If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best pop up tent is, then we recommend the Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent as the best one.
In 2016 alone, 40.5 million Americans went camping. Statistics show that camping, whether in an RV or in the best pop up tents you can find, is also on the rise. More people are seeking ways to disconnect from screens and enjoy time in that thing called nature. Remember that feeling of seeing a view farther away from your eyes than a computer or a phone? If not, it just might be time for a camping trip. Don’t worry, modern pop up tents are easier to assemble and take down than those from even a decade or two ago.
In this article, we’re going to review the following pop-up tents:
- Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent
- Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent
- Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL
- NTK Cherokee GT 9.8 x 9.8 Foot Family Camping Tent
- CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
Vacationing on a Small Budget
Camping remains among the best values you can find out of any sort of vacation. It is almost always less costly than paying for a hotel room. Even with the increase in rental homes through websites or apps like Airbnb and Home Away, which can save money over hotels, the cost is still several times that of buying a tent you can use repeatedly and renting a campsite.
As an extra perk, you can bring your own food to cook over an open fire as much as you like. It doesn’t have to be limited to s’mores, either. With the right equipment, you can cook up hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, eggs, even pancakes, and bring whatever sides you enjoy. That can cultivate extra family time and save you hundreds in comparison to restaurants.
What to Look for When Buying a Pop-Up Tent
When selecting a popup tent, there are a few factors that are vital to avoid in buyer’s remorse. Consider how much camping you will be doing, the type of camping and location that suit you, and look for these essential features.
These, of course, are the basics and further specs will depend on what sort of pop-up you need. Naturally, for something like a beach tent, specifications such as powerful UV-resistance and sturdiness in the wind will be more critical than the roll-up, lightweight, compact features of a pro-backpacker’s tent.
Durability and Tent Stakes
You want a tent with strength and durability that will withstand strong wind for almost any situation. Even if you are not expecting to camp in an extremely windy area, you never know when the weather will change. This is where sturdy tent stakes or spikes that secure your shelter to the ground can be a vital upgrade if your tent comes with flimsy plastic or thin metal versions. Check for reviews on tent poles and their strength, as well.
UV-Resistance
If you live in an exceedingly sunny area or plan to camp in the heat of summertime often, UV-resistant fabrics are a crucial feature you will want. This will help prevent the material from wearing out too quickly and if they’re water-resistant, losing their waterproof quality by deterioration in the sun.
Serious Hiking and Backpacking
If your tent is meant to be used mostly during strenuous hikes at the very end of the day for sleeping only, you should be looking for backpacker and professional hiking tents such as the Weanas model. The lightweight backpack design of these pop-ups, combined with their often simple, quick set up are ideal for intermediate to advanced backpackers. These can go miles with you on your back and be popped into place rapidly at the end of a long day.
Waterproof Quality
Water resistance is also vital in camping tents. Especially if you live in a region such as the Pacific Northwest or anywhere where it often rains, waterproof tents are a must. You can aid a pop-up tent’s water barrier by stringing another canopy tarp above the pop-up as an additional rain fly. Be sure that it extends higher and farther beyond the shelter itself.
You can also add a tarp on the ground and secure it up under a pop-up’s rain fly. Think of a bathtub formation, but under the protection of the outer fly, so it does not collect water. This can help prevent you from waking up in a puddle.
Keep these features in mind, and check out some of the best pop-up tents on the market right now.
Best Standard Camping Tent: Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent
This Coleman pop-up tent has a roomy interior with easy set-up. I personally love the snag-free continuous pole sleeves, as my childhood tent snagged and caught on the poles regularly. The set-up on this tent is a breeze. The material is sturdy quality, and as a bonus, there are screen windows—including one on the ceiling—which makes for a great view when it’s not raining.
The value of this tent is incredible. The Coleman brand is long-associated with camping, and this tent includes a one-year warranty. If you just need a backup shelter or are testing out camping in the backyard, this is a fantastic buy.
Pros:
- Straightforward, simple set-up.
- Airflow vent for the floor.
- Hook on the ceiling for hanging a small light.
- Quality rain fly.
- Fantastic price for a four-person tent.
- Three color options.
- Lots of vents for airflow and roof view.
- Fantastic price.
Cons:
- Stakes are average quality—you can spend a few bucks to replace with sturdier stakes.
- Need a tarp under this tent.
Best Backpacker’s Tent: Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent
The Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent is ideal for those looking to camp in all sorts of weather. With the proper equipment (such as portable heaters or all-weather winter sleeping bags) you can even camp in the winter with this tent. Among the high ratings for this tent are five-star reviews for use even during snowfall!
