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Best Bikepacking Tents of 2023

JUMP TO: BIG AGNES COPPER SPUR HV UL / NEMO HORNET / ZPACKS ALTAPLEX / TARPTENT DOUBLE RAINBOW LI / NATUREHIKE CYCLING TENT / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Tristan Ridley

The Short Version

The Long Version

Selecting a good shelter is one of the most important choices you’ll make as a bikepacker, so it’s important to get it right.

Although other shelter types, such as tarps and/or bivvies, can certainly be great choices in the right conditions, a good tent is undoubtedly the best all-round option for most people – providing excellent weatherproofing, great comfort, and complete bug protection.

Advances in fabric and pole technology mean that modern backpacking and bikepacking tents are also remarkably lightweight, often weighing only slightly more than an equivalent tarp or bivvy while still being much more protective and comfortable. 

When it comes to tents, there are hundreds of choices available — so it can be difficult to know what to look for and where to begin.

 

The Big Agnes Copper Spur — home away from home on the Trans-Kenya Bikepacking Route.

 

As with many things, there’s never going to be a ‘best’ tent for all applications, since it depends greatly on the conditions and climate in which you expect to use your shelter. But if you know what you’re looking for, you can certainly find something that will work for your particular needs.

Generally, most tents that are good for backpacking will also be great choices for bikepacking, although there are a few considerations to choosing a tent that are bikepacking specific.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to choose a tent for bikepacking, and we’ll also give you some of our top picks in a number of categories.

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Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Although choosing a bikepacking tent is relatively similar to choosing one for backpacking, there are a few bikepacking-specific things to consider. So be sure to check out our buying advice at the bottom of the page.

 
 

Best Overall Double Wall Tent: BIG AGNES COPPER SPUR HV UL

MATERIALS: Silicone-treated ripstop nylon

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (L x W x H, narrower at foot):
    1P: 88 x 38/28 x 38 in / 224 x 97/71 x 97 cm
    2P: 88 x 52/42 x 40 in / 224 x 132/107 x 102 cm

WEIGHT (incl. stuff sack, poles and stakes):
    1P: 38 oz / 1080 grams
    2P: 50 oz / 1420 grams

PACKED SIZE:
    1P: 17.5 x 5.5 in / 44 x 14 cm
    2P: 19.5 x 6.0 in / 50 x 15 cm

PRICE: $$$

Available in several different configurations, the Big Agnes Copper Spur (1P and 2P) is one of our favorite all-round shelters and is our top pick for those looking for a quality double wall, fully freestanding bikepacking tent.

The design is excellent, with a spacious interior and excellent vestibules, and it also has several internal pockets, making organization a breeze. In particular, the large ‘3D Shelf’ pocket at the foot end is huge, making it easy to keep the floor free from clutter.

This is a very comfortable tent, with ample head and shoulder room, making it suitable for longer as well as shorter trips. It uses a one-piece pole, making it fully freestanding, and both setup and takedown are quick and easy.

Although lighter double wall tents are available, we think the Copper Spur hits the sweet spot between weight and comfort, and it should still be lightweight enough for most people. It packs down small, and it’s strong enough to survive plenty of bad weather. 

The Copper Spur comes in various sizes to fit between 1 and 4 people, and Big Agnes also makes a bikepacking specific version, the ‘Copper Spur HV UL Bikepack’ (1P and 2P). The bikepacking version is very similar to the regular Copper Spur, but with a few tweaks. Most notably the poles of the bikepacking version pack down substantially smaller (13.5” instead of 19.5” for the 2-person version), making the tent small enough to fit between the hoods on drop-bar bikes. It also comes in a bikepacking specific compression sack designed to be strapped to the handlebars, although depending on your setup, you may still prefer to use your own handlebar system. It has a few other minor tweaks such as helmet storage and webbing loops on top of the rainfly, but these are not particularly significant.

The bikepacking version is slightly heavier than the regular Copper Spur, and also more expensive, so which version you choose will depend largely on whether you benefit from the shorter pole set and compression sack. Either way, the Copper Spur is one of the best tents on the market!

Best Ultralight Double Wall Tent: NEMO HORNET

MATERIALS: Sil/PeU ripstop nylon (fly: 10D; floor: 15D)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (L x W x H, narrower at foot end):
    1P: 87 x 43/31 x 39 in / 222 x 108/79 x 98 cm
    2P: 85 x 51/43 x 39 in / 215 x 130/108 x 98 cm

WEIGHT (incl. stuff sack, poles and stakes):
    1P: 32 oz / 905 grams
    2P: 38 oz / 1080 grams

PACKED SIZE:
    1P: 19.5 x 4.5 in / 50 x 12 cm
    2P: 19.5 x 5.5 in / 50 x 14 cm

PRICE: $$

If weight is a major consideration, but you still want a double wall tent — and you’re not too worried about internal space — then the Nemo Hornet would be our pick.

