Tents come in many different shapes and sizes, but the most useful type to have in your gear store, and the one you’ll undoubtedly use most, is a two-person tent. This size is obviously ideal for camping with a partner or friend, but in many cases they can also be useful when you’re camping alone, so they tend to be the type of tent many people will opt to choose for their backpacking or just weekend camping.
The best two person tents for backpacking should meet a tricky set of demands: they need to provide enough space to be comfortable for two while also protecting you from rain, wind, hail, snow, and anything else the mountains can conceivably throw at you. On top of that, ideally they should also be lightweight, packable, low cost and quick to pitch.
Yes, these tents are inevitably going to be heavier than the tents we featured in our ‘Best Solo Tents For Backpacking’ test, but as these backpacking tents are designed to accommodate two people, you’ll be able to split many of the components between yourself and your partner in an effort to evenly distribute weight. Many of these tents can be split up into four different components; outer (fly), inner, pegs and poles.
Tent Buyer’s Guide | How To Choose The Best Tent For Backpacking
The Best Two Person Tents For Backpacking
We’ve put dozens of tents to this test over the years here at Outdoors Magic – you name it, we’ve probably tried it – and the list of two-person tents here all were tested and picked out as favourites by our team. Most of our testing is in the mountains of the UK, so it’s safe to say all of these have been tested in the rain! Some were also tested further afield too – including in mountains of central Greece, in Norway and in the Albanian Alps. Things we assess? We look at things like durability, ease of pitching, space-to-weight, sustainability, material quality, packed size and storage options. Generally,
In these guides, you’ll be able check out a more in depth review of each shelter, including testers’ verdicts and industry trade secrets.
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Nemo Dagger OSMO – Best Overall Two Person Tent
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Sea to Summit Telos TR2 – Best for Living Space
- Durston X-Mid II Solid – Best Ultralight tent
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Sierra Designs Meteor 3000 2P – Best Value Two Person Tent
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Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL – Most Spacious Two Person Tent
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Highlander Respite 2 – Best Budget Two Person Tent
1. NEMO Dagger OSMO
Best two-person tent overall: This is our top pick following our extensive, on-going tent tests over the last few years
NEMO Dagger OSMO
★★★★★
Price: £450
Weight: 1.86kg
Pros: innovative and sustainably made fabric, excellent space-to-weight
Cons: nothing
This iteration of the Nemo Dagger OSMO is the 2025 update to one of the U.S. company’s most popular backpacking tents. The main changes? Its vestibule now has 22% more usable space – and, remarkably, with no extra weight penalty. What’s really caught our attention, however, is the OSMO fabric, which is 100% recycled, PFAS-free, and bluesign approved.
The way this is designed gives plenty of space for two people to comfortably lie down side by side on rectangular sized sleeping mats. There’s plenty of room to sit up too, and to stow and organise kit. Masses of space, actually. During our tests, we’ve found it to be a very liveable tent. The two porches on either side are both large enough to stow kit and to cook from and the hubbed pole structure, which involves a top cross pole and main pole that forks at each end, creates a high ceiling and steep-sided walls.
Just like the first edition, this 2025 one is inner-pitched first. You simply plug the ends of the main tent pole into each grommet and do the same for the top crossing pole, then you can hang up the mesh using the series of little hooks/clips. The corners of the flysheet are then clipped onto the corners of the inner – colour-coding makes this an absolute breeze, by the way – then you peg out the porches and the other stake points.
OM tester Will said, “I’ve really enjoyed using this tent, mainly because they’ve absolutely nailed the whole space-to-weight thing. There’s bucket loads of space here but at 1.78kg it’s still pretty light – not the lightest 2P tent by any means but it’s still light. It’s so easy to put up too. The first time I pitched this, I went in blind without reading the instructions. Still, I had a nicely pitched tent with a taut flysheet within about five minutes.”
Full Specifications
Available in two or three person sizes / 100% recycled and PFAS-free OSMO fly fabric / bluesign approved / 0D OSMO Ripstop 2000mm floor fabric / DIAPOLE premium anodized aluminum poles / solution dyed fabrics / colour-coded hubbed pole set / 100% recycled pole bag / light dispersing pockets / landing zone in porch / top strut vents / 224 x 127 x 109 cm outer dimensions / 51 x 16 x 9 cm packed size.
Check out our full Nemo Dagger OSMO review.
2. Durston X-Mid II Solid
Best ultralight tent and the lightest on test
Durston X-mid II Solid
★★★★★
Price: £346
Weight: 1.1kg
Best suited to: Three-season long distance backpacking
Pros: Light but still spacious, high quality materials, quick to pitch and pack away
Cons: Minimal storage, magnet clips can fail in windy conditions, difficult to pitch on uneven terrain.
