Whether you are new to camping or an experienced pro, you know how time-consuming it can be to set up a traditional tent.
If you’re tired of all the labor involved in setting up camp and are looking to save some time on your next outing, consider a pop-up tent for your next camping purchase!
Best Pop Up Tent – Comparison Table
| Image | Tent Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Outdoor Connection Easy 2 - Pop Up Tent
| Check Price |
 | Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent
| Check Price |
 | Speedy 4 Black Hole Pop Up Tent
| Check Price |
 | Front Runner Flip Pop Up Tent
| Check Price |
Pop Up Tent – In Depth Reviews
We reviewed 18 different pop-up tents and narrowed down the list to our top 5. Read on for a detailed look at each of these 5 pop-up tents! The best pop-up tent for you will depend on a variety of factors including price and desired features, and this guide will help you determine the best one for your specific situation.
We have also included a helpful buyer’s guide to making you aware of some considerations you should have when buying a pop-up tent before making your final choice.
Outdoor Connection Easy Up 2 – Pop Up Tent
(Cheapest Pop Up Tent)
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Cheap Pop Up Tent Features
If you are on a tight budget, then the Outdoor Connection Easy Up 2 – Pop Up Tent is a perfect choice. It’s an extremely easy pop-up tent to set up and put away.
It can easily accommodate two people without any inconvenience. The external dimensions are 245 x 145 x 105 cm, with the floor space also being the same.
The tent provides you with a 2000 mm+ Waterhead on its outer fabric with tape-sealed seams and a 5000 mm+ Waterhead on the floor for waterproofing.
The tent has two contraflow panels and side windows to maximize ventilation during hot Australian summer nights.
The pop-tent also features a no-see-um mesh for proper airflow inside the tent and keeps inside dry and warm during rain. This pop-tent is relatively easy to carry and folds to a dimension of 80 x 80 x 5 cm, and weighs only 2.5 kg.
Pros
- It is incredibly lightweight and easy to set up, making it great for new campers.
- The waterproof outer fabric and flooring keep you dry during the rain.
- The side windows and no-see-um mesh keep you ventilated during the summer while providing privacy.
- It is durable.
Cons
- The tent might not be great for tall people.
Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent
(Best Value Pop Up Tent)
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Features
If you like the absolute best, then the Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent is an excellent choice. The water-resistant polyester fly and interior reduce water leakage and also protect you from rain.
The tent provides you with enough room for four people as it measures 280 x 198 x 100cm and weighs 3.3 kg. It has a sophisticated design featuring taped floor seams for protection against water and debris, along with a mesh that gives you extra ventilation in the summers.
The interior has a breathable polyester to keep you cool in the scorching sun.
The already-assembled poles provide easy set-up, and the packing and transportation require almost no hassle thanks to the easy flat-pack-up feature. The design avoids any excessive time usually wasted on assembly or disassembly.
To solve your storage issues, you get two internal pockets where you can keep your essentials. The tent features a large oversized door and a carry bag that assures easy transportation and storage.
Pros
- It provides plenty of room for you to sleep.
- The assembly is rapid for a tent of this size.
- It is easy to transport and store and comes with a carry bag.
- Comes with a large door for easy entry and exit.
Why Is It Better Than The Others?
The Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent falls under a very competitive price range in pop-up tents, but it still comes out as one of the best tents available at any price.
The roomy design is the first feature that attracts customers, while features like easy assembly, accessible transportation, a large entry point, and extra mesh are the cherry on the top.
Speedy 4 Black Hole Pop Up Tent
(Best Overall Pop Up Tent)
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Features
The Speedy 4 Black Hole Pop Up Tent is one of the best and most unique pop-up tents on the market.
It is the upgraded version of the Speedy 3 Pop Up Tent with the latest ‘Black Hole’ feature, a combination of black-backed fly fabric & black inner polyester to ensure that no sunlight enters the tent and the inside of the tent remains cool.
This tent measures 270 x 265 x 120 cm, weighs 5.5 kg, and can accommodate up to four people. The Speedy Pop Up Tent also features rope LEDs on the tent roof, so you won’t have to buy an additional light source for the tent.
The LED lights are powered by a battery adaptor that can is charged using USB technology.
The tent’s fly is 185T 68D polyester with fully taped seams while also featuring 3000 mm PU coating and ‘Black Hole’ treatment. Its flooring features 190T 68D polyester along with 3000 mm PU water column coating.
