The Best Three-Season Tents for 2024 (2024)

Reviewedby Sean Van Cleve

The Hilleberg Helags 3 is a three-season tent designed for groups looking for excellent protection in a lightweight package. Although a bit tight for three people and their gear, this tent has superb livability for two people (a Helags 2 is also available). Excellent ventilation combats condensation well in such a large tent. Two doors/two vestibules allow for plenty of gear, and a 35-inch/89cm center height works well for most hikers.

As outdoor recreation is coming to an all-time high, a need for versatility can really come into play. Hilleberg has introduced a new line to its tents, and the Helags is quite the mobile home. Hilleberg proclaims:"Backpackers, paddlers, and bicycle tourers will all love its lightweight roominess, and since the Helags 3 weighs just 7oz (200g) more than the Helags 2, sizing up is an easy choice for those wanting even more comfort."Those who are familiar with Hilleberg products tend to unanimously agree on at least one word—quality.

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Reviewedby Sheila Bergin Goss

The Blacktail 3 Hotel is part of the Big Agnes company’s longest-running tent series. It is a well-made, comfortable, and roomy three-person, free-standing tent with many useful features, perfect for weekend backpacking, car camping, and canoe camping. The Blacktail Hotel 3 has a huge extended side-entry vestibule, attached to the fly, which provides a safe and weather resistant place to stash your extra gear or your wet dogs! It has been easy to acclimate myself to its setup procedures, and I have successfully used it in various weather conditions while canoe camping. My husband and I will continue to use it this fall on additional canoe camping trips, as well as an occasional campground outing.

INTRODUCTION: The Big Agnes Blacktail 3 Hotel is the newest incarnation of the long-running Blacktail series of Big Agnes tents. This three-season tent is designed as a backpacking tent, but I have found that it is an excellent choice for canoe camping. I am testing the three-person tent, though it is also available in a two-person version. Our canoe camping season had a delayed start due to pandemic restrictions and closures, but since mid-June I have been able to utilize the tent on seven solo canoe camping trips, which included camping in heat, wind, showers, frost (28 f.) and torrential rain.

Read more: Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel 3 review(1)

Reviewedby LoneStranger

The Serenity UL NetTent from Six Moon Designs works great as part of a primary shelter system, but is light enough to carry as a secondary option. So many ways to set up in shelters, under tarps, or open to the sky makes it great for distance hiking.

Just add six stakes and a hiking poleSince I was going to be testing the Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape I figured I would try out their Serenity UL NetTent along with it. The two are designed to work together well and they do, but I used the tent on its own much more. SMD offers them bundled together or individually. Six stakes and a support pole are needed for best standalone erection and are not included. Let's take a good look at the tent and its features, then I will get into how I used it with tarps and in shelters.

Read more: Six Moon Designs Serenity Ultralight NetTent review(1)

Featured reviewby Wade In The Water

The Copper Spur HV UL2 and UL2... A Tale of Two Tents.

Big Agnes has been around for about twenty years. Should you require it, their outstanding customer service could not possibly be improved upon. Their stated goal is to produce the best gear possible to help folks get outside and chase their dreams. I think they stand true to that goal. You can learn more about them here: https://www.bigagnes.com/our-story. Copper Spur is the name of this product line. UL stands for ultralight [weight] and 2 is for the number of persons it's designed to fit; provided you don't mind touching.

Read more: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 reviews(5)

Featured reviewby Pixie Poo

Cheap, light, resilient; a quality clone of the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2.

IMPORTANT MODEL NOTE: I have an older, out-of-production version. The new (current) is about 150 grams heavier, has more pole structure at the rear, a ventilation flap, and mid-fin side guys. Setup:Very easy, though a little thought is required for a taut pitch. The basic pitch is inner first: an aluminium pole structure (all-in-one, on a hub) overlaid on the inner, the inner clips to the poles, then a fly is put over. With a pitch or two of experience it is second nature. There is very little one can do wrong, no ambiguous poles for example, but one should remember to attach the bathtub sides to the rain fly.

Read more: Naturehike Cloud UP 2 reviews(3)

Featured reviewby Colcam

The Base Camp 6 is by far, the best tent I have ever had, REI or not, and this is my 7th tent. I wore out the other 6 with long, heavy use.

Easy to set up with two people, but can be done with one, just takes longer.Color coded poles are a dream. Very sturdy in high winds especially for such a large tent. "Bombproof."Does a good job of keeping out the rain and wind. Haven't been in snow and cold yet, but it's so huge that it would be hard to warm up that much space with body heat alone.Packs beautifully in a multi compartmented storage bag. A place for everything, and everything in its place. Packs nicely especially in the Thule top box.

Read more: REI Base Camp 6 reviews(7)

Featured reviewby Ann Cashell

This is a solid freestanding, three-season tent that fits two people with ease. It's lightweight, breathable, and compact—perfect for all your backpacking and camping needs.

I got this tent on sale hoping it would make me go hiking more, and honestly it has. The first time I used it was with a college friend after driving to Mammoth Caves for a night. We got in late, and I was a little worried about getting the tent up and ready before it got too dark.The first time I opened the stuff sack, everything was neatly in place and easy to find. I'm usually not the best with tents, but had no problem with this one. The poles were easy to attach and everything fit together well.

Read more: REI Passage 2 Tent reviews(5)

Featured reviewby Hans Erdman

My third Timberline in progression, 2 to 4 to 6 person. Only one tent in the world I like better and it costs 3x more. This is the tent I have always wanted.

Camping with the Timberline SQInterior shot, solo campingBought my first Timberline, atwo-person, in 1983 at LL Bean when a Maine Nor'easter smashed our dome tent. Used it for 19 years, including 4 years of volunteer tail patrol in the Adirondacks and an epic bikepacking trip across NW Russia (my granddaughters still borrow it on occasion). So to upgrade to a 4-person in 2002 was a no-brainer. My wife and I still use the 4 on solo trips and canoe camping. All along I've drooled over the Outfitter 6, and in 2021 my wife gave me one for Father's Day.

Read more: Eureka! Timberline SQ Outfitter 6 reviews(12)

What a GREAT tent... My first concern when I purchased this tent was the color, Citrus green?? I saw the blue tent offered by Mountainsmith, it stuck out like a turd in a punch bowl! The Citrus green actually does blend well with a green environment. The most impressive feature to me, is the ability for one person to put this tent up in 2 minutes the first try!! The aluminum poles are sturdy and of nice quality. The tent stakes are a perfect design, small, light weight and shaped into a "V" shape with hooks at the top to catch your guy lines or tie down straps.

Read more: Mountainsmith Morrison 2 reviews(7)

Featured reviewby Will Weston

Robust yet lightweight three-season solo tent. Space inside and especially in the porch is excellent. Headroom OK for those up to 6 feet.

Enan next to Angle Tarn, CumbriaThese are my initial thoughts on the HillebergEnan, something which I see as a "Mark 2" to the popularAkto. For those wanting to skip to the executive summary—after 20 nights it seems to be great tent for my needs (This initial review is based on my first two nights, but nothing I've learned since contradicts my initial thoughts). Lightweight (albeit notultralight) – 1200 gRobust / WeatherproofFlysheet first pitchingGood size inside, and it hasjustenough headroom.

Read more: Hilleberg Enan reviews(3)