Eurohike Lightweight and Versatile Universal Tarp Shelter 3.25 x 3.25m, Hammock Tent, Survival Equipment, Backpacking Tarp, Wild Camping Tarp, Bivvi Tarp, Camping Equipment, Blue, One Size

Product Information

Our only complaint is that the size isn’t quite as large as the name suggests, although there’s plenty of space for six adults, camping chairs, and a table, you’ll struggle to sit ten comfortably. It comes with a pump as standard, but there are also plenty of practical accessories available, including zip-on side panels, soft carpet, a tent insert, and a weight bag for pitching on hard surfaces. It’s expensive, but we’ve not found many designs better than this. Key specs – Main material: Polyester; Weight: 11.1kg; Dimensions: 300 x 300cm (living room), 75 x 35 x 34 cm (cover); Height: 220cm (overall)

Key specs – Main material: Sentinel Eco recycled polyester; Weight: 12.9kg; Dimensions: 350 x 350cm; Pitch time: 8mins; Height: 225cm With 16m² of space beneath it, this great value shelter from Outwell is absolutely enormous. Perfect for group camping trips, or huge families, it has a generous peak height of 2.45m and the entrance height is 1.8m, so only the very tallest will need to stoop to seek cover. If you’re camping, or wild camping, alone and are just looking for a simple rain shelter, then a small tarp that’s close to the ground is a much lighter and easier-to-erect option.Key specs – Main material: Polyester; Weight: 20.9kg; Pitch time: 12mins; Dimensions: 365 x 365cm; Height: 218c We’ve selected some of the best freestanding gazebos on the market and have included an option for most budgets; however, before we launch into our recommendations, we’ve put together a brief guide to buying the best gazebo for you. Like a good tent, the best gazebos should have plenty of room for happy campers or guests. They should have a waterproof outer layer to keep the elements at bay and, if necessary, a design that doesn’t sacrifice airiness or breathability when zipped up. But, unlike big, bulky tents, gazebos should be lightweight and not take up much storage space, so that they’re a great way to expand your camp without needing to lug around heavy equipment.

It’s made from a hard-wearing woven polyester recycled from 100% plastic bottles – a trend we love seeing in outdoor equipment – that’s also Global Recycled Standard certified so, in theory, it can be turned into more tents at the end of its life. If you’re keen to use your gazebo as somewhere to escape the sun, or to relax as a group, then a domed design will be perfect. Look for an easy-to-pitch gazebo with four poles and plenty of guy ropes, pegs and straps for stability, as gazebos can easily come loose in strong winds. The metal components should ideally be made of stainless steel or aluminium.The Trigon AirHub also comes with a groundsheet, and there are four triangular doors that unzip and fold away easily, opening up whichever sides you want. The remaining triangular sections also feature insect mesh windows if you need extra ventilation. It’s a great design for windy and cold conditions, but be warned: baked by the sun, it can get a bit hot, even with all the sides removed. Many campervans and tents, especially large family ones, have add-on shelters or awnings, usually designed specifically for that model, but we’d argue that a freestanding gazebo is far more versatile. The best gazebos can be used to create a cosy porch, a communal living space between tents to eat or relax, a playroom for the kids if the weather’s bad, or just a bit of shade at a summer party.

Made from 6,000mm HH polyester and featuring taped seams, the Air Shelter offers the same level of weather protection as many tents, and it will take hours, if not days, of relentless rain before the fabric gets saturated. Two sides feature doors with full-length mesh panels, the other two have windows and curtains, and the roof has skylight panels, giving you a wide range of options for adjusting interior lighting conditions.

The Hub 2 employs hardwearing, difficult-to-tangle guy straps for securing it to the ground, and there’s a ground sheet included which can be removed using the simple toggles in each corner. Key specs – Main material: Weathershield Redux polyester; Weight: 8.5kg (approx); Dimensions: 230 x 230cm; Height: 230cm The flysheet is waterproof to 3,000mm HH and offers UV 50+ protection. And, thanks to the tunnel shape, so long as you’re mindful of the wind direction, you can remain sheltered from the breeze as well as the sun and the rain, while the gently arched sides still offer enough through-ventilation to prevent a strong gust from causing havoc.