Pressed for time? After a lot of research, I’ve concluded that Coleman Octagon 98 is the best tent for a tall person on the market today.
Don’t get me wrong:
Being tall definitely has its advantages.
Camping in a normal-sized tent, however, is not one of them.
Choosing the best tent for tall people is no easy task – that’s why I did the hard work for you.
After 7 hours of research and analysis, I’ve narrowed down your choices to these five.
Let’s dive in.
Best Tent For Tall Person: Our Top 5 Choices
- Coleman Octagon 98 (Overall The Best Tent For Tall People)
- Nemo Wagontop 4 (Best 4 Person Tent For A Tall Person)
- MSR Hubba Hubba NX (Best Backpacking Tent For Tall People)
- Gazelle T4 Plus (Best Premium Tall Tent For Families And Large Groups)
- Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent (Best Tall Tent For People Needing Extra Storage Room)
Coleman Octagon 98 8-Person Outdoor Tent
Coleman is one of my favorite outdoor brands. I think they are great at creating quality products at reasonable prices, and Octagon 98 is no exception.
First things first. This tent is tall – at peak height, it’s 82 inches (or 6 feet 10 inches). This will allow even professional basketball players to move around without hunching down all the time.
But what makes it even greater is the fact that it’s a cabin style tent. That means that not only can you move around the tent easily, but you get more horizontal space for sleeping. More space and more headroom? Yes please.
Despite its size (169 square feet), it’s remarkably easy to set up and take down. That’s due to the color-coded poles that allow even kids to quickly put it together.
I do have to mention that despite what Coleman says, their WeatherTec system is not 100% waterproof. Several people have complained that the tent floor didn’t survive excessive flooding.
However, they were able to fix that problem by buying a quality tarp, so that’s something you should keep in mind.
Pros:
- The peak height of 82 inches provides a lot of headroom
- Roomy – with 169 sq. ft. of floor area, you’ll have plenty of room for both your family and your stuff
- Quick setup – despite being fairly large, you can still set it up in 15 minutes or less
- Quite sturdy – it can withstand even the 35+ mph winds with relative ease
Cons:
- Despite Coleman’s claims, it’s not 100% waterproof
Best for: families and large groups who want a great, but affordable tall tent.
Check Price at Dick's Sporting Goods
NEMO Wagontop 4 Tent
Nemo Wagontop 4 is a great tent. In fact, it’s been mentioned before on our site as one of the best 4 person tents out there.
But is it also a good choice for a taller person?
Yes, yes it is.
With a peak height of 80 inches, this tent allows for unimpeded movement in and out of the tent. Add to that the fact the floor area is 69 sq. ft. and you got yourself a pretty big tent.
But the feature that stood out the most to me was its vestibule. It adds a whopping 26.9 square feet of additional space you can use to store your gear, making this tent a great choice for hoarders everywhere (…I’m not the only one, am I?).
Unfortunately, all that extra size comes at a price – and that price is that Wagontop 4 weighs over 20 pounds. For car campers, this is not too big of an issue, but backpackers beware.
Pros:
- The peak height of 80 inches will be enough for almost anyone
- The floor area of almost 70 sq. ft. makes it incredibly spacious for a 4-person tent
- One person can set it up in 5 to 10 minutes
- Huge vestibule adds 26.9 sq. ft. of storage space
Cons:
- Heavy – the packaged weight of over 20 pounds makes it a bad choice for backpackers
Best for: tall couples and small families who still want a tall and roomy tent.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX
Now it’s not that hard to find good tall tents that fit 5+ people.
Finding good backpacking tents for tall guys and gals, however, is a different story.
That’s where Hubba Hubba NX shines.
True, it might have a peak height of “only” 39 inches… but it has a length of 84 inches. Combine that with 50 inches of width and you get 29 sq. ft. of floor area. That’s pretty roomy for a backpacking tent that only weighs 3 lbs.
However, MSR is not a budget brand, and this tent is no exception. Expect to spend a pretty penny on this tent. It will last you for years to come though, so if you have the money it’s definitely worth it.
Pros:
- 84 inches – or 7 feet – long, meaning your feet will never stick out of the tent
- At 29 sq. ft. it’s still roomy enough for 1 person and their gear
- Only weighs 3 lbs. making it a perfect backpacking tent
- Extremely durable – will stand up to the elements and keep you dry
- The setup is extremely easy and can be done in less than 3 minutes
Cons:
- A bit pricey for a backpacking tent
Best for: solo backpackers and campers who are willing to sacrifice a bit of height for more floor space.
Gazelle T4 Plus
If you value comfort and are willing to pay a bit more to get it, Gazelle T4 Plus is worth checking out.
The floor area of 110 square feet and the height of 78 inches means you can easily go in and out of the tent without tripping over anyone. The manufacturer says this is an 8-person tent, but for maximum comfort I wouldn’t have more than 6 people in there plus their gear.
Like your privacy?
Well then, you’re going to love the fact that this tent comes with two separate rooms. The second room defaults as a storage area, but it can quickly be converted into a sleeping room if need be.
