Sleeping outdoors in the winter, whether it is by choice as in the case of hardship loving survivalists and extreme campers, or by displacement due to a natural disaster or any other SHTF type scenario, is not only difficult it can be extremely precarious too. The potential danger of hypothermia can very quickly become a reality, particularly if you don’t have the proper gear to protect you from the cold.
Although most people associate hypothermia with extremely cold conditions, it can become an issue whenever the temperature is lower than that of your body temperature. There are of course variables such as your age, the amount of alcohol consumed, body fat percentage, and most importantly how wet you are, all of which will dictate to some extent, how quickly hypothermia would become a threat.
This very real danger of life threatening hypothermia, even at relatively mild temperatures, points to the importance of having a good shelter to keep you warm and dry, that’s why a reliable cold weather, 4 season, or winter tent such as those on our list below, is absolutely vital.
Whichever tent you decide to go for, particularly if it’s one such as listed below, you must remember that you must still invest in a good winter sleeping bag and insulated sleeping pad to protect yourself from the cold.
Best Cold Weather Tents for Under $200
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SnugPak The Ionosphere 1-Person Tent
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ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 1-Person Tent
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Geertop 1-Person Backpacking Tent
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| 2-Person |
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NatureHike Cloud Up 2 Ultralight 2-Person Tent
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Geertop Toproad 2-Person 4-Season Backpacking Tent
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Luxe Tempo 2-Person 4 Season Tent
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| 3-Person |
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ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3-Person Tent
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Slumberjack Trail 3-PersonTent
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High Peak South Col 3-Person Tent
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| 4-Person |
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ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 4-Person Tent
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High Peak Basecamp 4-Person Tent
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Kelty Yellowstone 4-Person Tent
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Having somewhere to shelter that is both warm and dry becomes an absolute priority when the weather starts to turn and temperatures start to plummet. In all fairness, as far as an emergency shelter goes, a tent would certainly not be the first choice that most people would choose, which is especially the case in freezing, or sub-zero conditions!
Thankfully the advances made in the design, fabrics, and technologies used in the manufacture of winter tents have been meteoric over the past 50 years, so much so that it is now possible to comfortably sleep out in a tent in even the harshest and coldest of climates.
For the average Joe, it has never been easier to purchase a high quality cold weather tent than it is today. However, selecting your perfect cold weather tent isn’t so easy because there are so many from which to choose nowadays.
When looking to buy a cold weather tent you must first have a clear understanding of what it is you actually need, and how much you are willing to spend. It is way too easy to be tempted into buying a tent that is way beyond what you actually need, which usually leads to paying in excess of what you can also comfortably afford, which in the case of this post are cold weather tents under $200!
In short, just because it is the most technically advanced, biggest bad ass winter tent on the planet, it doesn’t mean you need it or, for that matter, the multi thousand dollar price tag that comes with it!
There is no one size that fits all when it comes to choosing a cold weather tent but we will attempt to provide the necessary information you will need in order to make a well informed decision before buying this absolutely critical winter survival equipment item.
Before we go any further though, it’s probably a good idea to take a moment to clarify what we will be covering here.
We are going to be looking at tents that will keep you alive when the weather is cold and wet, perhaps even snowing, but that doesn’t mean we will only be looking at tents specifically designed for arctic and mountaineering expeditions.
In all honesty, the vast majority of individuals do not need, nor do they want to pay for tents designed specifically to cope with the most extreme winter conditions. However, if an extreme winter tent is exactly, what you are looking for, it won’t be long before we cover the best extreme cold weather tents here on Alpha Survivalist, so keep your eyes and ears open for when we do.
What to Look for when Choosing a Cold Weather Tent
Not everyone will require exactly the same things from their tent. You may be looking for a cold weather tent specifically designed for one person, or alternatively you may be seeking a family sized tent that can be used on winter camping trips or safely stored away ready to use in an emergency if needed.
Whatever type of tent you are looking for we’ll get it covered on Alpha Survivalist, but to get the ball rolling you first need to take a few things into consideration.
What Size? – How many people will your tent need to sleep and how much equipment will it need to store?
Choosing a tent based on the number of people it sleeps may seem a pretty obvious step to take, but you’d be surprised by the number of people I’ve spoken to who hadn’t accounted for the extra space they would need for storing their gear.
Will you be attaching your tent to your bug out bag, or will it be stowed in your car or truck?
If you’re looking for a cold weather tent to use for a specific purpose,hunting for example, for which it will be used on a regular basis, the likelihood is you will know how you will be transporting your tent, so it becomes a much easier choice to make.
However, if you tent is primarily for emergency preparedness use then you really only have one option and that is to look for tents that are small enough so they can be attached to your bug out bag, because your car or truck might not be an option.
The Livability Factor
Unlike regular tents, or 3 season tents as they are known, cold weather tents have to be extremely livable, because you may not be able to leave your tent for days on end, which is particularly true if you are riding out a really bad winter storm.
A cold weather, or winter tent, is also known as a 4 season tent because unlike the standard 3 season tent it has been designed to be used in the winter as well as the rest of the year and is able to stand up to the rigors of a cold, wet, and snowy winter. The difference in design equates to some noticeable differences between the 3 season and 4 season tents and they are:
- Weight – A 4 season tent is generally heavier than a 3 season tent
- Shape – Although quite similar in a lot of ways a four season cold weather tent generally has much steeper sides that are designed such to stop snow easily settling on them.
- Poles – Tent poles are much stronger and there will normally be more of them, they are usually made from aluminum rather than carbon fiber or plastic.
- Fabric – The material used for the the tent fabric and ground sheet will be much tougher and far more durable.
- Cost – All this extra strengthening has to come at a price, needless to say 4 season cold weather tents will cost quite a bit more than their fair weather cousins.
Now we’ve cleared up the difference between 3 and 4 season tents what are the features that you should be looking for in your cold weather tent?
- Good Ventilation – It seems strange to make good ventilation one of the priorities when selecting a cold weather tent but it will keep internal condensation to a minimum which is important because any moisture on the inside lining of your tent will freeze in sub zero conditions. A tent with double walls and good vents will be much better ventilated than one with a single wall, meaning a lot less condensation.
- Front or Side Vestibule – What’s a vestibule I hear some of you ask? Well it’s kind of like what a hallway is to a house! It’s a section of a tent that is undercover and closed to the elements but which is often closed off to the sleeping section of the tent too, making it an ideal place to put your damp outerwear like your boots and jacket. Remember, it is best to keep condensation down to a minimum inside the sleeping section of the tent.
- Internal Storage – Most tents will have some form of internal pocket storage as well as hanging hooks, look for tents that have plenty of internal storage options. In an enclosed space it is always a good idea to be as organized as possible and plenty of internal storage will help you achieve this.
- Dual Entrance – Having two entrances becomes very handy indeed when you are in a two man tent. There is nothing more annoying than having your ‘roomie’ climb over you to get out the tent and then again to get back into his space. Having two entrances will eliminate this issue.
- The Need for Space – The more space you have in your winter tent, the more space you have for emergency gear and to carry out tasks like cooking. The downside is that if you have too much space the tent becomes more difficult to keep warm!
Tent Related Posts:
- Best Cold Weather Tents for Under $200
- How to Clean a Tent that Smells
- How to Fix a Tent Zipper
- How to Insulate a Tent for Winter Camping
- How to Repair a Torn Tent
- How to Waterproof a Tent
- How to Stay Warm in a Tent in Winter