Not all four-man tents are created equal. Camping tents are usually labelled with the number of adults they can sleep, but you’ll still need to check out the size of a potential tent beyond that number – a one-bedroom tent might squeeze in four adults at a push, but a two-bedroom tent or a big bell tent will sleep four people in far more comfort.
A four-man tent can work well as a family tent if you have small children and for weekends away, but if you’re after a spacious tent that will work for a fortnight’s holiday, we’d recommend picking something bigger, such as a six-man tent with more living space.
There are some essential features to look for when buying a new tent: make sure the model you choose has a completely waterproof rain fly (the “fly” is your tent’s outer layer) and a coated nylon groundsheet on the floor, so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night in a puddle. The more guy ropes a tent comes with the better, for added stability. Pockets, storage compartments and a porch are really useful for storing cooking kit and boots.
If you have children, a tent with two bedrooms will help you all get a better night’s sleep, and some tent bedrooms are made with blackout material to stop you waking up at dawn. If you want to walk any distance with your tent, choose a lightweight, one-room backpacking model.
Remember that bigger tents are fiddlier to pitch, and multi-room tunnel tents and canvas bell tents can require two people to put up. If you hate pitching tents, look for an “air” tent – these use inflatable poles and are lightweight and easy to erect with a pump.
We’ve tested out a range of sizes and found ten great quality tent options to suit most budgets. Fancy sleeping in something a little different? A canvas bell tent is a lovely way to get a bit of a glamping feel on your next camping holiday.
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Outwell nevada
Our top pick of the four-man tents is the brilliant Outwell Nevada. This tardis-like tunnel tent is compact and portable but still sleeps four adults in comfort, with two spacious bedrooms you can stand up in.
It also proved waterproof and sturdy when tested in bad weather. A huge porch can be zipped wide open for in-out living, and a mesh panel lets air in but keeps insects out at night. It does take two people and a bit of time to erect the Nevada, but it’s well worth it for comfort and space on longer camping holidays.
If you want to add an extra person to your camping adventures, there’s also a Nevada five-man tent with three bedrooms available for £685.
Buy now £625.00, Outwell
Coleman valdes deluxe 4XL air
If money and space are no object, you won’t find a better tent for a family of four (or a gang of four friends) than Coleman’s Valdez 4XL Air, which is deluxe by both name and nature. Unlike many bigger tents, it’s easy to erect, using “air” poles you inflate with a pump.
Two generous bedrooms offer plenty of space, and blackout material means you’ll get a good night’s sleep – no more waking up at the crack of dawn on summer mornings. A large living space with big windows and a detachable porch means there’s plenty of room for all your cooking kit, or just for hanging out on rainy days – and we found the Valdez waterproof enough to deal with the mercurial British summer.
Buy now £899.99, Attwools
Robens midnight dreamer
The rather gorgeous Midnight Dreamer stands out for its beautiful build quality and attention to detail. This compact one-bedroom tent will sleep four adults at a push but is best suited for three adults, or two adults and two children. Although there’s only one bedroom, there’s also a generous porch you can stand up in, ideal for storing boots and other belongings.
The Midnight Dreamer is fully waterproof and easy to erect, and other thoughtful features include plentiful pockets, well-placed guy ropes and large windows. This is an airy, weatherproof choice that is perfect for weekends camping in the country.
Buy now £574.99, Robens
Vango carron 400
Our top pick on a budget is the roomy Vango Carron, which delivers a whole lot of bang for your buck at just £190. Standing at 180cm tall, there’s plenty of space to stand up inside this tent’s porch and roomy bedroom, which would be ideal for a couple or a family with smaller children.
Handy colour-coded poles make this smaller tent easy and quick to pitch, too. The bedroom is lined with Vango’s blackout nightfall material, helping to get a darker and cooler night’s sleep. A great choice for festivals and weekends closer to home, or if you want to invest in a separate tent for older kids.
