Best 2 and 3 person tents 2024 for backpacking

The best two and three-person tents provide a comfortable amount of space and robust weather resistance in a pack that's not too bulky or heavy to carry if you're backpacking.

We've put popular backpacking tents from Berghaus, Coleman, Vango, OEX, Alpkit, MSR and more to the test. We pitch them in wintry conditions out in a field for a week to find out which ones you should consider for your next small-scale camping trip or backpacking adventure. 

Although some tents breezed through our tests, some let water inside after a downpour.

The best 2 and 3 person tents from our tests

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See all of our reviews of the best 4 and 5 person tents, best 6 person and larger tents, and best pop-up tents. 

The 2 and 3 person tents we've tested

All the two-person tents and three-person tents we've tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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See the overall 10 best tents from our tests.

Alpkit Viso 2

Available from Alpkit (£159.99)

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Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 410 x 155 x 118cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 3.2kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, one bedroom, two air vents, small porch, four storage pockets

Berghaus Cairngorm 2 Tent

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Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 115 x 125 x 335cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 3.75kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one small porch, one bedroom, no windows, two air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Berghaus Grampian 3 Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 115 x 200 x 380cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.72kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, two small porches, one bedroom, no windows, four air vents, 10 storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

See our reviews of the best backpacks

Coleman Kobuk Valley 3+

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Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 190 x 330 x 130cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 5.1kg

Stated water resistance 4,500mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, two windows, four air vents, porch, three storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Eurohike Ribble 2

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 105 x 240 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.5kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, awning poles included, two windows (only usable when the awning is pitched), two air vents, porch, three storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 213 x 279cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.72kg

Stated water resistance 1,200mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedrooms, no windows, eight air vents, two small porches on each side, two storage pockets, four ceiling hanging loops

OEX Coyote III Backpacking Tent

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Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 116 x 205 x 400cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.3kg

Stated water resistance 5,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedroom, no windows, two air vents, four storage pockets, two ceiling lamp hooks

OEX Phoxx 2 II Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 95 x 255 x 230cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 2.1kg

Stated water resistance 5,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedroom, two air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Trespass Beatnik

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 120 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.8kg

Stated water resistance 1,500mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, no windows, four air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Vango Nova 300 3 Person Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 107 x 190 x 330cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 2.9kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, no windows, one air vent, porch, tension bands in porch, four storage pockets

The best 2 and 3 person tents from our tests

Compare the test results and prices at a glance in our table below or read on for our full reviews.

See all of our reviews of the 10 best tents from our tests, best 4 and 5 person tents, best 6 person and larger tents, and best pop-up tents.

Best Buy: MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Very compact and lightweight

Cons

• On the cosy side for two campers
• Expensive

Our verdict Backpackers' dream

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 213 x 279cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.72kg

Stated water resistance 1,200mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedrooms, no windows, eight air vents, two small porches on each side, two storage pockets, four ceiling hanging loops

No, the pack weight isn't a typo. This tent is so light and compact that it's not dissimilar to a bag of flour when it's packed up. For campers on the move who like to carry everything on their backs, this is a huge benefit.

Pitching it in our test field was a breeze. There's a single pole that unfolds into shape, and once it's out you simply need to clip the canvas to the poles and peg out the flysheet. Once you're familiar with it, you should be able to pitch this tent in about five minutes. Packing it away is just as straightforward.

In spite of how compact and light it is, you end up with a two-person tent of a decent size once it's up. The sleeping space might be a little cosy for two campers, but the flysheet gives you storage space at either side of the bedroom, with room for your boots and backpacks, so you shouldn't compete with your gear for space to sleep.

Don't let how small and light it is give you an impression of weakness, though. In our tests, this tent faced heavy downpours and strong winds, and it wasn't troubled one bit. Not a single drop of water got inside, and the pegs, despite their small size, held remarkably firm in the muddy conditions.

The flysheet itself can be pitched on its own for use as a quick shelter if you're setting up for lunch somewhere when the rain is pouring. The sleeping space also has several large mesh screens in the ceiling, which are brilliant for ventilation and for giving you a glorious view of the night sky from the comfort of your sleeping bag.

Best Buy/Great Value: Coleman Kobuk Valley 3+

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Effective blackout sleeping compartment
• Should comfortably sleep three campers
• Good ventilation

Cons

• Porch area is good for kit storage but not as a communal space
• Minimal storage pockets

Our verdict Superb and wallet-friendly

Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 190 x 330 x 130cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 5.1kg

Stated water resistance 4,500mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, two windows, four air vents, porch, three storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Coleman nailed the balance between price and quality with the Kobuk Valley 3+. With well-stitched and sealed seams and a hardy hydrostatic head rating of 4,500mm, it shrugs off adverse weather with ease.