Although it’s not as spacious or comfortable as the Big Agnes Copper Spur, the Hornet shaves off a fair amount of weight whilst still offering a reasonable amount of internal volume.

With a packed weight of only 2 lbs. (905g) for the 1-person version, this tent won’t slow you down much on the climbs, and it packs down tiny, which is a big advantage for bikepacking. It has enough space to sit up inside, so it’s still reasonably comfortable, though it’s undoubtedly more cramped than the Copper Spur due to its much smaller cross pole – you’ll most likely brush your shoulders against the sides as you move around inside. Being double wall, however, this isn’t a major issue.

The Hornet is semi-freestanding, rather than fully-freestanding, so you’ll still need to stake out the front corners, but no tension is really required so we find it to be ‘freestanding enough’ for purpose. It’s reasonably weatherproof, although to save weight, the flysheet doesn’t fully cover the head end of the tent, instead opting for a waterproof inner layer, meaning that the Hornet is essentially single walled on that side. This isn’t really a problem, but it does mean you’ll have to be aware of condensation at the head end of the tent.

Overall, we did prefer the Copper Spur and think it’s worth the few extra ounces for the additional comfort it provides, but for those looking to go fast and light, the Hornet is still a fantastic choice.

Note that if you want to shave off even more ounces, consider the Nemo Hornet Elite (1P and 2P), which uses a 7-denier canopy fabric that is slightly thinner and lighter than the 10-denier fabric found on the standard Hornet.

Best 1-Person Single Wall Tent: ZPACKS ALTAPLEX

MATERIALS: Dyneema Composite Fabric (fly: 0.55 oz / sq yd; floor: 1.0 oz / sq yd)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (L x W x H):
    90 x 36 x 58 in / 230 x 91 x 147 cm

WEIGHT: 15.4 oz / 437 grams (incl. stuff sack, excl. poles and stakes)

PACKED SIZE: 12 x 6 in / 30.5 x 15 cm

PRICE: $$$$

If you’re a solo bikepacker in the market for one of the lightest tents money can buy, look no further than the Zpacks Altaplex.

Coming in at only around 1 pound (450g), this is an astoundingly lightweight tent. Single wall, fully enclosed, and fully weatherproof, the Altaplex uses a single trekking pole and is made of Dyneema Composite Fabric, which is what makes it so remarkably lightweight.

Of course most bikepackers won’t be carrying a trekking pole — so Zpacks sell a purpose-built collapsible pole that can be used instead (sold separately, weighing 1.2 oz / 34 grams).

The pyramid design of the Altaplex makes it very stable and weather-resistant, and it’s also very quick to pitch, provided you can get your stakes into the ground – this tent is not freestanding, requiring at least six stakes to function, and these do need to be well tensioned to ensure stability. 

Because it uses such a long central pole, the Altaplex has quite a bit more living space than most similar tents, with much more headroom. Not only does this make it more comfortable to live in, and more suitable for taller users, but it also makes it much easier to manage condensation, which can develop by virtue of the Altaplex being a single wall tent.

By design, the walls are very steep, which causes any condensation to run down to the mesh on the sides of the tent, rather than dripping down onto your head. And because of the size of the tent, there’s enough space to move around without rubbing against the walls, and you’re in no danger of touching the walls with your sleeping bag whilst sleeping. 

This is an exceptionally good tent, and its main drawback is its whopping price tag – the Altaplex is an expensive tent, there are no two ways about it. But you do get what you pay for, as this is quite simply one of the best tents on the market.

We appreciate that for many people the Altaplex will be too costly to justify. That said, we do think it’s ultimately worth the price… Dyneema may be expensive, but there’s no better material to date.

Best 2-Person Single Wall Tent: TARPTENT DOUBLE RAINBOW LI

MATERIALS: Dyneema Composite Fabric (fly: 0.51 oz / sq yd; floor: 1.0 oz / sq yd)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (L x W x H):
    88 x 50 x 40 in / 224 x 127 x 102 cm

WEIGHT: 28.6 oz / 810 grams (incl. poles, stakes and stuff sack)

PACKED SIZE: 17 x 4.5 in / 43 x 11.4 cm

PRICE: $$$$

Also made from Dyneema, the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li weighs a total of only 28.6 oz. (810g) — a remarkable feat considering its palatial size.

Because it uses a bending arch pole rather than trekking poles, the Double Rainbow Li has an enormous amount of internal volume, with more than enough space for two people to move around comfortably inside.

Liveability is exceptional, and with double doors and double vestibules this tent is super convenient to use. Its sheer size does a lot to alleviate condensation, and even if some does develop, the Double Rainbow Li is big enough that you won’t rub up against the walls.

