Ozark Trail 10-Person Tunnel Tent is a huge car camping tent built for large groups and designed to comfortably store all camping necessities in its vestibule.
Today we’re going to explore the best tunnel tents for camping and give you our recommendations. We’ve analyzed and reviewed twelve of the most popular tunnel tents and are excited to share our results.
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Determining which tent style to select for your camping trip can be confusing. There are many tent styles with differing camping functions. Dome, cabin, A-frame, instant, and even bivvy tents are all viable options. Each tent type has pluses and minuses.
We aim to help you decide which tunnel tent best suits your needs.
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At a Glance: Best Tunnel Tents for Camping
- Best Overall: NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person
- Best Family: Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent
- Best Setup: Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent
- Best Compact: REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent
- Best Star Viewing: Ozark Trail 16-Person Tunnel Tent
- Best Lightweight: CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person
- Best Budget: Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent
- Best Durability: Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent
- Best Ventilation: Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent
- Best Value: Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room
- Best Luxurious: Coleman Tent Vail 6
- Best Rain Resistance: Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4
Comparison table: Best Tunnel Tents for Camping
| Model | Specs | Where To Buy |
 NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | Tent Dimensions: 17’5″ x 8′ Peak Height: 6’9″ Weight: 26.5 lbs | Amazon |
 Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | Tent Dimensions: 12′ x 24′ Peak Height: 6’8″ Weight: 47.4 lbs | Walmart |
 Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | Tent Dimensions: 12’6″ x 8’4″ Peak Height: 6’10” Weight: 22.2 lbs | Amazon |
 REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | Tent Dimensions: 10′ x 8’4″ Peak Height: 6’6″ Weight: 22.9 lbs | REI |
 Ozark Trail 16-Person Tunnel Tent | Tent Dimensions: 12′ x 18′ Peak Height: 7′ Weight: 28 lbs | Walmart |
 CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | Tent Dimensions: 14′ x 9′ Peak Height: 6′ Weight: 17.3 lbs | Amazon |
 Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | Tent Dimensions: 13′ x 9′ Peak Height: 6’4″ Weight: 25.1 lbs | Walmart |
 Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | Tent Dimensions: 15′ x 8’4″ Peak Height: 6’4″ Weight: 30.2 lbs | Amazon |
 Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | Tent Dimensions: 16’1″ x 7’1″ Peak Height: 5’9″ Weight: 22.7 lbs | Amazon |
 Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | Tent Dimensions: 13′ x 10′ Peak Height: 6’4″ Weight: 27.3 lbs | Amazon |
 Coleman Tent Vail 6 | Tent Dimensions: 18’9″ x 10’6″ Peak Height: 6’11” Weight: 18.5 lbs | Amazon |
 Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | Tent Dimensions: 15’5″ x 9’2″ Peak Height: 6’3″ Weight: 18.6 lbs | Amazon |
WHY TRUST US: Here at Paddlingspace.com, we spend more time on the water than we do in the office. We paddle, kayak fish, and camp as often as we can, so we know exactly what kayakers and kayak anglers need. Each year, we independently research, review, and rate the best kayaks, canoes, and paddling gear. Our experts analyze hundreds of products to find out key differences, pros, and cons of each product. We only make money from ads or if you purchase through our links. No sponsored posts or biased reviews here, period.
Best Tunnel Camping Tent Reviews
Best Overall: NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person
Tent Dimensions: 17’5″ x 8′ (530 x 244 cm)
Peak Height: 6’9″ (205 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 26.5 lbs (12 kg)
The NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person is our choice for the Best Overall Tunnel tent.
Constructed from Polyester Taffeta 68D (Density) with 190T (Thread count) that’s been laminated with heat-treated polyurethane that equates to 2500mm of hydrostatic head water resistance. NTK is talking in terms of “waterproof” instead of “water resistance,” and user field tests match up with this claim.
The tent’s interior can be separated into two rooms with a sewn-in room divider. A hanging gear loft and two side wall panel hanging gear storage bins provide a bit of storage.
