Guide
The best tents under $200
Under $200 covers two very different things: fibreglass-poled family domes that give you enormous floor for the money, and aluminium-poled backpacking tents that give you far less floor but will survive being carried. Both are here, ordered by space per person, with the pole material and floor rating in the table so the difference is visible.
How this list is ordered
Approximate price under $200. Ordered by floor area per person, highest first. Prices are snapshots from the last catalog update.
5 tents qualify. Top of the list on that measure is the Coleman Sundome — 15.8 sq ft per person at 9 lb 11 oz, ~$118.
| # | Tent | Type | Sleeps | Sq ft each | Weight | Peak | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coleman Sundome | Car camping | 4 | 15.8 standard | 9 lb 11 oz | 59 in | ~$118 |
| 2 | Kelty Late Start 2 | Backpacking | 2 | 15.3 standard | 4 lb 5 oz | 42.5 in | ~$160 |
| 3 | Naturehike Mongar 2 | Backpacking | 2 | 15.3 standard | 4 lb | 41.3 in | ~$161 |
| 4 | Kelty Grand Mesa 2 | Backpacking | 2 | 15.0 standard | 4 lb 1 oz | 43 in | ~$150 |
| 5 | Coleman Skydome | Car camping | 4 | 14.0 standard | 13 lb 11 oz | 55 in | ~$140 |
Prices are approximate snapshots from the last catalog update. Floor area per person, weight per person and pad fit are our arithmetic on published figures — the formulas are on tent specs, explained.