Childhood memories are made of many things, but the magic of that first night under the stars can spark a lifelong love of camping.
If you’re ready to show your kids the wonders of the great outdoors – marshmallows obligatory – then you’ll need one of these best family tents.
They'll also do the job nicely if you were lucky enough to nab Glasto tickets, or if you've got any other festivals lined up this summer.
In a hurry? Here's a quick round-up of our favourite tents. For a more detailed breakdown of each, keep scrolling.
1
2
Best family tent you can stand up in
Decathlon Quechua Arpenaz 4.2 Tent
Read more
3
4
Best inflatable family tent
Regatta Kolima V2 6-Man Family Tunnel Inflatable Tent
Read more
5
Best eco-friendly family tent
Vango Osiris 500 Tent
Read more
6
What Should I Look For in a Family Tent?
Size
Family tents come in all shapes, sizes and styles, but the best will offer enough sleeping space for the number of people they promise to accommodate, plus a living area for bags or wet weather hangouts and a porch to keep muddy boots dry.
If you’re after a roomy tent, a handy rule of thumb is to size up by two – a six-person tent for a family of four, for example.
Weight
Look for a tent that’s lightweight to carry, especially if your campsite is a Glasto-level trek from the car park – around 5kg is a good max to bear in mind.
Ease of use
Consider how easy it will be to pitch and pack away, even with excited young’uns running amok. If it’s inflatable or larger than you’re used to, practice in your garden or local park before heading off into the wilderness.
Waterproofing
If you’re risking the Great British weather, a reliable waterproofing rating is a must for preventing tantrums from children and adults alike – look for 5000mm or more to protect you from torrential downpours (or 2000mm if it only comes with a flysheet). If your tent has a season rating, then levels four and five are the best for more trying conditions.
Extra features
In terms of ‘nice to have’ extras, split bedrooms, internal pockets, light hooks and carry bags can all help make your expedition more of a success than a stress.
There’s a lot to consider, so we tasked the Men’s Health Lab with finding the best family tents you can buy for all needs and budgets.
How We Test Family Tents
Nine different tents were sent to families with camping experience who matched the marketed capacity. They dutifully slept in their tent before reporting back on all its hits and misses.
They were judged on their instructions, ease of use and design. Our testers timed how long each tent took to pitch and dismantle, noting how many people had to be roped in to help. They considered whether it let in enough light and fresh air and, most importantly, if it offered enough space for everybody to live comfortably.
Back in the lab, our expert used a hydrostatic head machine to test each tent’s waterproofing capabilities.
From a fairytale tipi to a blow-up beast, pitch up with our top picks.
Fun for all the family, the top of this teepee-style tent opens up for a spot of stargazing. It also promises speedy assembly with just a single pole, and it’s spacious inside, with plenty of room to stand up.
Our tester found it a doddle to assemble, thanks to clear instructions, but it was a bit of a pain having to zip the floor in. Though heavy to lug from the car, it looked cool once up and their kids loved its starry surprise. Just check the forecast before you set off, as the flysheet isn’t waterproof.
Key specs
| Capacity | 6 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | Unknown |
| Pack size (cm) | 32 x 99 |
| Weight | 11.8kg |
| Waterproof rating | 350mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | No |
| Blackout rooms | Yes |
| Air vents | Yes |
With its two separate bedrooms and stand-up living area, this tent is designed for small families on short getaways. It’s affordably priced and fairly quick to put up, but vague diagrams and tricksy poles made pitching more of a faff for our tester than it needed to be.
Their family of four found it adequately roomy for a night and they liked how it looked as a bonus. Stashing it back into its storage bag proved a bit of a wrestle, but rest assured it’ll keep you dry in a downpour.
Key specs
| Capacity | 4 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | Unknown |
| Pack size (cm) | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Waterproof rating | 2000mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | Yes |
| Blackout rooms | Yes |
| Air vents | Yes |
This great value tunnel-style tent with two bedrooms and a large living area is speedy to pitch, thanks to colour-coded poles, pre-attached guy ropes and strong pegs that don't bend when pushed into the ground. It left our tester feeling like Bear Grylls – that’s how rapidly it went up.
