Picking the right tent for outdoor activities depends on how you’ll use it and how well it’s made. Whether it's for hiking, camping, or weekend trips with family or friends, your tent choice makes a big difference.
In this guide, we break down the best lightweight tents in Australia, categorised under tent size and capacity, to help you quickly decide. We include value headings to make your adventure a memorable one. Read on to find your fit and learn more about family outdoor campings.
Our Top Picks
Here are our top three picks for the best lightweight family tents in Australia:
MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3
Best 3-person family tent with a packed weight of 1.95 kg, floor dimensions measuring 213 x 172 cm, and nylon build material.
ALPS Taurus Outfitter Tent
Best 4-person tent with a packed weight of 4.76 kg, floor dimensions of 259 x 228 cm, and polyester build material.
Coleman Sundome Camping Tent
The best 6-person tent, weighing 7.53 kg when packed, offers spacious floor dimensions of 305 x 305 cm, and durable polyester build for camping and hiking.
Top 7 Tents for Aussie Family Adventures
Below, we carefully looked at each tent’s key features, how easy it is to set up, how durable it is in different weather conditions, and how comfortable it will be for your family. We also evaluated spacing and ventilation for weather protection and convenience, ensuring a great experience.
1. MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 Tent
Floor dimensions: 213 x 172 cm
Packed size: 53 x 17 cm
Weight: 1.54 kg
The MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3-Person Tent is an ultralight option for climbers, mountaineers, and campers. Built for year-round use, the freestanding dome tent is easy to assemble, thanks to its ultra-compact hub pole system with colour-coded loops and clip straps. It has a floor space of 2.13 x 1.72 m and a height of 1.12 m while maintaining a lightweight build of 1.54 kg.
MSR's Mutha Hubba is weather-resistant. It's constructed with tear-resistant nylon and DuraShield coating for reliable protection against rain and harsh conditions. The tent has two StayDry doors with gutters and spacious vestibules to ensure easy access and ample storage space. You also get mesh canopies and adjustable ventilation that promote airflow, prevent condensation buildup, and keep the interior comfortable.
Pros
- 3-season rating
- Roomy for three people
- Easy to set up and pack
- Waterproof
Cons
- No ceiling pockets
2. Coleman Instant Up Tent
Floor dimensions: 230 x 230 cm
Packed size: 114 x 25 cm
Weight: 16.8 kg
The Coleman Instant Up is perfect for privacy, comfort, and restful sleep. Its Dark Room fabric blocks up to 95% of sunlight, keeping the tent cooler and reducing heat by 5°. The tent's instant setup hub frame lets you pitch it in under two minutes, making it hassle-free for beginners.
Coleman's tent has built-in LED strip lighting, offering a convenient and adjustable illumination source for reading, relaxing, or setting the mood. Its spacious design includes a front vestibule for extra storage and living space, interior organisers, and a storage hammock to keep essentials tidy. The front door can be extended with the included awning poles for added shade, and the Coleman Circle Ventilation system ensures excellent airflow.
With a maximum head height of 190 cm and space for a queen airbed, the Coleman Instant Up Dark Room Tent is fantastic for small families or couples seeking comfort and practicality on their outdoor adventures.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Ceiling pockets and storage pacts
- 2-year manufacturer warranty
- Luxurious features
Cons
- It can be tight for four people
- Heaviest on this list
3. Vango Skye 400 4-Person Tent
Floor dimensions: 260 x 410 cm
Packed size: 65 x 23 cm
Weight: 6.7 kg
The Vango Skye 400 is a tunnel tent, so it provides an excellent trade-off between size, space, and capacity. The tent has two parts: sleeping and storage areas. Campers can convert the storage area to add length to the sleeping area and improve comfort for four people.
