Getting ready for a camping trip with the family or a couple of mates and need a decent tent? Great, you’re in the right place.
I have spent hours researching the best 5 person tents in Australia, and the ones that have made it to the list below are my top picks.
Before we get into it, don’t forget that most 5 man tents can’t actually sleep 5 adults in comfort, especially if you want to store your gear in the tent too. If you would like a bit of extra room, consider upgrading to a 6 person tent instead.
With that out of the way, let’s get started!
Best 5 Man Tents Australia
Zempire Pronto 5 Inflatable Air Tent
Best Inflatable 5 Person Tent
The Zempire Pronto 5 is a very slick looking air tent. A single inflation point for the whole tent makes setup simple and fast.
It is very spacious inside and has included awning poles if you want some extra cover for your gear or a couple of chairs.
A number of people have commented on how well this camping tent holds up in wind and rain, which makes sense given the 5,000mm waterproof rating on the fly.
The 2 year warranty is great and to be expected from a reputable brand like Zempire.
Another excellent family tent, it comes in 4P, 5P and 10P varieties.
Kmart 5 Person Dome Tent with Vestibule
Best Budget 5 Person Tent
This 5 person dome tent from Kmart is an unbelievably cheap $85. Compared to the others on this list, it is also much, much lighter and packs down to a very small volume.
This probably speaks to the fact that it is made of cheap, thin material, that is likely to wear out quickly and rip or tear easily.
The sleeping area is much smaller and more cramped than the others, and the ceiling is only 160cm high, so you can’t fully stand up inside the tent.
The tent is also not considered waterproof, only water repellent, so I don’t recommend that you take it on trips where you expect there to be anything more than a light drizzle.
It also doesn’t come with a warranty.
The only reason I have included it in this list is that is very, very cheap, so it is a viable option for those who want to go camping on a shoestring budget.
Oztent RV5 Touring Canvas Tent
Best Canvas/Touring 5 Person Tent
This tent is widely loved by Australians and generally considered to be one of the best, if not the best, touring tents. If you want a high quality 5 man tent and budget isn’t an issue, then look no further.
It is a tough, rugged canvas tent designed for Australian conditions. It will keep you warm and dry no matter the weather you face.
Keep in mind that it is quite heavy, so it is more suited to car camping.
It comes in a variety of sizes, including the RV1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Darche Urban Safari 350
Runner Up
An alternative to the Oztent RV5 is the Darche Urban Safari. Another option in the 5P range, the Darche is considerably cheaper yet still a solid option.
It sets up within minutes, has tons of ventilation and windows yet is still a rugged, tough tent that can handle a variety of weather conditions.
The included awning can be set up with walls to provide extra protection from the elements, if desired.
OZtrail Fast Frame Roamer Cabin 5 Tent
Our Pick
- Near vertical walls and 200cm internal ceiling make it very roomy inside
- Front vestibule can be entirely zipped up, almost doubling the size of the tent
- Awning poles included
- Large windows in inner and outer tent
- Quite heavy at almost 20kg
This is one of my favourites in the 5 man tent category. It is a fast frame tent, which means that it can be set up within just a few minutes, thanks to the poles being pre-attached to the inner tent.
The main room of the tent is very spacious. It has near vertical walls and an internal ceiling of 200cm, which means that you can fully stand up inside. The front vestibule of the tent is huge and can easily fit a table and some chairs, or a whole lot of gear.
The thing I love about the vestibule is that it can be fully enclosed by zipping up the side and front walls. The floor size is also the same as the main room, so it really is an second, separate room for your tent.
If that wasn’t enough, you can also set up a large awning (included) in front of the vestibule for even more shade cover.
This is a fantastic tent that is great for family camping or for a trip away with a group of friends.
For more info about these tents, check out my OZtrail Fast Frame tent review!
5 Man Tent - Buyer's Checklist
Found the tent of your dreams? Use the checklist below to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything important before locking in the purchase!
