Best Instant Camping Tents – 7 of the Easiest Tents Out There!

If you want to find the best instant camping tents, we’ve reviewed 7 of the best for you to choose from.

Instant tents are great for those who don’t want to mess around with poles and complicated instructions. If you want a tent that practically assembles itself, you can definitely find one – but how do you know which one is the best?

We’ll tell you right now that our favorite is Core 4-Person Instant Dome Tent – Best All-Rounder. We also like:

• Abco Tec Pop-Up Tent – Great for festivals
• Moon Lence Pop-Up Family Tent – Ideal for tall campers

Keep reading to find out why we like them so much. We’ll be looking at:

• What to look for in an instant camping tent
• 7 of the best tents out there, including their specs, features, and pros and cons
• Some frequently asked questions about instant camping tents
• A round-up of why we like our favorites

Table of Contents

1. Instant Camping Tents Compared
2. What to Look for in an Instant Camping Tent
   1. Ease of Setup
   2. Size
   3. Materials
   4. Weatherproofing
3. Best Instant Camping Tents
   1. Core 4 Person Instant Dome Tent – Best All-Rounder
   2. Abco Tec Pop-Up Tent – Best for Festivals
   3. Moon Lence Pop Up Family Tent – Best for Tall Campers
   4. TETON Sports Quick Tent – Best for Solo Campers
   5. ZOMAKE Pop-Up Tent – Best Pop-Up Shelter
   6. OT QOMOTOP Instant Tent – Best for a Tight Budget
   7. Mobihome 6-Person Pop Up Tent – Best for Bigger Families
4. Frequently Asked Questions
   1. Are instant camping tents durable?
   2. How long should it take to put together an instant camping tent?
   3. What else should I look for in an instant camping tent?
5. Our Pick

Instant Camping Tents Compared

What to Look for in an Instant Camping Tent

Instant camping tents may look similar, but they do vary in their features and specs. Here’s a quick guide on what to look out for:

Ease of Setup

This is obviously going to be your first consideration. How easy is it to set up?

Some instant tents are put together by unfolding the poles and pulling it up in the center. Others are truly ‘pop-up’ tents, in that you can throw them out of the bag and they’ll just pop into place. Either way, an instant tent should take a few minutes at most to put together, and it should be straightforward.

The thing to watch out for is how to fold it back up again. Some pop-up tents come with small carry bags, and you have to fold them up a certain way to get them to fit back in. It’s worth practicing putting it up and down before you go in case it turns out to be more complicated than you first thought.

Size

You can get a range of sizes of instant tents – from small one-person pop-up tents to larger, 5-6 person tents. Sometimes tents say that they sleep 6, but in reality, it would be a bit of a tight squeeze – it’s best to check the measurements to figure out how you’ll set up the beds.

If you’re a taller camper, you might struggle to find an instant tent that gives you enough head room to walk around in. It’s worth checking the length of the tent, too, to make sure that it’s long enough for you to comfortably lie down in.

Finally, there is storage space to consider – where will you keep your gear? You can probably put up with laying right next to your backpack if you’re having an overnight stay, but if you’re planning on camping for weeks at a time, having somewhere to stash your gear is going to make a big difference to how much you enjoy using your tent. Some tents have overhead storage lofts which is ideal. They may also have pockets for your smaller valuables, so you won’t have to worry about losing your phone or keys.

Materials

Materials can vary when it comes to pop-up tents, but typically, they’ll be made from one of the following:

• PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) – one of the cheaper materials out there, this is somewhat weatherproof but not particularly breathable, which may cause you to feel hot and sweaty at night.
• Polyester – this is a lightweight material that lasts for a long time. It can be coated (usually in acrylic or polyurethane), to make it extra rain-proof.
• Nylon – this is slightly cheaper but less durable than polyester. It tends to be coated in the same way to keep out rain.

