 in the late 1800s and literally wrote the book about the joys of camping. Nowadays if you walk into an outdoor shop you'll be overwhelmed with choice – from easy to pitch pop-up tents and inflatable tents, to massive family tents (many of them larger than my first flat), to tunnels (good space-to-weight ratio but harder to pitch efficiently), geodesic or domes (free-standing; often heavier, but easy to move), back-to-basics super lightweight tents, bivvy bags and tarps and, of course, the ubiquitous glamper's tents of choice – bell tents and teepees. None will be made of silk though. While some of the quirkier options (teepee, bell) are often made of canvas (waterproof only after their first soaking, which causes the stitching to tighten together and prevent water from penetrating), most are constructed from man made polyester and coated with silicone or polyurethane to make them waterproof. How to tell which tent is right for){kind=link}
From pop-ups to bell tents and teepees here’s our pick, recommended by ‘wild camper’ Phoebe Smith, presenter of the Wander Woman podcast
Which is the best tent? It’s a big question. In the same way that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing, I truly believe that there’s never a bad time to camp, only unsuitable tents. And I should know; I’ve slept in most of them.
As an adventurer, wild camper and host of the Wander Woman podcast I explore some of the wildest places in the world with just a trusty tent for accommodation. From snow in Antarctica to torrential rain in Wales and gale force winds on the flanks of Everest, having the right tent can transform a survivable night into a very pleasant one – as long as the model you’ve chosen is fit for purpose. For this article, I’ve tested all this year’s best tents for a range of purposes. You can read my reviews below, along with some advice on how to use them, but if you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at my top five:
Tents have come a long way since founder of the Caravan and Camping Club Thomas Hiram Holding stitched his own silk A-frame number (so-called because of the shape it forms when pitched) in the late 1800s and literally wrote the book about the joys of camping.
Nowadays if you walk into an outdoor shop you’ll be overwhelmed with choice – from easy to pitch pop-up tents and inflatable tents, to massive family tents (many of them larger than my first flat), to tunnels (good space-to-weight ratio but harder to pitch efficiently), geodesic or domes (free-standing; often heavier, but easy to move), back-to-basics super lightweight tents, bivvy bags and tarps and, of course, the ubiquitous glamper’s tents of choice – bell tents and teepees.