Is one of your favorite things about camping lying on the ground, gazing up at the stars on a clear night? Perhaps you love to look out for shooting star in the milky way, that you can wish on? If you’re looking for a tent that has a window or flap on the top, which can be opened for stargazing, then read on. This article will give you details of the best tents for stargazing.
Top Five Tents for Stargazing
Here’s our hand picked list of the best tents for stargazing. If you’re in a hurry, you can use our quick picks box directly below.
Quick Picks
[amazon table=”290″]
Top Pick One: CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent – 14’ x 9’
[amazon box=”B00VFH1RQS”]
If you’re looking for a large family tent and you want to teach the kids about the stars and the milky way, the CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent may be for you. This tent has a rainfly that can be removed on warm summer nights to reveal views of the stars through a ceiling panel.
This CORE instant cabin tent is simple to put up and is big enough to sleep a large family of up to nine people. The tent is very durable, waterproof, and can stand up to strong winds. It also has an advanced venting system, which helps air to circulate through the rooms naturally. Other features include an adjustable air intake vent and a large mesh ceiling.
Pro’s
- Can be instantly set up in just 60 seconds.
- Sleeps nine people and has a center height of 78”
- Has adjustable ground vents
- Includes a room divider
- Features storage pockets to keep personal items off the floor
- Has an electrical cord access port
- Comes with a rain fly, stakes, and a carry bag for storage
Con’s
- The zippers are a bit fiddly. The fabric is also prone to being caught in the zipper, which causes it to jam.
Top Pick Two: TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent
[amazon box=”B00JSPB8E0″]
The TETON Sports tent is very comfortable and is designed to withstand all types of weather. It comes with a fully waterproof rain fly and has a well-designed stay dry system and also has adequate ventilation.
This fantastic dome tent also has a rainfly, which, when removed, will reveal a mesh top that allows you to view the Milky Way from the comfort of your sleeping bag. The tent is very lightweight and easy to set up, making it perfect for hiking and backpacking.
Pro’s
- Available in a variety of sizes to sleep between one and four people
- Built-in ventilation system
- Fully waterproof and wind-resistant
- Has a gear loft and storage pockets
- Very simple to set up
Con’s
- Not much room for gear, other than small personal items.
Top Pick Three: Teton Sports Mountain Ultra Tent; Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B00JSPB8CM”]
The Teton Sports Mountain Ultra Tent is perfect for the single hiker or backpacker who wants to watch the stars. It’s very durable and lightweight, which allows you to carry it easily while hiking. This tent has a total weight of 3.3 pounds.
If you’re planning to use this tent for stargazing, you’ll have to remove the outer rainfly, which will give you amazing 360 views of the surrounding area. The tents inside layer is made from mesh which will keep out insects and allow you to watch the sky.
This tent also has a vestibule where you can store your bags.
Pros
- There’s an inside, micro-mesh layer which reduces condensation and keeps out insects
- This tent is very durable and has heat taped seams to make it wind resistant.
- A very spacious tent considering it only sleeps one.
- Comes with a storage bag
- Has a roof loft where you can store extra gear
Cons
- The vestibule doesn’t have a floor
- There aren’t any windows
Top Pick Four: Kelty Unisex’s TN 3 Dome Tent, Green, 3 Person
[amazon box=”B078XXPDVF”]
Kelty Unisex’s TN 3 Dome Tent is great for stargazing as it has a rollback rain fly, which is also completely removable. If you decide to take the rain fly off, you’ll have a 360-degree view of the milky way. This tent is also available as a two-person, which would be a great tent for a romantic night watching the stars.
The Kelty unisex tent is easy to put up and comes with a storage bag. It’s lightweight and hardwearing. The packed weight is 4.9 pounds, so it’s also perfect for hiking.
Pro’s
- Has a rollback stargazing fly
- Easy to set up has a compact folding pole
- Comes with a carrying bag
- Uses hug-clip technology for easy assembly
Con’s
- The guide lines aren’t strong enough if it’s windy.
Top Pick Five: MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Person Backpacking Tent
[amazon box=”B00G7H9CAY”]
If you’re looking for a romantic hideaway where you can spend the night star gazing with your significant other, you may like to consider the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Person Backpacking Tent. This tent has a rain fly that can be rolled back or removed to reveal an inner mesh through which you can watch the milky way.
This tent has been made with quality in mind, its hard wearing and is made from a rip-stop nylon. It weighs just 3 pounds 7 ounces, which is great if you’re planning to walk around until you find the best stargazing spot.
Pro’s
- Has a large see-through mesh top: great for stargazing
- The poles are made with durable aluminum
- It’s a spacious tent
- Two large vestibules
Con’s
- Hard to set up on windy days
The Best Tents for Stargazing: Buying Guide
There are many tents on the market which have been designed explicitly for stargazing. These types of tents will have a window or a removable panel in the ceiling through which you can view the milky way. Most tents have a rain fly and an inside mesh layer. If your tents like this, you can remove the outer rain fly, and you’ll be able to stargaze. Just remember to put the rainfly back on before your family goes to sleep; otherwise, you’ll get wet if it rains during the night.
If there’s a clear night predicted and no rain has been forecast, you may decide to sleep with the rain fly off your tent for the whole night. This will provide you with greater ventilation and is excellent if you’re camping in a hot climate.
See Also: Best Tent for Summer Camping and Hot Weather
There are a few things that you should consider if you’re looking to purchase a tent for stargazing. As with choosing any tent, you need to consider its size and the material it’s made from. Stargazing tents are available in a variety of sizes, from tiny one-person tents to large family-sized cabin tents.
This is great if you want to show your kids the milky way and teach them about star constellations. Stargazing is educational and can help smaller children to practice their counting. Older kids and teenagers will enjoy learning about the constellations, and this will fire up their imaginations. Kids love to explore the natural environment and will be amazed by how many stars they can see, especially if you usually live in a city with light pollution.
Looking at the stars is romantic, so you may like to choose a two-person, star gazing tent and take your partner camping. Watching the stars and looking for shooting stars with your significant other is very romantic and will allow you to talk and grow closer.
Conclusion
You should use the above information as a guide to help you choose the best stargazing tent. You’ll need to make sure that the tent you choose has an adequate opening, which is covered in mesh as this will allow you to see the stars while at the same time keep insects out.
You should also choose a tent that’s durable in case you’re stargazing on a windy night—watching the stars can be a very peaceful and relaxing experience.
Don’t forget to make a wish if you see a shooting star!