The Best Tall Tents For Camping, Hiking & Mountaineering
Sea to Summit has some great taller tents, including the fantastic Alto TR2. Other tall tents have more square footage, but the 42.5-inch peak height and nearly vertical walls make this tent feel very spacious. You won’t be able to stand up inside it, but it’s rare to find a roomy tent for both frontcountry and backcountry adventures.
The only noticeable downside is that the gear loft and footprint are sold separately. It’s still a highly functional tent without them, but they both make a noticeable contribution to the functionality and are worth purchasing.
However, with two doors, two vestibules, fantastic ventilation, and weighing less than three pounds, the Alto TR2 is a winner. Whether you're hauling it two or twenty miles to a campsite, it’ll glady accompany you on your next outdoor odyssey. Check out our best two-person tents for beginners article for more no-hassle camping tents to help you enjoy the great outdoors.
Being tall has advantages, but it’s not all fun and games. Tall campers need to find tall tents that fit comfortably, and that's not always an easy task. A small tent means a night of uncomfortable shifting, inconsistent sleep, and if your feet touch the edge of the tent while it's raining? Wet feet.
Luckily, there are a series of stellar tents out there that maximize space so you can minimize disturbances to your sleep. In this guide, I review the 9 best tall tents on the market today, tailored to meet the needs of hikers, mountaineers, and campers.
My Review Process
I’ve been tent camping for the better part of thirty years. From massive frontcountry tents to ultralight marvels you can take deep into the wilderness, I’ve learned that there are a lot of tent options out there! I’ve gathered up my list of the best tall tents below in various categories and for various types of campers.
Some of the most important qualities of tall camping tents are weather resistance, peak height, how heavy or light the tent is, and how durable it is. Within that combination of elements is your next perfect tall tent. In this guide, I’ll cover all of it so you can find the size that fits best for future adventures!
Best Tall 2-Person Tent
Sea to Summit has some great taller tents, including the fantastic Alto TR2. Other tall tents have more square footage, but the 42.5-inch peak height and nearly vertical walls make this tent feel very spacious. You won’t be able to stand up inside it, but it’s rare to find a roomy tent for both frontcountry and backcountry adventures.
The only noticeable downside is that the gear loft and footprint are sold separately. It’s still a highly functional tent without them, but they both make a noticeable contribution to the functionality and are worth purchasing.
However, with two doors, two vestibules, fantastic ventilation, and weighing less than three pounds, the Alto TR2 is a winner. Whether you're hauling it two or twenty miles to a campsite, it’ll glady accompany you on your next outdoor odyssey. Check out our best two-person tents for beginners article for more no-hassle camping tents to help you enjoy the great outdoors.
Best Tall 3-Person Tent
The Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel is my choice for the best tall 3-person tent. You won’t be able to stand inside it, but this burly model can fit three taller campers (or two and a dog). It also has a unique vestibule for storing lots of gear. It has a 44-inch peak height, and you have 44 square feet to use. The durable build of this tall tent also helps defend against outdoor abuse.
There are two small downsides. The tent is on the heavier side (6.5 lbs.), and a matching footprint is sold separately. However, for the durability, dog compatibility, and unique vestibule, this tent is a spacious model worth considering. If you’re looking for more furry-friendly options, check out our article on camping tents that dogs love.
Best Tall 4-Person Tent
The MSR Habitude is my choice for the best tall 4-person tent. The peak height gets up to a fantastic 6 feet, which is perfect for taller campers. The construction is also sturdy, so durability is high, and the tent is easy to set up. Additionally, the Habitude is a 4-seasons capable tent. So, with proper camping gear, you could pitch it any time of the year.
Of course, with this much height and overall size, the MSR is heavier than your average backpacking tent. 12 pounds is a lot to carry into the backcountry, so it's best used in relative closeness to a trailhead, car, or home. The other thing worth mentioning is that while the peak height is 6 feet, the tapered walls mean that the height toward the sides is lower.
However, if you’re looking for a higher capacity, 4-season tent with lots of space and an easy setup, the MSR Habitude is a no-brainer.
Need more options that weigh a bit less? Check out our best 4-person backpacking tents article.
Best Tall Canvas Tent
The best tall canvas tent is the Kodiak Canvas Flex Box Tent Deluxe. This burly, high-quality outdoor home can handle just about everything nature can throw at it. Not only is it the biggest tent on this list (8-person capacity and 6 ft. 6 inches of height), but the extended awning means you have your own porch away from the blazing sun.
