Best festival tents: Budget, pop-up and inflatable tents for the summer of music

Festival season will be with us once again soon enough and grabbing one of the best festival tents for the summer should be high on your list after scoring the ticket itself. Iron Maiden beer coolers with built-in speakers are a more exciting way to spend your cash, sure, but invest in the right festival tent for your budget and you’ll have a comfier camping experience. 

With the right tent, you’ll be sheltered from night time temperature dips and you won’t be blasted awake by the sun’s 5am siren call. Pick a great festival tent and you’ll also have a porch to stash your brews and inflatable chairs in.

Our team has spent decades working at music festivals all over the world, camping out in all conditions in the name of rock. So we really do know the best festival tents from the rest, and here we’ve picked this year’s top options for a range of budgets. Festival campers, let’s get camping.

Claire Davies author image
Claire Davies

During her tenure as a Total Guitar staffer and later as a freelance music journalist, Claire has attended her fair share of festivals and has camped out at most (there may have been the odd hotel stay). Claire was also the Outdoors Editor for Louder’s sister site T3, where she was in charge of hunting down the best tents for all camping scenarios, from festivals to sub-zero adventures.

Best festival tents: Quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out exactly which we think are the best festival tents on the market right now? Below, you’ll find a round-up of our top choices. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

The best festival tents in 2023

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Best festival tent overall

Best festival tents: Decathlon Quechua 2 Seconds XL Tent

(Image credit: Decathlon)

1. Decathlon Quechua 2 Seconds XL Tent

The best festival tent for most music fans

Specifications

Sleeps: Two people
Weight: 4.3kg
Dimensions: 145x210cm bedroom; storage area
Height: 105cm
Waterproofing: Flysheet 2,000mm; groundsheet 2,400mm
User review score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Blackout material blocks sunlight
+
Porch for sitting and storing
+
Mesh storage pockets
+
Fast to pitch and pack down

Reasons to avoid

-
Not built for heavy use

The Decathlon Quechua 2 Seconds XL Tent has been around for a few years yet it’s still the best festival tent for most people. Blackout material diffuses early-morning sunlight, so you can sleep off that hangover until the headliner hits the stage. 

Decathlon’s festival tent is also waterproof and wind-resistant, with air vents for fresh airflow. The Vango and Heimplanet options further down this list handle weather better, but this festival tent punches above its weight for the price.

While it takes longer than two seconds to erect, the Quechua 2 Seconds XL Tent is fast to set up. Dump your boots and beer in the porch, and stash your earplugs in the bedroom’s mesh storage pockets. No earplugs? Tsk! Get protected with the best earplugs for concerts.

Best small pop up tent

Best festival tents: Regatta Malawi Pop Up Tent

(Image credit: Regatta)

2. Regatta Malawi Pop Up Tent

The best pop up festival tent for two

Specifications

Sleeps: Two people - just
Weight: 2.5kg
Dimensions: L230xW140cm
Height: 100cm
Waterproofing: 70D flysheet with 3,000mm Hydrostatic head; waterproof PE groundsheet
User review score: 4 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Super-fast to pitch
+
Bright guy lines for visibility
+
Lightweight to carry on site

Reasons to avoid

-
Not much storage room
-
Tiny windows

If you want a cheap pop-up tent for hitting a music-fuelled long weekender, this is a great option. There are two ways to play the Regatta Malawi Pop Up Tent: share it and get cosy with your significant other, or sleep solo and have more room for your festival kit. 

It’s easy to pop open and comes with bright guy lines so you shouldn’t trip over them, unless you’ve been downing more Jäger than Tommy Lee. Peg out that base too, otherwise you’ll see it flying merrily down the field.

As a single-layer tent, you can expect some condensation in the mornings, but it’s waterproof enough to keep the heavens out. Overall, if you have a small budget and short fuse for camping gear, the Regatta Malawi Pop Up Tent makes festival camping easier on you and your bank balance.

