Camping Panda
Camping is all fun and games, at least until you have to setup the tent. Old-fashioned outdoor shelters can take ages to erect. If the instructions are poor, the whole thing could take over half an hour. Yet, there is an easy way to get rid of the hassle. All you need is an instant tent.
Typically, these tents come with pre-installed poles and can be erected in under two minutes. They come in all styles and sizes, and depending on the model, they can be used in all seasons. When picking one, you have to pay attention to the quality of the poles, type of fabric, as well as overall build quality. To help you out, we already did the hard work for you and selected the best instant tents on the market. Check them out in our rundown.
Waterproof
Is it well protected?
Ventilation
Is it breathable?
Longevity
Is it build for years to come?
Price
Is it the best value for your $?
Set Up
Is it easy to set-up?
Durability
Is it strong enough?
Convenient
Is it designed for comfort?
Sleeping Capacity
Is it spacious and roomy?
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Hours Researched
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Products Evaluated
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The Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Set Up is by far the best choice if you’re looking after an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-erect family tent. Advertised as a 10-person tent, it provides plenty of space for air mattresses, camping beds or cots, as well as camping chairs, table, and gear. It can comfortably accommodate around 8 adults, or two-four adults and a bunch of kids, and requires less than 1 minute to set it up.
We particularly like the dark room technology that not only blocks sunlight in the morning, but also reduces heat. This feature makes it a perfect summer tent for camping and tailgating. Water resistance is not the best, but it’ll still keep you dry in light rain. All in all, one of the best instant summer tents for those who don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.
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Single campers, hikers, couples, and small families looking for the best instant tent might simply fall in love with the ZOMAKE tent. This small outdoor shelter takes literally seconds to set up and take down, thanks to the quick release design. Once you’ve tried it, it’s hard to go back to the traditional tent design, and as long as you don’t require excessive floor space or head clearance, you’ll be perfectly happy with this choice.
In terms of capacity, it fits three adults at a tight squeeze or two adults and two kids. It has enough floor space to accommodate a queen size mattress. Two large mesh windows and mesh doors at both ends of the tent ensure proper airflow even on the hottest days, while convenient flaps provide privacy and protect you from wind or rain. Ideal for everything from backpacking to keeping your baby protected from sun at the beach, this instant setup tent for families is perfect for low-key, no-frills camping.
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The Gazelle T4 Pop-Up Overlanding Tent impresses with outstanding water resistance and suitability to use in colder seasons, too. Although it’s basically a summer tent, it withstands moderate rain of up to 2,000m and has excellent wind resistance. Like most tents out there, it’s slightly smaller than advertised, so not really suitable for four adults. However, it is a great choice for two adults and two kids.
Innovative features include a removable floor that makes cleaning a breeze and removable rainfly with integrated poles. The tent comes fully assembled and is very easy to setup and dismantle. Sure, you’ll have to pay for all this features. But if you’re after a premium quality instant tent and don’t mind spending a buck, this one might be it.
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Spacious and relatively lightweight, the OT QOMOTOP Waterproof Pop Up Tent could be the best bet for avid hikers and backpackers who need a family or group outdoor sleeping arrangement. At 18.4 lbs, it’s not the lightest instant tent for 6 persons, but it’s not that heavy either, especially if someone else can help you share the load of the other camping essentials.
When it comes to interior dimensions, know that you’ll have plenty of room to fit in two queen size mattresses, as well as additional camping gear. The cabin design makes it possible to stand and walk around the shelter, so you can easily get dressed and prepare for the day. Ideal for summer use, the tent also comes with large mesh windows, mesh ceiling, and a removable rainfly you can put on or take off as needed.
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KAZOO Uranus has made it to our list as one of the best instant tents for all seasons. An array of features make it well worth the higher price tag. Perhaps the most prominent feature is its instant folding and unfolding that makes it super-easy to erect and dismantle. Furthermore, the company is one of the few that stands up to expectations when it comes to capacity.
This is a 6-person tent in the true sense of the word, accommodating six adults and gear comfortably. It may not be as lightweight as other similar tents on this list, but it’s still quite easy to carry by one or two adults. A removable rainfly withstands heavy rain and wind beautifully, while on the summer nights, you can simply take it off to gaze at the stars. No doubt, a great choice for larger groups or family camping.
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Backpackers and hikers looking for a small tent for two and hiking gear might like the LETHMIK Backpacking Automatic Instant Tent. This compact instant tent is designed to pop up in seconds, it packs incredibly compact, and comes with a convenient carrying bag that can be attached to a backpack.
Despite its small dimensions, it is designed to withstand whatever the elements are throwing at it. The floor is made from 210D oxford fabric, while the walls and roof boast a 210T polyurethane fabric construction. A combination of materials that delivers outstanding water resistance even in heavy rain or storm. The slightly rounded roof also enhances wind resistance. Overall, this tent is a great choice for one or two people to camp in all seasons.
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Perfect for up to five adults to sleep comfortably, the Core 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Awning is an excellent choice if you want a reliable summer tent for your family. Its greatest highlight is the double door with mesh panels and large mesh windows on two sides that provide unrivaled ventilation. Airflow is also enhanced by two adjustable ground vents; a design that keeps the interior cool even when you’re melting outside.
