Tents Buyers Guide

With so many tents to choose from, it's not always simple to know which one to pick. Camping's great for getting away on a budget with your family and friends, and buying a decent tent will provide you with happy holiday memories for years to come.

Key things to consider

• How many people will be sleeping in it? A 2 man tent may be the first choice for a couple, but it's a good idea to opt for a 4 man tent for some extra space.
• Layout - Some tents feature a 'living room' with separate bedrooms, whilst others have a single room for both sleeping and living.
• Pitch time - Larger tents can take quite a while to set up, whereas pop up tents only take a few minutes.

Types of tent

• Family tents - These are spacious and often have separate rooms. See our family tents buyers guide for more info.
• Festival tents - Perfect for a weekend away listening to some awesome music. Check out our festival tents buyers guide.
• Pop up tents - These pop up in no time, so you can start having fun as soon as you arrive. Take a look at our pop-up tents buyers guide.
• Lightweight tents - Small 2 man tents that are easy to carry. Handy for hiking, cycling and backpacking.
• Compact tents - 3-4 man tents that offer a bit more room. Great for short breaks.
• Large tents - 5-6 man tents provide loads of space to sleep and store equipment.

Tent protection from the elements

Depending on how they're made, tents offer different levels of protection from the elements. Look out for these features:

• Hydrostatic head (HH) - this measures how waterproof a tent is. The higher the number, the more protection it offers. 1500mm is a good starting point.
• Insulation - this will affect how warm you are at night and protects against condensation that can build up on the inside walls. Double-skinned tents offer the highest insulation.
• Bug nets - does what it says on the tin.

Tent extras for a little bit of luxury

Lighting points, storage pockets and head space are tent features you might want to consider to make your camping trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

If you're camping with a group, buying a gazebo or base tent can provide a great central point for you all to gather together, and will extend your living space.

Buy tents online from Halfords

Halfords has massive range of tents for sale to suit every camping trip. If you're still unsure about which one is right for you, feel free to pop into your local Halfords and chat to a member of our in-store team.

Once you've made your mind up, tents can be reserved online to collect in-store or bought online for home delivery.