You may need to apply more than one coat, depending on what kind of weather you’ll be encountering or how often you’ll go camping. Wait for the first coat to dry before putting another on. To summarise, and help you choose your new tent, a general rule is that a good quality tent with a 1500 – 3000mm waterhead rating on the tent fly, along with a 6000mm+ rating on the floor or one made from durable polyethylene or PVC, is going to keep you sheltered and dry in all but the absolute worst of conditions. This 4-season waterproof model from Geertop presents versatility at its best. At a 4-person capacity, we think it’s ideal for 2 campers as there will be heaps of extra space. For British weather, 2,000 – 3000mm is suitable for typical British weather. 2000 is ideal for warmer weather, and it does state for heavy rain.

Traditional methods of measuring hydrostatic head (HH) are primarily based on manual or mechanical procedures. These methods have been used for many years to assess the water resistance of textiles and fabrics. Here are some traditional ways of measuring HH: Inside, the tent is quite spacious at 150 square feet, and the peak height is also very tall. Being so large, this is an excellent waterproof tent for front-country campgrounds and car camping. The additional waterproof coating will help water bead off your tent. The UV coating will protect the polyester-based fabric from degrading in the sun, reducing both the loss of colour and the degradation of the waterproofing. Another great feature of the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 3 is the large ceiling storage bin where you can put gear, electronic devices, or flashlights for easy access making it one of the best weather-resistant tents for those travelling with camera gear for example.The Lydford 5 Man Tunnel Tent comfortably sleeps five people with a living area to relax with your fellow campers. Compact to carry, it’s a top choice for group and family camping trips. The manufacturers start with 100 ml in the cylinder. This amount is increased by another 100 ml every minute. If the first three Drops appear on the inside of the fabric, the limit (= water column) has been reached. So it’s more about the pressure that the water needs to penetrate the fabric. This tent comes with storm-guarded zippers, meaning there’s a little flap over the zippers that keeps water out. Camping in a puddle is generally not a good idea. You better look for a small hill or a slightly sloping place where water cannot stand or runoff. You should also re-impregnate your tent after every major tour. This way, the rain rolls off better on the next trip, and the fabric doesn’t even become soaked with water. Nice side effect: Your tent dries faster after a rain shower. In addition, a refreshed impregnation keeps dirt off better. Test A 1500mm rating should keep you dry in a rainstorm with 120kph winds but if you’re camped out in a large family tent in these kinds of conditions a waterhead rating will be the least of your concerns.

One of the best family-friendly features of the Wonderland 4 are the vertical walls and 2 door set up so no one is climbing over each other to get out in the middle of the night. One of the doors can also be converted into a vestibule for a bit more space to store your belongings.For example, if a tent fabric has a hydrostatic head rating of 3000mm, it means the fabric can withstand a water column of 3000mm (or 3 meters) before it starts to leak.

In terms of structure, this tent has aluminium poles, an internal layer that clips on easily and then the option of adding a flysheet on top for protection from the elements. With a length of 235cm and width of 300cm, the living area has plenty of room to set up camping a table and chairs. Plus, it has a height of 205cm to comfortably stand up inside it. In addition to the 3000mm water column of the fly, the flooring actually has a very high rating of 5000mm. This is important because the floor is a high-traffic area, so you need this added protection. 210T breathable polyester makes up the inner tent, robust 210D Oxford fabric for the floor, and 210T PU coated polyester for the fly. Let it dry FULLY. During this process, the fibres swell and seal any micro holes within the fabric. Unfortunately, the footprint is sold separately; you might be able to get away with a heavy-duty tarp, but having the footprint is definitely the best way to ensure the effectiveness of the tent.The most obvious downside to the Wonderland 4 is that the footprint is sold separately. Although the tough seam-sealed and cut-in floor helps with keeping the tent waterproof, it’s a good idea to get the footprint to keep everything dry. Some tents also come with an additional layer of waterproof coating. This allows water to bead off the material and glide down the sides of the tent and into the ground instead. This provides an extra resistance to water, which will aid in keeping the inside of the tent as dry as possible. The Groundsheet To ensure you’re getting enough air circulation with the fly on, it is well vented. Mesh panels on the roof and doors allow air to come through and keep you comfortable while you sleep. This is a great tent for couples who want a budget-friendly 2 person waterproof tent. The pole design allows for more headroom than many 2 person tents, and there are 2 doors so you don’t have to crawl over each other to get out. If a tent is described as ‘double skin’, this will have an inner tent and an outer fly sheet designed to protect the inner tent from getting wet. The flysheet is suspended over the inner tent but should not touch it, as this will cause condensation and rain to penetrate through to the interior.