What a summer tent is
A summer tent is made for warm, settled weather. It lets air through, it is quick to pitch and it is light to carry, and in July that matters more than a snow skirt or a heavy flysheet. The tents in this range are filed by their own descriptions: they say they are for summer camping or the beach, they are single layer, or they are mesh tents. Many give a sun-protection rating as well: several of the single-layer tents here state UPF 30+, and one pop-up beach tent UPF 50+.
The kinds in this range
- Single-layer camping tents are one waterproof skin on light poles. The Ultralight Camping Tent here weighs 1000g in its 1-person size and 1200g for two. See single layer tents.
- Pop-up beach tents and sun shelters open from the bag, for shade on the sand or in the park. See beach tents and sun shelters.
- Mesh tents keep insects off on a warm night, including a mosquito net tent that fits over a single bed. See mosquito nets.
- Single-layer pyramid and tipi shelters stand on one pole: a pyramid tent for one or two, and a 270cm tipi with a net weight of 1.5kg. See pyramid tents.
Airflow, shade and the morning sun
On a hot night the problem is heat and damp, not rain. Look for mesh doors and windows on both sides, so a breeze can pass straight through, and pitch with a door facing the wind. A tent in full sun heats up fast after dawn, so a pitch where trees or a hedge shade it in the morning makes for a longer sleep. For the beach, the UPF rating says how much of the sun's ultraviolet the fabric blocks: the higher the number, the more it blocks.
Single or double layer
A double-layer tent has a breathable inner tent under a waterproof flysheet. The gap lets the moisture you breathe out escape, so less condensation drips on your sleeping bag, and the flysheet makes the porch. A single-layer tent is one waterproof skin: lighter and quicker to pitch, but damp inside on a cold, still night. Most of the summer tents here are single layer, which is why they are light and quick to pitch. See double layer and single layer tents.
Questions people ask about summer tents
Are summer tents waterproof?
Many will keep off a shower, but check the rating on each one. The hexagonal pop-up family tent here, for example, is rated 1,000 to 1,500mm, which suits dry weekends and summer showers rather than a wet week. See tents by waterproof rating.
Can I use a summer tent in spring or autumn?
On a dry, mild weekend, yes. On a cold, still night a single skin gets damp inside and a mesh tent lets the warmth out, so for spring and autumn trips a 3-season tent is the better buy.
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.
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