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There is nothing more demoralizing than getting cold and wet on a camping adventure!

Not to worry, though. This article will tell you about the 20 best tents on the market for wind and rain. It also has loads of tips to keep you warm and dry in stormy weather. 

Whether you are planning a family camping weekend, an epic mountain climb, or a romantic getaway in the great outdoors, this article has you covered!

Best Tents for Wind And Rain

Browning Camping Glacier

Best Overall
Browning Camping Glacier 4-Person Tent
$440.09
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11/14/2023 10:01 pm GMT

The reviews for the Browning Glacier Tent speak for themselves. Users love how easy it is to put up, reporting a warm and cozy night in the most challenging of weather conditions. 

With a peak height of 6 feet, most people will be able to stand up comfortably. This is a 4 season tent, meaning that it is designed to withstand snowy conditions.

At the same time, you can use it comfortably in warmer weather due to its good ventilation. 

The heavy-duty floor follows a bathtub design to prevent water from seeping in from the ground. The tent is easy to put up and was made to last a long time. If you are planning on many camping adventures in a range of climates, the Browning Glacier Tent is a brilliant contender!

Pros:

  • Standing room
  • High-quality tent and fittings
  • Easy to set up 
  • Withstands extreme conditions
  • Good ventilation

Cons:

  • No porch to keep you dry as you enter and leave the tent
  • Low-quality stakes – It’s a good idea to buy some better ones if you are going to camp in windy conditions

Hillman 2-3 Person Backpacking Tent

Best Value
Hillman 2-3 Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
$86.99
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11/17/2023 04:43 am GMT

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced waterproof and windproof tent, I wholeheartedly recommend the Hillman brand. My Hillman tent has kept me dry on countless adventures. I even wild camped in rainy Scotland for 3 straight months and never had a problem with leaking!

The Hillman 2-3 Person Backpacking Tent is a very affordable lightweight tent. It would be a fantastic option for any self-supported adventure such as backpacking or touring on a pushbike.

This wonderful little tent can be easily put up in 10 minutes. The seams are double-stitched to ensure waterproofing and it weighs just 5.6 lbs (2.5 kilograms). 

I highly recommend this tent to any outdoor lovers!

Pros:

  • Waterproof and windproof
  • Easy to set up 
  • Light weight 
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Small and no standing room – better suited for backpacking than family camping
  • No area to keep kit dry – it will have to come inside with you

Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent

Also Great
TETON Sports Mesa Canvas Tent
$563.99
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11/16/2023 04:33 am GMT

Quality canvas tents are brilliantly weatherproof. They will keep you warm and dry when all the other tents around you are starting to leak! The Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent is a lovely cabin-style tent that we highly recommend. 

Cabin tents don’t usually do as well in the wind as dome tents. However, the exceptional quality of the Mesa Tent makes it an exception. You will have the best of both worlds, with plenty of standing room and brilliant wind protection. 

The frame of this tent is very strong, and the thick canvas is both breathable and insulating. An awning helps protect the front of your tent, and the high-quality floor and walls will keep you dry year-round.

In fact, Teton is so confident about the quality of its equipment that the company offers a lifetime warranty. 

If the tent gets damaged as a result of misuse, Teton will also help you get it fixed to prevent adding unnecessary waste to landfills! 

Pros:

  • Keeps you remarkably warm and dry
  • Quality materials and heavy-duty zips
  • Storage holders throughout 
  • Spacious – high ceilings 
  • Quick and easy to set up 
  • Attractive, natural materials

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Heavy

Geertop 2 Person Tent

GEERTOP 2 Person Backpacking Tent
$174.99
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11/16/2023 03:57 am GMT

If you are looking for a small and lightweight expedition tent, we recommend the Geertop 2 Person Tent.

This is a great option for hiking, cycling, or climbing in the outdoors. It is easy to set up and weighs only 2.8 kilograms. If you are hiking with a friend, you can split up this weight further by distributing the poles, pegs, and canvas between your packs. 

