Best Tent Under $200 For 2024 [Our Reviews and Comparisons]

Spending a little time in nature is not only good for you but for some, it becomes a lifestyle choice. One of the most annoying problems that we nature-lovers run into is that the market is flooded with tents and other accessories that promise much more than they can actually deliver.

Today we are going to talk about some of the best tents for under $200 so that you can get an inside look at the features which our selections provide so that you can accessorize your camping lifestyle without having to worry about a failure of your most accessory.

Comparison Table

PRODUCTFEATURESLATEST PRICE
1.Tigris TigersDen 4-person tent
  • Length and width of 7.2 x 7.05 foot with a height of 5.25 feet
  • Long-lasting nylon construction
  • Extended canopy
  • Roomy, ventilated comfort
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2. Wenzel Klondike 8-person Tent
  • Includes 98 square feet of interior space and 6.5 feet height
  • Separate awning area for the kids or simply stowing your gear
  • Vents in the back and in the roof help to keep everyone cool
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3. GEERTOP 4-Person Camping Tent
  • Length and width of 7.8 x 6.3 feet with a height of 4.4 feet
  • Portability – Only 9.1 pounds, this tent rolls up for easy storage within the including sports bag.
  • Interior includes 2 storage pouches and a hanging hook for your lantern
  • Treated polyester is extremely weather-resistant
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4. NTK INDY GT 3 to 4 Person Dome Family Camping Tent
  • Length and width of 12 x 7 feet with a height of 4.3 feet centrally
  • 100% waterproof protection
  • Durable, flexible frame
  • Awning for additional space and separate cover
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5. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
  • 25 square foot interior with a 5.2-foot height
  • Sealed flooring
  • Gear loft and storage pockets
  • 2 entrances and vestibules
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6. Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
  • Length and width of 7 x 5.9 feet with a height of 3.6 feet
  • Quick setup – typically under 3 minutes
  • 4-season element resistance
  • Only 5.1 pounds
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7. E-Z UP CC10SLSP Camping Cube
  • Spacious 541 cubic feet interior and 6.3 feet height
  • Fully-sealed Tub style floor
  • Good ventilation keeps you cool in the summer
  • Multiple accessories to customize the experience
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8. MIER Ultralight 2-person Tent
  • Length and width of 7.2 x 3.6 feet with a height of 4.1 feet
  • No-see-um mesh lets air in but keeps bugs out
  • Bathtub flooring stays dry
  • The canopy may be used singly
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9. Naturehike Mongar 2-Person Backpacking Tent
  • Length and width of 6.9 x 4.4 feet with a height of 4 feet
  • 2 doors and 2 vestibules
  • Aviation aluminum build for ultra-durability
  • Weighs only 4 pounds 11 oz.
  • High weather resistance
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10. Snugpak Stratosphere 1 Person Bivvi Tent
  • Length and width of 7.58 x 2.66 and 1.66 feet in height
  • Mesh protection from insects
  • Weather-resistant
  • Repair kit included
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You’ve got to have the right tent.

Without further ado, let’s take an unbiased look at some of the best selections out there so we can determine the best tent under 200!

Our Best Tent for under $200 Reviews and Comparisons

1. Wenzel Klondike 8-person Tent

Product Highlights

The Wenzel Klondike 8-person tent is a spacious home away from home. Wenzel’s ‘weather armor’ fabric helps to keep the elements out while the spacious interior keeps everyone cozy without feeling cramped. 

It has room for 2 queen beds and the 98 square feet is divided into 2 rooms, meaning that when you are camping with fewer than 8 people you’ve got a comfortable room with a front-screened awning area. This means you can change and stow gear and keep your inner ‘sanctum’ room uncluttered and pristine.

