The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3. Phot: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Wintertime camping is one of my favorite pastimes. The crowds have dwindled, the air is crisp, and the scenery is stunning. But camping in the off-season also comes with some drawbacks. It’s often cold and wet, which can make for an uncomfortable experience. Unless you have the proper gear. The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 All Season ($550) is a tent designed with year-round camping in mind. Made from durable nylon, the three-person tent is windproof and waterproof, so you can use it beyond spring and summer. While it isn’t cheap, the Mineral King All Season saves some of the weight and cost of an expedition tent, while still providing year-round weather protection.
Bottom Line: The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 All Season is a rugged, weatherproof tent designed for year-round camping. The durable tent comes with a footprint and a clip-in rainfly, and boasts impressive warmth and waterproofing. Weighing in at 7 lb 13.4 oz and packing down to 7” x 25”, the Mineral King is a hybrid camping and backpacking tent, but it’s worth the extra weight when the weather gets worse.
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Related: Best Camping Tents | Best Backpacking Tents | More Backpacking Gear Reviews
Testing the Mineral King on a wet weekend in Big Sur. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//TheInertia
Testing the Mineral King All Season in Big Sur
I live half the year in Santa Cruz, California, where I am lucky to have a plethora of incredible camping options. One of my absolute favorite places to camp and backpack near Santa Cruz is Big Sur. The 90-mile stretch of coastline is one of the most picturesque places I have ever explored, whether hugging the coast or exploring in the redwoods.
To put the Mineral King 3 All Season to the test, my husband and I used it on a weekend camping trip in Big Sur. We booked the trip months in advance, and as fate would have it, it fell on the wettest and coldest weekend we’ve had this year. Perfect timing for testing an all-season tent. Read on to learn about my experience camping in the rain in the Mineral King.
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 All Season ($550)
Packed Weight: 7 lb 13.4 oz
Minimum Weight: 6 lb 9.9 oz
Floor Area: 42.5 sq ft
Vestibule Area: 20.9 sq ft
Packed Size: 7″ x 25″
Interior Height: 46”
Tent Capacity: 3-person
Pros: Incredibly waterproof, easy to set up, spacious vestibules
Cons: A little large/heavy for a backpacking tent, tight fit for three people
Notable Features of the Mineral King
Construction
The Mineral King 3 All Season is a three-person tent that comes with two poles, constructed from DAC Featherlight NSL. The upgraded poles actually make this All Season version of the tent slightly lighter than the standard version, which we loved. They’re lightweight and easy to put together, and they seem reliably durable. The main poles are attached at the center point, forming an “X” with a second small pole.
The tent floor is made from a 70D Nylon Taffeta 10000mm 100% Nylon, the fabric canopy is a 40D Nylon Ripstop 100% Nylon, and the rainfly 68D 210T Ripstop Polyester 1500mm PU 100% Polyester. Everything feels lightweight yet durable and very weather-resistant. Of course, the main difference to note between an all-season and standard backpacking tent is that this version features a continuous tent body rather than classic mesh at the top for breathability. The goal is improved interior warmth and better moisture protection.
Assembling the Mineral King All Season is straightforward. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Assembling the Mineral King All-Season
Back in the day, assembling tents was a pain in the you-know-what. Luckily, as technology continues to improve, they continue to get easier, and the Mineral King is no exception. The tent comes with a footprint (always a plus in our book), which isn’t always necessary in the summer, but it is nice to have in snow or wet conditions to keep moisture out of the tent interior. We opted to use ours as it was a very wet and rainy weekend.
The tent comes with just two poles that are easy to put together. The main poles are held together by a center point, forming an “X” and they attach to the tent with a clip-on design that is very user-friendly. We had everything attached and the tent erected in just a couple of minutes. The small pole is the only one that we were slightly confused about, but you simply clip it across the center to help keep the rain fly separated from the tent body so it doesn’t wet out.
The clip-in design makes assembly a breeze. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
The Mineral King All Season comes with lots of heavy-duty stakes, so we got everything staked down without any trouble and then threw on the rain fly over the top, which secured to the tent with buckles, making it super easy. We finished by adding additional stakes to ensure we’d stay dry and nothing would blow away. Everything was easy and self-explanatory, which I greatly appreciated since it was wet and cold outside. At the end of our trip, taking it down was even easier, and everything fit perfectly back into the carrying case (something that can’t be taken for granted).
Sizing and Space
First the facts, then the feel. The Mineral King All Season has a floor area of 42.5 sq. ft, two vestibules accounting for 20.9 sq. ft, and an interior height of 46”. The tent is designed to accommodate three people.
Enjoying the views from inside the Mineral King All Season. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
For starters, I love that the tent has two doors and two vestibule areas. I am a frequent user of the facilities during the night, so having an exit next to me saved me from climbing over my husband throughout the night. The vestibules themselves are spacious and have plenty of room for your pack and shoes. Each door has a canopy and a mesh door so you can allow just the right amount of airflow in. This tent would be hot in the summertime, but that’s a trade-off you make for better weather resistance.
