10 Best Beach Tents of 2021 (Review)

1. Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent

4.7/5

2. WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent

4.4/5

3. Lightspeed Outdoors Quick Cabana Beach Tent

4.6/5
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For many of us, summer is synonymous with camping and beach trips. Soaking in the sun is such a rewarding activity, but too much sun is bad for you. When you can’t set your base in a naturally shaded area, a beach tent can help. It doesn’t even matter if you’re at the beach or up in the mountains. 

These shelters are light, compact, and versatile, providing both shade and a comfortable sleep space for one or two people. They are ideal for picnics, car camping, or backpacking, too. Now, wondering which is the best beach tent around? Check out our rundown.

How We Rated Best Beach Tent?

  • UPF

    is it well protected from sun?

  • Windproof

    is it well protected from wind?

  • Ventilation

    Is it breathable?

  • Set Up

    Is it easy to set-up?

  • Capacity

    Is it spacious and roomy?

  • Convenient

    Is it designed for comfort?

  • Lifespan

    Is it build for years to come?

  • Durability

    Is it sturdy enough?

How We Conducted Research?

  • 14

    Hours Researched

  • 21

    Products Evaluated

  • 8k

    Reviews Considered

  • 2

    Sources Researched

1. Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent

4.7/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent:

Pacific Breeze is one of the most popular beach gear brands, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the best beach tent comes from them. Boasting an easy, one-person set up, this tent is perfect for two adults or a family of three.

Three side walls protect you from wind and provide shade regardless of the sun’s position. Two large windows on sides and an air vent on the back panel also ensure plenty of airflow, keeping the temperature inside the tent comfortable. Lightweight and easy to carry, the tent also comes with stakes, rope, and sandbags. All in all, one of your best bets for beach, picnics, or camping.

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2. WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent

4.4/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent:

The WolfWise Easy Pop Up is much more than a beach tent. Impressing with two side openings as well as a window on each wall, it can easily double as a 2-person camp tent for camping in hotter climates.

The tent boasts a generous floor space as well as a generous head clearance that makes it suitable to use with taller beach chairs. At the same time, it packs very compact and is ultra-lightweight – just perfect for backpacking. Sandbags, stakes, and a guy rope offer better wind resistance, and we also like the front porch that prevents too much sand from getting inside. Everything at a more than attractive price tag.

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3. Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Tent

4.6/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Tent:

The Cabana Tent by Lightspeed Outdoors is similar to our best overall up to an extent. It presents the same umbrella-style structure and is very easy to erect by only one person. However, it’s roomier and more suitable to use with beach chairs.

Another highlight is the large front porch that provides a further 4 feet of floored area. Three windows – one on each wall – let the breeze pass through and regulate the temperature. The tent boasts a solid, fiberglass structure; it provides UV protection and keeps you dry in light rain. No doubt, your best bet if you want a beach tent designed to last and don’t mind its slightly higher price point.

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4. BATTOP Pop Up Beach Tent

4.8/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the BATTOP Pop Up Beach Tent:

The BATTOP tops the charts as one of the lightest beach tents on the market, but its low weight is not the only reason why it has made it to our list. This tent pops up in seconds, it is compact when packed, yet it’s roomy enough to accommodate 3 to 4 people. 

While it doesn’t come with large windows, mesh panels at floor level still ensure plenty of airflow, even on the hottest days. However, this tent is not the most comfortable to use with beach chairs. That said, if you don’t mind sitting directly on the floor and need a light, easy to carry option, this beach tent might be it.

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5. SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent

4.3/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent:

More than a tent, the SUN NINJA is a beach canopy designed to provide a whopping 52.5 square feet of shaded area. It consists of a large tarp with four sandbags on the corners and two poles that keep it at a height. Thanks to its open nature, it provides plenty of space for two beach chairs and a cooler or up to four people sitting on beach towels. 

Wind and rain protection is minimal, but it does provide 50+ UPF protection. The canopy is easy to set up and suitable to use on all kinds of terrains. An excellent choice if you find a beach tent too constrictive to lounge in or too cumbersome to carry.

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6. KOON Beach Tent Sun Shelter

4.8/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the KOON Beach Tent Sun Shelter:

Similar to our premium pick, the KOON sun shelter is roomy enough to accommodate two beach chairs plus gear, or up to 4 people. It boasts a simple set up and is also easy to break down. We particularly like the large tarp that gives you plenty of space to lay down. The porch area also features Velcro tabs you can use to close the front of the tent. 

