If you are looking to go camping with the kids or going camping for a laugh with your mates, you will need a tent. There are loads of different options out there when purchasing a tent, which it can be hard to know what to look for.
When you buy a tent, you will see 2 man tents, 4 man tents… even 8 man tents! Suddenly, you will be looking at deluxe cabin tents that you never even knew existed.
Along with all the other bits and bobs you need to help you make a successful camping trip, you would have thought the tent would be the easy bit. This guide is here to help you decide on the right tent for you.
We have looked at camping tent reviews for you, so you don’t have to select the best tents to suit different criteria. As long as you know what you are looking for in a tent, you will find one on this list for you.
What do I need from a tent?
If you don’t know what you are looking for from a tent, how can you choose the right tent for you? You need to consider a few things before selecting a tent, so here’s a list of questions you should ask yourself before buying.
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What am I using it for?
Camping is the obvious answer, but are you just using it for a camping expedition with the kids in the garden, or are you trekking out to the wilderness to camp on the edge of a cliff in high winds?
They are the two extremes, but you need to think about the real purpose you are using them for. If you are using it to muck about with your kids or mates, you will be looking at an entirely different tent from someone who will be doing some serious camping in all-weather tents.
If you are just after having a laugh with the kids and getting them used to the idea of camping, there are some really cool tents, which are instant tents for camping. They pop up, and you are ready to go with minimal fuss! Consider your skill level because if you have never put up a tent before, you will struggle erect a high-tech tent.
How many people do I need to accommodate?
The number of people your tent needs to sleep with will determine the tent size you are looking at and reduce the number of available options. If you want one to fit the whole family in, you might look at a four, six, or even an eight-man tent. Remember, tents aren’t the most spacious of places, so if there are six of you in a six-man tent, it can still be a bit of a squeeze.
How long will I be using it?
If you are using it once or twice, you will probably opt for one of the lower-priced and more affordable ultralight tents. If you are going to be using it frequently, then your criteria are going to change.
You will want something durable and long-lasting. If you are a serious camper, you won’t be looking at a cheap tent, a beginner’s camping guide, and a tin of beans trip. You will be after something much more versatile than that.
What makes the best camping tents
Now we have an idea of the kind of tent we are looking for, let’s think about what makes the best camping tent.
What separates the best and worst tents? What keeps you warm and dry, and what makes a night in a tent feel like you are sleeping on a block of ice?
The ideal tent will be cheap, easy to set up, waterproof, and appropriate for your situation. But how can you know if you are getting that from your tent?
Size
If you purchase a smaller tent, there might not be enough room to stand. If you are after a tent where you can stand up, you will probably need to look at large family tents or multi-room tents, as they tend to be larger and more flexible on space.
The bigger your tent is, the more it is going to weigh. If you are going on an expedition where weight is a key factor, the smaller your tent is, the better.
Waterproofing
Most tents will have an inner and outer layer, which work together to keep you warm and dry. If the inner and outer layer is too close or touching, that is a sure-fire recipe for leaking.
In smaller tents, you often pitch the inner layer first, then add the flysheet as the outer layer for protection. In larger tents, you often pitch the outer layer first and then fit the internal layers in a series of rooms.
Fabric
There are some different fabrics that your tent could be made out of. They can be made from polyester, cotton canvas, polycotton, and nylon. The fabric your tent is made out of will affect the price you are paying for your tent.
Some fabrics will be more expensive than others, depending on how they behave in different situations. Cheap camping tents are often made from different materials than your more expensive tents.
You will also notice that your tent’s weight depends on the fabric it is made of, with some distinctly heavier than others.
Ease of setup
Some tents can be a nightmare to set up, and even the most expensive tents can be difficult to master.
If you are looking for an easy-to-set-up tent, the only real way to know this is to see what other people have said and then have a go yourself. When you have purchased a tent, it is a good idea to have a go at setting it up before you go on your trip. (Read Pop Up Camper Hacks)
This enables you to learn how to put it up, and you can check that you have all of the poles and pegs you need.
