The 10 Best Instant Tents of 2021
Photo: Coleman
Instant tents can save you a lot of time and headaches, so it's always a good idea to get one. This is especially true in situations where you have to set up the tent alone.
An instant tent doesn't need a second pair of helping hands. The process takes just a minute or a few minutes, and you can easily set things up even in darkness.
In this instant tents review, you'll get a list of the market's top offers, plus a guide to help you make a perfect choice.
10 Best Instant Tents – Review
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1. Core 40008 (Best Overall) |
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2. Abco Tech ABC2160 (Best Budget) |
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3. Zomake (Best Pop-up Tent) |
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4. Toogh (Best Oxford Cloth Tent) |
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5. Coleman 18295 (Best 8-Person Tent) |
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6. Ozark Trail (Best High Capacity) |
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7. Core 40006 (With 30-Second Setup & Rain-fly) |
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8. Coleman 17933 (For 6 People) |
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9. Coleman 14781 (For 2-person) |
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10. Ohuhu (3-Person Dome Tent) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Core 40008 (Best Overall Cabin Tent) |
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2. Abco Tech ABC2160 (Best Budget) |
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3. Zomake (Best Pop-up Tent) |
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4. Toogh (Best Oxford Cloth Tent) |
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5. Coleman 18295 (Best 8-Person Tent) |
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6. Ozark Trail (Best High Capacity) |
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7. Core 40006 (With 30-Second Setup & Rain-fly) |
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8. Coleman 17933 (For 6 People) |
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9. Coleman 14781 (For 2-person) |
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10. Ohuhu (3-Person Dome Tent) |
1. Core 40008 – Best Overall Instant Cabin Tent
Photo: Core
- Tent Dimensions: 14 x 9 feet
- Capacity: 9 people
- Materials: Polyester & polyethylene
- Pack Size: 48 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches
- Weight: 30.5 pounds
Looking for an easy-setup tent for a large family or group of friends? This Core 40008 instant tent offers you just that. You can quickly set it up in as little as 60 seconds and it offers sleeping space for up to nine people.
It measures 14 by 9 feet and can also contain up to two queen-sized mattresses. Inside, you'll find a room divider and wall pockets to help you organize things and keep the tent neat.
You also get a removable rain-fly, which you can always take down to enjoy the beautiful night skies. Then there are tent stakes and a carry-bag to make transportation easy.
For its cons, this is a relatively costly tent. But you already know that quality comes at a cost.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Abco Tech ABC2160 – Best Budget Pop Up Tent For Camping
Photo: Abco Tech
- Tent Dimensions: 88.6 x 47.2 x 37.4 inches
- Capacity: 2 adults
- Materials: Nylon
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
Abco Tech presents its quick setup tent at an impressive price here. This is a small pop-up tent designed to house two campers and it's offered at a very low and attractive price.
The tent comes in either sky blue or in red , so you can choose what best fits your lifestyle. It comes with a carry bag and offers enough ventilation with its mesh panels.
At just 3.7 pounds, it's also easy to carry, although its compact shape of more of a flat and round disc.
Downsides include being made from Nylon material, which is prone to UV degradation. At its price, however, you still can't complain.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Zomake – Best Instant Pop-up Tent
Photo: Zomake
- Tent Dimensions: 95x 71 x 39 inches
- Capacity: 3 people
- Materials: PU-coated polyester
- Pack Size: 80 cm diameter
- Weight: 5 pounds
If you like the Abco Tech ABC2160 but want something a little larger, then this offer might interest you. It features the same design and carrying mechanisms, but it sleeps three.
To set it up, just open the package, unstrap the tent, and throw it into the air. The tent will open up before your eyes in seconds. The tent measures 95 x 71 inches but folds up to a 31.5-inch disc, weighing just five pounds.
Zomake offers it in Blue , Light Blue , and in Green . It's made from PU-coated polyester with anti-UV properties, making it more durable.
For cons, you get a 40-inch peak height, which makes it impossible for an average-sized person to stand inside. Zomake backs it with a 1-year warranty.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Toogh – Best Oxford Cloth Instant Tent
Photo: Toogh
- Tent Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.9 x 4.9 feet
- Capacity: 4 (including 2 kids)
- Materials: Oxford fabric
- Pack Size: 36.1 x 9 x 9 inches
- Weight: 10.3 pounds
Featuring a high-quality 210D Oxford cloth with a silicone coating, there's no doubt that this is one of the best instant tents out there. It's waterproof, looks beautiful, and features unique construction.
Setup takes just 60 seconds and you're good to go. It also comes with a rain-fly, two doors for easy access, and mesh windows for proper ventilation.
