Best Instant Tents of 2020 – Complete Review

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What’s life without a little bit of adventure, or a lot of it, right? Having a good instant tent can not only revamp a boring evening, but it can also prove to be a useful asset for you. 

Whether it’s a summer day out or a chilly winter, a good instant tent can come in handy at any time. It’s not only extremely comfortable, but its lightweight and compact design make it very portable too. This, coupled with its effortless setup, makes it a brilliant commodity on your beach trips. 

To help you pick the best instant tent, we have done all the research, so you don’t have to. The article not only includes some of the best tents in the market, but it also includes a very well researched buying guide.

Comparison Chart of the Best Instant Tents

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Sets up in just 1 minute
  • Spacious interior with room for 1 queen airbed
  • Made with thick fabric for reliable, long-lasting use
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  • Large screened windows and doors
  • Sets up very easily
  • Has a 4-foot 11-inch center height
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  • Best for the Money
  • Made from high-quality material
  • Large front-screen awning
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  • Best Instant Cabin Tent
  • Canfit two queen air mattresses
  • Features room divider and wall storage pockets
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  • Best Instant Pop Up Tent
  • High-density mesh net
  • PU-coated silver ANTI-UV polyester fabric
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  • Best Coleman Instant Tent
  • Designed to set up in about 9 minutes
  • Room divider included for privacy
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  • Best 6 Person Instant Tent
  • One minute set up or take down
  • Tent poles are pre-attached to tent
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What is an Instant Tent? 

We have all heard of tents right, but what exactly makes them termed as instant tents, that’s the important question. These are portable tents that can be set up quickly and without much effort. They are also ideal for hiking, camping trips, and music festivals. They can be set off easily and without the help of a professional, but more on that later.

Putting Up the Coleman Cabin Tent is a breeze. 

A good instant tent will also be spacious and will hold a full family quite comfortably. They come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. Their construction material may also differ depending upon the time of the month you want to access the tent. Moreover, they do not really hold well under storms or extremely strong winds. 

However, that’s not to say that they can’t provide shelter when needed. If you ever face fast winds on your weekend excursions, you can always take shelter inside them.

Why Did These Instant Tents Make Our List? 

It’s very hard to pick products when there are so many good ones out there. Companies market their products really well these days, and a naïve customer might often fall in their trap and buy the first thing that comes in front of their eyes. We are here to help you make a wiser choice. 

All the products on our list are brilliant and have been selected because they promise a lot of amazing features. Here are some of them.

Higher Capacity

When it comes to tents, comfort is important, and the only tents that offer comfort are the ones that are spacious. Almost all of the instant tents on our list come with higher capacity. 

The best tip is to find a tent that accommodates all the people you plan on taking with you along with their luggage. You also want to ensure that you don’t feel crowded in the tent; hence it’s important to find one where that’s not an issue. 

Plenty of room to sleep with Coleman 8-Person Tent Instant Family Tent

Better Portability

People buy instant tents because they provide relief to you wherever you want. Apart from instant and easy setup, your tents also need to be portable. Most spacious tents that offer higher capacity are extremely heavy and hence hinder portability, but that’s not an issue with the tents in our list. 

All instant tents will ensure that you get compact, yet strong designs. These will ensure that they are able to survive difficult weather too.

More Durability

When you buy instant tents, you are investing a good amount of money, and hence you want to ensure that they can retain their power and form for a longer time. A good instant tent is made of a durable and strong material that can not only survive harsh climate but can also hold its ground when needed. 

All the tents in our list are made with a unique fiber that resists wear and tear, thus providing you with higher comfort.

Review of the Best Instant Tents

Knowing what to look for in your product was the easy part. Now let’s figure out which instant tent you need for your family. The list contains some of the top picks. Each of them comes with some unique but amazing features. We have also highlighted the pros and cons to help you make a good choice.

