What Are The Best Camping Tents To Buy For A UK Holiday?
If you’re considering buying a tent, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re looking for the best camping tents for families, couples, groups, or even fishing, we have put together a helpful guide on all you need to know when buying a tent.
Expected Duration
Before buying a tent, it is important to determine the expected length of holidays you plan on taking.
For example, for shorter breaks, opting for something quick to put up may be an important factor to consider.
Whereas for longer breaks you will need to ensure you have enough space for all of your luggage and possessions.
The Sleeping Space
Something really important to note when buying a tent is the sleeping space.
A one-man tent can be quite small, and sometimes doesn’t account for luggage!
When the tent description shows ‘4 man tent’ (as an example), we would recommend only using this as a guide. Pay special attention to the actual measurements, rather than the number of people.
This will ensure you allow for a comfortable amount of space to sleep and store your luggage.
Tents For Families and Groups
There are a number of larger tents on the market.
These range from anything from around £100 to over £1,000 and come in a variety of shapes and styles.
Having a sleeping area as well as a living space is something we would definitely recommend.
This is a perfect way to create some privacy, and having a living space means you have somewhere dry to go if the weather turns!
There have been some developments in the tenting world, with updated materials, including black-out sleeping compartments. As well as special materials to keep the heat out when it’s hot and keep it in when it’s cold.
You may also wish to consider how important it is to stand up in your tent. This may not be possible in some designs.
Tent design favourites for families and groups include:
Tunnel Tents – These tents often feature those all-important separate compartments for privacy and storage. They also usually have reasonable head height for standing within the shared living space.
These tents are not only easy to pitch, but they also normally have the inner tent and flysheet (the outer part) joined. This prevents the tent from getting wet when pitching in bad weather.
These tents will need to be held down by Guylines. This is to protect the tent from high winds, and will need to be pitched on soft ground to accommodate this.
Dome Tents – For the feeling of space, with room to sit up, these tent have two main poles. This makes them really easy to pitch.
There are lots of variations on the market for this design, with some but not all offering separate compartments. Some even offer separate compartments attached to the main dome, providing even more space!
A Built-in Porch
We would also recommend choosing a tent that has a porch built into the design.
This is the perfect place to keep muddy shoes and outdoor wear, preventing debris from being traipsed into the tent.
Country Living has prepared a list of the best tents to buy for families in 2022, we hope you find this useful!
Wondering What to Pack?
We have prepared a camping checklist with everything you need to make your camping trip a success.
Tent for couples
Whether you’re looking for a cosy, easy-to-pitch, intimate tent for a romantic getaway, or a tent with a lot of space for longer stays, there are lots to choose from.
Here are a few popular options below:
Dome or Tunnel tents – These tents come in a variety of sizes and are ideal for couple retreats too.
They’re relatively easy to pitch and offer as little or as much space as you need. Having a lounge area and porch would be recommended. This will allow for that little bit of extra comfort and space to really enjoy your break away.
Pop-up camping tent – Pop-up tents have grown in popularity in recent years. They’re cost-effective budget tents and take seconds to put up.
They do however prove to be quite a challenge to take down. Some may argue they are more suited for single use.
Therefore, if you are looking for something that will last the test of time and be used on more than one occasion, it would be better to go with a different option.
Rooftop tents – These are easy to set up, and offer great air circulation as you’re off the ground. But they are also really comfortable as most come with a memory foam mattress, allowing you to have a great night’s sleep.
The Best Camping Tents for Fishing
For longer fishing sessions, bivvies are the perfect tent to use. However, for shorter sessions, or overnight summer angling, fishing shelters, also known as brollies are a very popular option.
Both bivvies and brollies are usually easy to put up, and quite compact, but bivvies do tend to come in a variety of sizes and offer more protection.
When selecting your bivvy or brolly, pay special attention to the material used. You need to make sure you select a tent that is waterproof to keep the rain off and is durable to keep the wind off too.
Angling Direct has put together a helpful guide for more information on what to consider when selecting your fishing shelter.
Summer Ponds Campsite
At our wonderful West Sussex campsite, situated around fishing lakes and picturesque walks, we offer a range of facilities to suit those looking for a camping or glamping holiday experience.
Including our Safari Tents, Lakeside Lodges, Camping Pods, and Shepherd’s Huts, as well as facilities for those looking to bring their own tents, caravans, and equipment.
We also offer a range of pitches and fields, including the Family Field for a more private camping experience.
If you would like to find out more about Summer Ponds and what we offer, including information about our delicious Cafe by the Lake and our other facilities, then please get in touch by calling, 01403 732539, visiting our website, or emailing us at bookings@sumnersponds.co.uk.