The 8000 mm waterproof coating on the flysheet will help keep you dry in the wettest conditions. The tent floor has a 5000mm coating and taped seams. 

This is a high-quality, lightweight tent suitable for wet and windy mountain conditions year-round. 

Pros:

  • Lightweight 
  • Performs year-round, even in alpine regions
  • High-quality aluminum poles 
  • Built-in snow skirt

Cons:

  • Small – you won't be able to stand up. Suitable only for 2 people who are very well acquainted! 
  • Available only in red and yellow. This can be problematic if you are wild camping and require discretion.

NTK Indy 6 Person Tent

NTK Indy GT XL - 100% Waterproof 2500mm
$137.49
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11/15/2023 12:47 am GMT

The NTK Indy 6 Person Tent has a huge waterproof porch area where you can eat camping meals and play card games.

It is technically a 6 person tent, but you won’t fit much more than 2 camping chairs and a table in the porch area comfortably. On the plus side, there is plenty of standing room and a high-quality waterproof covering. 

The inner tent has a fine mosquito net covering to prevent any unwelcome visitors in the night!

NTK tents do very well in wet and windy weather. This is thanks to the heavy-duty, anti-fungus flooring. The floor is designed like a bathtub to keep you warm and dry in the worst weather conditions. It also has a silver coating to prevent heat loss through the floor. 

Pros:

  • Easy to set up 
  • Bathtub-style, silver-coated floor
  • Waterproof porch area to hang out 
  • Sturdy frame does well in the wind

Cons:

  • No windows – ventilation not great
  • Uses sleeves rather than clips for poles – some people find this frustrating and fiddly

Moko Instant Cabin Tent

Moko Instant Cabin Tent - 3 Person, 4 Season Tent
$89.99
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11/15/2023 07:29 am GMT

The 3 person Moko Instant Cabin Tent is designed for year-round camping trips. It can easily be set up and taken down by a single person. 

Although the sleeping compartment is small, there is a 3 feet vestibule where you can protect your kit from the rain. You may want to consider bringing an extra small tarp to set beneath your gear because the vestibule doesn’t have a floor. 

This tent performs brilliantly in heavy wind thanks to a solid structure and high-quality stakes. You can use it in cold conditions without any problems, and it also handles rain remarkably well. This is an affordable, high-quality tent. 

Pros:

  • High-quality
  • Handles wind and rain very well 
  • Vestibule for kit 
  • Easy to set up and take down
  • Affordable
  • Light 

Cons:

  • Small – no space to stand or move around (realistically, a 2 person tent)
  • No snow skirt – not intended for snowy expeditions
  • Heavier than many tents of similar size – more suited for a festival than ultralight backpacking

Geertop 4 Season Tent

Geertop 4 Season Backpacking Tent
$189.99
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11/15/2023 05:36 pm GMT

This Geertop 4 Season Tent offers an excellent balance between weatherproofing and lightweight materials. 

In addition to a heavy-duty waterproof coating, you will find a high-quality oxford fabric floor to keep you warm and dry year-round. The tent also has a snow skirt for camping in winter conditions and double-stitched seams to prevent leaks. 

If you will be camping in good weather, you can use your trekking poles to convert the vestibule into a small canopy. However, this tent will get very hot in the summertime. It is more suitable for cold and windy conditions. 

Although it claims to be a 4 person tent, you can realistically fit one queen air mattress inside, along with your gear. 

Pros:

  • High-quality materials and coating
  • Easy to set up and take down
  • Snow skirt

Cons:

  • Limited ventilation – not designed for hot weather, can lead to condensation in cold weather
  • Bright yellow color can attract flies and attention – not good for wild camping
  • Claims to be for 4 people; realistically for 2 or 3 people

Alps Mountaineering Chaos Tent

ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 Person Tent
$254.14
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11/15/2023 11:29 pm GMT

Thanks to its free-standing poles and clips, the Alps Mountaineering Chaos Tent can be put up in minutes. Its mesh walls and ceiling allow for plenty of airflow through the tent, whilst the high-quality flysheet will keep you dry in wet and windy camping conditions. 

