It is very important when going camping to always pack the right equipment. In a pinch, the right gear can make all the difference in the world, especially when it comes to first-aid or shelter. Speaking of which, choosing a camping tent shouldn’t be too difficult as long as you have a good idea of what to expect from one. One thing to remember when buying a tent is to always pay attention to how easy it is to put up.
The last thing you want to do when the weather takes a turn for the worse is wasting valuable time trying to set up the tent. It is for this reason that inflatable/pop up tents were invented and their popularity speaks volumes about their usefulness. To give you a little insight on the matter, we put together a list of the ten best inflatable tents on the market for you to look at.
Best Inflatable Tents for Camping – Reviews
9Heimplanet Fistral Inflatable Geodesic Tent
The Heimplanet Fistral Inflatable Geodesic Tent is a stable 2-person/3-person tent by design, with two people standing a bit more comfortable than three. Thanks to its quick and easy setup features, you can set it up in just a matter of minutes. Furthermore, this tent benefits from a multi-chamber safety system with individual inflatable champers separated by valves to add an extra level to its overall comfort.
8Outdoor Single Tunnel Inflatable Bubble Tent
This exquisite inflatable tent stands out with a truly unique design, one that recommends it not only for camping but for casual backyard leisure as well. Fully transparent, this bubble tent can be inflated in no time and is guaranteed to maintain its shape no matter how hard the wind is blowing. Due to its ingenious design, this versatile tent can either be used as a basic lawn tent, a beach tent, or as a bubble tree tent depending on your needs.
7Wenzel Vortex 8 Tent
With the Wenzel Vortex 8 Tent, you get not only a long-lasting durability you wouldn’t normally expect from a tent but also a tremendous amount of space. Made almost entirely of polyester, this tent measures 124.5 square feet over the floor area and a peak height of 74 inches. It also features five windows and a spacious door, a design that recommends it for anyone who’s thinking about camping in a scenic location.
6Outsunny Compact Portable Pop-Up Tent
It is convenience that best recommends this tent, the type that you can usually only expect from high-end tents with a price tag to match. What’s interesting is that this tent is surprisingly affordable given its overall quality, which may explain its popularity to begin with. Construction-wise, let us point out that it features a large zippered door for easy entry and an easy to set up design that lets you set it up in seconds.
5FiveJoy Instant 4-Person Pop Up Dome Tent
Like the name suggests, this particular tent can easily accommodate four people at the same time in a reasonably comfortable fashion. It also benefits from an easy, automatic setup that allows it to spring up into position in just a couple of minutes. Ideal for casual camping trips, this tent features mesh windows with openings on both sides and storage pockets along with a hang loop for good measure.
4G4Free Pop Up Tent
What makes this interesting tent stand out is the fact that despite its seemingly large form, it can be folded down to a 31-inch diameter circle. This is particularly impressive considering the fact that it also features durable round fiberglass poles that also make the tent easy to set up. When fully unpacked, this tent is 100% water resistant thanks to its K-Oxford fabric with tape sealed seams.
3Air Fort Build A Fort in 30 Seconds
Although primarily aimed at kids, this easy to set up air fort tent can definitely be used for regular camping as well. The reason why this interesting tent is so popular is because it can be set up in just a matter of seconds. As for the tent itself, let us point out that it doesn’t have a floor for easy access but that it does have a viewing window and a mesh divider to prevent access to the tent’s fan.
2Coleman Pop-Up Tent
When it comes to inflatable tents, you simply cannot go wrong with Coleman, one of the most reputable manufacturers in the industry. Even though it packs pre-assembled poles for an easier setup, the tent can quickly be sprung into its intended form without becoming too bulky and without taking up too much space when stored. Furthermore, we should also point out that this tent benefits from a multi-position rain fly that offers the perfect balance of protection and ventilation at all times
1Coleman 2000018295 8-Person Instant Tent
While this particular tent isn’t exactly an inflatable tent in the traditional sense, it still benefits from the same quick deployment that inflatable tents are known for. Made from 150D materials with large screen doors and seven windows, this is without a doubt, one of the most comfortable tents out there. Like the name would suggest, this is also a fairly large tent, capable of accommodating no less than eight people at the same time. In fact, this tent’s base measures 14×10 feet with a center height of 6’5″, which is taller than most tents out there.
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What To Look For When Buying An Inflatable Tent
You should keep in mind right from the start that inflatable tents usually boast inflatable poles instead of the traditional metal or plastic poles than standard tents have. Usually, these tents are inflated using a pump that can be manual or electrical depending on the manufacturer. What’s great about these particular tents is that they are a lot faster to erect than standard tents, which ends up saving you an awful lot of time when you’re out camping.
Why Use An Inflatable Tent?
Some of you might be asking themselves why use an inflatable tent in the first place? Well, the first thing you notice about these type of tents is how quickly they can be inflated or deflated. Some of these tents take almost three times less time to get erected, even the larger ones. Not only that but these tents are also lighter in weight and much easier to carry than traditional tents.
How Stable Are Inflatable Tents?
While flimsy, cheaper models may indeed be too lightweight to provide the required stability of heavy-duty tents, most of the ones you find on sale these days are entirely safe to use. You can expect reputable manufacturers to build inflatable tents to the same standards as traditional versions, especially when it comes to stability and ergonomy. They will also withstand a fair amount of abuse before showing signs of damage thanks to their flexible construction
The Size Issue
Very few of those who purchase a camping tent spend time thinking about its application or how to best store it when not in use. What you want to do is to figure out exactly how many peiple will be using the tent at all times. Even inflatable tents can be difficult to carry and store if you went for a particularly large tent. They are also more likely o get blown away by the wind, which is why you always feel the need to fill it up with stuff.
The Layout
If you’re thinking about buying a large inflatable tent, make sure to get one with multiple chambers. These compartments can turn the tent into a mobile vacation house, which also makes it harder to erect. Some of these tents are also designed with children in mind, for which purpose they boast a multitude of child-friendly features. Depending on how they were designed, these tents can also be pet-friendly and easy to pack when you’re done using them.
The Windows
You want a camping tent, be it traditionally shaped or inflatable, to feature at least one or two windows for you to enjoy the landscape outside. Not only that but these windows also have the purpose of lighting up the inside of the tent during the day and providing good airflow during the night. While on the subject, you might want to make sure that the windows can be obstructed if needed for privacy reasons.
The Entrance
Always spend time looking at the entrance of the tent and how it suits your needs. While many tents have large openings that recommend them for when the weather is favorable, the same entrance can prove a nuisance when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Just think of how difficult it might be to keep the entrance closed and the tent’s insides dry whenever it starts raining outside.
Materials
While most tents are made of polyester or polyester derivates, you should keep in mind that there are different grades of polyester to choose from. It should be said that popular inflatable tents are almost all comprised of waterproof polyester. Having said that, we should also point out that high-end tents can also be made of Polycotton, which is a blend of polyester and cotton.
Accessories
Last but not least, a good tent should boast a wide array of accessories and additional features for you to use. While some tents come equipped with hooks for any lantern you might want to use come nightfall, others boast a variety of straps and cords that serve roughly the same purpose.
Some tents also have storage pockets, an electric cord entrance to help you power whatever electronics you might have, guy line tidies, and a mud valance to help you keep rain away from the bottom of the tent. It is also common for quality tents to have a ‘no trip’ entrance that lays flat at ground level to prevent you from tripping whenever you get inside the tent.