The Best Tents for the Money: Our Top Buys
Big Agnes Flying Diamond 4 Deluxe Car Camping/Base Camp Tent
This tent gets great reviews online but has a price tag that reflects that. As one of the most expensive on this list and with some of the best 4 person tent reviews, this tent has a lot to live up to. It has two doors and two vestibules, and the doors have two closure options.
There is a zip-up mesh door for ventilation only, and you can zip up the polyester layer for full protection from the elements. You can separate this tent into two rooms using the fabric wall. If a few of you use this tent, this can be a great privacy option.
You can stow the fabric wall away when not in use, allowing you to use the tent as one big area or to save space and weight if needs are. The vestibule zippers are equipped with storm flaps to keep any water out.
The guylines are reflective for safety, and the poles are color-coded to help you erect this tent easily. This tent can withstand the elements and will be a great investment. This is, without doubt, one of the best tents for camping.
Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin
The Coleman 6-person instant cabin tent is a great option if you don’t want the hassle of setting up a complicated tent. If you want to pop up and go, then this tent will suit you down to the grand. Tents can be time-consuming to get set up, so if you don’t have the time or don’t want to spend it on setup, this is brilliant.
The poles come pre-attached – so the setup is straightforward. All you need to do is unfold the tent, extend and secure it. Your cabin and rainfly can be ready to use in one minute. This tent uses a WeatherTec system and welded floors, and inverted seams help you stay dry when using this.
This tent sleeps 6 people, but four people will sleep on two queen-size airbeds if you want extra room to move about.
There are two storage pockets inside the tent so you can keep small items and valuables off the floor and visible in one place. The tent is as easy to pack up as it is to put up. It is simple to pack up into the carry bag and be ready to use the next time you make a camping trip.
This tent receives excellent reviews when it comes up against other 6 person tents reviews.
Coleman 2000018295 8-Person Instant Tent
If you need a bit more room or have more than six people to accommodate, then the Coleman instant cabin 8 is great. There is no need to faff about setting up poles and struggling to get your tent set up properly in the middle of a downpour.
This tent can be set up in less than a minute, a lifesaver when you are rained on. The poles are already attached, so all you need to do is open it up, extend it and secure it. This is an excellent option for anyone struggling with erecting traditional tents or if you don’t have time to mess about them.
As this is a big family tent, there is more vertical room so you won’t have to crouch uncomfortably while you are in your tent. There is plenty of space if you are in a bigger group. As the tent is larger, it isn’t anywhere as light as the smaller options, but you don’t buy an eight-person tent with its weight as your top concern.
You can fit multiple air beds in this tent, so if you are after something with the option for comfort – this is it. (Read Average Weight Of A Pop Up Camper)
EUREKA Copper Canyon 4 – 4 Person Tent
If you are after a great four-person tent and see a Eureka tent for sale, you shouldn’t hesitate to purchase it. This tent is in a cabin style and is straightly walled. It will easily sleep a family of four, but they aren’t the roomiest of spaces as with any tent.
One “D” shaped door makes entering and exiting easy. There are also four large windows and a vent to allow for airflow inside the tent. The sealed floor and fly seams help to keep you dry in the event of some bad weather.
The tent is made from polyester fabric, making it durable and long-lasting. It is relatively easy to set up, and the poles attach to the tent’s body using a pin and ring system.
A neat power port zipper flap allows you to run an extension cord into the tent. This tent gets great reviews online and is very reasonably priced.
Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Tent – 6 Person
This 6-person tent has plenty of floor space and gives you enough room to stand in the middle. The vertical walls make for plenty of space, and it will sleep six people comfortably. The ring and pin assembly make the four-person option easy to set up.
The large door is “D” shaped, making entry and exit easy. The door is also a half window, allowing extra light in and additional visibility. There are windows on each side of the tent, giving you, even more, visibility and ventilation.
The full mesh roof increases the circulation of air and reduces the amount of condensation you may experience. This tent will protect you from any rain and ensure you stay warm and dry.
Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
As a four-person tent, this is one of the smaller options on this list. It gets brilliant reviews online, so good in fact that there is hardly a bad word to be read about it. It’s very light, so if weight is a consideration for you, this is a great option.