The tent also has no-see-um mesh along with side windows that provide ventilation during the hot summers. This no-see-um mesh keeps out very small insects that are invisible to the naked eye.
The Speedy 4 is a fire retardant, waterproof, and UV-resistant pop-up tent. It is also easy to set up with SpeedyFlex Resin poles, and it folds up to a dimension of 105 x 5 cm. This tent also comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years.
Pros
- The unique ‘Black Hole’ feature keeps the inside of the tent constantly dark and cool.
- There’s plenty of room in this tent.
- It features ceiling LEDs for better visibility.
- The tent is waterproof, fire retardant and UV-resistant.
- It has a warranty of three years.
- It has side windows for proper air circulation.
Why Is This Folding Tent Better Than the Others?
Along with the Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent, the Speedy 4 Black Hole Pop Up Tent is right at the top of this category, creating a tie for the best pop-up tent.
The Speedy 4 Black Hole Pop Up Tent has unique features like LED lighting and a ‘Black Hole’ treatment that you will not find in any other pop-up tent. It also has a well-ventilated design with an easy set-up.
Speedy 3 Black Hole Pop Up Tent
(Best Overall Pop Up Tent)
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Features
The dimensions of this pop-up tent are 280 x 225 x 105 cm, and the sleeping area is 245 x 200 cm, accommodating up to three people. It weighs nearly 4.5 kg. The set-up is straightforward and quick, and the tent also has a carry case that comes in handy when you want to fold the tent down and take it with you.
This Pop Up Tent also features reflective guide ropes with LEDs on the top, so there is no need to buy an additional light source for the tent.
The LEDs can be run through a battery adaptor that can be charged through USB or any usual power bank (not included).
The fly features a 185T 68D polyester with fully taped seams, 3000 mm PU coating, and blackhole treatment. Its flooring features 190T 68D polyester along with 3000 mm PU water column coating.
It also comes with no-see-um mesh and a couple of side windows that allow air circulation that helps keep you cool, especially when the temperature gets high.
This tent is fire retardant, waterproof, and UV-resistant, and it folds up to the size of 90 cm x 5 cm. It has SpeedyFlex Resin poles for easy set-up. You get a three-year manufacturer’s warranty on this product.
Pros
- It is pretty lightweight for its size.
- The tent features rope LED lights that provide great visibility.
- It is fire retardant, waterproof, and UV-resistant.
- It comes with a three-year warranty.
- It has proper ventilation.
Why Is This Portable Pop Up Tent Great Value?
Every intelligent buyer’s first pick is always the best value product, and the Speedy 3 Pop Up Tent falls into that exact category. It is surprising how many features this tent provides in its price range.
You get the unique ‘Black Hole’ technology with LED lights along with a three-year warranty.
Front Runner Flip Pop Tent
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Features
The Front Runner Flip Pop Tent sets up quickly and folds away just as quickly to become as flat as a pan. The interior dimensions of the tent are 235 x 143 x 98 cm. It weighs 3.14 kg and accommodates two people comfortably.
It features a waterproof flysheet PU-coated 190T polyester that measures 15 cm in size. The tent also has a flysheet and 190T breathable inner material with fiberglass poles.
The flysheet is fine enough to keep all insects out. The tent has aluminum stakes and reflective guy lines. This tent by Front Runner is well known for its ventilation thanks to the breathable inner tent, large screened entry, two windows, and rear vent.
It has a 190D Oxford 3000mm floor which keeps you dry and protected from rain and moisture. You will get a couple of pockets to keep your accessories in, along with two overhead loops for lightweight garments or flashlights. The tent folds up to 86.4 x 7.6 and comes up with a 600*300D Oxford carry bag.
Pros
- The Front Runner Flip Pop Tent uses flame-resistant fabric.
- It has a breathable inner tent and two windows that keep the tent ventilated.
- The tent includes a carry bag for easy portability.
- It has two internal mesh pockets.
Cons
- It can accommodate only two people.
Pop Up Tent Buying Guide
Style
Usually, you won’t find much difference in the style of different pop-up tents as they have similar designs because of the pop-up feature.
Still, the additional features can make a considerable difference. The primary style difference you can find in pop-up tents is the location of windows and entry/exit points or tent material.
