5 Best Warm Weather Tents to Stay Cool This Summer

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Summer camping is a fantastic time to get outside and enjoy nature, but on those hot summer days, your tent can quickly turn into a torture chamber.

That said, there are tents designed for warmer weather with excellent ventilation and breathability.

Below, we review five of the highest-rated warm-weather tents available today and break down the features you should look for in this specific type of tent.

Comparison Chart

Product ImageDescription / Awards
Top PickCore 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Awards: Best Overall Warm Weather Tent
Buy on Amazon
Coleman Sundome Tent
Coleman Sundome Tent
Awards: Best Value
Buy on Amazon
Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent
Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent
Awards: Best All-Rounder
Buy on Amazon
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent
Awards: Best Ventilation
Buy on Amazon
Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person
Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person
Awards: Best Big Family Tent
Buy on Amazon

*Buying through links in this chart may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.

1. Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

  • Best Overall Warm Weather Tent
Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

When looking to buy a warm-weather tent, you want something lightweight, durable, and versatile enough to use in a backyard or the backcountry. That is precisely what you will find in the Core Instant Cabin Tent.

Core’s traditional design and build quality provide the perfect combination of space, features, and quick setup.

It is designed with ventilation in mind, which makes it fantastic for summertime camping adventures. The large windows, doors, and roof are all covered with mesh, allowing for proper air circulation and keeping out insects.

The Core Instant tent is a cabin-style abode with straight walls and a lofty ceiling. It allows most people to stand up straight and walk around throughout the interior.

The tent is spacious, easy to pitch, and has an impressive mesh ceiling. Another feature that we love is the Core Instant Technology, which significantly reduces the complexity and time associated with setting up a tent – this one takes less than sixty seconds.

This instant tent can be erected easily by one person, which is rare for large, cabin-style camping tents. Its spacious design and ample ventilation combine with excellent stability.

It is a superb choice for any family needing a reliable and affordable shelter for their camping getaways. You can easily pack it into a wheeled carry bag that is friendly to families with medium-sized vehicles.

The Core Cabin Tent also features zippered room dividers and loads of storage pockets. It also includes a rainfly that offers thorough protection against precipitation and will keep you dry at night. The rainfly is quickly and easily attached to ensure that wind and rain stay outside, and the seams have been sealed against leakages.

The Core is our top pick for several reasons: it’s tough, offers ample space, and features an innovative design for a hassle-free setup. You can also break it down in a matter of seconds.

Finally, it comes with plenty of extra space, making it the perfect choice for family camping adventures.

About Core
Core Equipment is a privately owned company known for its quality and expertise. The company designs all its equipment for camping enthusiasts, focusing on products that handle extreme conditions better than most tents in the market.

Features

  • Hub Technology for quick setup
  • PU-Coated fabric that keeps the tent dry
  • Room divider for more privacy inside
  • Tall enough for anyone to walk upright inside
  • Removable rainfly for more light and better air circulation
  • Floor vents and mesh windows for ventilation

Specifications

Height: 78 inches (6’6″)
Capacity: 9 people
Floor Dimensions: 14×9 feet
Fabric: 68D Polyester
Floor: polyethylene, 125g/m2
Weight: 30.5 lbs.
Waterproofing rating: 600mm

Pros

  • Freestanding design
  • Instant setup
  • Water-resistant
  • Adjustable air vents
  • Spacious headroom
  • Impressive height

Cons

  • No vestibule
  • Does not handle extreme winds well
  • Windows do not zip all the way to the top
Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Core 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Price:
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2. Coleman Sundome Tent

  • Best Value
Coleman Sundome Tent
Coleman Sundome Tent

The Coleman Sundome Tent is an exceptionally popular choice (and is one of our best 3-person tents under $100, as well). It is versatile and built flawlessly as a freestanding 3-season tent. It also sports an incredible price tag for what it offers.

The structure is roomy, with 63 square feet of floor space and an interior height of 4’11” at the center. It easily holds four people.

Since this tent is freestanding, you can pitch it on any terrain without worrying about it toppling over or blowing away in a gale.

The Sundome features mesh sides and a removable rainfly awning for improved air circulation during summer, all while keeping insects at bay. It contains an excellent air circulation system, including two windows, a ground vent, and a screen window. The features work well to create reliable ventilation, even at the height of summer.

Another great feature is Coleman’s construction. The tent’s shell is made of poly guard fabric combined with a sturdy fiberglass frame that guarantees supreme durability. Pitching this tent is easy and takes no more than ten minutes, thanks to its snag-free continuous poles.

The Coleman Sundome Tent is genuinely versatile. Its packed size of 60.5 x 16.5cm is quite impressive, and you can transport it in various ways, including bicycle, motorbike, car, or kayak. The WeatherTec system also keeps you dry when it rains.

The tent shines most in its interior design features. It comes with mesh gear pockets that conserve floor space. Its E-port feature adds a nice touch, allowing an electrical extension cord through the lower wall to power devices inside the tent.

Finally, the tent is packaged in a convenient carrier bag that enables you to take it anywhere.