You’ll find a mesh gear loft, mesh storage pockets, and 2 vestibules for you to store your gear. This tent is technically a 3 person tent. If you are sleeping with roll mats and sleeping bags, you can get 3 people in at a squeeze. The tent would fit one inflatable air mattress with no remaining indoor space for gear. 

This tent is very lightweight, so it’s an excellent option for backpacking and long-distance hiking. We particularly recommend that you use a tent footprint with this tent. More information later in the article!

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Super quick and easy to set up 
  • Vestibules and mesh storage for gear 
  • Good ventilation
  • Affordable for quality 

Cons:

  • Small – best for a couple or single person
  • Not the best tent for cold-weather camping

Husky Extreme Fighter Expedition Tent

Husky Extreme Fighter Expedition Tent
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If you are heading into extreme weather, the Husky Extreme Fighter Expedition Tent will keep you warm and dry. 

Although it is called an expedition tent, it is 4 season rather than 5 season. This means that you can use it reasonably comfortably in cold, snowy conditions. It wouldn’t be suitable for camping in the Arctic, like the top expedition tents, but if you are reading this article, you probably aren't a polar explorer!

The Husky Extreme Fighter Tent is one of the best-quality waterproof tents that you can buy for leisure camping and thru-hiking. A German design, the husky expedition tent does very well in wind, rain, and snow. The tent has a fine mosquito mesh and a high-quality waterproof flysheet and floor. 

There is space for 3 sleeping pads, but you would not fit 3 people inside if you are using air mattresses. 

Pros:

  • Performs exceptionally in wind and rain 
  • High-quality materials
  • Attractive design 

Cons:

  • It’s somewhat misleading to call itself an expedition tent. Realistically it is 3 to 4 season
  • Cramped for 3 people

Geertop Landlope Tent

GEERTOP 4 Person Camping Tent
$199.99
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11/16/2023 03:32 am GMT

The Geertop Landlope Tent is a 4 person tent made with high-quality materials. The vestibule has space to store your kit outside of the sleeping area, but users report that the tent isn’t realistically big enough for 4 people to sleep in. 

If you are looking for a spacious, decent-quality tent for a couple of people, this is an excellent option. The waterproof coating is reliable and the strong aluminum poles do much better in the cold and the wind than fiberglass. 

There are 2 mesh windows and 5 mesh windows for aeration, so you don’t have to worry about condensation in winter or overheating in the summer. 

You will have much more space than with a traditional backpacking tent, but the tent is slightly heavier for it. 

Pros:

  • Plenty of airflow
  • Strong aluminum poles
  • Quality waterproof protection
  • Vestibule for gear

Cons:

  • Cramped for 4 people
  • No inner pockets to help with gear storage

Mis Mountain Inn Sports Tent

Mis Mountain Inn Sports Tent
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The Mis Mountain Inn Sports Tent is an affordable, lightweight tent for 1 - 2 people. There are two entrances for improved ventilation. 

This tent comes with a footprint included. You can use it for extra waterproofing or even as a picnic blanket on the trail! The reflective guy ropes make it easier to find your tent in the dark, and the aluminum pegs provided are heavier-duty than those of many tents of this price point. 

Although the tent is small, there is a small vestibule to store gear. Users report a comfortable night’s sleep so long as they are 6 feet or shorter!

It is a little heavy for ultralight hiking, but a fabulous entry-level tent for enjoying the outdoors, rain or shine. 

Pros:

  • Lightweight for the price
  • Two entrances for ventilation 
  • Footprint included
  • Vestibule
  • Reflective guy ropes
  • Well priced for the quality provided

Cons:

  • A little heavy for hiking
  • No standing room
  • May not be comfortable for someone taller than 6 feet

Moon Lence Camping Tent

MOON LENCE Tent - Waterproof And Wind Proof


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The Moon Lence Camping Tent is a spacious 2 person tent. It is lightweight for its size and extremely easy to put up and take down. 

Despite its low price, this tent offers good ventilation and waterproofing. There is a helpful hook from which to hang your camping lantern, while mesh pockets allow you to store some of your gear off the ground. 