Best Overall:
Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup

Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent with Instant Setup | Cabin Tent for Camping Sets Up in 60 Seconds

Pros

  • Made with double-thick fabric for more durability
  • The integrated vented rainfly helps improve airflow
  • Comes with pre-attached poles that offer quick set up
  • Comes with an expandable carry bag for better portability
  • Patented corner welds can help keep water out on rainy days

Cons

  • Not suitable for large families
  • Double-thick fabric construction hinders portability

What Recent Buyers Report

In the success of any product, reviews by recent buyers play a huge role. This is because these people can share their first-hand experience with the product, and it’s bound to be more authentic. When it comes to this tent, buyers couldn’t be more elated with the performance. They have repeatedly praised the easy setup and spacious design of the model.

Why it Stands Out to Us

If we had to pick one reason why this product stands out, it’s going to be pretty hard, but we will try anyway. The model is well-known for its stable and sturdy design. 

Manufacturers have carefully designed this tent, keeping in mind the needs of campers. It is made with double-thick fabric, and this high-end construction ensures higher durability. Not only this, but it also ensures that your tent can last for a longer time.

Who Will Use This Most

The model is 8 feet long and 7 feet tall, which means that it can accommodate a decent number of people. It is of imported quality, and its high-end construction means it’s durable. People who might use this tent are the ones whose families aren’t very big. 

Moreover, this model might come in handy in rainy areas where there is a chance of water sweeping inside the tent. 

Not only this, the model is known for its darkroom technology, which blocks sunlight and provides you with a comfortable environment for a quick nap.

Bottom Line

With so many incredible features dominating this instant tent, it is hard to see any reason why you wouldn’t want to buy it. With easy installation and setup, this model has already justified its top position. The product is also known for its higher durability and strength. This, coupled with its patented and welded floor, makes it one of the best models for middle-sized families.

Runner-up:
Coleman 8-Person Tent Instant Family Tent

Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent

Pros

  • Can be set up in 3 easy steps
  • Patented welded floors add to the stability
  • Accommodates more than 8 people and 2 beds
  • Large doors help keep all the bugs and pests away
  • Comes with inverted seams that keep you dry all the time

Cons

  • Relatively heavy than some models

What Recent Buyers Report

It’s hard to impress recent buyers, especially because they are the ones who have already invested in the product, and their opinions are the most genuine, but this instant tent has done it with ease. Equipped with 150D construction, it is already making rounds in the industry for being a quality product that offers better capacity but more on that later.

Why it Stands Out to Us

You’d expect an instant tent with a door to be more difficult to arrange, but you are quite wrong there. The model offers a quick set up and does not require you to follow any complex instructions. 

It also stands out to us because it offers greater safety. It comes with strong doors that properly seal the area from within. This not only protects you from bugs but also prevents water or any other particle from entering your area.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a family tent, and no one can convince us otherwise. It is 14 feet long and 10 feet high, which means that it can accommodate 8 to 10 people easily. It can also accommodate 2 large beds. Moreover, a specialty of this tent is that it comes with a plethora of storage pockets that allow you to be more organized on your trips. These are also in small and manageable sizes, which further add to its appeal.

Bottom Line

With higher capacity and efficient design, it’s hard not to recommend this model. It can accommodate more than 8 people, that too quite easily. It also allows for easy setup, which hardly takes 1 minute and can be done following only 3 simple steps. Not only this, but it also comes with advanced features like large doors that help keep pests away.

Best for the Money:
Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent

Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent, Blue

Pros

  • Can be used both outdoors and indoors
  • High-quality construction makes it extra durable
  • Less relative cost makes it the best for the money
  • Lightweight and compact design makes it highly portable
  • Comes with a water-resistant coating for superior performance

Cons

  • Set up is slightly more time-consuming
  • Slightly less stable than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

In this world where every other model is expensive, it is very hard to find a good product at a lower price. Wenzel has introduced this model in hopes that it makes people’s camping excursions more fun and convenient, and that is why recent buyers love this product. It is both lightweight and has a compact design, which makes it even more appealing.

