Best pop up tent in 2023

We’ve all been there – arriving at a picturesque campsite only to spend what feels like hours wrestling with tent poles, complicated instructions, and uncooperative fabric.

Not only does this frustrating initiation steal precious moments of relaxation, but it also sets a sour tone for what was supposed to be an escape from daily hassles. Imagine missing the sunset because you’re still figuring out which pole goes where.

Enter pop up tents. Designed with convenience in mind, the best pop up tent promises a hassle-free setup in mere seconds. In this article, we dive deep into the best pop up tents available, ensuring your next adventure starts on the right foot – or rather, with the right tent!

The best pop up tents are:

1. Best pop up tent overall: Gazelle T4 Hub Tent, 4 person.
2. Best pop up tent on a budget: Cflity Camping Tent, 2 person.
3. Runner up budget pop up tent: Amflip Camping Tent, 2 person.
4. Best family pop up tent: Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent, 8 person.
5. Best budget family pop up tent: Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent.
6. Best pop up tent for hot weather: Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent, 2 person.
7. Lightest pop up tent: Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent, 2 person or 4 person.

Best pop up tent overall

Gazelle T4 Hub Tent

Capacity: 4 person
Best for: Car camping

The Gazelle T4 Hub Tent breaks through the barriers many traditional pop up tents face. We love it for the tremendous amount of space inside without sacrificing ease of setup. For this reason, the Gazelle T4 Hub is our choice for the best pop up tent overall.

Most of us are used to pop up tents that come in a circular disc shape that we simply throw on the ground, and they pop into shape. But anyone who has used one of these classic pop-up designs knows it can be a nightmare to pack the tent up again.

The Gazelle T4 Hub tent carry bag comes in the long shape of a traditional camping tent. Setting up the Gazelle T4 requires you to unfold it on the ground first and then locate the pull handles on each tent wall. Pulling these handles tensions the spring-loaded fiberglass tent poles, forming an X shape on each wall and popping the wall into place.

Sure, setup requires a little more time than simply throwing a disc-shaped pop-up tent on the ground, but putting down the tent is a breeze. An unexpected benefit is that the tensioned X-shaped walls bow outwards, making the tent feel roomier around your waist height. It’s a minor feature, but it does help give that impression of space.

We found that the zippers were pretty robust and generally felt unlikely to snag on the tent. But the zippers felt a little stiff, which means the door can be challenging to open.

We’re big fans of the excellent headroom in the Gazelle T4 Hub, which sets it apart from other pop up tents. We found it easy to walk around inside this tent without having to hunch down, thanks to its 6’8” peak height.

But this height and the cabin shape of the tent means that it isn’t very aerodynamic and struggles in strong winds. We would be worried about taking this tent out in rough weather conditions, although this advice applies to all pop up tents.

The removable floor means you can remove the tent floor and wash it easily. But we wouldn’t recommend removing it at all. Putting it back in place can be tricky, and any misalignment can leave gaps for insects to come through.

The major difference between the Gazelle T4 Hub and other tents is its unique hub setup. This means that the tent combines spaciousness with excellent ease of setup.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You want a large pop up tent that doesn’t sacrifice ease of setup.
✔️ You like having plenty of storage pockets and gear lofts on the walls and ceilings.
✔️ You value ease of setup but also like a tent that is easy to take down.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You’re on a tight budget. The Gazelle T4 hub is a pricey pop up tent. We recommend considering Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent instead.
❌ You usually walk to your camping spot. The Gazelle is much too heavy for walking far.

Best pop up tent on a budget

Cflity Camping Tent – 3 Person Instant Pop Up Tent

Capacity: 3 person (claimed), 2 person (reality)
Best for: Casual camping, festival camping

The Cflity Camping Tent is a budget pop up tent with much to offer. We love it for the two vestibules it comes with, which are rare additions for pop up tents. Including vestibules means we have somewhere to keep our backpacks and our muddy hiking boots. For this reason, the Cflity Camping Tent is our choice for the best pop up tent on a budget.

However, we were personally disappointed with Cflity’s marketing materials. Savvy shoppers might spot that the Cflity Camping Tent is essentially the same tent as the Amflip Camping Tent but with some added features. Cflity claims their tent is for three people, while Amflip claims a capacity of only two.