The full-length rainfly is both a blessing and a curse in the rain. The fly provides full-length rain coverage down to ground level, but the window covering is located on the rain fly, so you’ll need to exit the tent to fully engage the rainfly in heavy rain.
No-see-um mesh on the tent windows will allow for ventilation and provide a bit of privacy.
Best Family: Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent
Tent Dimensions: 12′ x 24′ (365 x 731 cm)
Peak Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 47.4 lbs (21.5 kg)
The Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent is our top selection for Best Family Tunnel Tent. Given its massive size, you can load it up with all your friends and family or have a glamping experience and fill it with furniture.
Crafted with 185T polyurethane taffeta treated polyester, the water resistance measurement is 1200HH. The tent floor is 210D Polyester Oxford in a bathtub configuration.
Removing the rainfly will allow ventilation through the exterior no-see-um mesh side panels and ceiling. Partial removal of the rainfly at the center of the tent side panel will allow for both partial rain protection and cross ventilation. If the rainfly is fully engaged, ventilation is restricted to the primary entrance and secondary entrance door windows.
Best Setup: Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent
Tent Dimensions: 12’6″ x 8’4″ (381 x 254 cm)
Peak Height: 6’10” (208.3 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 22.2 lbs (10 kg)
The Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent is our choice for Best set up Tunnel Tent. We like the simplicity of the setup and think you will too.
The bathtub-style floor and rain fly are both polyester treated with polyurethane and provide 1500mm of hydrostatic head rain resistance. All seams have been protected with waterproof polyurethane tape.
A removable rainfly ensures maximum air ventilation and star gazing through the no-see-um mesh ceiling. The rainfly can be set up separately in “Shelter mode,” using the fly and poles for hot weather sun protection on days when you don’t want to stay inside the tent seeking sun protection.
A large vestibule is located at each end of the tent for protected exterior gear storage.
Best Compact: REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent
Tent Dimensions: 10′ x 8’4″ (305 x 254 cm)
Peak Height: 6’6″ (198 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 22.9 lbs (10.4 kg)
The REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent is our choice for the Best Compact Tunnel tent. We think it’s a great selection for those camping excursions when it’s just you and a friend seeking a spacious, but not too heavy, weekend camping tent.
A polyethylene-coated 150D polyester fabric is used for the bathtub floor. The tent canopy and rainfly are constructed from 75D polyurethane-treated polyester.
A built-in room divider seems a bit unnecessary in a tent of this size. User reviews seem somewhat mixed; those of the previous generation Wonderland tent wish it hadn’t been upgraded, and those reviewers that are new to the tent series seem to like the tent.
A mesh ceiling and side panels allow ample ventilation when removing the rainfly. The rainfly has inverted V-shaped window cutouts. An optional mudroom adds 53 ft² (4.9 m²) of protected gear storage.
Best Star Viewing: Ozark Trail 16 Person Tunnel Tent
Tent Dimensions: 12′ x 18′ (366 x 549 cm)
Peak Height: 7′ (213 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 28 lbs (12.7 kg)
The Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent is our choice as the Best Tunnel tent for Star Gazing. The removable rainfly and full no-see-um mesh ceiling is a great combination of star gazing, ventilation, and an affordable price point.
Six side wall window no-see-um mesh panels, three roof no-see-um mesh panels, two entry/exit doorways, and four front and rear windows combine to equate to a massive amount of multi-directional ventilation. A removable rainfly allows for nighttime star gazing from the comfort of your sleeping bag!
This isn’t the tent to utilize on a wet weather adventure. A water resistance rating of 600 hydrostatic head offers enough protection for a light rain shower but not enough for a prolonged downpour.
A sewn-in room divider allows the Ozark trail 16-person tunnel tent to be separated into two equally sized rooms and offers a bit of privacy. The primary entrance has a partially weather-protected vestibule that’s good for clear weather gear storage.