This isn’t a high-quality backpacking tent, but it is good enough to keep you warm and dry on the occasional camping trip in the rain. For a casual camper, this affordable tent is perfectly fine. 

Pros:

  • Surprisingly spacious
  • Can be put up in minutes
  • Lightweight 
  • Offers good wind and rain protection for the price

Cons:

  • Not particularly high quality – unlikely to stand the test of time
  • Floor ventilation not great
  • People over 5 foot 9 may struggle to lie straight

Forceatt Camping Tent

Forceatt 2-4 Person Tent - Waterproof & Windproof
$59.99
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11/15/2023 11:51 am GMT

This 2 person Forceatt Camping Tent is great for camping in the rain. Velcro vents allow you to ventilate the tent while preventing any rain from entering. Both the tent and seams have been treated with a waterproof covering to prevent leaks. 

This tent can fit a couple using roll mats, or one person who wants to spread out and bring a thick air mattress. 

For the price, the quality is outstanding. It’s a little heavy for backcountry camping, but you could easily split the weight between 2 people if you wanted to take it hiking.

The tent is very quick and easy to put up, and there are 2 separate entrances to prevent you from having to climb over each other when you want to pop out! 

Pros:

  • Great quality for the price
  • 2 separate entrances
  • Lightweight
  • Can be put up in 3 minutes

Cons:

  • Light-duty zipper could break easily
  • No standing room
  • Some users report a foul smell coming off the tent material, even after setting it up and leaving it outside to air

Hillman 2 Person Alpine Tent

Hillman 2 Person Alpine Tent - PU Waterproof 8000 mm


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I love the Hillman brand. Having used them for expeditions all over the world, including in the wind and rain of Iceland, I can vouch for the quality of these extremely affordable tents. 

The Hillman 2 Person Alpine Tent is a 4 season tent specially designed for cold weather camping. The breathable polyester will keep you cozy and warm while still allowing for some ventilation.

Additional mesh windows allow plenty of airflow, while the snow skirt ensures a comfortable camping experience even in the coldest of conditions. The tent is small, but there is a vestibule to store your kit and a couple of mesh pockets inside the sleeping area. 

Pros:

  • Easy to put up
  • Fantastic quality for the price
  • Lightweight for the protection offered
  • Snow skirt
  • Extremely waterproof flysheet

Cons:

  • No standing room

Geertop Ultra Lightweight 1 Person Tent

GEERTOP Ultralight Bivy Tent
$91.98
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11/14/2023 08:50 pm GMT

If you are hoping for a lightweight wild camping adventure, the Geertop Ultra Lightweight 1 Person Tent is just the thing!

The camouflage design will help you be discrete and respectful of the great outdoors, while the heavy-duty waterproof covering will keep you dry in the rainiest of conditions. 

The tent takes just 2 minutes to put up, but the taped seams and double stitching will help ensure a cozy night’s sleep no matter what the weather is like.

This tent is designed for a combination of light weight and serious sturdiness. It is very small, designed for one person as an absolute maximum. 

Please bear in mind that a bivy-style tent like this is designed to keep you warm and dry, but the cramped space is not comfortable. If you want to get right back to basics and disappear into nature for a few days, this is a brilliant option. 

Pros:

  • Camouflage material for discretion
  • High-quality waterproofing
  • Sturdy frame suitable for windy conditions
  • Great ‘back to basics’ experience

Cons:

  • Small and cramped
  • Can get lighter tents of this size – but this bivy tent is very sturdy

Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room

Coleman Dome Tent with Screened-In Porch
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The Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room is highly rated by users. 

The sleeping area can easily fit 2 queen-sized air beds. There is a large screen room where you can keep your kit, or just sit with a cup of coffee and listen to the rain.

Although the sleeping area seems reasonably waterproof and windproof, the screen room does let water in under heavy rain. We advise that you keep your valuables in the sleeping compartment and consider covering the rest of your kit with a small tarp. 

On the bright side, the window awnings allow you to keep airflow through the tent without letting in any rain. This is an essential part of minimizing condensation!