Material
Most brands use the same material for their tents, although the standard and quality can differ. Polyester and nylon are the most common materials used in the flysheet of tents, with the interior mainly featuring breathable mesh. A PU coating is also necessary to make the tents waterproof.
Another popular fabric is canvas or cotton, which are great for insulation not very durable. If you are using canvas or cotton, be sure to “weather” your tent first (leave it out in the rain).
Durability
Pop-up tents are usually not as sturdy as swags, and therefore there’s a general perception that they are not very durable. They may not be too sturdy, but many pop-up tents can be long-lasting if used properly.
You need to be careful to buy a tent that suits your needs. Durability also depends a lot on how frequently you go on vacations and what type of places you visit, depending on the weather. Tents will last longer in dry conditions than rainy or stormy weather.
Durability depends on several factors such as the thread count of the tent material, its GSM, its denier count, weave type (ripstop or plain weave), and for polyester and nylon tents, it also depends on the hydrostatic coating that they receive (for protection against rain).
- Denier: Between 40D to 70D, nylon is a good denier to have, especially for high-altitude camping. Any higher, and the tent would become too heavy to be efficient.
- Thread Count: A 210T thread count on polyester tents is often considered high quality.
- GSM: GSM stands for grams per meter. It is a measure of the weight of the fabric: the higher the GSM, the heavier the material. Typically, 340GSM is a good weight for tent fabric.
- Hydrostatic Head: Hydrostatic head refers to the amount of rainfall in mm that the fabric can withstand. 3000 mm is considered a good value for this parameter.
- Weave Type: As the name suggests, ripstop fabric is more resistant to wear and tear than plain weave. Oxford is another type of weave that provides strength.
Insulation Capacity
The insulation capacity of a material clarifies its ability to conduct heat and cold—the higher the insulation capacity of the material, the lower the thermal conductivity.
Therefore, tents with a good insulation capacity will be warmer during cold weather and cooler during hot weather.
I personally always recommend people buying tents with high insulation capacity, especially for the scorching Aussie sun and the equally cool nights. High temperatures are typical in Australia, and you won’t appreciate a tent that keeps you sweaty all night.
Canvas and cotton are typically the best options for insulation capacity. However, breathable polyester tents are also good for insulating against heat, as long as you remember to keep the vents open.
Folded Dimensions
You can fold every pop-up tent to a much smaller size than its original size. The smaller the folded dimensions of a tent are, the easier it is to carry or store. Many pop-up tents also come with a carry bag for easy transportation.
Due to its smaller overall size, the Outdoor Connection Easy Up 2 folds to the smallest dimensions of any pop-up tent on this list at 80 x 80 x 5 cm, though each of the tents we have mentioned is quite compact when folded and easy to carry.
Weight
Other than the folded dimensions, the tent’s weight also plays a significant role in ease of transportation. The lighter the pop-up tent, the easier it is to carry.
The Outdoor Connection Easy Up 2 is the lightest in our lineup, weighing just 2.2 kg.
Size
Pop-up tents are available in several sizes that can accommodate 1 to 4 people comfortably. You must check the dimensions carefully as sometimes tents do not hold as many people as advertised.
The Coleman and Speedy 4 in our lineup are meant for four people, whereas the Outdoor Connection and Front Runner are two-person options. The Speedy 3 can comfortably house three people.
Ventilation
Air circulation is a critical factor to look for in a tent. Proper ventilation is vital in any tent. Inner mesh and windows will be your best friends in a tent when the temperature goes up.
Make sure that whatever tent you buy should have vents on both sides so that you can enjoy a cross breeze during the hot summer days.
Reviews
Customer reviews are a great way to know the product well without actually using it. You get the idea of both the pros and cons of the product in a much more personal fashion.
A four-star plus rating from more than a hundred customers goes a long way in reassuring you that the product is tried, tested, and has weathered any issues you might find yourself facing.
Best Pop Up Tent Conclusion
Of the 18 pop-up tents we looked at, we detailed 5 of the most popular pop-up tents in Australia in our list. In our opinion, the Speedy 4 (Explore Planet Earth) Black Hole Pop Up Tent and Coleman Pop Up Instant Tent tie for the best pop-up tents currently available.
If you need something cheaper, then the Outdoor Connection Easy Up 2 – Pop Up Tent was the cheapest pop-up tent we reviewed, and we felt the Speedy 3 Pop Up Tent from Explore Planet Earth presented the best overall value-for-money.
Happy camping!
