If you’re in the market for a tent for wild-camping and you have a limited budget, this article is for you. As you’re probably aware, there are absolutely loads of tents out there and the choice can be totally overwhelming. Hopefully we can help by comparing over 25 of the best budget 2 person wild-camping tents.
Why choose a 2 person wild-camping tent?
Basically, it’s about the extra space you’ll have with a 2 person tent. Most solo campers buy tents classed as 2 person tents because they are the perfect size for one person plus gear. 2 person tents are also a good choice if there are two of you (and you’re pretty close and don’t mind being a bit cramped), or for you and your dog. However, if there are two of you, you are probably best going for a tent classed as a 3 person tent.
It sounds a bit daft, but that’s just the way the tent sizing seems to work: a 2 person tent is for 1 person plus gear; a 3 person tent is for 2 people plus gear; a 4 person tent is for 3 people plus gear and so on. What about 1 person tents? Well, they are for solo campers who are looking for a small, minimal, lightweight shelter and are not too bothered about having any extra space. There are a few exceptions to all this of course, but this is generally how tent sizing works for most campers.
Is a budget tent suitable for wild camping?
If the conditions are suitable, then, yes. It depends on factors like the season, location, terrain and the weather where you plan to camp. If you’re planning a camp on top of a Scottish mountain in winter, then no, we wouldn’t recommend that in a budget tent. However, if you’re planning a wild camp in the hills, fields or woods near where you live and the weather is looking reasonably good, then a budget tent will usually be fine.
If you’re just starting out, a budget tent is probably the sensible way to go anyway – at least until you discover whether you actually like wild-camping. You also then need to discover which type of wild-camping you like… woodland camping, camping high on a mountain, etc… and then buy the appropriate tent for that. Check out our Buy cheap or expensive camping gear when starting out? article for more thoughts on how much a newbie camper should spend.
What price tents have we included?
Price-wise, we are including tents under approximately £125/$160. “What!? That’s not budget!” we hear you cry. We appreciate it’s subjective, but we wanted to only include tents that function well for the price. We feel that £125/$160 is a pretty good price to pay for a tent that is both cost-effective, whilst being functional. There’s no point going too cheap or you may have a bad experience and probably hang up your camping gear after the first outing.
RELATED: Want to spend a bit more yet still looking for great value? Check out our 3F UL Taiji 2 vs Floating Cloud 2 article and our Naturehike Star River 2 vs Cloud Up 2 vs Mongar 2 article for some cracking tents. Also, if you’re looking to film your adventures, check out our Akaso Ek7000 vs Akaso Ek7000 Pro article which features two awesome budget action cameras.
What features have we compared?
This is a big list of tents – so we have not compared every possible feature or the article would have been about a mile long. If you want to know more about a particular tent simply click through and check out the details. Key features we have compared:
- Inner Dimensions. These are the dimensions of the bedroom area.
- Weight. This is the full pack weight, including poles (if supplied) and stakes/pegs.
- Fabrics / Waterproof. This is the hydrostatic head (HH) measurement, given in mm. HH is a measure of how water-resistant your tent fabric is. The higher the number, the more water-resistant. Remember though, that the HH figure isn’t the whole story, in terms of how waterproof a tent is. Other factors include the build-quality of the tent, etc.
- Poles. If poles are included they will be fibreglass or aluminium. Aluminium poles are preferred because they are stronger, lighter and have a little flex.
- Pack Size. This kinda speaks for itself.
- Price.
In addition to the above, other features that you may want to consider when buying a budget 2 person wild-camping tent include:
Type
There are lots of types of tents out there to suit all occasions. Examples include dome tents, tunnel tents, tipi tents, bivvy tents, free-standing tents and single/double skinned tents. The merits of the different types of tents will be discussed more in a future article, but for now it is worth mentioning as something that you may want to look into further.
Pitching order and freestanding tents
Tents can be pitched outer first, inner first or both at the same time.
If you are pitching in the rain it is really useful to be able to pitch the outer first, or pitch the inner and outer together as it saves the inner getting wet.
Inner pitch tents do tend to be freestanding though, which means the tent will stand up on its own, without pegging out. This is useful as it means you can move the erected tent about to find that perfect position before you peg it out.