Toogh says it will sleep up to four campers, but this means two adults and two kids. There are rings, however, to hang your lantern in the roof and its 5.4-inch center height also means you get lots of space inside.
The tent comes with a 2-year warranty and it's available in Dark Brown , Dark Red , Dark Gray , and Gray Red .
Pros:
Cons:
5. Coleman 18295 – Best 8-Person Instant Family Tent
Photo: Coleman
- Tent Dimensions: 14 x 10 feet
- Capacity: 8 people
- Materials: Polyguard
- Weight: 38.2 pounds
Coleman also has an interesting offer for those looking for the best instant tents for large families. This one measures 14 x 10 feet and either fits four queen-sized mattresses or sleeps up to eight campers.
Coleman makes it using a poly-guard material with twice the standard thickness. It sets up in just 60 seconds and offers a 6.6-ft center height, which is enough room for most people.
Further features include an integrated rain-fly, covered zippers and welded corners to keep the rain out. You also get storage pockets to help keep you and your family organized.
For cons, it's one of the costlier tents, but you can see it's worth its price. It's also relatively heavy at 38.2 pounds, but you can understand that it's a large tent for 8 people. Coleman backs it with a 1-year warranty.
Pros:
Cons:
6. Ozark Trail – Best High Capacity Instant Tent
Photo: Ozark Trail
- Tent Dimensions: 16 x 16 feet
- Capacity: 12 people
- Materials: Polyester
- Pack Size: 52.4 x 14.2 x 12.6 inches
- Weight: 61 pounds
If you're looking for the best and large instant camping tent, then here's something to pay closer attention to. This tent fits three mattresses or offers sleeping space for up to 12 campers.
The entire construction measures 16 x 16 feet and sets up in just 2 minutes. You also get seven fully closeable windows, plus there's a large awning in front, so you can relax under the shade.
Keep in mind that it weighs 61 pounds, although this makes sense because of its size. It's also not great at withstanding storms, given its design and size.
If you've got a large family though, and you need a large tent that's affordable and easy to set up, then hardly any other offer beats this tent.
Pros:
Cons:
7. Core 40006 – Instant Tent With 30-Second Setup & Rain-fly
Photo: Core
- Tent Dimensions: 7 x 9 feet
- Capacity: 4 people
- Materials: 100% polyester
- Pack Size: 7.5 x 7.5 x 37.8 inches
- Weight: 12.1 pounds
Made from 100% polyester, this Core 40006 instant family tent fits one queen-sized bed or sleeps up to four campers at a go. It features a dome design that makes it more durable and tough against storms.
There's a rain-fly, tent stakes, and a carry bag for easier transportation. Core also includes an access port for electrical cords, which you can close when not needed.
You also get a gear loft and storage pockets to help you keep the tent tidy, and an included hook makes it easy to hang lanterns and similar stuff.
What's not so impressive is the relatively high price because you can get similar but lesser-priced instant tents. Core Tents backs it with 1-year warranty coverage.
Pros:
Cons:
8. Coleman 17933 – 10x9 Ft. Instant Tent For 6 People
Photo: Coleman
- Tent Dimensions: 10 x 9 feet
- Capacity: 6 people
- Weight: 22.2 pounds
Coleman also offers you one of the best instant tents for camping with this Coleman 17933 instant tent. It measures 10 x 9 feet and sleeps up to six campers.
You can also fit two queen-sized mattresses inside, and both setup and take-down last just one minute. It features a 150D fabric, which is twice as thick as most regular tents, guaranteeing a longer life.
For its disadvantages, it's one of the costliest tents in this review, and it's not available in other colors. It has many more nice features though, such as welded floors, taped seams, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros:
Cons:
9. Coleman 14781 – Instant Pop-up Tent For Two
Photo: Coleman
- Tent Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.4 feet
- Capacity: 2 people
- Materials: Polyester
- Weight: 5.8 pounds
Compact and lightweight, this tent is perfect for a single camper or a couple. It weighs just 5.8 pounds and assembles itself in just 10 seconds.
There's a removable rain-fly for more ventilation and a perfect sky view. The floor-seems are also taped to guarantee dryness even when the surrounding soaking wet.
Coleman makes it using 68D polyester that's both water and fire-resistant. It opens to 7.5 x 4.4 feet, with a 2.9-feet center height.
As you can imagine, its low height offers limitations and it's also not available in many colors. It comes at a very attractive price, however, it weighs just 5.8 pounds and includes a 1-year warranty from Coleman.