Features 

  • Includes 98 square feet of interior space and 6.5 feet height
  • Separate awning area for the kids or simply stowing your gear
  • Vents in the back and in the roof help to keep everyone cool

What We Like About the Wenzel Klondike 8-person Tent

The double-stitching of this tent makes it feel solid and seems to promise longevity as a return for your investment. We liked the overall space as well, which includes 6.5 feet of standing room. Not having to worry about collapsing the tent because you tried to stand up is a good feeling.

The construction is polyurethane with fiberglass framing and it comes with stakes, both steel and plastic, so it doesn’t feel flimsy, and this is further reinforced by the ‘bathtub style’ floor. This type of floor ensures that the seams do not touch the ground which protects them from excess moisture.

Setup is easy, with an average time of about 10 minutes straight out of the box.

What We Don’t Like About the Wenzel Klondike 8-person Tent

Though this tent comes with a ‘weatherproof’ top it is only suited for light showers or brief, heavy rains. Beyond this, some leaking may occur. The rainfly also would be better if it extended further, which also limits the usage of this tent in inclement weather.

The zippers don’t have an extra flap for protection, leaving them open to the elements, and finally, we are a little leery of the warranty protection. The ‘act of God’ clause seems to negate weather damage concerns specifically for an ‘extreme storm’, making this a great tent for a dry clime but a calculated risk in environments prone to inclement weather.

PROS

  • Spacious, tall, and comfortable
  • Bathtub style flooring
  • Quick setup

CONS

  • Poor weather resistance
  • Exposed zippers
  • Warranty excludes robust storms

2. GEERTOP 4-Person Camping Tent 

Product Highlights

The Geertop 4-person Camping Tent is an ultralight, 4-season tent that provides a spacious interior dome as well as an exterior awning and light shielding-walls on the sides. This gives you some limited cover for relaxing in front of the tent instead of having to peer out from inside. 

Features  

  • Length and width  of 7.8 x 6.3 feet with a height of 4.4 feet
  • Portability – Only 9.1 pounds, this tent rolls up for easy storage within the including sports bag.
  • Interior includes 2 storage pouches and a hanging hook for your lantern
  • Treated polyester is extremely weather-resistant

What We Like About the Geertop 4-person Camping Tent

The 2-entrance design is always a pleasure, helping to minimize clutter and to keep the tent clean inside by providing a ‘reception area’ in front of the tent. The weatherproofing also proves to be most robust — this tent does not leak. 

Other small touches like the double-zippers and aluminum tent stakes speak to the quality of the design. The snow-skirt additions to the design help to reinforce the weather resistance of this tent. It is indeed good for all 4 seasons, as advertised.

What We Don’t Like About Geertop 4-person Camping Tent

While the tent stays warm and dry inside, in the warmer months we have noticed that the ventilation is not well suited for scorching weather. This is not a problem in the spring but in the summertime, you won’t do a lot of day-napping in this tent. 

Our only other complaint with this is the flooring. The floor material is quite thin. and if you do not properly clear your setup-space, then errant rocks can quickly rub holes in your floor space.

PROS

  • Portability
  • Weather resistance
  • Awning entrance

CONS

  • Poor ventilation
  • Weak flooring

3. NTK INDY GT 3 to 4 Person Dome Family Camping Tent

Product Highlights

The NTK INDY GT is a 100% waterproof, spacious dome that comes with micromesh mosquito protection, an awning, and an antifungal bathtub-style floor. With dual-zippers for easy opening without and within you also get a useful utility pocket and the NanoFlex frame offers stability with bungee-like flexibility so that it bends as needed, instead of breaking.

Features  

  • Length and width  of 12 x 7 feet with a height of 4.3 feet centrally
  • 100% waterproof protection
  • Durable, flexible frame
  • Awning for additional space and separate cover

What We Like About NTK INDY GT

The waterproofing on this tent is excellent, including even a plastic film on the inner seams that help to attest to the longevity of this design. The inner-space is also quite good, laying down inside on the bathtub-style flooring doesn’t feel cramped, even for taller individuals. Three covered vents are inside as well in order to help keep this tent from becoming stifling in warmer weather and this is something that we all appreciate. 

