Trekking tent comparison: Weatherproof 2P tents tested
- The 2025 test offers an impressive level of performance!
- Test field divided into two price categories: the six most expensive 630–1355 euros.
- nine 2P models cost 300–600 euros
- Even the cheapest candidates from Vaude and Tambu are waterproof in heavy rain and stand up well in the wind
- Bargain hunters can grab the good Tambu Tikona for only 299 €
- Gram counter for models from Big Agnes, Nordisk or Nemo (550-750€)
- And the most expensive models? Are they worth the money? The models from Hilleberg, Wechsel, and Norrona stand out, especially.
... you can download in our PDF:
3-person dome tents offer even more space:
If you want extra space for two people, you can also choose a three-person tent – for example, the 2.5 kg lightweight 3-person dome from Hilleberg.
"We haven't tested so many top-notch tent innovations in a long time," says gear editor Boris Gnielka. He should know, as he's one of the most experienced tent experts in the industry. For more than three decades, he's been trekking through the endless expanses of Scandinavia and the European mountains. He also hops on his bike for bikepacking.
Because he takes a different model with him each time, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of all tent types. The rest of the team, which includes Boris Gnielka, tests the tents in front of the wind machine, on tour, and in the lab, is also made up of veterans. Over the years, they've spent hundreds of nights in tents and know what's important.
How much space a tent should offer depends on your personal needs and the intended use. While none of the tents we tested felt cramped, we recommend more spacious, well-ventilated tents like the Nordisk and Tambu Tunnels, the Exped Orion, or the Vaude Chapel, whose large vestibules make it easy to remove wet rain gear.
- Weather protection: To score full points, a tent must withstand wet ground and heavy rain, as well as stand upright in storms. We test its waterproofness outdoors, checking whether the vestibule entrances are positioned far enough forward to prevent rain from getting in. The water column specified by manufacturers in millimeters indicates the pressure a material can withstand before it starts to leak. However, this only plays a role for PU-coated floor materials and should consistently exceed 4000 millimeters – which all test tents achieved in our lab tests. This value is significantly higher than the 1300 millimeters required by the DIN standard. However, our decades of experience have also shown that the water column is of little use for PE (polyethylene) or silicone-coated floors. Here, we simulate a submerged surface in the lab and subject the floor to internal stress by kneeling, jumping, and luring a heavy backpack around. The floor must remain watertight. For the storm test, a wind machine blows a rising airflow across the wide and narrow sides of the tent. In both cases, the tents must remain stationary at speeds up to 120 km/h (such gusts are not uncommon in Lapland or Scotland). The interior's wind protection also plays a role in the rating: If a noticeable fresh breeze whistles through the inner tent, it loses a point. For tent models designed for four-season use, all vents should be able to be closed to prevent snow from entering.
- Comfort: This includes the amount of space in the vestibule and inside (elbow and headroom, seat height, and sleeping length), as well as the sense of space. The steeper the walls, the better the use of space. Therefore, we measure the sleeping length and usable area of the interior at a height of 30 centimeters—corresponding to the position of the toes of a person lying on a sleeping mat. Also important: the size, height, and position of the entrances, as well as ventilation.
- Setup/Handling: How smoothly do the zippers operate, how do the entrances open and close, and how quickly and easily is the tent setup and takedown, even in windy conditions? We test this in a practical test by directly comparing the tents.
- Weight/Pack Size: In our tent comparison, we also measure the compressed pack size and weight itself, the latter without accessories (repair patches or spare poles), but with all stuff sacks and included pegs. Spacious stuff sacks are more practical than very small ones because they make it easier to stow the tent.
- Quality: The tear resistance of the outer tent, the robustness of the groundsheet, and the workmanship are particularly important here. Silicone-coated flysheet fabrics are up to eight times more tear-resistant than those with a PU coating – and therefore more durable. With PU materials, the seams can easily be sealed inside with tape; only Vaude has this expertise with silicone fabrics. Some manufacturers therefore include seam sealer in case a seam should leak – although this rarely happens in our experience. For groundsheets with less than 40D – D stands for denier, the thread weight – you should use an extra footprint on rough rocky ground, which is often available as an accessory. You should also consider the quality and number of pegs – and if necessary, purchase a few higher-quality aluminum nails or V-profiles.
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