Coleman Rigel X2

Sleeps:  2 (allegedly)
Weight:  980g
Dimensions:  Internal 230x140cm (at the widest point)
Pack Size:  53x20x5cm
RRP:  £110

Review:  The Coleman Rigel X2 is the lightest tent in the Coleman range.  However, despite the 140cm width at the widest point, the shape of the tent means that it narrows quickly towards the foot-end, and as such it is very tricky to squeeze two normal sized people into this tent.  There are, however, lots of positives about this tent.  The weight is miniscule, especially considering the budget price - to get a quality tent that is both less than 1kg and less than £60 is pretty incredible.  The tent is easy to erect, and packs away into the groundsheet with a clever packing system.  As with all Coleman tents, the poles are colour coded (although you don't need it with this one!) and there are reflective strips to help you find the tent in the dark.  Whilst not ideal for poor weather conditions, as a very lightweight option for spring-summer backpacking this is a good budget option.

Best bits:  Incredible price for a <1kg tent
Worst bits:  Not a two-person tent unless you are willing to be packed together all night
Alternatives:  The Force 10 Helium 200 is a little heavier, but a little bigger and much better at withstanding poor weather conditions.

RRP:  £110
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here - £57.50

Vango Icarus range

Vango Icarus 400
Sleeps: 4
Weight: 11.25kg
Dimensions: Sleeping area 240x210cm max height 150cm, External space 260x210cm max height 160cm

Pack size: 70x30x20

RRP:  £185



Vango Icarus 500
Sleeps: 5
Weight: 13.7kg
Dimensions: Sleeping area 280x210cm max height 185cm. External space 315x260cm max height 195cm

Pack size: 70x32x28cm

RRP:  £220


Vango Icarus 600
Sleeps: 6
Weight: 16.8kg
Dimensions: Sleeping area 360x210cm max height 190cm. External space 390x250cm max height 200cm
Pack size: 71x36x28
RRP:  £270

Review: The Vango Icarus is one of the best selling ranges of group tents on the market, and it's not hard to see why.  For a reasonable price you get quality materials, plenty of space and a tent that is easy to put up and take down.  As with all large tents, the care you take when erecting is the biggest determinant of how well it handles in high winds, but the tunnel design does appear to give the Vango Icarus more stability, albeit at the expense of headroom towards the edges of the tent.  As is often the case with large Vango tents, the 500 model is substantially bigger than the 400 model for only a little extra cost.  For around £20 more, you get six feet of height rather than five feet (being able to stand up straight is a huge bonus) and an extra 50cm of length to the external area, which makes accommodating a few camping chairs much easier. A move up to the 600 gives you 80cm of width throughout for a further £25 or so.  On the downside, the max sleeping length on all the tents is 210cm (if used in the recommended orientation), which is a bit stingy for larger tents, particularly if a group of taller people are sharing the tent. Also, the Vango Icarus range does suffer more from condensation issues than some of the more expensive tents, but it's not really a big problem.  In short, a great group tent at a reasonable price, but go for the 500 over the 400 if you can afford the extra.

Best bits:  Good quality materials from a great manufacturer for a reasonable price, lighter weight than some group tents
Worst bits:  The Icarus 400 is relatively small, internal length is 210cm throughout the range
Alternatives:   The Vango Orchy range is a little more expensive, but has a more stable structure and more length on the 500 and 600 models.

Where to get them cheaper?:  Icarus 400 - £129 here, Icarus 500 - £150 here, Icarus 600 - £174 here

Coleman Phad X2 2011

Sleeps: 2
Weight:  3.45kg
Dimensions:  Internal 210x140cm
Pack size:  42x17x17cm
RRP:  £179

Read our review of dome tents here!

Review:  The new Coleman Phad X2 is a good tent for the price range.  The semi-geodesic structure and 14 anchor points ensure excellent stability and wind-resistance, and the 4000mm hydrostatic head on the polyester ripstop flysheet is higher than most two-person tents at this price, so you should stay comfortable whatever the weather.  The one drawback for this tent is the weight, which at 3.5kg is getting towards heavy for one person to carry over long distances, but split between two you should have no problem.  Space inside the tent is moderate, with 210cm of length potentially a problem for very tall campers, and width that varies from 140cm to 120cm - so easily enough room for two (a standard double bed in the UK is 135cm).  As with all geodesic or semi-geodesic structures, the tent is a little more tricky to put up than others, but after the first time you shouldn't have too much trouble.  A cracking little tent.

