You show up to the campsite and you’re ready to get started. The coolers and firewood are unloaded along with all your other camping gear. The next step is getting your tent prepped and ready to be pitched. If you have a pop up camping tent it’s only going to take you a matter of seconds, rather than 15-20 intense minutes that often end in arguments or divorce.
All you have to do is release the strap and it pops right up, removing all the stress that comes with fumbling around with tent poles trying to figure out which tent pole goes where meanwhile hoping that you didn’t leave any in the garage at home.
If you have spent enough time camping, pitching your tent is often a pain point. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a campground newbie finding the best pop up tent is going to make setting up camp simple and stress free.
The Best Pop Up Tents
Now that you have a pretty good idea of what to look for in a pop up tent, here are our recommendations for the best pop up tents you can find in 2018.
Zomake Pop Up Tent
- Set up time: 30 seconds
- Capacity: 2-3 people
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Material: Material is 190TPU polyester and 210D Oxford fabric
The
It’s made for camping and hiking in good weather, while it is weather resistant, heavy rain should be avoided. The tent itself is built with two windows and two doors that provide adequate ventilation in hot weather.
It is made with ANTI-UV and is made of 190 TPU polyester and the bottom is made of 210 Oxford fabric. The tent is built with hooks that you use for added stability, however, high winds and heavy rains it’s not going to be any fun.
Pros:
- 2 doors
- Fiberglass frame
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Challenging repack
- Lacks durability
- Not good for heavy rain
- Seconds Pop Up - Open the package, unstrap the tent, throw it in the air, watch it open itself in seconds. No need to fumble with poles or complicated instructions
- Ventilation& Blocking Mosquitoes - 2 mesh doors, 2 mesh windows and an extra big mesh roof sky window. With high density mesh net, being air fresh while keeping insects out
- Tent Size - Open size : Very roomy for 3 adults, could easily fit 4 if needed. Ideal for a family rest. Folding Size: 80 cm in diameter as a disc（With installation instructions）
- Material - Durable sturdy 190T PU-coated silver ANTI-UV polyester fabric, provide UPF 50+ Sun Protection and no odd smell inside the tent
Coleman Pop Up Tent
- Set up time: 10-15 seconds
- Capacity: 2 people
- Weight: 5.8 pounds
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Material: Ripstop nylon and 185T 68D Fire and water resistant polyester fly
Don’t close your eyes or you might miss this tent popping into shape, it literally blows open in a matter of seconds. You’ll be involved in multiple campsite conversations about how fast and easy this tent flies up.
It’s a 2 person tent that works that will work for a couple, however, if you have other gear there’s not going to be much room left inside for any cuddles. The tent has one door and two windows with large mesh openings for increased ventilation.
This tent will fold back up, however, it is a challenge on the first couple tries. If you have any questions check out a YouTube video and watch someone fold it back up.
Pros:
- Roomy
- Handles light rain
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Flimsy zippers
- Weak poles
- Challenge to repack
- 4-Person Pop-Up Tent
- Pre-assembled poles for easy 10-second setup
- Taped floor seams help keep you dry
- Multi-position rainfly for the perfect balance of protection and ventilation
theNORTHblu Pop Up Tent
- Set up time: 30 seconds
- Capacity: 2 people
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Material: 190T polyester fabric
The North Blue pop up tent is billed as a 2 person tent and will handle two adults and some of your gear. The manufacturer says that no ground tarp is required, but it’s always a good idea to use one on every camping trip.
The tent is made of durable 190T polyester fabric, with one door and windows for ventilation. While this tent can’t handle heavy rainfall it can handle light rainfall. If you need something that is completely waterproof consider a rainfly or tarp overhead for protection.
With one door that includes a mosquito net, two windows, and large mesh openings there is plenty of airflow. Folding it up is a challenge and that’s a recurring theme with most of the pop up tents that are available.
Pros:
- Mosquito net
- Easy to set up
- Easy to take down
Cons:
- Only light rain
- Steep walls
- Weak zippers
- Pop up dimensions: 87" x 60" x 43". Collapsible dimensions fold into the carry bag: 30" diameter
- EASY SET UP - Folds up in SECONDS and there is no ground tarp needed!
- DURABLE 190T polyester fabric! Room for TWO sleeping pads!
- EXCELENT VENTILATION - this tent has 3 ventilation holes and 1 inner side bag. Durable fiberglass poles and hook stakes all INCLUDED!
