Winter camping calls for a shelter that can withstand strong winds, torrential rain and snow. Compared to three-season tents, winter tents are more durable, heavier and warmer.

Fly

Steep sides prevent snow from resting on the fabric and collapsing the tent. The fly may extend to the ground and include a snow skirt to block the wind and prevent snow being blown between the inner and fly. There will be large vestibules for gear.

Floor

A heavy-duty floor with a waterhead rating of 10,000mm+ will prevent water seeping through. Lighter floors should be paired with a groundsheet to make them less prone to damage or seepage.

Inner and ventilation

Keeping warmth inside the tent is crucial, so there will be minimal mesh on the inner. Airflow is provided by vents in the ceiling and mesh panel doors that have a separate nylon backing. Most vestibule doors can open from the top – useful if snow has accumulated around the base of the tent.

Guylines

Multiple guyline attachments provide extra stability for the exposed locations and extreme conditions where these tents may be pitched.

Livability

A tent’s floor area and vestibule space indicate how much room there is inside. Clever pole geometry can create vertical walls and increase headroom for a more livable interior.

Weight 

‘Packed’ weight includes the tent, poles, pegs, guylines and various carry bags combined. The ‘minimum’ weight is for the tent and poles only.

Storage 

Pockets and suspended gear lockers help to keep the tent tidy and provide easy access to essential items.

Size 

Choose a tent for the size of your party: four-season tents use robust materials and are heavy, and any unoccupied space still needs to be warmed.

Poles

The more poles the tent has, the stronger and heavier the shelter will be. Tunnel tents will have one crossover pole at the centre and two or more other poles providing structure. Dome tents offer increased strength against wind and snow loadings.

Waterhead (hydrostatic pressure) rating 

A fabric’s waterhead rating measures its ability to resist water seepage and correlates with the durability of the fabric. High-rating fabrics are more waterproof and durable. Winter tent flys are usually between 1200mm and 5000mm. Floors are between 3000mm and 25,000mm.

Hilleberg Kaitum 2 $2695

This durable tent is designed for use in all weathers. The tunnel shape requires just four pegs for pitching, outer walls extend to the ground and mesh areas are backed by fabric panels. It has two doors and vestibules that can roll away for venting. Inner and fly can be pitched simultaneously.

Fly 30D ripstop nylon, 5000mm

Floor 70D nylon, 15,000mm

Inner 30D ripstop nylon

Poles 3

Ceiling height 100cm

Area 2.9m², 2.4m² vestibule

Weight 3100g (packed), 2600g (minimum).

More details www.motomox.co.nz

MSR Access 2 $1599

A two-person tent for snowy conditions. The Easton Syclone frame will withstand strong winds, resist snow loading and optimises interior space. It has two doors and vestibules plus interior pockets and is available in one and three person configurations.

Fly 20D ripstop nylon, 1200mm

Floor 30D ripstop nylon, 3000mm

Inner 20D ripstop nylon, 10D micromesh

Poles 2, Easton Syclone

Ceiling height 107cm

Area 2.69m², 1.62m² vestibule

Weight 1860g (packed), 1640g (minimum).

More details www.ampro.co.nz

The North Face VE 25 3 $1550

An expedition tent for harsh conditions. It has a fully taped cut-in nylon bucket floor, dual doors with a dual-entry front vestibule, reflective guylines, DAC poles and stakes, multiple venting options and internal pockets, hanger loops, four snow stakes and fly-only pitching option.

Fly 40D ripstop nylon, 1500mm

Floor 70D nylon, 5000mm Inner 40D ripstop nylon

Poles 4, DAC

Ceiling height 123cm

Area 4.5m², 1.1m² vestibule

Weight 4680g (packed), 4310g (minimum)

More details www.thenorthface.co.nz

MSR Hubba Hubba HD 2 $1349

This freestanding heavy-duty version of the Hubba Hubba allows all-year camping and improves livability with a true rectangular floor and increased area volume. To trap warmth it has minimal mesh, and it has a ‘stay-dry’ rainfly door, multiple pockets and a clothesline.

Fly 20D ripstop nylon, 3000mm

Floor 30D ripstop nylon, 6000mm

Inner 20D ripstop nylon, 20D micromesh

Poles 1, DAC NFL 9.3mm

Ceiling height 102cm

Area 2.95m², 1.53m² vestibule

Weight 1800g (packed), 1610g (minimum).

More details www.ampro.co.nz

Mont Supercell $1199.95

A two-person, four-season integral-pitch (fly and inner pitch simultaneously) tunnel tent designed to withstand high winds and shed snow. It’s fully seam-sealed with a catenary cut rainfly, an oversized vestibule, internally accessible vents, a rear (airflow) window and eight mesh pockets. Fly can be pitched on its own.

Fly 40D ripstop nylon, 2000mm+

Inner 20D ripstop nylon

Floor 40D laminated nylon, 25,000mm

Poles 2-piece alloy

Ceiling height 110cm

Area 3.88m², 1.8m² vestibule

Weight 2797g (packed), 2660 (minimum).

More details www.mont.com.au 

Mont Dragonfly $1199.95

A two-person, all-season tent for deep winter but with versatile ventilation for spring, summer and autumn camping. It has a seam-sealed waterproof fly and tub floor, symmetrical design with fly attachment at either end, two entrances and vestibules, full-width wall pockets, roof pockets and carabiner ceiling clips.

Fly 30D ripstop nylon, 2000mm

Inner 20D ripstop nylon, mesh

Floor 70D nylon, 25,000mm

Poles 3

Ceiling height 110cm

Area 3.08m² + vestibules

Weight 2650g (packed), 2455g (minimum)

More details www.mont.com.au