Are you looking for a 6 person backpacking tent? Such items can be big and heavy so finding something appropriate is not so easy unless you want to carry unnecessary weight. So here I give some reasonable options.
Is there such a thing as a 6 person backpacking tent
Backpacking tents are always too small for the declared capacity. They are built to be carried so more space means more weight and the small area they offer is understandable. So when you see a 6-person backpacking tent, this is usually good enough for maximum 4 people or so. But if it is with a pair of vestibules, this may change a lot because you have two storage areas for your boots and backpacks.
It might be a better option to have two tents with 3-people capacity. When combined, those can be lighter than one 6-person backpacking tent. To see what I mean, have a look at this list of 3-person backpacking tents, you will realize that some of them are below 2 kilograms. Now, even these ultra-lightweight tents have two vestibules, so the available protected area becomes substantial when you have two tents.
But there may be reasons when you want a single tent and one cannot argue about this. It may be a matter of price, or it may be a closed group which wants to stay together in the tent e.g. a family with kids, etc. So, for this reason, I give below a list of a few tents that are lightweight enough to be carried on the trail.
I put the limit to a maximum of 6 kilograms of weight or very close to it. There are no particular reasons for such a limit, except the weight itself. If you are ready to carry a heavier tent, just have a look in the category of tents for 5 & 6 people here in the site, there are many described in detail, check in particular the dome-style tents from this size range.
My list: 6-person backpacking tents
Here they are ordered by the weight from heavier to lighter:
- Mountainsmith Cottonwood 6P Tent
- Browning Echo 6-Person Tent
- Pacific Pass 6 Person Family Dome Tent
- ust House Party Car Camping Tent 6 person
- Big Agnes Dog House Camping Tent 6 Person
- Sierra Designs Nomad 6 Person Tent
- Big Agnes Big House Deluxe Camping Tent 6
- The North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent
- Eureka Midori Basecamp 6 Tent
- MOON LENCE Camping Tent 6 Person
1. Mountainsmith Cottonwood 6P Tent
Obviously, this tent is here because of its weight which is only 13 lb 5 oz (6.04 kg), and its capacity which is 6 people. The inner area is 90 ft² (8.4 m²) but you also have a porch or vestibule area which is 29.5 ft² (2.7 m²). As you realize from the picture, this is a full-coverage fly, so such a great weight is really surprising.
The waterproof rating is really good, 2000 mm for the fly and 5000 mm for the floor. There are 3 poles and they are aluminum. This all you can get for just some $160 or so (as of the moment of writing this text), and I find this simply extraordinary. This is the Mountainsmith brand so you can be sure about the quality of this item.
The tent comes with some unique features, so you have windows on the fly, equipped with panels and mesh. The tent is freestanding, but note that the porch has its own pole and it should be staked.
2. Browning Echo 6-Person Tent
This tent weighs 13 lb 3 oz (6 kg), so it is not among the lightest here in the list, but it is still very light. Equally important, it is ultra compact.
It can be described as a true 3-season tent with a full coverage fly and 2 vestibules. You have 100 ft² (9.3 m²) of the inner floored area, but the vestibules add 15 + 15 ft² (1.4 + 1.4 m²), so this is lots of extra space for storage of gear.
The tent is supported with quality aluminum poles. With all these features it is suitable to be carried on the trail if the weight is shared among users.
You also have two doors, and there are two fly vents as well. So it is indeed hard to find objections to this tent.
3. Pacific Pass 6 Person Family Dome Tent
This Pacific Pass 6 Person Family Dome Tent is incredibly affordable and ultralight, it weighs 13.3 lb (6 kg) and this is why it is here in the list. The tent is also nicely packable and suitable for 3-season use.
You have 1 door and 2 windows. The tent is equipped with a floor vent, an e-cable port, and it is fully freestanding. There is also a gear loft included in the package. The area is 100 ft² (9.3 m²).
4. ust House Party Car Camping Tent 6 person
This ust House Party Car Camping Tent 6 person is here because of its weight which is only 13 lb 2 oz (5.95 kg). This is a tent with a single layer design and it is a unique tunnel-type freestanding tent with aluminum poles.
The tent has 2 doors and there are mesh sections underneath the fly that can be described as protected roof windows. The waterproof rating is 2000 mm. The total area is 84.6 ft² (7.8 m²).
5. Big Agnes Dog House Camping Tent 6 Person
This Dog House 6 is from their new series that includes also a 4-person tent. What you have here is a very light tent for its size. The minimum trail weight is 13 lb (5.9 kg), and the packed weight is 13 lb 7 oz (6.1 kg). So I think it belongs to this group of tents that are light enough to be carried in the pack.