The design is excellent, and this is a very pleasant tent to use. It can even be made freestanding if you bring along trekking poles, or if you buy a couple of purpose-built collapsible poles, which are sold separately by Tarptent. Weather protection is outstanding and the tent pitches very quickly and easily.

As with the Altaplex, the main drawback is the price tag, owing to its use of Dyneema materials. But the money, you’ll get an incredibly lightweight and well-designed tent – with more than enough space for two people to stretch out and live comfortably, even on longer trips.

And weighing as little as it does, it’s even an attractive option for solo bikepackers who want more space than a 1-person tent provides.

Best Budget Tent: NATUREHIKE CYCLING TENT

MATERIALS: 210T nylon (fly), 150D plaid Oxford cloth (floor)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (L x W x H):
    81 x 37 x 44 in / 205 x 95 x 110 cm

WEIGHT: 63.5 oz / 1800 grams (incl. stuff sack, poles and stakes)

PACKED SIZE: 16 x 6 in / 40 x 15 cm

PRICE: $

In this article, we’ve listed some of the best bikepacking tents in the world. But you do get what you pay for, and top-quality tents certainly aren’t cheap.

That said, there are also some great budget options out there that will keep you comfortable without weighing you down too much or breaking the bank. Our top budget pick is the Naturehike Cycling Tent – a great shelter that you can pick up on Amazon for less than $100.

The Cycling Tent is a fully freestanding, double wall, 1-person tent. It packs down small, is relatively lightweight, and has enough interior space to be comfortable. All for only a quarter of the price of similarly designed big-name brand tents.

One potential downside is that the Cycling Tent is only available in relatively high-visibility colors, which makes it less than ideal for under-the-radar wild camping. But the navy-blue option isn’t as bright as the others, and for some people, this won’t be an issue anyway.

Due to the lack of a cross-pole, shoulder space can feel a little limited, but due to a wider than usual floor, it doesn’t feel overly cramped. Weatherproofing is solid, and it’s an easy tent to pitch and use.

Considering the price, we think this is an outstanding tent that offers similar performance to top-end tents, at a comparative weight penalty of less than a pound. For value for money, it’s about as good as it gets.

For those looking for a budget tent for two, we’d suggest checking out the Star-River 2-person tent, also from Naturehike. With a very similar design to our top-pick Copper Spur, the Star-River sells for around $160 and weighs in at 4.6 lbs. (2.1kg). As with the Cycling Tent, the value for money is superb, and it also performs well above its price point.

BUYING ADVICE FOR BIKEPACKING TENTS

Pack size

One of the biggest differences in choosing a tent for bikepacking, as opposed to backpacking, is that pack size generally becomes much more of an issue. Bikepacking bags tend to be quite limited for capacity, whereas backpackers usually have plenty of storage space in their packs.

Depending on what style of bikepacking bags you’re using, you may also want to have a think about the best way to carry your tent on the bike. Because most tents fold down into cylindrical packages, the handlebars can often be the best location for storage, especially if you’re using a cradle-style handlebar harness. 

The main limitation is often the tent poles, which can be problematically wide for some bicycles, particularly those with drop bars. One good option is to store your poles separate from the rest of the tent – either inside a frame bag, if it fits, or strapped to your frame, on the top tube or downtube, using something like Voile straps.

Storing your poles separately opens up the option of stuffing your tent into your bikepacking bags instead of folding it into its own stuff sack, which can be much easier and can allow you to get your bags more tightly packed. If your tent is made of Dyneema, however, it should never be stuffed, as doing so will substantially reduce its lifespan. 

Size and Comfort

The longer your trip, the more important it becomes to have a tent that you’re comfortable in, as you’ll probably end up spending a lot of time inside. A tiny, ultra-compact tent might be fine if you’re just going out for a few days at a time, but on longer trips, it could quickly start to feel like a coffin.

Choosing a tent with enough living space to sit up and lounge in the evenings will be something you’ll come to greatly appreciate. More spacious tents are always going to be slightly heavier and bulkier, so it comes down to finding a compromise between weight and comfort that you’re happy with.

Another decision you’ll need to make is whether to go with a 1-person, 2-person, or even higher volume tent. Obviously, this will depend on how many people you’ll be sleeping in the tent with, but also on how much space you think you’ll need. Some people prefer to size up, opting for a 2-person tent when traveling solo. This comes at a cost in weight and bulk, and for most people, we think sizing up isn’t necessary, but ultimately this comes down to personal preference.

Single Wall vs. Double Wall

A long-standing debate in the backpacking world, deciding between a single wall and double wall tent will dramatically affect your product choices. Single wall tents consist of one fully enclosed piece of material. Whereas double wall tents consist of an inner layer, usually made from breathable but non-waterproof fabrics and bug-proof mesh, with a second layer, the waterproof rainfly, draped over the top. 