This has become a hugely popular tent in recent years, with its spacious interior, sturdy and reliable design, and near-ultralight weight making it ideal for long, three-season journeys. It’s a tarp-style design, with two trekking poles supporting the fly, a suspended mesh inner tent and two large vestibules. There are two versions: an ultralight version and a ‘strong’ version. We tested the Strong version which has specs that suit UK conditions.
OM editor Will has had a tumultuous relationship with it, but ultimately, the tent has proven its worth.
“The first time I used this, I took it to the Lake District in late February, so outside its three-season rating,” said Will. “I only brought the eight pegs it comes with, and I paid the price for this, as it was so windy that I needed to utilise all the guylines and I couldn’t. It ended up with the tent folding over and me heading back to my car. On subsequent camps, with extra pegs, the X-Mid has withstood everything thrown at it, and it’s a tent that, for me, ticks all the right boxes for three-season backpacking.”
We’ve been impressed by this tent’s high-quality fabric and waterproof zips. On rainy camps, it’s blocked out all moisture, and the fabric seems able to withstand the usual sagging you can get when a tent gets soaked. The amount of porch space you get is almost unrivalled for a tent in this weight category. We found each vestibule can easily hold a pack and boots while still providing a bit of space to cook. The downside to this is that it can be difficult to find spacious enough spots to pitch this when the terrain is uneven. And while we’ve appreciated the convenience of the magnetic door clips at times, there have also been occasions when these have failed in windy conditions.
All in all, this tent has impressed us with its light weight, spacious livability and minimalist but highly functional design. It’s one of those tents that’s absolutely ideal for long-distance backpacking, where you want something that’s light but also comfortable to stay in for extended periods.
Full Specifications
Three-season / full double-wall design / fly-first pitch / 20D Sil/PE polyester 3500mm HH flysheet / 20D Sil/PE polyester 3500mm HH floor / 15D ripstop nylon solid inner / two trekking poles required / two vestibules / eight DAC J stakes / 1065g complete tent weight / 30 x 15cm packed size / 234 x 132cm inner dimensions / 122cm peak height.
3. Sea to Summit Telos TR2
Best for living space and storage
Sea to Summit Telos TR2
★★★★½
Price: £342
Weight: 1.66kg
Pros: neat details, innovative design
Cons: quite expensive
Sea to Summit have come up with a very smart backpacking tent here. Not only have they created a tent that gets all the basics right, but they’ve also added lots of nice little touches that make it a shelter that’s comfortable and enjoyable to be in. The tent’s stuff sacks, for instance, double as little organiser pockets that can be hung up on the walls and the pole bag serves as a light diffuser for a headtorch. Even the corner hooks of the flysheet and the pegs are all nicely designed, with clear thought in every detail here.
In our tests, we found that the Telos TR2 was very spacious with room to sit up, plenty of space for two rectangular mats alongside each other and then two very large porches. Assembling it and packing it away was very straightforward and overall the structure was very reliable. We also loved the fact that the design can be pitched with just the inner or just the fly – that’s something you don’t see too often.
It’s not the cheapest, but there are definitely more expensive tents out there that offer far less than this does.
“I’ve used this everywhere from the Pembrokeshire coast path to the mountains of the Lake District and it’s proved to be a reliable tent that oozes quality,” said OM editor Will Renwick. “A lot of tents are basically carbon copies of each other these days, but this one stands out from the crowd.”
Full Specifications
Inner pitched first / three-season / hubbed pole structure with top cross pole / two porches / x8 pegs / inner dimensions: 105 x 134/109 x 215cm / 15D 1200mm Sil-PeU flysheet / 20D 2500mm floor.
Read our full Sea to Summit Telos TR2 review.
Nikwax Tent Care Kit
★★★★★
4. Sierra Designs Meteor 3000 2P
Best value tent: We judged this to be the option option in terms of bang for your buck.
Sierra Designs Meteor 3000 2P
★★★★
Price: £235
Weight: 2.1kg
Pros: sturdy, large porches, good liveability
Cons: quite heavy
The space-to-weight balance that Sierra Designs have struck had us sold. You’ve got plenty of space for two people to sleep comfortably alongside each other, loads of headroom and then the two big porches on either side as well. And the total weight is just 2126g – not bad at all.
The Meteor 3,000 is actually a reworking of the popular Meteor 2 which has been on sale in the States for a while. Sierra Designs recognised that hikers in northern Europe want their tents to be super sturdy, reliable and very, very waterproof, so they beefed up the design to make it fit the bill. The 3,000 is actually a reference to the hydrostatic head of the flysheet which is 3,000mm compared to the 1,800mm fly on the Meteor 2.
Kudos to Sierra Designs for their eco efforts here as well. Out of all the tents in this best two-person tents round-up, this one is arguably the most eco-friendly. The materials, for instance, come from recycled sources and no eco-hazardous chemicals are present.
