The best event shelters and gazebos for camping in 2022

Introduction to event shelters for camping

Pitching up on the campsite with a group of family or friends is an increasingly popular way to enjoy a camping holiday.

And an event shelter makes a brilliant communal space to enjoy cooking, eating and socialising, whatever the weather.

You’ll see them described as event shelters, gazebos and day tents, and, while there are some subtle differences, they all serve the same purpose – to provide a cool, shaded area to chill out during the day and a shelter for sitting under at night.

Shelters can provide shade in hot, sunny weather, or give you protection from the rain in a downpour.

Some are supplied with side panels or they are available as an optional extra – and that means you can create a more enclosed space, without completely closing it up.

Cooking inside a tent is not a good idea, but, because they are well ventilated, event shelters work well as camping kitchens.

Alternatively, you can set up a dining table and chairs and use the shelter for al fresco eating. Or you and your friends can use it to get together for evening drinks under cover.

Whatever use you make of it, just make sure you check in advance with the campsite that they’re happy for you to pitch your tents and shelter together.

Of course, they’re not just for the campsite. Event shelters are also ideal for summer entertaining at home, family get-togethers, barbecues and picnics.

Event shelters put to the test

What is the best way for you and your friends to get together on the campsite? Iain Duff puts a selection of event shelters through their paces. See what he thinks of each one...

When it comes to event shelters, Coleman has been blazing a trail for years. The Event Shelter Performance is the latest addition to the brand’s extensive range and, if you are up for a campsite party, then the spacious Performance will keep you and your guests protected from the sun’s glare as you rustle up your burgers and chicken on the barbecue.

What makes this even better is that it comes in a bundle, complete with four sun walls, including one with a door, all in one wheeled carry bag. It shares the same colour palette as Coleman’s much-loved Weathermaster range of tents, so that your additional undercover space coordinates perfectly and looks smart on the campsite.

The XL is a huge structure so there’s plenty of space to relax under cover and the UVGuard fabric will provide protection from the sun’s rays. Of course, we all know what the British summer weather is like, so, just as importantly, the fabric is water-resistant and has fully taped seams to prevent rain from seeping through.

The well-thought-out design of the roof ventilation prevents the structure from lifting in gusts of wind and the use of storm straps and multiple guying points for securely pegging into the ground brings even more rigidity and stability.

The roof ventilation also includes clear windows, allowing light and slight airflow in even when all four sun walls are attached and zipped up. A silver lining on the flysheet reduces the temperature under the shelter on a hot day.

It also only took us about 15 minutes to put up.

Price: £399.99
Size: 453 x 453cm
Weight: 27.6kg
colemanuk.co.uk

Event shelters are great for socialising on the campsite, but Zempire’s Aerobase shelters go one step further.

What makes them unique is that, as well as being free-standing structures, they can be used in conjunction with the company’s Evo series of tents. With the use of a waterproof Evo Link panel you can connect up to four tents to the shelter, creating a central communal space for friends and family to gather under cover.

Effectively you are creating a mini tent village, interconnected but retaining the privacy of individual tents.

With the popularity of inflatable tents growing by the year, it was inevitable that the technology used would eventually be transferred over to event shelters. After all, they are essentially just tents without the inner sleeping compartments.

The advantages of inflatable shelters are basically the same as for air tents – the main one being the ease of pitching. The Aerobase 3 from Zempire inflates in minutes and packs away even faster. The frame is stable in the wind and even in bad weather it remains strong and stable. The use of inflatable frames eliminates the risk of broken poles.

Of course the disadvantages of inflatable shelters are the same, as well. Inflatable tents tend to be much heavier and bulkier that equivalent-sized poled tents and the same applies to event shelters.

The 3.5 by 3.5m size here strikes the balance between having a space that is large enough to be usable but keeps weight and pack size to a manageable level.

The shelter, which has a hydrostatic head rating of 2,000mm, also comes with a side wall, which can be used for additional shade or as a windbreak.

Price: £600
Size: 350 x 350cm
Weight: 16.4kg
zempire.co.uk

In the last couple of years Vango has cranked up its eco credentials with the introduction of its Earth Collection of camping gear.

All the products in the range are created with environmentally friendly fabrics using recycled single-use plastics – the current 2022 target is that the brand will recycle the equivalent of 8.2 million plastic bottles.