Best Lightweight: CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person
Tent Dimensions: 14′ x 9′ (427 x 274 cm)
Peak Height: 6′ (183 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 17.3 lbs (7.84 kg)
The CAMPROS CP 8-Person Tent is our Best Lightweight Tunnel tent. You might just be tempted to take this tent out for a hike away from the car camping crowds! The CAMPROS CP Tent offers a unique side panel doorway entry instead of the traditional “end of the tunnel” entry and exit.
Four side panel no-see-um windows and one entry door mesh panel allow air circulation. A no-see-um mesh panel provides both ventilation and a great nighttime view of the sky.
Constructed from polyester treated with polyurethane, the CAMPROS CP 8-Person Tent has a water resistance rating of 1000mm of hydrostatic head pressure.
A rectangle-shaped attachable hanging room divider provides a bit, but not a lot, of privacy.
Best Budget: Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent
Tent Dimensions: 13′ x 9′ (396 x 274 cm)
Peak Height: 6’4″ (193 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg)
The Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent is our selection for the Best Budget Tunnel Tent. It’s a combination of a tunnel and dome tent that provides both vertical space (tunnel tent attribute) and stability (dome tent attribute).
Constructed from Polyester Taffeta with a thread count of 185 and treated with polyethylene, the main body of the tent and the rainfly have a water resistance rating of 600mm. The no-see-um mesh windows are constructed from Polyester Mesh with a rating of 68D (denier/density of fabric weave).
The Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent has two entry and exit points at the front and rear of the tent. A room divider may be hung in the center of the tent to separate the interior into two equally sized rooms.
Best Durability: Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent
Tent Dimensions: 15′ x 8’4″ (457 x 254 cm)
Peak Height: 6’4″ (193 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 30.2 lbs (13.7 kg)
The Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent is our choice for Best Durability. We expect this tent to still be in use years down the road. The Nemo Wagontop has a tunnel tent configuration on the tent ceiling and a dome tents cross beam support structure on the side walls providing great all-around weather protection.
A ground-length rainfly adds an additional 26.9 ft² (2.5 m²) of weather-protected gear storage. We love the protected vestibule as an outdoor shelter for our packs, shoes, and outwear.
The rainfly is constructed from 75D PeU (Polyester treated with polyurethane) and has a water resistance rating of 1500mm. The bathtub-style floor is constructed from 300D PeU. We’d strongly recommend a footprint or a tarp to provide a bit of extra puncture protection for the tent floor.
One primary entrance to the front vestibule and one secondary entrance to the primary tent sleeping area provides ease of entry. A large rainfly screened front porch offers either rain protection or 180-degree ventilation or wildlife viewing through the no-see-um mesh side and ceiling panels.
The primary sleeping section of the Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent has three large side windows. Two of the three windows are functional with the rainfly fully engaged.
Best Ventilation: Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent
Tent Dimensions: 16’1″ x 7’1″ (490 x 216 cm)
Peak Height: 5’9″ (175.3 cm)
Doors: 1
Weight: 22.7 lbs (10 kg)
The Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 is our choice for the Best Ventilation Tunnel tent. It’s a mid-sized tunnel tent that’s ideal for smaller families with an eye on the bottom line without sacrificing good airflow.
The tent body and rainfly are constructed from Polyester coated with a 1000mm waterproof coating of polyurethane. The tent floor is 210D (thread density) Polyester coated with 2000mm of Polyurethane. We like the higher water resistance rating on the floor.
A front and rear entrance, located on the sides of the tunnel tent, provide easy access into and out of the tent.
The rainfly provides full coverage and has a bump out for low-level ventilation. The rainfly is the only window covering. You’ll need to engage the rainfly if you seek window privacy.
Best Value: Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room
Tent Dimensions: 13′ x 10′ (396 x 305 cm)
Peak Height: 6’4″ (193 cm)
Doors: 1
Weight: 27.3 lbs (12.25 kg)
The Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room is our choice for Best Value Tunnel tent and is best suited for warm weather camping expeditions.
