The BEST 4 Person Backpacking Tents [2024] – Reviews & Comparison
Looking for the best 4 person backpacking tent?
Stop searching; this is the right guide for you!
We’ll see the best lightweight 4 person tents available on the market today, with complete reviews & a full comparison table to help you pick the perfect tent for you!
Let’s get to it!
No Time to Waste? Here’s My #1 Favorite!
- Really light
- Spacious
- Lifetime warranty
The Best 4 Man Backpacking Tent for YOU
- THE Best 4 Person Backpacking Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4
- Runner Up 4 Man Backpacking Tent: Kelty Gunnison 4p Backpacking Tent with Footprint
- Best Luxury 4 Person Hiking Tent: MSR Papa Hubba NX 4-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent with Xtreme Waterproof Coating
- Best Budget Lightweight 4 Man Tent: Kelty Grand Mesa 4 Person Tent
- Best Ultralight 4 Person Tent: Black Diamond Floorless Mega Light Tent
- Second Lightest 4 Person Tent: Black Diamond Mega Bug Tent
- Most Spacious 4 Man Hiking Tent: Big Agnes Tumble 4 mtnGLO 4-Person Backpacking Tent
- Best Lightweight 4 Person Tent with Footprint: Marmot Tungsten 4P Tent - Blaze/Steel - O/S
So there you have it, your list of the best 4 man backpacking tents you can buy today. If you want more info about each of these tents, including the best 4 person backpacking tent reviews, key features & photos, keep reading below!
And if you want the full comparison table between all of the tents included in this guide, scroll down to the bottom of the page after the reviews.
The Best Lightweight 4 Person Tents – Product Reviews
A 4 person tent simply defines the size of the tent. But there are actually quite a few different 4 person tents, all with their own features, and which one will be best for you depends a lot on what you’ll use it for: there are tunnel tents and air tents for example.
In this guide, we’re looking exclusively at the 4 person BACKPACKING tents: tents for 4 person that are lightweight & very small once packed away, perfect to fit in your backpack and carry with you when you’re in the outdoors.
I know trying to figure out which product would be the best for you can sometimes be a pain in the ass, when you have so many different options, from so many different brands, and they all look the same.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
I’ve listed below the 4 “best lightweight 4 man tent”; they are all top-notch, and I’m sure they’ll be perfect for you.
Let’s see the reviews!
THE Best 4 Person Backpacking Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4
- Big Agnes
The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4 is our top choice for a 4 person backpacking tent.
It’s the most complete tent out of every tent we’ve reviewed in this category: the lightest 4 person backpacking tent on the market (excluding the shelters we’ll see below), with decent space inside, and it packs up great. We love the complete rain protection, and the lifetime warranty makes it even better!
This tent was awarded the Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice Gold Award in 2017, and you really can’t go wrong with this one!
Check out the Youtube video below to see this tent in action:
Runner Up 4 Man Backpacking Tent: Kelty Gunnison 4 Person Backpacking Tent
- UPDATED LOOK: The Gunnison 4 person camping and backpacking tent features more room for more value....
- FEATURES: Footprint included, 3 Season Rated, Roll-Top cube carry bag, Freestanding design,...
- MATERIAL: Wall material: 68D Polyester / No See-Um Mesh | Floor material: 68D Polyester, 1800 mm |...
The Kelty 4 Person backpacking Tent is our runner up pick for the best four person backpacking tent.
It’s a very spacious tent (it actually ranks #2 in floor area), with great headroom; however even with being spacious, it packs down pretty small which is always a nice thing for a backpacking tent.
We love the included footprint, which is pretty rare nowadays; this makes it a very great value for money product!
Our main regret is the weight, at 9 lbs 6 oz (4.25kg) it’s the heaviest in the list.
Best Luxury 4 Person Hiking Tent: MSR Papa Hubba NX 4 Person
- 3-season, 4-person backpacking tent that offers the most livable accommodations in a lightweight...
- Pole geometry maximizes space with 53 sq. feet of floor area, interior peak height of 44 inches,...
- Complete setup weighs 7 lbs. and packs down to 21x7 inches; minimalist setup option uses footprint,...
The MSR Papa Hubba NX 4 is our pick for the best luxury 4 person tent for backpacking.
It’s a durable tent, waterproof and the squat design makes it able to withstand winds. It will last you for a long time, and it comes with a 3 year warranty.
The wind resistant design means there is less headroom than in other tents, which might be annoying for you if you’re not a fan of confined spaces (check out the best tall tents for 4 person instead)
Best Budget Lightweight 4 Man Tent: Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
- Kelty Grand Mesa 4, this four person camping tent provides excellent value and performance for...
- Freestanding design is easy to move around for ideal campsite placement, Includes Stuff Sack and...
- Color-coded clip construction that eliminates the hassle of feeding poles through cumbersome tent...
