“Home is where you pitch your tent..”
In this day and age, it’s never been more important to put aside the trials and tribulations of modern life and enjoy some quality time among nature.
Camping is most definitely the best way to do this, as a walk in the park just isn’t enough sometimes. According to statistics, more and more people are getting involved with camping, with more than 15million trips being taken last year alone – so if you’re thinking of getting involved, a good tent is an absolute necessity.
Even if you’re already an experienced camper or festival-goer and you’re on the lookout for some new kit, you’re in the right place.
Quick Look: Best Tents for Camping
- Vango Odyssey Inflatable Family Tunnel Tent Airbeam 600SC
- Coleman 6-8 Man Festival Dome Tent
- Night Cat Instant Pop Up Camping Tent
- Coleman The Blackout Festical Camping Tent
- CampFeuer 4 Person Tunnel Tent
- Vango Waterproof Apollo 500 Outdoor Dome Tent
- Slumit Gobi 3 Instant Tent
- Coleman Waterfall 5 Deluxe Tent
- Lichfield Cullen Dome Tent
- G4Free Outdoors Automatic Pop Up Tent
Our experts at Raw Outdoorz have scoured the market looking for some of the best options out there – from single person pop up tents to inflatable tents for the whole family and even single man festival tents – so we’re sure you’ll find something for you on our list of the top 10 tents for camping.
- Full standing up room
- Dark interior walls will keep light out, allowing for better sleep
- AirBeam technology allows for super-fast erection
- Easy to get back into the bag
- The sun canopy provided adds even more room to the already spacious tent
- The added features such as the lantern hanging hoops give the tent a really homely feel
- There is no sewn in ground sheet
Boasting a user friendly, inflatable design, the Vango Odyssey Inflatable Family Tunnel tent will see you say goodbye to those often infuriating poles and allow you to pitch up, hassle free in a matter of minutes by using the double action pump provided.
With space for up to six occupants, this spacious tent even comes with darker fabric interior walls that help reduce the amount of light that gets in, allowing you to enjoy a better sleep – making it comfortable one of the best family tents on the market.
The Vango Odyssey Inflatable Tunnel Tent also comes with a whole host of other features including full mesh doors, lantern hanging loops and even a night time comfort zone.
Stability and durability is also considered as it is made using reliable fabrics and has a built in tension band system to ensure it stands up to even the windiest of conditions.
Features
- Packed Dimensions: 70 x 38 x 32cm
- Weight: 19.95kg
- ProTex 70D 4000mm HH Polyester
- Pitch Time: 8mins
- Sun canopy included
- Fully taped seams
- TBS II tension band system
- Double action pump included
- Sleeps up to 6 people
- Full head space and 360 views
- The removable partition allows you to create two separate sleeping areas
- Integrated ground sheet
- Hinged door makes it quick and easy to come and go
- Fully removable flysheet
- It can feel a bit draughty at times, due to the viewing panels
Sleeping up to 8 people, the aptly named Octagon tent from Coleman has full head space throughout as a well as 360 degree viewing panels, which may have you feeling like you’re glamping as opposed to camping, but at a fraction of the cost.
Sturdy in design and easy to pitch, this versatile tent could even be used as an outdoor playroom for children, or even a tent for festival gatherings – which is why it ranks so highly on our list of the top 10 tents for camping.
As well as being fully waterproof, it also comes with fully taped seams and a sewn-in groundsheet that will help to keep moisture out, whatever the weather conditions.
Finally, it comes in five different colour options, ensuring there is something for all tastes.
Features
- Packed Dimensions: 85 x 30 x 30cm
- Weight: 20.7kg
- Sleeping Area: 15.7m2
- Integrated ground sheet
- Water Column: 200mm
- Steel poles
- Fully taped seams
- Removable partition
- Full 360 view
- Available colours: Grey & Green, Blue & Grey, Black & Red, Green, Orange
- Sleeps up to 8 people
- Instant set up
- The detachable rain fly can be separated for use as a pavilion
- Fibre glass poles ensure it is safe and sturdy
- Lightweight design ensures it is easy to carry
- The flysheet is fully removable, turning the tent into a bug-proof screen room
- Probably more suitable for 2 people, rather than 3
- Not fully waterproof
Our next tent is brought to you by a brand you may not be too familiar with, but there’s no need to fear the unknown.