Why it Stands Out to Us

People are skeptical about investing in instant tents because they fear that they are going to get smelly and infiltrated by bugs, but that won’t certainly happen with this model. This model comes with mesh openings on all sides of the tent. This not only allows for better air circulation but also ensures that the air inside the tent remains comfortable and breathable at all times.

Who Will Use This Most

The tent can accommodate more than 8 people, which means that it comes with a spacious interior. The model boasts enough space for a queen-sized mattress. There is also plenty of headroom which makes it suitable for taller people. Moreover, the model comes with a plethora of accessory pockets, which allows you to stash items inside and keep yourself organized even on your trips.

Bottom Line

Any product that claims to be lightweight and durable at the same time is bound to fail, right? We thought so, too, until we saw this instant tent. It is not only made with strong fiber, but its advanced heat-sealed construction also makes the model lightweight. This aids in portability and makes its setup easy. 

So if you are looking for affordability, durability and higher portability all in a single model, then this is definitely the one for you

Best Instant Cabin Tent:
CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent

CORE Instant Cabin Tent | Multi Room Tent for Family with Storage Pockets for Camping Accessories | Portable Large Pop Up Tent for 2 Minute Camp Setup | Sleeps 9 People, 14' x 9'

Pros

  • Helps you to access electrical cord port easily
  • Takes only 60 seconds to set up the whole thing
  • Comes with an adjustable ground vent for more comfort
  • Can fit more than 9 people easily and 2 queen mattresses
  • Wall storage pockets are added to help you be more organized

Cons

  • Electrical cord port is slightly difficult to manage
  • Storage pockets are relatively smaller than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers are amazed at how amazing this underdog instant tent has turned out to be. It wasn’t always a popular model, but it has won buyers over with its easy setup and compact design. Its time-saving technology is complemented by its sturdy design. 

The tent comes with telescoping poles that are already pre-attached to the structure. This ensures that you don’t have to spend time setting up the tent.

Why it Stands Out to Us

If there is one feature that stands above all others, it’s the large T door that comes with the tent. This not only adds to privacy but also gives you easy access to the tent. The door also ensures that, in summers, your tent is well-ventilated and provides proper airflow. This helps prevent any bad smell from accumulating inside. Not only this, but it also prevents entry of any bugs or pests inside.

Who Will Use This Most

Many instant tents claim to keep water out, but most fail to do so. The instant tent is different because it comes with advanced H20 block technology, which uses heat sealed seams to help keep water out. So if you are looking in a rainy neighborhood and want to have fun at your trips, then this model is definitely the one for you. Moreover, it can accommodate 9 to 10 people, making it suitable for larger families.

Bottom Line

Comfort, convenience, and portability come together in the making of this extraordinary instant tent. It has a large T door, which makes entry and exit easier. The adjustable ground vent also aids in ventilation, and together, these two features provide you with a comfortable environment inside. All in all, this model, with its numerous storage spaces and large capacity, is worthy of being included in this list.

Best Instant Pop Up Tent:
ZOMAKE Pop Up Tent 4 Person

Easy Pop Up Tent 4 Person Waterproof - Pop-Up Camping Tents Automatic Tent Throw Pop Up Instant Flip Pop Tent for Camping,by ZOAMKE(Green)

Pros

  • Does not require you to set up poles
  • Easy installation that takes very less time
  • Comes with a carry bag for better portability
  • Ensures perfect camping in all kinds of weather
  • Features 2 mesh windows and 2 mesh doors for better ventilation

Cons

  • Does not come with storage pockets
  • Can only accommodate 3 to 4 people

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers admit being slightly skeptical about the size of this instant tent, but after using this model, they are convinced of its quality and size. The tent makes no claims of housing larger families; it is made for small groups and couples. Buyers also appreciate the easy setup of the product, which saves their time and energy at all times.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The company has focused on quality rather than quantity in the making of this model. It doesn’t accommodate larger families, but it sure comes with a durable design, which makes it the perfect model for couples and smaller groups. It is made with anti-UV polyester fabric, which is then coated with silver to provide greater stability. Not only this, it comes with sun protection, which further adds to its appeal.

