FAMILY AND GROUP TENTS
I’M NOT SURE I’ve tested such a broad range of product in a single comparative review before. We’ve got almost everything but the kitchen sink here, from vintage style, A-frame units to the latest in air beam tech, which replaces the poles themselves with inflatable tubes. None of these are expedition tents – they’re not built to withstand extremes of altitude or latitude – but other than that I’ve not been too prescriptive. I’ll be honest and admit that this is partly as a result of sample stock levels (blame the pandemic, or Brexit, likely both), which has meant that we’ve had to consider a wider range than we might have otherwise. However, the upside of that is a good snapshot of what is available across the spectrum, from car camping to back and bike packing, both design- and features-wise.
What we want from a group shelter is likely to be quite different to a more family-orientated unit, but there are crossovers – I’d argue we have at least two such units in this test. A group shelter is likely to prioritise weight over comfort, since we’re likely to be moving with it, be that by bike, foot, or perhaps by ski in the winter. It’ll still need to be well-built for the conditions we expect, but extra features that increase weight and pack size unnecessarily will be of less use. When sharing a living space, porches and doors are good regardless, as anyone who’s had to cook in a downpour or climb over a sleeping partner at 3am will confirm, but the dimensions of these on a group shelter will likely be more modest.
Having a family is an expensive business and
