Tent sizes tell you how many people can lie down inside, shoulder to shoulder. They don't allow for kit, elbow room or someone who sleeps like a starfish. So the short answer is: think about what else needs to fit, then size up if you can carry it.
What the numbers mean
- 1-person: one sleeping mat, with your pack and boots in the porch. Light and quick to pitch. The choice for solo walks.
- 2-person: two mats side by side, kit in the porches. Cosy for two adults, roomy for one.
- 3-person: three mats, or two people with space to sit up, sort kit and wait out rain.
- 4-person: campsite territory. Room for a family or a group, but too big and heavy to carry far.
When to size up
- You're over about six foot, or broad-shouldered.
- You'll be stuck inside for long spells in bad weather.
- You're driving to the pitch, so weight doesn't matter.
- There's a dog, a child or a lot of kit coming too.
When to stay small
- You're carrying it for hours. A 1-person tent can weigh around half as much as a roomy 2-person one.
- Pitches are small and lumpy, as they usually are when wild camping.
- It's windy. Smaller, lower tents tend to be more stable.
Two doors or one?
For two people, two doors and two porches make a real difference. Nobody climbs over anybody at 3am, and each of you gets somewhere to put boots and a pack.
Our tents by size
- 1-person: MSR Hubba NX Solo, MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1 and MSR Elixir 1.
- 2-person: Wild Country Helm Compact 2, Zephyros Compact 2 and Halny Elite 2, MSR Elixir 2, and the four-season Helm Blizzard Elite 2.
- 3-person: Wild Country Helm Compact 3.
- 4-person: Big Agnes Big House 4, for the campsite.
See all our tents, or read why we chose them.