Sturdy and reliably waterproof, it comfortably fit their family of four, with space for bags in the middle. Standing up was challenging, though, so it’s one to sleep in only. The carry bag could have been bigger, too, but it's our champ for any small families on a short getaway.
Key specs
| Capacity | 4 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | 140 x 210 x 420 |
| Pack size (cm) | 53 x 20 x 20 |
| Weight | 7.3kg |
| Waterproof rating | 2000mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | Yes |
| Blackout rooms | No |
| Air vents | No |
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4
Best inflatable family tent
Regatta Kolima V2 6-Man Family Tunnel Inflatable Tent
Now 60% Off
Regatta claims this tent inflates in minutes, ready to sleep four in the darkened bedroom. It features a torch hook and brightly coloured guy ropes for visibility, while handles on the bag let you carry it like a giant rucksack.
Our tester found it palatial in terms of space and loved the separate sleeping and porch areas. They found it dutifully quick to blow up, but, as with many tents, a bit of a faff to fold away.
Key specs
| Capacity | 4 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | 200 x 370 x 480 |
| Pack size (cm) | 90 x 38 x 38 |
| Weight | 16kg |
| Waterproof rating | 3000mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | Yes |
| Blackout rooms | Yes |
| Air vents | Yes |
If you’re trying to shop more sustainably, you'll like that this five-person tent is made from recycled single-use plastics. Mesh panels help keep out bugs and a covered side entrance claims to prevent rain from entering the living area.
Our tester appreciated the cross-bracing straps that stopped this tent from bending in the wind. It kept their family cosy on a chilly day and blocked out enough light for a good night’s sleep, but the groundsheet wasn't very waterproof.
Key specs
| Capacity | 5 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | 195 x 330 x 465 |
| Pack size (cm) | 73 x 34 x 34 |
| Weight | Not given |
| Waterproof rating | 3000mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | Yes |
| Blackout rooms | No |
| Air vents | Yes |
This tent claims to be big enough to fit a table and chairs inside – handy in our climate, let’s face it. It features separate living and sleeping areas, the latter of which can be divided if you’re keen to keep the kids at bay while you kip.
Our tester liked how quickly the colour-coded magnetic poles slotted into place, but found the instructions basic. Once up, it was sufficiently spacious for their gang of five plus gear, but they couldn’t quite stand up fully. Though too large and heavy to hike with, it packed away quickly into its generously-sized carry case.
Key specs
| Capacity | 5 |
|---|---|
| Pitch size (cm) | 165 x 265 x 490 |
| Pack size (cm) | 71 x 26 x 26 |
| Weight | 12.8kg |
| Waterproof rating | 3000mm |
| Sewn-in groundsheet | Yes |
| Blackout rooms | No |
| Air vents | Yes |
Jess Denham
Deputy Digital Editor
Jess is the Deputy Digital Editor of Red, covering everything from fashion and beauty to interiors and wellbeing. When she isn't busy scouring the new collections, sales and preloved marketplaces for beautiful pieces to add to her wardrobe, Jess can be found enjoying live music, making her first house a home and planning her next travel adventure.
Priyankaa Joshi
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Tested byJodie Morrish
Health and Fitness Tester
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
Tested byYanar Alkayat
Former Fitness Group Testing Manager
Yanar was our former Fitness Group Testing Manager. She managed health and fitness product testing across all the magazines, overseeing all testing processes and ensuring our lab and panel tests are conducted to the highest standards. Yanar spent 15 years as a health and wellness content editor and writer for national titles such as Runner’s World, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Yanar is a Level 3 qualified PT, trained yoga teacher and a registered yoga therapist. She has been into fitness and wellness her whole life. After many years running races and marathons, she now trains and competes in CrossFit and Olympic lifting. She passionately advocates strength training for women to build a stronger mind and body for life.