The Earth range includes tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks, and furniture, and now features, for the first time, an event shelter.

The Danu Hub has a flysheet made from Vango’s Sentinel Eco material – a strong and durable fabric made from single-use plastics. The use of recycled materials has no negative impact on functionality whatsoever. The 70-denier Sentinel fabric has a waterproof rating of 3,000mm, is fire retardant and as durable as you’d expect.

I also like the quirky design of the Danu Hub. The cross-pole structure – using flexible, fibreglass poles – provides stability and lots of headroom inside, and the canopies over the doors add extra protection in bad weather, stopping rain from dripping into the living area.

The doors can be fully opened but the side walls are permanently fixed. However, the mesh panels on each side offer plenty of ventilation – and the panels can be fully zipped open to allow even more air through.

Unlike many event shelters and gazebos, the Danu Hub comes with a removable groundsheet, which is useful if the conditions are wet underfoot.

Other features include high-visibility guylines and lantern hanging points.

Price: £280
Size: 350 x 350cm
Weight: 14.8kg
vango.co.uk

The best gazebos should have the same qualities as a good tent –  plenty of space to move around, good headroom, waterproof fabric and excellent ventilation. It stands to reason, then, that brands known for quality tents also make top-quality event shelters.

The Event Lounge M from Outwell ticks all the boxes you’d expect from one of the leading family tent manufacturers. And, at around £255, it’s also great value for money.

Firstly, the dimensions. Although this is only the middle of three different size options, the footprint of 12.25m² gives you loads of space, making it ideal for big families or group camping trips. Height-wise it’s pretty generous, too, with a maximum height of 2.35m and an entrance of 1.8m.

The silver-coated polyester flysheet’s waterproof rating is 1,500mm and it has a UPF 50+ protection rating, the maximum rating achievable for fabric. That makes it an ideal outdoor playroom for kids.

The steel poles are strong, but also add a bit of weight to the overall package. In fact, the size and weight is probably the only downside to the Event Lounge.

Design features include mesh storage pockets, a lantern hanging point and an apex vent.

For a larger covered space, you can connect multiple shelters together using a gutter, which can be bought as an optional extra.

Price: £254.99
Size: 350 x 350cm
Weight: 15.3kg
outwell.com

Frankly, this shelter is as basic as they come. But while the Day Lounge might not have all the bells and whistles you might find on other gazebos, it’s the simplicity that actually makes it so appealing. Not to mention the price.

With an RRP of £141, the Day Lounge is £114 cheaper than the next lowest-priced shelter I looked at, and, while it’s fair to say this is basic, it performs its main function – providing shelter from the elements – as well as any other.

The Day Lounge is easy and quick to pitch and comes complete with two side doors that can be rolled away or closed quickly, to suit the changing weather conditions. It’s lightweight. with sturdy fibreglass poles, webbing and double guylines providing the all-important strength you need in a shelter.

Price: £140.99
Size: 290 x 290cm
Weight: 4.7kg
easycamp.com

An event shelter will certainly enhance your camping trips. But when you arrive at the campsite, you want to get set up as fast as possible and get on with enjoying your camping holiday.

So the thought of having to pitch a shelter, as well as your tent, might be enough to put some people off. 

The new Screenhouse 4 shelter from Outdoor Revolution is the answer.

It can be put up in a matter of seconds thanks to its innovative pop-up system and then it offers a really flexible space to complement your tent set-up.

It provides you with enough space for a table and four chairs or a camping kitchen set-up.

Pitching the Screenhouse 4 couldn’t be easier. The poles are all attached to the fabric, so to pitch you simply lay it out flat on the ground and spread out the roof. You then pull out the side panels and push the roof up into position. Add a couple of extra upright poles if you need additional support, and you’re good to go.

The roof is produced using the same waterproof, lightweight fabric that Outdoor Revolution uses in its durable family tents. It has a 4,000mm hydrostatic head rating and fully taped seams throughout, so rainwater simply rolls off.

The side panels are all mesh to give plenty of ventilation while keeping insects at bay. You can also buy additional side panels to give more privacy and protection from the wind.

For easier access, the front panel can be zipped completely open. A kader strip with 6mm piping allows you to attach a windbreak to the outside.

Price: £299
Size: 240 x 240cm
Weight: 11.43kg
outdoor-revolution.com