Best Tent For Year-Round Living | Our Top 6 Picks | 2021

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This is a review of the best tent for year-round living.

We are a family of four who has been camping for our whole lives, so we understand what’s important when it comes to choosing the best tent for year-round living. 

If you’re in a hurry and want our top pick, then we recommend the TETON Sports Sierra 16 Canvas Tent. It’s spacious, allows you to stand up, and only takes 30 minutes to set up.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the best tents to live in. We will also explain what you should look for when buying one.

6 Best Tents For Year-Round Living

Teton Sports Sierra Canvas Tent (Most Spacious)

Danchel Outdoor Lightweight Teepee (Best For Travelling In)

Vidalido Dome Camping Tent (Easiest To Set-Up)

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent (Best At Staying Dry)

White Duck Canvas Bell Tent (Best For Living In One Location)

Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent (Includes A Lighting System)

1.TETON Sports Sierra 16 Canvas Tent

When you’ve had enough of ordinary life and decide to live off the land, you will need a tent that has enough space to move around in. 

That’s why we’ve chosen the Teton Sports Sierra 16 Tent as our best tent for year-round living.

Not only do you get a ton of space to move around, but the center height gives you plenty of room to stand up in. There’s no point living in a tent where you can’t even stand up!

You can expect this tent to take anywhere from 30-45 minutes to set up. As you get to grip with the process, you can bring this time down to around 20 minutes.

The spacious design means you can turn this tent into a mini-home. There’s space for mattresses, tables, and cabinets.

One customer even installed a wood burner inside!

With all this extra space, you’re sure to attract attention from passerby’s, wanting to find out more information about the tent. 

While it’s loved by many throughout America, there are some downsides that caught our attention.

Due to the large size, some campsites may not allow this tent; however, if you’re wild camping, you shouldn’t have any issues (permitted you’re following your state laws)

Also, it can get a little hot in the sun. The good news is though, it won’t take long to cool down after sunset.

Pros:

• Spacious
• You can stand up
• Space for beds and cabinets
• Can connect a lamp to the center pole
• Takes 30 minutes to set up

Cons:

• Gets a little hot when it’s sunny
• Some campsites don’t allow large tents

2.Danchel Outdoor Lightweight Teepee

The Danchel Outdoor Lightweight Teepee may look difficult to set up, but it’s surprisingly easy. One person can have this tent set up and ready to go in only 15 minutes.

If your new life is going to involve lots of traveling, then this tent is perfect.

The inside has enough room to stand up and move around in, which is essential if you’re going to be living in it.

While all this extra space is great, there is only one storage pocket to keep your small personal belongings. You could say this doesn’t matter because you’ll have plenty of floor space.

However, if you’re anything like us, you like to keep the floor free from clutter. Luckily, the sheer size of this tent means you’ll be able to bring a small cabinet with you.

What’s more, a heavy storm is no match for this tent. The outside is made from PU coated Oxford, which is waterproof.

Similar to the Teton Sports Sierra 16, this tent can become hot inside when it’s sunny out, so depending on the weather, you may need to bring a fan with you.

The stakes included aren’t very durable either, so you may need to purchase some stronger ones separately, especially if you’re camping on hard ground.

Pros:

• Fast set up
• Can stand up
• Space to move around
• Waterproof
• Can hold 5 people

Cons:

• Stakes included aren’t the best
• Only one storage pocket

3. Vidalido Dome Camping Tent

The Vidalido Dome Camping ten will be sure to attract the attention of fellow campers. It’s got plenty of space and allows you to stand up fully; however, due to it being tapered towards the top, it’s difficult for multiple people to stand up at the same time.

For this reason, we don’t recommend it if you’re camping with more than three people.

It’s super easy to put up, as long as you have experience pitching tents. The reason we say this is because the instruction manual isn’t the easiest to understand.

However, once you get the hang of it, it shouldn’t take any longer than 10 minutes. We recommend attaching the cap and rainfly before you raise the pole, otherwise, you may have a difficult time reaching if you’re on the smaller side.

Now you know why we love this tent, let’s talk about some common downsides.