Other features of the tent include a weatherproof zipper cuff, a wind-responsive frame, and protected seams. This isn’t a top-end tent that will protect you from a raging blizzard, but it’s a popular, affordable family camping tent. 

Pros:

  • Large screen room
  • Window awnings
  • Mesh storage pockets
  • Wind-responsive frame
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Users report that the screen room can get very wet in the case of rain
  • Not the best quality

NTK Super Arizona

NTK Super Arizona - 12 Person Family Tent
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If you’re looking to maximize space, the NTK Super Arizona is a truly enormous family camping tent. It has a detachable room divider, so you can decide whether or not you’d like to separate the sleeping area into 2 bedrooms. 

A heavy-duty anti-fungus floor and high-quality waterproof flysheet will help keep you dry in the worst weather. There is also a fine mosquito mesh throughout to protect you from any biting insects in the night. 

NTK has been making tents for over 40 years, so this company knows what it is doing! This tent is extremely spacious and has plenty of little storage pockets to help you keep your kit organized whilst you camp. 

Pros:

  • Super spacious 
  • Does very well in wet and windy conditions
  • Optional room divider
  • Storage pockets

Cons:

  • Fiberglass frame – not the best for cold weather and more likely to break
  • Rainfly fiddly to put on
  • No screen room – but plenty of inside space anyway

Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent

TETON Sports Sierra Canvas Tent
$649.99
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11/14/2023 09:39 pm GMT

If you are looking for something unique and beautiful, the Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent is an exceptional camping tent. 

Canvas bell tents are famous for keeping you super warm and dry while still being breathable. They are surprisingly easy to put up, relying on a simple two-pole system.

This tent was designed to last a lifetime. So, while it might cost more than a nylon alternative, it will almost certainly pay off in the long run!

Despite being such a large tent, one person can put it up alone. You will need a reasonable amount of upper body strength, though! The high-quality canvas tent weighs a hefty 56 pounds. 

Pros:

  • High-quality and durable
  • Beautiful, authentic bell tent 
  • Spacious
  • Extremely weatherproof

Cons:

  • You will have to chat to lots of people who stop and ask questions about your beautiful tent!
  • Heavy
  • Expensive

Hikergarden Camping Tent

HIKERGARDEN Camping Tent - 10 Person Tent
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The Hikergarden Camping Tent is a spacious family camping tent with brilliant user reviews. 

You can fit 3 air mattresses or 10 roll camping pads inside. There is an optional room divider for extra privacy, and the seams are taped to help protect you from the rain. Users have left very positive reviews about how the tent handles wind and rain!

The tent is easy to put up and the color-coded poles are supposed to help you get set up super quickly. Unfortunately, the instructions are NOT in color, so the color-coding gets somewhat lost along the way! 

Top Tip: All you need to do is find the colors on the sleeves themselves, and the mystery will be solved. 

Pros:

  • Spacious
  • Handles bad weather very well
  • Easy to put up
  • A couple of storage pockets
  • Optional room divider
  • Good ventilation

Cons:

  • Fiberglass structure – not great for cold weather and weaker than aluminum 
  • No awning around the entrance – if it’s raining, water will enter the tent while you are opening and closing the door

Mobihome 6 Person Family Tent

Mobihome Instant Dome Tent - Quick Setup
$129.95
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11/16/2023 07:42 am GMT

Despite being a large family tent, the Mobihome 6 Person Tent can be set up by a single person in seconds. All you have to do is unfold the poles and then pull on the drawstring; you will feel like a magician!

The seams are reinforced and taped to help keep the rain outside of the sleeping area, and the micro mesh roof offers plenty of ventilation. 

This isn’t the best tent for very cold weather, but users report that it performs very well in heavy rain and gusting winds! 

Pros:

  • Quick and easy to set up 
  • Spacious for 2 adults and 2-3 children
  • Well ventilated

Cons:

  • Confusing instructions – you’re better off finding a setup video online
  • Not much standing room
  • Not very well insulated

How to Secure a Tent in High Wind

The best way to protect your tent from high wind is to camp in a suitable place. 

