Top 8 Best Mountaineering Tents of 2024 • The Adventure Junkies (2024)

BEST FOR: EXTENDED MOUNTAINEERING TRIPS

Outfitted with internal storage areas and a well-designed support system, this heavy-duty tent can withstand the blows of severe weather for extended periods of time. Though it may take a bit longer to set up, once arranged, this tent’s two mesh doors, a rear-overflow storage area, inner shelves, and an entry vestibule all work together to give you more than enough room to store any and all of your mountaineering gear.

An abundant guyout system and five sturdy poles strongly anchor this tent to the ground. If you choose to, you can even buy a separately sold footprint for added comfort and protection from the wet or rocky ground. Overall, we recommend this 2-person beast to seasoned mountaineers willing to haul an excess amount of gear for an added level of luxury on the mountain.

BEST FOR: ALPINE CLIMBERS

Minimalist climbers hoping for an extremely lightweight tent that can fit on any ledge or slit of land out there may want to consider Black Diamond’s Eldorado Tent. This tent is freestanding, meaning it doesn’t need to be staked into the ground, and requires far less assembly than other tents. Two zippered vents at its peak aerate air throughout the tent while four internal mesh pockets store your overnight essentials.

Feel free to buy the optional footprint as well, but if you’re getting into serious mountaineering, you may not need it. We recommend this tent to climbers with short nights and long days, small loads, and much experience.

BEST FOR: EXTREME MINIMALISTS

There are few tents out there that are as lightweight and minimalistic as the Black Diamond Mega Light Shelter. Perhaps the most unique feature about this tent is that in place of its central pole, a mountaineer can actually use his or her own ski pole to support the tent. The tee-pee like structure houses four sleepers beneath it and will sufficiently protect them from any storm. It also doesn’t come with a floor, which allows you to dig out space for a kitchen within the confines of this shelter.

This tent is great for imaginary back-country riders looking for a homey, fun experience in mild winter environments. Before buying, however, take note of what else may be required as seam-sealer technology is not included. Sealed seams are important to keep moisture out of the tent if you’re camping in wet conditions, so it’s very important that you buy and apply separately sold sealers (like the McNett Silicone sealant).

BEST FOR: WET ENVIRONMENTS

With a full canopy complete with a vent and two half-mesh zippered doors, the Marmot Fortress ventilates air and prevents condensation far better than other tents. Extra guyouts anchor you to the ground and a lampshade pocket overhead converts your headlamp into a nightlight. For easier assembly, poles come color-coded and once constructed, the Fortress’s vertical walls give you a roomier feel inside. We recommend this spacious 2-person tent to hikers, climbers, and alpinists journeying into woodsy, wet environments.

The Nemo Kunai is a 4-season tent that was designed for short and light mountaineering trips.

What we love about the Kunai is it’s only 4 pounds, which is light for a 4-season winter tent. It has a double wall construction, so the inner isn’t mesh, it’s fully lined. So basically it’s like having two tents. This design is great for insulation and strength. The Kunai can handle extreme weather from strong winds to snowstorms.

The double wall is great for staying warm and dry but we were concerned about the airflow and condensation. The large vents on the inner tent worked great at keeping the tent ventilated in cool weather. It would be way too warm for summer camping, but that’s not what it’s built for.

The Nemo Kunai also comes in a 3-person model.

BEST FOR: RUGGED ENVIRONMENTS

The North Face Mountain 25 Tent is one of few spacious tents that can sustain frigid temperatures, tearing winds, and heavy snow. The high-low venting system sifts air evenly throughout the structure while welded reinforcements ensures cold stays out down to -60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other features include 8 interior pockets to store any essentials overnight and two doors for easy entry and exit. We recommend this rugged tent to experienced mountaineers seeking a larger, more luxurious shelter for their alpine adventures. It can sustain just about any environment, but might take a bit more work to carry in to your destination.

BEST FOR: MILDER ENVIRONMENTS

There are few tents with as long a list of features as the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 Expedition Tent. With a silicone-treated, waterproof coating and taped seams to keep out any and all rain and snow, this well-vented tent is constructed to last. Unlike other tents, the Big Agnes Expedition camp comes with 29 square feet of space inside, so if a neighbor’s tent collapses, you’ll have extra space to house a friend while it’s being fixed up. We recommend this tent for milder environments where there is enough room underfoot to set-up a larger tent. A newer version is also available as the HV3 Tent which houses three people (or two people and a lot of gear).

BEST FOR: LARGER GROUPS

As the only four person tent on our list, REI’s Co-Op Base Camp 4 Tent is a reliable option for any larger group of mountaineers looking to settle into a mild environment. Complete with two roof vents, a large front door, and a dome-like design, the Base Camp 4 gives every sleeper immediate and easy access to the outside.

Though large, this is a relatively simple tent and we don’t recommend taking it out into extreme environments such as on to the summit or a windy cornice of a mountain. This tent is best used to house climbers at a protected base camp.