Best three-person tents for every camping style: Top picks from our experts for 2024

What cements the Eclipse III as our overall pick for three-person tents is its versatility. There are lighter tents, there are bigger tents. But for hiking and camping, it's remarkably adept at both.

This is because the Eclipse III reasonably compact when packed down, spacious when pitched, and made from noticeably more durable fabrics than dedicated hiking tents.

The only drawback here is that it's heavier than most hiking tents. Some of the lightweight options here weigh less than half what the Eclipse III does. Nevertheless, it's still manageable in a larger pack when you're sharing the equipment-carrying duties with others.

We also rate the Eclipse III highly because it's quite sustainable, being mostly made from recycled materials and being PFC-free. Jack Wolfskin is also a Fair Wear Foundation member with 'Leader' status.

Check out our full Jack Wolfskin Eclipse III tent review

Where the Jack Wolfskin Eclipse III is a more 'standard' dome tent, the Jaran 3 leans more towards a lightweight hiking tent.

It has two crossing poles and a central beam to improve stability and increase internal space. The Jaran 3 weighs half what the Jack Wolfskin Eclipse III does and is a bit more compact when packed away too.

The Jaran 3 has lighter fabrics but still compares well against other lightweight hiking tents in terms of durability. The fly colour is very discreet, and we also like the mesh-heavy inner, which is great for stargazing if the conditions are conducive.

Alpkit itself is quite a sustainable brand, being a certified B Corp, and the Jaran 3 is PFC-free, but it doesn't use recycled fabrics.

Check out our full Alpkit Jaran 3 tent review

NEMO's Dagger OSMO 3P is even lighter than the Alpkit Jaran 3. It manages a packed weight of 2.1kg. This tent uses NEMO's proprietary OSMO fabric. The name means diddly squat, but OSMO is a unique poly-nylon that is fully recycled and PFC-free. It also manages to stretch a lot less than other tent fabrics when wet, which really aids water repellency.

OSMO goes a long way to explain why this tent is so expensive. But there's more to it. The design is remarkably spacious, offering the best floor area of all the hiking tents here and an impeccable space-to-weight ratio as a result.

There are some extras you get with the Dagger OSMO 3P you don't find on the other tents here. These include Nightlight Pockets that create an even glow when you put a head torch in them. There's also a Landing Zone tub you clip onto the tent to create a storage mat in the vestibule.

Check out our full NEMO Dagger OSMO 3-Person tent review

The Taurus 3P is the only tent here that pitches with the inner and fly together. That's a big plus point for pitching in the rain. Like the Jack Wolfskin Eclipse III, the Taurus 3P also uses much tougher fabrics than other lightweight hiking tents. Yet, unlike the Eclipse III, manages to keep the weight right down.

Where the tents above are all dome-type tents, the Taurus is more of a backpacking-style tent. It's free-standing, suitable for three-season use, and very easy to pitch, thanks to the all-in-one pitching style.

However, it's not as spacious as the others, mainly in terms of width. Measuring 165cm wide, tapering to 140cm at the end, it's great for two people but quite a squeeze for three. You'd all have to be very familiar with one another. You also have to buy extra pegs for the guy lines.

The Taurus is quite sustainable. Vaude offsets the lifecycle emissions of its products via myclimate carbon offset projects. Vaude is a Fair Wear Foundation member with 'Leader' status, and the Taurus has a PFC-free DWR.

Check out our full Vaude Taurus 3P tent review

This tent beats even the NEMO Dagger OSMO 3P for lightness but is more spartan. The Tungsten UL 3P is a simple but well-thought-out construction, using pre-bent poles to make the walls more vertical and, therefore, increase living space.

It works a treat, helped even more by the fact that the entire inner, apart from the floor, is mesh. With or without the fly, it's an incredibly breathable tent, and the fly still offers good coverage right to the ground.

Inside, there are only a couple of corner pockets for storage, but the vestibules are larger than those on the NEMO Dagger OSMO 3P, for example. It's certainly not the toughest tent either. On the lightness-hardiness scale, the Tungsten UL 3P leans noticeably in favour of lightness.

Check out our full Marmot Tungsten UL 3P tent review

Camping tents don't need to be big or expensive. Coleman proves this with the Darwin 3+. It's a high-quality little camping tent that has some nice touches but lacks in terms of eco credentials.

With a bedroom measuring 210cm x 180cm, it's not the largest floor area here, but there is a big porch area at the front. There's certainly enough space for two people to sit comfortably. The floor extending into the porch also makes a big difference in comfort.

The Darwin 3+ is a standard dome construction and has good waterproof ratings, capable of dealing with heavy rain.

Unfortunately, there is no mention from Coleman about the use of sustainable fabrics.

Camping tents, as opposed to hiking tents, will generally cater for more people and gear, thus, they end up being bigger and bulkier. But we appreciate there are those who want a camping tent that doesn't go too far down the route of bigness and bulkiness. Enter the Vango Beta 350XL CLR. It's an excellently designed tent catering for three adults with ease yet remaining within a reasonable footprint and weight.

It's managed this feat by being quite short. So you get the generous bedroom and a spacious porch, but you can't stand up fully in either. That's not really an issue because you tend to sit in both rather than stand.

We certainly like that this tent is made from recycled plastic, and you don't lose any performance because of it. But it is quite a basic tent, best suited to a campsite. There are no slits for power cords, for example. But at the end of the day, it's very well made, and that's key.

The Fairbanks looks quite different from the other tents here because it's a bell tent shape. Made with a single-wall polycotton fabric, it provides liveability far above synthetic fabric tents.

The Polycotton fabric is better at regulating temperature, meaning it stays cooler in summer and milder in winter. It's also more breathable and durable.

The central pole construction makes the Fairbanks very easy to pitch, and inside, you get a large single space for three people or even four at a push. There is also a surprisingly large porch area. For regular campers who want the best liveability and durability, this is a great tent.

Grangers' effective and eco-friendly care kit for tents and outdoor gear such as packs. It even comes with a sponge to help apply the Cleaner solution. The Cleaner and Repel are available to buy individually too.

Nikwax's tent and gear care kit. It's just as good as the Grangers kit and also water-based and PFC-free. SolarWash and SolarProof are available to buy individually.

This revives water repellency and breathability to cotton, polycotton, and canvas clothing or gear. It can be applied by hand or in the washing machine. Best used after Nikwax Tech Wash cleaner.