Best 2 Person Tents

Whether you're a car-camping enthusiast or a die-hard backpacker, there are several common, important qualities to look for in a good two-person tent: it should be sturdy, weatherproof, easy to assemble and comfortable when holding two people and your gear. While online retailers offer a very wide selection of products, it can be very useful to visit stores where you can see tents set up, get inside and decide what will work best for your needs.

Up to $200

The Marmot Haven 2P, $199 as of 2010, was listed as the roomiest shelter by Backpacker Magazine editors in their 2010 gear guide. At 56 square feet, it offers as much space as many three-person tents, but it weighs less than 4 lbs. This is possible because the Haven is a tarp/rainfly combination rather than a fully walled tent; there is a gap between the top and bottom, so it's not the best choice for buggy areas.
If you're looking for a more traditional tent, Backpacker editors also recommend the Eureka! Forte SQ 2XT, $150 as of 2010, weighing 5 lbs. 3 oz. This freestanding, double-wall tent has 32 square feet of space, plus one large, porch-like vestibule and a smaller one for storing gear.
Also, the Outside 2010 Buyer's Guide listed the REI Half Dome 2+, which costs $199 and weighs 6 lbs. 8 oz., as its top tent pick, citing its 38 square feet of floor space, good headroom and multiple doors.

Up to $350

The Big Agnes Gore Pass 2, which costs $280 as of 2010 and weighs 6 lbs., 8 oz., was an Outside editors pick for "killer value" in 2009. The tent has 33 square feet of floor space along with four interior gear pockets. Mesh walls allow for good ventilation, while a large vestibule offers rain coverage as well as the option to stake out a sunshade or covered cooking area.
Mountain Hardware's Skyledge 2.1, costing $350, was the Backpacker editors' choice for best all-around tent for 2010. At 3 lbs. 7 oz., the newest version is lighter than in previous years. Its 28 square feet of floor space is just wide enough to allow room for two sleeping pads, but the Skyledge's near-vertical walls provide ample headroom.

Four-Season Tents

While the three-season tents listed above will meet the needs of most campers, people who do winter camping or mountaineering need a more rugged, weatherproof shelter.
The Hilleberg Jannu Mountaineering Tent that costs $735 and weighs 5 lbs. 7 oz. was the Backpacker editors' choice for best all-around mountaineering tent in 2010. "If you want the best winter shelter, price be damned, get this mountain fortress," wrote Kelly Bastone. The Jannu offers 37 square feet at the weight of a three-season tent, thanks to ultralight, tough materials. The extremely sturdy three-pole structure stands up to high winds and snow, and sets up quickly.
At the other end of the price spectrum for four-season tents is the Eureka! Alpenlite XT at $300 and 7 lbs. 7 oz., recommended by Outside's "Gear Guy" Douglas Gantenbein as a low-price all-weather option. It is the company's lightest all-season tent, a six-pole A-frame design with 31 square feet of floorspace and a front vestibule.