Camping Tents
Everything you need to know about camping tents
You’ve decided to buy a camping tent. Great! Camping is a wonderful way for you and your family to enjoy the outdoors and it's fantastic value for money.
But if it’s been a while since you bought a tent or you’ve never camped before, it might all seem a little confusing. There's no need to panic, though.
What is important is that you choose the tent that is right for you. What will you use it for? How often will you go camping? How many of you are there? Do you want to go for poles or inflatable? These are the sort of questions you need to ask before you splash the cash.
Find out more with our Introduction to camping tents.
Presented by Camping Editor, Iain Duff
The Camping Awards are the most prestigious and important in the UK family camping market. And this year's awards are the biggest and best we've ever done.
Camping tent guides
Tent styles guide
The distinction between types is becoming less clear-cut these days, with some designs borrowing elements of different types, but we’ve put together a guide to the basic types of family tent to help you make your choice.
Tent size guide
When it comes to choosing a tent, size matters. And the first thing you will need to ask yourself when you start looking at tents is what size you will need.
Trailer tents & folding campers guide
Trailer tents and folding campers offer the freedom of a tent combined with the luxury of a caravan – they are the best of both worlds. But what is a trailer tent and what is a folding camper?
Tent finance
Q: Can I spread the cost of camping gear?
A: With family tents getting bigger, they can be expensive to kit out. But fear not! There are affordable ways to pay for your camping equipment.
Where to buy a tent
Q: Where is the best place to buy my camping tent?
A: The popularity of camping in recent years means there's now a multitude of retail outlets fighting for your hard-earned pounds and pennies. It's a really competitive marketplace so shop around!
Tent insurance
Q: Do I need tent insurance?
A: Yes. Despite the huge increases in the number of camping converts in recent years, many have not considered insurance for camping equipment and holidays or even realised that it is available.
Expert tent reviews
You can view all our tent reviews here, with over 300 independent reviews of tents and trailer tents we are sure to have you covered.
Latest tent review
Latest review: Coleman Weathermaster 6XL Air
In Brief:
- Price: £1,399.99
- From: Coleman
- Spacious enclosed front porch
- BlackOut Bedrooms
- FastPitch inflatable technology
- Drop down groundsheet entrance
- Removable double bedroom
Our Verdict:
A classic tunnel tent perfect for camping escapes all year round
Tent reviews (2022 tents)
The Coleman Vail 4 tent review
A good-quality budget tent that provides comfort, robustness and durability in any weather conditions.
The Outdoor Revolution Camp Star 500 tent review
A good-value five-berth tunnel tent, ideal as a weekender for smaller families.
The Outwell Yosemite Lake 6TC tent review
A luxury, polycotton family tent that looks good and it is also packed full of top-of-the range features.
The Easy Camp Palmdale 600 tent review
A six-berth tunnel tent that is perfect as a starter tent for families wanting to try camping for the first time.
The Coleman Vail 6L tent review
A spacious, comfortable and convenient poled, family tent for beginners and camping veterans alike.
The Vango Stargrove II 600XL tent review
A six-man tunnel tent with lots of living space and an enclosed built-in awning at the front.
The Khyam Family 6 tent review
A sturdy tent of the highest quality that can be pitched easily and offers lots of camping options.
The Zempire Evo TS tent review
Perfect for adventure-seeking couples on the move; quick and easy to pitch, with plenty of living and sleeping space.
Vango Skye 500 CLR tent review
Five-man tunnel tent made from surplus material from the manufacture of other tents.
Craghoppers NosiDefence Kiwi tent
A classic ridge tent that harks back to a golden age of camping but uses modern materials and construction.
Robens Klondike PRS tent
A disctinctive tipi-style tent that will turn heads on the campsite, providing excellent sleeping accommodation for a family of four.
Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air tent
A classic inflatable tunnel tent with multiple rooms and loads of flexible living space.
Quechua Arpenaz 8.4 tent
A superb example of an extra-large family tent.
Quechua Arpenaz 8.4 tent
A great value family tent, with a vis-à-vis layout.
Vango Longleat II Air 800XL tent
A good-quality and relatively compact eight-berth tent.
Outdoor Revolution Kalahari PC 9.0 DSE tent
An exquisite polycotton family tent.
Outwell Springville 6SA tent
A sleek family tent with the wow factor – plenty of features, quality materials and loads of room for you to spread out on that big summer camping getaway.
Zempire Evo TL V2 tent
The size and layout on offer here make this a perfect tent for longer family holidays. There’s good height throughout, excellent ventilation and a useful front awning area for cooking or dining.
Vango Vesta Air 850XL tent
With comfortable bedrooms, plenty of communal space and panoramic skylights and large side windows, this is a pleasantly bright and airy tent for older families.
Outdoor Revolution Airedale 7.0SE tent
A spacious family tent that has loads of flexibility and a fantastic multipurpose side annexe and is packed with quality features.
Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton tent
Compact it may be, but the new polycotton version of the Air Seconds is a cracking tent for smaller groups, with plenty of features designed to make camping life more comfortable.
Coleman Meadowood 4 Air tent
This is a super tent for smaller families. It’s quick and easy to pitch, and comes with that reassuring Coleman seal of quality.
Tent reviews (2021 tents)
Camp Star 600 tent from Outdoor Revolution
Proof that you don’t need to pay top dollar for a top tent. For less than £800 you get a level of tent you might expect to pay another £300 for, with a carpet and footprint thrown in for good measure!
Olpro Gemini 4 tent
The vis-à-vis layout is great for families with older children.
Easy Camp Galaxy 400
A good old-fashioned, great-value tent for couples and younger families.
Snow Peak Spearhead Pro.L
A stylish tent with a technical spec that makes it just as suitable for the campsite as the festival.
Karsten Opera Blueline
The Karsten Opera Blueline is a stunning poled tent that screams quality and boasts great eco credentials.
Robens Prospector Shack
The Prospector Shack summons up the old pioneer spirit with a modern-day twist.
Easy Camp Moonlight Tipi
A great-value, fun shelter, that is perfect for the return of festival camping or weekends with friends.
Outwell Mountain Lake 5ATC
A lavish family tent boasting exquisite good looks, top-of-the-range materials and a great array of features.
Outwell Oakdale 5PA
A tent that provides smaller families with just the right amount of flexible living space they need for a weekend camping break
Vango Joro Air 450
A fab little touring tent that is doing its bit for the environment too.
Robens Double Dreamer 5
A compact family tent packed with high-spec features and materials that you’d expect to pay far more for.
Coleman Weathermaster 4 Air BlackOut
A compact and easy-to-pitch tunnel tent that provides plenty of living space and is perfect for smaller families.
Wild Country Zonda 4EP
A perfect tent for campers who want a quick-to-pitch, high-spec inflatable tent with a smaller pack size.
Coleman Meadowood 6L
A great-value family tent from a very reliable brand, for longer camping holidays at home or abroad.
Vango Aether Air 450XL
A quality family tent, with the added bonus that you know you are doing your bit to help the environment.
Snow Peak Entry 2 Room Elfield
This Japanese tent is a fine example of how poled tents can still turn heads.
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