What We Don’t Like About NTK INDY GT

That summer ventilation can be a dual-edged sword, making the tent a little chilly in winter conditions and this is something to consider. The attachment clips which go from tent to pole are also made of thin plastics and so their longevity is suspect.  Finally, waterproofing seems to have been applied ‘on the fly’ so that no two tents are exactly the same. Consider applying a coat of sealant to avoid this issue. 

PROS

  • Excellent waterproofing (in most cases)
  • Bathtub-style flooring
  • Adequate ventilation

CONS

  • Cheap attachment clips
  • Waterproofing standards may vary
  • Chilly in winter

4. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent

Product Highlights

The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx is a durable, 2 entrance and 2 vestibule tent that comes with additional inner storage pockets and a gear loft to keep the interior uncluttered. With UV resistance, durable zippers, and a sealed floor you are guaranteed a certain amount of comfort to go with the tent’s rugged construction.

Features 

  • 25 square foot interior with a 5.2-foot height
  • Sealed flooring
  • Gear loft and storage pockets
  • 2 entrances and vestibules

What We Like About ALPS Mountaineering Lynx

First off we really like the dual-vestibule and entrance setup, which helps to ensure that you’ve got good ventilation when you need it. There is also a 2000mm coating on the poly taffeta floor that helps to keep it dry and durable, a big boon if you’ve ever had the misfortunate of rubbing a hole in the floor after only 2 or 3 uses of a new tent.

The gear loft is designed as interior storage to help you to keep from losing floor space and we like the extra-large, durable zippers on this tent. The weatherproofing is also superb so you are going to stay snug and dry.

What We Don’t Like About ALPS Mountaineering Lynx

The rain fly slit is a bit narrow and this can be mildly annoying when getting in and out of this tent. The rain fly also should ideally go back a bit further from the zipper, with its current iteration you have to be careful when employing partial-protection to avoid catching the rain fly in your zipper. 

PROS

  • Great weatherproofing
  • Extra storage
  • Excellent dual-entrance design

CONS

  • Small Rainfly entrance slit
  • Rainfly might get zipper-damaged 

5. Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent

Product Highlights

The Naturehike Cloud-up Lightweight Backpacking tent is an extremely portable tent that gives you durability and protection from the elements for 2 to 3 people. It’s water and sun-resistant, including a snow-skirt and additional ventilation to help ensure that you stay warm or keep cool in any season.

Features  

  • Length and width  of 7 x 5.9 feet with a height of 3.6 feet
  • Quick setup – typically under 3 minutes
  • 4-season element resistance
  • Only 5.1 pounds

What We Like About Naturehike Cloud-Up

We love the portability and quick-setup of this tent. You can get yourself to somewhere scenic and set up your mini-domicile in minutes, instead of spending half an hour cursing and fumbling parts. Setup requires arranging just 2 poles and the weather-resistance is mostly good (see below). 

The non-rip nylon material is quite durable and it really is one of the lightest tents we’ve handled, so it won’t use up a lot of extra energy lugging it around on your hike.

Read Related Article: Best Tent To Live In Permanently

What We Don’t Like About Naturehike Cloud-Up

While advertised as a 3-person tent, the interior seems to deflate that boasted aspiration. This tent is better suited for 2 people. While it is good for any season, wind-shielding is only partial with this tent and it can get a bit chilly inside. For warm weather or rainy weather, you are covered well, but you’ll want a good sleeping bag for extremely cold environs.

PROS

  • Fantastically lightweight
  • Quick, easy setup
  • Good weather protection
  • Durable construction

CONS

  • Smaller interior than expected
  • Poor heat retention and wind resistance

6. E-Z UP CC10SLSP Camping Cube

Product Highlights

The E-Z Up Camping Cube has a fun design, converting an existing 10×10 foot straight leg into a camping domicile for up to 6 people. A popular upgrade can even accommodate a furry friend with the addition of a pet door!