A single entryway opens into a no-see-um mesh Screened room that’s well suited as a wildlife viewing porch, a gear vestibule, or a nighttime star gazing room.
The screened room contains no-see-um mesh on the side panels and a solid polyester ceiling. The primary sleeping area has no-see-um mesh on the roof and windows that are almost the length of the entire side panels.
68D 190T detachable rain fly is a Polyester coated with 600mm of polyurethane that provides a moisture barrier. The bathtub-style floor is a polyurethane-coated polyester.
Best Luxurious: Coleman Tent Vail 6
Tent Dimensions: 18’9″ x 10’6″ (572 x 320 cm)
Peak Height: 6’11” (211 cm)
Doors: 2
Weight: 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg)
The Coleman Tent Vail 6 is designed to keep you bone dry with a water resistance rating of 4000 mm. The HH value of 4000 changes the classification from “water resistance” to “waterproof.” If you’re seeking shelter from the storm, this may be the tent for you.
The tent floor is a bathtub style and is constructed from heavy-duty, 1000-Denier polyethylene.
The rear of the tunnel may be split into three different sleeping compartments with configurable hanging dividers.
Three of the windows in the vestibule are constructed from clear PVC, which allows light to pass through but blocks rain. Other large windows in the vestibule are constructed from no-see-um mesh.
There’s one front door and one side door. We like the ability to enter from different directions, blocking rain and maximizing ventilation.
Best Rain Resistance: Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4
Tent Dimensions: 15’5″ x 9’2″ (470 x 280 cm)
Peak Height: 6’3″ (191 cm)
Doors: 1
Weight: 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg)
The Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 is our choice for the Best Luxurious tunnel tent and it has you covered when it comes to foul weather protection combined with blackout curtains.
A rainfly with 4500mm of water resistance, a heavy-duty, 1000-Denier polyethylene floor, and PVC windows equals dry camping even in the wettest of outdoor conditions.
The Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 has two blackout bedrooms. 99% of the daylight is blocked, allowing you the opportunity to wake when you chose, not when the sun rises early in the morning. Blackout rooms will remain up to 9°F (5°C) cooler during the day and 1.8°F (1°C) warmer at night.
What is a Tunnel Tent?
A typical tunnel tent is long (like a submarine) and has a rounded roof. The shape of the ceiling is similar to a cigar cut in half in the long direction. The roofline of a tunnel tent has support poles that are stretched over the tent, from side to side, into an arch. The tent is connected to the support arches.
A tunnel tent’s arch support is laid out like the hoops on a barrel; the hoops loop around the barrel, but the hoops don’t cross over each other. The tunnel tents support arches stretch from one side of the tent to the other side of the tent but don’t cross over each other. The support arches are laid out next to each other in a parallel configuration.
Tunnel Tent vs. Dome tent: What is the Difference?
As a quick comparison, a Dome tent will have at least two support arches stretched over the tent so that they pass over directly over each other. The support arches generally cross each other at their center location (the center point of an “X”) and are quite often connected to each other.
Each support arch is separately supported via guylines that are staked into the ground. Support arches will have (at a minimum) two guylines but will often have four guylines, two on each side of the support arch.
Advantages of Tunnel Tents
Quick Setup
Tunnel Tents can be set up by two adults faster than other tent types due to the simplicity of the support arch configuration. Smaller tents may have two support arches; larger tents may have three or four support arches.
Exterior Vestibule(s)
The long cylinder shape of the tunnel tent, combined with its need for guylines, results in a perfect configuration for a vestibule at the tent entrance.
Lighter Weight
The lower number of tent poles has a direct correlation to the overall weight of the entire tent system. Tunnel tents have the highest interior-to-weight ratio of all types of tents, which means you have the most interior space at the lightest weight.
More Interior Vertical Space
The sheer walls allow you to position your sleeping bag or cot very close to the tent wall without worrying that you’ll rub your face on the tent wall.