The tent is built from fire-retardant, polyester, polyethylene base, and fibreglass poles. It has lantern hanging points and interior side pockets. It has a darker inner fabric to reduce sunlight and add warmth to the room. It's also the only 4-person tent on our list that is rated all-season.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Excellent space-to-people ratio
- Fire retardant material
- Separate sleeping & storage area
- Ceiling pockets available
Cons
- Longer set-up time
4. ALPS Mountaineering Outfitter Tent
Floor dimensions: 259 x 228 cm
Packed size: 64 x 23 cm
Weight: 4.76 kg
The ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 4-Person Tent is a reliable and user-friendly option for outdoor enthusiasts. It's a freestanding tent with a two-pole fibreglass dome design and a quick setup for seasoned campers and beginners alike. The tent is spacious, measuring 2.59 x 2.29 x 1.32 m, with a centre height of 1.3 m, comfortably accommodating up to four people. Its lightweight design, at 4.76 kg, ensures easy portability and storage.
The Taurus Tent's polyester fly resists water and UV damage while providing two vestibules for extra storage. Its factory-sealed fly and floor seams offer superior weather protection, keeping campers dry even in challenging conditions. You also get dual doors with mesh windows for ventilation and fly vents for consistent airflow without compromising protection.
Pros
- Two vestibules
- Excellent build quality
- Good ventilation
- Waterproof
Cons
- Stuffy with the rainfly on
- Not strong enough for high winds
5. Mountainsmith Conifer 5 Plus Tent
Floor dimensions: 305 x 188 cm
Packed size: 56 x 27 cm
Weight: 6.7 kg
The Conifer 5+ Family Tent is spacious and well-designed for families. It has a peak height of 188 cm and a floor space of 7.75 m² that comfortably accommodates five people. The family tent features a two-door, two-vestibule layout for easy access and an additional 3.1 m² front porch vestibule.
Built for three-season use, the Conifer 5+ boasts durable materials, including a waterproof fly and bathtub-style floor construction with taped seams to keep you dry in inclement weather. The tent has excellent ventilation, thanks to no-see-um mesh wall panels and fly ventilation windows, which prevent condensation and maintain a fresh interior. The reflective guy lines and stake-out points ensure visibility and stability, even in low-light conditions.
Additional thoughtful features like a removable gear loft, interior mesh storage pockets, and printed setup instructions on the stuff sack make the Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ Family Tent perfect for creating memorable camping experiences with your families and friends.
Pros
- Vestibule area
- Fire retardant material
- More room for storage
- Storage pockets
Cons
- Not for hostile climates
6. Zempire Pronto 5 Inflatable Air Tent
Floor dimensions: 280 x 280 cm
Packed size: 70 x 40 cm
Weight: 14.5 kg
The Pronto 5 Tent V2 from Zempire is perfect if you want a quick and easy way to set up camp. With its inflatable airframe, you can pitch the entire tent in just minutes using a single inflation point. Taking it down is just as simple, thanks to the multiple deflation points.
The tent is built for up to four people, offering plenty of space, excellent ventilation through bug-proof mesh windows, and added headroom with stabilising brow poles. You'll appreciate how practical and comfortable it feels during your outdoor adventures. The durable PE floor and 3,000mm waterhead rating ensure you stay dry, even in heavy rain. The rear storage is a handy feature, accessible from inside the tent to keep your living space neat and organised.
Meanwhile, the front awning provides a covered spot to store wet or dirty gear or to simply relax under. You can even turn the front fly door into a gullwing awning for extra shade. Though the 3-season rated tent has a capacity of five, we recommend it for four for maximum comfort.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Easy to set up and pack
- Holds up well in unfavourable weather
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Careful setup process
- Not particularly light
7. Coleman Sundome Camping Tent
Floor dimensions: 305 x 305 cm
Packed size: 66 x 23 cm
Weight: 7.53 kg
The 6-Person Sundome Tent has Coleman's Dark Room technology. It packs a WeatherTec system with welded corners and inverted seams that ensure you stay dry during rain and rainfly for additional protection.
Setting up the tent is quick and easy thanks to the snag-free, continuous pole sleeves. Once done, the tent's two windows provide ventilation, while the reflective guylines make it easier to spot at night. There’s also an E-Port, which is perfect for bringing electrical power inside. The tent is lightweight at just 7.53 kg and includes a carry bag for easy transportation.