Features 

  • Spacious 541 cubic feet interior and 6.3 feet height
  • Fully-sealed Tub style floor 
  • Good ventilation keeps you cool in the summer
  • Multiple accessories to customize the experience

What We Like About E-Z UP Camping Cube

This tent has excellent amounts of space and upgraded accessories like gear lofts, shelves, the pet door, and more means that your tent can be seriously customized. 

The ventilation is also great and the sealed flooring is durable enough to function at the level it needs to be for hosting 6 people. 

The optional pet door also happens to be the same size as a number of window-unit Air conditioners, which is a real game-changer with a little vehicular power when it comes to summer camping.  

What We Don’t Like About E-Z UP Camping Cube

While a nice tent, you do still need the 10×10 straight leg to make use of it, so it’s not an all-inclusive product. Setup can also take a little longer than your average tent although taking it back down does go quickly. 

It is also not so great when there are heavy rains without a little DIY intervention and that might be a deal-breaker for some.  

PROS

  • Quite spacious
  • Pet friendly
  • Upgradeable and customizable
  • Air-Conditioner hack-friendly 

CONS

  • Needs an initial framework
  • Time-consuming setup
  • Poor resistance to rain

7. MIER Ultralight 2-person Tent

Product Highlights

The Mier Ultralight Tent is a super-light, 3-season tent that is perfect for the avid hiker. With a mesh inner-tent, you don’t have to worry about bugs sneaking in and you can even use the tent cover for simply erecting a tarp when you want to experience nature in the open for a while. 

Features  

  • Length and width  of 7.2 x 3.6 feet with a height of 4.1 feet
  • No-see-um mesh lets air in but keeps bugs out
  • Bathtub flooring stays dry
  • The canopy may be used singly

What We Like About the MIER Ultralight Tent

For hiking this tent is excellent, weighing in at just 2.8 pounds, so you can carry it all day without adding an extra burden. The canopy top is excellent for solo use and so you get a bit of versatility most tents can’t provide. It’s also quite solid, remaining firm and protective even in high winds and you can set it up with trekking poles!

What We Don’t Like About the MIER Ultralight Tent

Those trekking poles, unfortunately, are not included. The initial setup is also a little confusing so you might be looking at half an hour of time until you get used to it. It is also a little tight for 2 people so this might be more ideal for a couple, rather than 2 friends.

PROS

  • Extremely lightweight at 2.8 pounds
  • Removable canopy
  • Great bug protection
  • High wind resistance
  • Can set up with trekking poles

CONS

  • Poles not included
  • Setup is not intuitive
  • A bit small

8. Naturehike Mongar 2-Person Backpacking Tent 

Product Highlights

The Naturehike Mongar is a roomy 2-person tent that is lightweight, making it ideal for the backpacking and camping nature-nomad. Polyester anti-stretch fabric makes it extra light and durable and a waterproof silicone coating makes it highly water-resistant. It is also wind-resistant, with an aviation aluminum rod for the frame and thick aluminum pegs. 

Features 

  • Length and width  of 6.9 x 4.4 feet with a height of 4 feet
  • 2 doors and 2 vestibules
  • Aviation aluminum build for ultra-durability
  • Weighs only 4 pounds 11 oz.
  • High weather resistance

What We Like About Naturehike Mongar

Setup proved to go rather quickly, taking about 10 minutes on a first-time setup. The vestibules prove quite useful for extra gear storage as well. In a test of 40-degree temperatures, the tent was still quite warm and cozy, so the design appears to retain heat well. 

The aluminum stakes also have reflective strings which make them quite easy to find in the dark. It’s a nice touch. This tent keeps you warm and dry and with the portability, it’s a great backpacker’s tent.

What We Don’t Like About Naturehike Mongar

Some reports have advised that the described length and width require a little stretching, so this may not be perfect for taller backpackers. The mesh-inner tent can also get a bit bunched-up with frequent use so careful setup may be required to avoid damaging your tent in the first year. 

