For families (4+ people) and stationary camping (where you won’t be moving around a lot), I recommend the Gazelle T4, CORE and Wnnideo pop-up tents.
The Quechua, Toogh and Coleman instant tents are best single or couple camping, as well as for festivals.
The Toogh and Coleman specifically are great for backpacking and car camping because of their storage size.
For rainy weather, the CORE Dome pop-up tent is recommended because of its WeatherTec, while the Toogh is great for ventilation. The Gazelle T4 (for its UV protection) is ideal for the warmer weather.
Best Pop Up Tents (Top Picks)
Best 2-Person Pop-up
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Best for Families
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Best For Backpacking
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Top Pop Up Tents
Here are my top pop up tents:
- Quechua 2 Seconds XL 2 - Best 2-Person Instant Tent
- Gazelle T4 Pop-Up
- CORE Instant Cabin or CORE Instant Dome - Best for Families
- Wnnideo Instant Family 4-6
- Coleman Instant Cabin 4-10 - Best Value
- Toogh 3 Season Sundome 3-4 - Best For Backpacking
- Coleman Pop Up Tent 2-6
Read our complete buyers guide for pop up tents.
Best Overall Pop Up Tents
1. Quechua 2 Seconds XL
This Quechua pop-up tent XL is just as it’s titled – a tent that can set itself up in lightning speed. While everyone’s still digging their poles into their tarps, you’ll be sitting back with a beer in hand.
This free-standing tent is easy to move around and provides enough space for a twin mattress or a single with room to spare. The design includes an upper air vent and two spaces between the flysheet and ground to circulate air.
It has also been tested under a shower of 200mm of water per hour and meter squared as well as winds of up to 50km per hours and held steady, so you can count on it to shelter you through the tougher weather.
Main Features
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2. Gazelle T4 Pop-Up
With its 90-second set up, weather-resistance and roominess, the Gazelle T4 is easily the editor’s choice.
The tent is tall enough to stand in and spacious enough to sleep four people, yet packs up into a duffel bag that makes it hassle-free to carry and store away.
A great perk is the removable floor, which can be shaken out before packing away to ensure no dirt or sand stays in your tent for the next campout.
Gazelle pride themselves on the T4’s framework, which consists of only all-metals hubs and solid fibreglass poles – equating to a structure that can resist even strong winds.
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3. CORE Instant Cabin or CORE Instant Dome
4/5 Overall Rating
These CORE Popup Instant tents are of the same design, just different sizes. Both set up extremely fast, with the Core Dome for 4 people acing a 30-second set up, and the Core Cabin for 6-10 people tent taking merely 60 seconds to put up.
The CORE Dome is a perfect choice for backpacking and can fit a queen mattress or up to 4 people in sleeping bags.
Both tents have installed H20 Technology that keeps even the heaviest rains out, as well an adjustable ground vent and mesh ceiling to circulate air on hotter days.
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The Wnnideo Instant Family Tent is one of the lightest pop-ups on our list, making it ideal for hikes and backpacking adventures.
Another reason it’s great for travelling is it’s 4-season protection. The UV resistant and waterproof fabric protects against harsh UV rays and rain; mesh windows allow the interior to stay cool in hot weather; and Wnnideo have redesigned their tent’s poles to anchor down against strong wind.
The generous tent includes double door and enough space for 4-5 people, yet only takes a minute to set up or take down.
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5. Coleman Instant Cabin 4-10
4/5 Overall Rating
Coleman Instant Cabin 4-10 sets up in a minute, and for all of its features, its selling price is a bargain.
Some of these features include the WeatherTec System - tub-like floors with patented corner welds and covered seam that keep the tent’s interior bone dry – and the Dark Room Technology – material that blocks out 90% of incoming sunlight, keeping the tent cooler and allowing you to indulge in daytime naps.
Not to mention the integrated rainfly that aids a quick set-up.
When it’s time to head home, the Cabin 4 packs away into a convenient carry bag.
