What tent size should you look for?

How many people will be sleeping in the tent?

The tent size and capacity is generally stated with the marketing information, eg 2 person or 4 person tents, and usually allow about 60cm width per “sleeping” person. This is usually restrictive and so a bedroom built for 3 people is usually ideal for 2 people and a few possessions. Also, bear in mind that children may not want to share a room and so the actual number of bedrooms may also be an important factor.

Is the tent mainly for sleeping in or will it be the basis for most of the day's activities?

If the tent is just for sleeping in then you can probably purchase a tent with only limited living room space. However, if the tent is likely to be used for much of the day for eating, playing, resting, storing possessions, etc then it is important to ensure you have a tent with sufficient living space. The risk with limited living room space is that it gets packed with bags, food and clothes and becomes difficult to actually spend time in.

Tent prices have reduced in recent years making even the largest tents very affordable. Consequently, it is well worth upgrading to a larger tent to provide greater living, storage and sleeping space.

Although buying a slightly larger tent is recommended it is advisable not to buy a tent that is too large as it will be more complex to set up, be heavier and also require more storage space both in your car and at home.

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