Setting up a tent can test the patience of the most seasoned camper. To make things worse, it’s usually the first thing you need to do after a long journey, by car or on foot, to your camping spot. One thing’s for sure, until you have your tent up, no one is having any fun.
Enter the pop-up tent. These shelters can be up in seconds thanks to preassembled, highly flexible poles or other ingenious mechanisms that take the stress out of the assembly. This makes them a great choice for festivals and family camping where you can’t put a price on an easier setup, although the relative weight and larger pack size means they are not ideal for backpacking. Other than the quick setup and takedown (which you should practice before you go), pop-up tents should be as water-resistant as standard tents and often they cope well with wind thanks to the springy poles. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent
Instant set up and highly portable for two
It only takes ten seconds to put up this two-person tent. Its preassembled poles snap into place in an instant. Once up, the taped floor seams protect you from wet ground while the multi-position rainfly keeps rain out but allows condensation to escape. Integrated storage pockets keep small items organized. Folding flat for storage, it's light to carry to where you want to camp.
MOON LENCE Pop Up Tent
Good protection and roomy design
This roomy tent’s instant pop-up mechanism will see it set up in a minute. It offers all-round protection from the elements with 2000mm water resistance and good UV resistance. The two doors have dual SBS zippers and it comes with ten lightweight alloy pegs and four guy ropes for added wind resistance
CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
Huge tent with ultra-speedy setup
Nine people can fit comfortably in this 14’ x 9’ cabin tent but you can set it up in just 60 seconds thanks to the Core Instant Hub Technology. The adjustable venting system allows a free flow of air around the interior which has a peak height of 6.5’ for the hotter months. The rainfly helps keep out water but is removable for better views in good weather.
Bottom line
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Although pop-up tents might not be the first choice of serious backpackers, they are great for casual camping and festivals. The best models are made from quality materials so other than being a cinch to set-up, they are as durable and water-resistant as traditional tents. Our pick of the pop-ups is the Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent. It’s perfect for a couple of campers who want a quick set-up so they can get on with enjoying their weekend. It’s a quality tent that won’t let you down.
If you need serious amounts of space for your family or crew, the CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is a monster of a tent but incredibly easy to put up. This makes it a versatile shelter that would be good for outdoor events as well as camping in a large group.
