Tunnel tents are getting more and more popular at campsites across the world. They offer a unique tubular shape that offers comfortable living space and holds up well during strong winds. Please note that while there are many tunnel tents, not all of them are up to scratch. This tunnel tents review is designed to highlight the top tunnel tents for camping. As you will see below, the tents range in capacity and design. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Best Tunnel Tents for Camping
- Coleman Oak Canyon 4 Family Tent
- NTK Super Arizona GT 11/12 Person Family Camping Tent
- Vango Odyssey Airbeam 600 Inflatable Family Tunnel Tent
- Eureka! Solitaire AL 1 Person, 3 Season Backpacking Tent
- ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3-Person Tent
1. Coleman Oak Canyon 4 Family Tent
Our top pick is the Coleman Oak Canyon 4-Person Tent. This tent design is kind of a cross between a cabin tent and dome tent and features three separate rooms.
The entrance area is more like a cabin tent to give plenty of headroom. Explore our top picks of tall tents you can stand up in. The tent has a front screen room with large mesh windows, which can used as a living area. There’s an awning over the front door to shield against bad weather.
Past the screen room are two blackout bedrooms. Blackout technology keeps out 99% of light, allowing you to sleep better and later. It also keeps the interior of the tent cooler during the day and warmer at night.
Each bedroom sleeps two people, either in sleeping bags or on a double airbed. It’s not counted towards the tent’s total sleeping area, so this tent could actually has plenty of space for four people, even with gear, making it great for small families.
2. NTK Super Arizona GT 11/12 Person Family Camping Tent
For large groups, the NTK Super Arizona GT 11/12 Person Family Camping Tent is the way to go. This extra large family camping tent provides enough room for up to 12, but it’s much more comfortable for eight to ten campers. It’s also just great for car camping when a few people want plenty of space to spread out.
What of the most notable features of this 12 person tunnel tent is the full coverage, double layer 190T polyester rainfly stands up to tough weather conditions. It has a 2500mm water column waterproof rating and has UV protection. It also has built in vents for airflow.
The inner tent has large mesh panels of its own to keep the interior breathable. It comes with a removable divider, so it can function as a one or two room tent. With doors on each end, you can easily enter the tent without having to disturb others.
Another handy feature is the color coded fiberglass poles, which make setting up this tent fast and easy, despite its large size.
As you can see, this tent is made from high-quality materials, so durability is not an issue.
3. Vango Odyssey Airbeam 600 Inflatable Family Tunnel Tent
The Vango Odyssey Airbeam is our favorite tunnel-style inflatable tent.
The Airbeam inflatable technology allows for incredibly easy setup, taking just minutes, while the TBSII Tension Band System provides stability. This six person family tent is totally freestanding with no poles required. Of course, you’ll still want to use stakes and guylines to provide extra security.
Like with the Coleman Tent Oak Canyon, the front living area isn’t counted towards the sleeping area, so this tent actually has enough space for six people, even accounting for gear. The front area has three different mesh doors for plenty of entry options as well as two PVC windows to allow light to enter and you to see outside, even in bad weather.
The blackout sleeping area has a removable divider, so it can be used as one or two rooms. With the removable divider, each room can fit three sleeping bags or a queen size airbed. However, each would be more comfortable with two people. Storage pockets in the bedroom allow you to stow small items for convenient access.
In addition to the Odyssey Airbeam 600, there are also 4-person, 5-person, and 8-person sizes.
4. Eureka! Solitaire AL 1 Person, 3 Season Backpacking Tent
While the previous tents have been great for car camping, out last two are ideal for backpacking and trekking.
The Eureka! Solitaire AL is an ultralight 1-person backpacking tent that weighs just 1.8 pounds. The aluminum poles are lightweight, yet tough enough to be windproof. The waterproof full coverage fly keeps rain out. And if you use the tent without the flysheet, the mesh panel ceiling is perfect for stargazing.
However, even with the weatherproofing, this 3-season tent is best for camping in warm weather — or at least not in extreme cold.
The 21.5 square foot floor area and 2 ft 8 in width make this tent quite spacious for a single person tent, despite its low weight. The large zipper entry provides plenty of room to get in and out, while two storage pockets allow you to stow small essentials, like a headlamp, where you can easily get to them.
Our one complaint? No vestibule, which means any gear you don’t want out in the weather has to go inside the tent with you.
5. ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3-Person Tent
If you’re not backpacking by yourself or want something that stands up better for winter camping, the ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian is a better option.
This 3-person backpacking tent has a full coverage rain fly, like the Solitaire, but the Tasmanian’s fly has not one, but two built-in vestibules. This provides gear storage outside of the tent, giving campers more room inside. Doors on each end provide easy entry and each has its own mesh window for air circulation.
The 75D 185T polyester rainfly has a 1500mm coating for waterproofing and UV resistance, while the 75D 185T poly taffeta floor has a 5000mm waterproof coating. For extra protection from the ground, you can get the ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3-Person Floor Saver groundsheet. Both the floor and the rainfly have factory-sealed seams for weather protection.
The aluminum poles stand up well to wind, but the included tent stakes and guy ropes provide additional help. Other handy features include the mesh storage pockets and gear loft.
The Tasmanian is also available in a 2-person size.
Final Thoughts on the Best Tunnel Tents for Camping
Each of these tunnel tents is a great option. However, each also has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, so they’re not all equally well suited for all people.
To figure out which one is best for your next camping trip, just consider your wants, needs, and budget, and go with the tent that most closely aligns with them.
