Hi everyone! I’m pretty new to hiking, but I’ve already fallen in love with it and want to start backpacking and camping in the backcountry. I’ve gathered most of the essentials—65L pack, decent sleeping bag and mat, boots, water bladders, etc.—but I still need a solid tent. I’m also considering a stove since campfires aren’t always possible.
Can anyone recommend a lightweight, budget-friendly, 2-person backpacking tent? Looking for something that’s easy to set up, lightweight to carry, and won’t break the bank. Thanks in advance!
If you can find a Eureka Suma 2, it’s a fantastic value for the price and super easy for beginners to set up. It’s under 4 lbs and fairly compact. I own one and actually like it more than my MSR Elixir 2, which costs twice as much and is almost twice as heavy.
Only downside: Eureka is going out of business, so warranty or replacement could be uncertain. But if you find one at a good price, I’d grab it!
The Lanshan 2 is great for the money, but you’ll need trekking poles or adjustable aftermarket poles. It weighs about 2.5 pounds, and they also have a single-wall ‘Pro’ model that’s a few ounces lighter. Lanshan 2
The Naturehike Cloud Up 2 is a common budget-friendly option. I have it, and while it’s around 4 lbs, it’s good quality. If you’re in Canada (based on your username), try Geartrade.ca—they’re Alberta-based and carry ultralight gear with no duties.
3FUL also has a freestanding tent line—the Floating Cloud series, which includes both 1P and 2P options.
It would help if you could specify your budget. There are lots of budget options out there in the 5-6 lb range, but those are better if you have someone to split the weight with.
I have the REI Trailmade 1. It’s not ultralight at 4 lbs, but it’s held up great in rain and wind. Paid about $150-200 for it. Sorry, just realized you’re looking for a 2-person tent, but maybe this helps anyway.
Featherstone tents are a good budget option—they have both regular and trekking pole tents under $200. I ordered the Granite 2P tent and can’t wait to try it out!