Five feet wide, planted through a night of cold rain, and the toughest floor on a budget. The Lynx 2 is the tent we'd start a beginner in. It scores 75 out of 100 and ranks #8 in our best backpacking tents guide as our best budget tent.
Best Budget Tent
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2
- Weight (our scale): 5 lb 14 oz packed
- Floor: 90 x 60 in
- Pad fit (our test): two 25 in pads, 10 in spare
- Doors: 2
Bottom Line : The roomiest tent we tested, five feet wide, and planted through cold rain on the Superior Hiking Trail. Heavy, and the stakes bend.
Pros
- Five feet wide: the biggest floor here
- Stayed planted in persistent cold rain
- Low condensation with two vented vestibules
- Tough floor
Cons
- 5 lb 14 oz
- Supplied steel stakes bent in rocks
On the Superior Hiking Trail
Emma used the Lynx on the Superior Hiking Trail, Minnesota, in late September, on root-strewn camps in cold, persistent rain. The fly handled the overnight rain without a drip.
The crossover dome stayed planted, and the two vented vestibules kept condensation low.
At 90 x 60 inches it's five feet wide: two 25 inch pads fit with 10 inches of spare floor between them. The 75D floor came through unmarked. It pitched in 3 minutes 15 seconds.
Where It Asks Something of You
It's heavy at 5 lb 14 oz packed, an absolute unit in the pack. The supplied steel stakes bent as soon as they met rock, so budget for better ones.
Spec Sheet vs Our Test
5 lb 13 oz. ALPS lists 5 lb 13 oz total. Emma's scale said 5 lb 14 oz packed, so the figure is honest. It's still heavy for backpacking, and it's the main reason the Lynx sits mid-table despite its space and toughness.
Free-standing two-pole design for quick setup. ALPS promises quick setup. It took Emma 3 minutes 15 seconds, mid-pack in our test.
Base 7 ft 6 in x 5 ft. The floor is as big as claimed, and the largest in our test. Two 25 inch pads fit with 10 inches of spare floor between them. If you're new to backpacking and nervous about cramped tents, this is the one that won't feel tight.
Should You Buy the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2?
Yes, if you're starting out on a tight budget and don't walk far. It's roomy, tough and stays put in a storm.
If you want light on a budget, the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 is 2 lb lighter, but far tighter inside. For short walks, the Lynx is the better tent.
Compare With
- NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P: our best overall backpacking tent.
- MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2: our highest-rated tent.
- Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2: our most livable for the weight.
- Sea to Summit Telos TR2 Plus: our best for wind and wet shoulder seasons.
- Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 2: our best for short walk-ins and dogs.
- MSR Elixir 2: our most durable.
- Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2: our lightest two-person tent.
- Kelty Late Start 2P: our fastest pitch.
- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1: our best solo tent.
- Naturehike Cloud Up 2: our best budget ultralight.
See all 11, and how we tested them, in our best backpacking tents guide. For family and car-camping tents, start at our camping tents hub.
Editor's Note, 17 October 2026: New review, from the field notes of Emma, who tested this tent for our backpacking tent guide and weighed it on her own scale.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested by Emma Williams.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and sets the rule the site runs on: we buy what we test, and we say what we found.
- Ryan Williams, Lead Tester. Ryan reviewed the rankings against Emma's notes and agreed the Dagger belongs at #1.
- Emma Williams, Editor and Tester. Emma leads our tent, camp kitchen and footwear testing, mostly in wet weather, and tested every tent in this guide.
