TOAs we continue to analyze the results of the 2025 Appalachian Trail survey, we come to tents and shelters. First, we’ll look at the types and sizes of shelters hikers choose, how many people share tents with other humans and dogs, and then we’ll delve into the best brands and models we saw on the trail this year.
This year, we received 279 responses from the AT Class of 2025. If you’re using this as a resource to help plan your 2026 AT hike, be sure to sign up to take the survey yourself next year! Press the button below to be notified when the 2026 AT Thru-Hiker Survey opens for submissions so you can help the Class of 2027 in planning their trails.
Sign up to take the 2026 AT Thru-Hiker Survey!
Shelter type
Tents remain the most popular shelter option by a wide margin: 88% of participants in this year’s survey chose some type of tent. Hammocks were a distant second at 9% of hikers, although it is worth noting that hammock use nearly doubled from 5% in 2024 to 9% in 2025. The use of tarps and reliance solely on shelters and lodges along the trail remained unpopular.
Freestanding tents remain the most popular shelter option, used by two-thirds of hikers in 2025, while this year we saw a small decrease in the use of tents with trekking poles to 24% compared to 30% in 2024). The growth in the use of hammocks seems to largely explain this difference.
READ NEXT – Best Tents & Shelters on AT in 2024: 2024 AT Thru-Hiker Survey
We asked hikers if they replaced their shelter along the trail and, if so, whether they stuck with the same model or switched to another. The vast majority (80%) of respondents did not change their shelter system during their hike, and the majority of hikers who did Switch opted for a completely new model or even changed it completely with a new type of shelter.
Many hikers who changed shelters cited issues with customer service, durability, and availability as reasons for switching. Some responses we heard were:
“Difficulty reaching MSR when tent poles broke.”
«The REI tent did not hold up to wear and tear like other brands.»
«I wanted a Durston Mid
Shelter size
When we look at shelter size, 54% of this year’s respondents used a 1-person shelter and 39% used a 2-person shelter. Only 7% of hikers chose to hike with a shelter for more than 3 people.
However, of the few hikers who opted for a 3+ person shelter, over 90% shared the space with at least one other occupant (either human or dog). Similarly, about three-quarters of the two-person shelters in this year’s survey were occupied by a single person. 100% of the hikers who stayed in single-person shelters this year were the only occupants in that space (i.e., no one was tough enough to try to squeeze another person or pet into a single-person tent with them).
This is similar to what we have seen in previous years, where many people and especially couples choose to expand their shelter to get more space. Ultralight backpacking tents are known for being narrow to save weight: the average two-person shelter usually offers fair Enough space to place two mats.
If space and livability are important to you, this year’s results reinforce the notion that you may want to consider increasing the size of a tent, especially if you’ll be sharing the space with someone. Conversely, if you hike alone and are more concerned about weight efficiency, then like the small majority of this year’s class, you might be fine with a single-person shelter.
10′ x 12′ tarps were once again the most popular tarp size, as they have been for the past several years. Several hikers also opted for an 8 x 10 foot tarp, although the sample size of tarp users was small enough that these numbers are not particularly revealing. Very few people chose tarps that were 12 x 14 feet or larger.
Popular brands and models
Finally, we asked hikers to list their favorite brands and models they used. Durston was the most popular brand this year, once again eclipsing longtime champion Big Agnes. Brands that were reported by less than two people were added to the «Other» category.
Big Agnes maintained second place, while ZPacks remained a more distant third.
The most popular model was also for the Durston X-Mid, which swept away more than 50 people choosing some variant from that store. Most hikers preferred the one-person version.
One hiker reported starting with an X-Mid before switching to the X-Dome midway.
Big Agnes had a much more diverse performance on the road this year. The Copper Spur 2-Person Tent took first place, followed by the Tiger Wall 2-Person Tent. When we group together all the sizes of their tent variations, the Copper Spur is by far the most popular, followed by the Tiger Wall and the Fly Creek in a distant third place.
Zpacks also saw a clear favorite in its models: the Duplex was by far the most reported model, especially once we took into account variations like the Duplex Lite and Duplex L (a version of the tent for taller people).
Listed below are the top brands and then the best models by capacity, along with a summary table showing the overall rankings for each model.
The best AT camping tents by brand
The best AT tents by model
The table below shows the overall popularity of each of the best tent models. In general, users were quite satisfied with these models, which is reflected in the fact that most hikers did not change their tents during their hikes.
The best models of tents for one person
1. Durston Gear X-Mid 1 (20) – Average satisfaction: 9.45/10
2. Durston Gear X-Mid Pro 1 (13) – Average satisfaction: 8.92/10
3. Gossamer gear the one (13) – Average satisfaction: 7.62/10
4. HV UL 1 copper spur (3) – Average satisfaction: 9.00/10
5. Zpacks Plex Solo (3) – Average satisfaction: 7.33/10
The best models of tents for two people
1. Duplex Zpacks (25) – Average satisfaction: 8.56/10
2. HV UL2 Copper Spur (18) – Average satisfaction: 9.06 / 10
3. Durston X-One 2 (16) – Average satisfaction: 9.13 / 10
4. Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (14) – Average satisfaction: 8.54 / 10
5. Durston X-Mid Pro 2 (13) – Average satisfaction: 8.38 / 10
6. Nemo Hornet Osmo 2P (11) – Average satisfaction: 8.55/10
The best models of tents for three people
1. Big Agnes HV UL3 Copper Spur (7) – Average satisfaction: 8.86/10 
2. Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 (5) – Average satisfaction: 7.20/10
3. Zpacks Triplex (3) – Average satisfaction: 9.50/10
Main brands and models of hammocks
Only about two dozen hikers reported using a hammock this year—less than 10% of those surveyed. The main brands reported were war cap and ENO hammocks. There were not enough responses to obtain meaningful information about the hammock models used from each brand.
Summary
- Most hikers use tents for shelter; The use of tents with trekking poles decreased compared to previous years.
- Those hiking with a dog or their partner are even more likely than average hikers to choose a 2+ person tent.
- Issues with durability and customer service were common comments hikers made about their tent models.
- There weren’t many hammock or tarp users this year, but the most common tarp size was 10′ x 12′.
- The most popular tent brand was Durston Gear, with the Durston Gear X-Mid 1 being the most popular overall tent model.
Thank you!
Congratulations to all of the Appalachian Trail hikers this year and many thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. Future posts will detail backpacks, shelter systems, sleeping bags, and stoves/filters for AT hikers.
To stay up to date on the latest survey posts, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter And, if this survey helps you plan your 2026 hike, be sure to sign up now to take the survey at the end of your hike!
Sign up to take the 2026 AT Thru-Hiker Survey!
Cover image: Graphic design by Chris Helm.
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