Best Waterproof Tent

One thing that can discourage anyone from going camping is the prospect of getting water or rain in the tent and being stuck with a soggy sleeping place for the rest of your trip.

This is why when it comes to camping, especially during a rainy season, or even when there is a small chance of rain, you want to ensure that your tent is properly waterproof.

If your tent has been properly waterproofed you will not have to worry about the inside of your tent getting wet and your trip being ruined.

If a tent has a rating between 1000 and 10,000 mm, the tent should be properly waterproofed, but we will go into more detail on this in the buyer’s guide.

Also, when camping, while the waterproofing of your tent is important, there are other factors which should be taken into consideration. This could include the durability of the tent, the ventilation available, and many other factors.

We have put this list together to show you some of the best waterproof tents which are available, so you can make an informed decision and choose to buy the one which is best suited for you.

So, if you want to go camping and do not want to risk not having a properly waterproofed tent, keep reading!

The Best Waterproof Tents

This list covers some of the best waterproof tents available and will show tents that are better in some categories than others. For example, some tents might have better waterproofing, some tents will be more lightweight, some will be a higher quality and more durable, while others may be less expensive than others.

When going through these options, keep in mind which factor you prioritize the most, so you can make an informed decision on which tent is best for you!

Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room

Waterproof Tent Description

This is perhaps one of the best waterproof tents on the market with it being massively spacious as well as included a fully screened porch and floor. This tent can easily hold 2 queen-sized airbeds inside making it perfect for families.

It is made from 75D polyester taffeta and can withstand winds which are up to 35mph. It also uses Coleman’s patented WeatherTec system

What Features Does This Waterproof Tent Have

This tent can fit up to 6 people. It uses 75D waterproof polyester taffeta and Coleman’s WeatherTec system. It only takes 15 minutes to set up and weight 21 pounds.

It has a large screened porch as well as 90 square foot floor size. It has an impressive 5 foot 8 inch peak height and has 4 windows as well as a particularly strong frame and rainfly.

Pros Of This Waterproof Tent

• Very spacious
• Well-made rainfly and well ventilated windows
• Quick to set up
• Can withstand rain and wind very well.

Cons Of This Waterproof Tent

• Not great for withstanding extreme heat or cold.

Wenzel 8 Person Klondike

Waterproof Tent Description

This is great if you are a family looking for a caravan type experience with a tent which is very spacious and has a great screened porch. It has a very impressive sleeping capacity of 8 and not including the big porch area, it is 90 square feet in size.

What is perhaps more impressive is the peak height of an astonishing 6 feet and 5 inches. The tent has proven its waterproofing too being great for use in excessive rain. The ventilation of this tent is great, and its only real downside is being quite heavy.

What Features Does This Waterproof Tent Have

This tent has 2 large windows as well as a mesh porch. It uses one door for access to the main area while using another door for access to the porch. The tent is able to fold into a carry bag and has a gear loft for even more storage options. The material is water-resistant making it perfect for camping in the rain.

Pros Of This Waterproof Tent

• Very good value for what you are paying
• Very spacious
• Perfect weather resistance
• Well ventilated

Cons Of This Waterproof Tent

• The rainfly is a bit short
• Heavy to carry.

Coleman WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent

Waterproof Tent Description

This is a spacious tent with 2 rooms as well as a screen room. You will easily be able to fit 2 queen-sized airbeds. It has some great features like an e-port as well as a hinged door and plenty of storage pockets. This tent also uses the WeatherTec system, so you can be sure you will be dry no matter what.

The main downside to this tent is its heavy weight being 32 pounds, this makes it a tough sell for hiking.

What Features Does This Waterproof Tent Have

This tent has a massive 99 square foot floor size as well as an even higher 6 foot 8 inch peak height. The hinged door, e-port, and angled windows are useful features as well as the patented WeatherTec system.

Pros Of This Waterproof Tent

• Great spacious option as well as tall
• Good rainfly included
• Also has a carry bad which is expandable.

Cons Of This Waterproof Tent

• Is not freestanding
• Needs more storage options
• Heavy

MSR Hubba Hubba NX

Waterproof Tent Description

If you are looking for a backpacking tent, this is one of the best options for multiple people. It is much more lightweight than the previous tents intended for car camping and also has just as impressive protection against the elements. The main issue is this tent is mainly intended for sleeping with a peak height of just 44 inches.

What Features Does This Waterproof Tent Have

Weighs only 6 pounds and 7 ounces. It has 2 doors as well as rain gutters which are fully built-in. The mesh pockets provide food storage systems. It is also pretty easy to set up.

Pros Of This Waterproof Tent

• Very lightweight
• Very easy to set up
• Great for car camping or backpacking
• Durable with great weather resistance

Cons Of This Waterproof Tent

• Pretty small
• Quite expensive.

Buyer’s Guide

If you have gone through this list of products, and you are still unsure about what some of the terminology means or what each of the factors mentioned means when it comes to a tent, you should refer to this buyer’s guide, so you know exactly what everything means and what you should be looking for.

This section will answer some questions about waterproof tents, as well as point out some of the factors which should be considered when you are buying a product like this.

How Waterproof Should Your Tent Be?

If you want your tent to be properly waterproof, you should look for a waterproof rating between 1,000 mm and 10,000 mm.

