Best Tents for Himalaya Trekking?

I’ve found that when I bring my tent on a trek and get into the more unspoiled parts of the Himalayas, it’s often these places that are the most interesting and memorable. Off the beaten track, I can cross uninhabited passes and get up in the uppermost parts of the high valleys. That’s just extraordinary, so the tent really takes my trekking experience to a whole new level.

Below you’ll find my recommendations for

• Best 1 person tent for Himalaya trekking
• Best 2-3 person tent for Himalaya trekking

Of course trekking in the Himalayas with a tent (and other camping gear) is a bit harder than going on one of the ‘tea-house treks’, but it’s also a completely different experience -- The exploratory nature, the feeling of self-reliance and the sense of accomplishment you get just makes a tremendous difference!

But there is a price to pay for this freedom: Weight. The good news is that with the Best Tents, specially selected for Himalaya Trekking, there are solutions to the weight and other issues you’ll encounter.

So what makes the best tent for Himalaya Trekking?

Besides weight, you need to consider things like stability, durability and weather-protection. It comes down to design and fabrics:

• For the cold conditions of the high Himalayas, I would definitely recommend a 4-season tent (winter tent) over the more normal 3-season tents. Even when it isn’t winter! High up, it gets cold in the night and 4-season tents are warmer and better at keeping out the rain, wind and even snow / spindrift.
• Remember, your tent should preferably be as light-weight as possible (affordable). Shaving a couple of pounds off your load will make a difference when you are crossing a 5000 meter / 17,000 feet pass where the oxygen level is close to 50% of sea-level!
• PS: If you are using porters, ponies or plan to stay put in a base camp for a while, it’s another story. But when you are on the move and hauling your own load…
• Dome, Tunnel or Geodesic design? Most of the time, honestly, it doesn’t really matter for practical purposes. But the dome design is usually higher, allowing you more easily to sit comfortably upright. On the other hand, the dome has a larger wind-profile, making it more fragile when camped on an exposed, windy mountain.

3 Best Tents for Himalaya Trekking:

Best 1-Person Tent
The “Assailant” from Sierra is one of the few really good one-person trekking tents out there. Easy to carry, at 3.3 pounds / 1.5 kg, it is fairly lightweight – at least not too heavy for a 4-season tent! And still more than 2 meter / 7 feet long, so fits almost anyone... Also fits a backpack inside the tent, which extends on the back-side., but no vestibules. Everything goes into the same compartment here. It can be hard to find, since one-person tents aren't used much in high altitude conditions, but if you find one of these you can really save some weight!

		Best 2- and 3-Person Tents I simply have to point to NEMO’s “Losi” tents as the best tent for trekking in the Himalayas. Personally, I’ve been using a heavier “version” of this tent (2 prs), but the NEMO’s are super light-weight, considering their size and the fact that they are all-season tents. Also, the NEMO’s use a double-wall system with two vestibules and they are quick to put up and comfortable to stay in. All this and still just around 5-6 pounds (2.5 kg)! Most other tents this size (and price) are 2-3 pounds heavier. There are cheaper options out there, but only if you are willing to carry the extra weight! If not, get the NEMO.

Related posts:

• Sleeping Bag for Himalaya
• Cooking Stove for high altitude