By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Best tents for camping: top picks for families and backpackers
Joel has spent six years testing pizza ovens, camping gear, binoculars and more. He’s cooked a criminal amount of pizza, and swallowed the evidence.
The best tents are comfortable and weather-resistant, with a mixture of practical and homely touches and plenty of privacy.
We've tested all sizes: from two-person right up to eight-person tents, to find out which will keep you dry and happy on your next camping trip.
Bestselling tents from Argos, Berghaus, Coleman, Eurohike, Quechua and Vango were pitched during rotten weather that included heavy downpours, wind and even snow. While some easily withstood everything the elements threw at them, others were blown down or ended up with puddles inside.
How our tests find you the best
We've tested 29 tents
Everything from lightweight tents for backpackers to bell tents for family glamping trips. We pitch every tent for a week at the same campsite to test its mettle.
Weather resistance
Every tent we test endures winds and heavy rain. We even drench them with a pressure shower just in case the weather turns out better than expected.
Pitching and packing away
Putting up and taking down a tent can be testing in any weather conditions. We check every step to make sure you know which tents will give you the least grief.
We also assess...
Whether each tent has everything you need to be a happy camper, such as a darkened sleeping compartment, storage pockets and roomy living spaces.
The tents we've tested
The biggest brands and the 10 most popular tents are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the tents test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Tent | Price | Score | Stated size | Weather resistance | Ease of pitching | Ease of packing away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 96% | Two-person | ||||
| 96% | Three-person | |||||
| 95% | Four-person | |||||
| 95% | Six-person | |||||
| 94% | Two-person | |||||
| 92% | Two-person | |||||
| 91% | Three-person | |||||
| 91% | Five-person | |||||
| 90% | Three-person | |||||
| 90% | Two-person |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
Log in
Dates tested: March 2024, March 2023, April 2022. Page last checked: February 2026. We aren't able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available. We've tested 29 tents in total, but the table shows our top picks only.
A selection of the tents we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best tents from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Alpkit Viso 2
Available from Alpkit (£169.99)
Most recently tested March 2024
Stated size Two-person
Dimensions (pitched) 410 x 155 x 118cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 3.2kg
Stated water resistance 3,000mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, one bedroom, two air vents, small porch, four storage pockets, available in green or blue
Bell Tent UK 5 Metre Ultimate Bell Tent
Available from Bell Tent UK (£749)
Most recently tested March 2023
Stated size Five to eight-person
Dimensions (pitched) 300 x 500 x 500cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 34kg
Stated water resistance 4,500mm
Need to know Groundsheet can be zipped into canvas, one entrance, one room, four windows, four air vents, no porch, no storage pockets, lamp hook on central pole
Berghaus Air 600 Nightfall Tent
Most recently tested March 2024
Stated size Six-person
Dimensions (pitched): 215 x 250 x 730cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight: 26.5kg
Stated water resistance: 6,000mm
Need to know: Darkened sleeping compartments, inflatable poles, pump included, power-cord flap, groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, rain hood above side entrance, two bedrooms, four windows, six air vents, porch, 26 storage pockets
Coleman Darwin 4 Plus
Most recently tested March 2023
Stated size Four-person
Dimensions (pitched) 130 x 335 x 260cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 6.2kg
Stated water resistance 3,000mm
Need to know Power-cord flap, groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, one bedroom, two windows, four air vents, porch, four storage pockets
Eurohike Teepee Tent
Most recently tested April 2022
Stated size Four-person
Dimensions (pitched) 210 x 300 x 300cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 4.6kg
Stated water resistance 2,000mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, three air vents, no porch, one storage pocket
We've also tested the most popular pop up tents
MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent
Most recently tested March 2023
Stated size Two-person
Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 213 x 279cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 1.72kg
Stated water resistance 1,200mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedrooms, no windows, eight air vents, two small porches on each side, two storage pockets, four ceiling hanging loops
OEX Coyote III Backpacking Tent
Most recently tested March 2024
Stated size Three-person
Dimensions (pitched) 116 x 205 x 400cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 4.3kg
Stated water resistance 5,000mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, one bedroom, no windows, two air vents, four storage pockets, two ceiling lamp hooks
Quechua Inflatable Camping Tent Air Seconds 4.1
Most recently tested March 2023
Stated size Four-person
Dimensions (pitched) 190 x 290 x 480cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 12.5kg
Stated water resistance 2,000mm
Need to know Inflatable poles, pump not included, porch, groundsheet sewn into bedroom (separate groundsheet clips into porch), one entrance, one bedroom, one window, three air vents, six storage pockets
Vango Icarus 500 Deluxe
Most recently tested April 2022
Stated size Five-person
Dimensions 195 x 335 x 465cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 14.8kg
Stated water resistance 4,000mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, room divider, five windows, three air vents, porch, 15 storage pockets
Vango Mokala 450
Most recently tested April 2022
Stated size Four-person
Dimensions (pitched) 190 x 300 x 540cm (HxWxD)
Pack weight 15.9kg
Stated water resistance 3,000mm
Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, room divider, four windows, one air vent, porch, nine storage pockets, awning poles included
More tents from our tests
Here's the rest of the tents we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.
