{ TOP 10 } Best 3 Person Tents – 2020 Reviews

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Camping with two people is great, but camping with three provides even more fun. However, high-quality 3 person tents are notoriously hard to find, since it’s just not a common size for many groups.

That being said, there are plenty of great 3 person tents out there, if you know where to look. So, to get you started, we’ve created this ultimate guide to the best 3 person tent, complete with everything you need to know to buy the tent of your dreams. We’ve even included reviews of our favorite 3 person tents so you don’t need to spend hours of your time on research.

Lightweight and compact, yet with room enough for three, the MSR Zoic 3 is a fantastic backpacking tent for three-season use. The Zoic 3 has an extra spacious interior with plenty of room for storing gear and stretching out for some afternoon relaxation.

The tent can be set up in just a few minutes, thanks to its single hub pole design. As far as functionality goes, the tent features large mesh paneling throughout the inner body, which provides ample ventilation in the summer months while cutting weight. Plus, it has two large doors with vestibules and three built-in gear lofts for maximum gear storage opportunities.

• Very well ventilated for the summer
• Lightweight yet spacious
• Three gear lofts and two vestibules for gear storage
• Three gear lofts and two vestibules for gear storage

• Low ceiling height
• Fairly expensive

Decidedly spacious, the Marmot Limelight 3 is a superb option for a 3 person car camping tent. The Limelight 3 has vertical walls that provide lots of headroom and personal space inside the tent for added comfort.

To ensure easy entry and exit, the tent has one super-sized double door and one rear D-shaped door that both have vestibules for gear storage. Inside, you can find interior pockets for gear organization, as well as a lampshade pocket that suspends your headlamp for lots of ambient light at night.

• Vertical walls allow plenty of headroom
• Large doors for easy access
• Plenty of gear storage space

• Not great in strong winds because of high ceiling height
• Heavy compared to most other similar options

Designed with year-round adventures in mind, the MSR Remote 3 is a mountaineering tent that focuses on combining livability with functionality. The Remote 3 uses Easton Syclone poles that provide a large support frame to maximize interior space while holding up in foul weather.

Inside, you can open or close the door vents to add breathability or insulation as the conditions dictate. Plus, there are built-in gear loops to set up a drying rack inside the tents on remote expeditions.

• Built to withstand any weather conditions
• Lots of interior living space
• Can set up drying lines inside
• Doors can be zipped or unzipped for breathability and insulation

• Very expensive
• Very heavy
• Bulky

Functional, yet affordable, the Marmot Tungsten UL 3 is a solid all-around tent for hiking. The Tungsten UL 3 uses a strategic clip placement system for the poles that offers more interior space than other similar models.

At the same time, the Tungsten UL 3 is incredibly easy to set up, thanks to its color-coded easy pitch clips. If a storm arrives, you can also rest easy knowing that the Tungsten UL 3 has your back. The tent features a large seam-taped floor and a full-coverage fly that can keep you dry, even in the rain.

• Affordable
• Vertical walls for a roomy sleeping area
• Easy-pitch system
• Fully waterproof

• High ceiling height is susceptible to damage in high winds
• Heavy

Crafted with alpine pursuits in mind, the Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 doesn’t mess around when it comes to durability. First built in 1995, the current rendition of the Trango uses DAC Featherlite poles to create a secure and robust frame for your shelter.

The tent has two large vestibules and doors that make it easy to get inside the tent in a storm. Plus, the tent has zippered windows that make it easy to increase ventilation or get a view to the outside world. The Trango 3 even has snow flaps on its front vestibule to help keep out spindrift in a winter storm.

• Durable enough for alpine pursuits
• Lots of interior living space and gear storage
• Large vestibules that seal out snow

• Expensive
• Five pole system can be difficult to pitch
• Very heavy and bulky

Your home away from home when you’re on the trail, the Big Agnes Copper Hotel HV UL 3 combines all the luxuries of a large tent without the added weight. This ultralight 3 person backpacking tent has a high-volume design that maximizes interior living space and organization with its interior pockets.

When pitched with the standard fly, the Copper Spur Hotel has two vestibules that can be pitched out as awnings for extra shade on sunny days. Or, you can swap out the standard fly for the accessory option, which more than doubles your vestibule space for gear storage in wet environments.

• Very spacious interior
• Vestibules can turn into awnings
• Can swap out fly for larger vestibules
• Amazingly lightweight

• Expensive
• Some durability concerns with lightweight fabrics
• Not suitable for big storms

One of the best selling 3 person backpacking tents of all time, the MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 maximizes interior livability for summer camping trips. The tent is built with premium features, such as Easton Syclone poles that provide lots of interior space for three campers.

