The Best Tent for Hiking in Australia

Carrying your shelter all day makes weight matter, but you still need enough room to sleep when you arrive. If you’re choosing a tent for hiking with two people, our top pick is the MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 for its rectangular floor, near-vertical walls and independent recommendations for a spacious, easy-to-set-up shelter.

For solo trips where reducing pack weight matters more, we’d choose the MSR FreeLite 2. On a tighter budget, the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Base is worth considering, with a clearly stated weight and a much lower price. Its place here rests on Amazon sales rank rather than an independent recommendation.

Amazon Australia is the only retailer shown as stocking these seven picks in our checks. Before ordering, check the warranty coverage and returns terms for the offer you’re buying.

The best hiking tents in Australia

• Best for two hikers: MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2
• Best for lightweight solo hiking: MSR FreeLite 2
• Best for hiking and bikepacking: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Bikepacking
• Best for comfort-focused trips: NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P
• Best budget pick for two: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Base
• Best budget pick with a footprint included: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Pro
• Lowest-priced solo pick: windhike Naturehike Cloud Up Pro

Product		Price
	MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 (13937)	from $872.01 at Amazon	$872.01 at Amazon
	MSR FreeLite 2 (14091)	from $643.16 at Amazon	$643.16 at Amazon
	Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (TTWULBP221)		Unavailable
	Nemo Equipment NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P (811666036360)		Unavailable
	Naturehike Upgraded Cloud Up 2 Person Ultralight Tent-1.93kg PU3000mm Waterproof	from $199.00 at Amazon	$199.00 at Amazon
	Naturehike Upgraded Cloud Up 2 Person Ultralight Tent-1.53kg PU3000mm Waterproof	from $229.00 at Amazon	$229.00 at Amazon
	windhike Naturehike 2024 Cloud up Pro Tent (4692)	from $179.55 at Amazon	$179.55 at Amazon

1. Best for two hikers: MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2

Sharing a tent is less appealing when your sleeping mats don’t fit neatly beside each other. The MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 addresses that with a rectangular floor and near-vertical walls, which MSR says accommodate thick rectangular mats.

The floor measures 1.32 × 2.24 m, giving you something useful to compare against your own mats before buying. Our take is that this is the best starting point for two hikers who care about room as well as carrying weight. MSR lists a minimum trail weight of 1.36 kg.

T3 recommends it for two hikers wanting a lightweight, spacious freestanding tent with easy setup and generous headroom.

The catch is the price. It costs more than the FreeLite below, so we’d pay the difference for shared comfort rather than choose it automatically for solo trips.

Our verdict: Buy the Hubba Hubba LT 2 if you’re sharing regularly and want a sensible balance of room and carrying weight. For one person prioritising a lighter pack, we’d choose the FreeLite.

2. Best for lightweight solo hiking: MSR FreeLite 2

If you’re walking alone, you carry the whole shelter yourself. The MSR FreeLite 2 is our choice for keeping that load down while retaining the space of a two-person tent.

MSR states a minimum weight of 0.91 kg. Its rectangular floor and two side-entry vestibules also give you ways to organise sleeping space and gear without buying a larger shelter.

Australian Hiker recommends it for lightweight backpacking, particularly solo hikers wanting generous space and frequent users valuing quality construction.

Our take is that the lower price than the Hubba Hubba makes this an appealing solo purchase. But it’s semi-freestanding, so check its pitching instructions against the places you expect to camp. If a freestanding design is central to your decision, the Hubba Hubba earns its place above it.

Our verdict: The FreeLite 2 is our pick for a solo hiker willing to spend more to reduce carrying weight. Choose the Hubba Hubba instead if a freestanding shelter for two is your priority.

3. Best for hiking and bikepacking: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2

Switching between walking trips and bikepacking can make one awkwardly packed tent a recurring nuisance. The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Bikepacking gives you a reason to choose this particular version: its short pole set and bike-attachment features.

Big Agnes specifies roughly 30 cm poles, intended for handlebars, panniers and saddlebags. Two doors also make it appealing when you’re sharing, giving each person their own way in and out.

The Equipment Guide recommends it for weight-conscious solo hikers and pairs seeking a light double-wall tent with two doors and convenient storage.

We’d choose it when both hiking and cycling are regular plans. If you only walk, decide whether you’ll use those bike-specific details before paying more than the FreeLite costs. The recommended footprint is sold separately, too.

Our verdict: Buy this version of the Tiger Wall UL2 if your trips include both hiking and bikepacking. Its short poles are a clear reason to choose it; walking-only buyers should also consider the cheaper FreeLite.

4. Best for comfort-focused trips: NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P

If cramped sleeping quarters are what put you off overnight trips, the NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P deserves a look. Its appeal is usable room and gear storage.

