Best Cold Weather Tent in 2024

If you’re planning on winter camping, ensuring you have the best cold-weather tent is essential. But why buy a four-season tent if we already have other models? Well, it’s good to know that tents aimed at winter use are designed to withstand the most adverse weather conditions and freezing cold. They have resistant structures to cope with any accumulation of snow and remain well planted, even in the ground covered by the snow or ice layer.

In this guide, we delve into the latest advancements in cold weather tent technology, spotlighting the top options that have emerged this year. Whether you’re a seasoned winter camper or someone venturing into sub-zero temperatures for the first time, our guide is here to assist you in selecting the best cold weather tent to keep you warm, safe, and comfortable during your icy escapades.

Best Cold Weather Tents (Ranking of 2024)

Complete list of all the best winter camping tents for winter getaways on the market:

Image	Name	Rating	Weight	Price
	MSR Access Lightweight	5.0	1.7 Kilograms	Check
	ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian	5.0	‎7.9 pounds	Check
	Eureka! Mountain Pass	5.0	6.5 pounds	Check
	ALPS Mountaineering Taurus	5.0	‎9.7 pounds	Check
	REI Co-op Base Camp 4	4.0	16 lbs. 14 oz.	Check
	S’More 4 Season Camping Tent	4.0	35.3 pounds	Check
	Assault 2 FUTURELIGHT™	4.0	5 lbs. 15 oz.	Check

Best Overall – MSR Access Lightweight Winter Tent

Best Value for the Money – ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian

Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent for Cold Weather – Eureka Mountain Pass

1. MSR Access Lightweight 4-Season Tent

The MSR Access two-person winter tent boasts compact dimensions and low weight, just over one and a half kilos. Ideal for backpacking couples looking for adventure without the burden of heavy gear, this tent remains lightweight and easily transportable. Despite its portability, it doesn’t compromise on resistance and reliability, ensuring a durable and dependable shelter for your outdoor escapades.

The fabric has waterproof coating, which provides long-term protection even in the wettest weather. It is equipped with a waterproof double roof and elastic and robust poles. They are made of aluminum alloy.

Access to the tent is particularly easy. The door of the front apse opens completely and can be placed in the special pocket, together with the inevitable mosquito net. The moment I stepped inside, I noticed an immediate increase in warmth during those chilly winter nights. This was particularly comforting, especially when there’s a need to exit your sleeping bag for any reason.

Central-support frame design helps you quickly set up and optimize the living space while resisting snow loading. Included inside the tent, we also find handy pockets for objects and buttonholes for storing various equipment. Whether you’re planning a backcountry skiing trip, this tent is a game changer.

Check on Amazon

2. ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian Copper

The four-season tent left the most lasting impression on us, demonstrating its exceptional capability to withstand extremely cold weather conditions. Crafted by a team with experience climbing Mount Everest, the ALPS Mountaineering tent stands out with a total packed weight of 7.9 lbs, delivering remarkable performance at an affordable price point.

It can be set up very quickly, but innovations in design are not always intuitive to the user. It’s a good idea to practice setting up this tent a few times before heading out to make sure you’re comfortable with its intricacies.

The two larger vestibules that are equipped greatly improve the livability of the tent. The front vestibule door can even be propped up with hiking or ski poles to create an awning that offers relative shelter for sitting and cooking. With three storage pockets and a loft for gear, inside storage options are plentiful to further enhance the comfort of this tent. There are also plenty of inner loops to attach lamps or lanterns inside the tent.

The groundsheet is made of 75D 185T polyester and has an additional coating that increases tear strength and UV resistance. Overall, it is an excellent choice for all-around extreme cold weather.

Check on Amazon

3. Eureka! Mountain Pass Extreme Weather

Eureka Mountain Pass backpacking tent is definitely lighter than the previous one. This is a high-performance backpacking tent that offers in the most adverse conditions without carrying too much weight. This cold weather tent adapts to the most difficult activities, such as mountaineering at high altitudes and on perennial glaciers.

Its mountain structure gives it unparalleled resistance to wind and rain, such as offering shelter even in highly exposed and extreme areas. The structure is simple and conventional and you won’t face any difficulties in setting up at the beginning. Because it comes with color-coded poles.

Eureka 4-season tent is made of lightweight materials and has a roomy 32 square feet interior. It is highly breathable with a lightweight canopy and zippered removable side panels. The waterproof rain fly keeps your tent protected from uncertain situations.

