Your order includes:
- Hogback fly
- Hogback partial solid interior
- Your choice of arch pole type
- Six 7.88-inch / 20 cm aluminum DAC J stakes
- Tent bag
- Stake bag
- Emergency pole splint
- Seam sealing kit
Designed by and for the hiking family, the patented Hogback sleeps four and weighs in at just 3.5 lbs / 1588 g, resulting in one of the lightest and most compact family tents on the market. It is also a great option for even just two people who want a bit more space.
Updated for 2026: New lighter fabrics resulting in a ~8 oz /Â 227 g weight reduction.Â
Key Features:
- Ultralight 100% silicone-coated 15D high tenacity polyester fly and 20D floor fabrics.Â
- Room for four and users up to 6 ft 4 in / 1.93m.
- Double-walled with dual doors and vestibules, a partial solid interior, fly first pitch.
- Optional crossing pole for additional support.Â
- The fly is made with 15D 100% silicone-coated ripstop high tenacity polyester (5000mm+) for lightweight an sag-free performance.
- The floor is made with 20D 100% silicone-coated ripstop high tenacity polyester (5000mm+) for enhanced durability.
- Premium components: DAC aluminum or Tarptent carbon fiber poles, YKK zippers, Tarptent UltraPE cording, magnetic door ties
- Double-walled with a partially solid interior. Dual doors and vestibules.
- Fits sleeping 4 pads up to 20 in / 50.8 cm wide each, and users up to 6 ft 4 in / 1.93m.
- Large 86″ x 86″ / 2.18m x 2.18m floor space sleeps 4 adults comfortably
- Arch poles pack to less than or equal to 16.5Â in / 42 cm.
- Fast and stable 6 stake fly first pitch.
- Large and adjustable high and low venting options, including side “windows”.Â
- Integrated interior pockets and overhead clips.Â
- Fly can completely roll back for views and ventilation.
- Low fly edge blocks wind and rain splashes.
- Vestibules shield up to 4 small upright packs or two large packs lying down.
- Patented PitchLocâ„¢ strut-supported corners minimize footprint while increasing interior space, stability, and ventilation.Â
- Optional crossing pole for additional support.Â
- Seam sealing kit included at no extra cost.
General:
-
- Sleeps: 4
- Seasons: 3+
Minimum Weight: 51.7 oz / 1466 g (with carbon fiber arch pole; no bags or stakes)
Typical Weight: 56 oz / 1588 g (with carbon fiber arch pole, all bags, and stakes)
-
- Hogback fly, corded with struts : 25.7 oz / 729 g
- Hogback partial solid interior: 20.5 oz / 581 g
- Arch and crossing poles:
- Carbon Fiber (8.8mm):Â Tarptent 8.8mm carbon fiber arch poles = 5.5 oz / 156 g
- Aluminum (9.3mm): DAC NFL 9.3 aluminum arch pole = 7.5 oz / 213 g
- Aluminum (10.65mm): DAC PL 10.65 aluminum arch pole = 9.1 oz / 258 g
- Tent bag: 0.8 oz / 23Â g
- Stake bag: 0.2 oz / 6 g
- Stakes: Six 7.88-inch aluminum DAC J stakes: 0.55 oz / 16 g (each) = 3.3 oz / 94 g (total)
Dimensions:
-
- Interior Height: 48 in / 122 cm
- Floor Width: 86 in / 218 cm
- Floor Length: 86 in / 218 cm
- Packed size : 18 in x 5 in / 51 cm x 13 cm
Materials/Components:
-
- Fly Material: 15D nano ripstop 100% silicone coated polyester rated to over 5,000mm hydrostatic head, forest green
- Floor Material: 20D nano ripstop 100% silicone coated polyester rated to over 5,000mm hydrostatic head, grey
- Fly Zippers: YKK #3 Aquaguard waterproof, dual pull
- Mesh: 15D nylon no-see-um mesh
- Solid Fabric: Breathable and windproof 10D ripstop polyester
- Cording/Guyline: Tarptent UltraPE cording
- Rigid Struts: Ten 18 in /46 cm pultruded carbon fiber, made in USA
- Arch and crossing poles:
- DAC NFL 9.3: 9.3mm diameter 7000 series aluminum alloy
- DAC PL 10.65: 10.65mm diameter 7000 series aluminum alloy
- Tarptent 8.8mm carbon fiber: 8.8mm diameter carbon fiber composite with carbon fiber inserts
Does this tent require seam sealing?
- Yes, this tent utilizes 100% silicone-coated fabrics, which require seam-sealing with the included kit. Please read our buyer’s guide section on seam-sealing for more information and guides.
Do I need trekking poles?
- No, but trekking poles can be used to provide additional support.
Can this tent be freestanding?
- No, this tent is staked.
Does this tent accommodate tall people?
- We recommend this tent for people up to 6 ft 7 in / 2 m
Are there additional tie out points for extra staking?
- Yes, there are additional pullouts along the arch and on the sides.Â
Which pole type should I choose?
