Trespass four-man, two-room tunnel tent €176.99
If you are very serious about camping, you could do a whole lot worse than this. It is not cheap – even when it has more than €140 knocked off the full price, as the deal we came across in Argos had – but it is sturdy and is likely to keep you safe from the elements, unless the elements get really nasty. It sleeps four people comfortably enough and offers a degree of privacy in that it has two bedrooms and a "communal living space" in the middle, which is good for storage. It also comes with colour-coded poles to facilitate the pitching process. This is a great idea: why don't all tent-makers?
Verdict: The real deal.
Star rating: ***
ProAction four-man dome tent €31.99
At this price, the tent seems like a real bargain. It will sleep four people, although you would want to know each other pretty well, as it will offer no privacy. It is pretty easy to assemble and seems perfectly sturdy and watertight. You won't be doing much standing as its maximum pitched height is just 1.3m. This seems unlikely to be the sort of product that will last for generations, but it does a job and it does it reasonably well.
Verdict: Cheap and functional.
Star rating: ****
Two-man dome tent (Argos) €19.99
This tent is so humble, it doesn't even have a brand name. It is the cheapest tent we found and its unique selling point is that it is really cheap, really easy to put up and is perfect for a festival. It would be perfect for a festival if the weather were also perfect, that is. Any wind or driving rain and we would be most concerned for our wellbeing if we were sleeping in this.
Verdict: Cheap – and it feels it, too.
Star rating: **
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Alaska two-man compact geodesic dome tent €329
We decided, just for a wheeze, to look at the highest-end options, and we came across this. It is very expensive, and you would be crazy to buy this with festival season in mind. It is a product you will want to take care of, because if you find yourself in the wild it will take care of you. It looks sturdy and completely waterproof, with enough ventilation slots to make it breathable in the hottest and harshest of conditions. It is for serious campers only.
Verdict: Great but not for everyone.
Star rating: ***
