Step 6: Air Tents vs Pole Tents
One of the biggest decisions when choosing a family tent is whether to buy an air tent or a traditional pole tent.
Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on your budget, how often you camp and how important quick and straightforward pitching is to your family.
Air tents use inflatable beams instead of many of the traditional poles. Once the tent is positioned correctly, the beams are inflated using a suitable pump.
For larger family tents, this can make pitching considerably easier, particularly when there are only one or two adults setting up camp.
Traditional pole tents generally require more assembly but remain extremely popular. They can offer excellent value for money and are available in a huge range of sizes and layouts.
If you’re comfortable pitching a conventional tent, there’s no reason to dismiss poles simply because air tents are newer.
Think about:
- How often you’ll use the tent
- Who will normally pitch it
- Your available budget
- Packed weight and size
- How much storage space you have at home
- How much room you have in the car
The best option is the one that works most conveniently for your family.
Step 7: Check the Waterproofing and Weather Protection
British weather can change quickly, so good weather protection is essential when choosing a family tent.
One specification you’ll often see is the hydrostatic head, usually shown in millimetres. This indicates the level of water pressure the tent fabric is designed to withstand before water can penetrate it.
However, don’t choose a tent based on one number alone.
Good weather protection also depends on the overall design of the tent, including its seams, groundsheet, doors, ventilation and how securely it can be pitched.
A sewn-in groundsheet can be particularly useful for family camping. It creates a more enclosed interior and can help keep out draughts, moisture and insects.
Good ventilation is equally important. Several people sleeping inside a tent can create considerable condensation, so look for suitable vents and airflow around the sleeping and living areas.
Whatever tent you choose, pitching it properly and using the guy lines correctly will help it perform as intended when conditions deteriorate.
Step 8: Consider Pitching the Tent
A large family tent can provide fantastic space, but someone still has to put it up.
Before buying, consider how many people will usually be available to pitch the tent and how complicated the setup is likely to be.
If one adult will regularly be responsible for most of the pitching, a straightforward air tent may be particularly appealing.
Pole tents can also be easy to manage once you’re familiar with the pitching sequence, although very large models may be easier with two adults.
It’s always worth practising at home before your first holiday if possible.
Pitching a new tent for the first time on a campsite while children are waiting, dinner needs cooking and rain clouds are approaching isn’t the easiest introduction to family camping.
A practice pitch also allows you to check that everything is present and understand where the poles, beams, pegs and guy lines belong.
Step 9: Check the Packed Size and Weight
It’s easy to concentrate on how big a tent is when erected and forget how big it is when packed away.
Large family tents can be substantial pieces of equipment.
Check both the packed dimensions and weight, particularly if your car already needs to carry sleeping bags, air beds, chairs, tables, cooking equipment, clothing and everything else a family takes camping.
An enormous tent isn’t much use if there’s no practical way of getting it to the campsite.
Also think about where you’ll store it at home. A family tent should ideally be stored somewhere dry and protected when it isn’t being used.
If you’re choosing between two similarly suitable tents, the easier one to transport and store may prove more practical over the long term.
Step 10: Look for Useful Family-Friendly Features
Once you’ve narrowed down the basic size and style, you can start comparing the smaller features that make family camping easier.
Multiple Entrances
More than one entrance can improve ventilation and make it easier for people to come and go without constantly climbing past each other.
Covered Entrance or Porch
A covered entrance provides somewhere to remove wet footwear and can help prevent rain being carried directly into the main living area.
Storage Pockets
Internal storage pockets are surprisingly useful for keeping phones, torches, glasses and other small items organised.
Cable Entry Points
If you’re using an electric hook-up on a campsite, a dedicated cable entry point allows the power cable to enter the tent more neatly.
Darkened Bedrooms
Darkened sleeping areas can reduce early morning sunlight and are particularly useful when camping with younger children during the summer.
Flexible Bedroom Dividers
Removable dividers allow the sleeping layout to change as your family’s requirements change.
None of these features should outweigh the fundamentals of space, weather protection and practicality, but they can make a good family tent considerably more pleasant to live in.
How Much Should You Spend on a Family Tent?
There’s no single amount that every family should spend.
If you’re trying camping for the first time or expect to take only occasional summer weekends away, you may not need an expensive large family tent.
Families who camp regularly or take longer holidays may find it worthwhile investing more in space, materials, convenience and durability.
Rather than simply buying the cheapest or most expensive tent, think about value over the number of holidays you’re likely to use it for.
A well-chosen family tent that gets used year after year can provide excellent value.
It’s also worth watching for seasonal promotions from established outdoor retailers, particularly when older tent ranges are being replaced by newer models.
Should You Buy a Bigger Tent Than You Need?
Often, yes — within reason.
A little additional space can make family camping considerably more comfortable.
For example, a family of four may prefer a five or six-person tent because the additional room provides more space for beds, bags and everyday equipment.
However, continually going bigger isn’t necessarily better.
An eight-person tent for a family of three might provide enormous space, but it will also require a larger pitch, more room in the car and potentially more effort to put up and pack away.
Aim for comfortable extra space rather than simply the largest tent you can afford.
What Is the Best Family Tent for Beginners?
For first-time family campers, simplicity is often more valuable than having every possible feature.
Look for a tent that provides enough sleeping and living space without becoming unnecessarily large or complicated.
A straightforward four, five or six-person family tent may be ideal depending on the size of your family.
Consider how easily it can be pitched, whether it fits comfortably in your vehicle and whether the internal layout will work for the type of holidays you’re planning.
Your first family tent doesn’t need to be perfect for every possible camping trip. It needs to make your first few trips enjoyable enough that everyone wants to go camping again.
Before You Buy Your Family Tent
Before making your final choice, run through a simple checklist:
- How many people will regularly use the tent?
- Is there enough sleeping space?
- Is there enough living space for bad-weather days?
- Does the bedroom layout suit your family?
- Would you prefer air beams or traditional poles?
- Is the tent suitable for typical UK weather?
- Can you comfortably pitch it?
- Will the packed tent fit in your car?
- Do you have somewhere suitable to store it?
- Does it offer good value for how often you’ll use it?
If a tent works well across those areas, you’re probably looking at a sensible choice.
Related Guides
If you’re planning your next family camping adventure, you may also find these guides useful:
- Types of Family Tents
- What Makes a Good Family Tent?
- Areas of a Family Tent You Will Need
- Looking After Your Family Tent
- Camping in the UK with Your Family Tent
Final Thoughts
Choosing a family tent is about finding the right balance between space, comfort, practicality and budget.
Think about how your family will genuinely use the tent rather than simply choosing the biggest model or the one with the longest list of features.
Enough sleeping space, a comfortable living area, sensible weather protection and a layout that works for your family will matter far more once you’re actually on the campsite.
Get those basics right and your tent can become the centre of family holidays and weekend adventures for many years — giving you somewhere comfortable to sleep, relax and enjoy more time outdoors together.