A Comfortable Structure Tent Will Keep You Warm, Dry and Protected

If you plan on camping regularly, even in foul weather, a comfortable structure tent will keep you warm, dry and protected. Frame tents (or frameless tents) have tall perimeter legs that are spaced further apart than those of pole or dome tents and often lack a center pole. This allows for more livable interior space and taller ceilings. A structure tent is a bit more stable than a canopy or pole tent and can also accommodate heavier decorations, lighting, audio/video fixtures and fans.

For those who only camp casually or a few times a summer in fair conditions, you don't need the bells and whistles of many of these structures. Look instead to a simple, affordable tent like Coleman's Sundome 6, which has decent build quality for its $100 price tag and comes with an adequate rainfly.

More glampers will appreciate the luxurious features offered by REI's Wonderland X, which replaces its popular Kingdom tent. Like the Wawona above, it's able to withstand brutal wind (up to 50 mph), rain and snow with near-vertical walls and plenty of mesh for ventilation and stargazing. It's also loaded with storage thanks to multiple pockets and a convenient front vestibule, and it has enough coatings along its fly to fend off mildew and UV damage.

On the other hand, if you're a car camper who plans to hunker down in bad weather, check out Cabela's Alaskan Guide model, which boasts the toughest frame and full-coverage rainfly of all of these tents. It's able to withstand up to 50 mph winds, and its thick polyurethane floor and protective coatings make it more comfortable than a similar tent in better weather.

If you're looking for a structure tent that is more durable than either of these options, consider Allsite's Big Top, which offers a galvanized steel framework and can handle up to 120 mph winds. It's able to withstand all weather and is engineered for efficient heating and cooling. The Big Top also meets the rigorous requirements for a temporary structure in most areas, allowing it to bypass the need for an individual building permit.