- Our carbon fiber poles are exceptionally light but are the most flexible of our pole options due to their smaller diameter. They are great for moderate conditions where weight is a priority over wind performance. Due to their brittleness, carbon fiber poles have lower durability than aluminum.Â
- DAC 9.3 NFL poles are heavier but also much stiffer and a bit stronger than our carbon fiber poles due to their larger diameter. We recommend DAC 9.3 poles for most users as they are a good balance of weight, stiffness, and durability. Aluminum poles have much better durability than carbon fiber poles due to their bend-before-break characteristic.Â
- DAC 10.65 PL poles are the heaviest, but also the stiffest and strongest poles we offer. They are recommended for users who expect extreme wind or snow loading.
Do I need a groundsheet?
- Probably not. 20D sil-nylon is very durable compared to many ultralight floor materials, and in most conditions, a groundsheet is just additional weight. A groundsheet is recommended for use on highly abrasive and/or sharp ground, such as on sandstone or when pitching on sharp rocks/sticks.Â
How do I avoid condensation?
- ALL tents suffer from condensation in the right/wrong conditions but there are steps you can take to limit it. Try to avoid camping overnight in cool, damp environments such as river valleys, meadows, marshes and next to water. If possible, choose an elevated campsite with a bit of a breeze and preferably under a tree canopy. Â Please refer to the Choosing a Better Campsite video to better understand how to avoid condensation.
More info to come:
2026 July
- Lighter weight 15D sil-poly fly and 20D sil-poly floor
- Simplified strut installation
2024
- 20D sil-poly fly (was 30D sil-nylon)
- Lower fly edge
- Added end vents
- Partial solid interior as standard
9 reviews for Hogback
Hogback
$549.00
Brynn D. –
Hello Henry
I wanted to thank you for all your help and generocity with your time. Our family greatly appreciates it. We LOVE our Hogback. My husband used to be a buyer for Neil’s Gap on the Appalachian Trail and is a bit hard to please (he’s a total gear snob). He is also 6’4" and that makes for a bit of a cramped tent for him. Add in a 220 lb Mastiff, a 40 lb Doberman-mutt, a 7 year old, and myself and you have a bit of an interesting situation to try and gear up for. As a long distance backpacking family, we are all thoroughly happy with what you guys have done.
Happy Holidays!
Thanks Again,
Brynn Dahlquist
White Salmon, WA
Chris Watton –
Hello,
I ordered a Hogback tent from you in the spring, and have had a couple adventures in the Rockies with it. Also spent a couple weekends out camping near Fort McMurray, and camped at a huge outdoor rock festival outside of Edmonton. Just to let you know that I am extremely pleased with this tent. What was odd is that considering I live in a very remote location in Northern Alberta the tent arrived less than a week after you shipped it. That is unusually fast for Canada Post, I was actually shocked.
I went on two backpacking trips with the Hogback as our shelter. First trip was the Skyline Trail near Jasper, AB and the second one was on the historic Berg Lake Trail around Mount Robson, BC (Wow is the only way to describe that trail). I noticed a big weight savings from our previous tent (a Marmot limelight 3p – 7lbs) not to mention it packed down into a tiny bundle. We ran into heavy rains and strong winds with no problems whatsoever. The optional cross pole worked great, it helped keep the tent rigid in even the biggest gusts. It was my first time ever seam-sealing a tent, but I guess I did a good enough job as on both treks nothing inside the tent even got damp. Even though we needed a trench at one campground to divert water away from running directly under the tent from poorly located tent pads, we stayed dry and warm inside the tent. One thing that I really enjoyed about the tent was that in high winds, the fabric came close enough to the ground that it wouldn’t draw heat out and allow moisture to blow in from the outside. The old Marmot Limelight was very ‘airy’ with a couple of spots where the wind would easily sail right through bringing cold rain with it.
Setup is a breeze, and though I haven’t tried to go for your 2-minute time I could get it up fast in a storm without any drama. The carbon fiber posts in the corners are a brilliant design. We slept three of us on the second trip in the Rockies to Mount Robson plus our gear. It was a little squishy as my tentmates were a good bit bigger than me, so we put our bags under a siltarp for the rest of the trip. That made the tent very roomy for three.
Needless to say I haven’t felt more confident about my choice of tent. Thanks for making an outstanding product.
Thanks again!
Cheers,
Chris Watton
Daniel Nye (verified owner) –
Love this tent. We use it for our family of four – two adults and two kids fit fine, and I bet even four adults would fit since we use wide pads anyway. As the “pack mule”, dad here has to carry the shelter. Before this purchase, that meant I had to carry two shelters at a weight of about 9 pounds total. This tent really weighs in at 1935 grams total on my scale – thats EVERYTHING – sack, stakes, lines, and poles. Setup is easy enough, but can be a little finicky like most modern shelters. Negatives – not much vestibule space, if any. Ive started bringing a small tarp to set up and put all our gear under. I’m not sure how much of a negative this is, as there really are not any 4-person lightweight shelters out there that have a giant vestibule to hold four packs anyway, and the tarp has other uses such as sun shelter for our relaxing hammock (keeps kids occupied). Anyway, thank you tarptent. Worth every penny.
