What a festival tent is
A festival tent is for two or three nights in a crowded field. You carry it from the car park, often a long way, and pitch it close to other people's tents, sometimes in the dark. So it needs to be light, quick to put up and easy to find again. It does not need to be big: most festival-goers sleep in it and live outside it, so leave the big family tent at home. The tents here are small, for one to four people.
Pop-up, light double-layer or a clear dome
- Pop-up tents open from the bag in moments. The 2–4 person pop-up here is made for camping, the beach and hiking. See pop-up tents.
- Light double-layer tents for one or two take a few minutes longer and keep you drier if it rains all weekend. See 2-man tents.
- Sun shelters such as the 2 person ultralight beach tent, about 925g, give shade by day. See sun shelters.
- A clear dome for two or three, 180 by 130cm and 160cm high, takes chairs or a camp bed. See bubble tents.
Pitching in a busy field
Festival fields fill fast, and guy lines between tents are what people trip over at night. Peg every line out tight, and choose a tent with reflective guy ropes if you can: some here have them. Pitch on the flattest, highest ground you can find, away from paths, so rain runs away from you and nobody walks through your lines at night. Pick a colour you will spot from a distance, and note something fixed near your pitch. Keep valuables with you rather than in the tent, and take the tent home again at the end.
Will it keep the rain out?
Check each product. The double-layer backpacking tent here has a 3,000mm flysheet and a 4,000mm floor, while one single-layer tent says it is water-resistant, made for sun and light rain. See tents waterproof to 3,000mm.
Questions people ask about festival tents
Is a pop-up tent good for a festival?
It is the quickest to pitch. Many pop-up tents fold to a flat disc rather than a small bag, so carry it on a strap over your shoulder.
What size festival tent do I need?
One size up from the number of people, so two friends take a 3-man tent and keep their bags inside. See 3-man tents.
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