Best Tunnel Tents For Camping In 2021

Are you planning to go on a camping trip with your loved ones and need a spacious camping tent with a high headroom? Are you sick of being in a tent where you must crawl on your knees to get in and out?

If you plan to have a relaxing outdoor adventure with the people you love then you should have a tent that will offer enough living space to feel comfortable.

When you want to have stress-free camping with friends or family members you should pick one of these best tunnel tents for camping that will pitch easily and provide good weather protection, especially in the wind.

Best Tunnel Tents

Why should you choose a tunnel tent over other shelters? These camping units have a tunnel shape that provides enough space for sleeping and living and are quite stable in the wind.

As a camping group, you could choose a cabin tent but these aren’t so stable in the wind. You never know when the wind storm is coming so take a look at the tunnel tents for sale that will protect you.

Noti hall tunnel tent

Here is a tunnel-shaped tent from Noti company that can occupy up to 4 campers (3 adults + 1 child ideally). This waterproof camping tunnel tent measures 155.5 x 70.8 x 43.3 inches and weighs 17 pounds.

Material

The material used to make this shelter is 185T polyester that has a 1000 mm polyurethane coating.

The waterproof coating will protect you from the light rain so the model is appropriate to use in the first three seasons no matter that it is advertised as a four-season shelter. It features fiberglass poles.

Other details

This product has 1 inner room for sleeping and a hall where you can place chairs and enjoy watching outdoors through the main doors. If you are a motorcyclist you can use this product to have a shelter for yourself and a bike.

On the right side, you have a vestibule to store the equipment that you don’t want in the bedroom. It has mesh to protect you from bugs and to provide airflow.

Doors

The tent has 3 zippered doors to get in and out. They are large so you can put furniture inside with ease. The main door can be rolled up to have a view and ventilation.

Setup

How to put a tunnel tent by yourself? You will have to insert the poles through the sleeves and secure them at the ground.

You can set it up by yourself but if you will camp with someone else ask him for help and you should pitch it in about 8 minutes. In the end, secure it with the included stakes and guy lines.

Vango Odyssey Family Tunnel Tent

This is a family unit from the Vango company from Scottland, known for making airBeam, family pole, adventure, and technical tents.

The Odyssey model measures 27.5 x 12.2 x 12.2 inches when packed. It weighs 35.2 pounds and can occupy up to 5 people.

Fabric

The groundsheet is waterproof and made of polyethylene that is robust and hardwearing fabric so it won’t tear so easily.

The walls feature Protex 70 denier polyester fire retardant canopy (exceeds European EN5912 safety standard) that includes a 4000 mm weatherproof rating.

The Vango tunnel tent features PowerFlex® fiberglass poles that are light and strong to provide a good user experience.

Other specifications

The company included their patented TBS II system that provides better stability, especially in high, changeable winds.

There are 2 entrances with mesh to provide fresh air and stop insects from disturbing you. The inner doors include the mesh.

The guylines with guyline tidies are highly visible and are in the package to provide tension and stability. It is easy to pitch it as it has identical poles. You will be able to set it up in about 15 minutes.

Usability

Organizing essentials won’t be a problem since it includes storage pockets that are conveniently positioned.

Having electricity inside is enabled due to the zipped entry point for a power cable. There is a lantern loop to hang your lighting source. What about other features?

The interior

The structure has large diamond clear windows to illuminate the living area. They include toggled privacy curtains to have privacy and to darken the interior.

The bedroom is darkened so you will be able to sleep longer in the morning if you want.

Setting up a canopy

You will be able to set up a canopy that will provide you a shade on hot days or serve as a storage place. The integrated eyelets are there to create a canopy.

Ventilation

Ventilation is enabled with mesh material, large doors, and Vango AirZone system that includes high and low level ventilation panels that help the air to circulate inside the interior.

Rain protection

This tent has a bathtub floor that will protect your interior from getting wet due to rainwater.

The seams are factory sealed so you won’t experience leakage. The unit is weather tested beyond the European standard EN5912 by a certified test center.