One other small detail we love is the fact that the flysheet can be rolled back across the roof of the tent quickly and easily if you ever want to stargaze or to simply just get extra airflow. Nice touch.
“I found this to on the heavy side due to its large size, durable poles and materials,” said OM editor Will Renwick. “On the flip side, that all makes it very spacious, protective and reliable.”
Full Specifications
Three-season / two-person / inner pitched first / height: 104cm, length 213cm / two porches / 10 pegs provided / two DAC Pressfit Aluminium Poles / fly: 68D 190T Poly Taffeta 3000mm PU / floor: 68D 190T Poly Taffeta 3000MM PU / 70% 15D Taffeta: 30% 15D No-See-Um mesh.
Read our full Sierra Designs Meteor 3000 review.
5. Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL
Most spacious two-person tent: This gets our pick for the roomiest two-person tent in our tests.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL
★★★★
Price: £600
Weight: 1.45kg
Pros: spacious, lightweight, durable
Cons: expensive
The Copper Spur series from Big Agnes has been hugely popular amongst backpackers for a numbers of years, with plenty of praise for its roomy, high-ceilinged interior, excellent feature-set and its lightweight design and packability. As of 2025, the entire line has been updated, with Big Agnes adding their newly developed HyperBead fabric technology. This, they say is 6% lighter, 25% more waterproof, and 50% stronger than traditional materials and ultimately reduces the weight of their tents while enhancing their durability and weather resistance.
This XL version of the two-person Copper Spur offers a heck of a lot of space, but without much of a weight penalty, weighing just 1.45kg altogether. That’s all thanks to the extremely high-spec materials deployed here. To us, it’s about as luxurious as a two backpacking tent can get.
OM editor Will recently tested the Copper Spur UL2 XL in the mountains of Eryri and also on a month-long backpacking trip through Greece. He said: “The Copper Spur UL uses impressively lightweight materials, and while the fabric feels thin to the touch, it still has a reassuringly tough and high-quality finish. The new HyperBead fabric brings noticeable improvements in waterproofing and tear resistance, which should give it the edge over previous versions. Paired with DAC poles and reinforced stress points, it’s a tent that should handle regular backpacking trips with ease. To me, it’s well-suited to three-season long-distance treks, weekend wild camps, and summer adventures where pack weight and reliable performance both matter. All in all, I’d say it’s one of the best lightweight two person tents I’ve used in years.”
Full Specifications
Pitches inner first / flysheet and floor: HyperBead fabric / PFC-free waterproofing / fully taped seams / unified hub & pole system / DAC poles / plastic clips connect inner tent to pole frame / injection-moulded pole sockets / TipLok tent buckles / two external doors with two-way zips / awning function / two storage vestibules on either side / two internal doors / breathable mesh panels throughout / 3D bin pocket / overhead & side pockets / accessory attachment points / flysheet vents / reflective guylines & webbing / quick stash door keepers / flysheet and floor hydrostatic head: 1500mm / pack size: 56 x 15cm.
Read our full Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL review.
6. Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2
Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2
★★★★★
Price: £630
Weight: 1.06kg
Pros: Innovative design, very quick to pitch and pack away, good space-to-weight
Cons: Groundsheet quite thin (a spare footprint can be purchased separately), expensive.
Part of a new range of tents to mark Big Agnes’s 25th anniversary, the Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2 is a tent that shows genuine innovation – and that’s refreshing given that a lot of tents share the same designs these days.
On a recent Pembrokeshire campout, OM editor Will was impressed with the unique pole configuration, with the two main poles helping to form a big vent at the top of the tent, while a cross pole creates extra width and porch space.
Interestingly, it uses a single-skin design in some parts and a double-skin design in others – and we found this works to good effect when using it on a humid night on the Pembrokeshire coast. The quick-drying fabric and bucketloads of ventilation combine to noticeably reduce condensation on the single-skin sections, while the double-skin parts seal you in from bugs and draughts. And this all means that there’s no faffing around with hooking the inner up when pitching – it all just pitches as one.
The main poles are both the same length, which also helps to make assembly easier. On our first attempt at pitching this, it did take a bit of time to work things out, as the design is so unique. But from that first time onwards, assembly has taken less than five minutes.
The porches on either side were big enough to store a backpack and boots, with a bit of space for cooking too. Our two rectangular mats fitted easily inside, while the high ceiling creates plenty of space for sitting up.
The three-season design has a sturdiness to it, and the numerous guylines and pegging points provide reassuring stability. As a three-season backpacking tent, it’s not one to rely on for shelter on stormy mountain tops, but so far, it has withstood some fairly windy camps in the Welsh mountains during our tests.
Full Specifications
Available in 2 and 3-person sizes / hybrid 1 and 2 layer design / 20D 4000m ripstop recycled polyester flysheet / 15D 1,500mm ripstop recycled nylon floor / freestanding / two vestibules.