We noticed that there were a few complaints about the tent pegs. They are cheaply made and don’t secure your tent as well as they should. 

Luckily, we’ve created an article that outlines the best tent pegs. 

Click here to check it out!

What’s more, the only ventilation you get is from the large front door. In future models, we’d love to see an opening or window at the back, providing a nice cross breeze in hot weather.

Pros:

• It looks great and will attract the attention of fellow campers
• Allows you to stand up and move around, making you feel more at home
• It shouldn’t take any longer than 10 minutes to set up once you get the hang of it
• Great for up to three people

Cons:

• The instruction manual is difficult to understand and proves worthless
• The tent pegs are cheaply made, so we’d recommend buying our own

4.Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent

The main reason we recommend this tent for year-round living is because it does an outstanding job at staying dry in harsh weather conditions. 

In fact, one customer encountered a storm while camping at a campsite. All the other tents were damaged and blown over, while the Kodiak Flex-Bow tent was undamaged.

What’s more, at some point during the year, you’re likely to encounter cold weather; however, cold weather is no match for the Kodiak Flew-Bow Tent.

There are ventilation windows at the top, meaning you can install a heater without causing the tent to become overly hot.

Alternatively, if you’re camping in hot weather, you can unzip the windows to provide ventilation. It doesn’t have the best ventilation in the world, but enough to keep you cool when it matters.

Setting this tent up is super-easy, and can be done by one person. This is great if you’re going to be living in it full-time and want to move around to different places.

Although this tent is great, we did find a few downsides.

Here they are…

While this tent is easy to set up, it’s extremely heavy. This makes it harder to transport if you want to travel between campsites.

Also, it takes a little longer for the outside to dry after heavy rain. This shouldn’t be an issue if you’re staying in one place but may pose a problem if you want to move around, as we wouldn’t recommend storing it in the carry bag while wet.

Pros:

• Does a great job at keeping the rain out, which is perfect for year-round living 
• Ventilation windows on the roof allow heat to escape when using a heater, preventing the tent from becoming too hot
• This tent can be set up by one person, which is great for solo living

Cons:

• It’s heavier than other tents, making it more difficult to transport
• The outside takes longer to dry after heavy rainfall

5. White Duck Outdoors Premium Canvas Bell Tent

If you’re going to be living in the same location for long periods of time, then this tent is for you, due to it being heavier.

We call it a tent but it’s more like a mini-house.

The size alone will blow your mind, especially if you go for the 6-meter model.

It can withstand heavy rainfly and is well equipped to handle hot temperatures. If you find yourself getting hot, just open a few windows to let some air in.

What’s more, although we don’t recommend using this tent if you’re going to be living in a different location, the setup process is simple and takes about 45 minutes.

Upon arrival, this tent comes in two separate boxes. One of the boxes contains the canvas top, while the other contains the tools and bottom of the tent.

You’ll also get two carry bags included, allowing for easy transportation.

So how about the downsides?

In all honesty, there isn’t much at fault with the White Duck Canvas Bell Tent. The only thing we found was that one customer noticed some blue patches on the tent.

Pros:

• Very spacious, allowing you to fit a lot of appliances inside, which is what you need for year-round living
• It can handle the heat, thanks to the multiple windows that allow air to flow through
• The heavy-duty rainfly ensures you stay dry in harsh weather conditions
• It arrives well packaged, preventing the chance of it becoming damaged during transit

Cons:

• One customer noticed that there were blue markings on the tent

6.Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent

Not only is this tent spacious enough to live in, but it also has a large screen room, which is great for storing your equipment and personal belongings.

When inside the tent, you’ll be able to stand up fully, providing you’re not any taller than 6”2, in which case, we don’t recommend this tent for full-time living.

The bottom of the tent is made from a tarp material, so you’ll stay dry, even if the ground is covered in water.

However, that’s not the best thing about this tent.

The best thing is that it comes with a built-in LED lighting system, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own lantern. Operated by a battery unit, this lighting system can be changed between red or white light, allowing you to find equipment in the dark.