Best for bad weather

Best festival tents: Coleman Tent Coastline 3 Plus

(Image credit: Coleman)

3. Coleman 3+ Coastline Tent

The best festival tent for wet weather camping

Specifications

Sleeps: Three people
Weight: 7.2kg
Dimensions: 272.2 x 28 x 24 cm (66 x 18 x 18 cm)
Height: 140cm
Waterproofing: 3,000mm Hydrostatic head
User review score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Superb price for the tech
+
Roof vents keep it cool
+
Three doors and large mesh windows

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy for its size

This is a fantastic festival tent for the price and the best choice for anyone looking to camp long after the festivals have called last orders. We think it’s more durable and waterproof than the Decathlon Tent at the n.1 spot on our list, but it’s heavier and pricier, though spacious for three people.

If you tend to feel claustrophobic in tents, definitely go with the Coleman 3+ Coastline. It has three doors, large mesh windows and roof vents to maximise airflow. The storage area doubles as a porch for setting up chairs and your loudest Bluetooth speaker.

There’s a great waterproof rating here too, matching the Vango below, with a ‘dry-setup’ structure ensuring the inner section stays dry if you have the misfortune of pitching up in the rain. In short, the Coleman 3+ Coastline Tent is an excellent festival tent to see you through many summers.

Best for families

Best festival tents: Vango Carron 400 4 Man Tent

(Image credit: Vango)

4. Vango Carron 400 4 person tent

A reliable festival tent for families and small groups

Specifications

Sleeps: Four people
Weight: 7.7kg
Dimensions: 260 x 385cm (pack size L65.0 x H27.0 x W27.0cm)
Height: 190cm
Waterproofing: 3,000mm Hydrostatic head
User review score: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Fully waterproof
+
Blackout bedrooms
+
Compact when packed down

Reasons to avoid

-
Tight squeeze for four

If Vango was a headline act, it would be Metallica – these tents are built to see some heavy duty action and survive. This is the best festival tent for three to four adults (four is super-cosy), or for two adults and two kids. 

The Vango Carron 400 is waterproof and breathable, with a well-sized bedroom boasting standing height for folks up to 5ft 11in. The bedroom also features the brand’s Nightfall material tech to keep your sleep space cool and dark, with large mesh vents encouraging airflow.

Vango has designed the Carron 400 to be fast to erect, with colour-coded fibreglass poles guiding you through the process. There’s also a small porch for extra storage, with lantern hanging points for camping lights.

Best for big groups

Best festival tents: Coleman Blackout Octagon 8 Tent

(Image credit: Coleman)

5. Coleman Blackout Octagon Tent

The best festival tent for camping with your entire crew

Specifications

Sleeps: Eight people
Weight: 20.60kg
Dimensions: 396 x 396cm (pack size 85 x 32 x 28cm)
Height: 208cm
Waterproofing: 2,000mm Hydrostatic head; PE welded and integrated groundsheet
User review score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Blackout bedrooms
+
Bug mesh keeps nasties out
+
Can be opened up for 360 views
+
Room divider for privacy

Reasons to avoid

-
Takes a while to pitch

The Coleman Blackout Octagon Tent is one of the heaviest picks in our best festival tents guide because it’s also one of the biggest. Courtesy of flysheet curtains, it also transforms from blackout tent to one with 360 views of the bogroll-strewn campsite.

Blackout material sees off the worst of the sun and keeps the tent up to five degrees cooler, with room for six people to crash down the middle and one on each side.

You may have a tough time storing lots of bags in the Coleman Blackout Octagon Tent when at max sleeping capacity though, so either pack light or strip back your crew to gain more in-tent storage. When it’s time to pack down, stuff the tent into the wheeled carry bag and roll it off-site.

Best for easy pitching

Best festival tents: HeimPlanet Original The Cave Inflatable Tent

(Image credit: HeimPlanet)

6. HeimPlanet Original The Cave Inflatable Tent

The best easy-to-pitch inflatable festival tent with excellent waterproofing

Specifications

Sleeps: Two to three people
Weight: 4.8kg
Dimensions: 54 square feet (pack size 40 x 33 x 22.8cm)
Height: 102cm
Waterproofing: 5,000mm Hydrostatic head
User review score: 4 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Inflates in 10-15 minutes
+
Pitched using just one valve
+
Rolls up like a sleeping bag

Reasons to avoid

-
Vents can’t be closed from the inside

The Heimplanet Original Cave is an icon in the world of camping and one of the first inflatable tents to hit the market. It has since transitioned to the world of luxury festival tents thanks to its sheer ease of use – it has a one-pump system, meaning the entire tent is inflated from one valve.

