A sturdy shelter where you can rest and revitalize is essential for any outdoor expedition, but especially when it comes to survival. If you are in a group of more than two, it can be particularly challenging to build large enough shelters out of woodland materials that will fully protect you.
That’s where the best 4 person tent can save the day. There are many spacious and lightweight 4 person tents available to help you keep safe from the elements and let you have a comfortable night’s sleep.
However, with so many options to choose from, how do you find the best 4 person tent for you?
Here at Survival Front, we’ve carefully reviewed five tents to help narrow down your decision so that you can pick the best 4 person tent for you and your fellow campers.
Let’s take a look and see what each tent has to offer!
Toogh 3-4 Person Camping Tent
For a tent that will last you in harsh conditions, the Toogh 3-4 Person Camping Tent is a safe bet.
The exterior is built from 210D oxford fabric, and has a 3000mm waterproof level. Inside, the floor has a 10000mm waterproof level, and made from 210T polyester. This means it won’t let you down during heavy rainfall, which is ideal for survival situations. Despite its durable design, the tent is also relatively lightweight, at around 11lbs when packed. However, this isn’t the most lightweight tent on our list and may be a bit too heavy to carry over long periods.
Toogh boast a 60-second set-up and takedown with this tent. Its straightforward assembly makes it a reliable choice when the weather isn’t on your side or if it’s starting to get dark. You won’t have to worry about fumbling with cumbersome poles or stakes for hours.
Ventilation isn’t a problem either with this tent. It includes two mesh doors, which allows for optimal airflow and breathability. The mesh windows in the tent also create this, and prevent bugs from entering.
As for the size, the tent is somewhat spacious inside, but not particularly tall. It would work best for 2 adults and 2 children, rather than 4 adults. If you don’t use an air mattress, however, you may be able to fit 4 adults, although it could be a tight squeeze.
It has a hexagonal shape, which helps to keep the tent stable and secure on the ground, while allowing you to utilize more of the space around you.
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Pros
- Durable exterior design
- Built to be waterproof inside and out
- 60-second, easy set-up, and straightforward disassembly
- Well-ventilated
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Not the most spacious or tallest tent
- Some customers have found issues with the quality of the poles
Kelty Grand Mesa Tent 4-Person
The Kelty Grand Mesa 4-Person Tent is a super-lightweight option, given that it fits four people. It weighs 6lbs 13oz, so it shouldn’t cause too many issues when you’re carrying it around.
It includes two compact, folding aluminum poles, and uses a color-coded clip construction to make setting it up an easy process. It is designed with thick polyester, so you can expect a durable tent that will last against severe weather conditions.
It features a relatively large interior space, but it might be a tight squeeze if you want four people to fit comfortably inside. Instead, this size means it may work best as a 3-person tent, with room for gear left over. The floor space is around 55 square feet, so if you are particularly tall or have taller people in your group, it might not be the most comfortable option.
The tent has internal storage pockets and gear loft loops, along with a vestibule, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your gear outside or cramming it awkwardly inside.
However, it is worth noting that this isn’t the most ventilated tent, despite being designed for 3-season usage. It comes with one oversized D-door, but no windows, so it may be inconvenient to get in and out of the tent and could feel suffocating during hot weather.
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Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Uses color-coded clip construction for an easy set-up and dismantling process
- Includes a vestibule, internal pockets, and gear loft loops for gear storage
- Thick polyester material provides durability for 3-season usage
- Fully seam taped construction
Cons
- Not the most spacious interior and may not accommodate four people comfortably
- Some customers have found that the poles are not high-quality and are prone to bending
Gazelle 22272 T4 Pop-Up Tent
In a survival situation, or even if it’s just dark and cold outside, you’ll want to get your tent set up as quickly as possible. With a 90-second assembly, it doesn’t get much quicker than the Gazelle 22272 T4 Pop-Up Tent.
The clue is in the name, as this tent simply ‘pops up’ and you’re good to go. It uses a collapsible frame with the tent attached. Once you unfold the tent, you stake it down, pull out each side, and popping up the roof. If you have another person to help, this will speed up the process even more.
It uses fiberglass poles to form a solid and wind-resistant structure. The rainfly is waterproof, with a taped seam to prevent any water from getting inside, so it should see you through times of heavy rainfall. If it’s a nice night, you can also remove the roof to stargaze and relax.
This tent will comfortably fit four adults, standing at 78 inches tall and with 61 square feet of floor space. So even if you are around 6ft 5in, you should be able to stand up in the tent and have plenty of room to lie comfortably. You could even fit more than four people with room left over, due to its large size.
