We stock shelters for just about every way you like to sleep outdoors, from a featherweight backpacking tent to a four-season basecamp. The trouble is, "which tent?" is never really a question about tents. It's a question about you. How far are you carrying it? How many of you are there? And how grim is the weather likely to get?
So instead of marching you through twenty product pages, we've sorted our entire tent range into the four jobs they actually do. Find the bit that sounds like your kind of trip, and you'll have a shortlist in about a minute. Tap any tent to see full specs and the current price on its product page.
A quick note before we dive in: every tent here is chosen for real-world reliability in wet UK weather.
First, three things worth knowing
You'll see these crop up throughout, so here's the plain-English version:
- Packed weight is what actually goes on your back. Under about 2kg is genuinely backpackable; 1kg-and-change is excellent for a solo tent.
- Hydrostatic head (HH) is how waterproof the fabric is, in millimetres. 1,500mm is the accepted minimum for a "waterproof" tent; 5,000mm shrugs off a Dartmoor downpour without blinking. There's a fuller explanation in the tent collection FAQ.
- Season rating tells you when it copes. 3-season handles spring through autumn; 4-season adds the strength and warmth for winter wind and snow.
Right, on to the tents.
1. Going light and fast: backpacking & wild camping
This is the heartland of the range. If you're carrying everything on two feet (or on a bike), weight and pack size beat all other considerations.
The Highlander Blackthorn Gen2 range is where most people should start looking. The Blackthorn 1 is a properly light solo tent; the Blackthorn 1+ gives you a touch more room to sit up and store kit; and the Blackthorn 2 sleeps two (or one with luxurious sprawl) without leaping in weight. All three come in subtle green or HMTC camo, which the field-use and cadet crowd appreciate.
If you want a roomier, more refined backpacking pitch, the Vango Nevis range steps things up. The Nevis 100, 200 and 300 are lightweight, well-finished and easy to live in. And the Vango Soul 300 is a lot of three-person tent if you're sharing the carry.
| Tent | Sleeps | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Highlander Blackthorn 1 Gen2 | 1 | The lightest, simplest way in |
| Highlander Blackthorn 1+ Gen2 | 1 | A bit more breathing room |
| Highlander Blackthorn 2 Gen2 | 2 | Sharing without the weight |
| Vango Nevis 200 | 2 | Refined two-person trekking |
The honest trade-off: these tents win on weight and pack size, not on living space or storm-proofing. For most three-season UK trips that's exactly the right compromise. But if you regularly camp high, exposed or in winter, read on.
2. When the weather means business: four-season shelters
If your idea of a good time involves mountain weather, winter nights or simply never having to worry about the forecast, this is your section. These tents weigh a little more, and they earn it.
The Snugpak Scorpion IX range is the serious end of what we stock. Both the Scorpion 2 (two-person) and the Scorpion 3 (three-person) are genuine four-season tents with a hefty 5,000mm hydrostatic head, a fly-first pitch so the inner stays dry while you set up in the rain, and a low, wind-shedding profile. The Scorpion 3 keeps its trail weight to a remarkable 2.93kg for a tent this capable.
New to the line-up, the Snugpak Bunker IX is a tough three-person dome built for sitting out bad weather at a fixed camp.
| Tent | Sleeps | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| Snugpak Scorpion 2 IX | 2 | 4-season, 5,000mm HH |
| Snugpak Scorpion 3 IX | 3 | 4-season at just 2.93kg |
| Snugpak Bunker IX | 3 | Rugged dome basecamp |
The honest trade-off: this is more tent than a summer festival or a fair-weather weekend needs. If you're not actually heading into hostile conditions, a three-season tent will serve you better and lighter. But when the weather turns, nothing here will let you down.
3. Solo, low-profile and discreet: bivvi shelters & one-person tents
Sometimes you want the smallest, lightest, least conspicuous way to get a roof over your head. Bivvi shelters and hooped solo tents are made for fast-and-light overnighters, wild camping where you'd rather not be seen, and field use.
The Highlander Falcon Bivvy Tent is the easy gateway here, a waterproof, low-slung solo shelter that packs down tiny. The Snugpak Stratosphere takes the same idea up a level with a 5,000mm HH and Snugpak's bombproof build quality.
If you'd like a little more structure than a true bivvi, the Snugpak Ionosphere IX is a superb lightweight one-person tent, while Highlander's Refuge and Respite 1 hooped and tunnel designs offer a comfortable solo pitch.
| Shelter | Type | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| Highlander Falcon Bivvy | Bivvi | Smallest pack, simplest setup |
| Snugpak Stratosphere | Bivvi | Premium, 5,000mm HH |
| Snugpak Ionosphere IX | 1P tent | More room, 5,000mm HH |
| Highlander Refuge | 1P hooped | Comfortable solo space |
The honest trade-off: space. A bivvi keeps you dry and hidden, but you won't be sitting up to brew a coffee out of the rain. If headroom matters to you, a one-person hooped or tunnel tent is the happy medium.
4. Easy camping, festivals & family weekends
Not every trip is an expedition. If you're driving to a pitch, camping with the family or seeing out a festival, comfort and quick setup beat gram-counting.
The Vango range is your friend here. The Tay 200 is a simple, cheerful two-person dome; the Soul 300 and Beta 350XL give three people room to spread out, with the Beta adding generous porch space for boots and bags. For a roomy two-person trek-and-camp tent, the Highlander Respite 2 and its Extended version are well worth a look.
The honest trade-off: these are built for comfort over carrying. Lovely to live in, just not what you want strapped to your back on a long trek.
Still not sure? Answer three quick questions
- Are you carrying it far on foot or by bike? Yes: start in section 1 or 3. No: section 4.
- Will you camp in winter or seriously exposed spots? Yes: section 2. No: a three-season tent saves you weight.
- Solo or sharing? Solo and want minimal: section 3. Sharing: look at the 2- and 3-person options throughout.
Don't forget the rest of your sleep system
A great tent is only one third of a good night out. Pair it with a sleeping bag rated for the season, a sleeping mat with a suitable R-value, and a footprint to protect the groundsheet and extend your tent's life. A few spare pegs never go amiss either.
Browse the full tents and shelters collection to see every option and its current price. And if you're still torn between two, drop us a line. We actually use this kit, and we're always happy to help you pick the right one.