About Coleman
Coleman is a family-owned business and one of the world’s most successful outdoor gear creators. Coleman has been producing quality, long-lasting camping gear for over a century. It also creates fun and versatile styles to cater for all types of encounters with the wilderness.

Features

  • Ground vents and mesh windows improve air circulation
  • WeatherTec system with welded floors and sealed seams
  • E-port facilitates an extension cord inside
  • Continuous pole sleeves for easy setup
  • Wall storage pockets for organizing gear
  • Easy to pitch and pack up

Specifications

Capacity: 4
Floor Dimensions: 9×7 feet
Height: 4 feet 11 inches
Floor: 1000D Polyethylene
Weight: 8.8 lbs.
Waterproofing rating: 400mm
Fabric: Polyester

Pros

  • Weather-Tec system for stay-dry camping
  • Poly guard fabric
  • Can attain an airbed
  • Freestanding design
  • Easy setup
  • Spacious headroom
  • Handy carry bag
  • Compact and lightweight

Cons

  • No vestibule
  • Only the top half of the door unzips fully
Coleman Sundome Tent

Coleman Sundome Tent

Price:
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3. Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent

  • Best All-Rounder
Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent
Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent

If you are looking for a lightweight, easy-to-pitch structure that can withstand the hottest summer, all within a reasonable price, Kelty Saida is your ideal backpacking tent. The tent enhances a backpacking camping trip considerably with its sturdy components and smart design. It is also an impressively spacious interior for two.

Kelty Salida is a reliable two-person backpacking tent with a floor area of 30.5 x 2 ft. It has a spacious vestibule area that is 10 sqft, which you can use to store your camping gear.

The Kelty Salida shelter is also well-ventilated by mesh tent walls and a large door. The combination keeps you cool and comfortable inside your tent, no matter the heat outside. It is a three-season tent that offers an excellent option for people who love camping in hot weather.

The fabric used to create Kelty Salida Backpacking Tent is a breathable, tightly woven No-See-Um material that allows excellent airflow without compromising on privacy. It also has several additional ventilation panels and a large door for easy access and proper air circulation.

The tent is fully seam-taped to prevent leaks, keeping you dry in the event of a summer downpour. It combines the best portability features with remarkable performance, including small folding poles that make it an ideal choice for easy transportation.

The Kelty model is not significantly heavy at only 4.5 lbs., so you can count on it not to weigh you down or take up too much space.

The tent hits a perfect balance between weight, space, setup, and comfort, making it ideal for new backpackers. And is a great lightweight 2 person tent for under $200!

About Kelty
Kelty is a Boulder, Colorado, company that was first established in 1952. It is known for making quality and affordable tents that meet the needs of backpackers and campers. It creates a wide variety of tents, ensuring that any camper can find the perfect tent within Kelty’s Collection.

Features

  • Great ventilation
  • Kelty hug clip
  • Freestanding design
  • Internal storage options
  • No-See-Um tent body
  • Fully seam-sealed construction
  • Simple assembly
  • Easy to move
  • Backpack-friendly with foldable poles
  • Roll-top cube carry bag

Specifications

Capacity:  2 people
Packed weight: 4.9 lbs.
Floor area: 30.5sqft
Height: 43 inches
Floor material: 68 D Polyester, 30D No-See-Um Mesh

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • One vestibule for additional storage space
  • Great ventilation
  • Affordable

Cons

  • The poles could be stronger
  • Small vestibule
  • Rainfly could be bigger
Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent

Kelty Salida 2-Person Tent

Price:
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4. Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent

  • Best Ventilation
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent

If you love camping in hot and muggy weather conditions, you should get yourself The Alps Mountaineering Zephyr Tent.

The Zephyr is the ultimate three-person camping shelter. The tent offers some of the most effective ventilation features available, making it a great summer tent.

It has beautifully designed Polyester mesh walls, which maintain thorough ventilation inside the tent. It creates a considerable amount of airflow, keeping you cool and calm in any hot climate. It also features two mesh doors for extra ventilation and easy access.

The tent is extremely breathable and does not get stuffy during the day. Its seams are factory-sealed, and there is a poly-taffeta floor with a 3000mm coating. You are also less likely to suffer from condensation problems at night since it maintains its internal temperature well.

Zephyr’s tent comes with three lightweight and easy-to-pitch aluminum poles—the two longer ones offer the primary tent support, which gives you more headroom to sit upright without feeling restricted inside. These aircraft-blend aluminum poles are strong and durable.

The rainfly buckles to the shelter, providing a much more secure attachment. It’s simple freestanding, 2-pole design is straightforward to assemble and takes a moment to pitch. The tent material is water-resistant and can protect you from UV damage—an essential feature at high altitudes.

It offers plenty of room for three people, and the two vestibules provide extra space for storage. The Zephyr Tent also comes with two doors that make it easy to get in and out and a vestibule over both doors for gear storage.

About ALPS Mountaineering
ALPS Mountaineering is a trustworthy brand that has been manufacturing high-quality outdoor gear since 1993. The company is dedicated to developing and manufacturing performance-driven outdoor products. 

