Before we head off into the hills, woods or coast, every tent gets a proper once-over to make sure what’s in the box actually matches what’s been promised on paper.

• Unboxing and check-up: We lay everything out and confirm all the bits are there, including the flysheet, inner tent, poles, pegs, guy lines, stuff sacks, repair kit and footprint (if one’s included). If anything’s missing, swapped or different to what’s advertised, we make a note of it.

• Build and materials check: We look out for dodgy stitching, loose threads or flimsy parts that might give up under pressure. This includes checking:

  • Fabric thickness and quality (both fly and inner)

  • Waterproof coatings and mesh condition

  • Seam taping and stitching consistency

  • Pole strength and connections

  • Zips, toggles, guy points and how everything attaches together

• Weight and pack size: Using digital scales and measuring tools, we record exactly how heavy and bulky the tent is. Then we compare those numbers against what the brand claims, so weight-conscious hikers know what they’re really carrying. We measure:

  • Total packed weight (everything included)

  • Minimum trail weight (tent, fly and poles only)

  • Packed dimensions and how easily it squeezes into its bag

• First setup test: We pitch the tent straight out of the bag to see how easy it is to put up. We’re checking whether the instructions make sense, colour-coding actually helps and if one person can manage it solo without a faff.

We take every tent out for proper nights under the UK sky, too. We try to take it out into sheltered woodland camps and hilltops to see how it really performs when things get a bit wild. Here’s what we look for while we’re out there:

• Wind resistance and stability: When the wind picks up, we see how well the tent keeps its shape and stays solid. We look for sagging panels, wobbly poles and whether the guy lines actually hold the tent steady when fully pegged out. Wind in the Peaks will quickly show you what’s well-designed and what’s not.

• Rain and waterproofing: Being in the UK, we get plenty of natural chances to test this one. We check how waterproof the flysheet really is, whether seams leak, and how dry the inner stays after a proper downpour. We’ve even used hose tests to be sure. We also see if you can duck in and out without water pouring inside.

• Ventilation and condensation: On damp or chilly nights, we find out how much airflow the tent really has. Does it fog up inside? Do the vents actually make a difference? We rate how well the tent handles moisture build-up, which matters on those long, muggy summer nights as much as in frosty weather.

• Space and comfort: A tent can look great on paper, but living in it tells the real story. Our testers spend multiple nights inside to see how much room you really get — enough to sit up, stretch, change clothes or stash your gear properly. We also check vestibule space for boots and packs, and whether there’s room for cooking under cover (when safe to do so).

• Ease of use in real life: Finally, we test the stuff that only shows up when you’re half-asleep or dealing with rain at 2 a.m. Things like zipping up doors in the dark, re-tensioning guy lines in the wind, or getting back in with wet gear. We note how forgiving the design is when you’re tired, cold or wearing gloves.

Durability’s a big deal when it comes to tents as they’re too much of an investment for just one weekend use. To see how tough each model really is, we put it through plenty of use and abuse, the kind you’d expect over months or years of regular camping.

• Pitching and packing on repeat: We keep setting it up and packing it away to see what gives first. Do the poles start to bend or splinter? Do pegs warp? Is the fabric showing wear around the pole sleeves or tension points? We think a good tent should handle this cycle without fuss.

• Rough-ground testing: We camp on all sorts of surfaces, too, such as grassy fields, rocky ground, compacted dirt. This is to see how the floor fabric holds up. We keep an eye out for scuffs, abrasion and coating wear, testing with and without a footprint to see how much difference that actually makes.

• Sun and weather exposure: When the British weather gives us a bit of sunshine (rare, but it happens), we leave the fly pitched to see how it copes with UV. We also check for fading, waterproof coating breakdown and any signs of delamination. On the flip side, tents are left damp for days to test for mould or bad smells, so we can see how forgiving they are if you forget to dry them out right away.

• Testing the small stuff: Zips, toggles, guy lines, clips, etc. We open and close, tension and untension repeatedly to see what holds up and what starts to fail. Broken zips or dodgy clips can ruin a trip faster than bad weather.

A tent can have all the fancy specs in the world, but if it’s a pain to use on the trail, it’s not much good. So, we test how practical each tent really is when you’re out there doing the miles.

• Setup speed and solo pitching: We time how fast it goes up and packs away, both in calm weather and when it’s blowing a gale. We check if one person can manage the setup on their own, because sometimes it’s just you, the rain and a stubborn tent bag at the end of a long day.

• Packability and how it fits in your pack: We see how easily the tent squeezes back into its stuff sack and how much space it hogs in a hiking pack. We also check if you can separate the poles or fly to split the weight with a hiking partner, or just to make packing less awkward.

• Versatility and different setups: Some tents can be pitched in different ways, such as just the fly for a lightweight ‘fast pitch,’ or the inner on its own for bug-free summer camping. We test a range of those options where possible, plus how well each tent copes with early spring frost or a dusting of snow up in the hills.

Once we’ve tested each tent in the wild, we score it across five main categories. We don’t just look at one number or spec, we try to balance comfort, build quality, features, size and weight, and all-round versatility to see how each tent actually performs for different types of people and trips.

• Comfort: This is all about living space and how nice the tent feels to be in. We look at headroom, floor space, ventilation, warmth and how it holds up over a few nights. The best tents strike that balance between feeling roomy without losing cosiness.

• Construction: We check the build quality, too, things like stitching, pole strength, seam sealing and overall toughness. The tents that survive repeated pitching and handle rough UK weather with ease score highest here.

• Features: These are the small touches that make life easier, like vestibules for gear storage, inner pockets for bits and pieces, decent vents, or handy details like colour-coded poles and clips that actually make setup faster.

• Size and weight: Tents aren’t all about being featherlight, as it really depends on what you’re doing, so we judge portability and packed size with the right context in mind. Ultralight tents get points for ease of carrying on long hikes, while heavier, more spacious models are rated for how manageable they are on shorter trips or car camps.

• Versatility: We also look at how adaptable each tent is. Some handle both warm and soggy conditions brilliantly; others work just as well for hiking weekends as they do for longer wild camps. The more flexible the tent, the higher it scores.

Every tent gets a score out of 10 in each category, which we then weight to give an honest overall rating. That way, a tent doesn’t top the charts just because it’s ultralight, it has to perform well across the board. We note down where each model shines and where it falls short, so you get the full picture.

Our main goal is to give UK campers real, experience-based insights, not just marketing claims. This way, you can pick a tent that’s actually up for the adventures you’ve got planned.