Inflatable tents have dominated the family tent market over the last decade – but there are signs that traditional poles are making something of a comeback. This is the first year since 2018 that a pole tent has come out on top in the family tent category.

The key here is simplicity and quality and the Vango Savannah 600XL has both in spades – and at under £600, it’s excellent value for money for a family, without compromising on features or materials. It’s lighter and has a smaller pack size than the otherwise identical AirBeam version, and comes in at a third cheaper. The question is, does the convenience of inflatable merit paying £300 more? And we’d have to say, in this case, no it doesn’t.

The Savannah 600XL is a six-man tunnel tent with a built-in awning that provides additional living or storage space. Although it has a good-sized footprint, pitching with the fibreglass poles couldn’t be easier and, at more than 2m tall, there is plenty of headroom inside the tent.

Inflatable tents have dominated the family tent market over the last decade – but there are signs that traditional poles are making something of a comeback. This is the first year since 2018 that a pole tent has come out on top in the family tent category.

When it comes to camping gear, we always love a product that is versatile and has multiple uses.

And that’s why the new Vango Comet Light leapt out at us as soon as we set eyes on it. It is a three-in-one, rechargeable lamp that works as a torch, a table lantern or a standard lamp. With its telescopic stand and sturdy tripod base, at first glance, the Comet looks a little like a camera tripod, and it works in much the same way. At its lowest setting, it works as a lantern, the stable tripod feet making it ideal to sit on the ground or a table.

Alternatively, you can extend the height to up to 110cm to create a corner lamp, with a swivel head that allows you to direct the light in the direction you prefer. Pegging points in the feet give extra stability. When it’s all folded away, the unit works as a pocket torch, perfect for night-time dog walking or toilet block excursions.

There are three brightness options (200, 500 and 1,000 lumens) and it is waterproof rated to IPX4. The rechargeable battery takes five hours to recharge and, according to Vango, runs for up to 12 hours on the lowest brightness setting.

The Thermocore XPD is Vango’s thickest and warmest trekking mat, and is designed for providing comfort and warmth all year round. The vertical walled design means a larger sleeping area than a typical mat construction. Aluminium Thermal Reverb technology, combined with layers of strategically placed film, helps reflect heat back towards the body to keep you warm at night. Recycled nylon is used for the top and bottom fabric, and has a TPU lamination that is lighter, easier to pack down and more environmentally friendly than traditional PVC.

Silent Sleep technology also aims to eliminate the problem of your bed rustling or crinkling when you move. The air-filled welded channel construction moulds to the contours of your body.

The Thermocore XPD is Vango’s thickest and warmest trekking mat, and is designed for providing comfort and warmth all year round. The vertical walled design means a larger sleeping area than a typical mat construction. Aluminium Thermal Reverb technology, combined with layers of strategically placed film, helps reflect heat back towards the body to keep you warm at night. Recycled nylon is used for the top and bottom fabric, and has a TPU lamination that is lighter, easier to pack down and more environmentally friendly than traditional PVC.

Silent Sleep technology also aims to eliminate the problem of your bed rustling or crinkling when you move. The air-filled welded channel construction moulds to the contours of your body.

"Why the Vango Anantara IV Air TC 650XL?  
It’s hard to believe it’s more than 13 years since Vango launched the AirBeam range of tents – the first mainstream inflatable family tent. Rivals initially dismissed it as a gimmick, but soon changed their tune when they realised how much campers loved the new technology. 
 
 In fact, it’s fair to say, inflatable tents have revolutionised family camping in the UK and, over the last decade or so, Vango has led the way with its technology. In 2024, the Scottish brand continues to innovate, with the its new Anantara IV Air TC 650XL, a six-man inflatable tent that is the absolute epitome of lavish camping.

This is perfect for families who need plenty of space on longer holidays and who want something that is simple to pitch but offers flexible living options. 
 
The Anantara is now made with Sentinel Signature TC Fabric, which repels water and contains ColourLok to protect from UV rays. 
 
As well as boasting the latest fabric technology, this is a luxury family tent packed with features and high-quality materials, that should help you enjoy years of memorable family camping holidays. 
 
We like 
Technical cotton fabric with ColourLok UV protection 
S.I Pro single-point inflation system 
Built-in front awning"  

"Why the Vango Classic Instant 300?  
If you asked someone to do you a quick sketch of a tent, they’d probably come up with something like this. This is a twenty-first century take on the classic A-frame ridge tent that we all recognise from the likes of Carry On Camping – and it’s even available in 1960s orange as well as in deep blue or a geodesic pattern.  
 
The aptly named Classic Instant 300 is easy to use and it’s ideal as a beginners’ tent for weekends away. But where it really comes into its own is as a festival tent. It’s the perfect size for two campers and the new hub structure means it pops up in seconds and, crucially, folds down like an umbrella, so takes no time to pack away.  
 
The darkened inner and ventilation are brilliant, too, for those ‘morning-after-the-night-before’ moments when the early sun is beating down on your tent.  
 
 And if the sun isn’t shining, the bathtub groundsheet extends 10cm above ground level to keep your tent dry in wet weather and the PowerFlex fibreglass poles should be strong enough to keep it standing in strong winds. 
 
We like 
Classic ridge tent shape (and colour!)  
Value for money  
Easy and quick to pack"  

"Why the Vango Thermocore XPD?  
For comfort and warmth at night on backpacking trips, the new Thermocore XPD is pretty hard to beat. Designed for all-year use, the Thermocore XPD has a unique vertical walled design to provide a larger sleeping area. 
 
But its major USP is the use of what Vango calls Thermal Reverb technology, which, along with layers of strategically placed film, reflects heat back towards your body to keep you warm at night. 
 
The top and bottom fabrics are made from recycled nylon with a TPU lamination that is lighter and more environmentally friendly than traditional PVC. The improved compressibility means you can have a smaller pack size without compromising on comfort. 
 
Silent Sleep technology reduces the rustling noise when you move and the air-filled welded channel construction moulds to the contours of your body."  

"Why the Vango Lightbeam 250 Recharge?  
For quick overnight camping trips, a couple of torches and a battery-powered lantern will probably be enough to meet your lighting needs. But on longer family holidays, when you are likely to spend more time inside the tent after dark, you really need something a bit more substantial to illuminate your tent. This newcomer from Vango, the LightBeam 250 Recharge, is an inflatable striplight that is powerful enough to do just that. 
 
It has a lightweight and flexible design and is fitted with two magnetic attachment points for easy set-up in your tent. Depending on the light mode – you can tailor the levels to your individual needs – it has a runtime of between four and 40 hours. It’s also available in a smaller-sized version."  

"The new Denali Pro is the Scottish firm’s flagship rucksack and is designed for weekend trips and longer stays in the great outdoors. 
 
 It features Vango’s Single Adjust Back System (A1), which allows you to quickly and easily adjust the pack with one hand to fit perfectly, while still wearing it. It has lots of pockets, straps and storage options to give you easy access to all your gear while you’re on the move."