Kelty Camp Cabin, Best for Festival Camping
When heading out for a concert or an outdoor festival, campers need room to move as they get ready — and spacious accommodations are even more vital after the party. The Kelty Camp Cabins earned props from testers as the ultimate festival tent during regular outings to Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater. During testing in the breezy coulee country of the Columbia River basin, the Camp Cabin provided solid shelter for four revelers, with plenty of headroom for even the 6-footers to stand up with getting dressed. The 62 square feet of floor space allowed each camper room to sprawl out in sleep, without interfering with their neighbors. The rainfly shed light rain and strong winds with ease. $229.95. Details Here.
TNF Homestead Roomy 2, Best for casual backpack camping
The North Face has a history of making gear suitable for epic adventures, but the Homestead Roomy 2 shows the brand knows what’s need for casual weekend outings. Though not the lightest tent on the market, the Homestead 2 offers novice campers a stormproof shelter with an abundance of room. The classic dome design is upgraded with a pair of ‘spreader’ poles in the roof to push the walls out at a steeper angle, making the entire 39 square feet of floor space usable. The 6-pound trail weight is substantial but it isn’t excessive, and the added weight means greater in-camp comfortable in a weather-tight shelter. $229.95. Details here.
Hilleberg Rogen, Best for extended backpacking
Spending nearly 24 hours holed up inside a during a raging thunderstorm high in the mountains would normally level two hikers ready to trade punches. But after such a storm stranded two of us in the Hilleberg Rogen deep in North Cascades National Park, we found no symptoms of cabin fever, thanks to the remarkably comfortable and secure shelter we had. The Rogen’s two doors ensured occupants didn’t have to step on each other to make dashes out to take care of personal business, and the roomy interior allowed space to stretch out. Dual vestibules keep held extra gear secure without wasting interior space. And the freestanding tent weighs just 4 pounds, 10 ounces. $765. Details here.
Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6, Best for Remote Car Camping
The gods of weather care nothing for the best-laid plans of campers, and at times storms will force campers to seek shelter—sometimes for days at a time—in their tent. The Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6 provides incredible security even in gale-force conditions on the Oregon Coast, and the roomy tent harbors several campers without feeling overcrowded. The two-stage tent provides a ‘sleeping nook’ in the rear, and a big central room in front. The nearly 100 square feet of floor space allowed some campers to nap undisturbed, while others sat and played cards. Details here.
MSR Remote 2, Best for winter camping & mountaineering
MSR has a reputation for making some of the best expedition-quality gear and their new Remote 2 mountaineering tent lives up that reputation. The Remote 2 provides plenty of livable space in a stormproof tent suitable for the harshest alpine environments. During a week of testing on the flanks of Mount Rainier, the Remote 2 was buffeted by 40-mph winds and blanketed with heavy, wet snow. Even with its huge vestibule (22 square feet), the fly stretches taut enough that wind and snow slid right off. The 77 square feet of interior floor space is all usable thanks to steep walls and an impressive 44-inch peak height. $799.95. Details here.
