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Finding a high-quality and lightweight tent that meets all of your needs can be tough. And finding one under $200 makes that task even more difficult.
So, I went on a mission to review and compare all of the best-selling 2-person lightweight tents on the market today.
What did I find? Four tents that I feel reign supreme in weight, ease of use, quality, and, of course, price.
So read on to find the best lightweight 2-person tent under $200 for you.
Comparison Chart
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1. MIER 2-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
- Best Overall Lightweight 2-Person Tent Under $200
During my research and testing, I ran into one tent that just floored us. It offered unprecedented build quality, features, and value at a budget price. The MIER 2-Person Camping Tent is my choice for the overall best lightweight 2-person tent under 200 dollars.
Everything about the MIER screams high quality. It has 5000mm 15D nylon material, premium honeycomb mesh for insect protection, YKK zippers, duraflex buckles, and factory-taped seals. MIER really outdid themselves here with a fantastic all-around, 3-season tent that more known brands could envy and still fail to deliver. This is quality at a budget price tag.
The tent comes with a footprint included and plenty of packing options. Its full packing weight is just 4 lbs and 5 oz. Many packing setups are available depending on the weather. Summer options include only a rainfly, and the poles are just 2 lbs and 9 oz.
I had trouble finding any real faults here. It is a bit narrower compared to some 2-person tents, and extreme storms might be a bit too much for its one-pole frame. Otherwise, it is a fantastic tent that just happens to be affordable and my top choice.
Key Features
- Fantastic 3-season all-around tent
- Freestanding design with a single-pole frame
- Premium materials and build quality
- Super lightweight and convertible
- An ideal companion for backpackers that like camping
Specifications
- Floor 6.9 ft x 4.3 ft.
- 8.8 square ft. vestibule
- Full packed weight 4 lbs and 5 oz
- Single-door dome tent
Pros
- Impressive build quality
- Plenty of room for two people and gear
- Easy to set up and move
- Convertible design, flexible packing options depending on the weather
- A premium tent at a budget price
Cons
- A bit too narrow compared to some competitors
MIER 2-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
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2. Kelty Late Start Camping and Backpacking 2-Person Tent
- Best Super Lightweight 2-Person Tent under $200
My pick for the best super lightweight 2-person tent under $200 is the Kelty Late Start Camping and Backpacking 2-Person Tent.
The Kelty Salida is a 3-season tent that should excel in all your camping trips in the spring, summer, and fall. It comes with 29.5 square feet of room and a 7.85 square foot vestibule for storage. This is more than enough space for two people and whatever they bring in terms of gear.
This is a freestanding tent that uses a 2-pole design that is easy to set up in just seconds. In fact, the Kelty Quick-Corner Technology ensures lightning-fast setup in any weather and even in the dark.
The walls are made from no-see-um mesh, and the floor is made from an extremely tough 68-denier fabric. While not as lightweight as some more expensive tents, Kelty Salida is still extremely light, weighing in at just 4 lbs!
It is a perfect all-around tent for two people that checks all the right boxes and comes at a great price. I had trouble finding any real downsides with this one.
Key Features
- Portable and backpack-friendly
- Made from durable materials, able to withstand weather elements
- Easy setup in just seconds
- Plenty of room in a portable package
- Fantastic all-arounder suitable for spring, summer, and fall camping
Specifications
- 29.5 square feet of space for two people
- 7.85-square-foot vestibule for storage
- Lightweight at just 4 lbs
- Maximum height 40 inches, 85 inches long, and 54 inches wide
- Single-door dome design
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quality materials and durable design
- Easy setup
- Impressive build quality for the price
Cons
- No vent in the rainfly can make for poor circulation when it rains
Kelty Late Start Camping and Backpacking 2-Person Tent
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3. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent
- Ultra Budget 2-Person Tent Under $200
For those looking for an ultra bargain, it does not get any better than the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent. It is a freestanding 2-pole tent ideal for two people. It is roomy, with 37 square feet of space and dual vestibules for storage. Two doors make an accessible entrance and exit for both people staying in the tent.
The Lynx has coated flooring to protect you from wet weather and has a UV-resistant fly made from polyester. It is a fantastic choice for those who like roomier tents and are budget-conscious. All that room and all those features do come with some extra weight. The Lynx weighs 5 lbs and 12 oz.
The value of the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent is just outstanding, making it my ultra-budget choice.
Key Features
- Extra room for both people and storage
- Weather-proof, a true 3-season tent
- Double doors and vestibules for easy access and use by both tenants
- Intelligent design and easy setup
- The best value choice in the segment
Specifications
- 37 square feet of space
- 46-inch ceiling
- Base size 5 ft x 7.6 ft
- Packed size 6 inches x 20 inches
Pros
- Amazing value
- One of the roomier tents
- Quality materials
- Durability
- Setup is a breeze
Cons
- Bulky and a bit on the heavy side
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent
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4. Naturehike Mongar 2-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
- Honorable Mention
The Naturehike Mongar 2-Person Backpacking Tent is the closest competitor I found to the winner from MIER. It is a fantastic tent featuring durable nylon and lightweight but sturdy construction.
The dual-door design is ideal for easy access. The dual vestibules offer plenty of room for storage, and it is one of the easiest tents to set up on the list.
This is a great product, with many backpackers preferring its design and roomier interior. One design choice I found particularly surprising is its Y-Frame construction, which offers more stability and support compared to regular dome tents.
