Hilleberg Kaitum 4
Sturdiest tent
Brand: Hilleberg
Model: Kaitum 4
Our take
Not even 60-mph winds on Canada’s Prince Edward Island could shake this four-person fortress. While initially intimidating, eight guylines make for a taut pitch; the tent held strong even when the wind shifted overnight to broadside it. The Kaitum’s poles are strong, and handled 20 inches of snow accumulation without a break or bend. Tip: If you’re expecting epic snow loads, snag an extra set of poles ($129) to bolster the ones included with the tent.
The details
The two oversize vestibules (17 square feet each) are a maximalist’s dream. Four testers fit eight pairs of hiking and ski boots and multiple duffels in one vestibule while designating the other for entry and exit. Hilleberg uses a light-yet-burly (and expensive) 30-denier ripstop silnylon called Kerlon 1200, and the silicone-coated walls easily shed a thick layer of ice after an evening of -20°F temps. While the 51.7-square-foot floor and 43-inch peak height are spacious, sloping walls mean you can’t move around comfortably unless you’re in the middle.
Trail cred
“Ventilation was optimal when we left each vestibule’s vent wide open,” says our Canadian crew. “And the guylines made sure the vents stayed propped up even in bad weather.”