In a world where more people are seeking hiking trips and adventure outdoors, with more than 25 million brits venturing outside last year, the demand for camping equipment that simplifies the experience has skyrocketed. At the forefront of this trend are air tents, which promise to eliminate the most frustrating part of camping: wrestling with a complex web of poles. From our time reviewing camping equipment for nearly 10 years, the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall air tent has emerged as a titan in this category often considered to be one of the best inflatable family air tents, generating significant buzz for its revolutionary air technology and its signature darkened bedrooms. It promises a camping experience defined by ease, space, and, most importantly, a good night's sleep.
Setting the Scene: What is the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall?
We love products from Berghaus and the 400XL Nightfall is a premium family air tent designed for four people. As a flagship product from Brand Berghaus, a name synonymous with quality British outdoor gear since 1966, it leverages inflatable tubes, or air poles, instead of traditional steel or fibreglass. This Air technology is its primary claim to fame, offering rapid pitching and takedown. However, its most talked-about feature is the Nightfall® darkened bedrooms, a fabric technology designed to block out nearly all sunlight, allowing for longer, more restful sleep. Paired with a generous living area and a built-in porch, it’s positioned as the ultimate solution for family camping trips and festival weekends.
Unpacking the Hype: Our Review's Mission
Does the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall live up to its reputation? This review aims to move beyond the marketing copy and provide a comprehensive, real-world assessment. We will dissect its core features, from the speed of its air beam inflation to the true darkness of its sleeping pods. We'll examine its weather resilience, its liveability for a family of four, and how it stacks up against key competitors. Our mission is to determine if the hype is justified and to help you decide if this is the right family air tent for your next adventure.
First Impressions & Effortless Setup: Air Technology in Action
Step-by-step inflation process of the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall tent using its Air technology.
The initial setup of a tent often sets the tone for the entire trip. The 400XL Nightfall aims to make this first step a seamless and stress-free affair, leveraging the power of modern air tents to transform a daunting task into a simple process.
Arrival and Transport: The Wheeled Carry Bag Convenience
The first thing you'll notice is the tent's substantial weight, tipping the scales at just over 30kg. This is typical for large air tents, but Berghaus has thoughtfully included a durable, oversized wheeled carry bag. This simple addition is a game-changer, making the journey from the car to the pitch significantly easier. The bag is spacious enough that you don't need to be a professional tent-packer to get everything back inside after your trip, a common frustration with many tents.
The Air Revolution: Pitching with Unprecedented Ease
The core of the 400XL’s appeal is its Air technology. The tent’s structure is supported by five robust inflatable tubes that replace the complex, colour-coded pole system of old. This system uses high-performance air beams that are both rigid and resilient. The included high-volume pump connects to spring-loaded, quick-release air valves, allowing you to inflate each beam in under a minute. The process is intuitive and dramatically reduces the physical and mental effort required for setup. If you want to go a step further, you can use an electric air tent pump such as the Airbank Puffer Pro. For this review, we used the Topump TPS300 to make it even easier to inflate and it was fully inflated in about 15 minutes.
From Bag to Tent: A Step-by-Step Pitching Experience
Pitching the Air 400XL Nightfall® Tent is refreshingly straightforward. After unrolling the tent and pegging down the four corners of the integrated ground sheet, you simply attach the pump to the first air pole and inflate to the recommended pressure. You repeat this for all five beams. As the inflatable tubes fill, the main tent structure rises effortlessly. The final steps involve pegging out the guy lines to ensure stability. Two people can comfortably have the tent fully pitched in about 15-20 minutes, a fraction of the time required for a comparably sized poled tent.
Safety Assured: EN5912 Flame Retardant Materials
Peace of mind is paramount when camping with family. Berghaus ensures this by constructing the tent with fully fire-retardant fabrics that meet the rigorous European EN5912 safety standard. This certification means the materials have been tested to resist ignition and will self-extinguish if they come into contact with a flame, providing a crucial safety buffer for you and your loved ones.
