5 Best Backpacking Tents for a Tall Person
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Which is fine, when backpacking you need your tent to be as light as possible, as you’ll most likely be carrying it for long periods of time.
However, you need to find a balance of both weight and length. The last thing you want as a tall person is your feet jammed right up against the sides of the tent.
If you’re 6 feet and over then you going to want to look for tents that are a minimum length of 88 inches, which is around 7.3 feet long. Our top pick, coming in at an impressive 8 feet long is the Mystique 1.5 Tent (Amazon).
Finding a tent for a tall person is tricky as they’re not really specifically made for tall people and there are so many tents on the market to choose from.
However, after hours of research, we’ve put together a list of the best backpacking tents for a tall person with the perfect balance of length and weight.
Let’s get started…
Featured Recommendations
Top 5 tents for tall people
That was a brief overview of our top 3 recommendations, now let’s take a look at all of them in more detail below:
1 ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 1.5
8 feet long:
Coming in at an impressive 8 feet long is the ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 1.5 tent.
You’ll have more than enough room to stretch your legs in this tent. With a surface area of 25 ft² and a 13 ft² vestibule area there’s plenty of room to store your gear and for you to relax.
Not only is this tent perfect for tall people but it’s also easy to carry, weighing in at only 2.6 pounds and a packed size of 5 x 18 inches makes this an excellent backpacking tent for tall people.
It’s also weatherproof and features factory sealed seams, 75D polyester fly and taffeta floor with a 3000mm coating to keep you protected from heavy rain. In a nutshell, this tent is made from the highest quality materials which will withstand UV rays, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.
Features
- Length: 8 feet
- Weight: 4.14 pounds
- Center Height: 38″
- Interior: 25 ft².
- Vestibule Area: 13 ft²
- Packed size: 5″ x 18″
What I Love
It goes without saying that the most impressive thing about this tent is its length, coming in at 8 feet long there’s plenty of room to lie down comfortably. The other thing that I love is how portable and lightweight it is and doesn’t compromise on the quality of materials used.
Pro’s
- 8 feet in length
- Good head height
- Weatherproof
- Spacious interior
- Easy to get in and out of
- Quality materials
Con’s
- Door zippers can catch
Verdict
Overall, this tent is the perfect choice for anyone over 6 feet tall, you get the space you need but you also get the quality too. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, making it an ideal choice for backpacking as it won’t weigh you down on those long trails. The center height is generous too, so its easy to get in and out of.
2 ALPS Mountaineering Lynx
7.6 feet long:
There’s plenty of space to stretch out and store your backpack in this tent. The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx (Amazon) is 7.6 feet long and weighs only 4 pounds, making it an ideal lightweight backpacking tent.
This tent also has a large vestibule, a gear loft and internal pockets for even more additional storage, creating more living space in your tent.
Setting up this tent is a breeze too, thanks to clips that can be easily clipped to the poles, so there’s no need for instruction manuals.
Other features include the 75D polyester fly and durable taffeta floor which has a 2000mm coating, ensuring that it withstands harsh weather conditions.
Features
- Length: 7.6 feet
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Center Height: 36″
- Interior: 2.8 x 7.6 feet
What I Love
What’s especially nice about the Lynx tent is the breathable mesh walls that keeps the tent ventilated throughout. Not only is this tent 7.6 feet but it’s extremely lightweight, breathable and easy to carry on long trails. It’s also made from high-quality materials and made to last!
Pro’s
- 7.6 feet in length
- Internal storage and gear loft
- Good head height
- Breathable mesh walls
- Weatherproof
- Spacious interior
Con’s
- Could be wider, considering going for the 2-person
Verdict
Overall, the Lynx tent has plenty of room and additional space, featuring its internal pockets, gear loft and vestibule area. At 7.6 feet this is a very spacious tent that is well made, so much so, that all ALPS tents come with a lifetime warranty! Here’s a quote from a satisfied customer on Amazon “I am 6’0”, 220 lbs and length wise it was long enough to lay flat and still have room for gear/pack at feet.”
3 MSR Hubba Hubba NX
7.5 feet long:
The MSR Hubba Hubba NX (Amazon) tent an internal floor space of 29 square feet and is 7.5 feet long. The generous vestibules provide an additional 17.5 square feet of space for all your gear leaving plenty of room inside.
This 3-season backpacking tent will hold its own in harsh weather conditions thanks to its durable materials and exceptional build quality. The Xtreme Shield Waterproof Coating lasts up to 3 times longer than standard waterproof coatings ensuring you’re kept dry.
Set up is quick and simple thanks to the unified hub-and-pole system and color-coded clips. It also features an adjustable cross-ventilating rainfly which features a roll-up vestibule for stargazing at night.
Features
- Length: 7.5 feet
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
- Center Height: 39″
- Interior: 25 ft²
- Vestibule Area: 17.5 ft²
What I Love
If you’re after a tent that will last then the Hubba Hubba is the ideal choice. There’s plenty of storage with thanks to the additional 17.5 ft² vestibule area and internal pockets. I love the fact that this tent is very lightweight but it doesn’t compromise on quality.
Pro’s
- 7.5 feet long
- Generous head height
- Lots of additional storage areas
- Spacious interior
- Excellent ventilation
- Quality build and materials
Con’s
- More expensive than others
Verdict
At 7.5 feet long and all the storage space, you get in this tent, you can’t really go wrong. Yes, it’s a little more pricey than the others, however, you’re getting a really high-quality tent that will last you many more trips to come.
4 Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL
7.3 feet long:
Enjoy award-winning comfort from the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL (Amazon) tent. This tent features high volume pole architecture that creates steeper walls and living space, giving you that extra head room so you can comfortably sit up and read at night.