Vestibule(s)
How many vestibules does the tent have, if any? Two vestibules are really useful if there are two of you. If you’re camping solo then two porches can still be useful – one for muddy wet gear and one to cook in, for example.
Colours
Where you are camping can sometimes dictate the colour of tent you choose to take. If you are camping in woodland then choosing a bright blue tent might not be the best idea. Surprisingly, green is not always the best choice either, so if you want to remain hidden, think about the terrain where you will camp and choose a tent that will blend in. On the other hand, if you are camping in difficult conditions, for example in the mountains in winter, then you might want to choose a bright coloured tent so that you can be spotted if you get into trouble.
Eco-friendly & Toxin free
Eco-friendly gear is something that is becoming increasingly important for obvious reasons. Less obvious are the potentially harmful toxins that can be found in some outdoor gear, such as some fire retardant chemicals. Most decent brands are factoring this into their gear nowadays with most of them doing away with harmful fire retardant chemicals, whilst trying to reduce the use of other harmful (to both the camper and the planet) substances. We will write more on this in the future.
Related: Looking for a portable power station to charge your gear? Check out our Portable power stations for camping, van-life and road-trips article for some really cool suggestions.
Budget 2 person wild-camping tents – alphabetical index
Clostnature Backpacking Tent
Coleman Darwin 2 (UK only)
Coleman Sundome 2
Decathlon Forclaz Trek MT100
Easycamp Quasar 200 (UK only)
Easycamp Spirit 200 (UK only)
Eurohike Backpacker DLX 2 (UK only)
Featherstone Granite 2
Featherstone Peridot 2
Forceatt 2 person tent
Grand Canyon Robson 2 (UK only)
Hyke & Byke Zion 2
Hyke & Byke Yosemite 2
Naturehike Cloud-Up 2
Naturehike Star-River 2
Naturehike Taga 2
Night Cat Camping Tent
OEX Phoxx 2 (UK only)
OEX Rakoon 2 (UK only)
OneTigris Backwoods Bungalow
OneTigris Cosmitto
OneTigris Tangram
Outwell Cloud 2 (UK only)
Regatta Montegra 2
Sierra Designs Tabernash 2
Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 2
Vango Banshee 200 (UK only)
Vango Blade Pro 200 (UK only)
Vango Nevis 200 (UK only)
Note: We struggled to obtain the correct specs for some of the tents due to conflicting information from suppliers/retailers. We think we got there in the end though. We have included the data we could find from the various manufacturers.
Clostnature Backpacking Tent
Inner Dimensions
L 220cm x W 150cm x H 115cm (7’3″ x 4’11” x 3’10”)
Weight
2.6kg / 5.7lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 210T Polyester PU 5000mm HH
Inner: Mesh
Ground Sheet: 150D Oxford PU 5000mm HH
Poles
7001 Series Aluminium
Pack Size
41cm x 15cm / 16.5″ x 5.9″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Coleman Darwin 2 Compact (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm x W 140cm x H 100cm
Weight
2.8kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Polyester PU coated
Inner: Breathable Polyester, No-see-um mesh
Groundsheet: PE welded, fully integrated
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
46cm x 15.5cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Coleman Sundome 2
Inner Dimensions
L 213.36 x W 152.4 x H 121.92 cm
84 x 60 x 48 inches
Weight
3.4kg / 7.5lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Polyester
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
61cm x 15 cm / 24″ x 6″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Decathlon Forclaz Trek MT100
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm x W 120cm x H 105cm
Weight
2.6 kg / 5.7lbs
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D PES polyester PU 2000mm HH
Inner: 75D polyester and mosquito screen ventilation
Groundsheet: 75D PES polyester PU 5000mm HH
Poles
Aluminium 7001 8.5mm
Pack Size
Not provided
Price
Decathlon: £90 / $149
Easycamp Quasar 200 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 205cm x W 120cm x H 100cm
Weight
3.1kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 180T polyester PU coated, 100% polyester, 200mm HH
Inner: polyester
Groundsheet: polyethylene
Poles
Fibreglass 7.9 mm
Pack Size
57cm x 16cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Easycamp Spirit 200 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm x W 130cm x H 100-80cm
