{ TOP 10 } Best Pop Up Tents – 2020 Reviews

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Do you love camping but hate pitching a tent? Well, we have good news for you. With a pop up tent, you can enjoy spending time in the great outdoors without the hassle of having to set up your shelter when you arrive at camp.

Pop up tents make getting camp ready super easy, but with so many different models to choose from, finding the right one for your needs can be a challenge. To help make your decision a bit easier, we’ve created a guide to the best pop up tents on the market today. So, up next we have reviews of the 10 best rated pop up tent models around and our top tips to figuring out which tent is right for you.

Backpacking is a fantastic way to experience the true rugged beauty of the mountains. With the Quechua Instant 2, you can even head out on a backpacking trip without the need to waste your precious time on setting up a tent.

This instant backpacking tent from Quechua can be set up in just seconds, thanks to its pop up design. Once you stake it down, it’s strong enough to withstand moderate winds and a rainstorm. The Quechua Instant 2 even has three built-in vents to help maximize airflow on those warm summer days in the mountains.

• Sets up in 2 seconds
• Three built-in vents for airflow
• Can withstand moderate winds and rainstorms
• Lots of ventilation

• Not suitable for winter camping
• Not strong enough for snow

Built for families that camp but also appreciate their personal space, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin 9 is a cabin-style tent for car camping adventures. This spacious tent has a 7’ ceiling height so it’s tall enough for everyone in the family.

Set up takes just 2 minutes with the Instant Cabin and then you have a comfortable abode for up to 9 people. You can even use the built-in divider to separate the Cabin into two bedrooms or separate living and sleeping spaces. The tent also has a large gear organizer to help reduce clutter in your living space to maximize your comfort in the outdoors.

• 2 minute set up system
• Can be split into two rooms
• Built-in gear organizer
• Has a large screen porch

• Mostly waterproof, but not great in a storm

Aptly named, the Quechua 2 second is designed to be pitched in, well just 2 seconds. Inside this three-person tent is a dark exterior, which helps provide a relaxing and comfortable area to rest, even in broad daylight.

The tent has a fully waterproof and windproof construction, so it’s great for backpacking trips. Plus, it has two side panels that can be extended to open vents for maximum airflow throughout the tent on hot summer days.

• Can withstand bad wind and rain
• Takes just 2 seconds to pitch
• Easy to open vents for added airflow

• White exterior fabric stains easily

Built with your absolute comfort in mind, the CORE Lighted Instant Cabin 12 is the perfect home away from home for a large group. More like a cabin than a tent, this shelter from CORE even has built-in LEDs that are easy to turn on and off for added versatility at night or while you eat dinner.

The Lighted Instant Cabin has an 6.6’ center height that’s large enough to accommodate nearly every camper for added comfort. You can easily fit 3 queen-size airbeds inside the Instant Cabin or 12 campers in sleeping bags. Oh, and if it’s a hot, muggy night, you can even adjust the ventilation panels on each side of the tent to increase airflow for a better night’s sleep.

• Built-in lighting
• 2 minute set up
• Room for 3 queen-size airbeds
• Adjustable ventilation system

• Large tent but doesn’t have room dividers
• Not great in rain and wind

Perfect for festivals and short car camping trips, the Coleman Pop Up 2 is a great shelter option for any trip where you want to maximize your time spent outdoors. This sleek tent features a unique tunnel-shaped design that can keep you dry throughout those pesky afternoon showers.

The Pop Up 2 has one large door that can be rolled up to expose the night sky on a clear evening. Plus the entire tent is fully seam-taped so you don’t have to worry about getting wet in the rain. The best part? It’s super affordable, so the Pop Up 2 is a good choice for festival-goers on a budget.

• Very affordable
• Sets up in seconds
• Fully waterproof
• Lots of ventilation

• Not very breathable
• Durability concerns with long-term use
• Not very practical for short trips

A long-time stalwart of the world of pop up tents, the CORE Instant Cabin 9 is a simple and functional tent for car camping. This tent is both reasonably affordable and versatile enough for most car camping needs With the ability to be set up in just 60 seconds, the Instant Cabin 9 is perfect for people who hate pitching tents.

Inside the cabin tent, CORE installed an advanced venting system that keeps air flowing throughout the interior on hot days. All of the tent’s doors and windows have privacy panels that can easily be zipped. Oh, and it has an included room divider so everyone can get the privacy they need with the CORE Instant Cabin 9.

• Comfortable and spacious interior with included room divider
• 60 second set up
• Privacy panels on windows and doors
• Built-in ventilation system

• Not fully waterproof
• Unstable in high winds

If camping in a small group is more your speed, the affordable CORE Instant Dome 4 is a sure bet. This tent can be pitched in just 30 seconds, allowing you to get right to the activities when you arrive in camp.