Key Features
- Lightweight yet durable design
- Premium build quality and materials
- Dual door floorplan for easy access and dual vestibules for storage
- Y-frame tent for added stability and support
- Roomy for a lightweight 2-person tent
Specifications
- Made from 20D rip-stop nylon
- Weighs 4 lbs and 11 oz
- Packed size 20 inches by 6 inches
- 8.5 ft by 7 ft floor size
- 40-inch ceiling
Pros
- Premium quality materials in an affordable tent
- Plenty of space for two people and storage
- Very stable even in harsh weather
- Easy to set up and pack
Cons
- Could use a bit higher ceiling
Naturehike Mongar 2-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
Price:Clicking this link to make a purchase may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
What to Look For in a Budget 2-Person Tent
There are ways to find a quality 2-person lightweight tent without paying an arm and a leg for it. You just have to know what to look for when buying a tent.
While it’s unlikely to find the perfect tent when on a strict budget, the best option is the one that checks most of the boxes in terms of your needs.
Types of Tents
Before moving on to more specific features and specs, the primary classification of tents has a direct connection to the weather elements and seasons you expect to be facing when camping. Some tents tend to be more versatile, while others are effective only in certain climates or during some seasons.
Summer Tents
At the bottom of the classification are the summer/screen tents. These tents put ventilation and staying cool during summer at the top of the priority list. They are suitable only for warm-weather camping during summer or spring, with clear skies and no rainfall. These tents have plenty of mesh and ventilation slots, generating airflow inside of the tent.
3-Season Tents
3 season tents are the most popular choice for an all-around tent. Their design takes into account spring, summer, and fall weather and allows for flexibility. They can withstand winds and rain or shade you from the sun. If you are looking for a lightweight tent under $200, chances are it will be a 3-season tent.
4-Season Tents
4-season tents take into account the harshest weather conditions and utilize the best insulating materials. They are incredibly durable and made to withstand snowstorms and massive gusts of wind. Because of this, they often have low ceilings and use shapes that are more stable in windy conditions.
Size
2-person tents vary in size, depending on the design and other features. Most 2-person tents are between 25 square feet and 35 square feet in area. The height of the ceilings varies, as well.
Tip: I like to prioritize width over height in most cases. You don’t need a huge tent where you can stand up, but rather a cozy tent that has all the necessary features and enough room to stretch out. This is because campers tend to lay inside their tents more than stand.
Make sure that the tent you choose is comfortable for two people to sleep in, store some gear, and prepare food. Staying in such close quarters with someone can be stressful. A cramped tent will only make it worse.
Weight
The trend in outdoor gear is to go super lightweight, and the use of new materials makes this possible. Yet, this often comes with a hefty price tag. Expecting a budget 2-person tent to be super lightweight may result either in compromised build quality or a severe lack of features and accessories.
Most of the budget tents fall between 4 and 5 ½ lbs. While not the lightest, these tents have a solid build quality, and all that’s needed for two people to have a comfortable camping experience.
Related: How Much Should a Backpacking Tent Weigh?
Shape
The shape of the tent has continually evolved throughout history, and as different things became essential to campers, the form of the tent changed as well. Today, there are quite a few shapes available, but most of the tents available fall in the dome, A-frame, or teepee shape category.
Dome tents are the most popular shape due to their flexibility, which allows designers to create lightweight but durable and stable tents. They offer plenty of headroom and utilize the footprint of the tent well. Their main downside is the lack of wind resistance.
A-frame tents used to be extremely popular in the past, especially when made from canvas. They use steel poles to erect the tent and need staking to stabilize. Due to its simple design, an A-frame tent made from durable materials can last forever. Unfortunately, they tend to be bulky and heavy for lugging around.
Teepee tents date back thousands of years as the tents of choice of the majority of indigenous people across the Americas. They are easy to set up, require just a single pole, and have high ceilings. Unfortunately, the teepee-style tents are typically heavy and most often used as 4-season tents.
Ease of Use and Setup
The portability of tents presented a lot of challenges to tent designers. Making a tent portable often caused the tent to lose its structural strength or require complicated assembly, which was not practical for outdoorsmen who needed quick shelter from incoming storms. Fortunately, the tent design has evolved, and most of the tents on the market are either extremely easy to set up, for example, instant tents, or require moderate effort at best.
There are two major types of tents when it comes to setup: freestanding tents and those that need additional support and stakes. Freestanding tents use the frame to stabilize and balance the tent and do not require additional securing at the expense of added weight. Non-freestanding tents are lighter but require extended setup and are not ideal for use in storms or snow.
Cost
Since we are already talking about budget tents, it is vital to point out that the price plays an important role in choosing a tent. Budget tents do need to make compromises to achieve low cost, but the actual price tag significantly affects the types of compromises. When it comes to sub-$200 tents, here are some general pointers.
Most established brands that manufacture tents have budget offerings in the $150 – $200 range. Those tents usually use the high-quality materials and patented technologies of their more expensive counterparts. Lesser known brands will use this price segment to provide great value by jamming plenty of features along with quality build in this price range. This is the price segment where you can expect to find the best all-around tent under $200.
Most of the tents in the $100 – $150 range take more liberties in terms of materials. They are less durable or are missing some essential features. Still, there are reliable tents in this price range as well, as long as you know that its shortcomings will not affect your camping experience.
The sub $100 price range is for the ultra-budget offerings, which come with severe compromises and questionable durability. They are a solution for camping beginners who would like to try out the hobby without a significant financial commitment. As soon as you settle on camping as an interest, you should invest in a better tent.
Additional Features
Besides durable and stable construction and high-quality materials, modern tents need to have additional features to provide comfort during camping.
- Headroom can be important for some campers, as it improves the overall experience of staying in a tent.
- A decent-sized vestibule is essential for storing your camping gear.
- Choosing between single or double-walled tents? Double-walled tents have a rainfly that protects you from the weather and an inner canopy for sleeping. Whereas single-walled tents typically have waterproofing built-in.
Depending on the type of camping you are doing, whether that be staying a night or two in a backpacking tent, long-term tent camping, or simply camping in your backyard, the importance of specific features like this will vary.