A smaller tent is always snug; don’t expect loads of room between you and your tent companions. It’s easy enough to set up, with only two poles and some color-coded clips to help you out.
The Kelty 4 person tent gets brilliant reviews online and comes in reasonably priced. Entry is accessible by way of a “D” shaped door. There are a couple of handy storage pockets inside for you to use to keep all your bits and pieces together. The taped seams work to keep you warm and dry in all weathers.
Kelty Acadia 6 Tent
If you are looking for a comfortable camp, then the Kelty Acadia 6 Tent is your new best friend. It is spacious and sleeps six people. Large double doors make entering and exiting as easy as it gets in a tent.
There are two vestibules, maximizing the space available to you. Only three poles are needed to set up this tent so that you will be up and running in no time. There is plenty of room to stand in this tent so you won’t be bent over awkwardly. There are also vents for better airflow and ventilation.
Marmot Halo 6P – 6 Person Tent
The Marmot halo 6 sleeps six people with relative ease. It is spacious inside, and the tent center has plenty of room to allow you to stand. There are four poles, so it is a very sturdy tent once it has been put up.
The color-coded clips and poles keep it simple to put up. It also sports reflective light points for safety. The double-door design makes it easy to get in and out of. There is also a double-vestibule, allowing you plenty of space to store your kit out of the rain. This tent will keep you warm and dry in the rain.
There are pockets inside to keep all of your small gear stored together in a safe place. As a larger tent, it is relatively heavy. It is made from polyester, so it will keep the rain off if there are any downpours during your trip.
It is an expensive option to go for; there are similar tents on this list, costing you less. It also isn’t as high up regarding rating as some of the other six-person tents on this list.
Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent
The Coleman 4-person traditional camping tent gives you a lot of money. This tent is cheap, and it doesn’t disappoint you, despite its low price. The Coleman 2 room tent will easily sleep four people, and you can enter and exit the tent through a large door. There is a big hooded window at the rear, which helps keep your tent ventilated.
The seams are welded to protect you from the elements, and it is made from polyester – keeping you warm and dry whatever the weather. It is simple and easy to put up and take down; the poles are easily connected with a pin and ring system.
It also has a handy electrical access port to run an extension cable in and out of the tent. A mesh pocket inside allows you to store all your small items together safely. There is also a handy flashlight loop on the ceiling so you can see what you are doing when it’s dark outside.
Coleman camping tents get excellent reviews, and this one is no exception. On top of this, it is very reasonably priced, so your camping trip won’t break the bank.
Coleman Sundome 2 Person Tent
This little tent is a good option if you can take camping trips where you will not be battling the elements. The price tag is a fraction of other tents on this list, but this is reflected in the quality of this little tent. (Find the Best Pop Up Canopy)
As a two-person tent, it is very snug and pretty heavy. If weight is a consideration for you, there are much lighter small tents out there. This tent is quickly set up with two poles forming a cross.
There are windows on all sides of the tent, meaning plenty of ventilation and plenty of light. The rain fly only covers the top portion of the vent, so it will not stand up to hefty rain.
There isn’t much of a vestibule, so if you need space to store your gear outside the tent, this isn’t the tent for you. The floor is welded, and the seams are inverted to help keep you dry. The pole sleeves are snag-free and continuous, so you don’t need to keep feeding the poles through endlessly.
Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent
This tent is by far the biggest and most spacious tent on our list. It can sleep up to 10 people in the three rooms it has.
You can fit three queen-size air mattresses in this tent and still have some room to spare. You can also remove the room dividers to create more space if you don’t want three separate rooms.
Two side doors and one center door make it easy to get in and out. This is super handy, mainly if you are using the tent at full capacity!
There are plenty of windows, letting loads of light in and ventilating the tent well. You shouldn’t have any issues with leaks as the fly seams are taped, helping keep water out.
Finally
Whichever tent you go for, you will have made an excellent choice. Whether you are looking for the cheapest tent you get or the tent which is the easiest to put up, the right one is here for you on this list. Looking for the best tent for the beach? Could you read our guide?
Once you know what you are looking for from your tent, the selection should be easy.
