So many tents, so little time. Here's a guide on how to choose the most suitable tent for your use depending on pax, weather conditions and more!
When you shop for a tent in our stores, our friendly Sports Leaders will usually ask if you are looking for a tent or a shelter.
They may seem similar in structure and function, but there are many intricate differences.
Check the weather forecast and campsite location before going camping. Weather can change quickly in the countryside and some exposed areas.
A durable, breathable, waterproof, and wind-resistant tent is essential for keeping you comfortable and safe when camping.
To make sure our tents are safe and comfortable for mountain lovers, Decathlon's R&D teams work together in each phase of product development and testing in Passy, at the foot of Mont-Blanc, in France.
All tents passed the lab test in France.
Test For Waterproofness
Simulate the actual conditions you may encounter in the mountains.
Ideally, your tent needs to resist tropical rain similar to 200L/h for 4 hours. Our tents have a double roof featuring a waterproof coating and waterproofed seams, thanks to heat-sealed bands.
They also feature a chamber in breathable polyester that helps to avoid contact with water condensation that can be formed on the inner side of the double roof.
Lastly, the coating of our tents' floor mats are also reinforced to avoid water penetration from the ground.
Test For Wind Resistance
All Decathlon tents are tested in wind tunnels on a rotating plate to expose each side of the tent to the wind.
If you are planning to camp outdoors, ensure that - correctly assembled and with all awnings open - the tent must be able to withstand winds between 40 - 60 kph (Force 5 to 6).
1. Shelters
2. Camping tents
3. Trekking tents
The aim of the shelter is to provide a shade for users and it focuses on sun protection.
So it should not be used for camping because it may not be designed with a waterproof function or protects against drizzle.
If you use it for camping on a rainy day, the shelter cannot protect you and you will be drenched. It also offers a lower level of privacy, as everyone can see through the shelter.
However, the shelter is suitable for one-day outing trips or picnics, and some of them come with mosquito nets. The shelter only has one layer.
Suitable for: one-day picnics or day trips in nice weather but not for staying overnight.
Pop up shelter for 2 pax
Pop up structure with mosquito net for 4 pax
If you camp outdoors for a few days, camping tents will be your first option.
They are designed for overnight camping and contain an inner tent and a flysheet. The inner tent provides a sleeping and rest area with mosquito protection.
The flysheet is windproof and waterproof. The air layer separated from the inner and flysheet provides insulation and keeps the inner tents warm.
Our camping tent MH100 series passed the test under a shower of 200 mm of water/hour/m² and wind speed of 40km/hr.
Some camping tents equipped with FRESH & BLACK technology on flysheet, provide 99% darkness and UV protection, as well as privacy to users. We also have the easy assembly tent – suitable for novice campers.
Suitable for: most campsites and staying overnight.
If you trek and camp outdoors for 3 - 7 days, trekking tents can be your best bet.
Designed for multi-day hiking, trekking tents are similar to camping tents and contain an inner tent and a flysheet.
They usually have smaller packing sizes, lighter weight, more durable tent poles, and higher waterproof and windproof performance.
Suitable for: remote campsites, relatively high altitude locations, and places exposed to weather.
Don’t forget to check if your campsite allows you to pitch your tent!