Who Will Use This Most

Setting up camps can be pretty tricky, especially when you camp frequently, and this is the problem that the manufacturers wanted to cater to with the launch of this model. It is truly a pop-up tent. Unlike most models, it doesn’t require the attachment of any additional components for assembly, which is why anyone looking to save time and energy will love this model.

Bottom Line

Time management is key to having a proper day out. So whether you are camping or just simply having a picnic outside, you don’t want to spend most of your time setting up and removing the tent. This pop-up tent saves time and allows for easy installation. Not just that, if you have a small family or if you are a couple looking for some privacy, this is surely going to be your key to having a good time outdoors.

Best Coleman Instant Tent:
Coleman 8-Person Camping Tent with Built-in Closet

Coleman 8-Person Camping Tent with Built-in Closet | Tenaya Lake Cabin Tent with Fast Pitch Setup

Pros

  • Features a room divider for added privacy
  • Inverted seams help keep you dry in rainy weather
  • The tent features closets and shelves already built-in
  • Comes with patented welded floors for better stability
  • Hanger bar helps keep you more organized on your trips

Cons

  • Repair and replacement is relatively expensive
  • Takes longer to set up than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers care about easy setup and installation, but they also care about quick pack ups, and this is why they love this instant tent. Equipped with an easy and comfortable design, this tent allows you to pack up the whole thing within seconds. The color-coded poles make the task easier. 

Moreover, the product comes with a large carry bag, which makes portability easy. This bag can also expand and make room for other equipment.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Many people use tents to help them stay away from sunlight or stormy weather, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like their tents to look attractive to other people. This tent caters to this issue by introducing color-coded poles and an efficient hub. This not only makes installation easy, but it also makes your tent seem attractive to people nearby.

Who Will Use This Most

People who want to stay outdoors and make use of their tents for more than 1 day will find this instant tent very suitable. It comes with numerous storage pockets, which makes the organization inside the tent and on trips easy. These allow you to stash small necessities in smaller spaces easily. These pockets are carefully sewn in the cloth, so they don’t tear up or wear off after some time.

Bottom Line

With the perfect measurement of 13 feet, this model is already in the limelight and for all the right reasons. It features shelves and closets and numerous storage pockets that make you feel like home outside. Not only this, but it comes with durable construction and patented welded floors which add to stability. It can also accommodate large families and provide good protection in stormy weather.

Best 6 Person Instant Tent:
Coleman Camping Waterproof 6 Person Instant Tent

Coleman New Outdoor Camping Waterproof 6 Person Instant Tent - 10'x9' Foootprint

Pros

  • Can accommodate 6 people comfortably
  • Takes only 1 minute to set up the whole thing
  • The tent poles come pre-attached with the tent
  • Made with waterproof material for more stability
  • 10 feet long hence more spacious than some other models

Cons

  • Does not have ample storage spaces
  • Relatively heavier than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

The Coleman camping tent is one of the best ones in the market, and recent buyers swear by this. It comfortably accommodates 6 to 7 people inside and has a place for one queen-sized bed. Moreover, buyers have also complimented its strong design, which ensures longevity.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Instant tents often face one recurrent problem, and this problem is so huge that it can sweep the fun out of a perfectly good evening. Coleman intelligently solves the water problem by creating its tent with a strong and durable fabric. This not only keeps all the water outside but also ensures that no pests or bugs can sweep in the tent.

Who Will Use This Most

Easy and quick set up is one of the most noteworthy features of this model, so anyone looking to save time and energy will love this model. It comes with an easy instruction booklet which requires you to follow 3 easy steps to set it up. It roughly takes less than 1 minute to install the whole thing. This feature is also made possible with the help of the pre-attached poles.

Bottom Line

A 10-feet long instant tent that comes with an easy to set up design is sure to impress consumers all over, and this is exactly what this tent has done with ease. It is equipped with a spacious interior, and its fiber is twice as thick as other models. These features, coupled with a 2-year warranty, make this a reliable model that does not wear or tear, even in the harshest of climates.

