Best Hot Weather Tent for Summer Camping | Untamed Space (2024)

Summer is prime camping season. It’s when all of the campsites are open, and most people find that it’s the season with the most agreeable weather. Thunderstorms aside, at least you (usually) don’t have to worry about freezing to death, especially during the night when the sun is hidden.

However, summer comes with its own problems, such as bugs and excessive heat. The warm temperatures alone can make it nearly impossible to fall asleep at night, which is why you’ll want to get one of the best hot weather tents to make your sleeping experience bearable. Check out some of our top picks below, and don’t be afraid to look at some tent air conditioners while you’re at it either.

How much does the tent weigh? It’s an important factor to keep in mind, even if you don’t plan on carrying it very far. For example, the REI Co-op Wonderland X tent weighs just over 35 pounds, which would be hard to carry even if you’re in good shape. It’s the type of shelter that you want to pitch relatively close to your car, unless you have a friend who’s willing to share the burden over a longer distance.

On the other hand, something like the Mountain Hardwear Nimbus weighs a mere 1.8 pounds. It’s an ideal option for backpackers, or for those of you who don’t mind living like a minimalist, if it means cutting back on your total weight. Of course, there are plenty of other hot weather tents that manage to stay relatively lightweight without cutting back on create comforts too much. Most of these sport a 2-4 person capacity, and we’ve included a few in our review below.

The best hot weather tents come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re solo camping or spending some quality time with your family, there’s an option out there that can help you beat the heat.

Below, you’ll find that we’ve covered the broad spectrum of tent sizes in our review. As a quick tip for those of you who aren’t familiar with tent sizing, it’s always safe to assume that the tent runs smaller than advertised. While it is possible to squeeze four people into a 4 person tent, it’s not going to be a comfortable fit. Housing three people in a tent this size is a much better idea, though if you really want space to spread out, I’d knock it down to two people. The same principle can be applied to most tents on the market, so always size up depending on how many people you plan to house.

Of course, you can’t have a good hot weather tent without adequate ventilation. If you’ve ever been inside a tent before, you know how steamy it can get when you have the rainfly on and there’s no airflow to speak of. Proper ventilation is key to staying comfortable in hot climates, and there are a couple of ways you can accomplish this.

This first trick is to keep the rainfly off until you need it. If it’s not raining, why would you toss a tarp over your tent? The only good it’ll do is insulate the tent and trap more heat inside. It’s a handy trick in colder temperatures, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

However, sometimes you do need the rainfly on the tent to protect you from showers. In cases like these, you’ll have to rely on any vents that are built into the tent. Most shelters have roof vents, and others have ground vents as well. The more you have, the cooler you’ll stay, and they won’t let any water into the tent in the process.

But let’s not forget about the largest vents of all – tent doors. Keeping these open will let a nice breeze enter the tent, even when it’s raining outside. And if you have a tent with two doors, it’s possible to get a comfortable cross breeze to blow through the shelter.

When it’s hot out, you don’t want to exert yourself more than you have to. Large tents take more time and effort to pitch than smaller ones, but when you’ve got a whole family to house, you don’t have much choice. Even so, it’s good to minimize the hassle as much as possible, and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of one of your companions.

I find that smaller tents with fewer poles are the easiest to setup (aside from instant tents and popup tents), especially if the pole structure has a hubbed design. The Big Agnes Copper Spur falls into the category, and is a shelter that I would recommend picking if you value having a shelter that’s easy to put together.

The seasonality of a tent is another good way to determine how well it will perform in hot weather. The most common variety is a 3 season tent, which has a nice balance of ventilation and insulation. Since the vast majority of tents fall into this category, most of the products in this review are 3 season tents.

However, there are also some 2 season tents as well, which are more optimized for hot weather. The ALPS Mountaineering Meramac is one example of a two season tent that does a great job of staying relatively cool as the outside temperatures soar.

Naturally, you don’t want to spend a few hundred bucks on a hot weather tent if it’s only going to last you one or two summers. Durability always needs to be a major consideration with any camping gear, because nature has a way of beating you (and everything you own) up.

When considering the durability of a tent, you really have to look at both the poles and he fabric. Poles are usually made from aluminum, steel, or fiberglass, with steel being the most durable and fiberglass being the least durable. Of course, steel is heavy, so it’s not always the preferred choice. That’s why I like to go with aluminum as a strong, lightweight option that is resilient enough to tackle a wide variety of climates for many years.

And as far as tent fabric goes, you’ll want to pay attention to the denier. In case you’ve never heard of denier before, it’s just a fancy way of measuring the thickness of the threads used in a certain material. The higher the denier, the thicker the thread, the more durable the product.

Normally, you’d think a higher denier would always be better, but it’s worth remembering that thicker threads are also heavier. If you care about keeping your tent weight low, you’ll want to reduce the thickness of the threads used in its construction. Barring some exceptions, I like to recommend tents that have a denier of at least 50 on the tent floor.

