Buying guide for shopping guide for best cabin tents
Camping is a great way to vacation on a budget and spend some time communing with nature, but it doesn't need to be a bare bones experience. Cabin tents tend to be fairly luxurious with plenty of room for the whole family.
What sets them apart from other tents is the tall roof height, allowing you to stand up straight while inside. Cabin tents are perfect for anyone who usually finds tents somewhat cramped or who wants to be able to more easily spend time inside the tent, even setting up a dining area or sleeping on tall airbeds.
One of the primary factors to consider when choosing a cabin tent is how many people fit inside and how many rooms there are. How you set up the tent and what type of storage space it has for all your gear is also important.
If you want to know more about cabin tents, read on for our full guide. When you’re ready to buy, check out our top picks.
Key considerations
Berth
The "berth" of a cabin tent is the amount of people that can fit inside. So you might call a tent that can sleep six a "six-berth tent" or a "six-person tent." However, you must remember that the berth listed is the absolute maximum amount of people it can sleep. If six people sleep in a six-person tent, for example, they'll be packed in closely with just a few inches in between. If you'd like to have a little more room, choose a tent that sleeps a couple more people than you actually need to fit in it (for example, a six-person tent would do nicely for a family of four). If you'd like to sleep on air mattresses, you'll need a tent with a berth of at least double the amount of campers, so a family of four would need an eight- or nine-person cabin tent.
Rooms
Do you want a tent with just one large room inside, or would you prefer one with separate sleeping areas? Separate rooms are great for giving kids and parents a bit of privacy, which is especially nice for older children and teens. Some large cabin tents have three rooms, which lets you either use all three for sleeping or keep the central room as a living area/dining room for eating or hanging out in if the weather isn't great.
Also consider whether your chosen cabin tent has a front vestibule (an area that's covered by the flysheet but isn't part of the inner tent). A vestibule can be useful for storing gear or even for sitting in.
Setup type
Consider how you set up your chosen cabin tent. The majority of cabin tents are set up in the usual way — by threading the poles into the body of the tent and pegging them down. However, you can also find some pop-up cabin tents or instant cabin tents, the latter of which have pre-assembled frames that you simply attach the tent to. These setup types are far easier for inexperienced campers. Less common, but equally easy to set up, are inflatable cabin tents, which have air-filled poles.
Did you know?
A rainfly is an additional flysheet that fits over the top of your cabin tent to offer extra protection from rain. It’s ideal if you camp during the wetter months or live somewhere with unpredictable summers.
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Features
Hydrostatic head
The hydrostatic head is a measurement, given in millimeters, that denotes how much water can fall on a tent before it starts to leak through. Anything above 1,500 millimeters is classed as waterproof, but we'd recommend buying a tent with a hydrostatic head of 3,000 millimeters or above — even higher if you camp during the winter or will be camping in areas that get lots of rainfall.
Storage
Check how much, if any, dedicated storage your chosen cabin tent has. Some basic tents have little to no storage space, so you'll need to store your gear on the floor of the tent, which takes up precious sleeping space. Some cabin tents have built-in storage pockets for holding small items and some have gear lofts for bags and larger items.
Awning
You can find cabin tents that feature an awning or canopies that you can set up at the front of the tent to provide shade or shelter when you're sitting around the campground or cooking outside your tent.
Ventilation
A quality cabin tent should provide plenty of ventilation, especially if you'll be camping in the warmer months. Ventilation may be provided by side vents, mesh windows, or other mesh areas.
Cabin tent prices
Inexpensive: Basic cabin tents start at around $100 to $200. These tend to be on the smaller side, usually with a six- to nine-person berth, and more basic overall, with a standard setup, fiberglass poles, and little in the way of extra features.
Mid-range: For $200 to $400, you can find cabin tents that are large but fairly basic. Or some may be more compact with high-end features, such as preassembled frames, gear lofts, or generally rugged construction.
Expensive: High-end cabin tents are priced at roughly $400 to $600. These tend to be extremely large tents capable of sleeping 14 or more people, inflatable tents, or those that are extra durable with a range of excellent features.
Tips
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Think about buying a cabin tent with a sewn-in groundsheet. This will stop both drafts and bugs from getting in between the groundsheet and the main body of the tent.
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Check the number of doors your chosen cabin tent has. More doors make access easier, but fewer doors make a tent slightly lighter (though probably not enough to make a big difference). We'd recommend a cabin tent with at least one door per room.
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Find out how tall the highest point of the cabin tent is. A true cabin tent is tall enough to stand up inside. The majority measure between seven and eight feet at the highest point.
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Consider the fabric on your chosen tent. When researching the details on a cabin tent’s fabric, you’ll see a number followed by the word “denier” (pronounced den-YAY). Tents made with a higher denier fabric are more rugged than those made from lower denier fabric — and are likely to last longer.
- Decide what kind of tent pole material works best for you. Fiberglass tent poles are a lightweight option, but steel tent poles are stronger. Then there are the "airbeams" found on inflatable tents.
FAQ
Q. Can you find cabin tents suitable for all-season use?
A. The majority of cabin tents are "three-season" tents, which are designed for use in moderate conditions, such as those found in most areas between spring and fall. Although they can withstand some rain, the focus is on breathability and ventilation for use in warmer weather. However, you can also find some four-season cabin tents designed to withstand heavy rain, high winds, and even snowfall.
Q. Will I be able to set up a cabin tent alone?
A. Due to their large size, cabin tents are more challenging to set up solo than smaller tents are. As such, it will be far easier to set up your cabin tent with at least one other person to help you. If you'll definitely be the only person capable of setting up your cabin tent, choose a pop-up, inflatable, or instant-pitch model.
Q. What kinds of accessories will make my camping experience more comfortable?
A. Camping isn't always a comfortable experience, but bringing the right extras can help you get a good night's sleep. We'd highly recommend bringing an airbed or cot to sleep on or, at the very least, a camping mat. Sleeping on the floor is never comfy. Also, choose a sleeping bag of the correct weight for the season, so you won't get too hot or too cold. Don't forget to bring a pillow, either, whether standard or inflatable.
