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Looking for the best camping tent? We are here to help. Tents can easily make or break a camping trip, so before investing in one, take the time to choose carefully. There are options on the market from amazingly cheap to amazingly expensive, from tiny and ultra-portable to downright luxurious.
Perhaps you are looking for the best 3 or 4 person tent? Or something more luxurious that will happily accommodate the whole family, even if it rains heavily throughout the trip? Our guide includes options at different prices to suit everyone's needs, however here we will focus more on family and casual camping tents. For special adventure options, check out our guides to the best camping tents or the best folding tents.
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Coleman's Castle Pines 4L Blackout Tent is a luxurious home away from home for young families with two spacious bedrooms with blackout curtains, a spacious living room and a vestibule where you can cook in case of rain. The design is based on five fiberglass rods that pass through a special shell in the tent and are inserted into the pockets on the sides, creating a long tunnel structure after tension.
It's simple and effective, meaning that just about anyone can comfortably stand right up in their bedroom and living room. Inside, sleeping areas are created using blackout material walls that are suspended from the tent body with hoops and locks. There are two bedrooms, but if you want to combine them into one large sleeping area, this is easily done by dragging a wall between them.
In front of the sleeping area is a large common room, at least as big as the bedrooms combined, with a floor-to-ceiling side door and plenty of see-through shuttered windows that can be closed to block out the light. The main front door leads into a large, semi-covered, floorless lobby, allowing you to cook safely in any setting, somewhat sheltered from the weather.
If you love camping but are desperate for a small space, then Outwell's Pinedale 6DA might just be what you're looking for. It's an inflatable six-person tent that's easy to set up (you should be able to do it in 20 minutes) and offers plenty of space in the form of a large "blackout" bedroom that can be split in two, as well as a spacious living room with a small veranda. with large transparent windows with a beautiful view.
It is well weather resistant and the tent is waterproof up to 4000mm (which means it can withstand heavy rain) and to keep it warm on sunny days there are wide vents throughout the tent to improve air circulation. The Outwell Pinedale 6DA is far from light and you will need enough space in your car trunk to carry it around. But at least it's versatile, with plenty of room for a family of four and plenty of nice touches like glowing streamers and lightly tinted windows for added privacy.
The Coleman Meadowood 4L has a light and airy living space and a comfortable darkened bedroom that blocks light well and helps regulate the temperature inside. The Coleman is equipped with many thoughtful additions to make life under the tarp more comfortable, such as mesh doors that can be deployed for warmer evenings, multiple pockets, stepless entry and more. We chose the "L" shape because the spacious veranda greatly expands the living space and provides covered storage.
Read our full Coleman Meadowood 4 review to find out what we think of this tent's slightly smaller sibling.
The 2021 Sierra Designs Meteor Lite 2 is a really good camping tent. Available in 1, 2 and 3 person versions, this is our favorite little tent. Quick and easy to place and pack, it's super small and lightweight yet offers a surprising amount of space when you stow it away - thanks in part to a thoughtful design that includes two porches where you can stow your kit and save your sleeping area. And there is a hidden surprise: In warm and dry weather, you can (completely or half) remove the outer waterproof "fly" and watch the stars. A solid investment for numerous junior adventures.
If you're looking for a quick setup option, the Quechua 2 Seconds Easy Fresh & Black (for 2 people) is probably the easiest tent we've tested. It's at the top of our tent pop-up guide (link in the introduction), and for good reason. Tilting is simply nailing the four corners, then pulling on the two red laces until they snap into place, and thanks to some inner magic, you're almost done.
Optionally, you can add two more nails to create small ridges on the sides of the sleeping compartment (ideal to keep muddy boots off your sleeping bag), and you can tighten a few laces for security if it's windy outside. There are two layers meaning no morning condensation issues but they are all bonded together so you can easily take it off in the rain without getting the inside wet. The Blackout fabric means you don't have to wake up at dawn and it's also very beneficial.
The Lichfield Eagle Air 6, from the same family as the Vango tent, is a tunnel tent with two bedrooms, a large living room and a wide porch with no floor mats. It is designed for 6 people, but with only two bedrooms (or one bedroom with a removable partition) we think it is more suitable for a family of 4-5 people. As with most aero pole family tents, it's easy to set up and a lot of hassle to fold. During testing, the Research Airbeam handled the wind with ease. The sandy tones give it the feel of a safari tent, making this tent look more expensive than it actually is, and making the living room appear bright and airy with large see-through windows. There is a bug net on the door and there is a good headroom everywhere.
Looking for a glamping option that's roomier than a typical camping tent but doesn't want to go all out? The unusual looking Robens Yukon shelter may be just what you need. Inspired by the simple wooden awnings found in the Scandinavian countryside, its boxy design is different from the usual glamping tent you might come across, giving you plenty of room, some bedrooms and a decent porch have standing height.