If the weather is awful, you don’t want to be on open high ground. If you’re on a mountainside, come down from the summit and pitch your tent next to a natural windbreak, like a big boulder or hill. 

You can also consider camping amongst the trees, though this could be risky if the wind is so strong that branches are falling. 

Also, make sure that you use as many high-quality pegs as possible. The pegs that come with a tent are usually light-duty, but I will give you some good peg suggestions later in this article. 

The pegs shouldn’t go straight down into the ground. Rather, they should be put in the ground at an angle (45 degrees is ideal). Do this with a hammer or the sole of your shoe, not your hands. This will allow you to put the pegs deeper into the ground without hurting yourself. 

If you find some heavy rocks around your camp, you can place these on top of the pegs to secure them further. 

Be sure to properly tie and clip your rainfly to the tent poles; don’t miss any of them. You should also use your guy lines, pegging them into the ground as far away from your tent as possible. 

How to Protect Your Tent During Heavy Rain

Before leaving the house, you should spray your tent with a waterproof treatment. Do this again every time the tent has been through a heavy rainstorm. We recommend Kiwi Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent. 

You can also use this water repellent spray on your hiking boots, waterproofs, and tarps. Look after your kit, and your kit will look after you!

If the rain is very heavy, you can dig a trench around the outside of your tent to redirect rainwater away from your sleeping area. Remember to fill it back in when you leave. Follow the Leave No Trace principles.

Don’t camp too close to a water source, either. This could be bad news for your tent in the event of flooding, plus it disturbs the wildlife that normally comes to drink here. 

Recommended Accessories for Tent Camping in Bad Weather

In addition to the water-repellant spray recommended above, it’s a good idea to invest in high-quality tent stakes. Many people think that using a tent footprint will also provide extra waterproofing but that’s not entirely accurate. 

A footprint will protect the bottom of your tent from some of the wet mud, and it will also lessen the wear and tear on the floor of your tent caused by friction. I would recommend that you get one when camping in wet weather. 

It will protect the existing waterproofing on your tent floor, but it won’t actually make your tent more waterproof. 

Tent Stakes Suitable for Strong Wind 

Following are three types of heavy-duty tent pegs that I recommend for windy weather. 

  1. Sahara Heavy Duty Iron Tent Stakes
  2. Orange Screw Ground Anchor
  3. 7Penn Spiral Ground Anchors

Each of these has a slightly different design, so check them out and see which ones you think are best for you. 

Footprint

As mentioned above, your footprint will protect the outside of your tent floor from wet mud. It will also help preserve the longevity of your tent by reducing friction. 

It won’t actually make your tent waterproof, and you must cut it to size. If your footprint is the same size or bigger than your tent, rainwater can build up between the layers and then slowly seep into your sleeping area. 

Here, you have one small and one large tent footprint so that you can choose the best one for you:

You can just cut them to size with a pair of scissors. You don’t need to do anything complicated. 

What’s the Best Tent Type for Wind and Rain? 

There are two main tent types from which to choose: dome or cabin.

With dome tents, the highest point is in the center, with the walls sloping downwards. They handle wind and rain much better than cabin tents do, because the sloping walls redirect the rain away from the tent. They also have a lower profile, so they can withstand windy conditions. 

Cabin tents have steeper walls and a flat roof. This means that snow and rain can build up on the top, eventually seeping through the flysheet or causing the tent to collapse. 

Being taller, cabin tents are more comfortable to stand up and move around in. However, they are higher off the ground and less streamlined. This means they are more likely to be damaged by the wind. 

That said, a top-quality cabin tent will often outperform a low-budget dome tent. If you are comparing a dome tent and a cabin tent of the same quality, it is better to choose the dome tent for wet weather camping. 

You may have noticed that my best overall pick is a cabin tent. This is because high-quality canvas dome tents are not yet available on the market. The exceptional quality of the Teton Canvas Mesa Cabin Tent makes it our premium recommendation for wind and rain, despite its structure. 