James resorted to pulling out a tape measure to test how his broad shoulders would fit in this tent. The results? There is zero chance he could fit three of himself in the Cflity tent. As a result, we are treating this tent as a two person tent in this review going forward.

Like the Gazelle T4 Hub, the Cflity Camping Tent has abandoned the traditional circular shape. The Cflity tent has a hub at the top, which tensions all the tent poles and clicks into place. This means only having to tension one section of the tent for setup rather than tensioning all four walls of the Gazelle T4 Hub.

As a result of this design choice, we found the Cflity Camping Tent to have a fast setup and takedown. Setup simply can’t get much faster than this without sacrificing essentials like staking down the tent or guying out the tent walls.

If you consider it a two person tent only, we found that the Cflity Camping Tent feels more spacious than many similarly priced pop up tents. It comes second in space to the Amflip Camping Tent by a few inches, but we think it makes up for this with the added vestibule space. Like many pop up tents, the choice of fiberglass tent poles isn’t ideal and does feel a little flimsy in your hands.

We’re fans of the very easy setup and takedown, which means less time spent fiddling around with tent poles and more time spent having fun. The two door setup also means you have easy access and exit for bathroom breaks throughout the night.

Our main drawback with this tent is a missed opportunity. We wish Cflity had taken inspiration from double layer backpacking tents with their inner doors. Given the large, covered vestibule space, the tent is already waterproof. Making the inner doors mesh would have allowed plenty of airflow throughout the tent, which would have had the added benefit of making the tent a little lighter.

The major difference between the Cflity Camping Tent and other pop up tents is the space provided by the two vestibules. If you treat the Cflity tent as a two person tent, it also provides plenty of space and comfort.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You want a super easy tent to set up and take down.
✔️ You want excellent value for money and have a tight budget.
✔️ You like having space outside the tent to keep muddy hiking boots and backpacks.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You want a tent that comfortably fits three people.
❌ You want a tent that is made of the highest quality materials.

Runner up budget pop up tent

Amflip Camping Tent – 2 Person Instant Pop Up Tent

Capacity: 2 person
Best for: Car camping, casual camping, festival camping

The Amflip Camping Tent is a popular pop up tent thanks to its hub setup. We love it for its super easy setup and relative roominess for two people, all delivered at a budget price.

The Amflip Camping Tent has an identical setup to the Cflity Camping Tent. The Amflip uses a hub at the top of the tent, which provides tension to all the tent poles. Like the Cflity tent, the Amflip is quick to pitch.

We found that the Amflip Camping Tent felt spacious inside for a two person tent. This means that you’ll have space to keep some of your gear beside you in the tent or stretch out without annoying the person beside you. Comparing it with the Coleman pop up tent, it felt about 50% wider despite both tents claiming to be for two people.

We’re big fans of the choice to include two doors. Going to the bathroom at night can be daunting if you need to climb over your partner to get outside. Multiple doors make the tent feel much more accessible and user friendly.

However, there are a few drawbacks. Our main issue is that this tent’s ventilation ports are relatively small. Campers in very hot climates may struggle and those in very humid climates might find some condensation in the corners.

Overall, the Amflip Camping Tent provides great value for a budget price. If you’re looking for a casual camping tent without all the setup hassle, the Amflip could be great for you.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You want a quick setup AND a quick takedown.
✔️ You want room for two without the tent feeling too cramped.
✔️ You’re on a budget and want a good bang for your buck.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You want a tall tent to spend time in during the day.
❌ You live in a hot climate where excellent airflow is critical.

Best family pop up tent

Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent

Capacity: 8 person
Best for: Car camping, family camping, glamping

The Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent is the bigger brother to the Gazelle T4 Hub Tent and shares many similar features. We love how tremendously spacious this tent is and that it has a zippable room divider that can turn the sleeping area into two separate bedrooms. Gazelle Tents has clearly focused on making this tent very comfortable, and the Gazelle T8 Hub Tent easily wins our award of the best family pop up tent.

