Today, in 2021, there are thousands of tent brands lingering around. But what about eco tents? Are there any eco-friendly tent manufacturers out there?
The eco tents I introduce you to in this post are produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way, contain recycled materials, and/ or give back to our planet through certain initiatives. The list of our favorite eco tent brands in 2021 includes:
- Vaude
- Big Agnes
- The North Face
The increasing awareness of global issues like climate change & plastic pollution have pushed many brands to reduce, reuse and recycle.
And yes, being more environmentally friendly, sustainable or earth-friendly are promises made by many brands nowadays. It’s staying true to these promises, however, that seems to be a difficult task.
In this article I’ll sift through all the greenwashing and list the 5 best authentic eco tents for you!
(Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.)
Read also: A Badass Guide to Simple Travel.
Alright, let’s get started!
7 Best Eco Tents/Eco-Friendly Tents in 2021
6 Person Big House Deluxe Tent (Big Agnes)
This Deluxe 6 Person tent will definitely make you feel like home in the great outdoors (especially if you are less than 6 people sleeping inside). It has steep walls and large living space with two doors that will keep the inside ventilated (with only the mesh closed) and can be sealed with storm flippers over the zippers to keep the inside dry in stormy weather.
The tent has 12 large interior pockets to keep your stuff organized and even comes with your own front door welcome mat.
Big Agnes offers the same features in a 4 persons version, too (you can view it on Amazon here).
Eco Tents Features
- Seasons: 3
- Capacity: 6 persons
- Trail weight: 5.67kg (12lbs 8oz)
- Packed weight: 6.21kg (13lb 11oz)
- Packed Size: 20 x 32 x 61cm (8″ x 12.5″ x 24″)
- Floor area: 7.0 m² (75 sq ft)
- Head height: 198cm (78″)
- 2 doors
- Reflective guylines and reflective webbing
- 1500mm waterproof polyurethane coating
Best For
Camping (in a big group or just for extra space), car camping
About Big Agnes
Big Agnes partners with several non-profit organizations, such as Leave No Trace, the National Forest Foundation, and Outdoor Afro (just to name a few examples).
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
3 Person Stormbreak Eco Tent (The North Face)
Easy to pitch, with two doors and high-low ventilation for optimal airflow, this tent adds comfort your outdoor adventure. Its design makes camping in adverse weather more enjoyable and the big doors allow stunning views on the great outdoors.
The tent comes with a seam-taped canopy and floor, which help enhance durability and waterproofing.
Eco Tents Features
- Seasons: 4
- Capacity: 3 persons
- Tent Weight: 3 kilograms (6.1 pounds)
- Pack Size: 20.3 cm x 55.9 cm (8″ x 22″)
- 1 very spacious apse
- 3 entrances
- Comfortable entrance area
- Ventilation protected from rain, adjusted through the front zip
Best For
Camping, hiking
About The North Face
The North Face continues to increase its use of recycled materials, especially recycled polyester.
They furthermore created the Clothes the Loop program, which encourages people to drop off unwanted clothing and footwear at their retail and outlet stores. Through The North Face’s cooperation with Soles4Souls, the items are repurposed for programs that aim to provide small entrepreneurs with business opportunities.
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
2 Person Low Chapel Backpacking Eco Tent (Vaude)
This eco tent features a super-fast set up, with plenty of space for all sorts of gear in the vestibule. It is large enough to store large trekking packs and comfortably cook in. Plus, it has reliable rain protection for when the weather starts to turn.
In addition, the top of the tent features a smart ventilation system that allows for an excellent microclimate to form inside the tent.
The poles used are high quality aluminum which will retain their shape over a long period of time.
These eco tents also feature clever details such as inner tent pockets and storm proof guy lines, making this the perfect weatherproof companion for your next outdoor adventure.
Eco Tents Features
- Seasons: 3
- Capacity: 2 persons
- Tent Weight: 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds)
- Pack Size: 55 x 25 cm
- Tent footprint: 7,3 m²
- 1 very spacious apse
- 3 entrances
- Comfortable entrance area
- Ventilation protected from rain, adjusted through the front zip
Best For
Trekkers and backpackers who want more space and comfort, camping
About Vaude
All Vaude products are entirely PVC free. Vaude’s headquarter in southern Germany has been climate-neutral since 2012. This is accomplished through the use of solar energy, LED lighting and carbon offset initiatives.
Moreover, the company cooperates with the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) to ensure good working conditions and fair wages.
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
2-3 Person Power Lizard Eco Tent (Vaude)
One of the best eco tents for couples looking to travel through all 3 seasons. The only element this tent is not equipped for is the snow.
A very well ventilated tent that’s super easy to set up, perfect for when you arrive at your destination in the dark.
