Guide to buying a family tent
When it comes to family camping, there’s more than just your activities to consider. As lovely as bike rides, paddles or sightseeing may be, no matter how far your adventures take you, you’re always going to return to your tent at the end of a day. That’s why it’s so important that you get it right by investing in one of the best family tents.
With so many tent types out there and features such as porches and sewn-in groundsheets to consider, it’s tricky to know where to begin. This guide rounds up exactly what you need to know, including the size, materials and layout.
The size of your family tent
Typically, family tents come in four-person to eight-person models. However, our recommendation is to always size up, by at least two people. While your tent may say it’s suitable for four people, this doesn’t account for any extras like air beds, sleeping bags, toys, prams and clothes.
If you have time, map out the dimensions of a few family tents using tape in the garden. This way you can ensure that there’s enough space for all the family and your belongings.
Bedroom layouts in your family tent
A family tent should have a layout that makes sense for your family’s size, age and belongings.
Family tent layouts for young children
If you’re camping with young children, you’ll need easy and quick access to them in the night in case of emergencies or to soothe them if they wake up in the night. We recommend you should avoid tunnel tents, where bedrooms are likely to be spaced out on either side of a living area.
It’s also a good idea to account for extra items such as toys, prams and spare clothes, so you might want to select a family tent with an extra bedroom that can be used as storage.
Below are a couple of options that you may want to consider:
1. One-bedroom tent as a shared sleeping space
With a one-bedroom tent, adults and children can sleep in the same room, so you’ll be able to keep a close eye on any young children and comfort them easily during the night. However, as the children get older they may wish for more privacy, so you may want to find a tent with an option to divide the room.
2. Two side-by-side bedrooms split by a zippable divider
You’ll only need to unzip the divider to help or monitor children at night. If your kids have early bedtimes or require a nap in the daytime, it’s easy to put them to bed and zip their section closed so that they’re not disturbed.
3. A two-bedroom tent
This layout would suit a larger family, where the children are slightly older and don’t need monitoring throughout the night.
4. A three-bedroom tent
Most three-bedroom tents are the same as a side-by-side bedroom layout, generally with a zippable divider, with an addition of one extra bedroom. Typically one of the three rooms may be smaller, so check the dimensions.
Tent layouts for families with teenagers
A shared sleeping area is trickier when there are teenagers in the mix. Older children are naturally more independent, so they’re likely to want their own space.
We’d recommend one of the following layouts:
1. A two-bedroom or three-bedroom tent
Teenagers will have their own bedroom space, so we recommend a tent with separate rooms, or at least with a zippable divider.
2. Tunnel tents
Tunnel tents generally have the living area in the centre of the tent with the bedrooms on two or even three of the sides. This setup can provide greater privacy, so it is ideal for older children.
Living areas
When you’re searching for a family tent, a spacious living area is important not just as a place for family activities such as eating meals or playing board games, but for storage too.
Family tents generally come in two height options. We recommend finding a tent that you can all stand up in, to avoid feeling crammed together – especially if spending time indoors due to bad weather.
The weight of your family tent
When buying a tent, consider the weight – the larger your tent, the heavier it’s likely to be. Although this shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you’re driving to the campsite, there is often a small trek from the car park to your pitch.
A family tent can weigh anywhere between 5kg and 40kg. As a guide, we’d recommend aiming for a tent that weighs under 3kg per person in your group, but you'll want to adjust this according to the distance from the car to your pitch and your personal strength level.
It is also recommended to check out the tent pack size, as these can be as bulky – for example, some eight-person models can measure up to 145cm x 38cm x 40cm. This is likely to impact how much space you have for your other belongings and camping kit.
Family tent materials
Most family tents are constructed from polyester, although pricier options might be made from polycotton, which can help to counter the temperature outside.
Look out for your tent’s Hydrostatic Head rating in the tent specification. The higher the number, the more waterproof your tent will be, which will protect you from leaks.
Should I invest in an inflatable family tent?
Larger tents are widely available with traditional pole options or as inflatable models. When deciding what model is best for you, try to consider who will be pitching the tent, where you will be using the tent and how often you will be using it. Inflatable tents can be a more expensive option, but they are generally easier to pitch.
Below we have listed some pros and cons of each to help you make your decision.
Inflatable tents
Pros:
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An inflatable tent is easier and often quicker to pitch, which is particularly helpful if you have young children to watch.
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They have fewer parts that can be misplaced or broken between trips.
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They are excellent for bad weather, with some models able to withstand gales of up to 55 miles per hour.
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Air tents are made out of super-strong materials with leak-free seams.
Cons:
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Inflatable tents are typically more expensive.
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Often air tents are more bulky (and heavier) when packed away than pole-based alternatives.
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They have a higher risk of condensation developing in the tent overnight.
Pole tent
Pros:
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They’re typically cheaper than an inflatable tent.
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Rigid steel or alloy tent poles are quite robust, so ideal if you have boisterous children.
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Should the worst happen, repairs are generally easier with a pole tent.
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Generally, there are more options of tent shape available.
Cons:
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A large family tents will have multiple poles and need more than one person to help pitch it, especially in bad weather.
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Pole tents normally take longer to pitch.
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Fibreglass tent poles, which often come with budget tents, are easy for children to snap accidentally.
Other features to look out for in a family tent?
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Black-out bedrooms: Light seeps through canvas easily, so blackout bedrooms will help younger family members sleep, especially if you’re camping in the summer when there are more daylight hours.
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A sewn-in groundsheet: With kids running around, this makes for a quicker and easier set-up, especially in wet weather.
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An opening for electric hook-up: If you’re setting up your family tent on a pitch that’s equipped with an electric hook-up, you’ll need an opening somewhere to bring the cable inside.
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Lighting hook: To save you handing out torches, a hook will come in handy for lanterns.
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Storage space: Look for a tent with lots of storage, such as pockets in the tent wall. These will come in handy to stow away items and reduce clutter in such a small space.
- Easy instructions: To cut down on the time you need to spend pitching the tent.
What extras will come in handy for a family tent?
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Tarp or a footprint: A layer of tarp or a footprint under your tent will give you extra peace of mind, making it harder for any moisture to seep into your tent and upset the kids.
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Tent extensions: Many larger tents offer additional extras you can purchase to attach an additional sleeping area or living space. Not all tents are able to accommodate these, so if you think you may need this in future, check if the model you are interested in offers this.
For more details on what to look for when buying a tent, check out our tent buying guide.