Gear Review: 4-Person Tents
Light and large: That's what you get with these five shelters, which deliver comfort on trail and in camp for families and groups.
Gear Reviews
Gear Reviews
Find the best backpacking gear with help from our expert reviewers and gear testers at Backpacker. We review the best backpacking gear on the market, from sleeping bags, to cookware, to backpacks, to the best hiking boots, in the most rigorous trail conditions imaginable so you can find the perfect setup for all your adventures.
At Backpacker, we take our responsibility to provide readers with fair and accurate gear advice seriously. When you make a purchase through our site, we may earn a commission.
Find the best backpacking gear with help from our expert reviewers and gear testers at Backpacker. We review the best backpacking gear on the market, from sleeping bags, to cookware, to backpacks, to the best hiking boots, in the most rigorous trail conditions imaginable so you can find the perfect setup for all your adventures. At Backpacker, we take our responsibility to provide readers with fair and accurate gear advice seriously. When you make a purchase through our site, we may earn a commission.
Mountain Hardwear UltraLamina 0
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Women's Phantom 32
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Women's Phantom 15
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Women's Phantom 0
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Mtn Speed 32
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Gear Review: Selk'bag 4G Lite
A sleeping bag with arms and legs – because onesies shouldn't just be for '80s-themed slumber parties.
Mountain Hardwear Spectre SL 20
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Mountain Hardwear Banshee SL 0
Featherweight comfort and superior design allows for all-around warmth in the coldest of places.
Black Diamond Equipment First Strike
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Black Diamond Equipment Syncline
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Kayland Rival GTX
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Hardwear Wraith SL -20
Cross a super-warm bag and a weatherproof bivy and you get the Wraith.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail Back
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Hardwear Dry.Q Bivy
New model for this year (Do not check this option if this model was listed as new in last year's Gear Guide)
Black Diamond Equipment Women's Trail
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Ethereal Bivy
Existing model
Salomon XR Crossmax Guidance
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail Compact
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear SuperMegaUL 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail Ergo Cork
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Hoopla 4
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Women's Trail Shock
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Hoopster
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail Shock Compact
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Black Diamond Equipment Trail Shock
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Alpine Carbon Solo
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Archer 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Therm-a-Rest Ventra Down Comforter
Cross a super-warm bag and a weatherproof bivy and you get the Wraith.
KEEN Targhee II
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Black Diamond Equipment Alpine Carbon Cork
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear EV 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
KEEN Voyageur Mid
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Hardwear EV 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Therm-a-Rest Alpine Down Blanket
Cross a super-warm bag and a weatherproof bivy and you get the Wraith.
Gear Review: Austri Alpin SI-KO FX Ice Climbing Screw
These screws cost half as much as comparable models but still grind into bulletproof ice with ease.
Gear Review: Bushnell BackTrack D-TOUR
This budget-friendly, no-frills device delivers basic safety and positioning without adding weight.
Black Diamond Equipment Contour Elliptic Compact
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Platypus Origin 9
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Kayland Rival GTX W's
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Black Diamond Equipment Contour Elliptic
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Kayland Explore GTX
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Hardwear Trango 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Contour Elliptic Shock
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Gear Review: Grivel Quantum Tech Ice Climbing Tool for Women
A tool that's light and easy to swing and fits a woman's hand.
Mountain Hardwear Sprite 1
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Kayland Explore GTX W's
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Review: Garmin Montana 650T
You’ll get in-car voice and off-trail navigation on 1:100K USA topo maps, plus a 5MP camera that snaps crisp, geotagged images.
Black Diamond Equipment Contour Elliptic Shock Compact
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear SkyLedge 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Mountain Hardwear SkyLedge 2.1
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Kayland Cumbria GTX
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Black Diamond Equipment Contour Elliptic Carbon
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear LightPath 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
MSR Carbon Reflex 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Mountain Hardwear LightPath2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Sabretooth Crampons
These stainless steel crampons are perfect for all your winter climbing needs.
Gear Review: Garmin eTrex 30 GPS Unit
A compact, durable unit with sophisticated features like barometric altimeter.
Mountain Hardwear LightWedge 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Kayland Duster GTX
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Review: Cassin X-All Mountain Ice Climbing Tool
A all-mountain tool that truly lives up to its name.
Black Diamond Equipment Distance
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear LightWedge 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Fiber Solo Pro Tarp
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Mountain Hardwear Hammerhead 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Black Diamond Equipment Women's Distance FL
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Kayland Duster GTX W's
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Hardwear Hammerhead 2
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.
Mountain Laurel Designs GoodNight EVA Pad
A sleeping pad that's light enough for summer yet warm enough for winter.
Gear Review: Magellan eXplorist 710
An all-in-one unit that captures GPS, photos, 320x240 video, and audio.
Black Diamond Equipment Distance FL
A trekking pole that's easy to adjust on the fly.
Mountain Hardwear Drifter 3
Comfortable and highly ventilated, this tent offers lots of space with a double-wall dome that's great for short overnight hikes.