Water resistance is ensured by CORE’s proprietary H2O Block technology. Don’t expect the same water resistance offered by the LETHMIK or KAZOO, but this tent will still keep you dry in light to moderate rain. Another highlight is its low weight, a feature that makes it perfect for hikers. Easy to set up and dismantle, it brings outstanding value for money.
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Our second entry from KAZOO is a 2-person tent design with the adventurers in mind. It’s lightweight, compact, and easy to carry where the path may lead. High-quality materials guarantee not only protection from rain and storms, but also protection from all elements in all seasons.
While it lacks windows, it comes with two doors and two vestibules that provide additional covered space for your gear. Furthermore, two top vents help you regulate the temperature, especially on hotter days. Overall, if you’re looking for a backpacking tent, this might be an excellent choice. And even if it’s not an instant tent in the traditional way, it takes under 3 minutes to setup.
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In many ways, the Core 10 is very similar to the Core 6 we already talked about. This cabin style tent is spacious and boasts sufficient head clearance for seamless moving around. It’s ideal for larger groups or families, and can suit all needs, from hard-core camping to attending concerts or events.
More suitable to use in summer than in cooler seasons, it impresses with a high-quality construction. The fabric won’t withstand heavy rain, but it’s not supposed to anyway. Large mesh windows and ceiling, mesh door and room divider add further value. The only thing we like less is the D-style door, which is rather small. However, that’s easy to ignore, considering the tent’s overall value.
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Last on our list of best instant tents comes from Ozark Trail. An instant tent designed for avid campers and scouters. It is designed for 9 people, although we wouldn’t recommend it for more than 7 plus gear, if you want to sleep comfortably. The 14 by 9-foot floor space is generous, though, and you can fit two queen size mattresses in it.
A convenient screen room adds further covered space you can use to store your gear. It has no floor, but it’s still ideal for camping chairs and a table. Advertised as an all-season tent but more suitable for summer, it also boasts large mesh windows and a mesh ceiling. Airflow is further enhanced by two air vents at the sides. Super-easy to setup and ideal, this summer tent is ideal for groups and families.
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Are you tired of spending ages pitching your tent? Or perhaps you’ve had enough soaking in a summer storm while trying to erect your shelter. Whatever the case, an instant tent could be the best choice. Here is a quick guide to buying them if you find it hard to decide which of the models above is the best instant tent for you.
As its name implies, an instant tent is a tent designed for quick and easy setup. Typically, it takes under 5 minutes to erect and pitch the tent, while dismantling is as easy as pitching it. All this is possible, thanks to pre-attached poles that are very easy to install.
With so many tents on the market, choosing one could be truly hard. Especially when faced with choosing between a fast-pitch and an instant tent. While the name difference might create confusion, the truth is both types use the same principle.
Indeed, Fast-Pitch is a name introduced by the popular brand Coleman to advertise their instant tents. To make some sort of a difference between their instant tents and the Coleman’s, other manufacturers started to define fast-pitch tents as tents that can be erected in about half the time it would take you to erect a traditional tent.
At the same time, instant tents are now considered all tents that require campers under 5 minutes for setup.
Further confusing the masses is the difference between pop-up and instant tents. Things here are a tad more complex.
Instant tent is currently used as an umbrella term for all tents that can be pitched in 5 minutes or less. Pop-up tents are those tents designed to “popup” out of their bag, further reducing pitching time to 1 minute or less.
Thus, pop-up tents are a subcategory of the instant tents appealing to those looking for super-fast tent installation. The main downside of a pop-up tent is dismantling, as folding it and getting it back into the bag could be troublesome.
Apart from the obvious advantage brought by the quick and easy setup, instant tents have a few other aces up their sleeves:
With these advantages in mind, it is easy to understand why most outdoor enthusiasts prefer instant tents over all other types.
We already mentioned that instant tent is an umbrella term used to designate those tents that can be erected in 5 minutes or less. But what types of instant tents are there on the market? Which one should you buy? Let’s check them out.
Whether you’re trying to make up your mind between the models above or want to compare other tents as well, here are a few important things to weigh in before making a decision.
An instant tent is a tent designed to be set up and dismantled instantly, usually in five minutes or less. These tents come with pre-installed poles, and require minimum assembly from the user. Thus, they are perfect for anyone, including first-time campers.
Yes. Most instant tents have aluminum, steel, or fiberglass poles that can withstand both heavy-duty use and elements.
It really depends on your needs. Instant tents come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re a backpacker, a compact, 2-person model weighing under 10 pounds and that can fit in a backpack is your best bet. Families can opt for tents suitable for four people or more. They are more cumbersome, but provide plenty of room space and generous head clearance. Various materials make these tents suitable for all seasons. Consider your needs, then check out our list above to find out the best instant tent for you.
Pop-up style tents are the easiest instant tents to erect. Setting them up usually takes seconds rather than minutes.
A fast pitch tent is a tent that doesn’t have a footprint, although many brands and users now use the term to refer to pop-up or instant tents that are quick and easy to pitch.