PROS

  • Quick setup
  • Durable aviation aluminum
  • Excellent weather protection
  • Very light at 4 lbs.

CONS

  • Bit snug for taller users
  • Mesh durability concerns

9. Tigris TigersDen 4-person tent

Product Highlights

The Tigris Tigersden is a 4-person baker-style tent with a heavy-duty nylon design and a ‘front-porch’ fireplace canopy extension. With double entrances, you’ve got superior ventilation and the bug-mesh incorporated into the design keeps the pests away while the canopy keeps your fire protected. 

Features  

  • Length and width of 7.2  x 7.05 foot with a height of 5.25 feet
  • Long-lasting nylon construction
  • Extended canopy 
  • Roomy, ventilated comfort

What We Like About the Tigris TigersDen

First off, the extended canopy is quite nice, as most canopied tents seriously short out the length. With this tent, you can make a small fire and stay close, roasting marshmallows even in a light drizzle. We also found it quite roomy inside and even with the rain we stayed quite dry. At only 9.4 pounds it’s also a whole lot of tent without a whole lot of fuss to carry. 

See Related Topic: Best Canopy Tent for Vendors

What We Don’t Like About the Tigris TigersDen

That extended awning canopy is nice but we have found two caveats. First, it can require a bit of creative lashing to avoid it flapping overmuch in the wind, and secondly, it can collect water if you are not careful. As far as issues go, this is pretty minimal, we really have to say that we like this tent.

PROS

  • The extended canopy/awning is superb
  • Lightweight construction
  • Keeps you warm and dry
  • Spacious interior

CONS

  • The awning may retain water
  • Awning is poorly suited for high winds

10. Snugpak Stratosphere 1 Person Bivvi Tent

Product Highlights

Our final entry is a tent-type neglected in too many reviews. The Snugpack Stratosphere is a 1 person Bivvi tent, which is an excellent low-profile tent useful for hunters and outdoors enthusiasts alike. 

It’s lightweight, made of durable nylon, and even has a No-see-um mesh present in the head canopy and back to keep the bugs away. A basic repair kit is also included to help ensure that you’ll be using this bivvi for a long, long time.

Features 

  • Length and width of 7.58 x 2.66 and 1.66 feet in height
  • Mesh protection from insects
  • Weather-resistant
  • Repair kit included

What We Like About the Snugpak Stratosphere

We love the portability of this bivvi and it certainly keeps you warm and out of the rain quite well. The mesh does a great job of keeping those bugs (and snakes) out, with the latter being especially important in some locations in such a small and warm enclosure. The repair kit is also great, with spare materials and items such as a pole repair sleeve, a rope tensioner, and more. 

What We Don’t Like About the Snugpak Stratosphere

This tent can make you feel a little claustrophobic, but in all fairness, it is a bivvi tent. Condensation moisture is a problem with this model, however, as that highly-durable fabric does not breathe well. Water can also collect at the zipper and the result is that high rains can indeed result in leaking, so you may need to tweak things a little to work around this.

PROS

  • Very portable
  • Keeps out bugs and animals
  • A repair kit is a nice touch

CONS

  • Nylon does not breathe well
  • Water may leak inside

Final Verdict

With so many pros and cons, what is our final verdict? Which of these tents should be your true home away from home?

Our favorite has to be the Tigris TigersDen and we’ll tell you why. First, it does what a tent needs to do without any unnecessary flash or features that you don’t need. It is extremely durable and it is weatherproof as well, so you won’t have to replace it anytime soon or worry about leaks.

It is also quite roomy and for once we get to appreciate a tent with a proper-sized awning. Many tents provide you with an awning but the shortened size gives quite a few limitations, whereas the Tigris supports a fire or could provide a nice bit of cover for your bike. 

Simply put, the Tigris TigerDen doesn’t waste time trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s a good, solid design that will last longer and protect you from the elements. 

