Adventure 16 Blog » 3-season vs. 4-season tents

A friend called me the other day while he was gearing up for the winter season. He asked me the difference between a 3-season and 4-season tent.

“The only difference looks like the price,” he said.

None of my friends (who are all backpackers) who were in the car while I took the call knew the difference between the two types of tents and I only knew a few of the differences.

So I called Jim Sapere, manager of Adventure 16 in Torrance, to get the low down on 3- vs. 4-season tents. Sapere provided a few key differences between the two types of tents and some things to think about when buying a winter tent:

- Four-season tents usually have 1-2 more poles than 3-season tents to provide extra stability in high winds and structural stability for snow build-up on the walls and ceilings.

- Four-season tents generally have less mesh. Less mesh makes the tent less susceptible to wind.

- Extra poles and less mesh make most 4-season tents heavier than 3-season tents.

- Some four-season tents have a styrofoam insert between the wall of the tent and the fly to prevent the build up of ice and condensation.

- Four-season tents are considerably more expensive than three-season tents. You should consider buying a four-season tents if you plan on backpacking in high altitudes with extreme weather, going on extended backpacking trips in the winter where you will be hunkered down in your tent for extended periods or if you plan on embarking on many winter trips during the year to justify the cost.

- Some three-season or three-season plus tents like The North Face Tadpole 23 ($239) work well in cold winter weather, but may not be as stable as a four-season tent in high winds or heavy snow.

Before you purchase a tent, it’s always good to consult an Adventure 16 employee to find the best tent for you and your planned trips.

- Brian Quines