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. Fully sewn-in groundsheet - protects the tent interior from bugs and water, for an extra level of comfort Specifically designed with family camping in mind, the Dometic Ascension FTX is equipped with spacious bedrooms and innovative features. The polyester construction guarantees a comfortable night’s sleep and protection from all types of weather. This model features mesh panels on three sides and a large porch door which can be opened on a particularly sunny day.

UV Guard sun protection - certified laboratory-tested fabrics with an SPF50 provide excellent protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays While it’s important you like the look of your tent, there’s no point in going for something that looks stylish, when ultimately, it might not keep you warm and dry. While we do live in a beautiful country, the weather is unpredictable at best. Therefore, it’s worth looking at the waterproof rating of any tent, also known as the Hydrostatic Head rating. The rating measures the quantity of rain the tent can withstand in millimetres. It’s key to remember that the higher the score, the more durable the tent. • Is it spacious enough for your family? Fire retardant - our material ensures that the fabric will not flare dangerously out of control and will self-extinguish, giving time to escape in an emergency 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.The tent pitches much more easily with the shortened poles, and I am happy with the outcome, but I feel that I should not have had to do this to a new tent! The front corner attachment points for the bedroom inner are starting to fail where they join the groundsheet. Perfect for a small family camping trip, the Vango Beta 450XL can comfortably accommodate up to four people. The tent gives an impressive space-to-weight ratio due to its tunnel design. The Vango Beta gets its sturdy stability from the Tension Band System, which can be adjusted to prevent sideways movement in strong, changeable winds. You can also store various pieces of camping gear in the functional porch area. Pitching is relatively easy; the worst part as always with fibreglass poles is threading them through the sleeves – the metal collars tend to catch. My tip is to always push the poles; never pull (otherwise they come apart). It is possible to put the tent up single handed, but it is certainly easier with two.

There are, of course, poled tents with built in porch, such as the Vango Lomond II 500. It may be better value for money if you buy a tent that does not need any extension. I strongly recommend to get hold of the bespoke footprintand the carpet. The front extension would greatly improve the living space, so if you have the budget, go for it. Don’t forget about the pole repair kit. Alternatives WeatherTec™ - waterproofed to a 4500mm HH rating and taped seams ensures your tent stays nice and dryWe have bought the extension, which we have yet to try out, but that should give us much more room, probably making us use the tent for longer trips, and the awning with the van for weekend trips. We have used this now for 4 camping weekends and the first three were all fine, however on the last one, the rear poles seemed tight and one started to split. Duct tape and some tent pegs lashed it up OK, and running the poles through again to make sure they were right sorted it out.

In 2022, Zempire tents were voted joint 1st in the Best Family Tents category at the Tent Owner Satisfaction Awards.Alternatives, that are 5-berth and are more expensive, well there aren’t many, if at all. Tents that are more expensive are usually bigger (6-berth) than the Coleman Mosedale 5, such as the Vango Icarus 600 DLX.

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. To make the decision a little easier, here are our top 3 tips on purchasing your perfect family tent. Fibreglass poles - highly flexible and lightweight fiberglass poles guarantee a good response to wind and storms The next one to bear in mind is the fact that there’s no porch or any other canopy to protect the doors when it’s raining. Although the zippers are covered so in theory, water would not come through there, but if you wanted to go in and out the tent when it’s pouring down, the rain would fall straight into the tent.Coleman Mosedale 5 review – image via GoOutdoors Who is the Coleman Mosedale 5 tent recommended for? Although the Vango Icarus 500 DLX has a slightly smaller living room, it also has an optional front porch which would eliminate the difference in size, and you’d still be better off with the Vango than with a Coleman Mosedale 5 + front extension setup.