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!

To make the decision a little easier, here are our top 3 tips on purchasing your perfect family tent. 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. If you’re looking to go on a family camping adventure, you’ll first need the right tent. We’ve put together 15 family tents that our camping experts recommend for 2024. We’ve also included everything you should look for in a family tent before purchasing one. What to look for when buying a new family tent

Get Out With The Kids!

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

Coleman are historically strong on this front, the Coleman Mosedale 5 is no exception. The groundsheet is sewn in, the seems are taped, and there is a polyester flysheet to protect you from rain. The roll up curtains for the four little windows at the front corners of the tent are a bit of a fiddle; the main window and the mosquito net doors are fine.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. UV Guard sun protection - certified laboratory-tested fabrics with an SPF50 provide excellent protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays 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 The centre front guy line knot turned itself into a slip not, preventing insertion of the pole into the sleeve. I re-tied all of the major guy lines as figure of eight loops.

The Coleman Mosedale 5 is 5-berth poled tent with considerable weather protection. I recommend it for up 5 people, e.g. a family of five and to lesser extent, a group of friends. It does not hurt if you have some experience at camping and you have pitched a tent before, but in general, the Mosedale 5 is beginner friendly and mostly hassle-free, an ideal partner for casual getaways and weekend breaks. In 2022, Zempire tents were voted joint 1st in the Best Family Tents category at the Tent Owner Satisfaction Awards. 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. During our trip we experienced strong gusting winds, which the tent stood up to well enough (although it did shake about quite a bit), and a night of heavy rain; not a drop came in!Before purchasing the tent, consider the number of people that’ll be staying inside and whether they’d be able to move around comfortably. Although it might take longer to pitch a tentthat’s much bigger than the average, the more helping hands you have, the faster the process. • Does it have the right features for your needs?

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? It is possible to guy out either of the two doors - there are holes provided for “king posts”, but I just guyed out the front door without posts to let a bit of air in whilst providing shelter – if king posts are used the door would interfere with the centre front guyline (easily temporarily removed, I suppose). 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.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.