The fabric is siliconized on both sides, which creates high UV resistance. That makes the tent much more durable and 8 times more tear resistant compared to PU coated fabrics.
The additional pin solution allows for more foot room and increases the tents ability at withstanding strong winds. – We have camped in 100 kph winds in this exact tent.
Eco Tents Features:
- Seasons: 3
- Capacity: 2-3 persons
- Tent Weight: 1.4kg (ultra light)
- Pack size: 45 x 16cm
- 1 vestibule
- 1 entrance
- Single arch construction
- Optimized space offer by angled tent poles in the foot area and additional pins in the flysheet.
- Ventilation protected from rain, can be adjusted through the front zip.
Best For
Trekking, backpacking, mountaineering, camping
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
2 Persons Refuge Eco Tent (Vaude)
The ultimate lightweight tent for solo travelers or couples.
The designers of this tent have eliminated unnecessary seams to reduce the overall weight. They use special silicone bonding technology to ensure absolute waterproofness.
Thanks to its lightweight structure its perfect for minimalistic backpacking, from hiking trips to mountain tours.
Additionally, this tent packs down ridiculously small, so you’ll have more room for other travel gear on those long distance trips.
Eco Tents Features
- Seasons: 3
- Capacity: 2 persons
- Tent Weight: 1.2 kg ( 2.75 lbs)
- Pack Size: 40 x 15 cm (16 x 6 in)
- 1 entrance
- 1 vestibule
- Single arch construction
- Very light construction
- Easy set-up
- Siliconized on both sides
Best For
Hiking, backpacking
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
4 Person Vaude Campo Grande Eco Tent
This tent is the ideal companion for your next camping trip with friends or family. There is plenty of space for gear, cooking and eating in the large vestibules.
It also has reliable rain protection for when the weather starts to turn.
In addition, the top of the tent features a smart ventilation system that allows for an excellent microclimate to form inside the tent.
These eco tents of course also feature clever details such as inner tent pockets and storm proof guy lines, making this the perfect weatherproof companion for your next outdoor adventure.
Eco Tents Features:
- Tents weight: 4.8 kilograms (10 pounds)
- 2 entrances.
- 1 very roomy vestibule.
- Inner first construction.
- Comfortable entrance area.
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
2 Person Bushcraft Tarp Tent
This is for the minimalistic purists out there, an eco-friendly bushcraft tarp.
This tarp has only one trekking pole and can be used as an emergency shelter for 1 – 2 people.
The intelligent design allows for various setups. For example, the wings of the tarp can be folded and used as a floor. If the tarp is stretched out, it offers lots of space!
Additionally, it can be used as awning or connected to almost all Vaude tents to extend the vestibule.
To protect the environment, the flysheet was made out of resource efficient/eco-friendly manufacturing up to standards of bluesign®
If you’d like to learn more about bushcraft, check out Bushcraft Boss. They write in-depth survival guides and keep up to date with the latest bushcraft skills/survival gear.
Eco Tarps Features
- Tarp weight: 490 g
- Sunshade function
- Universal connector for simple set up and take down, combines outer and inner tents, combines several tarps together to make a sun shade
- Survival Shelter function
- Tarp tent option by pitching with trekking poles
- Extension for all 2-3P trekking tents
This tent is available on Amazon. You can check it out here.
What Makes a Tent Eco-Friendly?
A good rule of thumb is companies that use recycled materials to create their products.
Using recycled materials such as polyester and nylon greatly reduces the plastic pollution that ends up in our oceans.
Read also: How are plastic bags made
Some brands like Vaude, also implement a strict environmental bluesign® into their products (Vaude has been doing this since 2001).
Bluesign® controls the entire textile manufacturing chain, reducing harmful effects on the environment and people. (Vaude is also the first outdoor company to receive the EMAS certification.)
Recyclable Cardboard Tents
Another cool sustainable idea, particularly for festival goers, are recyclable cardboard tents.
Companies like Kartent are paving the way for this out of the box idea!
Their philosophy is: “We strive to make our world a better place by looking at materials in a renewed way. We believe too many products are being created without thinking about the end of life scenario. Our products are designed exactly with this in mind.”
Interested in a cardboard tent for your next festival, get in touch with Kartent.
I hope this article inspired you to go eco-friendly with your next tent choice. Let’s face it, it’s completely counterintuitive to enjoy nature and destroy it at the same time.
Let me know of any other eco-conscious tent brands in the comments section below. If they are indeed deemed eco-friendly, I’ll add them to this list to share with our readers!
Further Reading:
- How to be a responsible tourist
- 10 Mountain biking benefits
- How to navigate without GPS
- How to keep warm in a tent
- What is the goal of wildlife conservation