Good Wind Resistance
If set up appropriately, tunnel tents can stand up to pretty strong winds.
Here are some tips to set up your tunnel tent in windy weather:
- Aim the tent front, or rear, into the wind when you set it up.
- Make sure all guy lines are fully tensioned.
Disadvantages of Tunnel Tents
Like any other tent type, tunnel tents do not come without some cons.
Not Freestanding
A tunnel tent requires guylines for support. If you don’t set up the tent with guy lines, it will collapse.
Require Soft Ground for Stakes
Chose your site with care! You need soft ground a few feet/meters away from the tent for proper stake sinking and guy line tensioning. If you set your stakes too close to the tent, the guyline tensioning won’t be effective, and the tent will fall over.
Sensitive to Side Winds
Failure to properly tension the guy lines or orient the tent into the wind may result in the tent collapsing.
Difficult to Set up Alone
It’s challenging to set up a tunnel tent by yourself because you need to tension the guy lines during the entire setup. In many cases, you’ll need two people to set up a tunnel tent properly, so bring along a friend.
Ventilation May Be Limited
Some tunnel tents are notorious for their lack of airflow. Check carefully for windows and ventilation in the rear of the tent.
Tunnel Tent Configurations
- Family tents are large, can facilitate up to twenty campers, and are suitable for long weekends.
- Entry-level tents are inexpensive, with the primary emphasis on weekend use and price point.
- Compact tents are lighter than other tunnel tents; their primary purpose is traveling away from your automobile.
- Inflatable tents have chambers filled with air via an air pump. Quick setup, easy for one person to navigate while drinking their favorite beverage. Popular in Europe.
- Expedition tents are geared towards extreme weather and rough terrain conditions. Good choice if you plan to spend time at Mt. Everest base camp!
Our Best Tunnel tents for camping round-up will focus on family, entry-level, and hiking/backpacking tents.
Choosing a Tunnel Tent for Camping: Things to Consider
The best tunnel tent for you may not be the best tunnel tent for me, so we can’t definitely tell you that “this is the best tent for you.” You’ll need to weigh each tent configuration’s pluses and minuses to determine the best tunnel tent for you.
Space and Comfort
Tunnel tents are all about space and comfort. A primary reason that tunnel tents are so popular is due to the elongated structure maximizing interior height and usable space. Here’s our analysis of the Best Space and Comfort on a scale of 1 to 10.
| Tent | Space and Comfort |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 10 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 10 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 10 |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 9 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 9 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 9 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 9 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 9 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 8 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 8 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 8 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 8 |
We sorted through all of the tent manufacturing companies’ dimension specifications so that you don’t need to do so. We calculated the square footage per person based on the primary interior tent space, not the vestibules.
We used the manufacturing companies’ theoretical headcount capacity (which we all know isn’t always too accurate!) to calculate the available space per person. The total square footage is divided by the manufacturing company’s listed headcount capacity and allowed us to compare tents of wildly different sizes evenly.
Of course, a tent that has a capacity of twenty people is larger than a tent that has a capacity of four people. We’re more interested in how much space each camper will have when it comes time to spread out all the sleeping bags in the tent each night.
Weather Resistance
Tunnel tents are just as stable in wind conditions as other tent types, provided you spend the proper time and energy to set the tunnel tent up correctly and orient the tunnel tent head into the wind.
In what season will I actually go camping?
Consider not when you might go camping, but instead when you will go camping.
Buying a tent based on what you might encounter in the wilderness during the early spring or late fall can be a very expensive proposition.
We’d recommend focusing on what kind of weather you’ll most likely encounter during the season you’ll most likely go camping. If you’ll be spending 95% of your camping time in the summer, purchase a tent that’s geared towards summer camping.
Hydrostatic Head Water Resistance Values
What do all these numbers mean? Hydrostatic Head (HH) is a value of resistance, in millimeters, to the amount of water tent material can withstand. The higher the number, the more water resistant your tent. The lower the number, the less water resistant your tent is.
