The traditional design, when it comes to tents, is the dome. It works well, but it’s also not the only option. Tunnel tents are another popular shape that do very well for a few different reasons, particularly for 4 season camping. For one, the round tunnel shape makes them well suited to strong winds. And being round they also shed moisture very well. But perhaps the biggest advantage of a tunnel tent is that you get a lot of overhead room, which makes for a roomy tent inside.
Tunnel Tents
What to look for when you're reviewing tunnel tents.- Weight – As with any other tent, one thing that you need to consider is the weight of any tunnel tents you are considering. If you’re going to be carrying this tent, after all, it’s in your own interest to get a lightweight tunnel tent. That way, you wont have to be carrying a big, heavy tent around with you.
- Season – The tunnel tent design makes it ideally suited to four season weather. Which is not to say that you couldn’t use a tunnel tent in summer conditions, but just that a tunnel tent might be overdoing it for three season camping. So consider when you will be using your tent when deciding on a tunnel tent.
Best Tunnel Tents
There aren't many, but here are some of the best tunnel tents.- Marmot Widi - The Widi is a great, modern take on the classic tunnel tent design. Like most tunnel tents it's meant to survive in all four seasons. There's 30.6 square feet of floor space, which is enough for 2 people, and is designed with an inner wall and a rain fly, so that you can get some extra ventilation when there's no chance of rain or snow. There's also some vestibule space, but just one door. The whole thing weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces, or 3.37 kilograms.
- Exped Orion - The Orion is a tunnel tent with a third pole arching across the two tunnel portions, which provides a bit more strength and plenty of vestibule room at each of the two doors. Inside there is 29 square feet of floor space, which enough room for two to sleep, and you are protected from the elements by an inner wall and a removable rain fly. Just like the other two tunnel tents on this list, this is a four season tent, ideal for the worst winter conditions. The whole thing weighs 8.2 pounds, or 3.7 kilograms.
- MSR Dragontail - The Dragontail is a true four season, tunnel tent. It uses three tunnel ribs, instead of two, to provide you with even more structural strength. It's also a single wall design, but has overhead ventilation so that you wont have to worry about condensation. There's 36 square feet of floor space, which is plenty of room for 2 people, plus winter backpacking or camping gear, plus some vestibule space for keeping things dry. It also weighs just 4 pounds 12 ounces, or 2.15 kilograms, which is due in large part to the single wall design. So a serious tunnel tent for seriously bad weather.