The tent will keep you well-ventilated too, as it has six tight weave mesh windows and two D-shaped doors with tight weave mesh screens. This means you won’t have to haul everything inside through one door, and you can breathe easy during hot nights.
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Pros
- Easy and quick set up
- Waterproof rainfly with taped seam
- Wind-resistant and has a 50+ UV rated material coating
- Very spacious, with plenty of floor space
- Well-ventilated
Cons
- Heavy to carry for long periods, weighing around 33lbs
- Not as easy to take down and won't pack away conveniently
ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 4 Outfitter Tent
The ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 4 Outfitter Tent features a 75D 185T water-resistant polyester exterior, with a 1500mm coating to resist UV rays and prevent sagging. These ratings make it a great choice for a variety of weather conditions, and is a sturdy design that you can rely on. The floor of the tent is also heavy-duty, designed with a nylon oxford material to support you against the elements.
It is a free-standing tent, and uses two fiberglass poles and pole clips for easy assembly. Once set up, the tent itself is spacious, with plenty of room to comfortably accommdate four adults. The layout of the tent is a rectangular shape, rather than square-shaped, so there is a more efficient use of the space. However, it isn’t the tallest tent, with a 4ft 4in interior height.
When it comes to storage, though, this tent has no shortage of it. It contains interior mesh storage pockets, and a gear loft to protect smaller equipment. It also features two spacious vestibules to give your gear extra protection.
The tent is well-ventilated, with a mesh roof and window for breathability. It also has two mesh doors which give you convenient entry, without the need for awkwardly climbing over people to get in and out.
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Pros
- Easy assembly with free-standing design
- Water and UV-resistant polyester tent fly
- Rectangular shape makes the tent appear more spacious
- Plenty of storage, with interior pockets and a gear loft
- Breathable and well-ventilated
Cons
- Not very tall, so you may be unable to stand up inside
- Not the most lightweight tent
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent is a popular piece in the outdoor industry.
The tent fly is made from UV-resistant polyester, which has a 75D rating. It also comes with a 1500mm waterproof coating, so you can confidently use this tent in harsh rainfall and not have to worry.
Set up is easy and straightforward, and the tent includes a strong but lightweight frame to help keep everything sturdily in place. It uses two aluminum poles, which make it more durable against weather damage, and comes with stakes and guylines to save you from purchasing them separately.
If a durable design is a priority for you, but you don’t want to carry around a heavy tent, then the Lynx model could be an excellent choice. It has similar specifications to the Taurus model, with 64 square feet of floor space, and 4ft 4in of height. However, the tent only weighs 7lbs 9oz, which makes it lightweight enough to easily carry in a backpack for a longer period of time.
It should fit four adults inside, but it won’t be roomy at full capacity. For optimal comfort, the tent is best suited to three adults, giving extra room to store gear or simply stretch your legs without feeling restricted.
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Pros
- UV-resistant and waterproof polyester exterior
- Free-standing, two-pole design is easy to set up
- Comes with interior storage pockets and a gear loft, to keep your gear protected
- Lightweight
- Features two doors and vestibules for convenience
Cons
- You may be unable to fully stand up inside due to the interior height
- Won't comfortably fit four people, and may be a tight squeeze at full capacity
Capacity
A tent that can accommodate four people shouldn’t be anything less than spacious. For comfort to be paramount, if four of you can just about squeeze inside then it’s not going to be a great sleeping experience for anyone.
If you want to get the most out of your shelter, then you’ll need to consider the height and overall size of the tent itself. When it comes to the interior, you’ll want to be able to comfortably stand up inside the tent, so any additional height is welcomed.
The floor dimensions are also crucial to consider, as this will determine how much room you’ll have during sleep.
However, some customers claim that a 4 person tent won’t give any extra room for comfort, so with that in mind, they recommend sizing up to a 6 person tent.
Personally, we think that you can find roomy and spacious 4 person tents, and they can save you space in your backpack rather than having the unnecessary material of a 6 person tent.
Size and Weight
Although your tent will be designed to fit up to 4 people, it still needs to be as lightweight as possible.
A tent is likely to be one of the heaviest items in your survival backpack, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be unnecessarily weighty. Many 4 Person tents are built with this in mind, and won’t use large and cumbersome poles for their set up.
