Note: As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualifying purchases.
Welcome to our best 6 person tent test 2020. In this guide, we present all the “6 person tents” that we have tested. We have put together detailed background information and also added a summary of customer reviews online.
We want to make the buying decision easier for you and help you find the best 6 person tent.
You can also find answers to the frequently asked questions in our guide.
1. Dome or igloo tent
This design has the advantage that it can also stand without pegs. Without anchoring, you should ensure that protection from the wind is ensured by having enough weight in the form of luggage or equipment inside. A frame made of two diagonal arches forms the basic construction. Dome tents are ideal for protecting against weather-dependent loads such as snow or storms.
Pros
- Option to stand without pegs
- Good stability
- Easily fit small areas
Cons
- Weighs heavy
- Limited use of space
2. Tunnel tent
As the name suggests, the tunnel tent is shaped like a tube. Several parallel pole arches span the tent skin. In order for the construct to remain in place, pegs are essential. Nevertheless, transverse wind can impair stability.
Pros
- Light weight
- Good use of space
- Easy construction
Cons
- Can flutter in the wind
- Bracing always necessary
3. Geodesic tent
Three or more pole arches above the base make the geodesic tent extremely stable and windproof. The hemispherical construct can also stand without pegs if the weather permits. Its name comes from the so-called geodetic line, which describes the shortest connection between two points on a curved surface.
Pros
- Stable in a storm
- Good use of space
- Stands without bracing
Cons
- Long assembly / dismantling time
- Mostly heavy
4. Ridge tent
Ridge tents are rectangular and resemble a house with a gable roof. The production, which is easy to assemble, requires little storage space but has the disadvantage that the space inside is poorly used because of the sloping roof. Pegs are absolutely necessary for the tent to stand at all.
Pros
- Easy assembly and disassembly
- Compact
- Little weight
Cons
- Absolutely needs pegs
- Bad use of space
- Sensitive to wind
5. House tent or a steep wall tent
The big plus with house tents is the 100% use of space thanks to the high walls. They offer the luxury of standing upright. This comfort has its price, which is paid for with a heavy weight and very little resistance to gusts. However, this construction can be very suitable for longer or frequent camping holidays.
Pros
- Very spacious and comfortable
- Versatile usage options
- Replaces motorhome or holiday home
- Stand comfortably inside
Cons
- Heavy weight
- Little wind stability
- Long assembly and dismantling time
Due to their size and the room layout, steep wall tents not only serve as a spacious sleeping place but also as a lounge.
6. Pyramid tent or tipi
A pyramid tent is round or has a four-, six- or octagonal basic shape. The construct is held in place by a pole set up in the middle, other poles that extend from the middle to the floor, and pegs.
Pros
- Headroom in the middle
- Some models allow cooking inside
- Quick assembly and disassembly
Cons
- Mostly difficult
- Small interior volume
The traditional shape of the pyramid tents enables its residents to light a fire in the middle, which can be used for cooking or as a heat source. The opening in the top of the tent can be opened and used as a smoke outlet and ventilation. These tipis are usually very heavy. For even more stability, you can attach your tipi tent to a branch at the top.
The essentials for camping
- Family tents for 6 people are ideal as holiday accommodation. Some are so spacious that they can replace a caravan or motor home. Several cabins divide the tent into different rooms, which gives the residents privacy.
- A 6-person tent can be packed together to save space and is therefore easy to transport or compactly stowed away when not in use.
- The purpose and the area of use play a major role in choosing the right 6-man tent. The material, the water column and the tent floor should be selected according to the use.
Advice: Questions to consider before buying a 6 man tent
Who is a 6 person tent suitable for?
A six-person tent is suitable for families with several children or for a group. There is a suitable model for every type of outdoor overnight stay. If you like to spend your holidays at the campsite or by the lake, a spacious tent can replace the caravan, mobile home or holiday apartment.
But 6-person tents are also suitable for summer camps, excursions with the boy scouts, for festivals and open airs or simply for the garden at home.
Which tent suits my needs?
First, you should think about how often and for how long you want to use your mobile home. This question determines the size of the tent. It is also important whether you need a particularly robust design or whether a cheap 6-person tent meets your requirements.
A cheap tent is sufficient for short or one-off assignments. However, if you plan to use your tent for many years and for several days or weeks at a time, it is worth investing in a more expensive and well-made model. In this case, pay attention to the durability of the materials used.
Which tent is suitable for which holiday destination?
Think about what kind of weather is most likely to prevail at your holiday destination and choose the tent material accordingly.
