13 best tents for camping in the great outdoors year-round, tried and tested

Planning a summer of camping adventures? Get a good night’s sleep in the great outdoors, with our pick of the best tents for every budget.

Tents come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny one-person options aimed at wild campers to huge palaces that will sleep the whole family in different bedrooms. However, there are some key features to look for when buying any new model. You’ll want to make sure your tent has a completely waterproof rain fly (the tent’s outer layer). Look out for the tent’s HH (hydrostatic head) rating – 0-1,500mm means the fabric is water resistant, 1,500-5,000mm is waterproof and 5,000-20,000mm is highly waterproof. Anything above 2,000 can usually cope with the rainy British weather, while a 5,000-plus tent is worth investing in for more hardcore adventures.

Meanwhile, for added stability the more guy ropes a tent comes with, the better. A built-in groundsheet is essential, too, as it will protect the tent’s floor from rocks and stop condensation forming if you’re camping somewhere chilly (like, say, Britain).

Be wary of the number of people a tent claims to sleep – for some, you must halve that number unless you fancy sleeping like sardines. One person will find a one- or two-person tent suits them, while two adults and two or three children will usually find a six-person tent a good fit, with plenty of space for cooking gear and clothing .

If shopping for a family tent , look for multiple bedrooms and a roomy porch, so you have plenty of space to store kit or to take shelter. For weekend adventures, backpacking or wild camping, choose a compact, lightweight tent that is easier to set up and dismantle.

To find the best tents on the market, we’ve tested out a range of sizes for different budgets, from ultralight backpacking tents to palatial family digs. Keep scrolling to find out which ones made us happy campers.

How we tested the best camping tents

We pitched and slept in each tent in campsites in the Cotswolds and South Wales. Testing took place during rain and chilly temperatures as well as during balmy spring weather. We considered how easy the tents were to pitch, whether we got a comfortable night’s sleep, if there was good storage space and weatherproofing, and how quickly the tents packed down.

The best camping tents for 2024 are:

• Best camping tent overall – Vango teepee air 400: £425, Vango.co.uk
• Best budget camping tent – Argos pro action: £48, Argos.co.uk
• Best inflatable tent – Decathlon Fresh & Black inflatable air seconds: £449.99, Decathlon.co.uk
• Best one-room family tent – Coleman cortes octagon: £320, Argos.co.uk
• Best wild camping tent – Sierra Designs meteor lite 3000 two-person tent: £384.99, Ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

Vango teepee air 400

Argos pro action

George Home ozark trail

Decathlon fresh & black inflatable air seconds

Sierra Designs meteor lite 3000 two-person tent

Vango vesta air

Coleman cortes octagon

Outwell moonhill air

Robens settler sky

Mountain Warehouse holiday six-person tent

Kelty far out 2

Snugpak ionosphere IX

Boutique Glamping 4m Luna

The verdict: Camping tents