Weatherproofing

Tents are categorised into seasons, 1,2,3,4, or 5. Instant tents only fall into the first three categories – here’s what to expect from each of them and how they will stand up against bad weather:

• 1-season – you may find instant shelters or pop-up festival tents fall into this category. Ideal for warm weather, it may have good ventilation, but won’t offer much protection from the rain.
• 2 seasons – these tents offer a little more rain proofing, but they won’t keep out downpours.
• 3 seasons – the most versatile, these are pretty good for most types of weathers, and are designed to be well-ventilated as well as waterproof.

You might see a measurement in mm (meaning millimeters) when you look at the materials used – this is the hydrostatic head measurement. This helps to explain how waterproof a tent is. It measures the depth of the pool of water that will gather on the top of the tent in the rain before it starts to leak through. The more water it can ‘hold’ on top, the less likely it is to leak.

You can also check how wind-proof your tent is by looking at the materials of the frame. Aluminum frames are lightweight, but fiberglass is better for very windy conditions. The issue with instant tents is that they rely upon an umbrella-like frame as opposed to individual poles. This means they’re a bit more prone to breakage in severely windy conditions.

Ventilation is really important, so look for mesh panels – this will keep the insects at bay whilst encouraging airflow through the tent.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best instant tents out there!

Best Instant Camping Tents

Core 4 Person Instant Dome Tent – Best All-Rounder

Key Features

• Sleeps: 4
• Size: 14 x 9 x 6ft 5in (ft)/168 x 108 x 78 (in)/427 x 275 x 198 (cm) 
• Size packed: 7.5 x 7.5 x 37.8 (in)/19 x 19 x 96 (cm)
• Weight: 6.73kg/14.85lbs
• Materials: Polyester
• Seasons: 3

The Core 4 Person Instant Dome Tent is on the smaller side – it states that it’s for four people, but it would be ideal for a couple wanting a bit of extra space (or a couple with small children), as four adults might find it a bit of a squeeze. It has two doors, both of which can be fully opened, and it has storage pockets, a gear loft, and gear hooks – so you should be able to place your belongings out of the way easily. On the downside, it’s a very basic shape, so you won’t have a canopy area for sitting in.

It’s pretty good in terms of weather proofing – it has sealed seams, rain-resistant doors and window seals, and a fully-taped rainfly, which is good for keeping the rain out. Plus, thanks to the large doors, the ventilation is pretty good for warmer weather.

It pops up super easily too. Just unpack the tent, unfold the legs to their full length, and then extend the poles until they click into the right position. It’s really easy to do, and users report it takes under a minute to put it together.

Pros

• Good weatherproofing
• Decent size for a couple or family with small kids
• Lots of storage
• The assembly is very fast – under a minute

Cons

• Simple layout, with no canopy/porch area to sit in
• Four adults might struggle to squeeze into it

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Abco Tec Pop-Up Tent – Best for Festivals

Key Features

• Sleeps: 2
• Size: 7ft 3in x 3ft 9in x 3ft 11 (ft)/88.6 x 47.2 x 37.4(in)/225 x 120 x 95(cm)
• Size packed: 24 x 24 (in)/61 x 61 (cm)
• Weight: 1.7kg/3.74lbs
• Materials: Polyester
• Seasons: 2

The Abco Tec Pop-Up Tent is a small dome tent, with large double doors on both sides which can be fully unzipped. It’s simple, with no storage pockets or overhead loft, and it’s small – which doesn’t make it a good tent for long camping trips, but it’s ideal for a couple of nights. If you’re heading to a music festival and you need somewhere to crash, it’s perfect – it folds up very small and is incredibly lightweight, so you can transport (and store) it easily.

Unfortunately, it’s not the best tent for weatherproofing. It’ll hold up against a shower, but in a downpour, you’re going to experience leaks. If you know the weather will be good, it could work, but in unpredictable weather you’ll be taking a risk. It does have great ventilation as the doors unzip fully on both sides with mesh panels to keep insects at bay.