Sure, it doesn’t act exactly like a door, but it will keep you drier in a heavier downpour. Like the Cabana Tent, this shelter also has three mesh windows with flaps, as well as attached sandbags for enhanced wind resistance. A great choice if you liked our premium pick, but want a more affordable alternative.

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7. Sport-Brella XL Vented Canopy Umbrella

4.8/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the Sport-Brella XL Vented Canopy Umbrella:

The  Sport-Brella XL comes as a versatile alternative to the traditional beach tent. This canopy umbrella provides a generous shaded area for two people sitting on beach or camping chairs. Set up is as easy as it gets – simply open the umbrella, and that’s it.

Large side flaps provide both wind protection and shade from the sides, while two mesh windows keep you cool even in the hottest temperatures. The umbrella is made from beach tent fabric, providing effective protection against UVA and UVB rays. Furthermore, it comes with guyrope and tent stakes, for added resistance in stronger gusts.

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8. Pacific Breeze Sand & Surf Beach Shelter

4.1/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the Pacific Breeze Sand & Surf Beach Shelter:

The Sand & Surf is another entry from Pacific Breeze that has made it to our list. This versatile beach shelter is designed with airflow in mind, letting the breeze blow from all sides. Needless to say, it keeps you much cooler than a standard beach tent, so it’s a much better choice for the hottest days.

Innovative features include a zip-out footprint, removable side walls, and exposed frame that allows you to attach a rainfly to it, should you want to. The tent is a bit on the heavier side, but durable. No doubt, a perfect choice for beach trips as well as car camping.

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9. Easthills Outdoors Instant Shader Lite

4.4/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the Easthills Outdoors Instant Shader Lite:

The Instant Shelter Lite by Easthills boasts the same acclaimed design as our best choice. It features a hub structure and simple, one-step installation. The canopy comes attached to the frame, and the tent is large enough to accommodate up to 3 adults.

Like the Pacific Breeze, it comes with two mesh windows on the sides for proper airflow. It lacks a porch tarp or door, but it comes with a gear loft as well as an interior mesh pocket. Similar to most beach tents, it also comes with plastic stakes and a carry bag. All in all, an affordable alternative for seamless beach camping.

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10. DEERFAMY Pop Up Tent

4.4/5

Technical Specs:

Why we picked the DEERFAMY Pop Up Tent:

Beach camping is undeniably more fun that just a day at the beach. And with the DEERFAMY pop-up tent, you don’t even have to worry about elements. Large enough to sleep three, this is more than a beach tent.

Large doors and windows ensure plenty of airflow during the day, while an additional canopy keeps you dry in the rain. Another highlight is the fact that the rainfly flaps are easy to turn into vestibules, providing a further shaded area for you to lounge or for the children to play. The tent is easy to set up in under a minute and suitable to use in all camping instances. 

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Buying Guide for Beach Tent

 

Beach tents and camping tents are almost similar. At first glance, a beach tent and a camping tent look practically the same. Beach tents, though, serve a different purpose. It is mainly designed for UV protection. Beach tents, sun shelters and beach shelters all refer to the same thing – the half-domed, open-faced tents. Beach tents are gaining popularity because of how convenient they are and yet provide the much needed shelter while at the beach. 

We’ve prepared this guide for you to familiarize yourself with the factors that need to be considered when buying your best beach tent.

Material: Body

 

We all know the effect of prolonged sun exposure. This is one main consideration why beach tents are such a hit – they provide protection against the sun’s harmful rays; without having the hassle of carrying an umbrella.

Probably the first consideration is the UPF rating of the beach tent. The UPF rating measures how effective the material is at blocking the UV rays. The material should be rated at UPF 50+, which means that it will block at least 98% of the sun’s rays. 

Nylon and Polyester are the top materials used for beach tents. Both materials provide enough protection from the sun. Polyester is sometimes a preferred choice because it is cheaper. However Nylon has better waterproofing characteristics over Polyester. Our top choice is the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent; it is made from breathable Polyester fabric and has water-resistant floors making it ideal for any weather conditions. 