The Instant Dome 4 is a simple tent without a lot of added features. But, it does have zippered privacy panels on its doors and windows. Additionally, the tent has an included gear loft to help you stay organized as you camp.

• Simple design
• Sets up in 30 seconds
• Zippered privacy panels
• Gear loft for organization

• No vestibule for gear storage
• Not fully waterproof
• Not very spacious for 4 people

Designed to accommodate a modest-sized family, the CORE Instant Cabin 6 is a good all-around 6 person pop up tent. Thanks to its pre-attached poles, the Instant Cabin 8 can be set up in just 60 seconds.

It includes an advanced venting system that makes it easy to draw cool air into the tent on hot days. If you’re in a busy campground you can even zip up the privacy panels on the tent’s windows and doors for more personal space. Or, if you’re camping with kids, you can use the included gear loft and wall pocket to help keep everyone’s personal belongings organized at all times.

• 60 second set up
• Zippered privacy panels
• Gear loft and organizer pocket
• Adjustable ventilation

• Not tall enough for all campers to stand upright
• Not fully waterproof

Perfect for large groups and families, alike, the Coleman Instant Family Tent 8 is a great shelter for fair-weather car camping. This spacious tent has enough room for 4 queen-sized airbeds in its 14×10 foot layout.

Thanks to its pre-attached poles, you can pitch this tent in just 60 seconds. It’s easy to walk around the Instant Family Tent due to its tall 6’7” ceiling height, which is perfect for nearly every camper. Oh, and this 8 person tent is even built with a double-thick floor fabric for added durability for all of your camping adventures.

• Enough interior space for 4 queen-size airbeds
• 60 second set up process
• Very tall ceiling height
• Lots of ventilation

• Not waterproof
• Should only be used in good weather

Perfect for families that like to spend time both inside and outside the tent, the CORE Instant Cabin 10 is a great option for summer camping trips. This 10 person tent can be set up in two minutes thanks to its pre-attached pole system.

It features a front screen porch that allows you plenty of space to hang out and enjoy some fun in the sun without the bugs. You can easily stay organized with the Instant Cabin 10 thanks to all of the hanging storage pockets. The Instant Cabin 10 is particularly good for families with older children and teens that like their privacy, thanks to its optional room divider and zippered privacy panels on all windows and doors.

• Included room divider
• Spacious screen porch for relaxation
• Plenty of gear storage options
• Privacy panels on windows and doors

• Expensive
• Bulky and heavy
• Not fully waterproof

Buying a pop up tent might seem like a complex process, but once you know what you’re looking for, it’s not too difficult to find the right model for your needs. Here are some things to keep in mind as you search for that perfect pop up tent:

Intended Use

If you plan on mostly car camping, your tent needs are going to be very different from someone who primarily likes to backpack. For the most part, car camping tents are going to be more spacious and luxurious than a backpacking shelter.

But, what backpacking tents lack in space, they make up for in weight savings, a more compact size, and added durability in foul weather. So, your intended use is going to have a huge effect on the kind of pop up tent that you’re looking for.

Capacity

The size of tent you need will wholly depend on the number of people you plan to camp with. Small groups of friends, as you might imagine, will need a smaller tent than a large family.

But, just because you only have 4 people in your family doesn’t mean you have to buy a 4 person tent. In fact, if you’re planning on car camping, buying a tent that’s bigger than you actually need can be quite advantageous.

This is especially true if you have a lot of gear that you need to store or if you have older kids that want more independence and privacy. So, it’s often a good idea to get a tent that’s designed for one or two people more than you actually need.

Weather-Resistance

The main reason to have a tent is to get some protection from the elements. Unfortunately, the vast majority of pop up tents don’t actually provide full waterproof protection. Even though these tents claim to be waterproof, they have exposed mesh windows and doors that will get soaked in a storm. So, if you live somewhere with a wet climate, a tent with full rainfly coverage is key.

Vestibules/Screen Porches

Vestibules are an often overlooked feature of a tent. A vestibule provides covered storage space for your gear without getting the inside of your tent wet or dirty. However, many pop up tents include screen porches, which provide many of the benefits of a vestibule while also giving campers a nice place to hang out and enjoy the sunshine without being attacked by bugs.

Room Dividers

If you’re camping with another family or with older children, having room dividers can help everyone maintain some semblance of privacy in the outdoors. Or, you can simply use the room divider to create a living room/hang out area and a sleeping space in your tent.

The Verdict

Pop up tents are a great option for anyone that likes to camp but doesn’t like to spend time pitching a tent. Even though there are hundreds of models on the market today, finding the right pop up tent for your needs doesn’t have to be a struggle. Whichever the best pop up tent you end up with, it’s sure to become your companion for years of camping fun.