The Night Cat Instant Pop Up Camping Tent is ideal for new campers, as the set up really is a doddle, thanks largely to the advanced spring mechanism that means you’ll have it set up within a minute and can have it back in the bag within two.
Despite its compact look, this tent is actually surprisingly roomy, with the 2/3 man variant comfortably sleeping two adults, even when using a queen or king size air mattress.
Features
- Dimensions: 200 x 180 x 120cm
- Weight: 3.6kg
- Advanced Spring mechanism
- Automatic set up
- 210D Oxford tent fabric
- Abrasion proof floor
- Fibre glass poles
- Suitable under drizzle
- Detachable rain fly
- Mesh windows
- Blocks out 99% of sunlight
- The UV guard offers supreme protection from the sun’s rays
- Large storage are offers additional room for gear and muddy boots
- Fibre glass poles ensure it is safe and sturdy
- The carry bag is a little small, so you may struggle to squeeze everything back in.
At number four on our list, we have another entry from Coleman who have created a product that is not only one of the best tents for camping, but it is also one of the best tents for festivals.
The Blackout Festival Camping Tent come with one large bedroom that will black out a colossal 99% of daylight to ensure you get a great sleep and won’t be woken up at first light – which is great if you’re nursing a sore head (Festival fans).
With 3 and 4 person variants available, this tent is definitely one to share with your friends and it comes at a more than reasonable price.
Other features include a UV guard, fiber glass poles, PVC windows and a large storage area.
Features
- Dimensions: 340 x 260 x 140cm
- Weight: 5.2kg
- 100% Waterproof
- Taped Seams
- PVC windows with covers
- Tent pegs included
- Full standing space
- The large size of this tent represents great value for money
- The large sleeping area can be divided into two separate rooms
- The sewn in ground sheet helps prevent draught
- Easy to erect and take back down
- Will comfortably stand up to inclement weather
- Instructions can seem a little daunting. Two person set up is advisable
If you’re looking for one of the best tents for families for the price of a much smaller tent, then the CampFeuer 4 Person Tunnel Tent might just be the one for you.
In blue and grey, this large tent comes with a large sleeping area that can be split into two with the dividing wall.
The large compartment at the front even has enough room for a picnic table, allowing you the get inside and still enjoy socializing, eating, card games etc. whilst escaping any bad weather.
As you’d expect it is also fully rain and wind proof and the sewn in ground sheet will keep out those annoying draughts.
Features
- Dimensions: 410 x 250 x 190cm
- Weight: 14kg approx.
- Taped seams
- Sewn in ground sheet
- Watercollum: 2000mm
- Carry bag included
- Waterproof
- Windproof
- This large tent offers great value for money
- Built in ground sheet makes for easier pitching
- This tent has a large porch area at the front for storage
- The black and green colour scheme is very sleek
- Fully waterproof and windproof
- Although advertised as a 5 person tent, it is much more comfortable with only 3 or 4 persons
Vango tents are well known for being some of the very best in the industry, which is why this reputable brand is appearing on our list of the top tents for camping for a second time.
In the form of the Waterproof Apollo 500 Outdoor Dome Tent, Vango have made a tent that not only looks great and performs great, but also comes at an excellent price.
With a sleek black and green colour scheme, this large tent can sleep up to five people (Although you’ll be more comfortable with three or four) and is made from high quality Protex 3,000 HH waterproof polyester and comes with a sewn in flysheet, to make pitching even easier.
The large porch area at the front also offers plenty of room for storage.
Features
- Dimensions: 390 x 170 x 155cm
- Weight: 8.5kg.
- Protec 3,000 HH waterproof polyester embossed 70D flysheet
- Fitted groundsheet
- Vango Airzone ventilation
- Large porch area
- Waterproof
- Sleeps up to 5 people
- The FlashFrame technology means this tent can be erected in less that 60 seconds
- Double layer design
- Packs smaller than similar sized instant tents
- An optional canopy can be purchased
- Fully waterproof
- Lower price point than similar tents
- It would be great if there were more colour options available
Benefiting from advanced FlashFrame technology, the Gobi 3 from Slumit could have made it onto our for its ease of use alone, but it also has a whole host of other beneficial features, too.
