Marmot Colfax 3P

Why we like it There’s a pitch configuration for every type of weather we encountered.

Versatility The Colfax offers six configurations to accommodate all weather. It pitches without the canopy for use as a sunshade and has a removable 10-square-foot vestibule. If that’s not enough room, add the “porch” accessory ($109; 1 lb. 13 oz.) that adds 30 square feet. “The porch doubled our living space during a two-day rainy spell,” said one tester after a trip to the Tetons. Connect two (or more) Colfaxes with an aftermarket connector ($99; 1 lb. 4 oz.).

Livability “My husband napped while my son and I played cards—he never even noticed our game,” says our tester. The 44 square feet of floor space is comparable to other three-person tents, but the 49-inch peak height and near-vertical walls push this tent into the top tier of lavishness. “The max height in our trio was 5’10” and we still had more than enough space at our feet to store extra gear,” ourtester says.

Weather protection A partial, 68-denier polyester rainfly creates awnings over zip-close windows. We were skeptical, but the Colfax proved worthy after three nights of solid rain and 20-mph wind in Canada’s Prince Edward Island region. Tradeoff: weight.