The Nightfall® Difference: Sleeping Soundly, Day or Night
Perhaps the most celebrated feature of the 400XL is its innovative sleep system. The Nightfall® technology is more than just a gimmick; it’s a fundamental enhancement to the camping experience that addresses one of the biggest complaints of outdoor living: the disruptive effect of early morning light.
Beyond Blackout: What is Nightfall® Darkened Fabric Technology?
Nightfall® darkened fabric technology is a specially developed material used in the inner sleeping pods. It’s designed to block out up to 99% of daylight, creating a near-pitch-black environment inside, regardless of the time of day. This goes far beyond standard "darkened" rooms found in other tents, which often only dim the light. The Nightfall® system creates a true blackout effect, helping to regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Real-World Impact on Sleep: Escaping the Morning Sun
The practical benefit is immediate and profound. Campers are no longer woken at the crack of dawn by the rising sun. This is a game-changer for families with young children who might otherwise be up at 5 a.m., and it allows adults to get the restorative sleep needed for a day of activities. With 93% of campers reporting benefits to their well-being, features that directly enhance rest, like the Nightfall® system, are incredibly valuable in maximizing the stress-reducing effects of a camping trip.
Temperature Regulation & Enhanced Privacy
The benefits of the Nightfall® darkened bedrooms extend beyond sleep. The dark fabric also helps to regulate the internal temperature of the sleeping pods. On hot, sunny mornings, the pods remain noticeably cooler than the main living area, preventing the "greenhouse effect" that can make sleeping in unbearable. Furthermore, the opaque material provides an unparalleled level of privacy, ensuring you feel secure and unobserved within your personal space.
Liveability and Space: More Than Just a 4-Person Tent
While designed for four, the 400XL’s generous dimensions and thoughtful layout provide a level of comfort and space that elevates it beyond a simple shelter, making it a true home away from home.
The Generous Main Tent and Living Area
The central living area is the heart of the tent. It boasts impressive dimensions and full standing height throughout, thanks to the pre-bent air beams. There is ample room for a table, chairs, and storage units, allowing a family of four to comfortably relax, dine, and play games indoors if the weather turns. Large, clear windows flood the space with light during the day, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.
The Integrated Air Tent Porch Space: Functional Extension
A standout feature is the large, integrated Air Tent Porch Space at the front. This versatile area provides a sheltered transition zone between the inside and outside. It’s perfect for storing muddy boots and wet gear, setting up a cooking station, or simply sitting and enjoying the view while being protected from wind or a light drizzle. The porch comes with its own removable ground sheet, adding to its flexibility.
Clever Storage Solutions: Internal Pockets and Lantern Points
Berghaus has integrated numerous practical features to enhance organization. Strategically placed Internal Storage pockets are found in both the living area and the sleeping pods, providing convenient places to keep essentials like phones, headtorches, and books off the floor and within easy reach. Multiple lantern hanging points are also included, allowing for optimal lighting throughout the main tent and bedrooms.
Headroom and Layout: Maximizing Comfort
The tunnel-style design and high-volume air poles create exceptional headroom across the entire length of the tent, allowing even tall adults to walk around without stooping. The bedroom configuration at the rear consists of a single large pod that can be divided into a 2+2 layout with a toggle-in curtain. This flexibility is ideal for families, offering either a large shared space or separate rooms for parents and children.
Durability & Weather Resistance: Built for the British Climate and Beyond
A tent’s primary job is to provide shelter, and the Berghaus 400XL is engineered to withstand challenging weather conditions with confidence.
Hydrostatic Head (HH): Unpacking the 6000mm Rating
The tent’s flysheet features an impressive Hydrostatic Head (HH) rating of 6000mm. This measurement indicates the level of water pressure the fabric can withstand before leaking. A rating of 6000mm is significantly higher than the industry standard for family tents (typically 3000-4000mm) and places the 400XL in the premium category for waterproof performance, ensuring you stay dry even in prolonged, heavy downpours.
The Integrated Sewn-In Groundsheet: Complete Protection
The main tent features a fully sewn-in groundsheet, creating a completely sealed "bathtub" style floor. This design is crucial for weather protection, as it prevents drafts, rainwater, and unwelcome insects from entering the living area. It simplifies pitching by keeping the tent's structure square and provides a clean, dry foundation for your camping experience.
