Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The 10 Best tents

Need a cheap festival pop-up? Or somewhere to be a home for the week?

Kate Hilpern
Wednesday 30 May 2012 00:00 BST
Comments

{1} FieldCandy

Brand new this year, this top-quality tent looks like an enormous paperback book that's been dropped by a giant. It's even got a rear barcode and brief synopsis. It boasts extra-strong pegs, heavy-duty zips and lockable storage pouches and each tent comes with padlocks, a hammer and a tent peg puller.

£495, firebox.com

{2} Retreat 60

This is an ideal all-rounder for the weekend. It's lightweight and compact enough just to bung in the car, yet spacious enough to sleep two to three comfortably, with a generous porch area for all your stuff.

£109.99, kathmandu.co.uk

{3} Gelert

If you're looking for a robust family tent to see you through years of camping trips, this is it. You'll fall in love with the space, height and light and, although you'll probably want a trial run of erecting it (during which you can expect some serious cursing), once you've got the knack, you won't look back.

£395.99, worldofcamping.co.uk

{4} Gelert quickpitch

The Gelert QuickPitch does exactly what it says on the tin – just throw it to the ground and it erects in seconds. No wonder it's such a longstanding festival favourite and there are loads of colours and designs to choose from.

£49.99, surfdome.com

{5} Halfords

Feeling broke after forking out on your festival ticket? The Halfords Zone Festival 2 Man Tent Pack is basic but includes all the essentials for a decent night's sleep – two sleeping bags, camping mats and camping chairs – all for under 50 quid.

£49.99, halfords.com

{6} Vaude

The Campo Eco three-man dome tent, made from recycled polyester, has been designed with environmental campers in mind. It's easy to pitch and has optimal ventilation through vestibule openings and two entrances.

£240, vaude.com

{7} Urban Escape

The Atago five-man tent is fantastic value, boasting two separate sleeping areas, plenty of light in the living area, a door canopy to provide extra shelter from the sun or rain and a double-skin for greater insulation and reduced condensation.

£179.99, halfords.com

{8} Mountain Equipment

The new Tundra is aimed at serious backpackers. Not only can this two-man tent happily cope with the most unpredictable of mountain weather, but it's lightweight, quick to pitch, extremely spacious and has loads of attention to detail.

£289.99, campfour.co.uk

{9} Outwell

The Montana 6 is officially the UK's number one tent. The spacious living area of the 2012 version extends intothe new panorama front and there's a side porch with detachable bathtub groundsheet too. If you can afford it, snap one up, and if you're feeling flash, a carpet and footprint groundsheet is available too.

£599.99, campingworld.co.uk

{10} Mothercare

The Sandcastle Infant Play Shadeis a superb tent for keeping the sunand wind off little faces on thebeach or in the garden. It includes a cooling air vent in the back paneland storage pockets, while the

door folds down into a handy littleplay mat.

£24.99, mothercare.com

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in