Unfortunately, the durability comes at a weight cost. And while this behemoth won’t budge in a storm, 80 pounds is a lot of weight to move around. The backcountry applications here are severely limited. You’re going to want to be close to your car or at an established campground.
However, if you know you’ll be out for a while and need a high-quality place to set up shop, there's no better option. The Kodiak Canvas Flex Bow Tent Deluxe is a beast of a tent and a great way to create a basecamp for extended camping stays.
For more high-capacity options, check out our guide on the best 6-8-person camping tents.
Best Tall Dome Tent
The Big Agnes Big House is my choice for the best tall dome tent. The peak height reaches an outstanding 6 ft. 8 inches, although the dome shape means the height tapers toward the sides. With two dual access doors and a large vestibule, you have plenty of ventilation and space to store gear, along with a handy rain shelter option to lounge under as well.
Setting up the tent will take a little longer than other options. It’s a bit easier with multiple people but it won’t be up in a minute. With nearly 15-pounds of weight, the tent isn’t the lightest but more moveable than 80 pounds of canvas. So, if you’re looking for a higher-capacity option with great weatherproofing and durability, the Big House should be on your radar.
Best Tall Pop-Up Tent
The Gazelle T3X Hub Tent is my choice for the best tall pop-up tent. This Gazelle Tent is well-built and can be assembled in 90 seconds. With that kind of instant setup, you avoid the hassle of guy lines and tent poles or stumbling around after dark trying to set something up. The peak height is also higher than most options, which creates a tent with plenty of space.
The downside, like several of the larger options on this list, is weight. 28 pounds is not the heaviest option I’ve reviewed, but prohibitive for backcountry excursions. Nevertheless, with a durable build, removable rainfly, and quick setup, this instant tent is a frontcountry winner.
Best Backpacking Tent For Tall People
My choice for the best backpacking tent for tall people is the KUIU Mountain Star. KUIU is a hunting brand, so you don’t see them on a lot of camping lists. It’s a shame because they make awesome stuff. The tent has an excellent design, a fully waterproof rain shelter mode you can deploy, and ample space thanks to its two vestibules.
A footprint and gear loft have to be bought separately. Without them, this is still a functional tent, but the gear loft is especially useful if you want to bring more stuff. And while the peak height is decent, the square footage is on the lower end of the spectrum. A taller person can easily sleep in it, but with two taller folks, it’s really nice to be able to use the vestibules and gear loft.
With an excellent design, sturdy build, and an overall weight of barely over 3 pounds, the KUIU Mountain Star is a fantastic tall-person backpacking tent.
Best Tall Mountaineering Tent
Mountaineering tents need to stand up to all sorts of weather extremes, and the MSR Access is the best of the best. This durable 4-season tent is weather-resistant, sturdy, and easy to set up. It’s also relatively lightweight for a mountaineering tent, weighing a little over 4 lbs. The higher center area (47 in.) offers plenty of space to move around comfortably.
Like most mountaineering tents, which are built with sturdy material, the MSR is expensive. However, you get what you pay for, and the peace of mind gained from a setup you know can handle the worst weather is priceless.
Check out our mountaineering tents article for more excellent choices.
Best Budget Tall Tent
My choice for the best tall budget tent is the Ozark Trail 8-person modified dome tent. This very affordable tent sets up easily and offers an extended awning to lounge under. In addition, the tent comes with a ceiling light, a rain fly, and a two-room interior for added privacy.
Ozark Trail makes great gear for the budget-conscious camper, but that comes at the expense of durability. Also, the rain fly covers all exposed mesh areas but doesn't cover the whole tent, so beware of extended downpours, which could create damp spots. But if you’re a casual recreationist, the price more than compensates for the small downsides.
All in all, if you're penny-pinching and need a big, tall tent with 115 square feet of floor space, the Ozark Trail 8-Person modified Dome tent is perfect.
Tall Tent Buying Guide
Before buying your next tall tent, take a second to review some key factors. Cost, height, the tent shape, overall space, ventilation, and how long it takes to set up are important points to keep in mind. Within them is the perfect formula for an outdoor shelter that caters to your needs.
Cost
Cost estimates can vary, so working within a set price range is always advisable. Generally, you can find a great budget option for around $100. Decent mid-range tents usually fall between $200-400. Premium tents, however, can easily cost north of $500.
Height
Peak height is a measurement of the maximum height of the tent. For a taller person, being able to stand up in a tent is a really nice feature. Several options on this list have peak heights between 5 and 6.6 feet (up to 79 inches tall). However, the taller the tent is, the more likely it will be affected by wind, and in a windstorm, you'll want a lower-lying tent.