Scott (verified owner) –
I have the hogback and have used it several times, including twice backpacking with my family of four. It is plenty big for four as long as you’re family. For non related persons I would say that three is probably the max. The tent is probably one the best tents for backpacking, especially if you like some space. It works great for car camping too. The walls are near vertical and there is room at your feet inside for packs using regular sized sleeping pads. It’s best use is for two persons and it’s like a palace. It weighs less than my first 2 person backpacking tent, the north face flint 2. The flint has since died, but the hogback is still going strong. The only maintenance I’ve done after several years is the replace the pole which developed a slight bend. The hogback is a true tent with full bug and rain protection and no condensation issues. The weight of the tent is awesome and the packability is excellent. The durability of the tent is excellent and it goes up easily even with one person, which is not the case with most four person tents. I highly recommend it.
Tim Nelson –
Our family of 4 has used this tent everywhere from camping on the beach in NC to platforms in the Presidential range in NH, canoe in swamp sites to above the tree line in the wind. Our youngest was 6 when we bought the tent, ready to get out and climb every mountain so long as her pack was sized appropriately. The Hogback fills an important part of our ability to get out. It packs as small and light as many 2 person tents, but has ample room for all of us. It goes up quickly and easily, since the fly and body are one piece -faster than most tents. And it’s trimmed nicely with details like reflective guy lines – why doesn’t everyone use those? Great tent!
Geoff (verified owner) –
Excellent tent option for a family of 4. I’m impressed with the pack size, it packs down to the same size as a lot of 2 person tents but has 4 times the space when set up. Very happy with the build quality and support from TarpTent when I had any questions. It was my first time seam sealing anything and it was easy enough.
Jonathan Hughes (verified owner) –
Absolutely love this tent. It is perfect for our family of 4 plus a dog. Initially got it for our family backpacking trips as it fits nicely inside my pack but it has become the go to for quick overnight car camp trips because it is so easy to set up and breakdown. It’s also bombproof. We were camping this past weekend with sustained gusts between 30-40 mph with peak gusts over 60 (68 mph was recorded at nearest weather station). Using the additional cross pole plus all 6 guy out points the tent barely moved. We knew it was windy but had no idea it was that windy based on how well the tent performed. My one recommendation would be to extend the rain fly all the way to the ground so items in the vestibule could more easily stay dry in the rain.
Nick V. (verified owner) –
It’s too bad the reviews aren’t more prominently displayed because I’m blown away by this tent! I’ve been camping with groups of 4-9 people in the BWCA for 20+ years (100+ trips). I’ve always used 4 person tents (3 adults or 1 adult with 3 kids) such as REI, MSR, and others (usually in the 7-8lb. range). They were fine and we stayed dry but none of them compares to the attention to detail on this tent (2024 version). I love everything about it. Favorites: easiest/fastest pitching (the interior is ATTACHED to the exterior fly!!, only 1 pole!), vertical side walls = more useable space and/or feet aren’t touching the mesh, in and out is easier with the smaller/more vertical vestibule (massive vestibules are WAY overrated), stitching/reinforcement areas are superior, sil-poly fly (!), fly sides are low to the ground but still has excellent ventilation that also keep out rain when open, zippers don’t snag, I could go on and on. This tent is worth every penny. It was absolutely designed by someone who actually CAMPS OUTSIDE. And on top of everything, it’s only 4 lbs 4oz WITH the stakes! It’s going to be really hard for me to resist the temptation to buy 1 or 2 more….
John I. (verified owner) –
Got my Hogback today and immediately set up. First impressions are I made a good choice! This may be the last tent I buy, since my body tells me it’s done with any significant backpacking, but hopefully I’ll be able to use it on canoe trips, small sailboat camping, and shorter hike-in sites for some years. Weight and size are impressive for what will be mostly a 2 person tent, saving me 9 oz over the smaller 3p one it’s replacing.
Setup and takedown were easy, hardest part is threading/unthreading the long pole–not that it’s difficult, just not quite as smooth as the setup video. But I did get the larger diameter pole, which I’m guessing makes it just a bit stickier as the sleeve bunches up. I got a pretty good taut pitch on the first try; seems a little practice and/or futzing with the corners should make it picture perfect.
The weight is dead on the specs, 60 oz with the larger pole, bags, and stakes.
Space is great, plenty of headroom (I’m 6’0″), plenty of room for gear for 2 or 3. For 4, the small vestibules may be an issue, but personally I prefer the space be inside rather than under a vestibule, which attracted me to the design (for 2 or 3 people). I considered the Triple Rainbow DW as well, but chose the Hogback for interior space and the smaller footprint, versus a small weight penalty for my use.
As I age it gets harder and harder to crawl in and out of small tents and was a bit concerned about the entry/exit height. But the gently sloped walls of the doors actually make it easier than most vertical wall designs that are popular now (especially exiting).
Time will tell, but I’m trusting that this will hold up as well as my Saddle 2, which has been a perfect solo tent for me. Of all the tents I’ve owned over decades, Tarptent is the only brand I trust to go back to.