The results for the November Backpacking Tent Market Analysis are in.

The most significant takeaway is a new number one in the Analytica Index – the Klymit Cross Canyon 2 Tent.

The Utah-based manufacturer produced a lightweight tent at a reasonable price point accompanied by a broad base of enthusiastic reviews, all of which combined to push the tent to the top of November’s leaderboard. 

The former number one, Kelty’s Late Start 2P tent, maintained its strong showing, finishing second in the Analytica Index.

Another notable monthly trend is the performance of manufacturer Mountain Hardwear, which occupied four of the top ten spots in the Analytica Index, with their Mountain Hardwear Meridian 2 Tent ranking third on the list.

“That’s a notably strong showing,” said Gear Analytica Chief Technical Officer Patrick McCluskey. “One of the things that separates Mountain Hardwear is the quality waterproofing of their tents. They were one of the first to lead the charge to get fire retardants out of tents, which helps with both water repellency and water proofness.”

The Performance Index, which lends statistical weight to user experience irrespective of price, is notable for the inclusion of more upscale tents, including three NEMO tents, where their Dragonfly OSMO 1P tent topped the list. But there were also some more moderately priced tents embraced enthusiastically by users, including three from Mountain Hardwear and the Coleman Peak One 2-Person Backpacking Tent.

“The analysis shows you can get high performance at a reasonable value,” McCluskey said. “There’s some gold to be mined in the high performing tents.”

The Value Index, which analyzes tent features according to price irrespective of user experience, also demonstrates there is a wealth of options for those looking to save money without sacrificing the features one comes to expect when purchasing a tent for backcountry expeditions.

Many of the tents are within the range of $200, but have some of the weight savings, pack volume, and other important elements worth considering when making a purchase. For instance, atop the Value Index is again the Klymit Cross Canyon 2 Tent, which provides 2 doors, plenty of headroom, and competitive weight and packed size.

“You’re getting a lot for your money with one of these tents, in terms of the features that it offers for the price,” McCluskey says.

On the other hand, both the Performance Index and the Analytica Index indicate that additional capital outlays do correlate with a higher degree of user satisfaction. The average price for the Value Index is just under $200, while the average price for the tents on the Performance Index is $550.

“So on the performance side, which considers user experience and reviews, you can see that price does not matter so much,” McCluskey says. “But if you are shopping for value, you might want to look at the lower priced tents.”

The analysis looked at 117 tents, all of which were either partially or entirely free-standing structures listed by retailers as backpacking tents.

After crunching over 1700 data points here are the top-ranked tents according to each of the three indexes:

Analytica Index Top-Ranked: Klymit Cross Canyon 2 Tent

Performance Index Top-Ranked: NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 1P

Value Index Top-Ranked: Klymit Cross Canyon 2 Tent

Finding the right tent requires an understanding of your unique requirements. While we can’t tell you exactly which tent to buy, we can help you determine if the tent you’re considering offers good value and how it performs compared to others in the market.

Let us know your experiences. Share your stories, feedback, and questions in the comments below!

We will update our Backpacking Tent Market Analysis monthly. Sign up for our email list or follow us on social media to receive updates when each new release is available.

Until then, Stay Wild and Wander Well!