Best bits:  Weather-resistance, internal space, great price for this level of quality
Worst bits:  Somewhat short of length
Alternatives:  You could go a lot lighter with the Force 10 Helium 200.  Taller campers or those looking for a step up on the semi-geodesic ladder might consider the Marmot Grid.

RRP: £179
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £101

Robens Voyager 2

Sleeps: 2
Weight:  2.8kg
Dimensions:  Internal 220x130cm
Pack size:  50x19x19cm
RRP:  £170

Review:  The design of the Robens Voyager 2 is very similar to the Easy Camp Star 200, in fact at first glance you'd struggle to tell them apart.  This begs the question, why pay three times as much for the Robens? The simple answer is quality of materials.  The flysheet on the Robens is an impressive 5000mm hydrostatic head, compared to 2000 on the Star.  The seams and pole webbing is better and the eyelets for the pegs are thicker and more durable.  The internal dimensions are slightly bigger, with an extra 10cm of length, and a wider back end to the tent. So in short, this is a good choice for campers who don't need lightweight but who do want quality and decent weatherproofing.

Best bits:  Quality of materials, decent internal dimensions
Worst bits:  Hard to justify the increased price for an everyday two-person tent
Alternatives:  If you're not very tall, and just want something for summer camping, then go with the Easy Camp Star 200 instead and save plenty of pennies.

RRP: £170
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £127

Easy Camp Star 200

Sleeps: 2 (at a push)
Weight: 2.7kgs
Dimensions:  Internal 210x130cm
Pack size:  55x15x15cm
RRP:  £55

Review:  The Easy Camp Star 200 is a starter-tent for those new to camping, or for those looking for a budget tent for summer camping or festivals.  With just two poles it's easy to erect and the tunnel design gives it more stability than other budget two person tents.  The materials are good quality, but a hydrostatic head of 2000mm for the flysheet suggests the tent might struggle in extreme conditions.  On the downside, the internal dimension are very cosy - 210cm long means that tall people will struggle to stretch out, and 105cm wide at its narrowest is very tight for two people (but roomy for one).   For backpacking, this tent isn't heavy, and shared between two people it would only burden each as much as a one-person tent, but you'd need to be very good friends to share the small space.   A good budget option as a one-person base, or a couples' two-person backpacking solution.

Best bits:  Reasonable price, lightweight option for budget two-person tents
Worst bits:  Smaller than average internal dimensions, not suitable for two big people
Alternatives:  Tall people looking for a budget one-person tent should consider the Gelert Solo instead, for an extra 40cm of length and only 15cm less width.  For those looking for more space, the Easy Camp Eclipse 300 offers an extra 50-75cm of width for an extra few pounds.

RRP:  £55
Where to get it cheaper?:   Click here: £35.99

Terrra Nova Laser Photon 1

Sleeps: 1
Weight:  720g
Dimensions:  220x87cm
Pack size:  35x10x10cm
RRP:  £380

Review:  The incredibly lightweight pioneer from Terra Nova.  This tent was released in 2007, but it remains the industry-leading contender for lightweight camping.  At just 6cm narrower than the Terra Nova Laser Competition 1, this tent manages to shed a further 210g, without sacrificing stability or quality of materials. The pegs are titanium and the pole carbon fibre, which means you can still get a double-skin tent that weighs less than a pint of beer. On the downside, there is no extra length, so very tall campers may find it a bit cramped, but to be honest you are not buying this tent for comfort - you are buying this tent because you want something you can put in your rucksack and not even notice the addition.  It is, of course, expensive, but for those who can afford it and need to travel ultra-light there is nothing better.

Best bits:  Staggeringly light and still a proper double-skinned tent, the best lightweight tent on the market
Worst bits:  Expensive
Alternatives:  For lightweight camping, there are no alternatives.  If you're not lightweight camping and want extra comfort, then the Golite Eden is a good choice.

RRP: £380
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £265

Vango Aura 200

Sleeps: 2
Weight:  9.8kg
Dimensions:  Sleeping area 210x150cm, external 380x230cm
Pack Size: 61x26x22cm
RRP: £185

Review:  The Vango Aura 200 is a family/couples tent, suitable for general camping.  Relatively easy to erect, although the multiple criss-crossing poles can make it a little confusing the first time.  The tent is designed to have a very large external vestible under the flysheet, which is ideal for cooking and sheltering from the weather, but it does mean that the tent is heavy - 9.8kgs is not something you'd want to be taking with you when hiking.  The inner is spacious at 150cm wide so you don't have to be overly friendly with your co-tenter.  The quality of the tent is everything you'd expect from Vango - seams and webbing are excellent, and the materials for the flysheet, the inner and the groundsheet are top notch.   The RRP is a little on the high-side for an everyday tent, but shop around and you can find great offers (like we have below!)