NEMO says this design increases door, peak and shoulder heights. It also says the Stash strut increases vestibule space by 22%, though that figure isn’t a comparison with the other tents in this guide.

CleverHiker recommends it for comfortable backpacking and camping, highlighting its usable interior, generous vestibules and thoughtful features.

Our take is that comfort needs to be your main priority to justify this purchase. It’s the dearest tent here, so establish its weight and packed size before choosing it for a long walk.

Our verdict: Consider the Dagger OSMO 2P if interior comfort and vestibule storage justify the extra spend for you. We’d resolve its weight and packed size before selecting it for hiking.

5. Best budget pick for two: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Base

Occasional overnight walks don’t always justify an expensive shelter. The Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Base is our budget choice for two, costing much less than the independently recommended tents above.

Naturehike lists a weight of 1.93 kg and tent dimensions of 210 × 125 × 105 cm. Confirm the usable inner floor measurements before comparing them with both sleeping mats rather than relying on the two-person label.

It was ranked number 1 in Dome Camping Tents on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check, so its sales position shouldn’t be mistaken for a verdict on performance.

Our take is that this is the more straightforward of the two Cloud Up 2 listings here because its stated weight is consistent.

Our verdict: This is the budget two-person tent we’d consider first for occasional trips. Buy it only after checking that your mats fit and you’re comfortable choosing on specifications and sales rank.

6. Best budget pick with a footprint included: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Pro

If you want the footprint included in your purchase, the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Pro costs a little more than the Base and explicitly lists one with its accessories.

There’s a catch worth resolving before ordering. The product name states 1.53 kg, while the feature list states 1.8 kg. We’d use neither figure as a firm buying comparison until the seller confirms what you’ll actually carry.

This variant was ranked number 1 in Dome Camping Tents on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check.

Our verdict: Choose the Pro if the included footprint matters to you and the seller resolves the weight discrepancy. Otherwise, the cheaper Base is our budget recommendation.

7. Lowest-priced solo pick: windhike Naturehike Cloud Up Pro

For a solo trip on a strict budget, the windhike Naturehike Cloud Up Pro has the lowest checked price in this guide. Its feature description identifies a spacious one-person sleeping area intended to accommodate a wide mat.

But its weight also needs clarification: the listing title says 1.23 kg, while the features say 1.39 kg. That makes it a less convincing purchase if a specific weight limit is driving your choice.

It was ranked number 8 in Dome Camping Tents on Amazon Australia when we checked, and we found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check.

Our verdict: Consider this for solo trips when keeping the purchase price down is your priority. Confirm the weight first, and choose a clearly specified two-person tent if you’re sharing.

How we chose

These reviews are based on owner-rating checks, maker specifications, independent recommendations, and price and stock checks. No independent owner ratings were available from the retailers we check for these seven picks, so independently recommended tents come first, ordered by their features, price and who they suit. The remaining picks are included on Amazon Australia sales rank and assessed on their listed specifications and price. All seven were in stock at Amazon Australia when checked.

Buying a tent for hiking

If your pack already feels heavy, check the weight definition

Look beyond the word “ultralight”. Compare weights measured on the same basis: a minimum trail weight and a packed weight aren’t interchangeable.

For your own packing plan, establish which components the stated figure includes. If a listing gives conflicting numbers, ask the seller to resolve them before buying.

If you’re sharing, measure both sleeping mats

A two-person label doesn’t settle whether your setup will fit comfortably. Put your mats side by side and compare their combined width with confirmed usable inner floor dimensions.

If you want gear inside as well, allow for that when choosing. Vestibule space is useful storage, but it doesn’t enlarge the sleeping floor.

If a cramped tent spoils the trip, look at its shape

Floor dimensions are a starting point. Wall shape, shoulder room and headroom also affect how much of the interior you can use.

Decide whether you’ll accept less room to reduce carrying weight. A spacious shelter can be worth carrying when you’re sharing it; a solo hiker has to make that decision alone.

If pitching worries you, read the instructions first

Freestanding and semi-freestanding designs aren’t identical. Check the setup instructions and required anchoring before committing to either.

Give yourself time to practise pitching before your first overnight walk. Finding a missing step at home is easier than discovering it when you’re tired and ready for bed.

If weather protection is the priority, ask for specific limits

Broad claims about storms or four-season use aren’t enough to choose a shelter for demanding conditions. Look for clear information about the intended conditions, seams, fly coverage and pitching requirements.

Treat a waterproofing figure as one specification rather than a promise about the complete tent. If the intended trip goes beyond what the documentation clearly supports, get more information before buying.

If you’re trying to save money, price the complete setup

Check what comes in the package, particularly the footprint and pitching accessories. An item sold separately belongs in your budget.

Spend on features you’ll use. Short bikepacking poles have a clear purpose on a cycling trip; generous shared space has a clear purpose when two people sleep inside. Neither should be an automatic reason to spend more.

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