ashenDesert camping isn’t for everyone to enjoy just like how not every tent is constructed to withstand the desert atmosphere. A tent for this purpose should be able to work against the heat above all, sandy winds and of course the sand. Desert camping is truly a unique experience compared to regular camps. We spoke about this slightly in our post about camel trekking in Morocco. However, a desert camping tent that specifically suits you is a must for an enjoyable experience. Our recommendations as always are primarily focused on user feedback over paper specifications. Stick around and choose the most appropriate desert camping tent for which would surely make your next desert camping trip unforgettable. Here’s what you need to look for in such a tent.
Choosing A Desert Camping Tent
As we mentioned, the desert camping tent should be a bit tougher than the regular tent. Mentioned below are the features that you must keep an eye out for.
- Sand resistivity- Well, this goes without saying. Obviously you are going to be spilling sand from all over your body after all your travels in the desert. We definitely don’t want more sand seeping in from the tent entrance and other areas. This can be a little tricky as sand is soft enough to take off from the slightest breeze. Therefore you need to be a bit compromising here if you value comfort over getting an amazing night sky view experience. Generally, any tent should have good ventilation with meshed doors and windows. If you are to shield yourself from the sand, you might have to settle for a tent with minimal mesh and lower ventilation and a bathtub floor style tent. However, if the area isn’t too windy, you can camp with a tent containing mesh and enjoy a truly mesmerizing sight of the night sky.
- Wind resistivity- The piece of tent material in concern here are the tent stakes. If you’ve read our previous tent reviews you may have noticed that a considerate number of the complaints were focused around the tent stakes. This is quite controversial considering some of those tents are otherwise of great functionality. Needless to say, a desert camping tent should be grounded with the best possible stakes to withstand the wind. The recommendation is that you should purchase specialized stakes that are better built for a desert environment. In this case, the shape should be a flatter design providing more grounding surface area.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL
- Nylon, Aluminum and Fabric material
- 2.44 Pounds (1P tent)
- Awning-style vestibule
- Enough storage and gear attachment points
This three season Big Agnes tent covers all the aspects of a desert tent. To start off, the bathtub floor style together with the fabric panels blocks the sand entrance. The awning-style vestibule is great for both drizzle and sun protection, aids in keeping the tent as cool as possible. You can choose to set them up as a shelter if you want to relax outside the tent without the sun scorching you. It also enables good airflow to constantly keep the indoors fresh and clean. The material is reliable enough to challenge the desert environment. The 7 DAC superlight aluminum J stakes will hold a strong placement in the sand. Double rip-stop nylon and mixed denier fabric is very much resistant to wear and tear. The 3-D bin ‘mezzanine’ in the foot along with the ceiling pocket provides ample storage space. Here’s what the users have to say.
Users appreciate the dual vestibule(3P) structure due to the reasons mentioned above. A customer who camped in this tent in the sand dunes advised that it held a strong ground amidst 30-40 mph winds and stood up to hard winds for 3 days straight keeping most of the sand out. Furthermore, he mentioned that setting up was too easy and the tent fit easily in the long side-pocket of his GG mariposa backpack. Tall people needn’t worry about insufficient room with this tent. Jim E. Anderson, who bought this off Amazon claims that there was plenty of room for him with his 6 foot 4 inch frame along with his backpack. He also advises that like most tents the 3P is best for 2 people. The only drawback with the Big Agnes tent seemed to be that you may need to order a few more stakes just to be thorough.
Kodiak Canvas Flex
- Vinyl, Alloy Steel, Canvas material
- 57.78 Pounds
- Front Awning
- 4 Season tent
A great 4 person tent with a modern touch to a traditional design, just the way it should be for desert camping. The material is exceptionally strong and sturdy enough to conquer the desert winds and overcome the sand. Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable. The canvas too is good heat blocking material capable of shielding you from the sun and maintaining a cool temperature indoors. Ample space with the 6’1″ ceiling height and 9 ft width although we will see what the users are saying. Another feature indicating durability are the 3/8-inch, solid, spring steel poles. We can go on and on about the strength and the build quality of this tent but we believe the user feedback is more important.
Ann who purchased this tent for Burning Man advises that the tent withstood extreme wind and dust storms, with the help of sturdier pegs. She also did mention that there was enough space for her belongings and it was easy to set up and take down. A way better descriptive feedback comes from a father and son who used this tent in extreme conditions. So they camped a total of 9 nights in three national parks encountering thunderstorms and a scorching sun and this is what they say.
Tent is fully waterproof, true to the specs on paper, easy 10 minute setup and plenty of space (for 6’2″ height). The cons that he and many others listed were the weight obviously. But then again high quality material does have a catch. It does make the transportation a bit of a hassle too. Regardless, the tent quality and durability is top notch.