Best 8 Person Instant Tent:
Browning Camping Big Horn Tent

Browning Camping Big Horn Two-Room Tent - Khaki/Coal

Pros

  • Provides extra stability and strength
  • Has a two-room wall divider for more privacy
  • Equipped with mesh pockets for more storage
  • Comes with fiberglass poles that offer higher durability
  • Gives more room for cots and accommodates around 8 people

Cons

  • Installation kit lacks certain equipment
  • Water-resistance is not as good as some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers love models that accommodate a greater number of people comfortably, but that’s not the only reason they buy this product. It comes with a proper ventilation system which is capable of keeping bad smells and odors outside. Not only this, the presence of 2 doors and 4 windows also assists in this task, and the mesh roof promotes airflow hence appealing to buyers even more.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Instant tents need to be able to sustain harsh weather and heavy rainfalls. They should be strong enough to last for as long as you want, and this is exactly why it stands out to us. The model comes with fiberglass poles attached. When upright, these provide you with extra strength and offer greater durability to your overall model

Who Will Use This Most

Privacy is a huge concern for buyers when they go to buy instant tents. Most of these tents force everyone to share the same space without any room for privacy, and that changed with this tent. People will especially like the room divider that comes with it. Moreover, its numerous storage spaces and large capacity make it suitable for larger families.

Bottom Line

With a comfortable and spacious interior and a durable interior, this product is already proving to be a game-changer in the industry. It’s made with fiberglass poles, which offer greater strength to the whole model. This strength, coupled with more mesh pockets and a larger number of storage pockets, makes it one of the best products in the market.

Best 10 Person Instant Tent:
OT QOMOTOP Camping Tent Instant Set-Up

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Pros

  • Fully seam taped to prevent leaking
  • Caters to more than 10 people comfortably
  • Ensures easy set up that takes only 1 minute
  • Mesh roof provide you with better ventilation
  • Comes with attached telescoping poles for easy functioning

Cons

  • Difficult to repair if fabric tears off

What Recent Buyers Report

A product that provides a room divider, a rain fly, and three individual stuff bags is bound to attract recent buyers easily. Customers have long waited for a durable yet lightweight design, and this is exactly what they wanted. It also comes with windows and zippers. This provides enhanced airflow and also more customization on your trips.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The model stands out to us because of its amazing durability and smart design. It is made with strong and durable material, and it’s also relatively lightweight than most models. It also takes less than 1 minute to set up and does not require you to follow any complex steps. Moreover, the telescoping poles of this instant tent are pre-attached, which makes installation easier.

Who Will Use This Most

High water resistance is one of the primary features of this model, and people who live in harsh climates and heavy rainfall will love having this in their backpacks. Moreover, it caters to large families, which means that you can go camping with groups of 10 to 12 people and not worry about water leaking through.

Bottom Line

A large tent that can house more than 10 people should take at least 20 minutes or more to set up, right? We also thought so, until we came across this amazing piece. It is not only one of the largest tents in the market but also the most trustworthy. It comes with full seam taped and mesh roofs that ensure greater reliability. 

Moreover, it comes with poles attached that allow for easy functioning. All in all, if you want a large tent with more comfort, then this is the one for you.

Best Uses For an Instant Tent 

Instant tents have a simple use that everyone knows of, but can the product be used for other things as well? This is the question that we are aiming to answer here. Contrary to what people think, instant tents can be used for a range of different purposes. Here are some of them:

Summer Tents

As the name suggests, these tents can be used in summers. The weather is usually hot and sometimes even sunny, and hence any tent catering to that weather should provide a good atmosphere inside. The construction of such tents reflects the purpose. They are usually made of mesh composition, which allows a significant amount of airflow to cool the interior. 

Not only this, but these tents also have rain flies positioned some inches from the ground to ensure better airflow.

