As an inexpensive and adventurous traveling method, backpacking can be as rewarding as it is challenging. If you’re doing it during fall or winter, you have to deal with low temperatures. Even spring and summer nights can get surprisingly cold. One of your biggest dilemmas will be finding a way to stay warm and cook decent meals for yourself.
This is a problem that a hot tent can solve, but since you’ve already got a lot to carry for long distances, you need one that won’t be too burdensome. We’ll help you out with our top five suggestions for lightweight hot tents for backpacking!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
OneTigris TEGIMEN Hammock Hot Tent
Best Budget-Friendly Option
Preself Lightweight Tipi Hot Tent
Best Splurge
OneTigris Northgaze Lightweight Hot Tent
Best Overall
OneTigris TEGIMEN Hammock Hot Tent
If you’re looking for the most well-rounded hot tent for backpacking, the OneTigris TEGIMEN hammock model will suit your needs. It’s got everything you could hope to have in a hot tent–waterproof and ripstop nylon fabric, a stove jack, and enough space to fit at least two cots or mattresses. As the model name implies, it also comes with a cozy hammock, so in reality, it can sleep up to three people.
All these benefits come with a weight just shy of seven pounds. You’ll hardly notice it with the rest of your belongings.
Pros
- Comes with a hammock
- Nylon is ripstop and waterproof
- Fits up to three people
Cons
- No flooring
- May be difficult or confusing to set up correctly
Best Budget-Friendly Option
Preself Lightweight Tipi Hot Tent
While backpacking with a hot tent is already a money saver compared to other ways you could travel, you might want to protect your wallet even more. In that case, go for the Preself Tipi hot tent.
You’ll still get all the most important features, including a stone jack and polyester fabric proofed against both water and wind. As a bonus, there are two doors from which you can enter or leave, as well as an inner layer of mesh for extra protection from the elements.
Plus, at just 3.5 pounds, it won’t make any real difference to the weight of what you’re already carrying.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Polyester fabric is waterproof and wind-resistant
- Double doors
- Inner mesh layer
- Very light
Cons
- No flooring
- Not particularly durable
Best Splurge
OneTigris Northgaze Lightweight Hot Tent
When you’ve got the money, why not pay extra for the best possible hot tent for backpacking? If you’re ready to treat yourself, consider the OneTigris Northgaze model. Made from waterproof nylon, the tent boasts a double-vented roof to ensure you get fresh air without sacrificing your warmth. You can also prop the flap into a makeshift awning, providing shade while you do other things during the day.
Amazingly, all these advantages are wrapped up in just 5.3 pounds. You’ll have no trouble including it in your backpack.
Pros
- Waterproof nylon fabric
- Double-vented roof
- Front flap doubles as an awning
- Very light
Cons
- Expensive
- Says it can fit four people, but with the stove, two is probably more realistic
Best for Sightseeing
STOVEHUT 70 Hot Tent
One of a tent’s primary functions is to give you privacy, but what if you’d like the option of looking at the world around you while snuggled safely inside? That’s the main appeal of the STOVEHUT 70 hot tent.
You can hold up the flap on the side of the tent and/or open the one on the front door, allowing you to examine your surroundings while the mesh protects and insulates you. If you’re spending time outside, that same side flap can act as an awning, giving you shade. Either way, imagine backpacking with a hot tent like this by a lake or in the mountains!
As another plus, the area with the hole for the stove pipe can be zipped into its own separate “room” away from where you sleep. You might appreciate the way it moderates the heat and maximizes your resting space. All this at only 6.7 pounds!
Pros
- Polyester waterproof fabric
- Transparent mesh acts as a window to your surroundings
- Stove can be separate from sleeping area
- Side flap can double as an awning
Cons
- Flooring is prone to leaking
- Only fits two people
Best for Large Groups
FireHiking Teepee Hot Tent
Are you traveling with a large group? It’s no easy feat to go backpacking with a hot tent big enough to accommodate all of you, but the FireHiking teepee model does the job admirably.
Made from waterproof polyester, the tent measures more than sixteen feet wide and long and almost eight feet high. For a group of four to eight people, there’s plenty of room to rest and even stand. However, it comes with the option of an inner tent to set aside a specific space in case one or two people want to sleep separately, or you’d like to store your packs there.
Of course, you don’t get all these benefits without a price; this tent weighs just over 10 pounds, so it may feel noticeable in your backpack. Nevertheless, it’s still lightweight and convenient to carry when compared to tents of a similar size!
Pros
- Waterproof polyester
- Large enough to fit up to eight people
- Extra cover for the flooring
- Comes with inner tent
Cons
- Expensive, especially if you include the inner tent
- Heavier than the other hot tents on this list
Buyer’s Guide for Hot Tents for Backpacking
When choosing the most suitable hot tent for backpacking, there are numerous factors to consider. It’s best to be informed on what you’re buying, so keep some basic facts in mind as you browse the possibilities.