On the downside, this tent is HEAVY. It weighs 47 pounds and as such is only really suitable for car campers.
Pros:
- Plenty of room – 110 sq. ft. will be enough for most families and their stuff
- The peak height of 78 inches and horizontal walls make movement inside the tent a breeze
- Two rooms provide extra privacy for all tent inhabitants
- Quick & easy setup – two people can pitch it in 5 minutes or so
Cons:
- Expensive – if you’re on a budget you can safely skip this one
- Heavy – at 47 lbs. this is definitely only an option for car campers
Best for: families willing to pay a premium price for a spacious 8-person tent.
Check Price at Sportsman's Warehouse
Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
What I love about this tent is its versatility.
Like camping with dogs? The screen room provides an excellent sleeping and pay area for your furry friends.
Want a tent with a big porch? Wenzel has you covered there as well.
Add to that the very respectable 6.5 feet of headroom and you have yourself a really nice, yet surprisingly affordable tent.
The standout feature here is definitely its screen room – altogether, it means Klondike 8 has 98 square feet of floor area, which is nothing to sneeze at. You can use this additional space to store your gear, as an additional sleeping room, or even as a living room of sorts.
Pros:
- A big screen room provides extra storage space, an additional sleeping room, or even a porch
- 6.5 feet of peak height makes it a solid choice for tall guys and gals
- Great ventilation and thin walls ensure great airflow in and out of the tent
- The light blue color of the tent will reflect most of the sun, making it ideal for hot weather camping
Cons:
- Definitely more of a car camping tent
- The screen room is shorter than the actual tent, so you’ll probably have to bend while in there
Best for: people looking for a good tent with a screen house for extra room.
How To Choose The Best Tent For A Tall Person
So those were my pick for the best tents for tall guys and gals out there.
But you might be wondering how I came up with those at all. What were my criteria?
That’s a fair question.
After careful consideration, I’ve found out that the most important criteria for choosing a tall tent are:
- Height
- Size
- Ease of setup
- Weatherproof (or not)?
Height
At the risk of sounding obvious, the first thing you should look at is definitely the tent height.
Well, duh.
But if we move past the obvious (the tent should be tall), there are several other things to consider.
For example, what’s the tent shape? While tents come in various shapes, the two most common ones are dome style tents and cabin style tents.
While dome tents might have a relatively high peak height, they are considerably smaller since their walls narrow down a lot more.
Compare that to cabin style tents and their almost vertical walls. Not only do they allow for much more headspace, but they also give you more horizontal space for gear and sleeping bags.
Size (and Weight)
The next thing to consider is the tent size – just how big do you need it to be?
We have a great guide on various tent sizes, but if I had to summarize, always buy tent 1-2 sizes bigger than what you actually think you need.
For example, if you and your significant other are going camping, instead of buying a 2-person tent, go for a 4-person one. That way you won’t be squeezed like sardines and you’ll have plenty of space for everything from gear to mattresses.
On the other hand, if you’re going family camping with your kids and pets to boot, consider investing in a good 8 or 10 person tent. This will give you a lot more room so no one will feel cramped and irritated.
You also have to consider the type of trip. If you’re going backpacking, tent weight plays a significant role. You don’t want to lug around a 20-pound tent on top of your other gear.
That’s not the case with family camping tents where you’re traveling by car to the campground. In those situations, you can go a bit gear-crazy and pack a lot more stuff, since the campsite is just a short walk away from your car.
Ease Of Setup
Let’s face it:
If a tent requires a PhD. to set up and take down, chances are you won’t bother bringing it on your camping trip.
Luckily, most manufacturers have caught on to this and now include color-coded poles. These make the pitching process smooth and painless.
In fact, it’s so easy that most people let their kids set up a tent (even the bigger ones). And the young ones do it in less than 15-20 minutes on average.
So kids learn self-reliance and you get an easy-to-set-up tent? Sounds like a win-win to me.
Weatherproof (Or Not)?
Even if you try to only practice fair weather camping, nature has a funny way of surprising us with downpours when we least expect it.
That’s why it’s important for your tent to be as waterproof as possible.
And while most tent manufacturers will claim their products are 100% waterproof… that’s simply not the case.
So what happens if you buy a tent and it turns out it’s leaking water?
Fear not, all is not lost.
You can always use a good waterproofing spray to improve your tent’s rain defenses. In fact, I always do that with all my new tents, no matter what the manufacturer says about their durability.
Our Verdict
While there are many great tents out there, only a few of them have a peak height that won’t turn you into a hunchback in a matter of days.
Out of all the tents I reviewed, I definitely recommend Coleman Octagon 98 as the best tent for tall guys and girls.
It has a peak height of 82 inches, which is nothing to sneeze at. It’s also roomy (169 square feet), sturdy, and you can pitch it in less than 15 minutes.
Sure, it’s not 100% waterproof, but you can easily solve that problem by buying an inexpensive camping tarp.
All in all, when it comes to the value-for-money equation, this tent is simply unbeatable.