Similar to the Gazelle T4 Hub Tent, you simply need to set up each wall by pulling the strap back until it pops into place. Once set up, you just need to throw the rainfly over and stake down the tent and the guy lines. This means that setup is fast and easy, especially when comparing it to conventional eight person tents.

When rubbing the tent’s material between your fingers you can feel how thick the materials are. The fabric certainly feels like it won’t be hugely prone to rips. And the zippers feel very smooth when opening and closing the doors.

We really liked the massive amounts of storage options in this tent. The sides of the room divider are covered with storage pockets. The walls are covered with large storage pockets and stuff pockets. Gear lofts hang from the ceiling of each room. This means we had plenty of space to keep fleeces, electronics, books, and other equipment.

Our main complaint with the Gazelle T8 Hub Tent is its size and weight. Weighing around 56 lbs, you won’t be able to carry it far from a car. I also don’t like the slanted shape of the doors, which can become a bit of a trip hazard when getting into the tent. Although we appreciate that the X-shaped hub design means they must be this shape.

In general, it’s hard to find many unexpected drawbacks to the Gazelle T8 Hub Tent. If you’re looking for a high quality, large pop up tent, the Gazelle T8 Hub Tent beats all the other pop up tents on the market, hands down. We highly recommend this tent for families of four to six people.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You’re looking for a pop up tent that can handle up to a family of six.
✔️ You want plenty of storage pockets to keep gear.
✔️ You like the idea of having a room divider which provides privacy at night.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You’re on a tight budget. Opting for two smaller and cheaper pop up tents might be a better choice for you.
❌ You’re expecting strong winds and need an aerodynamically shaped tent.
❌ You won’t be camping near your car and will need to carry the tent far.

Best budget family pop up tent

Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent

Capacity: 6 people (claimed), 4 person (reality)
Best for: Car camping, family camping, casual camping

The Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent is a large pop up tent that comes with many loveable features. First and foremost, it is the largest traditional pop up tent in our review. Unless you’re willing to splash out for one of the pricey Gazelle tents, this is the only other pop up tent that could fit a small family. The Ayamaya pop up tent therefore wins our award of the best family pop up tent on a budget.

The Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent shares a number of design choices with other pop up tents in our review. It comes bundled into a 35 inch diameter carry bag and pitching it is as easy as taking it out of the bag and letting the tent pop into shape. This means a quick and simple setup.

The tent also feels very spacious inside and is noticeably bigger than all the other pop up tents in this review, bar the Gazelle tents. But because this is a larger tent, it does feel heavier to carry it around. It’s still much more portable than the Gazelle tents, but you probably wouldn’t want to go on a long walk while carrying this tent.

Once you’ve tried a double layer tent, it’s hard to go back. We’re really impressed that the Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent is a double layer tent – the only double layer pop up tent that we’re aware of. Two layers means that this tent has a vestibule space and also means that condensation is less likely to be an issue.

But this choice does come with a cost, and also presents our main issue with this tent. It isn’t really a six person pop up tent unless people are happy to sleep in the vestibule area. Three adults or a family with two adults and 2 kids will fit comfortably. I would generally recommend that bigger adults resort to buying two tents.

The major difference between the Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent and other pop up tents is the size of this tent and the double layer setup. If you’re a family of four and are looking to go camping on a budget, this tent checks all our boxes.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You want a large pop up tent with a budget price tag.
✔️ You live in a humid area and condensation can be an issue.
✔️ You need a vestibule area to keep your gear and equipment in.
✔️ You want to run electricity inside using an e-port.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ Don’t expect to fit six people inside this tent.
❌ Less portable than smaller pop up tents

Best pop up tent for hot weather

Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent

Capacity: 2 people
Best for: Car camping, casual camping

Night Cat is a highly popular pop up tent brand on Amazon whose lineup includes the Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent. We love the Night Cat tent’s focus on ventilation, featuring two large windows on the side of the tent and two large doors at the front and back of the tent. For this reason, the Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent wins our award of the best pop up tent for hot weather.

The Night Cat tent comes folded up into four circles. Set up is as easy as taking it out of the bag and letting the tent pop up into place. You then only need to stake down this tent to finish setting it up. Key design choices for this tent include the two large doors at each end and the two windows on the side. All of these come with bug mesh so they can be left open, or can be fully closed to waterproof the tent.

