Backpacking tent problems/help

Backpackers like to save weight since we carry the stuff so tent manufacturers offer “lightweight” tents that make that lightness by being ridiculously small in either overall floor area, maximum height or usable interior volume.

For a shelter that I won’t spend any time in when awake that’s fine, a shelter for any longer awake time period, anticipating storm days or in the winter with longer nights, and the tent volume living space, for me, has to be, well, livable.

Most important in buying a tent is buy a tent for the route and conditions you will be facing not off some “best” list.

Make sure you can get in and out of your tent during a rain without getting the interior wet. This isn't a problem for most tents but it is for some. I've watched youtube reviews of some tents that when unzipped the screen drops to the ground. This would be a deal breaker for me.

Has to be enough of a tent to protect from wind driven rain, some lightweight tents don't do this very well. I'll re-state what driftwoody said about side entrances with a vestibule being preferred. For many years I used an end entry tent, but the convenience and exit strategies for a dual side entry (2 person tent) with vestibules won me over to no going back. I do have one extremely light, end entry tent for short, good weather bikepacking trips. More of a mosquito barrier than a shelter, though it does suffice in a moderate rain. I do also like a tent with enough tie out points to add some extra strength in wind events. Lots of weight is lost if the tent is single wall, which adds the problem of condensation if you pitch on grass or an area without air movement. Sometimes it's unavoidable. Microfiber towels are very handy items to have. Multi-purpose as in wiping down condensation, personal hygiene, wound dressing, pot holder, pack padding for fragile items, etc... They dry quickly left out on a pack or hung in camp, wring out well. I always clean the floor of our tent, too. Good care=longevity. When buying , think about the use the tent will get. How large a person are you? Is there room for two, if necessary? Will your sleeping pad(s) fit well? Is heavy rain likely, or are you primarily a fair weather hiker? Are you going to push the tent usage into the shoulder/colder seasons? Do you use trekking poles and can use them for tent poles? Do you want a fully free standing tent? Caveat with free standing- always stake them down. I've watched several tents launch in mountain winds. I found an expensive winter mountaineering tent below a cliff in the Whites of NH. Think about use, as others have said, it will keep you from re-buying.  

Though this may be someone looking for easy design class answers, it may also help some other new backpackers that read it. No offense to the OP.

I think the biggest problem is answering questions posed by a bot.