Material: Frame

 

Look for tents that either use aluminum or steel in the frame. Both steel and aluminum are durable materials that will be able to withstand the demands of the beach but still be as lightweight as possible. Aluminum is corrosion resistant thus will not have impact being exposed in the water. Steel frames like the Sport-Brella XL Vented Canopy Umbrella is ideal for beaches that are prone to experience strong winds. Steel is heavier than the aluminum, and therefore can withstand windy conditions more than an aluminum frame. There are new innovations in beach tent frames, like the Pacific Breeze Sand & Surf Beach Shelter, that has an exposed fiberglass frame. The rationale behind the exposed frame is to be able to attach a rainfly as an additional cover as the tent is exposed on both ends. 

Size

Consider the number of people that you need to fit in the beach tent comfortably when choosing. Make sure that there is still enough space to move around after the space capacity has been used.

For a two-person tent, we recommend our premium choice, Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Tent. This is a two-person tent that has a large porch that provides an additional four feet extra space. It has enough room for a two person adult and that extra space can be used as a storage area or playing area for a child.

For a large capacity beach tent, we recommend SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent. It provides adequate shade for four people on a beach towel or two people sitting on beach chairs with a little bit of extra space for a cooler. 

Ease of Assembly

 

Your hands might already be full even before you arrive at the beach. Given this you would not want to spend the next couples of minutes trying to set-up your beach tent. Opt for a beach tent that is easy to set-up and take-down as well. We especially like the BATTOP Pop Up Beach Tent which pops up in seconds keeping you away from the sun as quickly as you set-it up.

Weight

Your beach tent’s weight also plays a great role in the ease of assembly. Heavyweight tents will take more than one person to set it up. While lightweight beach tents will be easier to prepare. All of the beach tents in our list are lightweight but the DEERFAMY Pop Up Tent is special to us because of its lightweightness at 9.2 lb, you can just throw it out in the air once outside the carrying bag and it lands on the sand fully set-up. 

Also keep in mind that you will be carrying the beach tent from your car to the beach. So keep the weight part of your considerations. The  Easthills Outdoors Instant Shader Lite though lightweight at only 4.5 lbs comes with a carrying bag for portability. Also the SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent is a great alternative at 5 lbs, if you do not want to lug beach tents to and from.

Privacy

 

Sometimes you just want the meal hours and sleeping hours at the beach a little more private. Some beach tents, though half-dome in design, have extra features for privacy. Just check out KOON Beach Tent Sun Shelter; the porch tarp can be turned into a door for that much needed privacy.

Design

 

Although there is uniformity in the design of beach tents, there are some models that still strive to give their tents an edge in design. We’re impressed with WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent’s generous head clearance that is unique among those in the list. The head clearance provides a plus point for livability as it will provide more ventilation and space to move around. 

We also like Pacific Breeze Sand & Surf Beach Shelter open design like the alternative SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent. Both have open design which paves way for more versatility in use of the beach tents. You can add rainfly to it or with the SUN NINJA model, you can have it side by side with another one to provide more shelter.

The two-mesh windows of Easthills Outdoors Instant Shader Lite also gets a special mention in design. As it considers design and functionally in one. The two mesh windows are great for proper ventilation and keeping the hot air out of the beach tent during hot weather.

FAQ

• Are Beach Tents Waterproof?

Beach tents are usually made from thinner polyester and are not fully waterproof. Some models don’t even have doors or walls, so they won’t protect you from rain coming from the sides. However, their canopies are water-resistant and will keep you dry in light rain.

• What is the Best Beach Shade Canopy?

Pacific Breeze is known for its range of beach tents and beach shade canopies. You can pick from various styles and sizes, according to your needs.

• Do Tents Protect from Sun?

Yes. Beach tents in particular are made from fabrics that prevent UV rays from passing through. Most models can block over 90% of radiation, while regular camping tents also provide UV protection, albeit the factor is not always specified.

• How do You Secure a Tent on the Beach?

Perhaps the easiest way to secure a tent on the beach is with sandbags. Most beach tents come with built-in bags you can easily fill with sand and empty before taking down the tent. If you feel the structure needs reinforcement, you can further secure it with ground stakes – usually the plastic kind works beautifully – and ropes.

• Best Tent for Beach Camping?

The Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Tent is undeniably one of the best tents for beach camping. This model boasts generous head clearance and a large porch, that gives you plenty of space to lay down. If you want more privacy, a tent like the WoolfWise could be a better choice, as it comes with a solid panel door.