Abco Tech Pop Up Tent
- Set up time: 10-15 seconds
- Capacity: 2 people
- Weight: 3.8 pounds
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Material: Ripstop nylon
Abco Tech pop up tent is one of the lighter pop up tents out there at under 4 pounds. It is built to hold two people and you can even throw in a couple small gear bags inside.
As far as weather, just like every other pop up tent, it is only recommended to expose this tent to light rainfall. The tent has double doors with two windows and mesh covers. It can handle a very light rain, however, if you are tall you will get wet if you touch the sides in rainy conditions.
This tent comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee from the manufacturer. After spending some time looking into what exactly that guarantee means we couldn’t find a timetable or terms for returns.
Pros:
- Double doors
- Easy to set up
- Pops up in seconds
Cons:
- Only light rain
- Rare pole issues
- Short ceiling
- Effortless set up – Pops open in the blink of an eye into a ready-to-use camping and lounge tent, and easy to fold back into a compact form – Abco Pop up tent is ideal for casual camping and accommodates 1-2 people. See our video content for detailed instructions on how to open and close the tent!
- Double doors – With double doors on both the left and right side, it’s easy to step out from either side. Moreover, a combination of inner zippered screen plus outer zippered nylon layer give an ability to easily switch between high breathability and complete privacy.
- High breathability– a mesh window on both the front and back allow for air circulation while the solid nylon flaps over the windows allow for privacy. Further, opening the mesh windows allows you to enjoy your surroundings from inside the tent.
- Carry bag & accessories – Comes with a carry bag that's ideal for storage and easy portability. It also comes with a small bag for accessories to keep them organized
FiveJoy Pop Up Tent
- Set up time: 30 seconds
- Capacity: 2 person
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Material: Ripstop nylon
This is the largest pop up tent on the list at four people, and Fivejoy has a two person variation as well. It is on the larger end of pop up tents and will pop up in a matter of seconds.
It is made with water resistant materials, however, anything involving more than a light rain and you’re going to need a rainfly. Without a rainfly water will get inside the tent in rainy weather.
It comes with two large doors for easy access and has two windows with mesh covers for increased ventilation in warm weather. There is a mesh screen on the inside as well, however, there isn’t much use for it.
Pros:
- Double doors
- Large windows
- Fits 4 people
Cons:
- Only light rain
- Rare pole issues
- Zipper issues
- ⛺ EASY and STRESS FREE SET UP - Remove your instant, free-standing tent from the packaging and watch it pop up automatically (you can literally count the seconds this takes!). No need to fumble with tent poles, or bother with complicated instructions. The tent comes in a portable carrying bag so you can easily fold up, pack in, and head off on a new adventure!
- 👼 LET YOUR KIDS BE KIDS AGAIN - Set up camp in your backyard and have your kids leave their phones in the house. Enjoy a breath of healthy fresh air, and warm sunlight in this cozy outdoor fort. Expand their imagination by playing outside like we did (we won't ask you how long ago that was if you don't).
- 🍃 THOUGHTFUL DESIGN - Openings on both the left and right sides are covered by a solid nylon flap provides cross ventilation and privacy. Let air in, while keeping the bugs out! DOUBLE DOORS allow total privacy. Keep the area inside the tent clean and organized. Conveniently hang your battery or electric powered lantern from the hang loop and store your car keys or phone in the storage pockets.
- 🏖️ MULTI PURPOSE- Turn your windows into a rain fly by attaching guy lines to the loops below the window flap and secure them to stakes a short distance from the tent. Guy lines and stakes/ pegs are included. Enjoy protection from the sun on the beach or park. We recommend using a tent tarp beneath the tent, and rainfly overhead.
Benefits of pop up camping tents
The days of fumbling with tent poles for 10 minutes a thing of the past. With pop up tents, there are zero poles to handle and no Rosetta stone of installation instructions to decipher. You can literally unfurl it, stake it down, and your ready to go.
Pop up tents excel in functionality and speed of installation. A pop up tent can go from the trunk of your car to a standing tent in a matter of seconds. The longest part of setting up your pop up tent is getting the groundsheet in place.
Pop up tents are generally not designed for any more than 4 people, however, they are lightweight and
Advantages of pop up tents
- Pops up in seconds
- Extremely lightweight
- Compact and portable
- Super easy to set up
- Perfect for weekend camping, festivals, and beach camping
7 Steps to perfectly pitch a pop up tent
Pitching a
1. Get a pop up tent
The first step in setting up a pop up tent is owning or borrowing one. Head down to your outdoor store, order one online, or borrow one from a friend.