Coleman Coastline 4 Deluxe Tent

The Coastline model from Coleman is a good tunnel shelter for 4 campers. The sleeping room has 5.9 sq.m, the living room 5.8 sq.m, while the pitching area measures 31 square meters. The product weighs 29.4 pounds.

Fabric

The flysheet is manufactured by durable PU coated polyester with a 3000 mm hydrostatic head. It includes 3+1 fiberglass poles. The floor is made of robust polyethylene and is fully-integrated.

The inner tent features polyester and no-see-um mesh. The fabrics are fire-retardant so you don’t have to worry about a fire hazard.

Other features

This Coleman tunnel tent comes with a zippered E-port to increase the camping experience to a higher level.

Each bedroom has its own mesh pocket to store small accessories like keys and a phone. The ventilation is taken care of since it features mesh and a cool air port.

The bedroom

The bedroom is darkened to provide a proper sleeping place so the bright morning light won’t wake you up so suddenly.

There is a removable room divider in the package so you will be able to sleep separately (great for 2 couples to go camping together). Each bedroom has its own door that is meshed to provide air circulation.

The living area

The living area has several PVC windows (on the walls and doors) that will lighten the place and increase visibility. The Coleman self-rolling covers are there to provide privacy and a darker place.

Awnings

The shelter has a small awning above the side doors to protect the entrance from rain. The main doors can be used as a porch where you can relax and eat on a nice sunny day.

Assembly

The Coleman Coastline 4 has a quick-pitch tunnel design so you will be able to set it up in approx. 20 minutes.

Extend it out on the ground and peg the 2 top corners. Assemble the poles and insert them through the fabric sleeves. Secure their ends in the grommets that are found on the corners of the main fabric.

Lift the tent slowly and peg out the guy line for support. Don’t forget to peg the rest of the unit. Put the last smaller pole into the sleeve above the main doors and secure it.

Attaching the bedrooms is easy due to color-coding.

Ayamaya tunnel tent

Ayamaya made an outdoor product that can occupy from 2-4 campers. Its dimensions are (39+39+88) x 78 x 51 inches.

The weight is 8.6 pounds which is very light for this size shelter so it is one of the best tunnel tents for backpacking. It is a cheap tunnel tent that still provides optimum weather protection.

Material

The structure is made of 190T polyester that has PU 2000 mm coating. The inner fabric also includes B3 mesh. The poles are shock-corded.

Other specifications

This shelter is made of inner and outer structure, so it’s a double-layer tent that is multifunctional.

The inner shelter is made for sleeping and includes a bathtub floor. The outer fabric is meant as an extra sleeping space, rain protection, and storing the gear.

Its shape also serves as a living space where you can relax in chairs and watch nature. If you are a biker you can put your vehicle in the living area to stay dry.

Doors

There are 2 D-style doors that have a 2-way zipper. There is one in the front and one on the side to get in and out easily. You can roll up the doors when you don’t need them or when you want to let the air in.

Ventilation

This is well-ventilated tent as it has large doors, mesh and back and side vents on the fly so the air can circulate.

Setup

The setup of this unit is easy and fast. All that you will have to do is to assemble the poles and insert them into the sleeves of the outer material. Secure them in the corners and stake the tent out.

The inner fabric can be attached to the poles by the loops. Put the floor inside and you are ready to camp.

KingCamp Millan family tunnel tent

This three-season shelter is made by KingCamp and can accommodate up to 6 people. The 6 man tunnel tent measures 202.8 x 141.7 x 78.7 inches. The weight of this unit is 43.4 pounds. It is great for a family campground adventure.

Material

There are three fiberglass poles that make a structure and steel ones that make a door.

The flysheet features a fire-resistant 190T polyester that has a 3000 mm polyurethane waterproof rating which is a solid hydrostatic level for this type of structure. It includes a polyester floor.

Other details

You will be able to enter the tent through the large main doors at the front and one in the middle. There is also a mesh door that is an entrance to the bedroom.

