Just about every tent is a waterproof tent. Where people often have problems is in two different areas. One is taking a three season camping or backpacking in the winter, and getting wet as a result of the tent being unable to cope with the harsh winter conditions. People also often get wet as a result of condensation gathering on the inside of a tent as the night progresses, which is more of a ventilation problem then a waterproofing problem.
Waterproof Tent
What to look for when you want a waterproof tent for camping or backpacking.- Single or Double Wall – Many winter tents are actually single wall tents. Which might seem like it would make them less waterproof, but with a good fabric all the water will stay on the outside. What’s important on a single wall tent is that there is plenty of ventilation, so that condensation never has a chance to accumulate.
- Season Appropriate – A three season tent is not the kind of thing that you want to take in to bad winter weather. Getting wet in winter is often a result of a three season tent being inadequate to the bad winter weather, so if you’re going winter camping or backpacking, you might need a four season tent.
Best Waterproof Tent
Some of the best waterproof tents to take in to rainy weather.- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 - If you want something lightweight, that you could take backpacking as easily as you could take camping, then the Fly Creek is perfect. It has room for one, and is small and lightweight, at just 2 pounds 3 ounces, or 992 grams. It's also a 2 wall, free standing tent, which isn't common for a weight that low. And while the superior design and materials needed to get the weight that low do bump the price up, you really cant put enough emphasis on weight when you will be carrying your tent. It also comes in a 2 man, 3 man and 4 man version.
- Marmot Thor 3 - If you really, truly want to stay dry in the worst weather, then you need a four season tent. The Thor has room for 3 inside, 2 doors and a solid, waterproof exterior that will help you weather the worst weather. Since it's a 4 season tent is also has plenty of poles, and a few convenient guyout points for really making it in to a bomb proof tent. At 10 pounds 12 ounces, or 4.88 kilograms it's certainly not lightweight, but then bomb proof tents rarely are.
- REI Camp Dome 2 - If all you want is a waterproof tent to take for a little recreational camping then the Camp Dome line from REI is a good choice. It's a basic dome tent with a very low price, ideal for value focused customers. It has room inside for 2, and even 2 doors, for good ventilation options. It's freestanding, and comes in a 4 man version as well, if you want something a little larger with a focus on value. At 4 pounds 15 ounces, which is 2.24 kilograms it's not exactly lightweight, but not especially heavy either. So an excellent waterproof tent for the value conscious customer.
