What's new in camping in 2020?

There’s a common misconception among non-campers that one tent is very much like another. We know differently.

There are tunnel tents, domes and vis a vis models. Tents with poles, tents with tubes, tents with frames. Big ones, little ones. Tents come in all shapes and sizes, and just when you think you’ve got it sussed, those pesky designers come up with something new.

These days, tents are more than just a shelter from the elements, they are an actual home-from-home. You can take in panoramic views from tinted windows, enjoy a long-lie in an XXL blackout bedroom and light up your living room with the flick of a switch on the built-in LED lighting.

It’s all designed to make camping more comfortable. Of course, we know that you can get by with a tarp and a sleeping bag, and that sort of back-to-basics camping obviously has its place. But for family holidays and weekends away, the more comfort the better.

In 2020 we’re looking forward to more advances designed to make camping life easier. Danish manufacturer Outwell celebrates its 25^th birthday this year with a raft of new tent innovations. Among the new features introduced in some of the 2020 tents are Quick & Quiet inner doors, which use magnets for silent access to bedrooms.

The inner doors feature a magnetic strip that runs down the centre and can be opened and closed easily without a sound with just one hand.

Innovation continues with the Outwell HookTrack System that allows lights and small items to be positioned where required, and the new versatile Wing Lounge, which increases living space at the side of the tent without increasing the length.

The importance of a great night’s sleep is at the heart of the 2020 family camping collection from leading Scottish brand Vango.

A new range of products has been launched under the banner “Sleep Better with Vango” –spearheaded by the new Nightfall and Midnight bedrooms in family tents, which use dark fabrics to prevent sunlight from pouring into the bedroom early in the morning.

The accessory range also includes the award-winning Radiate sleeping bag, which features a built-in graphene heating element. The pad allows you to top up the heat inside the bag at different levels when connected to a power source.

The 2020 Vango tent range is extensive – with three separate collections in both poled and inflatable tents, which come in a variety of sizes, styles and fabric types, including the newly-developed Sentinel Exclusive with ColourLok technology to protect from UV light. The Diablo II Air, an eight-berth pod tent, makes a welcome return to the range while the award-winning Tahiti II has been updated.

Other new features within the ranges include larger windows, extra-wide Superbeams,

King Deluxe and Super King Deluxe bedrooms and clear access bedrooms with no steps and wider openings. Ventilation has also been improved with the introduction of internal mesh panels in place of PVC windows on some models.

The 2020 range from Coleman introduces a wide selection of new inflatable family tents, glamping and festival models and smaller shelters.

The new Weathermaster Air range is designed for comfort and convenience, with FastPitch inflatable technology that allow the tents to be pitched by one person but still provide a secure structure.

The six and eight berth versions have large enclosed porches to extend the already spacious living area. The smaller 4XL has an open porch at the front that can be used for storage or cooking.

All the tents in the range have extra-large bedrooms and are fitted with Coleman’s award-winning BlackOut fabric, which blocks up to 99% of daylight.

Other highlights include the new Maluti 3 (£249.99), a semi-geodesic three-berth tent with BlackOut Bedroom technology, a new BlackOut version of the popular Octagon glamping tent and the OctaGo – an easy to pitch design ideal for festivals, with 360° views and colour-coded poles for easy pitching.

Lichfield is a well-known name in the camping world and 2020 will see the brand return to the mainstream in a big way, with a new range of quality family inflatable and pole tents. The full range will be revealed at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC  between 18 – 23 February 2020.

New Zealand manufacturer Zempire will be bringing its 2020 range of inflatable family camping tents to the NEC. The all-new Evo Series will be available in three models, TM, TL and TXL, each featuring an open-plan design with multiple ventilation points. Zempire’s new Serolink beam technology makes for a small pack size and the custom-designed awning wall sets allow you to extend your living space.

Let’s not forget the other great manufacturers who continue to innovate.

Technical and backpacking camping specialist Wild Country is launching a smart new inflatable family tent range for 2020.

The four new Zonda tents have been designed to provide roomy accommodation, offering decent head height and enabling good sized airbeds to fit in the bedrooms.

Four, five, six and eight berth versions are included in the range, plus a driveaway awning suitable for VW Transporter T5 and T6 vehicles.

Robens is launching 12 new tents including a completely new collection in 2020.

The new flagship collection of Odyssey trekking tents is joined by new and updated models across existing ranges.

UK-based Olpro says 2020 will see the release of some of the most exciting products in its eight-year history. Among the new tents being launched this year are two backpacking tents – the Pioneer (£89) and the Voyager (£99).

Big retail chains like Blacks, Decathlon, and Go Outdoors are also coming up with interesting new products, particularly at the lower end of the price scale.