The size of the porch is a sacrifice you might not want to make – it's more for storing bags and muddy boots than for hanging out when the rain falls – but it's sizeable enough for three backpackers to store their gear and keep the sleeping space roomy.

The bedroom has enough space for three people to sleep, and if you're keen to keep the daylight out in the early hours it does a brilliant job of blocking out the light. There isn't much in terms of storage pockets, so you'll probably have to keep most of your gear in your bags.

The air vents are effective at keeping the air flow going, so you shouldn't find too much condensation on the ceiling when you wake up in the morning.

To top it off, we also found it easy to pitch and pack away, and at 5.1kg it's compact and lightweight enough that it's suitable for backpacking.

See our reviews of the best backpacks

Berghaus Cairngorm 2 Tent

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Luminous zips and guy ropes are useful at night
• Porch area is good for backpacker’s storage
• Lightweight pack

Cons

• Tent shape means you have to sleep with your head by the entrance
• Ventilation could be better, minimal storage pockets

Our verdict Excellent for no-nonsense camping

Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 115 x 125 x 335cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 3.75kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one small porch, one bedroom, no windows, two air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

The Cairngorm 2 strips back all the bells and whistles and gives you a compact, lightweight backpacking tent that nails the essentials.

Not a drop of rain got through the canvas or seams in our tests, and because it's not too tall it has no trouble facing strong winds. It also has bright reflective guy ropes and zips so it's easy to navigate getting in and out in the dark.

The guy ropes and pegs are high quality, and though the porch isn't large enough to relax in, it does have enough room for two campers to store their gear outside of the sleeping compartment.

The bedroom is on the small side and it's slightly wider at the door than at the opposite end, so you will need to sleep with your head by the door if you're sharing the tent with another camper.

It's easy to pitch, pack away and peg out, so as long as you're happy with the compact design and cosy sleeping space, we think you'll be happy with the Cairngorm 2. It's a robust, high quality tent and a deserving Best Buy.

Best Buy/Great Value: OEX Phoxx 2 II Tent

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Very compact and lightweight
• Cheaper to buy

Cons

• Cosy for two campers
• Can be tricky to get inside without letting in rain

Our verdict Cheap, compact, and effective

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 95 x 255 x 230cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 2.1kg

Stated water resistance 5,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedroom, two air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

We found this tent particularly easy to pitch, as the poles don't need to be fed through any seams on the canvas. You simply assemble the poles into shape, clip the sleeping compartment onto the poles, and then peg out the flysheet over the top.

Collapsing it down was also no problem for us. It packed down quickly, easily and we had no issue getting it back into the bag. At 2.1kg, it's also light and compact enough to be well suited to a Duke of Edinburgh expedition or other backpacking trip.

Its small size does make it perhaps too small for two campers to sleep in, which is what brought it down slightly in our overall ranking. We found it comfortable with one person inside, so we'd recommend checking how much space you'll need for your gear and boots before heading out.

There are useful features and thoughtful touches on the inside, though – the flysheet grants you some storage either side of the sleeping space for your wet gear, there are a couple of storage pockets in the bedroom, and well-sized vents will help keep condensation at bay.

Crucially, this tent also did a brilliant job of repelling all the wind and rain it was challenged with in our tests. Its quality, combined with its lower price, makes this tent a worthy recipient of both our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.

 Best Buy: Berghaus Grampian 3 Tent

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and pack away

Cons

• On the cosy side for three campers

Our verdict Robust and dependable

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 115 x 200 x 380cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.72kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, two small porches, one bedroom, no windows, four air vents, 10 storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

The Berghaus Grampian 3 is one of the easiest-to-pitch tents we've tested. Its poles are thin but strong, gliding through the seams easily and rising into shape without issue.

Packing it away is also straightforward, although if we were being really picky it would be easier to stuff the tent into the bag from an opening in the side of the bag rather than at the end.

There's an entrance at each end of the tent with handy porch space for storing boots and wet waterproofs, and an extra groundsheet comes included, which you can clip into your preferred entrance. Ten storage pockets and four air vents also help to make this tent a convenient and well-ventilated sleeping space.

The porches themselves aren't large enough for easy use as a communal space outside of the bedroom, though, so if the weather turns sour you'll probably need to take shelter where you sleep. It's also a little cosy for three people, although if you're savvy about how you store your gear and don't need bountiful space to sleep, it should suffice.

You won't need to worry about getting wet once you're inside, though. This tent shrugged off all of the winds and heavy rain it faced in our tests. It's a strong and reliable Best Buy.

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OEX Coyote III Backpacking Tent

Pros

• Superb weather resistance
• Easy to pitch and very easy to pack away
• Lightweight pack

Cons

• Lets in a lot of light
• Porch is small
• Too cosy for three campers

Our verdict Almost a Best Buy

Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 116 x 205 x 400cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.3kg

Stated water resistance 5,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedroom, no windows, two air vents, four storage pockets, two ceiling lamp hooks

If this tent was for two campers, we'd likely be giving it a Best Buy. We think it's just too cosy for three, and the porch is small enough that even two campers would have to be pretty minimal about the amount of gear they bring with them.