Weight
2.9kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 180T polyester PU coated, 2000mm HH
Inner tent: polyester
Groundsheet: polyethylene
Poles
Fibreglass 7.9 mm
Pack Size
60cm x 18cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Eurohike Backpacker DLX 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm x W 120cm x H 80cm
Weight
2.9kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 185T polyester PU coated, 2000mm HH
Inner tent: polyester
Groundsheet: polyethylene
Poles
Fibreglass 8.5 mm
Pack Size
58cm x 15cm
Price
GO OUTDOORS PRICE
Featherstone Granite 2
Dimensions
Floor: L 213cm x W 130cm / L 84” x W 51”
Height: 109cm / 43”
Weight
2.72kg / 6lbs
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D ripstop polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: No-see-um mesh
Groundsheet: 63D ripstop polyester PU 3000mm HH
Poles
7001 aluminium
Pack Size
41cm x 10cm / 16” x 4”
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Featherstone Peridot 2
Dimensions
Floor: L 213cm x W 130cm / L 84” x W 51”
Height: 109cm / 43”
Weight
2.72kg / 6lbs
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D ripstop polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: No-see-um mesh
Groundsheet: 63D ripstop polyester PU 3000mm HH
Poles
7001 aluminium
Pack Size
41cm x 10cm / 16” x 4”
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Forceatt 2 person tent
Inner Dimensions
L 88.6” (225cm) x W 53.1” (135cm) x H 43.3” (110cm)
Weight
5.5lb (2.5kg)
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D 220T tear-resistant polyester 3000mm HH
Groundsheet: 220D Oxford cloth 5000mm HH
Poles
7001 series aluminium
Pack Size
41cm x 14cm / 16.5” x 5.5”
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Grand Canyon Robson 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 210 x W 160 x H 110 cm
Weight
3.3kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 68D 190T 100% Polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: Polyester with mesh
Groundsheet: Polyethylene PU 4000mm HH
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
58cm x 16cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Hyke & Byke Zion 2
Inner Dimensions
L 229cm x W 139cm x H 107cm (90″ x 55″ x 42″)
Weight
2.78kg / 6.13lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 210T 63D Poly Ripstop PU 5000mm HH
Inner: 190T 63D Poly Mesh
Groundsheet: 210T 63D Poly Ripstop PU 5000mm HH
Poles
7000 Series aluminium alloy
Pack Size
42cm x 14cm / 16.5″ x 6″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Hyke & Byke Yosemite 2
Inner Dimensions
L 223.5 cm (88″) x W 137cm (54″) x H 114 cm (45″)
Weight
2.49kg / 5.48lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 190T, 63D Polyester PU 2000mm HH
Inner: 190T 63D Polyester Mesh
Groundsheet: 190T 63D Polyester PU 5000mm HH
Poles
7000 Series aluminium alloy
Pack Size
43cm x 15cm / 17″ x 6″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Naturehike Cloud-Up 2
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm (82.7″) x W 125cm (49.2″) (tapering towards the foot-end) x H 100cm (39.4″) cm
Weight
20D version: about 1.8kg
210T version: about 2.1kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
20D version:
Outer: 20D silicone nylon PU 4000mm HH
Inner: B3 mesh
Groundsheet: 20D nylon silicone PU 4000mm HH
210T version:
Outer: 210T polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: B3 mesh
Groundsheet: 150D oxford cloth PU 3000mm HH
Poles
7001 aluminium poles
Pack Size
45cm x 12cm / 17.7″ x 4.7″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Naturehike Star-River 2
Inner Dimensions
L 215cm (84.6”) x W 135cm (53.1”) x H 100cm (39”)
Weight
20D version: about 2.1kg (2.25kg with snow skirt)
210T version: about 2.35kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
20D version:
Outer: 20D silicone nylon PU 4000mm HH
Inner: B3 mesh
Groundsheet: 20D nylon silicone PU 4000mm HH
210T version:
Outer: 210T polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: 210T polyester and B3 mesh
Groundsheet: 150D oxford cloth PU 3000mm HH
Poles
7001 aluminium poles
Pack Size
45cm x 15cm / 17.7″ x 5.9″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Check out our Naturehike Star River 2 vs Cloud Up 2 vs Mongar 2 article for a more detailed comparison of these Naturehike tents.