This tent also features air Exchange system, which allows cooler air in through the low vents and warmer air up and out to reduce moisture inside the tent. However, it is a little too heavy for a backpacking tent.

Check on Amazon

4. ALPS Mountaineering Taurus Outfitter

The ALPS Mountaineering backpacking tent stands out as our choice for the best four-person winter tent, specifically designed for extremely cold weather. However, the tent’s versatility and livability may not meet some expectations.

At just 9.7 pounds, this tent isn’t light, but not too heavy. Thanks to ALPS Mountaineering’s fantastic innovation that brings out the best in every part of their tents. The Easton Syclone composite bars that come with the Advance Pro are a good example of this.

The free-standing two poles that come with this tent are not only light but also incredibly strong. This tent is ideal for high alpine camping as it has a small footprint. Thanks to the wedge-shaped construction which allows for easy pitching on high ledges. The hybrid clip and pole cuff system also allows the tent to be pitched primarily from one position.

However, the clip and sleeve bar system is difficult to use with gloves on and unfortunately means exposing your fingers to the elements when setting up. The habitability is also quite limited. It gets cramped when there is space for four adults with all their gear. With a peak height of 52″, even taller campers might feel cramped in this model.

Check on Amazon

5. REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Cold Weather Tent

This winter tent is tailored for those requiring accommodation for four sleepers. The numerous reasons we hold this tent in high regard include its well-constructed design and aesthetic appeal. The height and width of the layout give this model much more space than its predecessors, making it suitable for groups of three hikers or a couple of demanding adventurers.

Compared to the ALPS Mountaineering, a bit of robustness and overall reliability is lost; on the other hand, however, REI Co-op Base is an excellent shelter even for less extreme hikers. Notably convenient are the two entrances and the double apse on the sides of the tent, enhancing ease of entry and offering additional storage space for backpacks and various materials.

It has plenty of room and storage with the large vestibules. Furthermore, the overall ventilation is very good. There are various ventilation hoods with anti-storm and large mosquito nets in conjunction with the roll-up doors.

Despite not being the warmest tent available and lacking the top-tier weather resistance found in other winter camping tents, this tent prioritizes offering a solid solution for extremely cold-weather camping.

Check on REI

6. S’More 4-Season Tent with 2 Rooms

If you’re looking for a winter tent with two separate sleeping cabins, the S’More 4 Season tent is for you. The unique design offers a spacious interior with the structural function of both a bedroom and a living room. The two bedrooms and one living room ensure privacy and comfort, making it an ideal choice for family or group outdoor travel.

Thanks to the 210D ripstop oxford fabric, the tent remains insulated and at the same time breathable, so that condensation does not form inside. The fabric is silver glue coating (anti-UV), which provides excellent protection against sun rays, rain, and moisture.

The pre-bent tent poles not only increase the interior space but also enhance its strength and stability. The durable poles also maintain their shape during long-term use in extreme weather conditions.

You can extend the vestibule of the tent into three activity spaces for cooking, playing, and resting. This tent is a fantastic base for camping trips or winter glamping. It is spacious and warm and feels like a home away from home even in extremely cold weather.

Check on Amazon

7. The Northface Assault 2 FUTURELIGHT™

As the name may suggest, the Northface Assault 2 FUTURELIGHT™ tent is perfect for all ultralight hiking enthusiasts looking for a suitable shelter for the four seasons. Of course, the internal space will not be at the level of the S’More, but for the more minimalistic, this product offers more than enough shelter.

Also in this case one of the strengths is the ventilation. The tent is made up of a breathable and at the same time waterproof membrane. Despite its compactness, it is an ideal product even if used in extreme conditions, thanks to its structure which makes it exceptionally resistant to bad weather.

It is made from 30D nylon ripstop and has a polyurethane coating which gives it a hydrostatic head of 3000mm, which is impressive for the low price of this tent. It is also sturdy enough to take a wind beating.

This model is quite easy to set up; two people need between 5-7 minutes to set up the model comfortably. Because the ridge-pole design makes it easy to tension the top of the tent and take the pole in and out. However, if you are a sub 6′ mountaineer you will likely love this tent. If you are taller look elsewhere.

Check on Amazon

Best Cold Weather Tent Buying Guide

The winter tents on the market are very numerous, of different workmanship, brand,s and prices. However, they must necessarily possess some technical characteristics that make them more efficient than the others.

Materials

The first thing to note is the presence of special covering materials capable of thermally insulating the tent. This allows for maintaining a sufficiently warm temperature inside it even and especially during the cold night hours.