Types of Hot Tents
All hot tents for backpacking have one crucial feature in common–stove jacks. Beyond that, they could come in various types, all of which promise their own benefits.
Domes
With their circular roofs, dome-shaped hot tents are certainly one of the most aesthetic types of hot tents for backpacking. However, they have another important perk–stability.
Wind tends to roll smoothly over domes, so these tents are less likely to fall over during inclement weather. Also, rain and snow will simply slide down the sides rather than collect on the roof. If you’re backpacking in areas with high altitudes and/or expect a lot of storms, domes could be the wisest choice for you.
Tipis
Most people are familiar with tipis as an invention by ancient nomadic Native American tribes. Nowadays, they work wonderfully as hot tents for backpacking.
For one thing, they’re often as stable as dome tents. Additionally, the upside-down cone shape makes them easy to keep ventilated, and the sloped walls won’t be weighed down by rain or snow. Plus, they’re easy to set up and take apart as needed.
Hut
Also known as cabin tents, hut tents have a squarish shape. Perhaps their greatest advantage is that they allow you to use the space efficiently to set up the belongings you’re likely to bring while backpacking with a hot tent.
Think about it–sleeping bags, cots, stoves, radios, and many other items all tend to be square or rectangular. They’re difficult to place in a circular area without leaving unused space, which could lead to an awkward setup. With a hut tent’s 90-degree vertical walls and 180-degree lateral edges, every inch can count so that you may be more comfortable.
If you like hut tents, just make sure you get one with a sloped roof. That will prevent it from accumulating rainwater or snow, which may cause it to leak or collapse.
Materials
The most reliable hot tents for backpacking are fashioned from certain materials. The tent fabric can be made from anything as long as it can be waterproofed and doesn’t add much weight to your pack. Of course, polyester and nylon tend to find the best balance of strength, durability, lightness, and affordability. However, canvas or cotton are also possibilities.
Then there’s the frame. Steel, aluminum, and metal alloys are the most common since they’re tough yet lightweight. Anything thicker or heavier is typically too hard or complicated to carry, especially for backpacking.
What to Look For
No matter what type of hot tent you want or what materials are used, check that it offers a warranty. Even with every effort you make to stay safe, backpacking with a hot tent always presents a certain risk. If the tent doesn’t function properly or breaks prematurely, the manufacturer will handle the issue for you, provided there is a warranty.
You must also prioritize ease of setup. No hot tent should be so confusing or daunting that you need more than a few minutes to piece it together.
In fact, backpacking with a hot tent means you might need to arrange a campsite at unexpected or unideal times. Read our advice on how to set up a tent efficiently in all kinds of weather!
Frequently Asked Questions About Hot Tents for Backpacking
Armed with so much information, you’re almost ready to try backpacking with a hot tent! The last thing to do is know how to answer the most common questions that come up while campers shop for the perfect model.
How does a hot tent work?
The idea behind a hot tent is simple–the roof or wall must have a stove jack or openings where pipes can exit the tent. To ensure they don’t fall off, the openings should be sewn directly and firmly into the fabric.
Once the tent is set up, you can put a wood-burning stove inside the tent, attach the stovepipe, and lead the pipe through the jack to release the oven smoke. This way, you get the heat you need for warmth and/or cooking without polluting the air inside the tent.
What maintenance do hot tents require?
The key to hot tent maintenance is keeping the fabric in good shape. Backpacking with a hot tent inevitably leads to dirt and stains, which could compromise the fabric’s strength and the effectiveness of the waterproofing. Throughout your camping trip, scrub stains gently with a bristle brush. When you’re home, wash it by hand with warm water and mild detergent.
The metal frame and stove pipe need your attention as well. Wipe them down with WD-40 or cooking oil every few weeks to prevent corrosion or rust buildup. If they get wet, dry them off with soft rags or towels as soon as possible.
What counts as a lightweight tent?
You know that hot tents for backpacking should be lightweight so that they’re easy to carry, but what exactly does “lightweight” even mean?
The answer is generally six to eight pounds, give or take another pound or two. This weight doesn’t usually make much difference in a camping backpack’s overall weight.
For context, normal lightweight tents usually weigh three to five pounds normally. Hot tents are just a little heavier because they have stove jacks.
You’ll Love Backpacking With a Hot Tent!
Beginners and seasoned campers alike often agree that backpacking is a life-changing endeavor. Backpacking with a hot tent is even better because it enhances the entire experience! Pick any of our recommendations to see for yourself.
After that, you’ve got to choose your destination, if you haven’t already. Luckily, we’ve got 10 amazing suggestions for backpacking adventures, so check them out as well!