It’s super-easy to set up. It pops up in seconds – just unfold it from the bag and it pops up. However, the instructions aren’t super clear, and to put it away you have to fold it in a specific way. It may be worth a few tries before you go.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Super easy to assemble
• Good ventilation

Cons

• Small
• No storage
• Not very waterproof
• Instructions could be clearer

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Moon Lence Pop Up Family Tent – Best for Tall Campers

Key Features

• Sleeps: 4
• Size: 7ft 5in x 6ft 5in x 4 (ft)/94.5 x 82.6 x 49.2(in)/240 x 210 x 125(cm)
• Size packed: 32.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 (in)/83 x 18 x 18(cm)
• Weight: 4.9kg/10.8lb
• Materials –
  Outer walls: 2000mm water resistant PU
  Inner walls: Oxford cloth
• Seasons: 3

The Moon Lence Pop Up Family Tent is a great option if you are on the taller side. While it doesn’t have a ton of head room, it is pretty lengthy at 7.5ft (94.5in/240cm). If you’re worried about an instant tent not being long enough for you, this could be a good choice. It’s a one-room tent with small pockets for your valuables, but it doesn’t have a storage loft.

It’s a great tent for weatherproofing. The outer walls are 2,000mm, which is a good hydrostatic head measurement – it should keep you pretty dry. It has windows on all sides, with mesh to give you ventilation but allow you to see outside. The doors open completely too.

To set it up, all you have to do is pull up the middle, straighten out the poles, and that’s it – it’s super easy to do, and users were really happy with how simple it was. 

Pros

• Long, so good for tall campers
• Good waterproofing and great ventilation
• Super easy to set up

Cons

• No overhead storage loft

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TETON Sports Quick Tent – Best for Solo Campers

Key Features

• Sleeps: 1
• Size: 6ft 6in x 3 x 2ft 8 (ft) / 80 x 37 x 34 (in)/203 x 94 x 86 (cm)
• Size packed: 27 x 7 (in)/67 x 18 (cm)
• Weight: 4.6lbs/2kg
• Materials
  Inner Tent – Micro Mesh/Taffeta
  Rain Fly – Taffeta 1200mm PU
• Seasons: 3

TETON Sports Quick Tent is great if you’re camping alone – it has a lot of room for one person. It doesn’t have much headroom, but it does have a built-in gear loft, so you won’t have to worry about tripping over your backpack. It has a mesh top, too. This is ideal not only for ventilation, but for stargazing (without the risk of being bitten by insects).

The weatherproofing is okay. It’s not going to keep out a full downpour at 1,200mm PU – if you were stuck in a sudden storm, you might experience some leaking. It should keep the odd shower out, however, and it would be an ideal tent for camping in warmer weather. There is an optional rainfly that you can purchase separately, which you can extend all the way to the ground, which you might want to consider if you’re going to be camping in unpredictable weather.

The set-up is pretty good. It takes a few minutes, but the downside is the instructions aren’t completely clear. It might be a good idea to try it out before you leave for your trip.

Pros

• Set up is quick once you get the hang of it
• The mesh top is a nice touch
• Decent storage

Cons

• Instructions aren’t easy to understand
• Not the best weatherproofing

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ZOMAKE Pop-Up Tent – Best Pop-Up Shelter

Key Features

• Sleeps: 4
• Size: 7ft 9in x 5ft 9in x 3ft 2in (ft)/95 x 71 x 39 (in)/241 x 180 x 99(cm)
• Size packed: 22.8in/58cm (diameter)
• Weight: 5lbs/2.26kg
• Materials: Coated polyester with anti-UV coating
• Seasons: 2

The ZOMAKE Pop-Up Tent is not technically a tent – it’s a pop-up beach shelter. However, we wanted to include it because it can be used for camping in good weather conditions (and it makes a great play tent for kids to use in the garden, too). It’s roomy for 3 adults, but you could squeeze 4 adults in if you had to. It has one room with 2 mesh doors, 2 mesh windows, and a roof sky window for stargazing. It lacks any kind of storage for gear, which is a downside.

Weatherproofing wise, it’s going to keep out light rain, but that’s about it. If you can guarantee good weather, it could work. As it is designed to be a pop-up beach shelter, it has great ventilation, and it also has anti-UV coating, so ideal for keeping you safe in harsh sunlight.

It’s also fun to put together. Open the package, unstrap the tent, and throw it – it’ll put itself together in mid-air. Users report it works really well, and they also provide a link to a YouTube video so you can watch it being folded back up again.

