Tents, gazebos and sleep setup for your crew – keep base camp dry and stable.
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Plan your camp like a small village: sleeping tents on the outside, a gazebo in the middle, luggage and cool boxes in the shade. Arrive early to secure level ground without dips – that is where rainwater collects.
For festivals, choose a tent with an adequate hydrostatic head on the fly and the floor. Just as important: use every guy line and bring sturdy pegs. The pegs supplied are often too thin for hard ground.
Your mat and sleeping bag should suit the night-time temperature – even in summer nights can get cold. Earplugs and an eye mask belong in every bag.
Go by the lowest expected night temperature, not the daytime temperature. For adults, the comfort temperature determined under ISO 23537 is the more sensible starting point for people who get cold easily. The limit temperature reflects other test conditions; the extreme temperature is not a recommendation for sleeping. Personal sensitivity to cold, wind, humidity, clothing and mat all change the result. Standard values for adults cannot simply be applied to children.
Down can offer a small pack size for comparable warmth but needs reliable protection from moisture. Synthetic is often less fussy when damp but can be heavier and bulkier. Compare the specific model rather than the material in general. The bag should give enough room to move but not be unnecessarily long. Check hood, draught collar, zip and care instructions. Air out a damp sleeping bag; don't store it compressed for long.
The mat insulates you from the ground – a warm sleeping bag alone is not enough. The R-value describes thermal resistance; higher values mean more insulation. Figures tested to ASTM F3340 make comparison easier. Thickness, air volume and price do not replace this value. Choose insulation for the ground and weather with a margin; the R-value doesn't guarantee a comfort temperature for every person.
Foam mats are robust and work without a valve but often take up more space. Air mats can be compact; check insulation, repair kit and pumping needs. Self-inflating mats combine foam and air but often need extra inflation. Side sleepers should check that hips and shoulders don't press through. Width, length, rustling noise and folded size matter as much as weight.
Pitch the tent once and lay out all the mats inside. The stated person count often means tightly packed sleeping spaces without luggage. Check seams, floor and ventilation, pack suitable pegs and watch weather warnings. No tent or gazebo is safe protection in every storm. Stoves, grills and open flames never belong in a sleeping tent.
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Central meeting point against sun and rain.
Check poles, locking mechanisms and spare parts availability. A gazebo is not a storm shelter: respect the manufacturer's wind limits, secure every leg and take it down in good time in severe weather. Side walls increase wind load.
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Shared sleeping area; check the usable floor space for mats and luggage.
Compare the usable floor space with your mats, not just the person count. Luggage needs extra room. Look for sealed seams, a solid floor, vents and a sheltered entrance. Hydrostatic head alone does not prove weatherproofing.
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Restful sleep after long nights.
Look for an R-value measured to ASTM F3340: the higher, the better the ground insulation. Thickness alone says little about warmth. Side sleepers need width and thickness; check the valve, repair kit and pack size. Self-inflating often still means topping up with air.
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Extra ground anchors; choose shape and material for the ground.
Choose shape and length for the ground: wide profiles for soft ground, robust narrow pegs for hard ground. Never force pegs through stones. Visible guy lines prevent tripping hazards.
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Protect against wind and driving rain.
Dimensions, fastening and zips must fit your gazebo. Check whether walls can be opened individually. In stronger wind, closed walls create extra surface area.
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Small pack size; choose the comfort temperature for the night.
For adults, compare the ISO 23537 comfort temperature with the coldest expected night and allow a margin for how easily you get cold. Limit is not a comfort recommendation; Extreme is an emergency threshold, not a buying target. Also check length, hood, draught collar and a matching mat. A light summer bag is not automatically enough for every festival.
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Drive pegs in quickly and safely.
Head weight and grip must be easy to control. Check that your pegs are suitable. On very hard ground don't just hit harder; change the spot or peg type.
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Protects the tent floor from moisture and stones.
The footprint must match the floor plan and must not stick out under the fly, or rain will pool on it. Check weight, abrasion resistance and fastening. It does not replace an insulating sleeping mat.
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Sleep despite neighbouring camps and sunrise.
Earplugs should fit comfortably; noise reduction ratings vary. For the mask, check light blocking and a soft strap. You must still be able to hear alarms or warnings; keep earplugs clean.
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Keeps clothes and sleeping bag dry.
Check material, seams and the correct roll closure as instructed. Water-resistant is not the same as submersible. A dry-packed sleeping bag protects its fill from moisture; don't keep damp items sealed in for long.
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Clean area in front of the tent.
Consider size, cleaning and campsite rules. A breathable, water-permeable rug can suit grass better than a closed tarp. Secure the corners so nobody trips.
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Moves luggage from the car park to camp.
Wide wheels help on soft ground. Compare own weight, maximum load, folded size and brakes. Check the route from the car park: steps and deep mud can stop even good carts.
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General buying advice, no product tests of our own. For specific models, the current manufacturer specifications apply. The following sources explain individual basics.