2. Find the right location
Location, location, location. Look for a site that’s not in a depression or valley and on a level surface. Most campsites have spaces specifically for your tent that are level and in decent locations. If you’re wild camping, look for somewhere on a flat surface with trees or bushes for extra
3. Prepare the groundsheet
Whether you use a KOA or prefer dispersed camping, preparing the area where your tent sits is always important. Clear the area of rocks, pine cones, and anything else that has a sharp edge to place the groundsheet. If you don’t have a groundsheet, a tarp or piece of canvas cloth will work just fine.
4. Release the restraining band
This is the fun part. Pop up tents are spring loaded and held in place with a restraining band. As soon as you release the restraining band and let go of the tent it pops open in a matter of seconds.
5. Stake the tent
Now that you have the tent popped up and in place, the next step is to stake it down. Hammer the stakes down at a 45-degree angle facing away from the tent itself.
6. Secure the guy lines
The tent (hopefully) came with guylines that are used to add extra support for the tent in windy conditions. Attach the guylines to the little loops in the outside of the tent and fasten them firmly to the ground or a tree nearby.
7. Give it a tug
Shake the tent around a little and make sure that it’s not going anywhere and that it’s firmly in place. You can literally walk through all 8 steps in under 5 minutes, and under 3 once you have some experience.
Photo by Abdullah AlBargan CC BY-ND 2.0
Pop up tent buying guide
Pop up tents are a quick and easy alternative to a standard camping tent. Like any other tent, the challenge is finding a balance in size, price, ease of set up, and durability. Keep the following factors in mind when considering a pop up tent.
Tent pole strength
Since pop up tents have poles that are spring loaded and built into the tent, durability is a reasonable concern. The pop up tents of a time gone by would not last more than a few trips and the poles were notorious for snapping. Modern pop up tents have come a long way, however, the main failure point is always going to be the tent poles and spring mechanism.
Size
Most pop up tents are designed for 2 to 4 adults, however, there are a few larger models available. As pop up tents get larger there are more failure points and repairing the tent poles is not an option.
Weight
Since they really only come in two sizes and the main goal is convenience and speed pop up tents are lightweight by nature. Most standard pop up tents range from 4 to 6 pounds.
Warranty
Warranties are not always included in every purchase. Do your research on which tent you end up choosing and find one that is guaranteed for at least a year. Not having some kind of warranty is a major red flag with any piece of camping gear.
Set up
This is the beauty of pop up tents, they are so simple to set up that even kids can do it with a short lesson. It’s one strap and then you throw it into place, the first time you set up a
Weather resistance
Pop up tents are made to be light and ultra portable, so there are sacrifices made in other areas. A pop up tent is going to be limited to fairly good weather conditions like light rain and wind, anything more than that you want a normal tent.
Ventilation
Pop up tents are limited in size and this can lead to poor ventilation in certain models. Look for a tent with mesh windows and large doors for necessary ventilation.
Durability
They can last for years if they are well maintained. The early
Downside of pop up tents
It’s not all rainbows and sunshine when we’re talking about pop up tents, they do have disadvantages. The biggest sacrifice that you have to make with a
Another thing that isn’t often talked about is how difficult breaking down a pop up tent can be. They do set up in minutes, however, the break down can be maddening. Have you ever unfolded a city map on a tour and then tried to refold it, that’s what repacking a pop up tent is like on the first try.
Another one of the biggest disadvantages is the stability in bad weather. Sure, they set up in a matter of seconds, however, with high winds and rain, you’re going to be uncomfortable.
The pole structure and spring loaded design of the tent don’t do much in the department of wind resistance, even with it staked down heavy winds will become an issue.
Pop up tents are not made for a wild excursion through the jungle or a trek on the Annapurna trail. They are made for the spontaneous excursion, quick weekend adventure, or
Disadvantages pop up tents
- Unstable in wind
- Challenging to repack
- Limited in size
- Only used in decent weather
- Not made for cold weather
Conclusion
Pop up tents are best for those times when you just need a stress-free tent to set up in under a minute. You do have to sacrifice the durability and weather resistance that is included with a standard pole tent, however, you make some sacrifices for the extreme convenience of the ease of pitching the tent.
Pop up camping tents are best suited for short excursion and those spur of the moment days where you just want to throw everything in the trunk and go. While they won’t replace your everyday use tents, they will be a nice addition to your spontaneous camping adventures.