The waterproofing is excellent, and the Heimplanet Original Cave is also the best festival tent for withstanding wind speeds of up to 110mph. The only bugbear is that the five vents can’t be closed from the inside.

Five rain drains in the roof ensure good water run-off, with several sewn-in pockets and a tent vestibule serving up storage space for up to three people. Two would sleep the comfiest in here though.

Best inflatable tent for families

Best festival tents: Eurohike Genus 400 Air Tent

(Image credit: Eurohike)

7. Eurohike Genus 400 Air Tent

The best inflatable tent for festivals and family camping

Specifications

Sleeps: Four people
Weight: 9.8kg
Dimensions: 80 x 250cm (pack size 73 x 35 x 28cm)
Height: 190cm
Waterproofing: 3,000mm Hydrostatic head
User review score: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

+
Inflates in 15 minutes
+
Fully waterproof
+
Spacious living areas

Reasons to avoid

-
Reports of ‘gappy’ groundsheets

Eurohike is another big name in the camping world and we have spotted many of its inflatable tents dotted around UK campsites. The Eurohike Genus 400 Air Tent is a festival tent favourite because its cheap in relation to the air tech, the quality of features and the spaciousness.

Check the camping guidelines of the festival you plan on attending first to make sure you can pitch a tent of this size. Get the green light and you’ll be staying in a home-from-home with the Genus 400 Air Tent. It has separate bedroom, living and porch areas, with lantern hanging points throughout. 

It doesn’t offer the panoramic views you get with the Coleman Octagon festival tent, but it does have large windows to give the tent an airy feel. And like the Heimplanet Cave, it’s easy to inflate in around 15 minutes. 

Best Festival tents: Buying advice

Best festival tents: Four people drinking beer in front of their tents

(Image credit: Getty)

How to buy the best festival tent for your budget

When shopping for a festival tent, it’s tempting to go straight for the cheapest option – and in our current cost of living crisis, some of us have no choice on that front. But you can still get decent features from a cheaper tent, as the waterproof

proves.

Think about how many people will be sleeping in the tent and how much baggage everyone will have, especially if you’re taking lots of kit with you. If there are two of you plus bags, beer coolers and more, for example, consider a two-person-plus or a three-person tent. That way you get ample sleep and storage space.

When choosing the best festival tent for you, we’d recommend looking out for the following features:

  • Blackout bedrooms to diffuse bright early morning sunlight
  • A 3000mm hydrostatic head (fully waterproof)
  • Built-in storage pockets to keep your tent tidy
  • At least one window to let in light when required
  • Ventilation to boost airflow
  • Bright guy lines that are easy to spot
  • A small vestibule for storing festival kit

If you have budget for a mid-range festival tent, you’ll have plenty of choice from top-rated brands including Vango, Decathlon and Coleman. There are some great tunnel and dome tents available this year, and you can expect to pay around $140/£120 for one of the best festival tents in this price bracket.

For luxury festival camping or a no-nonsense approach to pitching a tent, choose an inflatable festival tent. These take around 15-20 minutes to inflate on average, and all the hard work is done for you – just peg out the base. Rolling them up again to fit in the carry bag can be tricky though.

How we choose the best festival tents

Here at Louder, we are music lovers and experts in our field, with many years of music listening and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products when selecting the recommendations for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best festival tents available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are music fans, and we want others to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set and ease of use to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best festival tents on the market right now.

Claire Davies

During her tenure as a Total Guitar staffer and later as a freelance music journalist, Claire has attended her fair share of festivals and has camped out at most (there may have been the odd hotel stay). Claire was also the Outdoors Editor for Louder’s sister site T3, where she was in charge of hunting down the best tents for all camping scenarios.

With contributions from