Dome Tent

When you go camping or backpacking, there are actually a surprising variety of tents available to you. In addition to the classic dome tent there are also many pyramid style tents, for example, that use just a single pole and stakes to create a shelter, and there are also many tarps that people use, in combination with trekking poles or similar poles, to fashion a shelter out of. But the dome tent is a definite classic, and if you’re looking for a tent, there is plenty of options to choose from.

Dome Tent

A few features to look out for when shopping for a new dome tent.

• Lightweight – If you’re going to be carrying your dome tent around in a backpack then you might as well make it as lightweight a tent as possible. There are plenty of heavy tents out there, but not nearly as many lightweight tents, so make sure you do your research on this point (over at the compare tents page, for instance) and find a lightweight dome tent.
• Season Appropriate – Depending on where and when you’re going camping or backpacking, you may want a four season or three season tent. For areas where you will be experiencing high winds, especially, a four season tent is a good choice, as it wont collapse on you halfway through the night.

Best Dome Tent

A few of the very best dome tents that are out there for you to choose from.

• Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent – The entire Fly Creek line from Big Agnes was the 2010 winner of the Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice award. The two person version weighs a scant 2.12 pounds, or 963 grams, and provides 28 square feet of floor space. It’s definitely a three season tent, but a very lightweight three season tent. It also comes in a 1 person, 3 person and 4 person version.
• Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 Tent – Another award winner from Big Agnes, the Copper Spur UL line won the 2008 Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice award. It weighs 3.3 pounds, or 1.57 kilograms, and gives you 29 square feet of floor space to work with. So obviously it’s quite a bit heavier than the Fly Creek, but without much additional floor space. It’s also cheaper than the Fly Creek, however, so that definitely factors in. There is also a 1 person, 3 person and 4 person version.
• The North Face 2-Meter Dome Tent – If what you’re looking for is a true, four season dome tent, then you would be hard pressed to do better than this dome tent from The North Face. The price is daunting, but you get a whole lot of tent for what you pay. It fits 8 people, and with 2 meters of vertical space there is enough room for most people to stand up. You get a total of 125 square feet of floor space, but thoughtful features like dual doors for ventilation, a chimney for cooking vapors to escape and a super durable floor for heavy traffic are what sets this dome tent apart.

Find even more tents of all shapes and sizes over at the compare tents page.