As with some of the other tents, the Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent comes with a door which can be used as an awning, provided you bring a pair of hiking poles.

We found that the Night Cat tent felt very spacious compared to other pop up tents. The tent has 90% more floor area than the Coleman 2-person pop up tent and 5% more than the Coleman 4-person pop up tent. You can definitely feel the difference when you’re sitting inside the tent. And yes, you can sit up straight.

All design choices have advantages and disadvantages. Yet again, the choice of the classic circular pop up shape means that this tent might be very fast to set up, but also takes a bit of time to put it away. The instructions are not hugely clear for folding this pop up tent and it will likely take some thought the first time you use it. We also found the fine toothed zippers felt like a little care might be needed when opening and closing the tent doors.

One issue to be wary of is that we did find some rain leaking into the tent from the top. If you’re expecting to camp in heavy rain, I would be tempted to upgrade to one of the more weatherproof options in this review.

The major difference between the Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent and other pop up tents is the combination of two doors, two windows and an awning. If you’re looking for a spacious tent with plenty of ventilation and aren’t too concerned about heavy rain, this could be an excellent option for you.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You will be camping in hot conditions and want a tent with enough ventilation to stand higher temperatures.
✔️ You like being able to open up windows to see outside.
✔️ You want a very roomy two person tent.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You live in an area with plenty of heavy rain.
❌ You want a tent that you can easily fold up and put back in its bag.
❌ You want a tent that you can stand up in.

Lightest pop up tent

Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent

Capacity: 2 person, 4 person
Best for: Car camping, casual camping, festival camping

The Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent comes with a classic pop up design. Setup only requires you to unclip the storage strap, throw the tent on the ground and watch the tent pop up. This means the tent springs into shape in just a few seconds, which really impressed us.

However, this classic pop up setup comes with a major drawback. You’ll need to wrestle with the tent to fold it back into its circular shape when you are taking the tent down. This challenging take down means that, despite saving a few seconds in setup compared to some of the higher rated tents, we would still recommend a hub style setup over the one that the Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent uses.

We love how lightweight this tent feels which means that it’s easy to throw the carry strap over your shoulder and take a stroll to your camping spot. This excellent portability helped the Coleman Pop-Up Tent our award for the best lightweight pop up tent.

But we are a little concerned about the performance of this tent in bad weather. This tent can start leaking in rain around the door when the weather conditions turn wet, and we’ve reported before how some Coleman tents appear to only be waterproofed to a hydrostatic head rating of 450 mm. This certainly isn’t enough for heavy rain.

We also didn’t like how small this tent is. Coming in at only 53 inches wide means you will be in very close quarters with the other person in this tent. Two broad shouldered people are unlikely to fit side by side.

The Coleman Pop-Up Camping Tent is more portable than many of the other pop up tents in our review. So if you’re only planning some very casual camping or just want a budget tent for a festival, the Coleman could be a great choice for you.

Reasons to buy:

✔️ You want a lightweight pop-up tent that you can easily carry to your camping spot.
✔️ You want the fastest setup possible, and don’t mind taking a little more time to pack the tent away.
✔️ You’re heading out for a night of very casual camping and have a backup sleeping spot nearby.

Reasons to avoid:

❌ You don’t want to bother trying to wrestle the tent back into its bag.
❌ You live in an area with unpredictable rainstorms and won’t have a backup tent.
❌ You don’t want to take the risk of a zipper breaking and ruining a camping trip.
❌ You want a more comfortable, spacious tent.

2 person model

4 person model

Best of the rest

• Caddis Rapid 4/6-Person Tent: The Caddis Rapid tent is a well-made, quick-setup tent that ticks many boxes. Caddis describes the tent as an instant pop up tent, but the setup style is more like an instant tent in our view so we haven’t included it here.
• Londtren 4 Person Easy Pop Up Tent: The Londtren pop up tent is a conventional pop-up tent with a quick setup. It’s a popular tent on Amazon but, in our opinion, the pop up tents we have listed in this article provide better value for money. It is roughly equivalent to the Night Cat Upgraded Pop up Tent but without the awning.

