If you’re in the market for a new tent, you likely have found that there is no shortage in options available. To be honest, the huge number of variations and types of tents can be quite a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Especially true if you’re new to camping.
But let’s push all of those options aside for now, along with the anxiety that all of that choice can bring (can you tell I’m not the shopping type?), and just sort through the differences between a three-season and a four-season tent.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to confidently decide which of those two options are best for you and the style of camping you intend to do. And, when you’re done, if you could use more help with picking a tent because “all the things”, then check out our complete tent guide over here.
Let’s dive in!
What’s the difference between a three and four season tent?
Three-season tents are engineered with lightweight materials best suited for moderate weather and temperatures typical of Spring, Summer, and Fall (light-moderate rain, 15-35 mph wind, and pea-size hail) while four-season tents are engineered with heavy-duty materials that can withstand the harsh weather and temperatures of Winter (heavy rain, 35-60 mph wind, penny-size hail, and heavy snow).
But let’s look at each of these tents in more detail.
What is a Three-Season Tent?
A three-season tent is a lightweight tent designed to withstand the weather conditions of Summer, Spring, and Fall. They are usually made with thin materials including mesh roofs which come with rain flaps to place over them (double-walled).
There are a couple of categories that most three season tents fall into: backpacking and park camping. Let’s look at each of these.
Backpacking
Weight
The first consideration with backpacking tents is the weight. For backpacking, tents are designed to be lightweight with most falling between two to six pounds.
If you plan to do a 45-mile two-day hike once or twice a year, maybe a pound here and there won’t make the biggest difference in the world. But, if you’re planning for weeks or even months out on the trails then pounds and even ounces matter (you can only carry so much).
In order to achieve the lightest weight possible, the materials used must be lightweight. The top area where weight can be cut is in the poles. Using lighter materials for the poles and less of them is the engineer’s go-to method for dumping said weight.
However, the trade-off is a tent that is less resistant to wind and weaker when it comes to bearing loads. In other words, strong winds or snow loads will collapse many if not most lightweight tents.
Keep in mind, this is a general comparison. Some three season tents are engineered to be very good with loads and winds. But, on average, a three season tent cannot stand up to snow loads or strong winds.
Weather
The next consideration for backpacking tents (and equally important) is the weather conditions they can handle. If you’re new to backpacking you might be inclined to think that a four-season tent must be better than a three-season tent. But that isn’t the case, as it comes down to what weather you are actually hiking in.
If you’re going on a hot summer trip, a three-season tent will be the superior choice of the two. In most summer situations in my home state of California, a four-season is too warm for comfortable sleeping. This has to do with three-season tents being more breathable due to the materials used.
Some designs even allow for a significant amount of airflow as they use thinner wall materials with large sections (often the roof and windows) made of mesh. Those tents with extra airy designs are better suited for summer-only camping, even though they might be tagged with the three-season label.
But the great thing about most three-season tents is the ability to shut them up for adverse weather conditions. Most if not all mesh areas of three-season tents can be shut up with a rainfly and zipper or tie-down windows. A quality three-season tent when “buttoned-down” will make it through most Summer, Spring, and Fall conditions whether it be wind or precipitation.
But note that many of these tents are not designed for colder weather, even cold spells without rain or snow. If a cold front hits while you’re out on the trails, you’ll need quality heat gear (sleeping bags, clothing, etc) to stay safe and sane through the night in many three-season tents.
Park Camping
Most tents designed for park camping are often large and are not weight conscious. So they tend to be heavy. But that is okay because many of the tents in this category are designed to meet the needs of their intended target audience, families.
When park camping, a family is likely only going to carry a tent a maximum of 100 feet before setting it up. So weight isn’t a major factor here.
I mean, when park camping with the family, I’m more concerned with being able to fit multiple air mattresses inside than I am with the weight. If I need a dolly to carry the tent, so be it. 🙂
But there are some major considerations when it comes to tents intended for park camping. Let’s address those by addressing the key that impacts them all: cost.
