The ultimate guide to the best camping tents of 2025 | Tried, tested and rated

The Tindheim 2 is MSR's first tunnel tent, and it hits bullseye on so many levels.

It's very spacious for a two-person hiking tent, both in the sleeping space and porch area, which makes it ideal for extending hiking and backpacking trips.

We liked its stable, weatherproof design that can cope with pretty stroppy weather. Another very useful feature in this regard is the Tindheim 2's ability to be pitched outer first, or all-in-one. Yet, it's suitable for most of the year, thanks to the inner, which has zipped panels that can either boost ventilation or prevent draughts.

The Tindheim 2 was such a crowd pleaser among our team, and as a result, earned a Gear of the Year award for 2024.

Read our full MSR Tindheim 2 review

The Scandinavian Klondike might not feature the traditional family tent design, but that’s actually an advantage in our opinion.

Similar to the Nordisk Thrymheim mentioned below, this is a teepee-style tent. Standing over 3.5 meters tall and nearly 4 meters wide, it offers an impressive amount of interior space – easily fitting two double airbeds with plenty of room to spare.

The light-coloured polycotton fabric is both sturdy and breathable, and with vents along the walls, the tent stays well-ventilated. Unlike tunnel tents, you won’t find separate bedrooms here, but the open, single-room layout inside the Klondike is extremely roomy and flexible.

While we appreciate the Klondike’s unique look and comfortable livability, what really stands out for us is how simple it is to set up. Just peg out the corners and raise the central pole – an easy job for one person. It’s hard to find another family tent this straightforward to pitch.

There’s no getting around the high price tag, but we believe it’s still a worthwhile investment. Renting a similar glamping tent can be costly, so owning the Klondike quickly offsets the expense. Plus, like many Robens products, it’s a high-quality, durable option that feels much more robust than many mainstream family tents.

Read our full Robens Klondike Tent review.

Jack Wolfskin's Eclipse III impressed us in terms of its versatility and sustainability. For camping and hiking, there are few tents as good at both as the Eclipse III.

What makes the Eclipse III so good for camping is its plentiful interior space and excellent waterproofing. Meanwhile, while it's not the lightest tent of this type, it does still pack down reasonably well and can therefore be carried in a large comfortable pack if required. Though you'll certainly want a lighter option for long distance treks.

Regarding sustainability, the Eclipse III is made mostly from recycled material and is PFC-free. You also have a clearer conscience at the manufacturing end too, because Jack Wolfskin is also a Fair Wear Foundation member with ‘Leader’ status.

Read our full Jack Wolfskin Eclipse III review

The appeal of a bivvy relies on being lighter and more compact than a tent. Over the years, some solo tents have got lighter, and some bivvies (especially those that use a hooped pole) have become more bulky. And they have almost met in the middle.

Luckily, Outdoor Research has maintained the low weight/packed size edge that bivvies have over tents with the Helium, which has become our benchmark bivvy bag.

At under 500g, it's a very lightweight shelter. Granted, it's not the very lightest bivvy you can get but the Helium offers very good weather protection too, which means you can use it most of the year round.

The hooped pole drastically improves liveability and reduces a feeling of claustrophobia compared to bivvy bags without a pole.

Read our full Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy review

The TentBox Classic 2.0 stands out here like a hiker wearing blazing red hiking jacket on a snowy mountainside. But the Classic 2.0 can be a good tent option for hikers. Perhaps you're the type that prefers fast-paced day hikes, for example. With a roof tent on your car, you can bounce around the country, conquering summits, covering ground quickly.

The roof tent provides the sleeping comfort of a campervan but the tenting experience. The TentBox Classic 2.0 is the best among a growing choice of roof tents. One of the key factors is its hardshell design. Not only does it look better, it's more protective and aerodynamic than those that use a heavy-duty soft cover.

Adding to the convenience is the fact you can collapse the Classic 2.0 with your sleeping gear still in it. So it really is setup at your overnight stop in seconds. Among the neat accessories for the Classic, an insulated inner makes the Classic 2.0 suitable for winter trips too.

No doubt the TentBox Classic 2.0 is expensive, but if it suits your travel and hiking style, its returns are healthy.

Read the full TentBox Classic 2.0 review here.

The Colorado 5 Air is an excellent tent, featuring a classic design with four air-filled beams and a central archway. It offers two roomy bedrooms, along with a porch and a living area tall enough for most adults to stand comfortably (195cm at its highest point).

Although it takes a touch longer to set up compared to some other family air tents, the process is straightforward – especially considering the tent’s generous size.

Unlike many family tents that have two identically sized bedrooms, the Colorado 5 Air includes a spacious master bedroom that accommodates three adults side-by-side and a smaller bedroom that fits two adults, though it’s a bit snug.

Alternatively, you can open up the space to create one large sleeping area.
During testing, the tent held up impressively against wind and rain, and its specifications suggest it could handle extended periods of wet weather.