This is definitely more of a backpacker’s style tent—hike and then have just enough room to sleep and keep your stuff during the night. So, if you want a hiking tent rather than a campground tent, this is an excellent option. It’s spacious enough to sleep someone as tall as six and a half feet tall without your head or feet touching the sides.
Pros:
- Multi-season tent.
- Available in several sizes and color options.
- Features a vestibule cover to keep a shelter over the door opening.
- Super lightweight and compact.
- Can withstand snow without leaks.
- Waterproof index over 4,000 mm.
Cons:
- Rectangular, so a bit snug in width.
- Not all customers found it big enough for stated person capacity.
Best Beach Tent: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL
If you’re looking for a non-traditional camping tent but want coverage for the beach, the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL is outstanding. This pop-up tent is not meant for full closure at night as a standard tent offers, but rather your own private spot with a fully opened side to view the water. If you’re a genuine adventurer who wants to sleep out in the wilderness without even the confines of a tent, this can be a fantastic piece of equipment to cover you from surprise downpours while still sleeping next to the surf.
The set-up of this model is among the fastest of any beach tent on the market. The reviews do not disagree, either. With nearly 85 percent of over 2,000 reviews being five-stars, this beach tent is worth some serious investigation if you’re in the market. There is also an extendable floor option if you want more coverage over the sand than the standard model.
Pros:
- Large enough to allow a family of four or five (sitting).
- Mesh windows for breeze and to aid stability in wind.
- Incredibly simple to set up and take down.
- Reasonable price.
- Outstanding customer ratings.
- Large pocket to keep items like phones away from the sand.
Cons:
- A small ratio of customers disliked quality or had it break easily.
Best Family Tent: NTK Cherokee GT 9.8 x 9.8 Foot Family Camping Tent
The NTK Cherokee GT Five to Six Person Outdoor Dome Family Camping Tent is a spacious 9.8 feet by 9.8 feet in size. If you’re looking for a tent for a family of up to six people, this is a fantastic option. The screens on this tent are made from an ultra-thin polyester micro mesh. This means the holes are tiny enough to keep even the smallest bugs out, but the thin material allows you an excellent view.
If you’re worried about rain, this tent is also an excellent choice as it features a tarped floor of anti-fungal, silver-coated polyethylene on the inner layer. For a shelter of this size and quality, it runs at a very decent price.
Pros:
- Super spacious pop-up tent.
- Excellent for rain, tarped bottom, and superb full-coverage rain fly.
- “No-see-em” ultra-thin screens for fantastic, unobstructed view yet bug barrier.
- Anti-fungal fully tarped bottom.
- Pin and ring system with a fast set-up.
- Outstanding customer reviews.
Cons:
- Some complaints about stability in high winds.
Best Large Capacity Tent: CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
I investigated the CORE Nine Person Instant Cabin Tent during a trip with a friend who owns this version and found it to be incredible. The poles are already attached, and the set-up literally took about two minutes. After popping this up, just stake it in the ground and talk about having room to move around! It fits two queen-sized air mattresses and has a tall center height of 78 inches (six and a half feet).
There is a room divider for privacy, which is ideal for a tent that can sleep that many people. One of the best features of this model is the colossal ceiling made of bug-barrier mesh. Naturally, it includes a rain fly. However, on beautiful days, the bug-free view you can get out of this tent is unmatched. This is a large tent for one or two people, but if you have a family or like to camp with friends, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Pros:
- Massive space for moving around or sleeping a family
- Extremely rapid set-up.
- No threading poles, as they’re already attached through loops.
- Fully tarped bottom.
- Mesh windows and ceiling for mosquito-free star gazing.
- Outstanding customer reviews.
Cons:
- A small number of customers complained about pole quality.
- Some rare shipping damage issues.
Still Trying to Decide on a Pop Up Tent?
Depending on your specific camping needs, we have you covered on some of the best pop up tents currently available. We love all of these options for their particular uses. However, if you’re not quite sure about camping yet, or you’re just looking for a basic tent as a backup option for RV trips, our favorite is the Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent.
The low price combined with high ratings of this tent make it our personal overall winner. It’s a fantastic starter tent or option for sleeping just a few people. The Coleman name is long-associated with camping supplies. So, it’s worth trying out and won’t break the bank even if you decide you need something more substantial, for more rugged use, or to utilize in the snow. Happy camping!