The Kelty Grand Mesa is our pick for the best budget 4 person backpacking tent.
It has a couple key points that make it a great tent for backpackers: it’s the tallest tent out of those we’ve reviewed, and it also has the smallest pack size, perfect to fit it in your backpack.
Because it’s so cheap compared to the other tents in this list, you lose a bit of features: it only has 1 door, and only 1 vestibule which means less space for gear storage.
Overall a very great pick if you’re put off by the higher price point of the other tents in this list.
Best Ultralight 4 Person Tent: Black Diamond Floorless Mega Light Tent
- Model Number : 360415
- The Package Height Of The Product Is 19.05 Centimeters
- The Package Length Of The Product Is 40.89 Centimeters
Looking to go ultralight? The Black Diamond Floorless Mega Light Tent is our pick for the lightest 4 man tent.
At 2 lbs 13 oz (1.28kg), you’d be hard-pressed to find a better 4 person ultralight tent. It has a great headroom, and it packs down very small (smallest pack size in the list).
Of course to achieve this kind of weight you have to lose some of the comfort; this is not really a tent but more of a shelter: there is no floor, so it’s best to use in bug-free environments.
Second Lightest 4 Person Tent: Black Diamond Mega Bug Tent
- Product Type: Tent
- Item Package Dimensions: 18.541 L X 40.894 W X 16.002 H (Cm)
- Country Of Origin: China
If you want to go as light as possible with ultralight 4 person tents, there is another option: the Black Diamond Mega Bug Tent.
This lightweight 4 man backpacking tent is almost as light as the one above, but made for different environments. This one is best for dry weather, and provides a bug-free space to sleep.
Alternatively, you can combine the 2 (floorless & bug tent) to have a great light tent, which will still be lighter than any other option on the market.
Most Spacious 4 Man Hiking Tent: Big Agnes Tumble 4 mtnGLO
If you’re looking for a spacious tent which is lightweight to take with you on backpacking trips, the Big Agnes Tumble 4 mtnGLO is the perfect choice for you.
This tent is the most spacious 4 person tent that is light enough to be considered a backpacking tent. With 60 sq. feet of floor area (5.6 sq. meters) and 2 vestibules, there is plenty of space to be comfy inside.
We love the built-in tent light, which is very convenient when looking for stuff at night or when getting ready before the sun rises to go catch that sweet sunrise.
That much space makes it a bit heavy & large when packed, but it still remains a good fit for backpacking.
Best Lightweight 4 Person Tent with Footprint: Marmot Tungsten 4 Person Tent
- Marmot Tungsten 4p Tent Blaze Steel OneSize
And finally the Marmot Tungsten 4 Person Tent is our pick for a great lightweight 4 person tent with a footprint.
If you want to extend the durability of your tent, or simply if you’re planning to camp on difficult terrain, it’s great to have a footprint for your tent; you usually have to buy one, which adds to the budget. This is why it’s great to find a lightweight tent with an included footprint!
It does get on the heavy side with the footprint, but it’s obvious that carrying an extra footprint will add to the overall weight; you can leave the footprint at home for situations where you don’t need it.
So there you have them, the best 4 person backpacking tents; I hope you’ll find one that is perfect for what you need!
Still can’t decide between all of these models? Scroll down below to see the comparison table to have all of the info at a glance!
Full Comparison Table
If you’re still hesitating between all of the models included in the list above, let me tell you this: you can’t go wrong with any of the tents of this guide. They are all the top products of their category, the lightweight 4 person backpacking tents.
Which tent you will end up picking comes down to personal preference: do you want the lightest tent possible? Do you want the most space? Or maybe you need an included footprint?
In any case, I will make it extra easy for you to take your decision based on your needs: you will find all of the specs in the comparison table below.
I’ve left off the 2 ultralight tents that are more shelters than actual tents, to simplify the table.
So there you have it, the full comparison table to help you find the best 4 person tent for backpacking with your friends & family.
What Makes a Great Four Person Backpacking Tent?
The best 4 person hiking tent is a tent you can carry on your back all day long during your hikes, and that has enough space to fit several people. The 2 most obvious elements you need to look for in this kind of tents are related to the portability: packed size & weight.
However there are other key elements to pay attention to on top of these 2, and we’ll go over each of them.
Light Weight
Let’s start with the most obvious: the tent needs to be lightweight.
You’re going to be carrying it on your back the whole day, so the last thing you need is for your tent to break your back.
All of the tents we picked are under 9 lbs 6 oz (4.25 kg). This is heavier than what would usually be considered a light weight tent, but remember that these are 4 person tents which inevitably makes them heavier.
Lightest tent in the list: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4 at 5 lbs 10 oz / 2.55kg (the 2 shelters are lightest, but not really full blown tents)
Small Packed Size
Imagine the scene: you buy a backpacking tent but when comes time to pack your gear, you realize your tent doesn’t fit in your bag.