Pop up tent quick recommendations

Best by size:

• The best 2 person pop up tent is the Cflity Camping Tent.
• The best 4 person pop up tent is the Gazelle T4 Hub Tent.
• The best 6 person pop up tent is the Ayamaya 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent.
• The best 8 person pop up tent is the Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent.

Remember to add 1-2 to your group size for added comfort!

Other awards:

• The best waterproof pop up tent is the Cflity Camping Tent – 3 Person Instant Pop Up Tent.
• The best pop up tent for families is the Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent.
• The best large pop-up tent is also the Gazelle Tents T8 Hub Tent.
• The best budget pop up tent is the Cflity Camping Tent – 3 Person Instant Pop Up Tent.

We do not recommend any pop up tents for backpacking. If you’re looking for a beginners tent to take backpacking that has an easy setup, you might like the TETON Sports Vista Quick Tent which has a very quick setup while maintaining good weatherproofing.

Pop up tent rating criteria

We analyzed and reviewed dozens of pop up tents and rated them based on their ease of setup, comfort and space, weather protection, durability and portability.

The weights for our overall ratings are:

• Ease of setup: 30%
• Comfort and space: 25%
• Weather protection: 20%
• Durability: 15%
• Portability: 10%

Our ratings for the best pop up tent reflects our subjective view of the most important rating criteria. So we have included each of the individual ratings so that you can assess each tent based on the criteria most important to you.

Buyers Guide to the Best Pop Up Tents

Ease of setup

No one likes spending time setting up a tent when they could be enjoying themselves. Since you’re looking for the best pop up tent, we’re guessing that ease of set-up is important to you.

We rate each tent for their ease of set-up and this metric receives the most weight overall. Higher scores are given to tents that are fast to pitch, easy to set up, and quick to take down.

Pop up tents come in two types: conventional disc pop up tents, and hub-style tents.

Conventional disc pop up tents come in a circular bag which can be unzipped to remove the tent body. The tent itself often comes wrapped with a strap which can be unclipped. The spring-loaded frames then automatically pop out into the full shape of the tent. These tents then need to be staked down and often also guyed out.

Conventional disc pop up tents have an incredibly easy and quick setup. But they come with some common flaws. Firstly, it’s difficult to put a conventional pop up tent away. The spring-loaded tension in the tent means that you’re fighting against a strong force to push it back into the disc shape.

And often these tents also struggle to get parts of the fabric fully taut, which can affect waterproofing. Another big disadvantage is that conventional pop up tents need to come in a disc shape which limits the possible shapes of the tent to circular or tunnel shaped designs.

Hub style tents are a newer design that has become hugely popular in recent years. They solve a number of the core issues with conventional pop up tents. Set up is slightly slower as you need to manually handle the hubs which tensions the spring loaded fiberglass poles. But we’re talking about a matter of seconds difference.

All you need to do to put down a hub style tent is remove the tension. You can then simply pack away the tent. So while you’ve taken a few seconds more to set it up, you’ve likely saved yourself minutes compared to a conventional pop up tent.

Hub designs are also not limited to circular or tunnel shapes. Some hub tents, such as the Gazelle tents listed in this review, come in large cabin tent shapes. This means that they can provide tall ceilings and large floor plans.

Pop up tents are not the only style of quick set up tent. You can also buy instant tents which can be set up easily by extending their telescopic tent poles. They, in turn, take a handful more seconds to set up than a hub pop up tent, but again provide plenty of very large and comfortable options. You can also often pick up an instant tent for cheaper than a hub pop up tent. Check out our review of the best instant tent for more information.

Comfort and space

Almost all pop up tent users are campers rather than backpackers, which means comfort and space is a top priority. We’ll want somewhere roomy enough to keep all our equipment and a place that we can hide away comfortably if the rain starts pouring down.

Remember the golden rule – always add one or two people to your group size when looking at the stated capacities of tents. A group of four adults will be much more comfortable in a 6+ person tent.