Buy now £190.00, Vango
Snugpak journey quad
Nicely sized for weekends and festivals, the tent sleeps four adults at a squish or three in comfort in one bedroom. The Quad is a “fly” first pitch type tent – erect the outer fly and then the inner tent attaches.
While the Journey Quad is not quite light enough for backpacking adventures (unless you divide up its components), a tough built-in groundsheet, waterproof outer material and taped seams make this a good choice for wilder camping adventures in inclement weather, and well-placed air vents will also stop you overheating on sunnier days. The Journey folds down easily into a compact carry case, ideal if you have limited storage.
Buy now £289.95, Snugpak
Jack Wolfskin great divide
This futuristic-looking, versatile tunnel tent is aimed at families, with two roomy bedrooms sleeping four in comfort or six if you’re packed in like sardines. Three big doors with mosquito netting make it easy to pop in and out and to open the tent up to let fresh air in, and we like that the smaller bedroom is removable, making for a really roomy living area.
You can also roll up the vestibule’s door to make an open-air porch, which is lovely on sunny days. For a family-friendly tent, this is quick and headache-free to pitch. These clever design touches do come at a rather eye-watering price, and you may find better value for money elsewhere.
Buy now £825.00, Jack Wolfskin
Robens kiowa
You can’t help but be charmed by the lovely looks of this tipi-style tent, which is a brilliant compromise between a huge glamping tent and a more practical and weatherproof camping tent, with one big bedroom/living space and a small porch. Inside, there’s decent standing space around the central pole and plenty of room for four adults to sleep.
Despite the height, it doesn’t budge in windy weather, and is fully waterproof despite being made of breathable polycotton. Big windows let in lots of light, and can also be covered with outer curtains at night. It’s definitely easier to pitch with two people, but the process is reasonably quick and intuitive.
Buy now £999.99, Outdoor World Direct
MSR zoic 4
We always rate MSR’s excellent tents for backpacking and wild camping journeys, and this one, new for 2020, is no exception. At 3kg, it’s lightweight enough to fit in a rucksack and take out into the hills, but will still sleep up to four people in one bedroom. Multiple doors and two porches make it easy to share despite its compact size.
The mesh-covered inner tent is perfect for keeping midges out, and you can even sleep in the inner tent alone on really hot nights. It is also the lightest, easiest and quickest tent to pitch we tested, making it ideal for wild camping or multi-day hiking. While waterproof enough to deal with showers, it isn’t seam-sealed, and might not withstand a serious storm – save it for summer adventures.
Buy now £437.95, Alpine Trek
Touareg tent
If you fancy a bit of DIY glamping in a safari tent, go for the handsome Touareg from Boutique Camping. There’s tons of space and light inside this 4.4m-wide tent – ideal if you find smaller tents on the claustrophobic side, or if you want to sleep on camping cots or air beds, as it fits four double mattresses inside without blinking.
The polycotton canvas exterior is water-resistant enough to put up with rainfall, and is also damp and mildew-resistant. The Touareg is fiddly to erect and a heavy beast at 34kg – this safari number is best for week-long laid-back car camping adventures rather than quick weekends away.
Buy now £519.00, Boutique Camping
Quechua air seconds
Decathlon’s own-brand Quechua tents are great if you’re after a summer-friendly tent that won’t break the bank. The futuristic-looking tent inflates quickly – so no faffing about with pitching, although you’ll need a separate hand pump to erect it – and has a very liveable design that would suit a family or two couples, with two roomy bedrooms separated by a spacious central living space with room to stand inside.
Quechua’s blackout keeps the bedrooms cool and dark, and other nice touches like mosquito netting on the windows and plentiful pockets make this a great tent to hang out in – perfect for festivals and family gatherings.
Buy now £299.99, Decathlon
The verdict: Four-man tents
We recommend the brilliantly roomy Outwell Nevada for camping holidays, the lightweight MSR Zoic 4 for wild camping and the tipi-style Robens Kiowa if you want something a little bit special.