Here’s our quick reference guide.
- ≤1000mm: OK for very light showers. A summer camping tent.
- 100mm1-2000mm: Able to handle a rainshower or two. Late Spring/Summer/Early fall.
- 2001mm-3000mm: OK for heavy, shorter rain showers. Spring, Summer, Fall.
- 3001mm-4500mm: Rain, wind, and snow, you have a solid three-season tent that can handle prolonged periods of rain, wind, and snow.
- ≥4501mm: Expedition level rain protection.
| Tent | Waterproofing, mm |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 4500 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 4000 |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 2500 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 1500 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 1500 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 1500 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 1500 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 1000 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 1000 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 600 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 600 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 600 |
It’s easy to become too caught up in water resistance values and make a tent purchase based solely on water resistance alone. We’d encourage you to look at the tent performance as a whole and not become too focused on any one performance specification.
The Coleman Vail 6 and the Coleman Oak 4 water resistance values are so good that they’re actually waterproof. We love the waterproof aspect of the tents, but you’ll definitely feel the pinch at the cash register.
Likewise, the Ozark tents water resistance is so low that you might have a soggy weekend if you have more than a light dusting of rain, but it’s easier on the wallet.
REI doesn’t publish water resistance values, but our best estimate is roughly 1500mm.
Ventilation
It’s easy to be enticed by cool exterior tent pictures, but make sure you look deep into the tent for ventilation options. Tunnel tents are notorious for their lack of ventilation deep inside the tent, near the back wall, residing (or not!) in the sleeping quarters.
When thinking about ventilation, we think it pays to consider the following questions:
Windows
- Does the sleeping area have window ventilation?
- Am I able to adjust the window ventilation from inside the Tunnel tent?
- Is the window ventilation only available if the rain fly has been removed?
- If the primary sleeping area has been separated into separate quarters, does each individual section have access to window ventilation? You may have more privacy with a sectional sleeping area but much less ventilation.
Doors
The majority of the Tunnel tents we’ve reviewed have multiple doors. Multiple doors in a tunnel tent can mean different things depending on how we interpret “doors’, so do pay attention to the tent configuration.
When we think of “doors” as a multiple, meaning more than one door, we think about improved airflow through the tent based on our preconceived notion that tent doors reside on opposite sides of the tent.
Some tunnel tents have a vestibule entrance (door number one) and an entrance into the tent from the vestibule (door number two). This really equates to one single door in terms of ventilation.
Other tunnel tents will have an entry/exit at the front and rear of the tent, a primary entrance on the front face of the tent, and a secondary entrance on the side of the tent. We like the added ventilation options of multiple doors on different sides of the tent.
Durability
There is a direct correlation between a tent’s price point and its durability, but there’s also a correlation between durability and care.
We calculated our Durability scores based on a scale of 1 to 10. Durability is a subjective topic. What level of tent care is reasonable to us, as camping enthusiasts who wipe down our tent after each use, may not be reasonable to you.
| Tent | Durability |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 10 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 10 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 10 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 9 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 8 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 8 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 8 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 7 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 7 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 7 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 6 |
Tent footprints, while increasing a tent’s durability, also increase the tent’s price. We may choose to use footprints, and you may not choose to do so. This one small decision may impact our perceptions of the durability of the tent.
A less expensive tent constructed from less costly components may last only one season. A more expensive tent made with more expensive parts may last five seasons.
If replacing the less expensive tent (annually) over five years is cheaper than the replacement cost of a more expensive tent that lasts five years, do we care about the durability of the cheaper tent?
So, acknowledging that durability is a very subjective value, we focused on reviews posted from actual field use. Do specific tents have many negative or positive reviews that point out exactly the same praise or complaint? (Hint, they do!) Entry-level tents may have been manufactured with less expensive components in order to keep the price point as low as possible.