Pros

• Fun to put together
• Roomy for four
• Multi-purpose: works as a play tent, a beach pop-up, and a tent for warm weather

Cons

• Not weatherproof
• No storage

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OT QOMOTOP Instant Tent – Best for a Tight Budget

Key Features

• Sleeps: 6
• Size: 10 x 9 x 5ft 9in (ft)/96 x 108 x 71 (in)/244 x 274 x 180(cm)
• Size Packed: 42 x 9 x 9 (in)/107 x 23 x 23(cm)
• Weight: 19lbs / 8.61kgs
• Materials: Polyester
• Seasons: 3

The is a good choice for those on a budget – for a 6-person tent, it’s available at a good price. It’s better suited to 5 people, however, as 6 people might find it a bit of a squeeze. It has one large room with an e-port (a hole to feed an electrical cord through – this is sealed to prevent leaks), and it also has storage pockets and a gear loft to get your stuff out of the way.

It’s great for ventilation, as it has a mesh roof and a ground vent, which is ideal for warm evenings. However, despite the coated polyester and sealed seams, some users still reported leaks. If you get stuck in a downpour, this could be a concern. The price is low, but the materials aren’t as good as you would get with more expensive tents, so it’s not going to be as durable as some of the others on this list.

It’s easy to set up, given the size. Just get it out of the bag, fully extend the poles, and pull it straight up from the center – it’s done in minutes.

Pros

• Good price considering the size
• Storage pockets and storage loft
• Good ventilation
• Simple to set up

Cons

• Not great for heavy rain
• Not as durable as other tents out there

Mobihome 6-Person Pop Up Tent – Best for Bigger Families

Key Features

• Sleeps: 6
• Size: 13 x 7 x 4ft 5in (ft)/161 x 83 x 55(in)/410 x 210 x 140(cm)
• Size Packed: 35 x 9(in)/88.9 x 22.8(cm)
• Weight: 14lbs 3oz/6.48kg
• Materials
  Rain Fly: 1500mm Coated Polyester
  Floor: Polyethelene
• Seasons: 3

The Mobihome 6-Person Pop-Up Tent has plenty of space, with enough room for two queen-sized air mattresses. It doesn’t have an overhead storage loft, which is a shame, but the extra floor space could compensate for this. The tent has storage pockets for your valuables.

It has a 1,500mm rainfly. However, users have found that they still experienced leaks in heavy rain. It would be a better choice for camping in warmer weather, as the ventilation is great. The rainfly can be rolled back so you can gaze out at the stars, which is a nice feature.

For a large tent, the setup is simple – spread the tent flat, fully extend the poles, hold the bottom of the ‘hub’ with one hand, and pull it upwards – it should click into place. It’s a really fast process that takes about a minute.

Pros

• Quite roomy
• Great ventilation
• Setup is really easy

Cons

• Not the best weatherproofing
• No overhead storage loft

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are instant camping tents durable?

Instant tents don’t tend to be as durable as regular frame tents. This is because they use an umbrella-like frame as opposed to individual poles, making them less windproof. They can be prone to snapping, and they’re difficult to repair as you can’t just swap out the broken pole for a new one.

How long should it take to put together an instant camping tent?

It should take a few minutes to put an instant tent together – some tents can take seconds to put up.

What else should I look for in an instant camping tent?

Look out for the size packed – if you’re going to a festival or you’re backpacking, you’ll want a tent that can easily fit in your backpack, or a tent that comes with a light carry bag for easy transportation.

To Sum Up – Which Instant Camping Tents are the Best?

We think that the Core 4-Person Instant Dome Tent is a great all-rounder. It has good weatherproofing compared to some of the others on this list, it’s a good size for couples or families with young children, and it has a lot of storage.

However, if you’re looking for something super-lightweight for a quick trip, check out the Abco Tec Pop-Up Tent – it takes an instant to put together and it’s ideal for festivals. Or, if you want something a bit more roomy, try the Moon Lence Pop-Up Family Tent – great for taller campers.

We hope this has helped you to find the best instant camping tents for you!