The 7 Best 4-Season Tents

Three-season ultralight backpacking tents are great for camping out in relatively mild weather conditions. The ones we have chosen as our best ultralight backpacking tents are all lightweight, durable, breathable, and have easy setup, and they’ll give you the protection you need for those windy and rainy nights. But if you’re planning on camping in serious winter weather conditions and expect really cold temperatures, snow, and other elements that test the best of tents, you’re gonna wanna consider a 4 season tent. A four-season tent is designed to keep you safe from extreme weather conditions, like crazy powerful winds, freezing temperatures, and loads of snow. They’re supposed to be heavier and constructed with more rigid poles and fabric. This is to withstand said extreme weather conditions. Therefore, 4 season tents are supposed to be heavier, also because they tend to be designed with more room both inside the tent and in the vestibules to accommodate bulkier winter gear, clothing, sleeping pads, etc. Plus, you’ll also want that extra space in the vestibule for a sheltered space to sit and eat, for example. Here, we’ve listed the best 4 season tents on the market that take into consideration protection from harsh elements, durability, and comfort.

The best 4 Season tent is:

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Bombproofness

The number one criterion for our best four season tents selection was the weatherproofness or “bombproofness” of the tent. To make sure you’re warm and dry inside when there’s crazy weather outside, the tents have to be able to withstand strong winds and heavy snow loads.

The material of the tent must be very durable to handle abrasive snow and ice, not just heavy downpours. The construction of the 4 season tents must be of high quality and the design of the tent must shed snow loads and resist fierce winds. Although we mention weight and considered it a positive aspect when it was lightweight, we didn’t use it as a criterion for selection or ranking because the sturdier and heavier the tent, the more bombproof the tent, which was more important to us.

Durability

If you’re camping out in the middle of a high-altitude ledge and there’s strong winds, it would suck to have something of your tent rip or snap on you. The 4 season tents we selected have been tested and are renown for super strong fabric and tent poles that you can depend on. We also wanted to make sure that the tents last some years to come, since we know how much you’ll be investing. We didn’t look at price as a criterion because tents made of high-quality material will naturally cost a lot, and being confident that you’ll be dry and warm on nights when you need that the most is worth the price, in our opinion.

Space and comfort

We like roominess for our 4-season tents, unless you’re pitching on a narrow ledge high up on a mountain, because we know there’s a lot of gear and heavier clothing that needs to stay inside. If there’s really bad weather outside, you’ll also appreciate the roominess for when you’re using the tent as a shelter for longer periods of time. Four-season tents are generally roomier than ultralight backpacking tents for these reasons.

Gear and everything just take up more space and since condensation is a common aspect in many four season tents, it’s preferable to have a little extra space between you and your tent walls so that you don’t wake up with a wet sleeping bag. However, minimal condensation was a criterion that we considered. We love bombproof tents that also doesn’t allow any condensation. It’s a relief to not have to wonder if you’ll have to wipe down the tent walls with your only towel. We also highly ranked 4 season tents that offered vestibules and double entry because of the added convenience.

Easy setup

We like tents that aren’t too hard to set up because pitching a tent in freezing wind and rain is unpleasant to say the least. An easy setup is greatly appreciated in these conditions.