It's well made with attention to detail, including reflective cords, bug netting, and strong latches to secure the main door. Installing it for the first time can be a daunting task due to frankly inadequate instructions (we ended up watching an online video to figure it out). Once installed, this roomy and breathable shelter is perfect for summer camping or as an awning or playroom in your back garden.
A low profile summer camping tent for a family of four, the Vango Rome II Air 550XL is hard to beat. This inflatable tent is perfect for two adults and a couple of kids. This inflatable tent has plenty of living space, the inflatable poles are easy to set up, and since it's made from recycled fabric, it's also an eco-friendly option.
Unlike most large inflatable family tents, the Vango is really easy to set up; once you find a spot, simply nail the corners, inflate the poles with the included pump, and secure the main and side tents in place. Vango estimates 12 minutes; expect it to take longer, especially if you're trying it for the first time.
There is plenty of space inside, including two glass-enclosed bedrooms with standing space, as well as a spacious living room and veranda with space for a dining table and sun loungers. However, we found the storage space to be a little lacking; don't expect to be able to use it as a spare bedroom.
The Coleman Weathermaster Air 4XL is a great family tent. The living area is large, light and airy, with a large porch and screen doors on the floor that can be closed at night if you want insect-free air flow. Important bedroom curtains are very effective: they not only block out evening and morning light, but also help regulate the temperature in the bedroom.
The one-piece design and air arches mean this tent is very quick and easy to set up, so you can start your holiday as quickly as possible (let's face it, arguing with a dodgy tent after a few hours in the car is annoying at best, not to mention moody children). With a push, you can even do it yourself—provided younger family members aren't cooperating at the time. In short, the best family tent for a comfortable and relaxing family camping in any weather.
If you've ever been unable to find a festival tent, you won't have that problem with the Decathlon Forclaz Trekking Dome Tent. It's available in one color, dazzling white, making it easy to find at any time, though the downside is that after a few walks, it can turn into a dirty, grass-tinged off-gray.
There is a good reason for this striking appearance: it does not use dyes, which reduces CO2 emissions and prevents water pollution during the manufacturing process, making the tent more environmentally friendly. It's easy to set up and has enough room for two, with two doorways to keep gear dry and four pockets to store gear; it also packs well. We found it was water-repellent even in heavy rain, and its low profile means it can also handle heavy winds.
Modern tents for camping, backpacking, hiking and outdoor living come in all shapes and sizes. The most popular are basic skating tents, dome tents, geodesic and semi-geodesic tents, inflatable tents, bell tents, wigwams and tunnel tents.
In your search for the perfect tent, you'll come across big brands including Big Agnes, Vango, Coleman, MSR, Terra Nova, Outwell, Decathlon, Hilleberg and The North Face. There are also many newcomers entering the (muddy) field with innovative designs from brands like Tentsile, with its excellent floating treetop tents, and Cinch, with its nifty pop-up modular tents.
HH stands for Hydrostatic Head, which is a measure of the water resistance of a fabric. It is measured in millimeters, the larger the number, the higher the water resistance. You should be looking for a minimum height of 1500mm for your tent. The 2000 and up have no problem even in the worst British weather, while the 5000 and up have entered the professional realm. Here is more information about HH ratings.
At T3, we take the integrity of the product advice we give very seriously, and every tent featured here has been rigorously tested by our outdoor experts. The tents have been taken out in a variety of conditions and tested on various car campsites and camping trips to evaluate how easy they are to pack, carry and set up and how well they work as a shelter. Each product is also tested on a range of criteria including design, functionality, performance, water resistance, material quality and durability.
The first and easiest question to answer is how many people should sleep in your ideal tent, and the second (as with the outdoor industry) is the type of environment you will be camping in. If you are traveling by car (i.e. going camping and camping next to your car), you can choose what suits your car; weight doesn't matter. In turn, this means that you can choose more space and heavier materials with impunity, which can reduce costs and lead to the need for furniture, etc.
Conversely, if you are traveling or hiking by bike, lightness and compactness top the list of features. If you're into auto-camping, reliability, camping time, and extra luxuries like blackout bedrooms for sun protection, head-level living quarters, and mesh doors for warmer nights should be high on your wish list. Slow zoom. It's worth paying close attention to the tent manufacturer's seasonal rating, and if you're planning to use one in the UK, be suspicious of anything that has a two-season rating but isn't a festival tent.
The last thing to pay attention to is the type of rod. For most people, a traditional pole tent will do, but now you can also opt for "air poles" that simply inflate for added convenience. (If you need minimal effort and are willing to skimp on quality, read our guide to the best folding tents instead.) No matter what type of tent you choose, you get what you pay for, and a good tent is one of those outdoor items that you will never regret spending a little more on.
Mark Maine has been writing about outdoor technology, gadgets and innovation for longer than he can remember. He is an avid climber, climber, and diver, as well as a dedicated weather lover and pancake-eating expert.
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Post time: Apr-14-2023
