Festival tents may just be tents like any other, but there's definitely something to be said for a garish, neon tent in the middle of a rowdy festival arena. Whether you're looking for something to stand the test of time or you're after an affordable ‘do-the-job' tent that you'll whip out exclusively for the annual festi-jaunt, reader, we've got just the pick for you.
These days, tents come in all shapes and sizes and, on top of the classic flysheet and pole style tent, in 2022, pop up, inflatable and blackout tents are becoming increasingly popular. For a festival, inflatable tents aren't perhaps so practical, requiring you to bring a foot pump as well as the tent itself (and it's not like you'll need anymore weight in your rucksack). Likewise, be wary of beach tents masquerading as overnight tents; for those in the market for a bargain, they certainly will cost less but, the clincher? They probably won't be waterproofed - a must for UK festivals.
So, when it comes to festival tent requirements, what do you need to take into account? Firstly, ask yourself, how comfortable do I want for be? If you're after oodles of space, we'd recommend upgrading your tent by ‘one man’ (the general measuring unit for tents). For instance, if there's two of you, look for a three man tent. See this three man tent from Decathlon; complete with a pop-up structure and a bright coloured exterior to make your camping spot that little bit more memorable, this waterproofed tent can withstand the inevitable British downpour and is relatively low on cost.
Outside of comfort, you'll want to assess whether or not you want to be camping in the same compartment as your fellow festival goers and, if not, prioritise tents with pods and separate sleeping compartments. Both Argos' six man tent and Outsunny's dome tent offer buyers this feature, not to mention coming in very reasonably at less than £20 per person.
Camping Tent - 2 Seconds - 3 PersonOutsunny 4-6 Person Camping Tent Shelter-Blue/WhiteFor both the single campers and the hoard of pals lumping in together, we've pulled together a list of the best, most affordable and most comfortable options to make your festival experience as good as it gets. Plus, to make it that little bit easier for you, we've ranked our top five festival tents so you can find what you're looking for in, to quote Rowan Atkinson, the flashiest of flashes.
Top five festival tents:Best festival tent: Outsunny Camping Tent, £104.99, Aosom
Best pop up festival tent: 2 Seconds Easy Camping Tent, Sleeps Three, £74.99, Decathlon
Best cheap festival tent: Festival Fun 2 Man Tent, £27.99, Mountain Warehouse
Best 4 man festival tent: Pro Action Pattern 4 Man 1 Room Pop Up Camping Tent, £80, Argos
Best festival bell tent: Fiarmont 4 Person Tent, £98.99, Wayfair
And, of course, don't forget to buy all your other festival gear (a waterproof jacket is a must). Lucky for you we've done all the hard work and compiled the ultimate festival checklist, a round up of must-have festival outfits for 2022 and of course, the best wellies, the best bum bags and the best bucket hats to get you looking your boho best.
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How to transform your garden or balcony into a mini-festival with outdoor bars, lanterns and a sound systemGallery28 PhotosScroll for our full edit of the best festival tents
4 man festival tentFestival Fun 4 Man TentWhy we love it: Available in two colourways (and the petrol blue will be easy to spot from afar) and with an easy-build structure, this Mountain Warehouse festival camping tent is not only affordable but only weights 2.5kg, too - perfect for lugging into the arena with minimal faff.
Capacity: Four people
Weight: 2.5kg
Pros: Includes sewn-in groundsheet and is water repellent for spring and summer showers.
Cons: Single skin, as opposed to double, means that it's not ideally suited to cold temperatures, though this shouldn't be an issue with most UK festivals in the midst of summer.
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3 man festival tentCamping Tent - 2 Seconds - 3 PersonWhy we love it: This pop-up tent is no only easy to assemble (in a matter of seconds) and features a unique three-colour design, ideal for festival-goers seeking out their tents across a crowded field. At just £25 per person, this tent is not only accessibly priced, but Quechua is a good brand to be investing in for future years and camping trips to come!
Capacity: Three people
Weight: 3.6kg
Pros: Good waterproofing and wind resistance, plus includes a three-year guarantee.
Cons: Height at tallest point is 3 ft 4", though at festivals you're unlikely to spend much time in the tent itself.
Cheap festival tentsGelert Scout 2 Man TentWhy we love it: Well-known camping brand Gelert has been in the industry with their travel pillows, walking shoes and, of course, tents for as long as we can remember. That's why, while this two man tent costs less than £20, you can still rest easy knowing it'll do its job when the rain inevitably makes an appearance.