Pros:
Cons:
10. Ohuhu – Instant 3-Person Dome Tent
Photo: Ohuhu
- Tent Dimensions: 96.5 x 57 x 43.3 inches
- Capacity: 3 people
- Materials: Polyester, Nylon
- Pack Size: 30 x 6 x 6 inches
- Weight: 7.5 pounds
Two things make this tent stand out. The first feature is its unique dome shape, which makes it more rugged and durable. The second feature is its compactness. It has a 30 x 6 x 6 inches pack size and weighs only 7.5 pounds.
This tent offers space for three campers and will even have a little space for a fourth. You could also fit a queen mattress inside and they'll still be space for your gear.
It's completely water and UV-protected. You get a polyester rain-fly and a Nylon floor, plus ceiling hooks and interior pockets to keep you organized.
One issue it has is its relatively high price compared to its size. Still, it offers a unique detachable rain-fly design that you won't get elsewhere.
Pros:
Cons:
How to Buy the Best Instant Tent
Photo: Ohuhu
The following are the important aspects and features that you need to keep an eye on when choosing an instant tent.
1. Your Purpose
This is an important consideration before getting a tent because it helps you to focus on the right specs. So, you must first ask yourself how you intend to use your new instant tent.
For instance, will you be camping in winter as well or only in summer? This is because summer tents use lightweight materials and offer lots of ventilation, while winter tents use thicker waterproof materials.
Also, consider your camping frequency and any other special needs that you or a member of your household might have.
2. Type & Design
You also must understand the different instant tents that are available. You'll mostly find pop-up and extended-pole tents. They are both instant tents, but slightly different.
Here's a closer look at each.
Pop-up Tents.
These are the true instant tents. Just throw them in the air and they'll unpack themselves on the ground in just a few seconds. The secret to their speed lies in their packaging, which makes their unfolding quick and natural once you release the package.
You still must secure them to the ground though, but they are not very stable in serious winds. Another con is that they are usually small tents of one to a 6-person capacity. A good example is
this Zomake tent
.
Extended-pole Tents.
These tents can take up to a minute or more to raise, but they offer more space, stability, and overall weather resistance. They come with built-in poles that you just need to extend or clip together where necessary.
Extended-pole tents are a better instant tent choice for larger groups and are available in many designs. The
Ozark Trail
is a good example.
3. Capacity
This one's up to you because you're the one who knows how large your family is. This will help you in choosing a tent that has the right size. You could also consider future possibilities and get a slightly larger tent because you never know when you're going to need it.
4. Materials
Tents come in different materials which have different costs. So, material choice is down to what you want and can afford. This decision will also depend on how often you plan on using this tent.
Polyester is a great material for making tents and it's the most popular. You can also get tents with the more premium polyurethane-coated polyester material for stronger and more durable tents.
5. Setup Ease
All instant tents are not the same. Some take longer to set up than others, while some are more complex to set up than the rest. It's left for you here to decide what you're okay with, from small 10-second pop-up tents to larger but more complex tents that can take up to 10 minutes to set up.
6. Storage & Portability
This is another important consideration, especially if you're backpacking. And even when you're camping with a vehicle, a tent's package size and weight are still worth consideration.
7. Extras
These are features that you may or may not need, according to your lifestyle and what you need the tent for. For summer camps, ventilation is very important. So you can consider how many windows or mesh panels the tent offers.
Further extra features include a rain-fly for wet weather, storage meshes to keep your tent tidy, and wind-shielding features.
Conclusion
We've reached the end of this instant tents review and you've seen the best offers out there, from the small and compact, to the large and complex.
If you need to choose in a hurry, then the Core 40008 is our best overall recommendation, with its 60-second fast setup time and sleeping space for nine campers.
For budget shoppers, the Abco Tech ABC2160 is an ideal instant tent, with its compact design, lightweight, and low price.
And if you've got a large family and need an affordable instant tent, then the Ozark Trail is our recommendation. It sleeps an impressive 12 people and setup takes only 2 minutes.
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10 Best Instant Tents – Review
- 1. Core 40008 – Best Overall Instant Cabin Tent
- 2. Abco Tech ABC2160 – Best Budget Pop Up Tent For Camping
- 3. Zomake – Best Instant Pop-up Tent
- 4. Toogh – Best Oxford Cloth Instant Tent
- 5. Coleman 18295 – Best 8-Person Instant Family Tent
- 6. Ozark Trail – Best High Capacity Instant Tent
- 7. Core 40006 – Instant Tent With 30-Second Setup & Rain-fly
- 8. Coleman 17933 – 10x9 Ft. Instant Tent For 6 People
- 9. Coleman 14781 – Instant Pop-up Tent For Two
- 10. Ohuhu – Instant 3-Person Dome Tent
- How to Buy the Best Instant Tent
- Conclusion