You'll have a fantastic time outdoors with any of these budget-friendly tents. Photo: Mikel Manitius/flickr
Looking for a tent that won't break the budget?
We get it.
Tents are essential gear for the outdoorsman or woman.
From casual excursions with the family to deep wilderness survivalist outings with friends, a tent protects you from the elements (and the bugs).
Thing is, they can be expensive! But no worries because we got you covered.
Read on to find the best tent under $200, from minimalist tents for solo outings to large, feature-packed tents that will sleep an entire group of people.
Our Favorite Budget Tent - Quick Picks
If you're in a hurry, here are our two favorite low cost (but high quality!) tents in this review (Updated 2/9/2020):
- Marmot Tungsten - Best tent under $200
- Eureka Solitaire - Best tent under $100
The 10 Best Tents for Under $200 (2020 Review)
Table of Contents
- 1 1) Eureka Spitfire
- 2 2) Marmot Tungsten - The Best 1-Person Backpacking Tent Under $200
- 3 3) Kelty Salida - Fantastic Sub $200 2-Man Tent for Lightweight Backpacking
- 4 4) Black Diamond Beta Light Shelter
- 5 5) North Face Tuolumne
- 6 6) North Face Stormbreak 3 - The Best 3-Person Tent Under $200
- 7 7) Mountainsmith Genessee - Top Choice for a 4-Person Tent Under $200
- 8 8) Kelty Discovery - Our Favorite Sub $200 6-Person Tent
- 9 9) Eureka Solitaire - Best Tent Under $100 for Solo Campers
- 10 10) Kelty Yellowstone 2 - Excellent 2-Man Camping Tent for Those on a Budget
1) Eureka Spitfire
Do you have your eyes set on a lone wilderness excursion? This single-person tent is lightweight and easy to set-up, with two durable aluminum poles to hold the tent up. It also features a ‘bathtub’ design, with seams that wrap up the sides of the tent to protect from rain backsplash. It’s lightweight and protective design is topped off with two internal storage pockets to keep your most important items safe.
2) Marmot Tungsten - The Best 1-Person Backpacking Tent Under $200
This backpacking tent for less than $200 is lightweight and packed with features. It is perfect for the minimalist camper, who needs just a few essentials to be comfortable. It is easy to set up because of color-coded poles and Easy Pitch clips. Its other features include interior pockets, a Lamp Shade pocket for ambient lighting when you fill it with a headlamp, and a roomy sleeping area.
3) Kelty Salida - Fantastic Sub $200 2-Man Tent for Lightweight Backpacking
Planning on heading out with your friend or significant other for a weekend? You won’t have to worry about arguing over who carries the tent with this beauty, since it is so lightweight. Some of the other great features include noiseless zipper pulls, internal pockets and gear loops, and polyurethane coating on the floor and fly for guaranteed waterproofness.
4) Black Diamond Beta Light Shelter
If you are really trying to lighten your backpack, this is the tent for you. It weighs a little over a pound because of its ultralight 30D SilNylon construction. It’s also compact, folding down to 4x6-inches since you can put it up with the two trekking sticks you and your hiking partner are carrying anyway. Despite being small, this sub-$200 tent is incredibly roomy, folding out to a comfortable 34.7 square feet.
5) North Face Tuolumne
Do you need a tent that can withstand rough terrain? This 2-person tent is roomy and durable in any environment. An included footprint is constructed of several layers to protect the bottom of your tent. This increases its lifetime, prevents punctures, and keeps you dry. This North Face tent also features a classic design, with a non-removable fly to keep water, bugs, and other elements outside where they belong.
6) North Face Stormbreak 3 - The Best 3-Person Tent Under $200
Comfort and protection come together in this affordable, feature-packed 3-person tent. It is lightweight for carrying-comfort and has features like high/low ventilation panels to cool you off in the hot summer months. The rain fly protects from wind, rain, and other elements. This fantastic tent also features 2 doors and 2 external storage areas, making your tent and your gear easy to access.
7) Mountainsmith Genessee - Top Choice for a 4-Person Tent Under $200
Not only is this tent large enough to sleep a small family, it is packed with features. It features twin external storage areas, internal mesh storage pockets, and breathable vents that let air in and keep bugs out. Aluminum alloy poles and polyurethane coating on the floor and fly keep the tent lightweight, durable, and waterproof. Another cool feature is reflective lines that keep your tent visible if you venture out at night.
8) Kelty Discovery - Our Favorite Sub $200 6-Person Tent
For an outing with friends or family, this excellent large tent is convenient to set-up and keeps everyone safe. Strong but lightweight fiberglass poles keep your tent standing through 3 seasons. A large door makes entry easy, while a fly attachment, clip construction, and color-coded loops make setup easy. For less than $200, this tent is perfect for when you need to sleep a large group.
9) Eureka Solitaire - Best Tent Under $100 for Solo Campers
You don’t always want a big, roomy tent when you are venturing out alone to connect with wilderness. With waterproofness, sleep room, and lightweight construction, this tent is everything you need and nothing you don’t. It has a compact design and easy setup, with a fiberglass shock-corded-frame. Its simplicity and price make it the best tent for solo campers who don’t need luxury to survive in the wilderness.
10) Kelty Yellowstone 2 - Excellent 2-Man Camping Tent for Those on a Budget
Updated 2/9/2020 - Weighing under 5.5 pounds, this tent is lightweight and easy to carry, but is still built for surviving the elements. It will keep water, bugs, and other elements out. Each person gets a roomy 15 square feet to themselves in this tent and 44 inches of interior height. This perfectly sized tent lets you rest in comfort. It also has included interior pockets that help keep your gear organized.