| Tent | Price | Score | Stated size | Weather resistance | Ease of pitching | Ease of packing away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Basics 8-person Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50013708 | Eight-person | ||||
| Coleman Darwin 4 Plus | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882717 | Four-person | ||||
| Coleman Octagon 8 Man Festival Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50013707 | Eight-person | ||||
| Coleman Rocky Mountain 5 Plus Blackout Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50013702 | Five-person | ||||
| Eurohike Ribble 2 | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882719 | Two-person | ||||
| Eurohike Sendero 4 Family Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882720 | Four-person | ||||
| Eurohike Teepee Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017224 | Four-person | ||||
| Hi-Gear Hampton 6 Nightfall Family Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882724 | Six-person | ||||
| ProAction 6 Man 3 Room Tunnel Camping Tent | Argos (£115) | Six-person | ||||
| Quechua Arpenaz 4.1 | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50026760 | Four-person | ||||
| Trespass Beatnik | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882807 | Two-person | ||||
| Vango Casa Lux 7 Person Family Tent | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50013706 | Seven-person | ||||
| Vango Mokala 450 | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12882734 | Four-person |
Dates tested: March 2024, March 2023, April 2022. Page last checked: February 2026. We aren't able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available.
How we test tents
We buy the bestselling tents and put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.
We regularly revisit the tents on sale to see if there are any more popular products that need testing. When we find them, we do.
We pitch all the tents we test for a week in early spring. We revisit them daily to check and record their condition.
Weather resistance
- Every tent we test is put up at Etherley Farm campsite in Surrey. Across our years of testing our tents have faced strong winds, heavy rain and even snow.
- We inspect the interiors of the tents during and after testing to see how each fares against the elements.
- Some tents manage to stay firm, but others blow over and even have puddles in the sleeping compartments.
Putting up the tents and taking them down
- We pitch every tent, taking into account how long it takes, how clear the instructions are, how much physical effort is required, and how convenient the process is.
- Once all the other tests are complete, we pack away every tent. We like tents that can be easily taken down and packed into their bags, and criticise tents that have awkward poles or tricky-to-fold canvas.
Living in the tent
- We closely inspect the interior of each tent and rate them on how likely campers are to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience that meets their needs.
- We consider how easy it is to get into and out of the main entrances and sleeping compartments, how bright and roomy the living spaces are, and if we consider there to be enough room for the number of people intended to sleep in the tent.
- We also take account of thoughtful touches, such as useful storage pockets, large windows and vents, darkened sleeping compartments and lamp hooks.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
How big a tent do I need for a family of four, five, six or eight?
It's common for manufacturers to be generous about the number of people they say can fit inside their tents. The number they give will be technically true, but it probably won't account for the space needed for campers' belongings, or the space you need for a comfortable night's sleep.
A good rule of thumb is to go for a tent that claims to be able to sleep one more person than you need. If you're a family of four, for example, we'd recommend going for a five-person tent.
To help you on your way to a comfortable night's sleep in the great outdoors, compare our air bed reviews.
What is a tent footprint?
Tent footprints are available to buy separately from tents at outdoor retailers. They're essentially an extra groundsheet that you can pitch before your tent, with the aim of pitching your tent on top of it.
They claim to provide an easy way for you to plan where you're going to place your tent without having to pitch it fully, and provide an extra layer of waterproofing and insulation from the ground below.
You'll want to ensure your tent footprint is the same size as the tent you're pitching – several manufacturers sell footprints specifically to fit certain tent models.
A larger footprint will do the job, but you should tuck any edges that poke out back underneath your tent. Otherwise, water could accumulate and pool around the sides.
Why do tents leak when touched?
Tents don't always leak when touched, and a well-waterproofed tent should still keep water out regardless of whether you touch it. In fact, it's far more likely your tent is leaking through a seam or zip than through a spot you've touched.
However, it's probably best to avoid touching the ceiling of your tent from the inside if there's a lot of water pooling on the outside. This is because you'll break the surface tension between water droplets on the outside and the canvas underneath, and this could cause leaks.
Hear our camping expert spill the beans on how to decipher a tent's waterproof rating, and what you should really look for when shopping for a waterproof tent.
How to waterproof a tent
Firstly, you'll need to clean the tent before waterproofing it. Use lukewarm water and a specialised cleaner. Never use household cleaners, bleaches or soaps - these will damage the waterproofing even more.
Once it's bone-dry, apply a specialised tent waterproofing spray evenly across the flysheet. If water is getting in around the seams, apply seam sealer to secure them.
Allow at least 24 hours for it to dry completely. If the canvas gets wet or damp, this will harm the waterproofing.
Once you're confident the tent has dried completely, it's a good idea to pitch it and spray it with a hose to check the waterproofing has done its job.
Read our reviews of the best backpacks for travel, work and airline carry-ons, plus our round-up of the best hiking backpack brands