Capacity: Two people
Weight: 1kg
Pros: Fully waterproof and available on Amazon with three-day delivery.
Cons: No inner tent liner to keep out mosquitoes when the zipped door is left open but, again, this is less of an issue if the tent is mostly for sleeping in.
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Best festival tentsOutsunny 4-6 Person Camping Tent Shelter-Blue/WhiteWhy we love it: One of our top festival picks for size, cost and functionality, this Outsunny tent has three separate pods, two for sleeping and one for use as a porch or place to sit indoors and, with everything you need included - yes, pegs and guy ropes - you won't need to scour different outdoor shops before you set up camp.
Capacity: Six people
Weight: 6.3kg
Pros: Water and UV resistant dome design, ideal as a family tent (with room for camping chairs inside) and one of the best festival tents if it's a washout.
Cons: Only a six month guarantee.
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Glastonbury tentsFestival Fun 2 Man TentWhy we love it: Glastonbury festival is practically a city in itself, so chances are you'll be spending hardly any time in your tent. This Mountain Warehouse two man tent is not only appropriately priced for something you'll hardly be using but, with a bright pink outer shell, it'll be easier to spot on the likes of Pennard Hill and Rowmead campsite.
Capacity: Two people
Weight: 1.75kg
Pros: Sewn in groundsheet, pretty good waterproofing and has some great reviews.
Cons: Will be more of a squeeze for campers with big rucksacks and luggage, but ideal for those packing light.
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Pop up festival tentPro Action Pattern 4 Man 1 Room Pop Up Camping TentWhy we love it: A best seller if we ever saw one, buyers are flocking to nab this funky four man tent from Argos, and for good reason. It'll be easy to spot, comes complete with mosquito nets and can be assembled in as little as one minute.
Capacity: Four people
Weight: 2.46kg (great for the capacity)
Pros: Mid-level waterproofing (fine for summer) with a 1000mm hydrostatic head - a.k.a you'd need 1000mm of water on top of the fabric before it would penetrate the outer shell - and includes a one year guarantee.
Cons: No inner sleeping compartment, just the outer flysheet. Though, with the waterproofing, this would be adequate for a summer festival.
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Argos festival tentPro Action 6 Man 3 Room Tunnel Camping TentWhy we love it: A tunnel tent with everything from space for your wellies and backpacks, to an awning and two separate pods for airbeds and sleeping bags, this Argos tent comes in at just £20 per person.
Capacity: Six people
Weight: 8.4kg
Pros: Almost 4 ft 6" at the tallest point, includes a one year guarantee and comes complete with hanging points for camping lights, as well as a mosquito net and a fire retardant outer.
Cons: A tad heavy as a backpacking tent, though if you split it between all the campers, you should be fine!
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Festival glamping tentsFiarmont 4 Person TentWhy we love it: Though, technically, this tipi/bell tent will comfortably fit four campers side by side, for the glampers among us, we'd recommend maximising on the space and popping a luxe airbed smack bang in the middle. The generous 8 ft 2" will allow you to stand while you change and, what's more, at 4.2kg, it's relatively light given the size.
Capacity: Four people
Weight: 4.2kg
Pros: Suitable for four season-year round camping, includes a carry bag, insect screens and a groundsheet.
Cons: Though it has been treated, the brand recommends adding your own extra layer of waterproofing for torrential rain.
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Festival camping tentsAndes 4 Person Man Berth Double Skin Camping/Festival Dome TentWhy we love it: With a similar design to the Vango Carron 400 (at a fraction of the price), the Andes four man tent is an affordable compromise with the same tried and tested structure that will get you through your festival weekend comfortably. It costs less than £15 per person and is available with next day delivery on Amazon.
Capacity: Four people.
Weight: 2kg (very light!)
Pros: Super lightweight, highly reviewed, includes an inner sleeping tent (doubling its ability as a windbreak) and is quick to pitch for an easy camp.
Cons: Some reviews recommend pitching up as a pair.
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2 man festival tentWaterproof 2 Man Pop Up Tent Patterned Swift2Why we love it: If you like the Regatta Malawi then you'll just love this funky Trespass two man tent. Complete with the same pop up design and reasonable price, it's almost like it was made for the likes of Leeds and Reading festival, not to mention it's highly reviewed.
Capacity: Two people
Weight: 0.7kg (our lightest)
Pros: The most lightweight of all our picks, super high-spec waterproofing, includes a mosquito net and is fire retardant.
Cons: No porch and doesn't include free delivery.
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