Made using breathable, waterproof polyester, this compact tent will also pack smaller than conventional pop up tents, and at only 5.6kg, it is still light enough to carry with ease.
What’s more, the Gobi 3 Instant tent also comes with a double layer design, a separated bug free sleeping area, a sewn in groundsheet and windows with an optional privacy screen.
In terms of aesthetics, this exceptional camping / festival tent comes in a neutral brown colour, and could perhaps benefit from some brighter coloured variants.
Features
- Dimensions: 130 x 335 x 220cm
- Weight: 5.6kg.
- 4,000 HH waterproof polyester
- Fitted groundsheet
- Taped seams
- Privacy screen
- Double layer design
- Carry bag included
- Waterproof
- Sleeps up to 3 people
- This ultra-spacious tent combines all the best aspects of both tunnel and dome tents
- Fully waterproof
- Fibreglass poles help to reduce the total weight
- Large communal area is great for socializing
- Stands up well in all weather conditions
- Colour coded poles make for easy pitching
- The door doesn’t zip all the way to the ground, it will need pegging
At number eight on our list of the top 10 tents for camping, we have our third and final offering from Coleman, in the form of the Waterfall 5 Deluxe Tent.
Housing up to 5 people, this large tent has ample space and comes with the added bonus of having openings at both the front and back, giving it a real communal feel.
Combining the style of both tunnel and dome tents giving you the best of both worlds, it comes fully equipped with lightweight fiberglass poles, a sewn in ground sheet and of course, deluxe waterproof fabric.
The real selling point of this tent has to be the sheer size, which has to be seen to be believed.
Features
- Dimensions: 165 x 225cm
- Packed Dimensions: 71 x 26 x 26cm
- Weight: 12.8kg.
- 3,000 mm polyester
- Sewn in groundsheet
- Taped seams
- Front and back entrances
- Carry bag included
- Waterproof
- Sleeps up to 5 people
- Excellent value for money
- Easy to erect
- Lightweight design
- Beautiful Atlantic blue colour scheme
- Will comfortably withstand heavy downpours
- Optional outer shell if required
- Sizing is a bit generous, order a size up. E.g. 3 man tent for 2 people
Available in two, three and four man variants, the Cullen dome tent comes in Atlantic blue and has a simple yet effective design.
Crafted from fire retardant, waterproof fabrics, it comes with a sewn in groundsheet, lightweight fiberglass poles and zipped access at the front.
With a relatively low price point, the Cullen dome tent offers great value for money, thanks largely due to its no-thrills design and incredible practicality – and is considerably cheaper than most other similar tents on the market, making it a great first tent for camping novices.
Features
- Packed Dimensions: 53 x 16cm
- Weight: 3.60kg.
- Protex 2000 polyester flysheet
- Attached groundsheet
- Zipped front access
- Mesh panels
- Waterproof
- Carry bag included
- Two, three and four man variants available
- Pops up instantly
- Excellent ventilation and viewing panels
- Easy to fold up
- Offers protection against the sun, making it suitable for all day use
- Extremely spacious (Fits two children and two adults)
- Optional outer shell if required
- The mesh windows can’t be covered
Now, not strictly a camping tent and more suited for use at the beach, the Automatic Pop Up Tent from G4Free still had to make it onto our list for sheer convenience and practicality alone.
As the name suggests, this tent literally pops up in an instant, eradicating all the hassle of pitching a tent when all you want to do is get it up and get inside.
Available in a range of colours, this versatile tent comes with a whole host of features, including resin fibre poles, a rollable door curtain and eight sand bags to weigh it down and prevent it from getting blown away.
In terms of sizing, this deceptively spacious tent measures 130cm in height, giving it considerably more head room than its closest competitors and has enough room for two adults and two children.
As an added bonus, the anti-UV fabric will offer protection from the suns potentially harmful UV rays.
Features
- Dimensions: 130 x 220 x 190cm
- Packed Dimensions: 68 x 5cm
- Weight: 1.93kg.
- Anti-UV 190T waterproof polyester
- Lantern / fan hook
- Rollable door curtain
- Waterproof
- Pegs and wind ropes included
- Carry bag included