Camping shelters range from inexpensive emergency covers to premium equipment built for years of regular use. But spending more can buy very different things: lower weight, more room, better ventilation, or a more substantial construction.
When comparing tent, bivy, and bedroll prices, start with what is included. A shelter price usually does not include the sleeping bag and insulated pad you still need for a comfortable night.
Typical Tent, Bivy, and Bedroll Price Ranges
These are approximate shopping ranges based on the examples below, rather than calculated industry averages. They cover small camping tents, individual bivys, and canvas bedroll shells.
| Shelter type | Budget range | Typical midrange | Premium range |
|---|---|---|---|
| One or two person tent | $50 to $150 | $200 to $400 | $500 to $1,000+ |
| Bivy or bivvy | $20 to $60 for emergency covers | $100 to $200 | $250 to $400+ |
| Canvas bedroll | $100 to $250 for basic wraps | $300 to $450 | $500 to $700+ |
Prices are in US dollars, checked October 13, 2026, before tax and shipping. Sales, configurations, and availability vary. Emergency bivys and basic bedroll wraps offer different capabilities from fully featured camping shelters.
Tent Prices: From Basic Camping to Lightweight Backpacking
Budget example: Coleman Sundome 2-Person, listed at $82.99. This is an inexpensive entry into tent camping, with fiberglass poles and a straightforward dome design. It makes more sense for camping near your vehicle than for someone prioritizing a small, lightweight backpacking load.
Midrange example: REI Half Dome 2 Plus, listed at $369. This member-exclusive tent includes a footprint, aluminum poles, a full-coverage rainfly, and two doors. Compared with a basic tent, the extra money buys a more developed shelter design, convenient access, and usable interior space.
Premium example: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, listed at $599.95. This tent emphasizes ultralight backpacking while retaining a freestanding structure, vestibules, and storage. At this level, much of the spending goes toward carrying less weight while keeping useful features. The footprint is sold separately.
An expensive backpacking tent is not automatically the best value for truck camping. If you rarely carry your shelter far, interior room and convenience may matter more than weight savings.
Bivy Prices: Emergency Protection vs. Regular Overnight Use
A bivy, sometimes spelled bivvy, is a compact shelter that fits around one sleeper and their bedding.
Budget example: SOL Emergency Bivvy with Rescue Whistle, listed at $24.49. This lightweight, heat-reflective cover is designed for emergencies. Its low price makes it useful as backup protection, but it should not be treated as equivalent to a reusable camping bivy with breathable fabric and ventilation features.
Midrange example: Rab Storm Bivy, listed at $180. This moves into a reusable waterproof shelter with breathable fabric, a substantial nylon base, and a mesh panel for ventilation. The additional spending buys a design intended for planned trips and repeated use.
Premium example: Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy, listed at $300. Its features include waterproof breathable fabric, taped seams, bug mesh, ventilation flaps, and a pole that creates space around your head. You are paying for a more developed balance of weather protection, low weight, and livability.
Even a premium bivy provides limited room for changing clothes or keeping equipment inside compared with a tent.
Bedroll Prices: Simple Canvas Wraps to Structured Shelters
The word bedroll covers several designs, so check whether you are buying a simple bedding wrap or an enclosed shelter.
Budget example: Davis Tent Cowboy Bedroll Tarp, listed at $149 to $169. This canvas tarp folds around your bedding and closes with D-rings and snap hooks. It is a traditional wrap rather than a zippered shelter with poles, bug mesh, and overhead space.
Midrange example: Canvas Cutter Heritage Bedroll, starting at $379.97. The Heritage moves into a zippered canvas bedroll with waterproof construction, taped seams, and a full-length weather flap. Its simpler design provides a lower entry price into Canvas Cutter’s bedroll lineup.
Premium example: Canvas Cutter Dominator 3.0, starting at $629.97. The standard configuration includes the bedroll and full-length pole system. Additional features include more overhead room, adjustable magnetic vents, and removable bug mesh. A pad, sleeping bag, and pillow cost extra unless selected in a bundle.
With bedrolls, the price difference often comes down to enclosure design, ventilation, access, and interior space.
Compare the Complete Cost Before Buying
A two-person tent can shelter two campers, allowing them to share its cost. Most bivys and these bedroll examples serve one person.
Then account for your sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow, and any required accessories. The best value is the setup that fits your trips and keeps you comfortable, whether you are carrying everything into the backcountry or rolling out beside the truck.
For hunting camps and repeated nights outdoors, explore Canvas Cutter’s bedroll options and compare the features you will actually use.