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6. Toogh 3 Season Sundome 3-4
4/5 Overall Rating
The 11-pound Toogh 3 Season Sundome 3-4 is perfect for backpackers due to its lightweight and easy-to-carry bag, while still being large enough to cater for a small family or group of friends.
This design has a unique hexagon shape with six poles that fix into the ground and provide higher security against winds.
Because the two doors are opposite each other, when opened they can provide the ultimate airflow on hot days.
To set up this tent all you do is lift the top of the tent, and with its automatic hydraulic technology the tent will immediately set up.
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7. Coleman Pop Up Tent 2-6
3/5 Overall Rating
This small tent can pop up in only 10 seconds. Its size makes it great for festivals or car camping.
One of the best aspects of the Coleman Pop-up tent is its Weathertec features.
This includes inverted seams hide needle holes inside the tent; redesigned poles paired with guy-out triangles to make for a wind-responsive frame; zipper cuffs that block external elements; and the waterproof floor that is created through welding-inspired technology eliminates needle holes.
This means you’ll be kept dry and safe through harsh weather.
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Pop Up Tent - Buyer's Guide (Key Features)
Weight & Pack Size
If you have a large vehicle to transport your tent and plan to stationary camp, then you can prioritize other qualities in a pop-up tent.
However, if you don’t have much space in your car or are going backpacking, weight and packed size is something you definitely have to take into consideration.
Make sure to scope the size and shape of the carry bag that comes with your tent, as some (like the Quechea) pack down into a large disk, which is hard to pack. Ideally find one that fits into a carry bag and is light enough to not cause excess strain.
Tent Stakes and Guylines
The different types of tent stakes and their benefits are as follows:
Plastic utility tent stakes: Least expensive, with longer shafts (meaning more holding power) but bulky. Their shaft shape doesn’t twist in soil. They are best for car camping.
- V-stake: More durable than hook stakes and easier to store than utility stakes. Best for rocky/hard ground.
Nail Stakes: Tough and handle most terrains, but their holding power is meant for one to two people tents. - Y-Stakes: Ideal, all-round stakes.
Guy lines are the lines that connect the poles to the anchors to create tension to keep the tent installed. Some pop-up tents don’t need guy lines as they come with built-in structures already, however they are ideal if you are planning to trek through rough weather.
Set Up and Take Down
Pop-up tents are quick and easy to set up, which is what makes them so popular. However, a lot of the time they can be very confusing to take down. Make sure to get a tent with easy-to-follow instructions and a simple takedown system.
Interior (Ground) Space / Height / Shape
All tents will have their dimensions online. If you are looking for more comfort in camping, opt for one that you can stand in and has a ground space big enough to cater for your desired mattress and/or roommates with some space to spare. Note that this will result in bulky packing, though.
If you are backpacking, you will have to prioritize the weight and pack over the space, as long as it fits you and whoever else will share it with you.
Usually tent shapes are considered more when you actually have to erect it yourself, which is not the case for pop-ups. However, certain shapes can provide weather-resistant benefits (check the hexagon-shaped Toogh).
Weather-Resistance and Ventilation
You need to buy a tent in accordance to the weather you will be facing. Many tents will brag about their weather resistance, as it is a key selling factor in tents, but make sure to check product review pages to see how they react when they’re really put to the test.
Footprints
A tent footprint or ground cover is used under tents to prevent tearing or wearing your tent against the ground.
Some tents don’t come with a footprint, and it can be justified to not get one if you know you’ll only be camping along soft ground like sand and lush grass.
But it is highly recommended to have one, and make sure to purchase one alongside your tent if it isn’t included.
Comfort
When it comes to a tent, comfort is generally measured by its spaciousness and weather resistance. Some accessories also aid comfort, such as lantern hooks, wall pockets, attached porches etc.
Accessories
Once all the above points have been considered, you can investigate extra perks.
There are many unique features out there, but some of the favourites include wall organisers (keeps the tent neat), doors that can roll up (airflow and easy entrance/exit), ground mats and porches (to sit outside your tent), lantern hooks, mosquito nets and windows.
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