What else do you really need?

BUYER’S GUIDE

When you are purchasing a tent there are a few features that you need to be familiar with so that you can have an immediate mental assessment of the pluses and minuses of design you are considering. Here are some examples that can assist you in making the right selection for your specific needs.

Vestibules 

Vestibules are essentially a foyer for cleanup and stowage that are extremely useful in inclement weather. When you are sopping wet and muddy you want to be able to take off your boots and maybe have a chair that you can pop your backpack into for a moment before you dive inside of your tent. A vestibule does this, providing a floorless cover that you can take advantage of. 

When selecting a model with a vestibule consider the following:

  • Is the vestibule arranged efficiently so that it isn’t going to funnel rain towards your tent opening?
  • Is it roomy enough for cooking if you would like? Does it need to cover a bike or a motorcycle?
  • Can be it lashed adequately to avoid flapping and potential damage?

Sleeve, clips, and poles

When it comes to setting up your tent there are 2 main configurations in regards to affixing the pole that you are going to find. These are going to be ‘sleeves’ and ‘clips’. These both have their own advantages and caveats to consider.  

Sleeves, for instance, are pockets sewn into the tent that allows for holding the poles and provide a rigid construction that is highly resistant to winds. This sort of construction can take a little longer when it comes to and these types of tents are also less ventilated than ‘clip’ designs. This means that you might have more condensation to contend with inside the tent.

Clips, by contrast, make for a quick setup and good ventilation but they are going to be less resistant to high winds. You need to check the type of plastic clips that come with the tent, as well, to ensure that they are solid and not too thin or brittle. You don’t want them to break on you with a storm outside.

Single Versus Double Walls

Finally, you should consider if you require a double wall design or a single wall. What is the difference? It basically boils down to:

  • Single Wall – Single wall designs only employ one layer of light, treated fabric to keep you and the elements outside separated. This makes for a quick and easy setup and a lighter tent, but condensation can be an issue without proper ventilation.
  • Double Wall – Double wall designs have an ‘inner tent’ where you will be sleeping, sometimes completely composed of mesh to help ensure that the bugs stay outside where they belong. To keep off the rain, the ‘second wall’ is called a Rainfly, and this is put in place over the inner tent to keep you warm and dry. This design tends to be much better for storms and is quite well ventilated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you properly clean a tent?

First, we should advise you that you must never, ever put your tent inside a washer or dryer. It doesn’t matter how delicate the cycle is, you will end up stretching your tent or even worse. You can clean your own tent out quite easily with just a bucket of warm water and mild soap. 

Avoid any soaps with fragrance, as these can actually attract insects, and make sure that your soap is detergent free and mild enough that it’s not going to break down your waterproof coating. With a soft, non-abrasive sponge you now must simply rub the worst areas on the insides, lightly enough to respect the aforementioned coating, and you can immerse your tent in the soapy water and then rinse it and hang it out to dry.

Please note, tent materials vary from design to design, so be sure to check the documentation that comes with your tent to ensure that this standard approach will still be viable for your particular tent. 

How do you clean out a tent that has mold or mildew?

Cleaning mold and mildew is something that you’ll have to do every now and then when you get caught taking your tent down in the rain and forget to dry it out properly. The first step is to ensure that it is dry. Putting your tent in a dry garage can help to dry it out completely before you start cleaning out the mold and mildew. If you’ve got windows in your garage let the sunlight help to kill the mold as well. 

Once the tent is dry, you need to create a mixture of 1 quart of vinegar to 5 quarts of water, which you should mix together with half a teaspoon of mild dish soap. Now you just need to rub the affected areas lightly with a soft-bristled brush and then allow it to dry out.

This is a good time to consider re-weatherproofing your tent, as removal of mold and mildew can take a bit of elbow grease and all that friction is likely to remove some of the protective coatings. Depending on the material there are a number of product brands available such as Atsko, Scotchguard, and Camp Kiwi that can create a new protective film.

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