Let’s talk specs for the Joro. It comes in a rather natty blue colour and is reasonably similar in design to the Coleman Weathermaster 6XL.

Please note that all the Weathermaster tents are a light pastel green in colour which may not to be everyone’s taste. Personally, we are fans of it as it is more subdued than the previous generation Coleman Valdes 6XL airbeam tent (which is still a great tent if you can get hold of one). However, it may have been nice to include an alternative colour in the Weathermaster lineup. Sleep well in the Weathermaster Manageable weight – some of the larger >6 person tents can get seriously heavy at >50kg – the canvas/polycotten inflatable tents are typically heavier than polyester.

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Assembly is a breeze as you would expect using the supplied manual pump. Weight of the 6L is 29kG which is actually pretty good for a 6-person tent. The XL increases this slightly to 30.5kg. Most tents have thin, collapsible poles made from fibreglass. They often fold up into a compact size and are connected by an elastic cord. They're usually flexible and will need to be bent to fit the shape of the tent canvas during pitching. There are five airbeams in total which take a fair bit of pumping because of the height of the overall structure. There’s a lot of air in them there beams! We’ve found over the years that if a tent is marketed for a maximum of three people, then the third person has to be on the very small side. It’s therefore typically worth adding ‘+1’ to the number of people you’re looking to accommodate. E.g. if you’re a family of three, we recommend looking for at least a four-person tent. In practice though, bigger is often better and I would not rule out a 6-person tent for a family of four, especially if you have a large car. Entry to the tent is achieved via a large door on one side, but there is no ‘porch roof’ to allow shelter when putting your boots on.

A tent with more than one door can help with airflow, assisting with ventilation and also gives you more flexibility to enter and leave the tent through the most convenient doorway. 8) Number and size of windowsThe Ascension 601 TC is a proper 6-person tent with a 4.4m bedroom width split between the six people. This is a significant space of 73cm average width per person – much higher than the typical 60cm given to each person in cheaper tents. The 401 also has similar space per person. It is true that the inflatable tents are typically slightly more expensive than their pole-based siblings, but the price differential is reducing as the technology gets more mature. We feel that the ease of use outweighs the slightly higher cost. They claim to provide an easy way for you to plan where you're going to place your tent without having to pitch it fully, and provide an extra layer of waterproofing and insulation from the ground below. The porch is supported by one of the old fashioned fibre glass tent pole things. I thought those had died out years ago! 😉

Personally, there was 2 notable features that I thought brilliant. The sheer amount of useable space inside; admittedly using a 3-man tent for 2 people will give you that and the usability of the dual-door porch. Additionally, the ability to roll up both doors out of the way gives a real airy feel and allows for pretty selective control on which door to have in/out of the wind. We were unfortunately not given the Hydrostatic Head information for the 6XL, but can report that our test model was definitely waterproof and will survive a biblical deluge. We consider how easy it is to get into and out of the main entrances and sleeping compartments, how bright and roomy the living spaces are, and if we consider there to be enough room for the number of people intended to sleep in the tent. If you’re looking to go on a family camping adventure, you’ll first need the right tent. We’ve put together 15 family tents that our camping experts recommend for 2024. We’ve also included everything you should look for in a family tent before purchasing one. What to look for when buying a new family tent When this is not being used, the whole front of the tent can be opened up to create a fantastic air flow and viewing perch. The downside of having to clip in that sleeping pod when required is that you have to make sure there is room for it at the end of each day – forward planning is necessary by keeping furniture out of the way.The Antrim is slightly shorter than the Coleman however (600cm vs 665cm) and less wide (380cm vs 450cm) which needs to be borne in mind – do you need the extra real estate? Height is ample at 210cm in both. The drive to recycle old plastic is an excellent initiative because it helps reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill and harming the environment for future generations. I’m not particularly “green”, but for me it’s a no-brainer to choose a product which can make a difference in this way – especially when you consider that the Joro 600XL is made with the equivalent of 261 plastic bottles! Dimensions and Layout Despite its vast size, the Zempire Aerodrome is surprisingly simple to erect. The Aerodome can sleep up to six people in two separate compartments, giving you a variety of options for sleeping arrangements. There’s also an attached awning that provides great shade and an outdoor spot for family chats or camping games. In 2023, Kampa took the lead and won the best family tent of the year in our Tent Owner Satisfaction Award. A staggering 94% of participants agreed that Kampa’s range of family tents are worth the investment. In terms of doors, there is two sets of ‘tri-folding doors’ – one separating the lounge from the porch, and one separating the porch from the outside world. These can either be completely removed or partially opened at one of three partition points. Very well designed and offers so much flexibility for cooking or relaxing etc under different weather conditions. There are also standard sized doors on both sides of the tent, with an initial side canopy to keep the rain off when putting boots on etc. That extra ‘Je ne sais quoi’ – Class Leading Features

Main lounge area (320cm x 190cm) having large side and front doors, each with windows offering great visibility – Kampa use their ‘crystal clear’ tech for this and it works well. We highly recommend spending a little extra and buying the 4xl carpet for a bit of added luxury underfoot. The sleeping area is well-ventilated and has darkened fabric in this section to reduce incoming light. It can split into one, two or three separate bedrooms and is comfortably-sized for a family of six. Five Airbeams So, now the scope is set, I introduce the Berghaus Cairngorm 3. This 3 man tent is Semi-Geodesic in shape, supposedly better at providing ‘useable’ space, and to the more discerning eye, makes it look pretty damn cool. The Vango Antrim 600XL Air Tent is a new 2021 addition to Vango’s superb Earth Collection. This range of tents uses recycled single-use plastics which have been transformed into rugged 70 denier material for use in tent manufacture. The new fabric is called Sentinel Eco Fabric and it could really transform tent making.

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Weighing in at a fairly hefty 33.4kg (50kg for the polycotton version!) makes it almost certainly a two person job to carry any great distance. If you’re just transferring from a car boot to the ground then you can probably manage it on your own. I was slightly surprised to find out that the Vango Ringstead only has 3000mm of hydrostatic head waterproofing. As I say, there was no sign of any leaking, and so either Vango are underplaying it or other manufacturers are over-exaggerating their numbers (more likely). I counted 3 air vents in total in the tent which allowed great air flow, and there was no condensation build-up even when the weather was humid. Accommodating up to ten people, the Quest Touareg Bell is a tipi-style tent perfect for summer camping with large families. During the summer, roll up the sides and enjoy the spacious socialising area. In the winter, roll down the sides and socialise comfortably around the single central pole. Stay cool in warmer weather and comfy in the winter with the 100% cotton canvas flysheet equipped with breathing and insulating properties. It's very common for manufacturers to be generous about the number of people they say can fit inside their tents. The number they give will be technically true, but it probably won't account for the space needed for campers' belongings, or the space people need for a comfortable night's sleep. The bedroom area is a suspended inner cotton tent and as mentioned above, is just a single room – you really are all in this together! Personally we prefer two separate bedrooms for adults and children, but that is very much a personal choice. We had no problems with light streaming in on a sunny morning and were able to sleep well.