The North Face Stormbreak
- Polyester, Polyurethane, Taffeta material
- 6 lbs 10 oz
- Year-round usage
- Multi-configuration vestibules
Unless you are a complete newbie to the topic of travel gear, you don’t need a special intro to The North Face. Been in the industry since 1966, The North Face manufactures top of the class best gear for explorers and the Stormbreak is no different. The canopy is 75D polyester while the taffeta mesh is 40D polyester mesh and the fly 75D polyester. The floor is 68D polyester and made without a flame-retardant coating. Great for car camping as well and comfortably fits 3 people. Extremely spacious vestibules to host all the gear. Optimum ventilation and airflow to keep you cool amidst the desert heat.
To be honest not most reviews came from customers who camped in the desert. However, the common aspect is that the tent is an easy setup and spacious as promised although it can be a bit of a tight fit for 3 adults. The space between the floor and the cover allows wind and cold air to enter which may be beneficial at times but disadvantageous otherwise if sand particles enter. So some of them advise that the rainfly should have reached the floor for an ideal situation. Although the tent is a little on the heavy side, you are in for a good desert camping experience with this one.
TETON Sports Mesa Canvas Tent
- Cotton canvas
- 71.5 Pounds
- Built-in awning
- 6P tent
The perfect group camping cabin-style tent. Yes, it is heavy and expensive. Available in 6P and 8P sizes, the Teton Sports tent is built to withstand all weather conditions. Breathable canvas material, mesh screens for ventilation and views, easy access ports and plenty of storage to accommodate the 4-6 peoples gear. You can relax outside with the awning sheltered from the sun while maintaining good ventilation and consistent airflow indoors. Here’s what the users are saying. Please note that the ground sheet is sold separately.
As Michael who purchased this tent through Amazon says, “This tent is kick ass!”. It’s not everyday that you find a product with zero haters and negative feedback. Frankly speaking, this tent is extremely heavy duty. Extreme stakes, and the steel poles and roof assembly are extremely well made according to Michael. John Engelbert who used this tent in 30 mph wind and hard rain all day claims that not a single leak was there nor did the tent give away to the wind. And it’s not just him, everyone advises that this tent is super weather proof. Additionally, the customer service is also great. Setting up and taking down is also super easy according to the user feedback.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2
- 30D ripstop nylon 3000mm Xtreme Shield polyurethane & DWR
- 2P tent
- 3.5 lbs Pounds with peak height of 39 inches
- Two vestibules
Undoubtedly a best bang for buck deal. The tent material is exceptionally built for mountain environments and the desert. Xtreme Shield Waterproof Coating is said to last up to 3 times longer than standard waterproof coatings and the Easton Syclone Poles resist breaking in fierce winds. This is further enhanced due to the half-dome design. Bathtub-style floor with fabric panels around the canopy prevents the sand from entering the living area. Precisely what you need in the desert. Ample floor space for two people and their gear due to the two vestibules. The adjustable, cross-ventilating rainfly features a kickstand vent and rollup vestibule. Particularly great for stargazing in the desert.
The users love every feature of this tent. From the spacious floor area, great ventilation, firm structure to the easy setup, customer compliments go on and on. A couple who purchased this tent for backpacking advises that it was the perfect fit for them both and their gear. The gentleman being 6’1″ and 230 lbs and the wife much smaller, had plenty of space for themselves and the gear. They further advise that the mesh tent body construction breathes very well, pretty much eliminating condensation. Also the rainfly breathes extremely well, allowing just enough airflow through to maintain condensation while still keeping you warm inside. They had also set the tent up in 7 minutes. Some of the users also claim that they used this tent more than 30 times and it still holds up well.
Gazelle Tents G6 8 Person Tent
- Material used : 210 denier Oxford weave polyester shell and roof material is waterproof up to a 2000MM HH and Fiberglass frame
- 34 Pounds, 124 inches long, 124 inches wide, and 86 inches tall
- Integrated wind panels
- Duffle bag for easy storage
So as you obviously noticed, the tent is more to the bulky side hence not the best for desert hiking. But that’s why hiking isn’t the only option to reach a good desert camp and set this tent up. Pop-up gazebo hub design makes assembly fast and easy and it is the signature mark of this manufacturer. Pop-up shade tent wall panels feature tight-weave mesh to effectively keep out all the sand particles, bugs and other minor elements. Ample headroom even for the tallest.
The user reviews were nothing short of praises. Easiest to set up, great stability even in the strongest of winds, the zippers are strong, screens offer UV protection and enough privacy. The list goes on and on about the pros. The only negative feedback we were able to find out was by a user who complained about the lack of airflow in the Florida heat. This might come in handy during the winter but surely not the summer. Again, this is just one customer and everyone else is loving it. YKK zippers are heavy-duty and robust to further prevent bugs and wind from getting in. Yes, a desert environment is hot but we are certain that this tent will keep the airflow going without scorching the inside of the tent.