Features

  • Great balance between weight, space, and price
  • Factory-sealed rainfly and floor seams for total weather protection
  • 185T 75D poly taffeta floor
  • Easy setup
  • Freestanding two-pole design
  • Extra-large #8 zippers
  • Great ventilation through the mesh walls
  • Vestibule for extra gear storage and weather protection

Specifications

Capacity: 3 people
Use rating: 3 Seasons
Weight: 6.1 lbs.
Center height: 41 inches
Floor area: 40sqft
Canopy fabric: Polyester
Floor Fabric: 75-denier 185T Polyester

Pros

  • Water-resistant
  • Budget-friendly
  • Outstanding breathability
  • Quality materials
  • UV protection
  • Simple assembly
  • Two vestibules for gear storage

Cons

  • Rainfly sometimes inhibits proper ventilation
  • Difficult to open from the inside
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent

Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent

Price:
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5. Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person

  • Best Big Family Tent
Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person
Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person

Wenzel Klondike is a cabin-style 8-person tent made for summer camping. It is ideal for those crowded camping trips with family and friends, all under one roof.

The tent comes in two sections, including the main housing and a screened porch. It also has screened rooms with two separate bedrooms and a door in between.

The Wenzel Klondike tent offers several cooling technologies that help keep you cool and comfortable, no matter the temperature. Since it is a cabin-style tent, it has high and straight walls, so you could even put bunk beds into it.

The tent offers ample ventilation, including a full mesh roof, two meshed windows, and several lower air vents for excellent airflow. Its double-stitched seams protect against water damage, and a vent in the back gets even more air into the structure when it is filled with happy, sleeping campers.

Its sturdy frame is made from fiberglass poles, which maintain the tent’s construction integrity even during harsher weather. The floor consists of waterproof welded Polyethylene, which increases its water resistance, too.

About Wenzel Klondike
Wenzel Klondike has been manufacturing quality outdoor gear for the last thirty years. All its gear is built to withstand the rigors of mountaineering, hiking, and camping. The Wenzel Klondike 8-Person tent is yet another addition to its popular outdoor gear line that exemplifies the commitment to quality, well-built products.

Features

  • Large mesh ventilation area for more air circulation
  • Rear mesh vent option to allow air to pass through even during rainstorms
  • Comfortable standing height on both the main area and the screen room
  • No-See-Um mesh provides ample privacy
  • Well-designed ventilation system makes it comfortable in warm weather
  • 65 feet of headroom for you to stand up

Specifications

Capacity: 8 People
Weather compatibility:  3 Seasons
Weight: 26.3 lbs.
Floor size: 16 x 11 feet
Floor Area: 98sqft
Peak height: 61 inches for screen room and 78 inches for room

Pros

  • Easy setup
  • Good storage
  • Spacious interior
  • Large ventilated areas

Cons

  • Clumsy and large to carry around
  • Only one door in and out of the main room
  • Does not hold up well with heavy wind or stormy weather
Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person

Wenzel Klondike Tent 8-person

Price:
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Clicking this link to make a purchase may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.

Before You Buy – Consider This!

Tents come in many different types, with about a million different options and amenities to choose from.

So, to help prevent purchase panic, we’ve highlighted the most important options to look at when trying to find the best warm-weather tent for you!

Related: What to Look For When Buying a Tent

Size

Tent size is generally described as how many people can sleep comfortably in the tent. Other than the floor area, you should also think about height, especially if you are a tall individual. Consider the amount of gear you will be bringing with you, too. If you are looking to maximize comfort, I highly recommend buying a slightly larger tent, like a 3-person tent for two people.

Ventilation

Most manufacturers use mesh walls/windows for their tents so that all you need to do is remove the rainfly to ventilate the interior. Other tents have advanced ventilation systems that consist of openings near the ground or rear. It allows fresh air to enter, which then forces the hot air out through the ceiling.

Materials And Breathability

The material used to construct a tent can make a significant difference in its breathability and comfort levels. Preferably, you want to choose a tent made from materials described as “breathable.” A tent with mesh windows, walls, and ceiling is a fantastic option for summer as it makes it more breathable. It also encourages airflow so that less heat gathers inside the tent.

Sun Protection

While sunshine makes a summer camping trip more enjoyable, it can also be harmful. A tent with UV protection will help prevent sunburn and heat stroke, especially over prolonged exposure. And remember to pitch your tent in a shaded location to help keep it from trapping warm air during the day. That’s just one of the many tips to keep your tent cool without electricity!

Weight

If you are a backpacker, weight is a significant factor when choosing the best warm-weather tent. It is determined by the materials used to make the main body, stakes, and poles. You want to go as light as possible with tents made of materials like polyester and fiberglass poles to ensure portability. For recreational hot-weather camping, the tent’s weight may not matter as much.

Value

The cost of a summer tent is another vital factor to consider when buying a tent. Depending on the size of the canopy and the materials used, the price can vary considerably. It is best to approach it with a figure in mind and features that you cannot live without on a camping trip.

Color

Bright color tents are typically best for hot days, as they have a high light reflection rate and a low heat absorption rate.

Related: What Color Tent Is Coolest in Hot Weather?

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