Camping Style
Within the 5 person tent category, there is huge variety in terms of price, size, weight and much more! Think about the kind of camping that you will be doing and what attributes are most important to you.
Size/Dimensions
As I mentioned earlier, most 5 person tents can’t actually comfortably sleep 5 adults and their gear. The exception to this is the OZtrail Fast Frame Roamer, which can actually sleep 5 adults in relative comfort, with plenty of space for gear too!
If you have a lot of gear or bags that need storing in the tent, either go with this tent or consider upgrading to a 6 person tent instead.
Having a decent ceiling height on your tent is important too. A high ceiling will let you stand up while in your tent (useful for getting changed), and will also make it feel much roomier and spacious. All tents in this article other than the Kmart tent have decent internal ceiling heights.
Weight
Larger, more feature-rich tents (such as instant up tents) tend to be heavier. Hiking tents, on the other hand, are much lighter. Consider your needs and think about whether tent weight is important for you.
Season Rating
Some tents are more suitable for certain weather conditions than others. This is typically expressed with the ‘season rating’. 2 and 3 season tents tend to be for mild to moderate weather, whereas 4 season tents are suitable for use even in cold conditions.
Geweare have a good article on tent season ratings if you want to read more.
Waterproofing
Storms are unpredictable in Australia, with sudden, unexpected downpours very common. You don’t want to be woken up at night with water dripping on your face, so make sure that you choose a tent with a decent waterproof rating.
Waterproof ratings range from 1,000mm (the lowest rating that is considered waterproof), all the way up to 10,000mm.
The Zempire Pronto 5 comes with an impressive 5,000mm rating for the fly! On the other end of the spectrum, the Kmart tent is not considered waterproof, only water repellent, so don’t use it if you think that there is a chance of some rain.
Ventilation
We all know how brutal and unforgiving the Australian sun can be. Tents can act as greenhouses, trapping in hot air. Make sure that your tent has some ventilation windows to let the hot air escape, otherwise you’ll be in for a hot and sweaty evening.
Lack of ventilation will also contribute to condensation forming overnight.
The OZtrail Fast Frame Roamer has plenty of ventilation.
Setup Time
Few people enjoy setting up and packing down tents. Trying to fit both ends of the tent poles onto the pins, clipping the outer layer to the poles, banging tent pegs into rocky ground. It’s not a whole lot of fun.
Thankfully, instant up and air tents can make the tent setup process much easier.
Many of the tents in this article are instant up tents, and the Zempire Pronto 5 is an air tent that you can fully inflate in a short space of time, thanks to a single inflation point.
Warranty
A warranty lets you sleep easy knowing that your tent is covered if it is defective in any way. It is also a good sign that the manufacturer has faith in the quality of their product, and that they stand behind this quality. The Zempire Pronto 5 and the Oztent RV5 both come with 2 year warranties.
Build Quality
Poor build quality means a painful tent setup experience, higher risk of accidental damage to the tent, as well as frustrating and flimsy pegs, poles or zippers. Cheaper tents naturally have poorer build quality, as the manufacturers save on material to keep costs low.
The Kmart tent is an example of a cheaper tent that most likely has a correspondingly lower build quality.
Awning
An awning can be a great way to store some extra gear that doesn’t fit inside the tent. With some tents (like the Oztent RV5), you can also fit a table and a few chairs underneath the awning, which is a nice way to keep cool while enjoying some food or a few drinks.
Summary
There are a wide variety of 5 person tents on the market, and the right one for you will largely depend on the kind of camping that you will be doing.
The Zempire Pronto 5 is the best 5 man tent Australia. It is a high quality, waterproof air tent. The set up is fast and there is plenty of ventilation.
If you are more of a canvas kind of person, then the Oztent RV5 or the Darche Urban Safari are great options.
I hope that this guide has helped you figure out which tent is right for you! If you still have questions, leave them in the comments below!
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
