Is A 7-Pound Backpacking Tent Too Heavy?

“What is the ideal weight for a backpacking tent? The weight of your tent is a crucial consideration, as it can affect both your comfort and the longevity of your gear. Typically, lighter tents are crafted from more delicate materials, prioritizing weight savings, while heavier tents are designed with durability in mind. As a rule of thumb, a backpacking tent should ideally weigh around 2.5 pounds per person to strike a balance between portability and sturdiness. When backpacking with a group, it’s worth noting that you can distribute the load by divvying up the weight of the tent, rainfly, and poles among the members.”

Is a backpacking tent weighing 6 lbs considered too heavy? Typically, a one-person backpacking tent weighs around 2 to 3 lbs, while a standard two-person tent weighs approximately 5.5 lbs. However, once you’ve experienced carrying a backpacking tent over an extended period, you’ll realize that the weight of a typical tent can feel quite burdensome. While there are certainly even heavier, more robust shelters available, the average-priced tents found in big box stores tend to be on the heavier side, making them less ideal for long-distance backpacking trips. This information was last updated on January 6, 2012.