Tesco 2 Man Tent Single Layer

Needing a break from the usual routine and working with a tight budget, I planned a week of camping in North Wales. It had been a while since I last camped, so I asked around on Facebook to see if anyone had a spare tent I could borrow. One suggestion stood out. Tesco had tents on offer.

In store, I came across the Tesco 2 Man Single Layer Tent for £17.50. At that price, it felt like a low-risk option for a short trip, so I picked one up. In hindsight, it turned into a fairly clear example of getting what you pay for.

First Impressions and Setup

The tent is a simple design in blue and orange polyester, with a polyethylene groundsheet and a flysheet door rated at 1500mm waterproof. It comes with two fibreglass poles and guylines for stability. The listed dimensions are 100 x 150 x 200 cm, which in practice gives just enough space for two people to sleep, with a bit of room down the sides for bags.

I set it up in the garden before the trip to get a feel for it. The instructions recommend two people, but I managed it alone in about 30 minutes. It was straightforward enough once the poles were in place.

Pitching in North Wales

A few weeks later, I was in North Wales and setting up for real. Having already practised, the process was much quicker. I had it up in around 10 minutes, which is useful when you arrive late or the weather turns.

First Night Experience

We only lasted one night sleeping in it.

By morning, everything inside felt damp. This seemed to be down to condensation building up overnight, which is common in single-layer tents but still uncomfortable in practice. On top of that, the outer door didn’t zip closed at the bottom, which allowed a steady flow of cold air through the tent.

Between the damp and the cold, it wasn’t a great night’s sleep. The next day, I went out and bought a replacement tent for the rest of the trip.

Repurposing the Tent

Rather than write it off completely, I kept the Tesco tent and used it as a storage space. In that role, it actually worked well.

The quick setup time and simple layout made it useful for keeping clothes and food organised and off the ground. It also helped keep insects out, which made a noticeable difference once we’d unpacked properly.

Used this way, it felt less like wasted money and more like a cheap bit of extra kit that still had a purpose.

Durability in Wind

It held up fine for most of the week in this secondary role, but on the final day we had stronger winds. That’s where it failed. The fibreglass poles snapped, and that was effectively the end of it.

Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t recommend the Tesco 2 Man Single Layer Tent for sleeping, even for short trips. The condensation and lack of proper sealing make it uncomfortable in typical UK conditions.

As a cheap storage tent, though, it has some use. If you need somewhere to keep gear dry and contained for a few days, it can do that job well enough, as long as the weather stays fairly calm.

If you do decide to pick one up, it’s available from Tesco, but it’s worth being clear about what you’re buying it for.