Best bits:  A great tent for everyday camping, spacious and well-designed
Worst bits:  Heavy for a two-person tent

RRP:  £185
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £92

Golite Shangri-La One Person

Sleeps: 1
Weight:  555g
Dimensions:  Approx 250x75cm
Pack Size: 20x10x10cm without poles
RRP:  £125

Review:  The Golite Shangri-La One Person is cross between a tent and a tarp, in that the tent is essentially a flysheet pegged over a groundsheet recepticle (which bears a passing resemblance to a shallow paddling pool).  As a result the tent is very light at just over 500 grams all in, and (as with Golite products) is of sufficient quality to withstand serious adverse weather conditions.  The tent is suitable for taller people, as with decent length of the groundsheet, although the width at one end is getting towards the 'snug' end of the spectrum.  It has a fairly unique shape amongst one-person tents with a ridged pitch, rather than the usual arc-shaped structure, which means that whilst the absolute height is greater the risk of touching the fly-sheet also increases.  The flysheet and groundsheet structure means that the tent can let in the cold, so should be paired with a high-quality sleeping bag in bad weather. The only real negative is the price, at over £100 for a quality flysheet and groundsheet, but for real lightweight camping with quality materials, the Shangri-La should not be overlooked.

Best bits:  Very lightweight, good length, quality product
Worst bits:  Expensive for what is essentially a flysheet, a bit narrow at one end
Alternatives:  The Golite Eden is heavier, but an actual tent with bags of room; the Gelert Solo is a lot cheaper and does the job.

RRP: £125
Where to get it cheaper?:  Click here: £100

Gelert Solo One Man

Sleeps:  1
Weight: 1.5kgs
Dimensions: Internal 250cm x 90cm, External 270cm x 170cm
Pack size:  40cm x 15cm x15cm
RRP: £45

Review: The Gelert Solo One Man is a great low-budget option for wild-camping or mountain marathons.  Light enough to carry long distances without too much trouble, and whilst billed as a 'lightweight' tent, there are tents on the market that weigh half as much (or less!), but at around 5-10 times the price.  As easy to erect as any lightweight one-man, but the advertised 250cm internal length is misleading.  After erecting, the internal dimensions are very cosy, good for sleeping but useful for little else.  Very tall (or very wide!) campers might find the tent claustrophic, and the internal height is slightly less than some of the more expensive one-man lightweights.  As with all one-man tents, getting in and out of the tent can require some flexibility, and therefore is not recommended for those with any kind of mobility issues.  However, these flaws are minor and this tent is incredible value for money.

Best bits:  Very reasonable price for a good lightweight tent
Worst bits:  Can feel cramped inside
Alternatives?: None at this price

RRP:  £45
Where to get it cheaper:  Click here: £31.44

Golite Eden One Person

Sleeps: 1
Weight: 1.5kgs
Dimensions: Internal and External 96x254cm
Pack size: 50x10x10cm
RRP: £250

Review:  The Golite Eden One Person is a top-end lightweight tent that oozes quality in all respects.  The materials used for the inner, flysheet and groundsheet are all best-in-class, with excellent finishing on seams and webbing. Little touches like colour-coded poles and easy-to-push-in pegs speed up the time taken for assembly.  However, the best feature of this tent is the roominess and accessibility.  Whilst only a few cms wider, longer and higher than other one-man tents, the close alignment of the flysheet and the inner means that the Eden feels bigger and less claustrophobic than competitors, and users get to experience pretty much all of the 114cm of height.  As you'd expect for this price range, the tent is stable (especially with guys) even in pretty horrendous weather, and can serve as more than just a place to sleep, which is more than can be said for most one-man tents.  The biggest downside is the weight, which at 1.5kg is not going to break any backs, but is a lot heavier than the other top end options.  In short, an excellent roomy versatile one-man tent, but if lightweight is your thing, then you could save the best part of a kilogram with a less advanced tent.

Best bits: Roomiest one-man tent on the market, easy to assemble, quality product

Worst bits:  Heavier than the best one-mans, pricey

Alternatives?:  If you don't need the room, you could save a bit of money with a lighter tent such as the Force 10 Helium 100.

RRP: £250
Where to get it cheaper: Click here: £199