When purchasing a tent one of the most important things is for it not to leak when it rains. You might expect all tents sold would be completely waterproof, however this is not the case. Giving consideration to a tents condensation level is another important aspect. A tent may not leak in the rain however you can still feel clammy and damp if the tent is not well ventilated. Keep in mind that a single wall tent is going to have more condensation than a double walled tent.
The following is a list of tents that have a reputation for not leaking. I have also included tents that have known issues with leaking and condensation. This is so you can make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing one of these tents. Even if a tent has a good reputation you can still purchase the odd one that leaks. The reverse is also the case, you can purchase or own a tent that has a reputation for leaks but not experience any issues. If you are searching for a tent to purchase this chart can provide a good starting point so that you can narrow your search down.
| Tent Make | Price | Set up | Leaks? | Condensation | Known Issues |
| Klymit Maxfield 2 | high | hard | none | not an issue | Door doesn’t zip all the way down, tie down points come loose |
| Nemo Hornet 1 | high | easy | Head area can “wet out” (minor) | minor | Fly Can “wet out” in heavy rain if touch will leak through |
| Gazelle T4 | low | medium | known to leak varies from tent to tent | minor if vents open | wall can collapse in high winds |
| Zpacks Duplex | high | medium | none | moderate | not enough guy lines |
| Alps Mount- aineering Lynx 1 | low | medium | none | minor | Ventilation poor, Velcro straps too long, not enough guy lines |
| Sierra Designs Clearwing 2 | medium | easy | none | very minor | |
| Alps Mount-aineering Zephyr 1 | low | easy | minor leaking at seams | minor | Opening door lets water drip through zipper |
| Sierra Designs Divine Light 1 FL | medium | easy | none (zipper leak in heavy rain) | moderate to high | Single walled tent, zipper can leak |
| Sierra Designs Crescent 2 | low | moderate | Leaks through material | moderate | tent is not waterproof |
| Big Agnes Happy Hooligan UL2 | medium | easy | none | not an issue | |
| Big Agnes Slater UL2 | medium | easy | none | minor | zipper gets tangled in material, struggles in high winds |
| Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 | high | easy | none | no known issues | |
| Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 | high | easy | none | not an issue | guy lines too short on some models, zipper guards get caught in zipper |
| Teton Sports Mountain ultra 1 | low | easy | none | minor | some water pooling on roof meaning potential for leaks |
| OneTigris Outback Retreat | medium | medium | it leaks at the seams | minor when canopy open | water pools when canopy out, needs more stakes included |
| OneTigris Bungalow | low | medium | none | moderate | |
| OneTigris Tangram | low | medium | minor leak at seams in heavy rain | moderate | |
| Wildlands UL2 | medium | easy | none | minor | |
| Snugpak Ionos– phere | low | easy | none | moderate | bivvy tent small for tall people |
| Tarptent Double Rainbow Lithium | high | moderate | none | moderate- high | can struggle high winds |
| Hilleberg Nammatj 2 | high | medium | none | minor | 4 season tent not suitable for hot weather, not free standing |
| Eureka Solitaire tent AL | low | medium | none | minor | |
| River Country Trekker 2.2 | low | easy | leaks | moderate | |
| Sierra Designs Convert 2 | High | Hard | none | not an issue | |
| REI Flash Air 1 | medium | easy | none | moderate – high | |
| REI Quarter Dome 1 | medium | easy | none | not an issue |