You can set up both main doors as an awning with the poles to have a shade or additional rain protection. The company included 2 PVC windows with polyester cover to have a light inside.

Ventilation

Multi-position windows, inner mesh and big doors provide optimum cross ventilation and stop the condensation. In case of the rain you can open the roof vents that can be found on the front to ventilate the interior.

Interior details

A zippered electrical port enables electricity inside so you can watch a movie on your tablet and recharge the devices.

The doors have dual zippers for easy operation. Large mesh pockets on the side will help you to have smaller items organized.

Assembly

Assemble the poles together and insert the main fiberglass poles into the fabric sleeves.

Put their ends into the pin and ring system so the structure is secure. When you have all three poles secured, grab a rope in the front of the unit and pull it so you will get the structure standing.

The inner shelter can be attached to the poles so you will have to set up the tunnel first and then attach the bedroom tent. Attach it to the provided loops.

Here is an official video of the KingCamp Millan 4 setup. It is quite similar to the setup of the 6 model so take a look how easy it is to erect.

Hasika tunnel tent

This is an interesting two-layer tent manufactured by the Hasika company. It can accommodate up to 3 people (2 adults + 1 child or 1 adult + 2 kids) for sleeping on a queen-size air mattress or in sleeping bags.

Its dimensions are 144 x 97 x 73 inches. The inner structure has 51 inches in height. The carrying weight of this product is 9 pounds.

Fabric

Poles are made of shock-corded fiberglass. The canopy is manufactured by 190T polyester with the PU 3000 mm coating. The inner tent features Oxford fabric and B3 mesh for bedroom ventilation.

Other features

The canopy is tunnel-shaped and offers space for sleeping and enjoying on a porch on a warm day. The porch is half-way covered, the other half is opened for fresh air. It can handle 6-8 wind force levels.

The unit includes double-stitched seams, a gear loft for storing smaller accessories, and a hanging pocket.

The screen sleeping room

The inner shelter is perfect for sleeping and resting. It attaches like any other tunnel camping tent, on the pole.

The screen room has one dutch arched-style mesh door that can be fully closed for privacy and to preserve the warmth inside. It features a bathtub floor in case the rain surprises you.

Air circulation

As a three-season unit, it provides plenty of fresh air, also because of the outer unit that is half-opened. The inner mesh fabric and a mesh window with a panel on the backside prevent condensation.

Multipurpose use

This model is great for summer camping as you can set only the canopy and have a fully-ventilated tent. Place a sleeping pad or just a tarp on the ground and you can have joyful summer days with friends and family.

In case of rain, you can set up the inner shelter to stay protected from the rainwater. You are also able to put your bike or motorcycle in the living area to stay away from the rain and morning dew.

Night Cat tunnel tent

This three-season tent is meant to occupy up to 3 campers. The inner shelter measures 78.7 x 70.8 x 47.2 inches. The outer shell has 167.3 x 78.7 x 51.2 inches.

This 3 person tunnel tent fits a queen-size or a king-size mattress. It weighs 8.8 pounds which is great as it won’t burden you that much while carrying it to the pitching location.

Material

This double-layer model is made of 210D Oxford fabric that has a 2500 mm rain coat to stay protected from the normal to medium rain. The poles are made of 8.5 mm fiberglass.

Other specs

As I already mentioned, there are 2 rooms to use. The outer shell is in a tunnel shape, offering a living room for relaxation and a vestibule for storing camping gear and accessories.

The inner tent is in a dome shape and is attached to the poles that hold the outer shell up. It has one large door in the front and one door at the side to enter the living room.

From there, you will have the bedroom that you will enter through D-shape doors. All three doors can be rolled up or at a side when you want to have them open.

Airflow

The bedroom has breathable close-knit mesh to provide air ventilation and a bathtub floor so the rainwater can’t get in. Roof vents are on the fly to provide good airflow even on a rainy day.

NTK Indy GT tent

This is a three-season unit with a European design that can occupy up to 5 campers. It has a floor size of 12.8ft x 8ft and a center height of 4.7ft.

