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In the last few years, new designs and materials have brought a slew of new tents to the market. Some have revolutionized how we think about backcountry shelter. But if you get a tent that doesn't meet your needs, you'll suffer both on the trail and in camp. Here's the lowdown on what you should think about when selecting a tent and a few models, both new and old, that have served campers, climbers, and backpackers well.

The first thing to consider when selecting a tent is the season in which you'll be using it. Three-season tents provide the appropriate amount of weather protection and ventilation for spring, summer, and fall use. Most people start out with one of these tents. Four-season tents are really winter tents—they can stand up to horrendous storms in the high mountains but feel like a sauna if you use them for summer camping. Only buy a four-season tent if you plan on a lot of winter camping, mountaineering, or alpine climbing.

You can push a three-season tent into winter use if you understand the limitations. For example: alpine climbers have used the Black Diamond Firstlight Tent on light-and-fast assaults from the Andes to the Himalayas, but you wouldn't want to use it for a month-long siege in bad weather because it can't stand up to the constant abuse.

Both three-season and four-season tents come in single- and double-wall designs. Double-wall tents consist of a tent body and a separate fly that goes over the top for weather protection. These tents tend to have better ventilation and less condensation than single-wall tents, which makes storm days more comfortable. Good double-wall tents also have one, if not two, vestibules to store gear without the need to bring it inside and crowd your living space.

A single-wall tent includes no fly. Instead, the body itself provides weather protection. Despite some setbacks in this design such as decreased breathability and increased condensation, these tents are usually much lighter and faster to set up than a double-wall model. Their popularity has increased greatly in recent years, and they have become a top pick for thru-hikers, alpinists, or backpackers concerned with weight.

With so many tents on the market today it's hard to sift through all the options and pick the best shelter for your needs. Here are a handful of our favorite tents, what we like about them, and where they perform best.

Though it was designed for three-season use, the Firstlight has gained a loyal following among alpine climbers for its simple design and low weight. Ultralight backpacking. Thru-hiking. Single-push alpine climbing.

An ultralight, silicone nylon canopy brings this double-wall tent under the 4-pound limit to provide more comfort and better ventilation for weight-conscious backpackers. Ultralight backpacking. Thru-hiking. Weekend camping.