Besides that, it's excellent. It had no trouble dealing with wet and windy weather in our tests, and we found it easy to pitch and pack away.

It's still a very good tent and that's why it's high in our rankings, but we'd think twice about taking it out with the number of campers it's advertised to sleep.

Great Value: Alpkit Viso 2

Available from Alpkit (£159.99)

Pros

• Excellent waterproofing
• Effective wind resistance
• Mostly easy to pitch and very easy to pack away
• Porch area is good for storage
• Lightweight pack

Cons

• Ventilation could be better

Our verdict Excellent value for money

Most recently tested March 2024

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 410 x 155 x 118cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 3.2kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, one bedroom, two air vents, small porch, four storage pockets

This tent only really fell short of being named a Best Buy because of its small vents, which will likely lead to some condensation forming on the ceiling overnight. Besides that, we think it's very good.

It did a fine job of repelling wind and rain in our tests, and we found it straightforward to pitch and pack away. We did spot a handful of reviews online saying strong winds bent the poles, but this didn't happen for us when it was subjected to wind speeds of around 30mph.

The pack is also a little over 3kg and is a compact size, so it's suitable for backpacking trips where managing the weight of your pack is extra important.

The porch isn't large enough to hang out in, but it's a good size for storing gear outside the bedroom. The bedroom itself is also a comfortable size for two campers to share.

Although it's not quite a Best Buy, we still like this tent and it can be bought at a much more reasonable price than some others in our top 10. For that reason, we're happy to give it our Great Value recommendation.

Great Value: Vango Nova 300 3 Person Tent

Pros

• Keeps the wind and rain at bay
• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Relatively low price

Cons

• Too small for three campers
• Ventilation could be better

Our verdict High quality for the price

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 107 x 190 x 330cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 2.9kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, no windows, one air vent, porch, tension bands in porch, four storage pockets

Tunnel tents such as this are usually among the more difficult tents to pitch, as it can be difficult to bend the poles into shape and persuade the tent to stand up while you're pegging it out. However, we found this one straightforward and easy.

Packing it away was even easier. The poles slide out of the canvas smoothly, and the tent folds down small to fit into the carry bag with no issue. You can tighten up the straps on the bag to make it as compact as possible.

Where it comes up a little short is the living space. There is a small porch with room enough for a couple of pairs of boots, but we think the sleeping space is too small for three campers. Two would be just right, and one would be luxurious.

It has its good points, though. The zips open and close smoothly. The sleeping space is set back far enough away from the entrance that there's no chance of rain getting in while you're clambering in and out. There are also tension bands in the porch, which you can tighten to help the tent stand firm against strong winds.

It had no problem keeping the wind and rain at bay throughout our tough tests, as well. Despite the one or two flaws we've mentioned, we're happy with this tent overall, and its relatively low price makes it a Great Value choice for your next camping trip.

Eurohike Ribble 2

Pros

• Keeps the rain out
• Enough room for two people to sleep
• Cheaper to buy

Cons

• Difficult to pitch and pack away
• May need re-pegging in windy conditions
• Door location could make it tricky for two people to get in and out

Our verdict Mixed bag

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 105 x 240 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.5kg

Stated water resistance 3,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, awning poles included, two windows (only usable when the awning is pitched), two air vents, porch, three storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

We didn't have the best time pitching this tent or packing it away. The pins at the base of the tent need to be placed into the ends of the poles, which required a great deal of effort for us to manage, and it took two campers a long time to squeeze the tent back into the bag at the end.

We weren't too impressed by the living space of this tent, either. It has enough room for two campers, but the window flaps from the awning get in the way while you're trying to unzip the door, and having the door on the side means one camper will have to climb over the other to get out the tent if they need to pop to the loo at night.

The inside space stayed mercifully dry throughout our tests, despite all the rainfall, but we did find ourselves repegging the tent frequently as it struggled to cope with blustery winds.

Trespass Beatnik

Pros

• Easy to pitch and pack away
• Compact and lightweight
• Resists wind well

Cons

• Too small for two campers
• Easy for water to get inside

Our verdict Too small and too basic

Most recently tested March 2023

Stated size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 120 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.8kg

Stated water resistance 1,500mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, no windows, four air vents, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

We found this little tent super easy to pitch and pack away, although that might have something to do with how tiny it is.

One adult tester, who is less than six feet tall, found this tent too cramped, and that was by themselves and without any other equipment inside. We're astounded that this is sold as a tent for two campers.

It did a pretty good job of handling wind, and it almost handled all of the heavy rain, but unfortunately towards the end of a week's testing we found water had got in around the sides, and that brought it right down in our ranking.