Ugh I hope you never get in that situation.
To avoid this nightmare, you need to look at the packed size of the tent to make sure it will fit in your bag. The smaller it gets, the better.
Smallest packed size tent in the list: Kelty Grand Mesa at 12 x 5 inches / 30 x 12 cm (the 2 shelters are smaller, but not really full blown tents)
Plenty of Space
If you’re looking for a 4 person tent, chances are that you want to fit several people in there. Make sure there will be enough space for everyone in the tent and that you will all be comfy by looking at the floor area; the bigger the better.
Most spacious tent in the list: Big Agnes Tumble at 60 sq. feet / 5.6 sq. meters
Tall Enough to Sit Down
You won’t be able to find a 4 person backpacking tent where you can fully stand up; it would need too much fabric, making it bulky & heavy.
However because we’re looking at 4 person tents, we can definitely find tents in which we can sit down without having our head touch the top of the tent. You’ll need in average more than 36″ to be able to sit in your tent (92cm).
Tallest tent in the list: Kelty Grand Mesa at 56 inches / 1m42
Waterproof
When going car camping, you have more freedom to adjust your plans based on the weather.
When going backpacking, you can’t really change your plans. You’re out there, and you don’t have any other choice than camp. It’s pouring rain? Well too bad, you’ll have to sleep in your tent anyway.
Waterproof tents in the list: All of the tents included in this guide are waterproof, so that you’ll never have to worry about staying dry under bad weather.
Includes a Footprint
A footprint is an extra piece of fabric that you lay under the tent to extend the durability of the tent floor, and to prevent muddy terrain from soaking your tent.
Because we’re usually trying to go as light as possible when going backpacking, we’re often not bringing footprints with us. However, backpacking tents are thinner and thinner, and the fabric of the tents can be damaged quicker.
In some situations where you know you’ll be camping on difficult terrain, or if you’re expecting a lot of rain, it can be great to bring a footprint. Most tents require to buy an additional footprint, but some come with one included.
Tents in the list with included footprints: Kelty Gunnison and Marmot Tungsten
2 Doors for Convenience
When it’s only you in the tent, having only 1 door is not that much of a problem. But when there’s several people in the same tent, it’s best to have several doors: it will allow people to go in & out of the tent much easier, without having to climb over everyone to go pee in the middle of the night.
Tents in the list with 2 doors: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL, Kelty Gunnison, Big Agnes 4 person backpacking tent, Marmot Tungsten
2 Vestibules for Gear Storage
And finally the last feature we’re looking at is how many vestibules does the tent have.
A vestibule is an extra space on the side of the tent, covered by the rainfly. It creates extra protected space, which is perfect to store your gear without cramping up the tent.
Having 2 vestibules is the best for a 4 person backpacking tent, and everyone will have space to store their gear.
Tents in the list with 2 vestibules: All except the budget pick, the Kelty Grand Mesa 4 person lightweight backpacking tent.
Aaand there you have them all, the main elements we’ve taken into consideration to pick the very best lightweight 4 man tents for you in this guide, and that you can use in the future to evaluate if a tent is a great pick for what you need.
Things to Know About Tent Size
Tent size is a tricky subject.
Most of the time, tents are grouped by size, depending on how many people can sleep inside: 1 person tents, 2 person tents, 4 person tents, and so on.
But how do tents manufacturers define how many people can sleep inside?
They just see how many people can lay down inside the tent, taking all space available.
This means sleeping in a camping bag, with almost no space between people, and it might mean sleeping with heads next to feet.
It also means there will be no extra space for your gear.
Want to be comfortable in your tent? Then you will often have to buy a bigger size tent to make sure that:
- you have enough space to be comfortable
- you have space for your gear
- you can fit inflatable beds
With that being said, some tents are very spacious. It might be listed as a 4 person tent & be very spacious, meaning you’ll fit as 4 + your gear.
If you’re going on a backpacking trip, then size & weight of the tent are very important; in this case, you’ll probably want to get the regular size.
Now that you know what to expect for tent size, you’ll find below guides for other tent sizes that you might want to check out:
1 person:
2 person:
3 person:
4 person: Full Guide to the Best 4 Person Tents
6 person: Full Guide to the Best 6 Person Tents
8 person: Full Guide to the Best 8 Person Tents
10 person:
12 person: Full Guide to the Best 12 Person Tents
Final Thoughts
All of the 4 man backpacking tents included in this guide are solid choices, and which one will be the best for you depends on your specific needs.
After a full review of the best options available on the market, our overall best choice is the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4.
It’s one of the lightest 4 person tents on the market, and it’s impressively spacious for a tent that light. It even comes with a lifetime warranty, making it a great tent to carry around with you on your backpacking expeditions!
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