A tent should defy the following elements:
-
- wind
- Wetness
- UV rays
Some models are designed for heat and others for wetness. Different materials provide an answer to each of these natural conditions.
If you intend to spend your summer camping in the Mediterranean or in other dry and hot areas, then make sure that the coating of your 6 man tent has good UV resistance. It is also important that your new purchase has adequate ventilation. Choose a model with a shade sail so you can sit outside in the shade on sunny days.
If you prefer to go to the lake on your vacation or to the slightly rainy north, make sure that your camping tent is water-resistant and that your camping tent has mosquito nets.
On the Atlantic coast, for example, it is often windy, which is why you should make sure that your 6-person tent is stable. Use nylon or cotton, as these materials make less noise when moving than polyester.
Rely on testimonials from other camping enthusiasts. A tent is best tested in practice.
Decision: What kind of 6-man tent is there and which one is right for me?
The shape of the tent results from the carrying system of the poles and the tension with the tent skin. The structure plays a big role in the stability. A distinction is made between the following tent types (listed above):
- Dome or igloo tent
- Tunnel tent
- Geodesic tent
- Ridge tent
- House or steep wall tent
- Pyramid tent or teepee
Purchase criteria: You can use these factors to compare and rate 6 person tents.
A whole range of experienced manufacturers of camping equipment offer the right product for everyone, from cheap tents with a simple design to high-tech materials with top processing.
The comparison of the following criteria will help you decide on the ideal family tent:
- Water column
- Headroom
- Transport
- Sleeping cabins
- Tent skin material
- Thread size
- Weaves
- Coating
- Tent floor
- Linkage
Water column
The indication of the height of the water column provides information about how resistant the 6-person tent is to water. To determine this property, manufacturers test the fabric by filling a column of water, for example, two meters high, and observing whether the material can withstand the pressure and remains tight.
The height of the water column is a good indicator for comparing coatings. It does not determine whether the camping dwelling does not let water through even in continuous rain. Pay attention to the processing of the seams, because these are a weak point in wet weather.
A water column of 1500mm or more corresponds to the attribute “waterproof”. With increasing age and with frequent exposure to the sun, this value steadily decreases in plastic tents due to the wear and tear of the tent skin coating due to friction and exposure to sunlight.
Headroom
Being able to stand upright in a tent is a luxury. Especially during longer stays or in travel areas with bad weather, you will be happy if you can stretch yourself. The dressing is also more comfortable when the tent has a standing height.
If you and your companions use the tent primarily for sleeping, a shorter model will do a good job.
Transport
Before buying a 6 person tent, inquire about the packaging dimensions and check whether your vehicle is spacious enough to accommodate the tent.
Some particularly heavy, large, robust models can be delivered directly with a trailer. However, you can also buy a trailer for your tent separately or have it made. Another option for transport when there is insufficient space inside the car is a roof box.
Sleeping cabins
Tents for 6 people are available with one, two or three sleeping cabins. This is where it depends
- how much privacy you and your companions need
- how many days at a time the tent is used and
- which equipment should be placed in the inner tent
Also consider that if you are staying for a longer period of time, it might be worthwhile to add a 6 person tent for 4 people. A cabin can act as storage space.
Models with a spacious room are practical and serve as a lounge. Especially in bad weather, this is ideal for the whole family to linger.
Tent skin material
A large tent consists of an outer and inner tent. The outer tent is exposed to more stress and should therefore be functionally coated. The following table shows the three most commonly used types of textile polyester, nylon and cotton and their properties:
| Polyester | Nylon | Cotton | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | medium | low | high |
| Tear resistance | high | high | low |
| Stretching when wet | high | no | low |
| Rotting | no | no | medium |
| UV resistance | high | low | high |
| Drying time | fast | fast | slowly |
| Breathability | low | low | high |
| Noise level in wind | high | low | low |
Polyester
For the 70 – 80 g / m2 relatively light polyester, there are several types of coating that improve the material. A PU coating promotes the repelling of water and extremely fast drying. With a silicone coating, the water rolls off even more and does not even penetrate into the textile fabric.
Nylon
At 60 – 70 g / m2, nylon is the lightest material. Various names such as nylon taffeta or rip-stop nylon describe the type and strength of the chemical threads sewn together. You can find out more about this under the next point on weaving types.
Cotton
The traditional material for building tents is cotton. When rainwater is absorbed, the cotton fibres swell, which makes the tent waterproof. A cotton tent is tight until something from inside touches or presses against the soaked tent wall.