Single wall tents tend to be lighter, pack down smaller, and pitch faster than double wall tents, making them a popular choice with those looking to go as fast and light as possible. The main disadvantage is condensation, which can be a major problem depending on the climate conditions where you camp.

Internal condensation occurs in all shelters to varying degrees, but with double wall tents, it’s mitigated, as there’s an additional layer (the inner tent) between you and the outer rainfly, (the part that gets wet).

Moving around inside a double wall tent, you shouldn’t get wet if you brush against the sides as the inner layer is designed to stay dry. Whereas inside a single wall tent, where there is nothing between you and the condensation, doing so can get you very damp indeed, and when there’s a lot of it, condensation can even drip down on top of you. In extreme cases this can be severe, leading to drenched sleeping bags and even puddles forming inside the tent. 

Well-designed single wall tents mitigate condensation by stimulating airflow, and you can also help reduce the impact by careful campsite selection – avoid low-lying areas close to water and grassy meadows with no tree cover, instead camping under tree cover when possible.

Single wall tents undoubtedly require more consideration when pitching, and once inside you’ll have to be careful not to rub against the sides. Whereas double wall tents allow a more relaxed approach. If you’re planning to camp only in dry areas however, this won’t be a concern, And even in areas where condensation may be a problem, many people find the drawbacks to single wall tents are outweighed by the benefits. 

One final advantage to double wall tents to note is that you do have the option of setting up only the inner net tent. This can be very useful in situations where there is no chance of rain but where you want protection against bugs or snakes, allowing you to look out through the mesh and stargaze or enjoy your surroundings, something which you can’t really do with a single wall tent. 

 

Double wall tents — like the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 — have the added benefit that they can be set up with just the inner tent in good weather — making them perfect for star gazing without the insects!

 

Freestanding vs. Trekking Pole

Almost all tents fall into one of these two categories, each with pros and cons. Freestanding tents are fully self-supporting and do not require pegs to hold up the living space, keeping shape due to a bending arch-pole structure.

Trekking pole tents require stakes to maintain tension and avoid collapse, usually using non-bending, straight poles, such as trekking poles, to provide volume. Unlike hikers, bikepackers don’t normally carry trekking poles, so the advantage of a trekking pole tent is lost. But collapsible rigid tent poles can be purchased instead, and this style of tent will still be lighter than an equivalent freestanding tent. It will also pack down smaller, as the long poles in freestanding tents are usually fairly bulky. 

Freestanding tents can be extremely useful, as they can be easily pitched on any surface, whereas trekking-pole tents can be awkward to pitch on rocky or sandy ground, where stakes are not very effective. It’s usually possible to improvise and pitch trekking pole tents using rocks instead of stakes, or by tying off to trees or other fixed objects, but there’s no question that freestanding tents make for an easier time of it.

Freestanding tents also allow you to easily pitch on solid surfaces, allowing you to camp inside buildings, or on concrete or wooden platforms, something can happen more than you might think on longer trips.

Materials

Tents can be made from many different materials, with some of the most common being nylon, silpoly, and silnylon.

Recent years have also seen the emergence of a new material that has gained enormous popularity in the ultralight world. Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF), formerly known as Cuben Fiber, is remarkably lightweight, very strong, and 100% waterproof. Unlike other fabrics, it’s completely impermeable, absorbing no water, and it therefore doesn’t ‘wet out’ as other materials do. Dyneema is also much lighter than any other tent fabric; with DCF it’s possible to buy a complete tent weighing in at just over over one pound (450g)… less than a small bottle of water!

The primary disadvantage of Dyneema is its price, which is generally extremely high. A tent made of Dyneema usually costs at least double that of any other fabric, with Dyneema tents generally selling for between $500 and $1000 USD. Unquestionably expensive, DCF tents will therefore only appeal to those who want the absolute best and lightest tents money can buy.

Aside from the price, Dyneema is also slightly bulkier than other materials, and it must be rolled rather than stuffed. This is a very minor issue, however, and the price is undoubtedly the main drawback to consider. Most DCF tents are single wall, although there are also a few double wall options available.

Season rating

Most backpacking and bikepacking tents — and all of the tents included in this article — are rated for 3-season use. This means that they’re suitable for everything outside of winter or serious alpine conditions. They are all waterproof and should stand up to reasonably strong winds, and even potentially light snow loading. But three-season tents are generally not designed to withstand extreme storm conditions.

There are always trade-offs – choosing a lightweight tent has massive advantages but it does mean you should be careful with where you pitch. If you expect serious wind, choose a protected spot sheltered from the worst of the elements, and avoid camping in exposed spots above the treeline.

For those kinds of conditions, or for winter, a 4-season tent will give you security, but at the cost of dramatically more weight and bulk. But 4-season tents are very specialist, and are outside the scope of this article. For the vast majority of people, a 3-season tent will generally be the best choice.

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