The only 2 season tent in our review, the ALPS Mountaineering Meramac is exactly what you want to have in hot weather. You might hear that a 2 season tent should only be used in the spring and fall, but I find that most are suitable for summer use as well. At the very least, the Meramac can handle the warmer weather just fine, partially because of the generous amount of mesh used in the wall construction.

On the whole, it’s a fairly well-designed tent with a good amount of space to its name. Can it comfortably house four people? Probably not, but you could fit three folks in there in a pinch. Setup is simple, and can be done by yourself with ease, especially if you know what you’re doing. The weather resistance is also effective, keeping you safe in heavy rainfall, though its stability in strong winds is somewhat debatable.

Overall durability could be better, considering the fiberglass poles, but as long as you aren’t too rough on it, the Meramac will hold up well for many years. The gear loft and mesh pockets provide a generous amount of storage space on the inside, and it’s a good thing too, since there aren’t any vestibules for outdoor storage. It’s another reason why I would recommend keeping your capacity at 2-3 people, so that you still have room for your packs and boots inside the tent as well.

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One of the more versatile tents in our review, the Big Agnes Copper Spur is ideal for almost anything you can think of. Bikepacking, stargazing, relaxing with family or friends… If there’s something specific that you wanted to do on your camping trip, the Copper Spur can probably accommodate it.

The great thing about the Copper Spur is that you can even bring it backpacking. Despite being a 3 person tent, it only weighs about 3.5 pounds, which is a reasonable weight for most trekkers. This way, you can have a few extra square feet to spread out in without increasing the poundage of your gear.

There are two doors, each with a vestibule, which offers a good amount of outdoor storage space for your gear. If you have trekking poles, you can use them to prop up the tent door on each side, creating a sort of awning. This provides a nice amount of shade and keeps the inside of your tent fairly exposed and well ventilated. It’s actually because of this feature that I decided to label the Copper Spur one of the best hot weather tents. The superior ventilation (when the doors are open) can be a lifesaver in stifling temperatures, and the awnings give you a place to relax out of the sun’s beating rays.

On the inside, you’ll find a massive ceiling pocket and a few side pockets to give you storage options for your belongings. They’re a bit smaller than what you might find in a different tent, but they get the job done, especially when paired with the vestibules.

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A solid one person tent, the Nemo Hornet OSMO is exactly what you want to have in the backcountry on a hot, summer day. It’s ideal for solo backpackers who value a lightweight tent, and who also have a soft spot for the latest tech and features.

Weighing just over 2 pounds, it’s not the lightest single person tent that I’ve ever seen, but it does come pretty close. It also packs down into a tiny little cube that can fit inside the bottom compartment of your backpack, and you don’t even have to take out your sleeping bag to make it work. From a weight and space saving perspective, it’s a hard tent to beat.

I haven’t noticed any flaws in the weatherproofing either. The OSMO fabric is made entirely from recycled materials, and it’s also free of PFAS, so you can feel better about the impact it’s having on your health and the environment. And naturally, the low-profile design of the tent is going to function well in higher winds as well.

On those clear nights when temperatures are higher than you’d like, keeping the rainfly off should be enough to help you cool down. The generous amount of mesh is what makes this one of the best hot weather tents, and I think backpackers of all skill levels will find value in it.

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This one’s a beast, but it’s totally worth it when you’re camping with a larger group of people, or when you want to live in your tent for an extended period of time. The REI Co-op Wonderland X is a 4 person tent with 70.5 square feet to its name, which is quite extravagant for a shelter with this capacity.

You’ll notice from the photo that the Wonderland is split into a number of sections. All of the moving pieces will definitely take some getting used to, and your first time setting it up will take a decent amount of time. However, once you get a feel for the structure of the tent and where the parts are supposed to go, you’ll be able to pitch it pretty easily in the future.

While it might look like a windcatcher, the Wonderland’s tunnel shape actually makes it very aerodynamic. The rounded roof also works well at shedding water, and the rainfly itself is very water resistant. But where it really shines is in hot weather, thanks to the massive side panels that can be rolled up. Forget the tiny little vents that you find on most tents, lifting these panels is like taking off all the walls.

Given the size, it’s not surprising that the peak height comes in at 75 inches. This is more than enough space for most people to be able to stand comfortably, walk around, and change clothes with ease. For a solid tent that’s incredibly versatile, I’d pick the Wonderland X any day of the week.

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One of my favorite tents in general, the Sea to Summit Telos is a great option for hot weather camping. We’ll be talking about the 3 person version here, but it also comes in a two person capacity if you’re interested in that at all.

Like the Big Agnes Copper Spur, the Telos is a highly versatile tent that can be configured in a number of different ways. For example, the rainfly can cover as much or as little of the tent as you’d like. During a storm, you can have it spread over the entirety of your tent, fully protecting you from the elements. However, on clear nights, you also have the ability to roll the fly back to the tension ridge, sporting a sort of “half on, half off” effect. I like this functionality for stargazing at night, and I appreciate how well it keeps the inside of the tent ventilated.