At 46”, you can’t stand up inside the Mineral King All Season, but there’s plenty of room for sitting up. I camped in the Mineral King with my husband and our 27 lb. dog and felt that it was the perfect fit for the three of us. The tent felt longer than most, and I was able to use a pillow and store a pack at my feet. I’m 5’7” and my husband is 5’9”, so if you’re tall, you’d still fit well, but probably wouldn’t have the extra room that we did.
The tent has five interior pockets for stashing cell phones, keys, headlamps, and other small items. There is also a gear-hanging system, perfect for hanging lamps and clothes that need to dry out.
The rain fly buckles on and covers the entire tent. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Weather Resistance
The Mineral King All Season is one of the most weatherproof tents I have ever used, especially considering this isn’t an expedition-grade tent designed for mountaineering. Although the floor is reliably waterproof, the tent also comes with a footprint so you can double down in wet weather. The floor, sidewall, and canopy are all made from an incredibly durable and waterproof nylon, which keeps in warmth much better than a standard mesh tent. The clip-in rainfly covers the entire length of the tent, and everything is seam-taped to ensure it is fully waterproof.
The rain fly buckles on for a quick setup. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
As I mentioned before, we planned our camping trip to Big Sur on the wettest weekend of the year. I’ve used “waterproof” tents in the past, but you still find yourself getting dripped on throughout the night. This was not the case with the Mineral King All Season.
When we woke up, everything was dry, including the gear we stored in the vestibule area. It wasn’t a particularly windy night, but the tent seemed incredibly solid when staked down and held up just fine against the gusts we did get. I am a cold-weather wimp, so I’m really excited about how dry and warm the Mineral King keeps you, and am excited to test it out on a snow camping trip someday (stay tuned).
The Mineral King All Season is on the large/heavy side for backpacking. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
If you don’t plan on camping in especially cold weather, the Mineral King is also available in a standard version: the Mineral King 3. The Mineral King 3 has a similar design, is a 3-person tent, and comes with a footprint; it’s just a little less heavy-duty than the Mineral King All Season. The traditional Mineral King actually is a fraction heavier, likely due to the less premium DAC poles. Oh, and it is $175 cheaper, so if you don’t need the added weather resistance, take a look at that.
Drawbacks of the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King All Season
When packed, the Mineral King measures 7″ x 25″ and weighs 7 lb 13.4 oz. The tent is advertised as both a car camping and backpacking tent, but for a backpacking tent, I felt that it was a bit on the large side. That being said, if you need a three-person tent that holds up well in colder conditions, this is a great option, and not overly heavy when compared with expedition tents. For a car camping tent, it’s compact, and the convenient bag with a carrying strap makes it easy to transport.
The Mineral King is advertised as a three-person tent, but I only slept in it with my husband and dog, which was the perfect size. You could squeeze a third human in, but it would be tight. I’d do it for backpacking, but for car camping, I’d recommend sticking to just two people.
The Mineral King All Season is heavier than most backpacking tents. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
The Competition
If you’re planning to strictly car camp, then you might want something a little more spacious. In our Best Camping Tents guide, The North Face Wawona 6 is our top pick due to its spacious design and weather-resistant features (it comes in a 4-person version as well). Price-wise, it’s similar to the Mineral King, but with a floor area of 86.1 sq. ft., it’s significantly larger. At 19 lbs. 6.4 oz, it is also considerably heavier, but for car camping, it should be a non-issue. It’s challenging to set up with one person, but if you have a buddy, then you should be just fine.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter and better suited to backpacking, the Nemo Dagger OSMO 3P won the award for best overall backpacking tent in our Best Backpacking Tents guide. Also available in a 2-person model, the OSMO is made from recycled fabrics that are lightweight and durable. Weighing 4 lbs 7 oz with a floor space of 42.8 sq ft, the OSMO does an excellent job of blending weight, space, and features. Of course, compared with this all-season tent, the Dagger is going to sacrifice weather resistance.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, the Kelty Late Start was our top budget backpacking tent. It’s easy to set up and offers great views from inside. The poles, however, don’t feel the most durable, so be sure to treat them kindly. The tent weighs 4 lbs. 12 oz and offers 30.6 sq. ft of floor space, so it’s a little tight, but the price is right.
The Mineral King All Season is a great tent for year-round camping. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 All Season is a rugged tent that was specifically designed for wintertime camping and beyond. Constructed from a durable nylon, the tent includes a footprint and clip-in rainfly to ensure it’s fully waterproof. Easy to set up, comfortable to sleep in, and built to last, the Mineral King is a great one-and-done, year-round tent, and it is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. If you don’t need an expedition-grade tent but want more protection than a standard mesh body tent, the Mineral King All Season is an ideal choice.
Check Mineral King All Season Price on REI Check Standard Mineral King Price on REI
Editor’s Note: Looking for something more spacious? We’ve also reviewed the Best Camping Tents. Going backpacking? Check out The Best Backpacking Tents and the rest of our backpacking gear guides. For other gear we cover, click here. For the most recent gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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