On the downside, the Coleman Sundome 6-Person Tent has issues with the poles and stitching, which affects its durability. Still, its spaciousness, ease of setup, and excellent weather protection make it a solid option.
Pros
- Spacious for 6 people
- WeatherTec system keeps you dry
- Quick and easy 10-minute setup
- E-Port for electrical power inside the tent
- Fits two queen-size airbeds
Cons
- Some issues with pole durability
- Stitching on some windows can improve
Our Evaluation Process
To complete this guide, we focused on four primary factors during research, alongside secondary qualities like interior pockets, pacts, lantern hanging features, number of doors and windows, and set-up time.
#1 — Weight
The first, which is obvious, is weight. The tent's weight greatly influenced which one made it to our list and which couldn’t make the list.
#2 — Size and capacity
Second, we considered the size and capacity. This factor was essential to categorise the tents under person capacity.
Though most tent manufacturers and brands highlight their tent capacity, it can be tricky if you’re spending more days outside. We recommend you take the tent capacity on this list with a pinch of salt.
#3 — Season ratings
The third factor that influenced our list is season ratings. Season ratings tell when and where you can use your tent and which weather conditions best suit it.
All-season tents offer greater flexibility than 3-season-rated tents and 2-season-rated tents. The majority of tents in this list are 3-season rated. 3-season tents can withstand the typical conditions associated with backpacking: rain, wind, light hail, and cold weather.
#4 — Build quality
The final concluding factor is the build quality and durability. Tents are constructed from various materials, with the most common being nylon and polyester. It is fair to mention that though the build quality matters, the durability of your tent mostly depends on how you handle it.
Whether camping or hiking, avoid sharp edges and rocks that could cause damage to your tents. Always seek to set your tent on smooth or level surfaces.
FAQs
What are the different types of tents?
Depending on your use case, there are hiking tents, camping tents, and roof-top tents. By shape, some tents are dome-shaped, whilst others come in the classic V-shape many people are accustomed to.
What should I look for in a family tent?
First, check for the size. Your family tent should be spacious enough to accommodate your family and pet, if you have any, without discomfort. Then look out for the number of doors and windows available since this is crucial to the ventilation in your tent—nobody likes a stuffy tent.
Having more than one door is useful to not climb over each other when one person wants to exit the tent. The zipper should also be durable and not be too noisy when opening and shutting the door.
Do I need a footprint for my tent?
A tent footprint is designed for use on uneven surfaces, such as gravel, and helps keep the floor of your tent dry. It acts as a protective layer between the ground and the tent floor, preventing abrasion and damage. This additional layer helps extend the lifespan of your tent by shielding it from rough or sharp ground surfaces.
Mark Thompson
Why Trust expertEasy?
At expertEasy, we're passionate about helping you have the best camping experience possible. Our team of experts researches, tests, and evaluates products to provide reliable, unbiased, and informative reviews to help you make purchasing decisions based on facts and not sales pitches.
Our reviews are based on a combination of hands-on testing, research, and analysis of customer feedback. We update our reviews frequently based on new information, or product availability changes to ensure you're getting the most up-to-date recommendations.
Mark
Best Lightweight Family Tents — Roundup
There you have it, our complete guide to parading the best lightweight tent in Australia. Our final picks for each size are below if you just skipped through it:
- MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 Tent – Best 3-Person Tent
- Vango Skye 400 4-Person Tent - Best 4-Person Tent
- Zempire Pronto 5 Inflatable Air Tent - Best 5-Person Tent
- Coleman Sundome Camping Tent – Best 6-Person Tent
Looking for tents for more specific camping needs? Read our in-depth guide on the best options for hiking, motorcycle camping, hardshell rooftop camping, and 1-person camping adventures.
We also recommend reading our essential camping preparations guide and checklist to ensure a smooth outdoor adventure. From gear essentials to safety tips, we provide a detailed checklist to help you organise an enjoyable and stress-free camping trip with your family.
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