This tent also has a huge ceiling and media pockets providing more than enough storage for all your belongings. The dual vestibules provide a combined area of 18 square feet to store your backpack and larger belongings leaving you plenty of room to relax and stretch out inside this 7.3-foot tent.
This is an ultra-lightweight tent which includes waterproof seams and an ultra-durable fly ad floor with 1200mm waterproofing. So, in a nutshell you’ll be fully protected from heavy rain and strong winds.
Features
- Length: 7.3 feet
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
- Center Height: 40″
- Interior: 29 ft²
- Vestibule Area: 18 ft²
- Packed size: 4 x 19.5″
What I Love
I love the extra-large storage compartments and the large vestibule area with the Big Agnes tent, it frees up a lot of space allowing you more freedom in your tent. Although it’s not as long as the others, there’s not much in it and the storage areas make up for that little space lost.
Pro’s
- Large storage compartments
- Large vestibule area
- Spacious and good head height
- Weatherproof
- Lightweight and breathable
Con’s
- A little more expensive than some, but it’s top of the range
Verdict
Overall, this is a very spacious tent that will withstand bad weather conditions that you may encounter. The impressive and generous headroom will allow you to sit up in your tent without slouching or sitting awkwardly. A little more expensive but well worth the money!
5 Kelty Salida Tent
7.3 feet long:
If you’re looking for a lightweight backpack-friendly portable tent then the Kelty Salida (Amazon) is an ideal choice for anyone around 6.5 foot tall.
This tent has over 10 square feet of vestibule space and a spacious 30.5 ft² interior that offers a more than comfortable escape from city life. Also, the hinged door makes it easy to get in and out of the tent. The internal storage pockets also give you more space for all your smaller items.
Set up is a breeze too with the color-coded clips and compact foldable poles. Other features include breathable mesh windows, a 68D Nylon floor and most importantly this tent is totally weatherproof.
Features
- Length: 7.3 feet
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
- Center Height: 43″
- Interior: 30.5 ft²
- Vestibule Area: 10 ft²
What I Love
This 3-season tent has the most headroom of all these tents measuring 43 inches, allowing you the freedom to sit up comfortably in your tent. Another reason why I love this tent is the quick set up and hinged door making accessing the tent easy, which is great if you’re tall.
Pro’s
- 7.3 feet in length
- Great headroom at 43″
- Spacious interior
- Easy set up
- 3-seaon tent
Con’s
- Not as much vestibule area as others
- Poles could be stronger
Verdict
If you’re looking for a spacious 3-season tent with a very generous headroom then this tent is the ideal choice. Overall, this is a great quality tent and set at a reasonable price point, although it’s not as long as the others reviewed, this is still a great tent if you’re around 6.5 tall.
Criteria for Evaluation
Here are the different factors you should consider in finding the right tent for you:
Tent capacity
Being tall, I would recommend getting the next tent size up, if you’re looking for a 1-person tent, then you might want to consider going for the 2-person version of that tent. This will give you that extra width and storage area you need, freeing up more living space for you to stretch out in.
Length
Obviously, the longer the tent the better. If your over 6 foot tall, then your tent needs to be minimum 7 feet long. This will give you enough room to lie down without being squashed against the sides of the tent.
Headroom
The Kelty Salida has a 43-inch headspace allowing you to sit up straight with no slouching and discomfort. When looking for a backpacking tent this is something you should take into consideration just as much as the length of your tent.
Width
If you have a broad built as well as being tall then you need to consider the width of your tent, getting a narrow tent might not have enough room for you. I would consider maybe upgrading to a 2-person tent to give you that added width.
Vestibule area
A large vestibule area will provide additional storage for all your gear such as your backpack and hiking shoes. This will free up space inside your tent giving you more interior space to relax and stretch out.
Door height
When looking for a tent, being tall you need to consider how easily you can get in and out of the tent. Having a hinged door will help make things easier, and the taller the tent the bigger the door. Ensure you check the door height and how the door opens.
Storage and pockets
In order to free up more space inside your tent, check it has internal storage pockets and components, some even have a gear loft. The Big Agnes Copper Spur has extra large storage pockets that create more livability within your tent. Having internal storage pockets as well as a large vestibule area will ensure you have maximum freedom within your tent.
Weight and portability
When backpacking you’ll most likely be taking on relatively long trails, so you don’t want to be carrying a heavy tent on your back. All the tents here are lightweight and portable, some of the tents even fit in your backpack. Ensure your tent is portable and light enough to carry, this way you won’t be weighed down on your hike.
Materials and weatherproofing
Ensure your tent is made of the highest quality materials, getting a cheaper alternative version won’t cut it. You’ll be forever buying replacements. Get a tent that will last you. You should look for things like rip-stop materials, sealed seams, waterproof coating, and durable taffeta flooring. This will ensure your tent will withstand harsh weather such as heavy rain and strong winds.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, tents are not specifically made for tall people, therefore finding the best one for your height and specifications can be hard, it could make or break your backpacking experience.
To get the very best out of your trip, it starts with choosing the right tent for your needs, and I hope this guide has given you some pointers and useful recommendations on what to look for.
All the tents reviewed here, have a generous length, headspace and width, not to mention they’re lightweight, portable and high quality, all perfect for backpacking.
Anyway, here’s a quick recap of what I think the most important things are you should look:
- Length: Ensure your tent is at least 7 feet long
- Headspace: Allows you to sit up comfortably
- Interior space: Check the area and width of the tent
- Vestibule area: Great for additional storage of larger items
- Pockets and compartments: Great for storing smaller items
- Doors: Check how accessible the door is
If you follow these tips, then you can really go wrong. I hope you have enjoyed this post on our best backpacking tents for a tall person. If you have please share it with your friends and family.
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