Skip to main content
Let's come clean. We all secretly love the overcast skies. It's a successfully mystical backdrop for the very natural Doug Firs and the very unnatural, LEED-certified Nordic condos. This is as close as America gets to a big city in Northern Europe. But summertime is now upon us, which means people are going to be doing all kinds of things outside that they normally reserve for a bedroom, with sleeping being the biggie.
But then there's the common misconception that you need a standard tent to do this. Believe it or not, some standard tent alternatives answer some questions you haven't asked, but that you really should have asked. And because you're unlikely to find shelter in an abandoned school bus like Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild, or whatever Reese Witherspoon slept in in Wild; we're here to help you get creative, save space and feel good about something in a world where mosquito bites make positivity impossible.
Nemo Apollo 3P Bikepacking Tent
Make your bike comfy for $249.95.
Who needs backpacking when you can go bikepacking. If you're looking for a weekend jaunt to the woods–or to a mountain town like Bend, the Nemo Apollo 3P comes with some great features. One of those is a bit unexpected; it's a tent without a floor. The reason why this is a solid idea: You can take your dog with you and you don't have to worry about it defecating in your tent. Other than that, this tent fits up to three people–or one person and a bike–and is as light as a feather and very easy to carry around. Assemblage is simple: a sewn-in cord does most of the work for you.
The only bad news: Bugs. But maybe your dog can eat them?
TACT Bivvy Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag
$14.95. Uh-huh.
The TACT bivy sack is really cheap, you guys. Like $15 cheap. It's basically a fusion between a sleeping bag and a tent, and it sort of resembles a sarcophagus. The TACT Bivvy is 7' by 3,' but in the stuffsack, it's a mere 4" x 2.5", meaning it fits in a purse. Or in your pants. And unlike the bikepacking floorless tent, there are no bugs. You can also use this guy in the airport, if you want to be that person.
SEGMART Camping Hammock
Hang out for $39.99.
Who needs a tent with a floor–or the ground itself. There's no better way to hang out than to literally hang in a hammock. What you didn't suspect: That your cat nap can turn into a full night's rest in the forest. The SEGMART double backpacking hammock is extraordinarily light and can seat two. It's made out of a lightweight Nylon, which helps when the rain comes. (Because you know the rain will come.) Just don't buy it in camo, as that would be tacky.
Napier Backroadz Truck Tent
Prices vary, but you can start buying these things at $169.99.
Turn your car into a tent! The Napier Backroadz Truck Tent really only works with pick-up trucks, but it's an ingenious idea. You might not even need a sleeping bag as you are awarded with solid ground; you might as well go all the way and bring an air mattress. Also, if anybody tries to tow your truck from a campground parking lot during the off season, you'll be the first to know. Comes with: storm flap, seating for two and four large windows, truck.
Just kidding. It obviously doesn't come with a truck.
Cool Stuff is a new feature at WW that reviews the best gear and stuff. Our reviewers are experts in their field and are asked to provide honest and independent assessments. When readers choose to purchase our editorial picks, we earn affiliate commissions that support our journalism.