Lightweight tents will also pack down into a smaller size. Your survival backpack will likely be filled to the brim with equipment when you first set out into the wilderness, so a lightweight tent that can be rolled up into a compact size will make all the difference when you’re walking for extended periods.
While you should always aim to have survival gear that is as lightweight as possible, it is worth noting that heavier tents are usually heavier because they’re more durable. You will need to decide whether a stronger, yet more weighty, tent will be more beneficial than a lighter one.
Weather-Resistance and Ventilation
When it comes to surviving in the outdoors, a tent that can withstand all kinds of weather conditions is crucial.
Most tents will have some type of water-resistant coating, which is essential even for light camping situations. However, you’ll ideally need a tent that can do more than just protect you from wet weather.
A tent that can hold up against the wind is vital for optimal protection. If your tent falls apart at the slightest breeze, it won’t be worth having, but a tent that can stay in top condition against the strongest winds is ideal.
UV-resistance is also an important feature to consider, as rainfall and snow aren’t the only harsh weather conditions to look out for. Intense sunlight can damage the quality of your tent, especially with prolonged use, so be sure to find a tent with UV-resistant properties.
Some 4 person tents will also be described as ‘4-season’ tents. This means that they are designed to perform well in every season and hold up against snowfall and sun rays. They will typically use strong, high-quality materials and may be more expensive than standard camping tents.
While your tent should hold up against all weather conditions, you shouldn’t have to compromise on comfort for a durable tent. A breathable and well-ventilated tent will help you feel more comfortable, and with four people potentially inside the tent, it could get pretty warm in there!
Look out for tents with breathable mesh materials, as this will also feel much better in particularly hot weather. Your tent should keep you protected from the elements, while also being breathable inside to allow for proper airflow.
Durable and Protective Materials
The toughness of the tent will ultimately be as a result of its construction.
This means both the body and the poles of the tent will need to be high-quality and built from strong materials. The poles will generally be made from fiberglass or aluminum.
While fiberglass is typically more budget-friendly than aluminum, it is also not as durable and can be more prone to damage. If you want to invest in a long-lasting tent, then this is worth thinking about.
The tent’s body is usually made from either nylon, polyester, or canvas material. Canvas is a great choice, as it is sturdy and tough. However, with toughness comes increased weight, so it won’t be the lightest tent to carry around.
Instead, many manufacturers will opt for nylon and polyester for their tent’s construction. These materials are lightweight, while still able to resist wear and tear. Some tents will use ‘rip-stop’ nylon, which provides a stronger, more durable design than standard nylon material.
Polyester is ideal if UV protection is a big concern of yours, as it will often already have a UV-resistant coating for your benefit.
Both polyester and nylon encourage breathability as well, as they are designed to be lightweight. However, if these materials are fully waterproof, they may not provide as much ventilation.
You should try to find a tent that has a waterproof exterior, with a breathable design on the inside, so that you can have both a durable and comfortable tent.
Additional Features and Gear Storage
When looking for the best 4 person tent, shelter should be the main component to consider. However, a tent that goes further than just giving you somewhere to sleep will make your time in the outdoors more relaxed.
Many 4 person tents come with interior storage pockets, often made from a mesh material. These are excellent for storing survival gear away, and you can keep the essentials inside in case you need them, such as a flashlight. These pockets are great for saving on floor space too.
It is also common to find vestibules included with your survival tent. While the addition of a vestibule can add extra weight to your backpack, it can be beneficial by protecting larger survival gear from the harm of the weather.
You could place your boots and backpack, for example, in the vestibule area, and it will save you from cramming it all inside and wasting precious space.
Recap
A 4 person tent can provide excellent space, and work best for you even if it is only used to accommodate two or three people. The size gives you guaranteed comfort if it’s not at full capacity, and many tents are so roomy that four adults can sleep without feeling restricted too.
Yet with many 4 person tents on the market, it’s clear to see why its an overwhelming decision to find the ideal one. However, with all factors considered, my pick for the best 4 person tent would be the Kelty Grand Mesa Tent 4 – Person.
This tent offers a good amount of space, while being the most lightweight option on our list. It is durable and reliable in even harsh weather conditions, which is ideal for survivalists.
We always stand by the importance of preparation for the unexpected, and having the best 4 person tent is one of the best ways to stay ready to survive.
Thanks for reading, and we hope our reviews have helped you to find the best 4 person tent for you!
What are your thoughts? Do you agree with our winner? Let us know in the comments section below, or get in touch with us via our social media pages, which are linked below. We’d love to hear from you!
Good Luck and Happy Survival Prepping!
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