The Mutha Hubba’s light grey rainfly provides a neutral light in the morning that’s easy to wake up to. Or, you can even roll up the vestibules and the rainfly for a stargazer view on those clear summer nights. What more could you ask for?

• Single pole design is durable and easy to pitch
• Tent fly can roll up for nighttime views
• Lots of interior living space
• Lightweight for a durable 3 person tent

• Expensive
• Relatively small vestibules
• Few features

If you’re camping on a budget, you don’t have to settle for second best when it comes to the North Face Stormbreak 3. This classic camping tent has a simple dome-shaped design that provides a high center height for added comfort.

Inside the tent, there are high-low vents to increase airflow while the fully sealed fly and floor keep water out. The Stormbreak 3 has two large, twin-zip doors that are easy to operate, as well as vestibules that can even be configured as awnings to maximize your outdoor living space.

• Very affordable
• Versatile vestibule design
• Simple yet functional

• Heavy and bulky
• No interior gear storage options

Who says a lightweight tent can’t be affordable? With the Nemo Aurora 3, you can combine the benefits of a high-end tent with the economic advantages of a budget-friendly model.

The Aurora 3 has vertical sidewalls to provide a huge interior space and added headroom. The tent also has two doors and two vestibules that make access convenient and gear storage a no-brainer. Plus, the Aurora 3 even has vents built into the fly to help you stay comfortable on those warm summer nights.

• Well ventilated for summer use
• Lots of interior living space and headroom
• Affordable

• Not ideal for stormy conditions

Waterproof to the core, the Nemo Chogori 3 is a 3 person mountaineering tent that can handle whatever the mountains throw at it. A four-season tent designed for year-round adventure, the Chogori 3 has an integrated fly and pole structure that cuts set up time in half and saves weight.

Inside the tent, there’s plenty of room for three people to stretch out and you can even connect two Chogori tents together for added space. Oh, and the oversized vestibule on this tent provides plenty of gear storage space, but it can also be propped up as an awning in good conditions.

• Versatile tent that can be used in very remote environments.
• Integrated fly and pole makes set up quick and easy
• Large vestibule for gear storage can also be used as an awning

• Too warm for low-elevation summer trips
• Very expensive
• Heavy and bulky
• Only one door

Buying a 3 person tent can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time. So, to help you narrow down your options, here are some things to think about as you’re shopping around:

Key Features For Any Tent

A tent is a complex piece of gear. These are some of the key features to consider when buying a tent:

Weight

Even though you have friends to split the load, you don’t want to carry around more weight than you need to while backpacking. So, a lightweight tent is an advantage for nearly every situation.

Vestibules

Vestibules are an often overlooked feature of a tent. A tent without vestibules really limits your gear storage options and means that you might have to bring your wet gear inside the tent. Of course, vestibules add weight to your pack, but we think they more than make up for it in terms of their usefulness.

Waterproofing

A tent that isn’t waterproof is more or less useless. When you buy a tent, you do so in order to get protection from the elements. So, when buying a tent, look for high-quality rainfly fabrics, like ripstop nylon, and fully sealed seams whenever possible.

Packed Size

The packed size of a tent makes a big difference on a backpacking trip. If you need to pack up your tent each morning, you’ll want a model that’s compact enough to fit into your backpack. If not, packing up camp each morning will be a struggle, to say the least.

Things To Prioritize In A 3 Person Tent

A 3 person tent is a pretty unique piece of gear. Since they’re not that common, many people think that buying a 3 person model is just like buying any tent. But, when buying for 3 people, you’ll want to prioritize the following:

Interior Space.

In a 2 person tent, no one is stuck in the middle. However, in a three-person tent, someone will always have to draw the short straw. So, to keep everyone happy, opt for a model that has a lot of interior space.

Organization Options

Three people seem to have exponentially more gear than two people, so you’ll want to be sure that you have enough space to store all of your equipment. Plus, with three people in a tent, it’s easy to take up too much space. If everyone has gear storage options inside the tent, like interior pockets, things will be significantly less frustrating over time.

Multiple Doors.

 Although a tent with one door saves weight, it is much more frustrating. When you have three people, any tent with just one door becomes an obstacle course at night. Having multiple doors prevents you from having to crawl too much over your tent mates to get out of your tent while you’re camping.

The Verdict

A 3 person tent is a great way to share the joys of the great outdoors in a small group. But, when you’re shopping around, remember that buying a 3 person tent is not the same as selecting a 2 person tent. Groups of 3 have their own unique needs, so don’t forget to prioritize convenience, organization, and personal space when buying the best 3 person tent.