As a low-fuss tent suitable for a family of four's summer camping holiday, Vango Rome II Air 550XL is a tough one to beat. Just the right size for two adults and a pair of kids, this air tent has plenty of living space, it's easy to pitch thanks to its inflatable poles, and as it's made of recycled fabrics, it's an eco-friendly option, too. We pitch every tent, taking into account how long it takes, how clear the instructions are, how much physical effort is required, and how convenient the process is.

If you've ever had trouble finding your tent at a festival, that's not a problem you're likely to run into with the Decathlon Forclaz Trekking Dome Tent. It comes in one colour option – a dazzling white – which should make it easy to find at any time, although the downside is that after a few outings, it's likely to have settled into a grubby grey with hints of grass stains. An accessory worth getting is the carpet for this part of the tent. This will help make your tent feel warmer at night, providing that extra ground insulation. The Built-In Porch If you are looking for a similar spec tent but inflatable, look at the Coleman Weathermaster 4 Air. A good rule of thumb is to go for a tent that's claimed to sleep one more person than you need. If you're a family of four, for example, we'd recommend going for a five-person tent.

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Front and Side Entry points, offer easier access in adverse weather conditions, and also allow for plenty of ventilation during the daytime. Without it, young kids typically trip over the tent entrance at some point (and adults, too!), so it's great to see the lay-flat entrance on this tent.

The bedroom doors also come with bug-free mesh, so you can open them up to vent during the day without flies and mosquitos getting in there. The Inner Living Space We inspect the interiors of the tents during and after testing to see how each fares against the elements. Some tents manage to stay firm, but others blow over and even have puddles in the sleeping compartments. Tent footprints are available to buy separately from tents at outdoor retailers. They're essentially an extra groundsheet that you can pitch before your tent, with the aim of pitching your tent on top of it.Ventilation Points - helps to reduce condensation, and cool it down on cooler days, offering a more comfortable camping experience. The main door is nice and wide, and the groundsheet folds flat here, so no one trips in and out of the tent. Barrier-free access - the groundsheet sits flat to the ground, preventing any tripping hazards, and making access in and out easier. This part of the tent can take cable entry from both sides, which gives you more flexibility when pitching. 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.

Some of the major brands you’ll come across in your journey to find the best tent for you include Big Agnes, Vango, Coleman, MSR, Terra Nova, Outwell, Decathlon, Hilleberg and The North Face.There are lots of newcomers entering the (muddy) field, too, with innovative designs coming from brands such as Tentsile, with its sublime floating tree tents, and Cinch, with its nifty pop-up modular tent. What's the best HH rating for a tent? 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 windows Both are useful accessories, but I recommend getting the carpet over the footprint if your budget is tight. However, some retailers are doing tent bundles that include the carpet and footprint cheaper than buying them individually. AlternativesThe small shelter outside the tent helps get in and out of the tent if there's a rain shower. Pitching That's plenty of space for placing camping storage furniture, which is what we recommend for longer family camping holidays to avoid your tent descending into chaos ;-) You'll want to ensure your tent footprint is the same size as the tent you're pitching – several manufacturers sell footprints specifically to fit certain tent models.

Barrier-free access- Easier to enter and exit without a step over that could cause tripping hazards. Fully taped polyester flysheet + rising sewn-in PE groundsheet- perfect for protecting the tent from the weather conditions, and stopping bugs from easily coming in.

Get Out With The Kids!

We were fortunate enough to get our hands on a Coleman Castle Pines 4L, which lived up to expectations.