What’s more, if you’re going to be living in a hot area, it provides exceptional ventilation. You can open all five of the windows, or remove the rainfly, allowing air to circulate.

With all these amazing benefits, you may be wondering if there are any downsides associated with this tent.

And like all products, we’ve found some cons to keep in mind.

First of all, the rainfly doesn’t extend enough to protect the whole porch area. This means the screened porch can’t be used when it’s raining outside.

Unless you like getting wet!

Also, the screened porch doesn’t have flooring, causing water to gather, which isn’t ideal.

At least you know you’ll be protected inside the tent!

Pros:

• It has a large screen room where you can store your personal belongings
• Great tent to live in if you’re under 6”2, as you can stand up fully without crouching down
• It has five windows, making for great ventilation when it’s hot outside
• It has a built-in lighting system, meaning you won’t have to bring a lantern to illuminate the tent

Cons:

• The rainfly doesn’t protect the whole porch area, rendering it unless in bad weather
• The screened porch doesn’t have any flooring, increasing the chances of water gathering

How To Choose The Best Tent For Year-Round Living

Choosing a tent for full-time living is a little different than choosing a tent for a weekend away in the wilderness. There are more things you need to consider.

Let’s take a look at them below.

Size

The most important thing to look out for is size. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in a tent, then it needs to be big enough so you can move around freely.

The last thing you want is to spend months crammed into a small tent. Not only are you going to feel claustrophobic, but it will ruin the whole experience.

What’s more, when we talk about space, we’re also referring to the center height of the tent. For long-term living, you want a tent that you can stand up in.

You may think this isn’t important, but you try spending three months in a tent where you can’t stand up, then come back to us!

Weight

The weight of a tent is important, but only if you’re going to be moving around. If you’re going to stay in one spot, then there’s no point worrying about it.

For people that will be traveling between multiple locations, it’s essential to choose a tent that is lightweight, otherwise, you’re going to have a difficult time getting anywhere!

The amount of time you’re going to be traveling also plays a major factor in how heavy your tent is. If you’re going to be changing campsite every two months, then you can afford to go for a heavier tent.

On the flip side, if you’re traveling every week, then a lighter tent would be more suitable for you.

Environment

You need to consider the environment you’re going to be living in. Are you going to be camping in the snow? Rain? Sun?

All these things determine the best tent for year-round living. 

For example, if you’re camping in an area with heavy rain, then you need to make sure your tent can hold up in such weather.

Camping in a sunny climate means you’ll need a tent that has great UV protection and great ventilation.

Ideally, you should choose a tent that’s suitable for all three seasons. This ensures you’ll stay protected regardless of the weather.

FAQ

When somebody decides to leave the city and live a life in the wilderness, there are some common questions that pop up time and time again.

Here they are…

What Are The Benefits Of Living In A Tent Full Time?

Some people may consider living in a tent full-time a downside; however, we like to look at things differently.

Not only are you going to be saving a ton of money, but you’ll also have to learn to survive alone. When things go wrong, you’re not going to have anybody to turn to.

Unless you’re living in a tent with more people.

But even then, it’s going to be one hell of a challenge! Just imagine how much you’re going to learn about survival by living in a tent full time.

By the time you come back to civilization, your friends and family will be calling you Bear Grills!

What’s more, living in a tent full time is simple. The days where you had to get up, check emails, go to work, and pay bills are over.

You can spend your days doing whatever you want. 

Want to sunbathe? Go for a hike? Bathe in waterfalls?

Living in a tent full-time allows you to experience these things, without a worry in the world.

What Are The Different Types Of Tents You Can Live In?

Nowadays, there are lots of different tents on the market. Some of them are great for the Winter months, while others can remain standing in all seasons.

When looking for a tent to live in, a large pyramid or cabin tent is the best choice. These types of tents have a lot of headroom, allowing you to stand up and move around freely.

What’s more, they perform great when under stress from harsh weather.

Final Verdict

Throughout our research, we discovered that the TETON Sports Sierra 16 Canvas Tent is the best tent for year-round living. If you have any questions (or need further advice), don’t hesitate to get in contact by leaving a comment below.

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