Seasonal Rating

• Every backpacking tent comes with a seasonal rating, between one and three seasons. Three season tents are constructed to withstand heavy winds and rain, but cannot support the extra weight of snow resting on the fabric and poles of the tent. Four season ratings indicate that the tent can be pitched in all of the elements that a three season tent can withstand, but with the added stability and structural support to withstand snow and ice collecting on top of the tent.
  
  

Design

• Most, if not all, four season designs have the ability to be pitched in a freestanding situation, meaning that you do not need stakes in order to keep the tent up. In situations where there may be a lot of snow on the ground, it may not be possible to stake out the tent with standard stakes, therefore the tent will need to be able to stand on its own.
  
  Many four season tents, especially mountaineering tents, are also designed with a geodesic dome arrangement. Geodesic domes offer the best possible support for bearing weight such as snow and ice.
  
  

Specialized Features

• Special features found in higher end mountaineering tents include an increased aerodynamic design and therefore the ability to shed ice and snow. Mountaineering tents also utilize a small footprint so that they can be pitched on small ledges and perches.
  
  

Specs

• Winter tents generally range between three and five feet tall and often weigh around ten pounds. Some tent designs will have at least one vestibule and a minimum of mesh netting in order to provide extra protection from the wind and the cold. Expect a quality four season tent to cost $400 or more, depending on how big it is and whether it is specifically designed for mountaineering or only traditional four season usage.