Cost
With families being the target audience, cost is king. My family is on a budget, and I’m certain we’re not alone in this. Manufacturers know this and do many things to keep costs low in order to stay competitive. After all, large tents use a lot of materials, so cutting costs in manufacturing will absolutely impact the finished quality.
One of the key areas where manufacturers cut corners is in the wall materials and stitching. Low-cost tents have fewer materials that have been water treated in their wall structure and use less sturdy stitching at the seams. Additionally, the materials tend to be thinner and less durable.
This means the primary issue with large family tents, designed mostly for park camping, is moisture control and seams that rip out. More often than not, when searching through tent reviews, the negative reviews typically mention waking up wet every morning or experiencing seams ripping out after several uses.
Obviously, ripping seams is a complete bust. But sticking with reputable brands that have good warranties is the way to go here. Make sure the warranty covers seams, and you check reviews to be sure that stitching isn’t a major problem and you’ll have little to worry about.
In all honesty, I’ve done all of my family park camping in budget tents (but California summers give me that luxury).
And that is why these low-cost options survive on the market, many folks camp just once a year or less, and tend to do so in mild climates and seasons. They work for warmer dry seasons and climates.
If you want more from your family tent, then buying a high-end tent is a must. But expect to pay a hefty price, as large quality tents are not cheap.
It should also be noted that most large family tents are not intended to be used in cold weather. Even 50-60 degree nights can be pretty uncomfortable in many of these three-season tents in this category. The large space inside combined with thinner materials make these inefficient in trapping body heat inside.
You’ll certainly want a good sleeping bag if you’re in regions where the nighttime temps drop fairly low.
What is a Four-Season Tent?
A four-season tent is designed to be used in all four seasons of the year but is best suited for cold and extreme weather conditions. Four-season tents are typically made with durable materials that stand up to heavy rain, wind, and ice/snow.
In general, a four-season tent is geared towards cold weather which means it is not ideal for hot summer camping. It will get you through the summer and mild seasons, but in reality, a four-season tent really only bests a three-season tent in adverse weather conditions: rain, wind, snow, and cold.
Rain
In most tents that fall in the category of four seasons, you’re going to get walls that are made of waterproof materials, and special care when it comes to stitching.
Additionally, the structure will often be a single-walled variety that does not have a mesh roof. This helps you stay dry in the wettest environments. But do keep in mind, low-end single-walled options that are not waterproof in some circumstances will perform worse than double-walled options when it comes to keeping you dry.
Wind
Four-season tents are often designed to be low profile with good aerodynamics to stand up to strong winds. The materials and stitching are stronger which also allows for maximum durability during wind storms. Some four-season tents can withstand 60-80 mph winds. I doubt many would enjoy the experience, but at least, it is possible.
Snow
The structures of four-season tents are designed to bear the burden of snow loads. Additionally, they need to be ultra waterproof to avoid allowing the standing moisture of snow pack to soak in through the walls.
Cold
This is likely the biggest difference between three and four-season tents. Four-season tents are designed to keep warmth in. For most models, they’ll even keep campers warm during freezing temperatures. For the most extreme winter conditions though, you’ll want to opt for a winter-specific tent model.
That being said, four-season tents tend to be fairly small, as you’ll rarely find anything that sleeps over four people in this category over on REI and other similar outfitters.
That has to do with keeping warmth in for one, as smaller spaces are easier for the average human or group of humans to warm via body heat. Additionally, cost plays a role as well.
Heavy-duty waterproof materials are expensive, and few folks want to spend as much on a tent as a travel trailer. The market just isn’t there as the number of families opting to spend their winter vacation in the alpine backcountry is much smaller than summers at the beach. 🙂
Which Should you Get?
This comes down to your budget and camping style. It makes more sense for most people to opt for a quality three-season tent if they are choosing just one tent.
But, if you know you’re looking at early spring or late fall camping then consider the four-season option.
And, if you’re spending the winter camping in the alpine, then hopefully, you already know you need a winter ready tent. Most don’t start in the alpine in the middle of winter. 🙂