If you are camping in an area which is likely or even has a chance of wind or rain, you will need to ensure that your tent has good weather resistance features. One of the best waterproof materials to look out for is called polyester taffeta and this will ensure that you will be properly protected from the elements.

Another way to ensure that you will be properly protected from the rain is getting a tent which has a rainfly.

There have been certain systems which have been implemented by tent manufacturers. For example, Coleman have made a system called WeatherTec which uses techniques like inverted seams and welded floors to make sure as little rain gets in as possible.

When getting a waterproof tent, many people forget to consider the ventilation system which the tent will be using. These can often be weak spots for rain to be able to get through, but also if the ventilation is not good enough, it will be very uncomfortable staying in those tents.

You want to look out for tends which have a mesh screen over the doors as well as the windows, these will ensure that you do not have to worry about your tent getting invaded by insects.

What Does 2000 mm Waterproof Mean In Terms Of Tents?

The waterproof rating of a fabric is actually a measurement of the pressure needed for water to be able to move through it. So it is actually a misconception that this is a measurement of thickness or an amount of coating.

A way to exemplify this is that a 2000mmH20 rating of waterproofing displays that the fabric will be able to withstand around 2000 mm of water on its surface before there is a chance of leaking.

However, the durability of a tent does not just rely on factors like this as you also want your tent to be durable and able to work well over long periods of time. This is why when it comes to getting a tent which is waterproofed, you want to look out for the plastic coating which it should have.

The durability of a tent relies partially on the thickness of its waterproof coating and this is usually going to be made out of a specialized plastic material.

You can get the idea by comparing a tent to an umbrella which will only need a rating of somewhere between 400 and 500 mm since it will only be occasionally above your head and protecting you from the rain.

This is why tents need to be able to compensate for the wear and tear they will usually go through and need a much higher durability as well as waterproofing level of somewhere between 100 and 10,000.

Features Which Should Be Considered?

On top of the durability and waterproofing of your tent, there are many other factors which should be considered when it comes to what tent you choose to buy. While this section will not go over all of the, it will cover some of the most significant features worth noting.

Floor Space And Height

The interior of your tent will of course rely on the needs you want the tent for and what you plan to be doing inside of it.

For example, if you plan to be spending quite a lot of time in your tent, and you may want to have a quite high amount of people inside your tent, you will need to find a tent which has much high square footage as well as a higher peak height.

This is in comparison to someone who is only using their tent with the goal of sleeping and does not care about fitting a certain amount of people into the tent, or socializing.

You can find tents that will have an incredibly impressive peak height to the point where there will be absolutely no need to crouch or bend over while you are inside your tent, but the opposite can also be true with some tents requiring you to be on your knees the entire time you are inside the tent.

So when picking the interior size of your tent, keep in mind what you are planning to do inside the tent and what kind of usage you are looking to get out of it.

Weight

The activity you are using your tent for will dictate the weight of the tent which you are looking for. For example, if you are camping right after getting out of your car, it will not matter how heavy your tent is as you will be not be carrying it around yourself.

However, if you are going to be hiking, backpacking, or trekking, and need to carry your own tent on top of whatever else you are carrying, the size and the weight of your tent will need to be under strict consideration as if it is too heavy, your efficiency will be massively impacted.

If this is how you plan to use your tent, we recommend getting a tent which is no heavier than 10 pounds and is not too big when folded up.

Accessories

Many tents now come with accessories or extra features which are incredibly important to their functionality for some people, while others would much rather not pay the premium to have them included. This could be a screened porch or a vestibule.

This is because these spaces will give you extra room and will make your camping experience much less cramped. You will also want to have storage pockets as they can make your organization much better.

When looking for a tent to buy, keep these features in mind as they can make your tent a lot more useful, but if you are paying extra for something you do not think you will be getting much use out of, it is probably worth looking elsewhere for a cheaper tent which does not.

Takeaway

Hopefully this guide has given you all the information you need to make an informed decision to buying a properly waterproofed tent.

All of the tents included have a passable level of waterproofing, so when making your decision on which to buy, ensure that you are considering the factors which are brought up in the buyer’s guide so that you are not overpaying for features or size which you might not need, while also getting a tent which is perfect for the activity which you aim to use it for!

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is the Best Time Of Year For Camping?

When it comes to the best time of year for camping, this will usually be between April/May until September/October. During this time of year the weather will be the best for camping, and you will not have to be worried about the rain too much.

It will also not be too cold as well. However, these are of course also the busiest times of year, so if you want to camp when campsites will be less full, go camping either outside this season, or near the beginning or the end.

However, this will mean that the conditions will not be as optimal, so you will need to take this into consideration when getting supplies as the weather will not be as predictable.

Can You Camp In The Rain?

If you have a tent which is properly waterproofed, camping when there is a chance of rain is fully possible and can still be enjoyable. Just make sure that your tent is waterproof, and that there are no holes or chances of leaking in the tent as this can ruin your experience.

If you have an old tent which you are not sure if it is waterproof, try and find the name of the product, so you can google the manufacturer. But if you are not sure, it is worth being safe and maybe investing in a new waterproof tent.

Camp Cooking For When It Is Raining?

Most camp cooking equipment will rely on having dry conditions, but a lot of camping stoves have pot covers which will stop the flame from going out. It is worth doing your cooking under protection from the rain outside of your tent and off any wet ground.