4-Man Tents

What a 4-man tent really fits

The number on a tent's label is the number of sleeping mats that fit side by side on the floor, with nothing else inside. A 4-man tent sleeps four close together: four adults for a night or two, or a couple and two children with some room left over. For a family staying a week, with bags, a cool box and somewhere to sit when it rains, look at the 5-man and 6-man tents, or a tent with a living area in family tents.

Pop-up, inflatable, tipi or dome: which 4-man tent

• Pop-up and instant tents are the biggest group here. They go up fast, which matters with children waiting. See pop-up tents and instant and automatic tents.
• Inflatable tents use air beams in place of poles, blown up with a pump. See inflatable air tents.
• Tipi and pyramid tents stand on one centre pole with plenty of headroom, and several take a stove for cold weather. See tipi tents.
• Dome tents stand on their own before you peg them, and are steady in wind. See dome tents.

The porch and the living space

With four people inside, the porch earns its keep. It is where boots, wet coats and bags go, so they stay out of the sleeping area. A bigger porch or a separate living area gives somewhere to sit and eat out of the rain; the cooking itself is done outside, away from the tent. See tents with a porch and one bedroom and living room tents.

What the waterproof rating means on a 4-man tent

The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks, tested to BS EN ISO 811. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof, most lightweight flysheets are 1,500mm to 3,000mm, and more is worth having for long wet trips or a family tent left up for days. The groundsheet is often rated higher, because you kneel and lie on it. Taped seams matter as much as the number. Shop by rating: to 2,000mm, to 3,000mm and 5,000mm and over.

Questions people ask about 4-man tents

Will four adults fit in a 4-man tent?

Yes, shoulder to shoulder, with bags in the porch. For four adults staying more than a night or two, a 5-man or 6-man tent is far more comfortable.

Which 4-man tents are for winter?

A 4-season tent: stronger poles, and a snow skirt round the bottom of the flysheet to stop wind and snow blowing underneath. See 4-season tents, and hot tents with a stove jack for tents that take a stove. Never take a barbecue or a stove without a flue into a tent: carbon monoxide kills. With a hot tent, use its own kind of stove and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Is a 4-man tent heavy?

It depends on the kind. The light pyramid tents here weigh under 2kg, while pop-up, inflatable and canvas tents weigh a good deal more and are made to go in the car. Each product page gives the weight where the maker states it.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• 3-man tents
• 5-man tents
• Family tents
• Pop-up tents
• Inflatable air tents
• Tents with a porch
• Guide: Tent sizes explained