Introduction
Just because it’s winter outside doesn’t mean you should stay home and never leave your fireplace.
Winter camping is becoming more and more popular these days, as it’s an adventurous, exciting, and life-changing activity.
Sleeping outside in winter is dangerous, though.
That’s why it’s vital to purchase a camping tent specially constructed for extreme cold weather.
With the proper camping tent, you will experience comfort and adventure at the same time.
We’ve done the research and put together this guide of the best extreme cold weather tents on the market today.
3 Things to Consider When Choosing An Extreme Cold Weather Tent
You should choose your tent based on your location, weather conditions, needs, and camping duration.
Moreover, be sure to consider the following things:
1. Construction
When it comes to extreme cold weather tents, it’s recommended to choose A-shape or dome shape tent.
Unlike a flat tent, a tent with steep sides will prevent excess snow from staying at the tent’s roof.
Opt for a winter camping tent that has several poles – the more, the better.
Poles help to increase stability and a tent that has poles crossing each other ensures the highest level of stability possible.
Choose a double-wall, four-season camping tent. This tent will keep you warm inside while warding off snowfall, heavy wind, and rain.
2. Material
Extreme cold weather tents are usually made of heavy duty, highly durable, thick denier fabric.
This material helps the tent to survive heavy rain, snowfall, or strong wind while preserving the warmth inside.
Also, opt for a waterproof material, such as silnylon, nylon, and polypropylene.
The water-resistant coatings, such as polyurethane or silicone, will keep you dry inside and reduce the likelihood of condensation.
3. Space
Unlike summer camping tents, extreme cold weather tents tend to be smaller in order to trap heat and thus allow you to stay warm in frigid conditions.
Your tent should be spacious enough to spend a lot of time inside when the weather conditions get worse and small enough to preserve the inside warmth.
6 Best Extreme Cold Weather Tents
The following extreme cold weather tents come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can accommodate any camper who is brave enough to handle the elements:
1. Best High-End Extreme Cold Weather Tent – Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule
Perhaps the greatest extreme cold weather tent on the market today, Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule isn’t for occasional or even casual campers.
The tent is extremely well-manufactured and is constructed of durable, thick, and heavy materials to block out even the most intense cold fronts.
It’s perfect for serious base campers who rarely move from one camping spot to another.
The biggest perk is, you can feel safe and sound even during heavy rain, harsh wind, and extreme snowfall.
With a livable area of 152 square feet, Arctic Oven 12 is astonishingly spacious and can become your new comfortable home. Additionally, the tent has a roomy vestibule area of 46 square feet.
Unlike other extreme cold weather tents, Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule will keep you warm even during freezing weather.
This comfortable, cozy, and warm tent is a must have for serious winter campers.
Made of Vapex – a top-quality water-repellent and very breathable material, Arctic Oven 12 doesn’t create any condensation and thus it preserves warmth inside.
It features a fly that is made of highly sturdy and durable 200 thick Denier heavy duty four-ounce urethane and is coated with quality oxford nylon that wards off heavy rains, snowfalls, and winds.
The tent frame is constructed of thick anodized aluminum while the tent floor is made of 200 thick Denier heavy duty four-ounce urethane and is coated with elite quality oxford nylon.
The Arctic-grade bungee cord and durable steel hub fittings make Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule amazingly stable and strong.
Since the tent is constructed of the fire-resistant materials, you can even cook inside it.
This is particularly great for harsh cold weather conditions when going outside isn’t a viable option.
Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule is very heavy due to its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy snowfails and rains.
The tent weighs 78 pounds and therefore it’s not your regular camping tent.
Depending on the season, Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule can accommodate 4 to 7 people.
The tent has two windows and a big door, along with a few side pockets.
2. Best Extreme Cold Weather Tents – ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 Person Tent
When compared to other extreme cold weather tents, ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 Person Tent is extremely durable and worth considering.
This double-walled camping tent features the floor, fly, and the wall, which are made of thick 75D 185T poly taffeta.
Moreover, its fly has 1500 mm polyurethane coating that provides a high level of protection against heavy snows and rains.
The floor seams are factory sealed and 5000 mm polyurethane coating of the floor help to keep warmth and dryness inside regardless of the weather conditions.
The free-standing pole system made of durable 7000 series aluminum allows you to move your tent without taking it down and then set the tent up again.
Due to waterproof shock absorbing properties, the pole of ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 Person Tent is able to absorb a substantial impact.
Although this camping tent isn’t heavyweight, it’s been proven to withstand strong winds and heavy snowfalls.
The tent is designed for three people, albeit it’s an excellent choice for one or two people if need be.
ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 Person Tent has a great peak height that allows you to sit straight.
The tent has two doors that provide proper ventilation and have zippered meshed windows. Plus, it has two vestibules for storing additional stuff.
The vestibules have a pole for better cold weather protection and stability and are big enough to store your bags and gears.
The tent also features gear loft and mesh storage pockets. Additionally, it is light and easy to transport.
3. Best Extreme Cold Weather Tents – BIG AGNES Flying Diamond 6 Tent
This two room 3+ season camping tent features 92 square foot floor made of top quality polyester with a 1,500mm water-resistant polyurethane coating.
The tent fly is constructed of polyester ripstop coated with 1,500mm water-resistant polyurethane.
Overall, the tent is med of nylon mesh, polyester taffeta, and polyester.