Water, Heat and Wind Resistant

Another factor to take into consideration when choosing a cold-weather tent is the ability to resist rainfall. In winter, especially if snowfalls and gusts of wind are very frequent in the mountains, which can also reach considerable speeds. The other peculiar feature of the cold weather tent is its normally small size compared to common camping tents. The smaller the tent has surface, the easier it will be to keep the heat inside.

Still speaking of resistance to wind and atmospheric agents, we strongly recommend replacing the common anchoring pegs with those for screw or hard rock. Very often the ground in which you are going to peg will be impervious and rocky.

Technical Characteristics

Let’s see what the technical characteristics of the best cold weather tent are in detail to give an idea of ​​both its composition and its dimensions.

• Side skirts: winter tents have much longer side skirts than the others as they must keep the tent stable by exploiting the weight of the fallen snow and at the same time they must prevent the cold from entering inside.
• Supporting structure: the main structure of the tent must be resistant as it will have to withstand intense gusts of wind and the weight of any snow deposits above the surface.
• Side air vents: humidity inside the tent is annoying in any case. In winter it becomes a much worse problem given the probability that the condensation freezes instantly. To prevent this problem, winter tents are equipped with additional air vents aimed at significantly reducing the humidity produced by our bodies inside the structure.
• Bright colors: especially in the mountains, visibility is often reduced due to rainfall and mists. Therefore, in the event of an emergency or not, it is always good to have a brightly colored tent that is clearly visible even from afar.

The Verdict

Our favorite tent for extremely cold weather was the MSR Access. It offers plenty of living space and is well suited for camping in harsh winter and alpine conditions. It easily deserves four and a half stars.

We also liked the S’More 4 Season Tent as an alternative for group car camping, perfect for hunting trips or luxury family trips into the snow.

Like the MSR Access, the ALPS Mountaineering Taurus features a notable innovative design with composite poles, which are incredibly light yet strong enough to offer adequate protection in rough weather.

Finally, the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 is a versatile camping tent that offers protection from extreme weather conditions at an affordable price. This cold-weather tent uses clever design innovations to protect campers from noisy, cold winds.

We’ve observed that winter is not an entirely prohibitive period for enjoying the beauty of the world around us. However, during this season, it is crucial to cultivate a heightened awareness, particularly if you are still gaining experience in winter outdoor activities.

Q & A

What is the best style of tent for cold weather?

A tent with steep sides allows excess snow to fall off the tent, but cold weather tents with vertical sides, such as wall winter tents, are susceptible to high winds, making their design less well suited to harsh weather conditions. Dome or pyramid-shaped winter tents are best for dealing with snow and wind in extremely cold weather.

How well insulated should a winter tent be?

Top winter tents are usually designed to protect from the elements rather than isolating. There are exceptions, which are designed as insulated tents and can be built into other models. But these systems are rare. A well-insulated sleeping bag and roll mat are a better solution than insulated winter tents.

Why do people go camping in the winter season?

There are many reasons to camp in winter and extreme weather conditions. For alpinists and snow sports enthusiasts, these weather conditions are part of the appeal. During the winter season and extremely cold weather, the inch-thick snowpack transforms the landscape into something sometimes reminiscent of an alien planet. With this view, trekking in the snow is definitely worth it.

Camping in tents in these weather conditions is not for everyone, which helps adventurers enjoy the quiet stillness of winter. Winter is also a great time for stargazing. And of course, there are fewer bugs!

How do I keep warm in my cold weather season tent?

In most cases, the insulation when camping should not come from the winter tent. You should be well insulated by your sleeping mat, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and clothing. So invest in the right gear to keep you warm – not just tents.

It can be helpful to have a snack before bed, as digestion can generate body heat. It’s also a good idea to get some exercise before laying down on your pad. Take a short walk or do some jumping jacks to get your body temperature up. To stay warm on colder nights, we recommend investing in a couple of pocket warmers to throw in your sleeping pad to get nice and warm before bed.

What size cold weather season tent should I get?

We recommend you buy winter tents with a capacity larger than what you need to have a spacious experience in your tent. It’s true that large cold weather tents are difficult to heat and can get a bit chilly at night, but it’s also important that you don’t feel cramped or uncomfortable in your tent. When camping in winter it is possible that bad weather will force you to spend some time in your winter tent.

A large vestibule is a fantastic solution to this problem as it gives you a weather-protected space for cooking and eating but is separate from your sleeping area so you don’t have to worry about the air being cold at night.