Size and Weight
The odds are excellent that if you’re looking at Tunnel tents, you aren’t too worried about the tent’s weight. Most, but not all, Tunnel tents are designed for car camping.
| Tent | Weight |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 47.4 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 30.19 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 28 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 27.3 |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 26.46 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 25.13 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 22.94 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 22.71 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 22.15 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 18.8 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 18.6 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 17.25 |
We think it’s feasible to consider the utilization of the “lighter” six-person or four-person tents for a shorter hike into the wilderness. (Shorter is the keyword!) Consider splitting up the tent amongst your hiking partners; rainfly for one person, tent body for another, poles and stakes, etc.
Tents with larger footprints have weights that render them impractical for anything other than car camping or pack animal exploration.
Ease of Setup
A Tunnel tent may be slightly more challenging to set up than other tent types due to its unique arch fiberglass support pole structure. Tunnel tents aren’t freestanding, and they require guylines for stability.
Other tent types (Dome, Cabin, etc.) require guyline tensioning after erecting the tent. Tunnel tents require guyline tensioning during the setup process.
Proper setup requires that the guylines are placed under tension after stakes are driven into the ground. It’s challenging to establish a Guy line under tension on the right side of the tent if the guyline on the left side is loose.
| Tent | Ease of Setup |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 10 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 10 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 9 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 9 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 8 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 8 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 8 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 7 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 7 |
Overall
To calculate the Best Tunnel Tents Overall score, we evaluated Waterproofing, Space and Comfort, Weather Resistance, Durability, and Ease of Setup. The performance of each tent was scored from 1 to 10 in each category.
| Tent | Overall Performance |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 10 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 9 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 9 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 9 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 9 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 8 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 7 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 7 |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 7 |
The chart represents a big picture evaluation of which tents stand out from the crowd regarding overall performance.
Value
If we only look at the purchase price of a tent, the cheapest tent will have the smallest cost. We decided to evaluate the value of the overall tent based on how much each tent will cost us annually.
Some tents may require replacement each year (reference our discussion earlier about tent care!), and some will require replacement every five years.
(Ourselves? We have tents that we’ve owned for years…and years.)
| Tent | Value |
| Coleman Cabin Camping Tent with Weatherproof Screen Room | 10 |
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6 Tent | 9 |
| Ozark Trail Hazel Creek 20-Person Tunnel Tent | 8 |
| NTK Arizona GT 11 to 12 Person | 7 |
| Big Agnes Bunk House Camping Tent | 7 |
| CAMPROS CP Tent-8-Person | 7 |
| Ozark Trail 8-Person Dome Tunnel Tent | 7 |
| Nemo Wagontop 8 Person Tent | 7 |
| Vango Waterproof Odyssey 800 Tunnel Tent | 7 |
| Ozark trail 16 person tunnel tent | 6 |
| Coleman Tent Vail 6 | 6 |
| Coleman Tent Oak Canyon 4 | 6 |
We normalized the data to take into account the expected duration of tent ownership. We’re a bit surprised by the data. Are you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are tunnel tents freestanding?
No. You’ll need guylines to set up the tent.
Is it easy to set up a tunnel tent?
Yes, tunnel tents have fewer poles than other tent types.
Can I set up a tunnel tent by myself?
Yes, if it’s a small (two or three-person) tent. Larger tents require two campers for proper support during guyline tensioning.
Do tunnel tents do well in the wind?
A tunnel tent will perform fine in the wind if the guylines are appropriately set and tensioned, and the face or rear of the tent is aimed into the wind.
Rain/snow performance?
Guyline tensioning is critical. Taut tension=rain and snow resistance, slack tension=rain and snow puddles and accumulation on the rainfly and potential tent collapse.
How do I set up a tunnel tent for the best wind resistance?
The narrow end of the tent faces the wind. We prefer to “aim” the narrow end of the tent that doesn’t have a door into the wind. Think in terms of a balloon when you blow it up. That’s precisely how your tunnel tent will respond if a large gust of wind enters your tent through the front door and has nowhere to go.