Because of its comparatively higher sensitivity, pure cotton is used less and less as tent cloth. Thanks to high-tech processing, the cotton remains in the running despite its high weight due to its positive properties such as UV resistance and breathability. Often, fabrics are mixed to improve functionality.
When it comes to the material, always pay attention to the coating and the weave of the textiles on your tent, because they affect the functionality.
Thread size – Best 6 Person Tent
Two units of measurement will help you assess the quality of the fabric used. The strength of the individual threads of the chemical textile used is measured with a denier (D). Threadcount (T) is used for the number of interwoven threads per square inch.
Take a look at the following examples so you can get an idea:
- 70D / 190T: proven fabric for outer tents
- 70D / 210T: reinforced variant of the outer tent for tent floors
- 40D / 230T: low thread weight / more threads is suitable for very light tents
The higher the two values, the more tear-resistant, robust and heavier your 6-person tent will be.
Weaves – Best 6 Person Tent
Oxford is the name for a strong cotton fabric, which is worked with a special weaving technique. It shimmers slightly and takes its name from the English city of the same name.
So-called rip-stop seams in polyester and nylon fabrics provide additional strength. These warp threads are sewn in at short intervals of 5 to 8 mm. The processing prevents the nylon from stretching when wet and increases the tear resistance. If the outer tent is damaged, the fabric only gapes to the next ripstop barrier.
Coating – Best 6 Person Tent
The coating can consist of the following materials:
- Polyurethane / PU
- silicone
- acrylic
- Silver coating
The coating is a very important factor that can influence your purchase decision. Therefore we would like to introduce the materials in the table below.
| material | properties |
|---|---|
| Polyurethane | Very elastic and cold-resistant and good insulation properties. 100% waterproof with PU-based seam sealing |
| silicone | Tear resistance and high UV resistance. But it can’t keep up with isolation. No complete sealing of the seams. |
| acrylic | Inexpensive. Little durability and low elasticity. Relatively low water columns |
| Silver coating | Polyurethane or acrylic with silver pigments. Greater darkening inside and better heat reflection |
Tent floor – Best 6 Person Tent
Manufacturers use water columns of up to 10,000mm for tent floors. There is a good reason for this, because the load and wear and tear are correspondingly higher than with the tent skin.
In addition to PU, polyethylene is suitable, which makes the floor resistant to abrasion and mold. Another extremely tough fabric is PVC. This heavy material is characterized by its waterproofness and its robustness.
Felt mats are included in the scope of delivery for some tents. These can be rolled up and stowed away in the inner tent as soon as construction is complete. They cushion and level out bumps under the tent.
Linkage
When it comes to the linkage, factors such as stability, durability and flexibility should be taken into account. The following three materials are used as shoring:
- Steel frame: very stable and durable, but heavy
- Aluminum frame: very light (50% lighter than steel), stable and durable
- Fiberglass poles: very elastic, inexpensive and light (heavier than aluminum)
Depending on the shape of the tent, the requirements for the material of the supporting structure differ. If you are looking for a particularly light tent, opt for aluminum.
Trivia: Interesting facts about tent maintenance
How do I care for my 6 man tent before the tour?
In order to check your tent for damaged areas and missing parts, ideally, you set it up before your trip. Repair holes and tears with repair tape and make zips slip again with silicone. Also, check the poles and pegs for functionality.
What should you watch out for when using the 6-person family tent?
Before you pitch your tent on as level a surface as possible, remove stones or other sharp objects. Work with the instructions and handle the material carefully. Then find suitable places where you can anchor the pegs. When the tent is in the shade, it is protected from UV rays, which is gentle on the coating.
Always stow the tent cover and unneeded parts in the same place so that you can find them again when you need them.
You shouldn’t do these things to your tent:
- Pack the tent wet. If there is no other option, dry it at the next opportunity.
- Do not brace the tent enough. Flapping in the wind can cause damage.
- Never put stones on your tent. If you need this extra protection, place the stones on top of the pegs instead.
- Never cook in a closed tent.
- Don’t forget to ventilate! Condensation can form and moisture gets into the tent.
What kind of treatment does my 6 person tent need after a camping holiday?
Tents should always be cleaned by hand and never in the washing machine. A soft sponge and warm water will help remove dirt. Aggressive cleaning agents damage the coating and the fibres.
It is very important that the tent is completely dry before moving back into the cellar or the screed. Otherwise, mould or corrosion can form in damp areas, which can lead to material damage and impair functionality.