The weight of this product is 12 pounds. You will be able to fit a queen and a twin mattress inside.

Fabric

This double-layer model has a waterproof rain fly made of 190T polyester that has a 2500 mm polyurethane coating to protect you from leakage.

It also has a heat-seamed thermoplastic coating to protect you from UV damage.

Poles

Poles are made from extra thick nano-flex fiberglass and interconnect with double gold chrome plated ferrule hardware and strong elastic to provide stability.

Interior tent features

The interior shelter features ultra-thin no-see-um polyester micro-mesh fabric. The bathtub-style floor is made of anti-fungal polyethylene without seams and with a silver-coated inner layer to prevents leakage.

Materials are CPAI-84 fire retardant.

Other specifications

This unit has 2 two-way zipper D-style doors with double panels, one large in the front and one on the side. Both have mosquito mesh and can be rolled up or at a side so they won’t get in your way.

The light will come in through the transparent windows that are on the front vestibule area, each on one side.

The full-coverage fly provides you dry camping experience. It includes 3 vents on the back to provide optimum ventilation. You can open the doors if you want to ventilate it fast.

Interior

The product is constructed from two rooms and a vestibule where you can store equipment.

First is a living room where you can eat and play games with kids and the other is a bedroom that is perfect for a good night’s sleep and resting through the day.

Dark interior

When you put a fly on the interior place will be quite dark so if you like to sleep longer in the morning then this model is right for you.

Inner dome tent

The inner dome tent has a mesh roof to prevent condensation. Mesh pockets are included so you can organize your smaller items.

A lantern loop comes in handy in the evenings when you enjoy with your loved ones playing games or just talking.

Setup

Choose the perfect spot for setting the shelter. Put all the product parts on the ground. Grab poles, assemble them and stick their ends into the pin and ring system.

Extend the dome unit and attach the fabric to the poles using clips. Make a bow on the top to finish the installation of the inner unit.

Then put a rain fly on and install the other poles to get the shelter ready for usage. Stake it and install the guy ropes so you will have a stable tunnel tent in wind. Put the floor in the living area so the gear will be in a dry place.

Outwell Woodburg 6A Air Tent

Outwell made a Woodburg model in which poles are inflated to provide you a shelter.

This is one of the best air tunnel tents that can accommodate up to 6 people. Its dimensions are 295 inches x 130 x 86.6 inches. It is a huge model with a high center height that weighs 58.8 pounds.

Material

The flysheet of this model is made of Outtex 4000 that is more durable than the company’s other shelters. If you want to know more about this material click here.

There are no poles that you would have to assemble and insert as the structure is inflated by air.

Other features

This family camping model has three zones – a bedroom, a living room, and a canopy room. The front inner space is perfect for gear storage or for placing a sleeping tent for one person to spend the night.

All three rooms can be separated to have privacy. I like these room dividers that can be used in several ways (check out the video bellow).

Sleeping capacities

The bedroom has large D-shape doors to access or leave the place easily. The doors can be rolled away to not disturb you while walking through them.

You will be able to accommodate up to 5-6 people in the bedroom, and an extra one person in the canopy area (perfect for a teenager or your dog).

It features huge crystal clear windows to have a light inside and to have great views. You will be able to close them with panels to darken the interior.

The main area

In the main area, you have 2 cable entry points to have electricity inside. A lantern hook will help you to illuminate the whole place. This area is perfect for having lunches and relaxing after an active day.

Extra tent for a canopy area

The small shelter that goes in the canopy area has mesh pockets and extra height for standing. It can be easily installed and removed.

Ventilation

There is a gap under the windows to let the air in. The front and middle doors have mesh panels that will also provide fresh air. You will see a big mesh panel across the bedroom that increases ventilation additionally.

Assembly

One person can easily put it up. It will take you about 10 minutes to inflate it. Each beam is done individually. Its rigid system can handle wind well.