Naturehike Taga 2 (also called Tagar)
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm (83″) x W 125cm (49″) x H 105cm (41″)
Weight
1.58kg / 3.48lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 20D silicone nylon 4000mm HH
Inner: B3 breathable nylon mesh
Groundsheet: 20D silicone nylon 4000mm HH
Poles
7001 aluminium poles
Pack Size
44cm x 10cm / 17.3″ x 3.9″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Night Cat Camping Tent
Dimensions
L 220cm (7.2ft) x W 150cm (5ft) x H 120cm (4ft)
Weight
2.5kg / 5.5lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 210D polyester PU 3000mm HH
Inner: No inner. This is a single skin tent.
Groundsheet: 150D Oxford PU 3000mm HH
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
42cm x 12cm / 16.5″ x 4.7″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
OEX Phoxx 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 240cm x W 130cm (at the widest point) x H 90cm (at the hightest point)
Weight
2.1kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 68D 185T PU EMBOSSED 4000mm HH
Inner tent: polyester
Groundsheet: polyethylene
Poles
OEX Endura
Pack Size
Not given
Price
GO OUTDOORS PRICE
OEX Rakoon 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 215cm x W 130cm x H 105cm
Weight
2.76kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Polyester PU coated, 5000mm HH
Inner tent: polyester
Groundsheet: polyethylene
Poles
Aluminium
Pack Size
Not given
Price
GO OUTDOORS PRICE
OneTigris Backwoods Bungalow
Dimensions
L 210cm (6.8ft) x W 125cm (4.1ft) x H 115cm (3.7ft)
Weight
1.45kg (3.2Ib)
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D ripstop nylon with mesh inner door 1500mm HH
Inner: No inner. This is a single skin tent.
Groundsheet: 75D ripstop nylon 1500mm HH
Poles
Not included. You use either walking poles, branches or a ridge-line.
Pack Size
40cm x 20cm / 15.7” x 7.8”
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
OneTigris Cosmitto
Inner Dimensions
L 2.2m (7.2ft) x W 1.3m (4.3ft) x H 1.1m (3.6ft)
Weight
5.4lb (2.45kg)
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 20D plaid ripstop polyester 1500mm HH
Inner: 40D nylon mesh upper
Groundsheet: 75D nylon HH not provided
Poles
7001 Aluminium Alloy
Pack Size
50cm x 16cm / 19.7″ x 6.3″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
More information on this tent can be found here: OneTigris Cosmitto backpacking tent.
OneTigris Tangram
Inner Dimensions
L x W x H cm
220cm (7.2ft) x 120cm (3.9ft) x 125cm (4.1ft)
Weight
1.8kg / 3.97lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 75D ripstop nylon 1500mm HH
Inner: mesh
Groundsheet: 75D ripstop nylon 1500mm HH
Poles
Not included. You use either walking poles or branches.
Pack size
43cm x 18cm / 17″ x 7.1″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Outwell Cloud 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 210cm x W 140cm x H 110cm
Weight
4.5 kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Outtex® 3000 Select, 100% polyester 3000mm HH
Inner: Breathable polyester
Groundsheet: Double-coated waterproof polyethylene 3000mm HH
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
60cm x 17cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Regatta Montegra 2 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 255cm x W 100cm x H 106-55cm
Weight
2.04kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Polyester 70D 5000mm HH
Inner: Polyester
Groundsheet: 50% Polyester, 50% Polyethylene
Poles
Aluminium alloy
Pack Size
48cm x 16cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Sierra Designs Tabernash 2
Inner Dimensions
L 213cm (84″) x W 137cm (54″) x H 112cm (44″)
Weight
2.83kg / 6lb 4oz
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 68D Polyester Taffeta, 1200mm HH
Inner: 15D Nylon No-See-Um mesh
Groundsheet: 68D Polyester Taffeta, 1200mm HH
Poles
Fibreglass
Pack Size
Not provided
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 2
Inner Dimensions
L 203cm (80″) x W 152cm (60″) x H 114cm (45″)
Weight
3.27kg / 7.2lb
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: 66D 3MM Ripstop – waterproof rating not provided
Inner: 150D Oxford polyester and B3 FR micro-mesh
Groundsheet: 150D Oxford polyester – waterproof rating not provided
Poles
Aluminium
Pack Size
58.4cm x 16.5cm / 23″ x 6.5″
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
AMAZON.COM PRICE
Vango Banshee 200 (UK only)
Note, the specs of the Banshee vary a lot, depending on the version you get. So check carefully when you buy.