You can even take it one step further by converting the whole tent into a semi-open shelter. It’s affectionately called “hang out mode,” and it’s one of the best features to have available when it’s sweltering outside.

If the rainfly versatility hasn’t sold you yet, then maybe the near-vertical walls will. Thanks to the unique pole structure, the Telos can pull it off, and the taller tension ridge also make the door bigger. Overall, it’s a great option for bigger guys or couples who want some flexibility with their shelter and don’t mind the relatively steep price.

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Another one by Big Agnes, the Salt Creek is a great option for backpackers and car campers alike. Weighing in at 4 pounds, it’s going to be a littler heavier than some of you may like, but it’s still doable for longer expeditions. Especially if you’ve got a buddy who’s willing to take some of that weight off your back.

Large doors give you plenty of room to get in and out, and they also make excellent vents on those hot summer days. In typical Big Agnes style, you can even prop up one of the doors with your trekking poles to create an awning. It’s a handy feature if you like having a place to set up your camping chair in the shade, allowing you to relax in a place where the sun won’t reach.

For a 2 person tent, the Salt Creek is also very spacious, partially because of the vertical walls (an oddity among tents this size). It’s almost a hybrid between cabin and dome tent styles, creating more usable space inside without compromising on aerodynamics, ease of setup, and waterproofing.

In terms of storage, the two vestibules provide more than enough outdoor space to stow your pack and boots. On the inside, there are a number of loops, pockets, and a gear loft, though the loft does hang a little lower than I like. I will say that the number of tent stakes does not equal the number required to set up the tent and rainfly, so I would buy extras if I were you. Still, aside from that, it’s a solid tent with a lot of unique features for its size.

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As an 8 person cabin tent, the Eureka Copper Canyon is a great option for family camping in the summer. There are some gaps between the rainfly and the roof that help with ventilation, though they do make it a little harder to stay warm in the shoulder months. But we’re not here to talk about shoulder months, and the tent is watertight and durable despite the gaps.

If you were expected a mammoth shelter when you saw that 8 person capacity written on the tent, you’re going to be a little disappointed. It’s honestly not that big, though I would feel comfortable fitting 4-6 people inside, depending on their size and familiarity with each other. The room dividers make it really easy to create separate rooms, providing privacy when necessary. Whether you want to use them to create a couple separate sleeping areas for different groups of people, or you want to turn one side into the bedroom and the other into a living room, the options are available to you.

What the Copper Canyon lacks in space, it more than makes up for in durability. With a frame made from both steel and fiberglass, it’s not going anywhere, even when the wind starts to pick up. This is important, especially with cabin tents, since their vertical walls have a way of catching the wind. Both the tub floor and the rainfly are effective at keeping the rain out, making this is a solid option for three season camping at various campgrounds. And hey, if you have a generator or power station handy, feel free to bring it along. The Copper Canyon has a cutout specifically for letting the cords in that will electrify your experience.

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The Big Agnes Salt Creek might be a 2 person tent, but it’s not what some of you would consider a true backpacking shelter. On the other hand, the Mountain Hardwear Nimbus fits the bill perfectly, providing stellar weather protection in the form of a lightweight, 1 person tent.

And when I say stellar, I mean it. The rainfly is made out of your typical nylon fabric, but it’s also impregnated with silicone to increase water resistance. This allows the Nimbus to perform well in rough weather without increasing the overall weight of the tent. And considering it weighs about 1.9 pounds, I doubt that many of you will complain about the ounces.

The tent body also sports a generous amount of mesh, so on rain-free days, it’s possible to get a good amount of ventilation with the rainfly off. Even when you have the fly on, you’ll still get a generous amount of airflow coming in through the door.

All of the poles are pre-bent, and come in the form of a hubbed system, so setup is incredibly simple. And while the vestibule is rather small, at least you have one, allowing you to store your gear outside so you get as much of the interior space to yourself.

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At Untamed Space, we’re passionate about helping you have the best camping experience possible. Our team of experts have experience camping and backpacking all over the world, allowing them to provide insightful and relevant content to guide you in your outdoor pursuits.

All of our reviews are based on a combination of firsthand experience, extensive research, and an analysis of customer feedback. We are an independent website and do not receive payments or incentives from manufacturers to promote their products, and we continuously update our content to provide new information based on product availability. Wherever you are in your journey, whatever gear you’re searching for, you can be sure to find unbiased and up-to-date reviews for all of your needs.

Summertime might be the most popular season for camping, but the weather opens up a lot of opportunities for misery and sleepless nights. Excessive heat is hard to escape, but there are some measures that you can take to minimize its effect. Ventilation is key, but it’s also nice to have a loop to hang a tent fan from as well. Of course, you can’t forget about features like durability, waterproofing, and weight either.

With all those things in mind, we believe that the Sea to Summit Telos TR3 tent is the best hot weather tent. The large doors provide superior ventilation, and the multiple configurations gives you flexibility when it comes to comfort and airflow.

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