Ventilation System: Combating Condensation and Enhancing Airflow
Good ventilation is key to comfort and preventing condensation buildup. The 400XL is equipped with a comprehensive system of high and low-level vents, including a large ventilation panel at the rear. These vents are covered with mesh to keep bugs out while promoting consistent airflow throughout the tent, helping to manage internal temperature and reduce moisture, even when the tent is fully occupied.
Wind Stability: How Air Beams Perform Under Pressure
A common question regarding air tents is how they handle strong winds. The Berghaus air beam system is exceptionally robust. The inflatable tubes are designed to flex in high winds rather than snap or bend like traditional poles. When properly inflated and secured with the adjustable, reflective guy lines, the tent’s aerodynamic tunnel shape provides excellent stability, shedding wind effectively and inspiring confidence in rough conditions.
Who is the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall For? Ideal Use Cases
The 400XL's combination of space, comfort, and ease of use makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of campers, especially within the millennial demographic that accounts for 56% of campers.
The Perfect Family Camping Companion
This tent is, first and foremost, designed for family camping. The quick pitch time minimizes setup stress, the spacious living area provides room for play, and the blackout bedrooms are a blessing for maintaining children's sleep schedules. Its durability and weather resistance make it a reliable sanctuary for weekend trips and week-long holidays alike.
Festival-Ready: Sleep Through the Sunrise
For festival-goers who prioritize sleep, the 400XL is an outstanding option. The Nightfall® bedrooms allow you to block out the morning sun and the ambient light of the festival site, ensuring you can rest and recover after a late night. The generous porch is also perfect for storing gear and relaxing with friends.
Beyond the Weekend: Versatility for Longer Trips
The sheer liveability of the 400XL makes it suitable for extended camping trips. The ample storage, excellent headroom, and robust construction mean you won't feel cramped or compromised over a longer duration. It provides a comfortable and reliable basecamp for exploring a region for a week or more.
Considering Wild Camping: A Brief Reality Check
While incredibly capable, the 400XL's weight and pack size make it unsuitable for wild camping or backpacking. Wild camping tents prioritize being lightweight and compact above all else. The Berghaus 400XL is firmly in the "car camping" category, where you can transport your gear directly to the campsite.
Berghaus 400XL Nightfall vs. The Competition: A Comparative Edge
The family air tent market is competitive. The Kampa Kielder 4 Air offers similar inflatable technology and space but typically comes with a lower Hydrostatic Head, making the Berghaus superior in heavy rain. The Robens Kiowa, a premium tipi-style tent, provides excellent social space but lacks the dedicated blackout bedrooms and porch of the 400XL. For those prioritizing durability over features, the MSR Habitude 4 offers expedition-grade materials in a traditional pole design but sacrifices the setup speed and blackout comfort of the Berghaus. Perhaps its closest rival in terms of concept is Quechua's 4-Man Inflatable Camping Tent, which also features blackout rooms and an easy pitch. However, the Berghaus generally boasts superior materials, a higher waterproof rating, and a more spacious and functional porch design, justifying its higher price point for those seeking premium performance and comfort.
Conclusion
The Berghaus 400XL Nightfall® Tent largely delivers on its promises and successfully unpacks the hype surrounding its key features. Its genius lies in how it addresses the primary pain points of family camping. The Air technology transforms a potentially stressful setup into a quick and simple task, while the Nightfall® darkened bedrooms provide a genuine, tangible improvement to sleep quality. These two innovations, combined with a spacious, weatherproof, and highly liveable design, create an exceptional camping experience.
While its weight makes it strictly for car camping, this is a small trade-off for the immense comfort and convenience it offers. It's a significant investment, but for families who camp regularly, the reduction in hassle and the increase in comfort and rest make it a worthwhile one. In an era where camping trends may be shifting towards more casual participation, as suggested by a recent Outdoor Foundation report, a tent that maximizes enjoyment and minimizes frustration is more valuable than ever. If you are looking for a premium family air tent that will keep you dry, comfortable, and well-rested on your outdoor adventures, the Berghaus 400XL Nightfall is one of the best options on the market.