Comfort and space is therefore the second highest weighted metric for our ratings. Pop up tents scored well here if they were very comfortable and spacious, especially if they provide loads of floor area for their claimed capacity. After all, two 3 person tents can potentially be quite different sizes. Tents also scored well if they were tall enough to walk around in without having to crane your neck.

Hub style tents perform well in this category since their design allows them to go for cabin tent style shapes, with tall ceilings and multiple rooms.

Comfort also covers the many different useful features that make a tent, well … comfortable.

Two doors is preferred to one, for easier entry and exit. Especially if you’re trying to leave the tent for a midnight bathroom break.

Vestibules are great for keeping backpacks and muddy boots inside and helping keep the sleeping area clean.

Storage options? Yes please! We love pop up tents that provide plenty of storage pockets and gear lofts which mean you’ll have space to keep your books, sunglasses and anything else.

And then there are the smaller things, like reflective guy lines to avoid tripping over at night, lantern hooks, and windows.

Key takeaway: The best pop up tents include plenty of storage options, space to store gear and multiple doors.

Weather protection

None of us want to spend a miserable night in a tent. Weather protection is therefore hugely important, whether it’s keeping the rain out or avoiding a snapped tent pole in windy conditions.

We rate each tent based on its waterproofing, wind resistance, breathability in hot weather and ventilation in humid weather.

Waterproofing

Pop up tents often don’t come with a full-coverage rainfly. Instead, you often have to rely on the waterproofing of the main tent, or have a partial-coverage canopy to place over the tent. This is not ideal since you are protected from the elements by a single layer of material across most of the tent.

When it comes to waterproofing, you want a tent which has highly waterproof fabric. Waterproof tent fabrics usually have a hydrostatic head rating of 1200 mm or higher.

However, there are plenty of other things that make a tent waterproof. Tent seams must be taped and sealed properly, the tent fabric must be made taut to provide surface tension, the tent floor should come with a bathtub design, and smart build design can help avoid leaks.

We recommend picking up some waterproofing spray and seam sealer to make sure your tent is waterproof before you head out for the first time. Waterproofing spray and seam sealer can then be reapplied every six months or so to top up the weather protection.

If you are facing heavy rain, we highly recommend choosing a conventional camping tent with a full coverage canopy (a.k.a. rainfly, or fly). It will help shelter the whole of your tent and provide some extra waterproof protection.

Wind resistance

Pop up tents typically perform quite poorly in strong winds compared to conventional tents. Pop-up tents place a lot of tension on fiberglass poles, which are a cheaper, brittle tent pole material. This means that the structure isn’t hugely robust.

What we look for when reviewing a pop up tent’s performance in wind starts with the number of guy out points. You want plenty of guylines that will help keep materials taut and provide some extra stability to the structure of the tent.

Dome and tunnel shaped pop up tents perform much better in wind than the large cabin tents. The large walls of a cabin tent catch much of a gust of wind and are not aerodynamic at all.

Ventilation & hot weather performance

Ventilation is vital for camping in hot weather. Well-ventilated tents also help keep air circulating around the tent which helps you limit condensation.

Well ventilated pop up tents often come with plenty of mesh for breathability and with ventilation ports. Often this is a mesh area below the rainfly, as well as mesh windows and door covers. A double-wall design also typically performs much better than a single-wall tent.

Key takeaway: The best pop-up tents use a double layer design and come with plenty of ventilation ports and guylines. These features help pop up tents perform well in rain, wind and heat.

Durability

The saying goes “buy cheap, buy twice”, but there’s no guarantee that paying more for a tent will, in fact, make it last longer. When it comes to the longevity of our shelters, we want durable materials and a well designed product. This usually comes down to material quality, build quality, and design choices.

Starting with tent poles, pop up tents regularly use fiberglass poles. These are a cheaper tent pole material which can be quite brittle and prone to snapping under stress. The two most common alternative tent pole materials are aluminum poles and steel poles. Aluminum poles are much stronger and lighter, but are also much more expensive. Whereas steel poles are reasonably priced, stronger but also heavier. Each type of pole therefore has its advantages and disadvantages, but we would have preferred if some of the more expensive pop up tents used aluminum poles.