For backpacking and mountaineering, anything between about 37-45 inches tall is going to be more comfortable to sit up and crawl around in. Just understand that they’re not going to get a lot taller without a significant price or capacity increase. In the backcountry or in extreme mountain weather, there are many solid choices in this height range.
Type/Shape
There are two main tent shapes: a dome or cabin tent. A dome tent is standard and pretty self-explanatory, it looks like a dome. Some of the tallest tents out there are dome tents, but the tent walls are curved, so the sides will be lower.
A cabin tent is usually larger and weighs more but tends to have straight walls, which increases the overall space of the entire tent. However, cabin-style tents don’t do as well with heavy rains or heavy winds.
There is also a third, less common shape: the hub. This is what the Gazelle T3X is, and operates via spring-loaded poles that bloom out from a central hub. The walls are split into smaller units that bow out along various points, so it isn’t a traditional square or oval.
If you want something that sets up quickly and has a higher capacity, there are plenty of frontcountry cabin tents out there worth looking into. Check out our best 6-8 person tents article for more information.
Weight
For backcountry and mountaineering, weight savings are huge. Lightweight and ultralight tents that have a combined weight between 3 and 5 pounds are ideal. It’s just less to haul around on your back. The heaviest option on this list, for example, is over 80 pounds!
For large-capacity tents that you can set up close to a vehicle, weight matters a little less. In that case, make sure the tent can be set up relatively easily (like an instant cabin tent) and has some durability and weather resistance.
Overall Space & Storage
Overall space refers to the square footage of your tent. It's a good measurement of usability, but there are attachments like gear lofts that can meaningfully increase your capacity. Look both at overall space and storage options. How many storage pockets does it have? How many vestibules? Is there an extension or awning you can deploy to increase usable space?
Ventilation
Larger tents tend to sport excellent ventilation, but that's not always the case. Look for tall camping tents with dual doors, a mesh ceiling (or mesh windows), vents, and screens. All of these features increase your tent's ability to get rid of excess heat. In hotter climates, it is worth keeping the rain fly off unless a storm is predicted so air can circulate more effectively.
4-season and waterproof tents tend to have less in the way of ventilation because they’re designed to deal with weather extremes. However, they will keep warm circulating in colder environments and hold up well to heavy winds, rain, and even snow.
Ease Of Setup
Pop-up tents are the easiest to setup, deploying in under a few minutes. However, not all tents are like that. There are burly models made for the mountains that take a little time to figure out. If the tent doesn’t advertise easy setup, understand that it may take a few minutes. This is important information if you stumble into a campsite after dark.
Ease of setup is important for convenience, especially if you're camping with others. However, in all cases, it's worth taking a new tent and setting it up in your yard or a nearby park to understand what methods work best. Going into the woods with a fresh tent you’ve never used will inevitably increase the set-up time.
Durability And Weather Resistance
Each tent on this list has some form of weather protection. However, not all tents are created equally. Rain protection comes in the form of a waterproof rating or, at least, a mention of rain protection and water resistance.
Far and away, the sturdiest tents are the mountaineering variety. They don’t do as well in the ventilation category but they will withstand harsh weather conditions. The next strongest are tents that use durable materials like thick layers of polyester, ripstop nylon, or canvas.
Canvas is heavy, so the extra weight is usually a deterrent to backcountry adventures. However, if an avid camper, they are frontcountry icons for extended stays in the wild. For lightweight tents, make sure they come with a rain fly or that one can be purchased for added bad weather protection.
If you are only going to be camping a handful of times a year and in frontcountry situations close to your car, durability matters a bit less. It’s still worth seeing if there are mesh walls, mesh roof vents, or a mesh roof. While excellent for ventilation, they will not hold up to repeated stress forever.
Summary
Although smaller than many options on the list, the best overall tall tent for camping is the lightweight Sea to Summit Alto. The ultralight design, vertical walls, and ample ventilation make it a winner. If you want a little more capacity and less set up work, I’d look at the Gazelle T3X Hub Tent.
Mountaineers will be drawn to durable tents like the sturdy MSR Access Mountaineering Tent for its 4-seasons weather dependability. And, of course, bargain hunters will find a lot to love in the Ozark Trail 8-Person Modified Dome Tent.
Common questions
I’m happiest on long backpacking trips into little-known pockets of wilderness, skiing down backcountry mountains, and on all-fours, scrambling the rocky spines of alpine ridges. When I'm not adventuring in the outdoors, I'm most likely writing about them.
*The information on this site is based on research and first-hand experience but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new activity, we recommend consulting with a physician, nutritionist or other relevant professional healthcare provider.
