Top Two-Person Tents for 2025: Tested by Hardcore Camping Enthusiasts

In our experience, two-person tents are probably the most popular size of tent chosen by hikers, backpackers, and even bikepackers. This is because while they're obviously designed to sleep two people, solo backpackers also often favour them for the extra space on offer.

Granted, there are one-person tents if you want an even lighter, more compact shelter, or bivvy bags for the ultimate low-weight overnight experience. But for often less than 2.5kg, you can have it all with a two-person tent – sturdy weather protection, superb liveability and excellent features.

Over the decades (and it really has been decades) our outdoor writers and gear testers at LFTO and Trail magazine have used and abused hundreds of two-person tents in real-world, often gnarly conditions in the British hills and mountains.

Over that time we’ve seen lightweight backpacking tents evolve from simple tarp or dome style tents into the high-tech, low weight models you see today. But how do you choose the right two-person tent for your adventure? There’s so much to consider – weight, size, durability, features, comfort, price, and of course sustainability.

There really is a lot to think about. For example, tents with a low-to-the-ground, aerodynamic profile will shed wind better, but the most comfortable tents have roomy interiors with vertical walls and ample headroom. If you’re carrying a tent up a mountain, you’ll want it to weigh as little as possible – but the lighter it is, the less robust or more expensive it’ll be.

We’ve done the hard work for you by testing a range of two person tents in, around, and on the UK hills and whittling them down to our few favourites. We’ll be stunned if one of these doesn’t match the requirements of you and your tent-mate – whoever they may be. Read more about how we test .

How we tested the best two-person tents

We take our test tents out on proper excursions. Two-person hiking tents we tested spent many hours pitched on hillsides. We, of course, use them for sleeping in on our trips, but we also spend a lot of time examining every detail about them, from living space and ease of pitching to material quality and sustainability.

The two-person tents recommended here were tested by James Forrest and Matt Jones – two of the UK's leading and most experienced outdoor writers. James is our Lake District-based freelance writer who is a highly experienced backpackers and wild camper.

Matt is a former outdoor magazine editor and now a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park. He is one of the most well known and experienced outdoor writers in the UK.

The best two-person tents reviewed:

What to look for in a two-person tent

What tent shape is best?

Tunnel tents and geodesic tents are the most stable shapes and best for dealing with stroppy weather. The latter are the best for use in winter and the harshest conditions but are also the least spacious inside and heavier thanks to more poles and often tougher fabrics. Tunnel tents are very popular because they can be compact and lightweight, yet quite spacious and weatherproof too.

Dome tents are a common sight too, and vary quite a lot in design. They benefit from being freestanding and some are very stable. That said, there are certain dome tents that are less suited to strong winds because they have more upright walls to boost internal space, but at the expense of some stability.

What is the ideal weight and packed size for a two-person tent?

When it comes to lightweight tents, users often size up especially for longer trips because of the extra space available in return for a marginal size and weight increase. So, a solo backpacker will often treat themselves to a two-person tent; a pair upgrade to a three-person tent , and so on.

Ultimately, consider your rucksack size and volume, and be sure to check dimensions of a tent's packed size before committing to it. For a good quality, 3-season tent, 1kg or under is extremely light, 1.5kg is good, and more than 2kg is a tad on the heavy side.

How much internal space should a two-person tent have?

For two people to fit, you want a minimum of 60cm of shoulder width per person and a length of at least 2.1 metres. Some tents are asymmetric and are narrower at one end than the other. In terms of height, at least a metre allows you to sit upright, and for vestibule space, well, the more the better.

Do two-person tents pitch differently?

Some tents, particularly from US brands, are pitched inner first because they are best suited to warmer conditions and often used without the flysheet. But, it isn't ideal if it's raining. Others are pitched outer first or all-as-one, enabling the inner to be kept dry while the flysheet is pegged out.

Whichever design you opt for, rest assured that tents these days are all easy to pitch thanks to simple innovations like colour coded poles. It's been a few years since we've come across a backpacking tent that was tricky to pitch.

How do I ensure my two-person tent is weatherproof?

In addition to the overall shape, which we've mentioned above, for an indication of how waterproof a tent really is, check the hydrostatic head of the flysheet and groundsheet. A lot of lightweight tents' waterproof ratings may seem disappointingly low. However, many other factors, including silicone or PU coatings, the tent's shape, sealed seams, and the tightness of a fabric's weave, affect waterproofing.

As a rule of thumb, however, 2000mm HH for the flysheet and 4000mm HH for the groundsheet are good baselines for a tent if you're expecting to encounter heavy rain on your adventures. You can also boost underfloor water resistance with the use of a tent footprint.

Another key component of a tent's weather resistance is the flysheet.

For maximum weatherproofing, a tent's flysheet – the waterproof outer – should peg out flush to the ground and be easily adjustable via tension straps so that it's taut, stable and well-shaped. Some flysheets don't quite reach the ground, which aids ventilation but risks water ingress and draughtiness.

Why is ventilation important?

Condensation can be difficult to avoid in humid and wet climates, so good ventilation is key. Mesh vents on the inner and vent windows on the flysheet will help increase airflow, as will mesh panels on the inner's walls. Good clearance between the inner and outer is very important too.

What other features should I consider?

Other important features include: a good-sized porch for stashing your backpack and boots, a wide door for easy entry and exit, sufficient length and width for lying down (check carefully if you're 6ft+), a stormflap over the main zipper, internal pockets for gear organisation, an easy-to-fill carry bag, strong poles, good pegs, sturdy pegging out loops and robust guy lines.

How do I clean my tent?

To maintain the performance and waterproofing of your tent, you need to care for and clean them properly. You wouldn't reasonably expect longevity out of anything that isn't cared for.

Tent cleaning and care is easy and primarily involves cleaning them after use with the correct cleaning products and making sure they're completely dry before storing them away.

If your tent is in need of a repair, get in touch with a specialist repair agent such as Lancashire Sports Repairs , or the retailer/manufacturer. Outdoor gear repair services are continually improving as both brands and customers aim to be more sustainable (repair is also much cheaper than replacing).

You can also waterproof a tent yourself if the seams or fabric starts leaking.

About the author

James Forrest is a prolific peak bagger and long-distance walker who’s one of the most high-profile outdoor writers in the UK. He writes regular features and route guides for Trail and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years.

James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells. James reviews every type of outdoor kit for Trail and is a real authority on everything you need for wild camping and packing light for a multi-day walk.