Enjoy the outdoors with Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent 

Winter Tents

These are called winter tents because they provide the comfort of your home outside. Since winters are heavily dominated by chilly winds and cloudy atmosphere, these tents ensure heavy-duty construction that involves a sturdy design and tough fabrics that can withstand the heaviest of the rain. Moreover, they also offer higher durability and hence can last for a longer time.

Three Season Tents

As the name suggests, these tents are the most versatile and can be used for a range of purposes. They are usually extremely durable and safe and can be made with solid nylon or mesh for increased toughness. You can use them in any weather and lie inside comfortably. 

They can also be used for a large number of people as they are often quite spacious. Given the versatility, these are the most popular ones in the market.

Pros and Cons of Instant Tents 

This whole article talks about the numerous pros of having an instant tent, but this part of the article will also talk about some of the cons. This is to ensure that you don’t make any decision hastily; rather, we want you to make good comparisons between all the products and then decide which one best fits your needs. To help you do that, here are the pros and cons of instant tents

Pros

Let’s first have a look at all the benefits you would get from investing in an instant tent. 

More Space For Your Family

This is important because, more often than not, people don’t get large enough tents to accommodate all family members comfortably. Better space utilization in tents ensures people don’t feel crowded inside the space. Moreover, it will ensure that the tent is of the perfect size and comes with a good amount of dividers to give more privacy to individuals.

Easy Installation

This is what people look for the most in an instant tent. While many tents claim fast set up, they don’t always deliver on their promises, but the products in this list are certainly different. Any good tent should ideally take between 10 to 20 minutes to set up, that too without needing a lot of hardware equipment. Any product that takes longer is a bad one and not worth your consideration anyway.

Lightweight Yet Strong

When it comes to instant tents, having these two features together can be challenging. This is because products are either heavy or strong, or they are lightweight and weak. The instant tents in our list break this myth and are made with high-quality construction material. Not only this, but they also allow for a compact and sturdy design, which adds to better portability.

Cons

On the flip side, you’ll have to deal with the following drawbacks:

Price

There is no denying that instant tents are expensive. They can become a heavy burden on the pocket, especially if you are looking for a tent that accommodates a larger family. Moreover, tents that offer durability and strength and also a lightweight design tend to cost even more. Also, there is a range of tents available in the market, and getting a versatile one is again less cost-efficient.

Conclusion 

Deciding how to spend your summer, fall, or spring season can be daunting, but certainly not when you have the option of effortless camping. A good instant tent is the best way to go about it. It not only provides you with high durability but also greater comfort. 

Apart from providing you with a safe space to lie down, a good instant tent will also protect you from harsh weather like storms or rain. They also offer greater portability, and when maintained well, they can last for many years. So regardless of what purpose you have in mind, remember the best instant tent will always triple the enjoyment factor in your trip.

People Also Ask

Instant tents are the new big deal in the market. They are really popular, and people are crazy about them. This new wave of excitement has led them to ask all kinds of questions regarding these products. When we scoured the internet, we found the following questions to be the most recurrent, and to help you out, we have answered them for you.

Are Instant Up Tents Any Good?

They aren’t only good; they are exceptionally good. Instant tents are known to be one of the most durable and strong tents in the market. They not only provide you with high water resistance, but their higher portability also adds to the appeal. Moreover, they come in a range of sizes, which is another noteworthy feature about them.

Are Instant Tents Durable?

Most instant tents are highly durable, and they should be too. Because weather in most parts of the country is unpredictable, companies don’t want tents to wear off or get damaged during that. Moreover, companies have also tried to make instant tents more lightweight to provide better portability to consumers.

Are Coleman Instant Tents Waterproof?

Coleman instant tents come in a range of different sizes. The three most uses sizes are large, medium, and small. The fabric that the company uses is fully waterproof and comes with taped seams. It is also made with a mesh infused in the fabric, thus providing greater airflow in summers.

Where is the Model Number on my Coleman Instant Tent?

Coleman instant tents are really popular in the market, and people ask questions regarding them frequently. The model numbers are written on all kinds of instant tents, but there is no fixed place for their display. They are sometimes located at the backside of the tent and sometimes on the front side.