Roll the tent so it will be extended. Stake it down. Grab the air pump and start inflating the middle section. Proceed with other air poles.

When you have a structure fully standing don’t forget to stake the whole unit (except the corners that you already staked). Use guy ropes for extra security.

What is a tunnel tent?

A tunnel tent has a shape of a tunnel due to poles that bent to make an arch. Families use them the most as they are spacious, provide enough headspace, and are resistant to wind.

Are they good in the wind?

Yes, if they are staked and guy lined properly, they handle winds well due to their shape. I recommend that you pitch it in the direction of the wind. If you have the option set it up so the wind will blow at the back of the shelter.

These tents usually have a vestibule so if the wind goes through it it will travel smoothly above the shelter and on.

What I am trying to say is that the structure won’t be as much of an obstacle to the wind as a cabin model for example that has vertical walls.

If you want to know more about pitching a tent in the wind safely read my post about how to secure it in the wind.

How Do You Pitch a Tunnel Tent in the Wind?

If you are in a situation when the storm is coming but you don’t have your shelter pitched yet follow my tips to erect it properly and securely.

Assembly procedure

First of all, you should know that you must have all the product parts secured so they won’t be blown away or hurt you. When you are on the camping spot consider from which direction the wind blows.

Grab the tent and stakes and turn your back to the wind. Find its corners and stake it firmly.

Then proceed with the poles, one by one, securing each. Don’t forget to use guy ropes at the end as they will make your camping much safer.

For more information, look at the video by an event manager of the Fjällräven (a Swedish outdoor company), who will show you a step-by-step process of setting it up.

Where do you use it?

These shelters are meant for camping on different terrains. A tunnel model pitches like any other with pegs and guy ropes.

So, you can use it in the woods, desert, at the campsite, or in the snow if it is made to withstand harsh weather.

Due to their tubular shape, they are perfect for windy conditions.

Which is the best tunnel tent for family camping?

Coleman is the best outdoor company that makes good outdoor shelters for family camping at reasonable prices. As the best family tunnel tent, I chose the Coleman Coastline unit.

It can accommodate up to 4 people. This is a two-room structure, with a living room and a bedroom.

You install a dome tent inside the bedroom to have a dry place for resting. I like the idea that you can separate the bedroom into two private places.

It is a quality outdoor model that offers enough headroom (78.7 inches) for walking, changing clothes, sitting, and cooking in the living area.

Which to choose – Dome or a tunnel tent?

If you have a dilemma about which tent design to choose I will explain a few pros and cons of each type so you can purchase the right product.

Dome shape tents

These are the most popular models that campers and backpackers like to choose for their active outdoor vacation. Dome tents are usually light and easy to pitch and store.

Great for backpacking

Backpackers like to store their dome shelters in the backpack as they move from one location to another and need to have a fast-pitching shelter.

Low center height

Their downside can be the headspace and center height. They are not high structures and so luxurious but serve well as an ordinary shelter to sleep in and stay protected from the elements.

Tunnel shape tents

They are meant for families and groups to enjoy luxury and have the ability to move around freely.

You can also find a one-person or a 2 person tunnel tent but in general, you will see them being able to occupy more people.

Great for tall campers

These models are great as you can move without bending due to high center height. This is why they are more appropriate for higher campers than dome units.

More rooms

As you can see, these models usually have more rooms and a vestibule to store gear which can’t be said for dome models that have only one room.

Some have vestibules, especially 4 season models, to have a place for equipment storage.

Multiple room tent camping

Tunnel camping tents are wonderful outdoor shelters for spending quality free time with the people you love.

Their unique design and practicality will help you to have an exceptional time while exploring nature and new places.

What I like about these units the most are the space and height. Generally, you will have a bedroom and a living room if you purchase one of the best tunnel tents from my list.

They offer plenty of space for sleeping, eating and relaxing and storing camping gear.

Due to the aerodynamic shape, they withstand the strong winds well. If you don’t like to bother with the assembly, a tunnel tent can be the perfect option that will give you the luxury you need.