BIG AGNES Flying Diamond 6 Tent is notable for its high level of privacy as it has two spacious rooms – a day-time living area and a separate sleeping area, albeit some people use it as two separate sleeping areas.
Free of VOCs and PVC, BIG AGNES Flying Diamond 6 Tent is seam-taped with water-resistant, solvent-free PU.
The sturdy pole structure provides increased stability during heavy rains and snowfalls. The tent has two vestibules and two doors with closure options, such as polyester for full protection and mesh for proper ventilation.
BIG AGNES Flying Diamond 6 Tent can accommodate 6 people, but it works best for 4 to 5 people during the winter months.
In case it starts snowing, you will need enough space for spending a day playing some board games.
The drawback is, you’ll need to purchase a footprint separately. Plus, you might want to buy additional pegs to make the tent sturdier.
Overall, BIG AGNES Flying Diamond 6 Tent is a fantastic 3+ season tent.
4. Best Extreme Cold Weather Tents – Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Person Tent
Any winter camping or expedition will be incomplete without the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Person Tent.
This four season mountaineering tent is of top quality, strong, and durable.
Constructed of 40 Denier thick fabric, the tent fabric is also coated with the high-tenacity ripstop nylon.
The fly and floor of the tent are made of 70 Denier thick fabric.
The floor features the nylon taffeta 3000 mm polyethylene coating while the fly has the nylon taffeta 1500mm polyurethane and silicone coating.
Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Person Tent isn’t necessarily light, but it’s easy to carry and set up. No wonder the tent is known for its astonishing durability.
The pole is probably the best feature of the tent.
With one pole on the vestibule and four DAC Featherlite NSL poles holding this compact tent, The Trango Tent is considered to be one of the most well-constructed and stable extreme cold weather tents on the market.
With watertight construction with rain room tested, fully taped fly, the internal tension shelves offers support and strength for 3D storage and vestibule pole.
The peak height of the tent is about 41″, which means you can freely move, stand, and sit inside and even play some board games.
The tent has a through-vent that ensures great air circulation.
Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Person Tent is waterproof, strong, and durable. The downside is, this tent is heavy and you may have difficulty setting it up.
If you decide to go with this one, make sure you practice setting up at home before heading into the great outdoors.
5. Best Introductory Cold Weather Tents – Geertop 2-Person 4-Season Backpacking Tent
If you’re looking for a great, sturdy, introductory cold weather tent, this Geertop 2-Person 4-Season Backpacking Tent might be an ideal option for you.
Constructed of 210T anti-tear checkered polyester and coated with 3000mm waterproof finish and a strong UV-resistance, this tent has a slippery surface that protects the tent from rain and snow.
This cold weather tent is lightweight, portable, and can certainly be used in fall, spring, and summer as well. Moreover, it’s easy and fast to set up.
Geertop 4-Season Backpacking Tent is versatile and it’s ideal for a variety of reasons. It features two layers and has two methods of usage.
The outer and inner tent layers superpose together, making the tent windproof.
The inner layer of the tent used alone makes it a ventilated tent.
It also features heavy duty stakes and windproof ropes to keep the tent sturdy in lightly snowy, windy, or rainy weather.
Despite being small, Geertop 2-Person 4-Season Backpacking Tent can easily accommodate 2 people and have enough space for things and camping gears. It’s not recommended for tall campers, though.
6. Best Late Fall To Early Winter Tent – Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent
If you need a portable house for a big family or you’re going to camp with a big company of friends, Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent is one of the best overall tents on the market today.
However, as I am sure you have already figured out, this isn’t suited for extreme cold weather camping, but it will work great for mild winter conditions.
The 17 x 9 feet tent with 6-foot 8-inch center height, both adults and children will be able to stand up or sit up comfortably.
The WeatherMaster Tent is so spacious that it can fit 3 queen size air beds.
The waterproof construction of the tent will protect you from heavy rains and mild snow.
Built over the windows, the steep awnings provide proper ventilation without letting rain get inside the tent.
Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent features a patented innovation called the Coleman’s WeatherTec system, which aids in keeping the floor well sealed and therefore dry during the wet weather.
Despite being a large tent, Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent is easy to set up.
The drawback is this tent doesn’t provide the best ventilation during warming seasons, which is important to note.
What Else Do I Need To Know About Winter Camping?
Camping in extreme temperatures is no joke.
You absolutely need to make sure you are prepared with a high-quality, 4-season tent, plenty of layers, food, cookware, proper sleeping bags and ventilation, and plenty of knowledge on how to stay warm.
We highly recommend bringing a tent heater to help you stay warm. If you plan on doing outdoor winter activities such as hunting, you need to make sure you are properly prepared for that as well.
At the end of the day, you need to make sure you the right gear and arm yourself with the knowledge to tackle the elements.
We highly recommend bringing someone who has already done extreme weather camping with you if it is your first time.
In Conclusion
An extreme cold weather camping tent should be warm, spacious, waterproof, and sturdy enough to keep you dry, safe, and comfortable during unpredictable winter weather conditions.
Ensure that you are completely prepared for the journey ahead – do not take any chances.
The extreme cold weather tents mentioned above are perfect for couples, families, and a big company of adventerous friends.
Choose the one that suits your needs and have a great time camping.
If cooking while winter camping is important to you, check out our articles on winter camping tents that have stoves.
Lover of hiking, nature, camping, bird calls, and more. I run ATO and do my best to provide interesting information for my readers to help make their outdoor adventures more fun.
