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Enjoy a staycation to remember with these tried and tested child-friendly tents

Childhood memories are made of many things, but the magic of that first night under the stars can spark a lifelong love of camping.

If you’re ready to show your kids the wonders of the great outdoors this summer, marshmallows obligatory, then you’ll need one of the best family tents.

Family tents come in all shapes, sizes and styles, but the best will offer enough sleeping space for the number of people they promise to accommodate, plus a living area for bags or wet weather hangouts and a porch to keep muddy boots dry.

If you’re after a roomy tent, a handy rule of thumb is to size up by two – a six-person tent for a family of four, for example.

Look for a tent that’s lightweight to carry, especially if your campsite is a bit of a Glasto-style trek from the car park – around 5kg is a good max to bear in mind.

Consider how easy it will be to pitch and pack away, even with excited young’uns running amok. If it’s inflatable or larger than you’re used to, practice in your garden or local park before heading off into the wilderness.

If you’re risking the Great British weather, a reliable waterproofing rating is a must for preventing tantrums from children and adults alike – look for 5000mm or more to protect you from torrential downpours (or 2000mm if it only comes with a flysheet). If your tent has a season rating, then levels four and five are the best for more trying conditions.

In terms of ‘nice to have’ features, split bedrooms, internal pockets, light hooks and carry bags can all help make your expedition more of a success than a stress.

There’s a lot to consider, so we tasked the Men’s Health Lab with finding the best family tents you can buy for all needs and budgets.

Nine different tents were sent to families with camping experience who matched the marketed capacity. They dutifully slept in their tent before reporting back on all its hits and misses.

Tents were judged on their instructions, ease of use and design. Our testers timed how long each tent took to pitch and dismantle, noting how many people had to be roped in to help. They considered whether it let in enough light and fresh air and, most importantly, if it offered enough space for everybody to live comfortably.

Back in the lab, our expert used a hydrostatic head machine to test each tent’s waterproofing capabilities.

From a fairytale tipi to a blow-up beast, pitch up with our top picks.

This great value tunnel-style tent with two bedrooms and a large living area is speedy to pitch, thanks to colour-coded poles, pre-attached guy ropes and strong pegs that don't bend when pushed into the ground. It left our tester feeling like Bear Grylls, that’s how rapidly it went up.

Sturdy and reliably waterproof, it comfortably fit their family of four, with space for bags in the middle. Standing up was challenging, though, so it’s one to sleep in only. The carry bag could have been bigger, too, but it's our champ for any small family on a short getaway.

Key specs Capacity: 4 Pitch size (cm): 140 x 210 x 420 Pack size (cm): 53 x 20 x 20 Weight: 7.3kg Waterproof rating: 2000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: No Air vents: No

If minimal effort is a must, this four-person tent claims to be lightning-fast to pitch. Its vestibule keeps muddy boots at bay and it comes with a handy carry bag, all without breaking the bank. It’s ultra lightweight, too, weighing just 3.4kg.

It proved so easy to set up solo that our tester could have pitched it in their sleep. Both poles and pegs felt premium, and it kept the rain out, but space is tight so a family may feel cramped in bad weather.

Key specs Capacity: 4 Pitch size (cm): 142 x 203 x 249 Pack size (cm): 46 x 19 x 19 Weight: 3.4kg Waterproof rating: Unknown Sewn-in groundsheet: No Blackout rooms: No Air vents: No

Fun for all the family, the top of this teepee-style tent opens up for stargazing. It promises speedy assembly with its single pole, and it’s spacious inside, with plenty of room to stand up.

Our tester found it a doddle to assemble, thanks to clear instructions, but it was a bit of a pain having to zip the floor in. Though heavy to lug from the car, it looked cool once up and their kids loved its starry surprise. Just check the forecast before you set off, as the flysheet isn’t waterproof.

Key specs Capacity: 6 Pitch size (cm): Unknown Pack size (cm): 32 x 99 Weight: 11.8kg Waterproof rating: 350mm Sewn-in groundsheet: No Blackout rooms: Yes Air vents: Yes

With its two separate bedrooms and stand-up living area, this tent is designed for small families on short getaways. It’s affordably priced and fairly quick to put up, but vague diagrams and tricksy poles made pitching more of a faff for our tester than it needed to be.

Their family of four found it adequately roomy for a night and they liked how it looked as a bonus. Stashing it back into its storage bag proved a bit of a wrestle, but rest assured it’ll keep you dry in a downpour.

Key specs Capacity: 4 Pitch size (cm): Unknown Pack size (cm): Unknown Weight: Unknown Waterproof rating: 2000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: Yes Air vents: Yes

Regatta claims this tent inflates in minutes, ready to sleep four in the darkened bedroom. It features a torch hook and brightly coloured guy ropes for visibility, while handles on the bag let you carry it like a giant rucksack.

Our tester found it palatial in terms of space and loved the separate sleeping and porch areas. They found it dutifully quick to blow up, but, as with many tents, a bit of a faff to fold away.

Key specs Capacity: 4 Pitch size (cm): 200 x 370 x 480 Pack size (cm): 90 x 38 x 38 Weight: 16kg Waterproof rating: 3000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: Yes Air vents: Yes

If you’re trying to shop more sustainably, you'll like that this five-person tent is made from recycled single-use plastics. Mesh panels help keep out bugs and a covered side entrance claims to prevent rain from entering the living area.

Our tester appreciated the cross-bracing straps that saved this tent from bending in the wind. It kept their family cosy on a chilly day and blocked out enough light for a good night’s sleep, but the groundsheet isn’t very waterproof.

Key specs: Capacity: 5 Pitch size (cm): 195 x 330 x 465 Pack size (cm): 73 x 34 x 34 Weight: Waterproof rating: 3000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: No Air vents: Yes

This tent claims to be big enough to fit a table and chairs inside – handy in our climate, let’s face it. It features separate living and sleeping areas, the latter of which can be divided if you’re keen to keep the kids at bay while you kip.

Our tester liked how quickly the colour-coded magnetic poles slotted into place, but found the instructions basic. Once up, it proved sufficiently spacious for their gang of five plus gear, but they couldn’t quite stand up fully. Though too large and heavy to hike with, it packed away quickly into its generously sized carry case.

Key specs Capacity: 5 people Pitch size (cm): 165 x 265 x 490 Pack size (cm): 71 x 26 x 26 Weight: 12.8kg Waterproof rating: 3000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: No Air vents: Yes

Big families with young kids, this is the tent for you. Its three bedrooms can sleep up to six – though two adults in one is a squish – and its living area is plenty tall enough to stand up in. It can be pitched as a flysheet and inner tent in one, but the guy ropes don’t come attached, which novice campers may find tricky.

Still, our tester found the instructions crystal clear and disassembly was also a breeze, with everything slipping back into the bag. The main downside is that it only claims to be water-resistant, so the South of France it is then?

Key specs Capacity: 6 people Pitch size (cm): 225 x 525 x 190 Pack size (cm): 25 x 68 x 25 Weight: 12kg Waterproof rating: 2000mm Sewn-in groundsheet: Yes Blackout rooms: No Air vents: No