What to Look for When Choosing the Best Tent for Wind and Rain

Seasons

Tent seasons go from 1 to 5. You will want a tent that is rated as at least 3 seasons for the wind and rain. If you are camping in a cold climate, a 4 season tent would be better.

However, a 5 season tent is meant only for extreme professional expeditions. If you camp mostly in wind and rain with a 5 season tent, you will probably get extremely overheated. You will be wasting a lot of money, too!

Waterproof Coating

Look out for a tent with a good waterproof coating. 

You should also spray the tent with a water repellent solution. I would recommend a 1000mm waterproof coating as a minimum in a tent purchased for wet weather. 

Read also: Best Tent Waterproofing Sprays & How to Use It the Right Way

Read the Reviews

The proof is in the user reviews!

Be a little wary of 100% positive reviews, as companies sometimes pay people to post reviews online. It’s a good idea to check out the 3- and 4-star reviews, for a balanced view of the pros and cons of a tent. 

Also, consider customer service quality. For example, did the company replace any damaged tents? If the company offers a money-back guarantee, that’s a bonus!

Poles

There are 2 main types of tent poles: fiberglass and aluminum.

Fiberglass poles are lighter, but they tend to break easily. They become especially brittle in cold weather and may snap.

Aluminum poles are heavier, but they are sturdier and more reliable year-round. If you have the choice, I recommend that you choose aluminum poles. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much wind can a tent handle?

This depends on the tent type. A dome tent will do better than a cabin style, and an aluminum frame is normally studier than a fiberglass frame. Check the reviews to learn about users' experiences in windy conditions. 

How do you stop a tent from flapping in the wind? 

You can’t completely stop a tent from flapping in the wind, but pitching the guy lines (thin ropes) as far away from the tent as possible will help.

Make sure to use all the ties and clips, and peg the flysheet as taut as possible, with the pegs at a 45-degree angle. 

What is a good waterproof rating for tents?

We recommend getting a tent with at least 3 seasons and a waterproof coating of 1000mm or more. The real proof is in the user reviews, as even the best waterproof coating in the world won’t make up for poor design. 

How do you know if a tent is waterproof? 

One way to determine this is to pitch the tent in your yard before your camping trip, especially on a rainy day. You can check the inside of the tent after a few hours, whilst sleeping in the comfort of your house.

We always recommend that you check reviews in advance, and remember to never let your tent footprint be bigger than your tent. 

Should you put a tarp over your tent? 

You can put a tarp over your tent if you want, but you may find it challenging to secure the tarp in high winds. It can also prevent any airflow from coming through the tent, which will cause condensation and dampness to accumulate on the inside.

It’s better to get the best-quality waterproof tent you can afford, rather than buying a tarp separately. 

How can I make my tent more waterproof?

You can make your tent more waterproof by spraying it with a water repellent protector. You can also make sure that a tent footprint is no bigger than your tent, as otherwise water can gather between the layers. 

A tent footprint will not make your tent more waterproof, but it will protect it from wear and tear. 

Conclusion

So long as you buy a good quality 3 or 4 season tent, tent camping can be comfortable all year round.

I think the best choice for family camping in the wind and rain is the Browning Glacier Tent.

If you are on a budget, you would be better off with a tent like the Hillman 3-4 Person Backpacking Tent. Amongst other adventures, I used a Hillman Tent for a 1000km cycle tour through Europe. For the price, I cannot recommend a better brand. 

If you want plenty of standing room without sacrificing weather protection, the Teton Canvas Mesa Tent is the best solution. This is our premium pick, so it's quite expensive, but we think it's worth every penny.

There are so many options out there, so don’t hesitate to do some further research of your own. Just make sure to check user reviews and refer to our buying guide before you head out into a downpour!

Do you have a brilliant wet weather tent to recommend? Don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear from you!

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Rachel

Rachel Horne

Rachel is a freelance adventure writer and founder of Highly Sensitive Nomad. When she isn’t writing, she can be found wild camping in the mountains and swimming in the lakes of Europe.