Inner Dimensions
L 225cm x W 120cm (at the widest point) x H 90cm (at the highest point)
Weight
2.4kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Protex RS polyester ripstop 5000mm HH
Inner: Polyester with part mesh inner door
Groundsheet: 70D polyester, 6000mm HH
Poles
PowerLite 7001-T6 alloy poles
Pack Size
47cm x 18cm
Price
GO OUTDOORS PRICE
Vango Blade Pro 200 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 220cm x W 160cm x H 100cm
Weight
2.15kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Protex RS polyester ripstop 5000mm HH
Inner: Polyester with part mesh inner door
Groundsheet: 70D polyester, 6000mm HH
Poles
Yunan Eco Alloy Poles
Pack Size
47cm x 12cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Vango Nevis 200 (UK only)
Inner Dimensions
L 215cm x W 120cm (at the widest point) x H 95cm (at the highest point)
Weight
2.02kg
Fabrics / Waterproof
Outer: Protex 70D polyester 3000mm HH
Inner: polyester with part mesh inner door
Groundsheet: 70D polyester, 6000mm HH
Poles
PowerLite 7001-T6 alloy
Pack Size
46cm x 15cm
Price
AMAZON.CO.UK PRICE
Summary
Which is the best budget 2 person wild-camping tent? We don’t believe there’s such a thing as ‘the best’ in this context. It’s subjective and depends on a whole variety of factors such as, where you’re camping, when you’re camping, how far you’re carrying your gear, the season, how much room you need, etc… right through to things like from your personal taste, your height, vestibles, etc. However, we have picked out a few stand out tents:
- Some of the budget 2 person wild-camping tents with the best reviews comes from Naturehike and OneTigris. For example, owners of the Naturehike Cloud-up 2 love the tent. The OnTigris Cosmitto is also another highly rated tent… oh, and it looks really cool too. The Featherstone Granite 2 and Hyke & Byke Zion 2 are also much loved.
- The best budget 2 person wild-camping tents for tall people from our list are probably the Forceatt 2 person tent; Hyke & Byke Zion 2; OneTigris Cosmitto; and the Regatta Montegra 2. These tents all have long inners that should be great for tall people.
- The tents on our list with the highest hydrostatic head ratings are the Hyke & Byke Zion 2 and the Vango Blade.
- The lightest tents on our list are the OneTigris Backwoods Bungalow and the OneTigris Tangram. That isn’t surprising since these tents do not come with tent poles. You simply use your trekking poles. By the way, if you’re interested in a trekking pole tent and you’re in the UK, check out our Trekking pole tents available in the UK article. If you then need budget trekking poles to go with your tent, check out our Best budget trekking poles article.
When it comes to tents, you generally do get what you pay for. By paying more you will get a tent with a better build quality; better fabrics; stronger, lighter poles; more waterproof; lighter pack; smaller pack size and other extra features. High end tents tend to be more eco-friendly and include less toxic chemicals by default.
However, there is a place for budget tents. Some people simply can’t afford the high end stuff. Some just don’t like spending loads on a tent and feel the budget stuff works perfectly well for them. Some prefer spending their particular budget on a number of budget tents, rather than one high-end tent. There’s no right or wrong. It’s simply a case of buying a tent (or tents) that you like, that suit where/when you plan to camp, that will perform in the weather you plan to camp in and that meet your budget. There are other tents that could feature and we will update this post from time to time, but we believe we’ve got most of them covered here. Hopefully this budget 2 person wild-camping tents article has helped you choose your next shelter.