One standout feature is the magnetic central door, which allows for a quick and quiet exit – ideal for late-night trips to the loo.

In summary, this tent is highly practical and comfortable: easy to set up, roomy, and smartly designed. If you’re planning a longer family camping holiday, it's an excellent choice.

See our full Outwell Colorado 5 Air review here.

The OSMO line has been around for a while, but this new ‘Ridge’ edition is the most polished version to date.

The most noticeable change is its more spacious design, with taller doors, a higher peak, and larger vestibules – all while keeping the weight under 2kg.

It now offers 109cm of headroom, a 223cm length and a completely rectangular floor plan with steep end walls, making the inside feel even more generous. Two wide sleeping mats fit side by side with ease.

The tent uses NEMO’s proprietary OSMO ripstop fabric, which is now even more waterproof, boasting a 3,000mm hydrostatic head rating for both the flysheet and floor. It also resists stretching better than sil-nylon and won’t droop when wet.

Additional upgrades include new all-metal tensioning components, a waterproof ‘Landing Zone’ gear tub for the porch, Nightlight Pockets, and easy one-handed door toggles.

While it’s not the lightest or most budget-friendly option, its combination of comfort, quality construction, and weather resistance is hard to beat.

For UK backpackers and wild campers, it’s a superb three-season option offering both performance and comfort.

Read our full Nemo Dagger Ridge OSMO 2P Tent review here. We also reviewed the 3-person version last year and gave it top marks.

MSR has really nailed it with this tent. The smartly engineered skeleton pole system uses a wishbone shape at one end and a cross pole at the peak (called an “overhead spreader bar”), creating a tight frame that the inner tent attaches to. This results in almost vertical walls, excellent headroom and great tension throughout the inner tent, creating a spacious and efficient rectangular layout.

A good-sized vestibule is included too. The tent pitches inner-first and is semi-freestanding. Inside, there’s plenty of mesh for airflow and thoughtfully designed zippers that always close at a single point. While the hydrostatic head ratings aren’t very high (1,200mm for the groundsheet and flysheet), the fabrics used are proven and reliable.

The flysheet is treated with both PU and silicone coatings and made from a tight, high-density weave – an approach MSR’s designers claim ensures true waterproofing. However, there are a few issues worth noting. The flysheet has a cut-out to save weight, which exposes some of the inner tent (even though it’s waterproof) and could be a vulnerability in heavy rain.

Additionally, the steep walls can catch the wind, the mesh-heavy inner can feel chilly and drafty, and the groundsheet is a bit thin. Despite these drawbacks, this tent is a lightweight marvel – offering impressive comfort for just 909g.

Read our full MSR FreeLite 1 review here

The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Solution Dye stands out as an exceptional ultralight option for bikepackers, with its focus on minimising weight and on-bike storage. Tipping the scales at just 1,110 grams and packing down to only 36x15 cm, it’s ideally suited for cyclists who cover big distances and need to keep their gear as streamlined as possible.

A highlight of this tent is the innovative Shortstik Poleset, which makes it very easy to pack away in compact spaces like under handlebars or inside frame bags. Other thoughtful cycling-oriented features, including helmet attachment loops and adaptable webbing for multiple packing options, boost its bikepacking appeal.

However, such an emphasis on lightness and compactness does come at a cost: interior space and comfort are somewhat reduced compared to some competitors. The solo version we tested is sufficient for one person, but the tapered design and absence of a cross pole do mean that the living area inside isn’t particularly roomy.

The Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Solution Dye performs reliably in moderate weather, but for more demanding or extreme conditions, its lightweight materials and 1,200mm hydrostatic head rating may not provide enough protection.

Read our full Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Solution Dye review for more.

The Quechua 3-person Blackout Pop-up Fresh & Black Tent stands out as the best in a recent test of six pop-up tents, offering impressive space, weather protection, and smart features like a two-skin design and blackout interior for better sleep.

It pitches in two to three minutes, with sturdy construction and a roomy, dome-like living space and porch. Waterproofing and ventilation are solid, with a hydrostatic head of 2,000mm, sealed seams, and multiple mesh vents, though it’s best for mild conditions and occasional use as Decathlon suggests.

The downsides include a hefty weight (5.5kg), large pack size, and a higher price tag, making it more suitable for car camping than backpacking. Packing away requires patience but becomes manageable with practice. Overall, it’s a modern, well-designed option with superb liveability – a real bargain in our eyes.

See our full Quechua 3-person Pop-up review for more detail.

Contains Grangers Tent and Gear Cleaner and Repel. The former cleans the fabric, the latter applies durable water repellency. Can be used for tents and other gear such as packs.

This kit comes with Nikwax's tent and gear wash and reproofing sprays, plus microfibre cloths and a 10-litre dry bag. Can be used on tents and packs.