It isn’t just about the material of the tent poles. Wider diameter usually means a stronger pole. And smart design can help spread force across the whole of the pole, rather than large amounts of stress being placed at one point.

Most pop-up tents are also made of polyester. This is a cheaper material that generally provides good robustness. Nylon is an alternative material used in backpacking tents thanks to its low weight, but it isn’t typically as robust as polyester. The strength of most polyester fabrics is primarily due to the fabric thickness, which is called the denier. You’ll often see products being labeled as, for example, 150D. This means a denier of 150 and, in practical terms, means a single fiber that is 9000 meters long will weigh 150 grams. Thicker fibers are stronger but also weigh more, so there is a clear trade off. In our view, polyester is a sensible choice for more casual camping tents.

Fabrics can also be further strengthened using different weaves. Popular weaves for tent fabrics include oxford weave and ripstop weave. These weaves can also help protect against minor tears, ensuring that the entire fabric does not fall apart if a small hole appears.

Tent floors often come with a much higher denier material to help avoid tears or abrasion, since they are particularly vulnerable to rocks and tree roots. A number of tents come with an optional footprint to place underneath the tent to help protect its floor and extend the tent’s lifespan. If it doesn’t come with a footprint, you can always pick up a similarly sized tarp and cut it into shape.

Beyond the tent materials, build quality is also important. It’s always worth looking at the quality of stitching on a tent. Spotting lots of loose threads hanging off the stitching could mean issues down the road. You’ll want to check the stitching is robust and all the seams are fully waterproofed, as these are a common place for water ingress. Another sign of build quality is the choice of good quality zippers that feel sturdy in the hand and don’t snag on any fabric.

Finally, a small thing but many pop up tents come with poor quality stakes which can easily bend out of shape. Better quality aluminum stakes can easily be picked up online.

Portability, weight and packed size

Almost all pop up tents are car camping tents, so portability shouldn’t be a huge concern to most campers. This is why we have given portability a low weight in our metrics.

But some shelters can be so heavy that it becomes a challenging hike to even take them a few hundred feet. And these tents can be packed in challengingly sized carry bags. In particular, some of the hub style pop up tents come in long carry bags which you may struggle to fit in smaller vehicles.

Most traditional pop up tents are light enough to carry on a short walk and they typically come in carry bags with either one or two shoulder straps.

Value for money

Our camping tent ratings don’t include value due to how subjective it is. Everyone’s budget is different. But most pop up tents are designed for a casual camping audience and therefore target the budget end of the tent market.

Some of the hub designed tents can be exceptions. These camping tents offer significantly more space and features, but also cost quite a lot more.

If you’re camping in a campground, it’s absolutely fine to pick a cheaper tent and there are plenty of options that are both comfortable and affordable. If you’re heading out to the wilderness and don’t have a backup place to sleep, we recommend you consider one of the more robust tents, even if it costs an extra $100 or so.

Our verdict

In our analysis above, we determined that the best pop up tent overall is the Gazelle T4. In our experience, the Gazelle tent is very quick and easy to pitch and it also provides plenty of space and comfort.

If you’re on a budget and are happy to forgo a very spacious tent, we chose the Cflity Camping Tent as our favorite pop up tent on a budget. We love the vestibule space in this camping tent and that it can be set up in less than a minute.

Happy camping!

Useful Resources

Best Instant Tent of 2023 – Simplify Your Camping Trips

Considering an instant tent for your next camping trip? We’ve reviewed the 8 best instant tents to find you the perfect one for you.

Easiest tent to set up by yourself 2023: best quick tent for easy setup

Fed up fighting with tent poles and sleeves? Read our review to find out which is the easiest tent to set up by yourself.

The fastest tent to set up: 6 of the best for campers in a hurry

When you don’t have a minute to waste, you need to invest in the fastest tent to set up. See the best models for every budget on our list!

Are Pop Up Tents Good?

Are pop up tents good? Is it a good idea to buy one? Can they handle rain and wind or will you wake up drenched? Find out in our guide!

What is a Pop Up Tent? And How Do They Work?

Before you buy a pop up tent, make sure you understand what is a pop up tent and their pros and cons. Mistakes here can be disastrous.