This is a single-layer construction and this is partly behind its great weight. So you add the poles from outside and this is what you might call a dry setup, convenient if you have to pitch the tent when it is raining. You have quality fabric and DAC aluminum poles. Note also that the tent is very tall, the peak height is 80 inches (203 cm).
6. Sierra Designs Nomad 6 Person Tent
This Sierra Designs Nomad 6 Person Tent is from their new series. The tent weighs 12 lb 13 oz (5.81 kg) and this gives you 84.4 ft² (7.84 m²) of the floor area plus two vestibules, so the total protected area is 120 ft² (11.1 m²). I would say this is impressive for the weight.
The tent is with a full-cover fly, and I have included it in my separate list with such tents. It has two doors and two vestibules, and you also have a vent on the fly. It comes with top-quality DAC aluminum poles. Note that it has an integrated window on the fly.
7. Big Agnes Big House Deluxe Camping Tent 6
The manufacturer of this Big House 6 tent gives its trail weight and packed weight, and they are 12 lb 8 oz (5.67 kg) and 13 lb 11 oz (6.21 kg), respectively.
So the trail weight is below the limit of 6 kg which I imposed for the tents to be included in this list here, and the packed weight is also very close to it (from the upper side of course). By the trail weight, they mean the inner tent, the fly, and the poles, just to know.
This is a luxurious tent among the tents that you might carry on the trail. It is very tall with its 78 inches (198 cm), and it has two huge doors and an incredible number of wall pockets.
The poles are very thick aluminum and the waterproof rating is 1500 mm. So this tent offers a decent protection for most situations in a 3 season use. The area is 75 ft² (7 m²). Please follow the link to read more.
8. The North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent
The North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent stands out as a noteworthy addition to any list of 6-person backpacking tents. Weighing in at 12 lb 3.4 oz (5.55 kg), it offers a remarkable balance between spaciousness and portability, making it a viable option for groups looking to trek into the wilderness without sacrificing comfort.
Despite its lightweight design, this tent doesn’t compromise on durability, featuring sturdy aluminum poles and a polyester construction to withstand the rigors of backcountry travel.
With its floor area of 81.1 ft² (7.5 m²) and a peak height of 75 inches (191 cm), the Sequoia 6 Tent provides generous space for accommodating multiple campers while offering sufficient headroom to move comfortably inside.
While its packed size may not be the most compact, its manageable weight makes it suitable for backpacking adventures where space and weight are critical considerations. Overall, the North Face Sequoia 6 Person Tent is a practical choice for backpackers seeking a reliable and spacious shelter option for group excursions.
9. Eureka Midori Basecamp 6 Tent
This tent weighs 11 lb 9 oz (5.24 kg) so it is quite suitable for the purpose described here, it is light enough to be carried on the trail. The inner area looks good when you compare it with other tents here, you have 85 ft² (7.9 m²), and the space per person is 1.32 m², but note that you have two vestibules that add 38 ft² (3.5 m²). So this is a big area to store your backpacks.
The waterproof rating is quite decent 1500 mm and this is more than enough for most situations in a 3-season use. The poles are aluminum, the floor is bathtub type, so all is done properly here. Please follow the link to see more.
10. MOON LENCE Camping Tent 6 Person
I guess it is best to start with the weight to realize why this tent is in such a position here in the list. So this is an ultralight structure that weighs only 9.04 lb (4.1 kg). But as you realize, it is without a vestibule.
The tent is also an ultra-packable dome structure with one door and two windows, and very easy to use. The poles are fiberglass. Note that it comes with a huge back vent close to the floor, so it is nicely ventilated. It is also incredibly affordable.
Final thoughts
So this was my list which should help you to choose a reasonably lightweight 6 person backpacking tent with enough space for six people. The list will be updated as I continue to search for such tents, so stay tuned and bookmark this page.
How to choose really? Those presented here share some common features, like aluminum poles and a decent waterproof rating. The weight difference is not so substantial, so check the protected area. This is where vestibules become important. They are normally very useful and they add a lot of the protected space so if this is about a larger group, you will need them. But vestibules must be staked properly to be functional and this depends on the terrain.
Sometimes the ground is such that it is difficult to stake the tent, like a sandy area which does not keep stakes or simply rock where you cannot use them. In such a case go for a completely freestanding option and the partial fly, you have some great examples of that type. Such a tent you can pitch anywhere, the fly is attached to its corners and you do not depend on the ground type.
Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below in case of questions or comments. Have a nice day.
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