even in windy conditions.
Although it has a 72-inch center height and can accommodate 9 people at once, it’s easy to set up in just 10 minutes.