As we’re sure most routine campers will agree, the best pop-up tents offer the most seamless and effortless way to set up your campsite no matter where you are.
If you’re headed to a hiking trail, down to the beach, to a paddock in the countryside or just about anywhere else, chances are you don’t want to be fiddling endlessly trying to set up your tent. That’s where a great pop-up model comes in.
These awesome tents are going to be your saving grace when it comes to those times when a campsite needs to be set up in a flash. Whether a storm has begun to roll in or you’re looking to get away from mosquitoes as fast as possible, there’s nothing more effective than a pop-up tent.
That out of the way, we’re sure you’ve done your research into pop-up tents and know exactly why you want one. However, with a tonne of these on the market, it can be hard to choose the best pop-up tent for you.
Off the top, it’s important to place quality at the forefront of your purchase, particularly because these tents have a few moving parts — which means room for failure. With a high-quality and reliable pop-up tent you’re all good to go. Though, with a cheaper model, not so much.
In all, we’ll take a look below at some of the best pop-up tents in Australia and which ones we suggest you invest in for a few different reasons.
Our TL;DR
Before we get into our comparison of the features to look for in a pop-up tent and what we expect to see in the best models, we’ll outline our winner for you below.
For those who just want a peek at the best of the best, take a look.
The Easy Up 4-Sleeper Pop-up Tent by Outdoor Connection
The pop-up tent that checks off all of our requirements to be a winner for our readers is the model from Outdoor Connection.
We’re standing by this tent as the best pop-up tent in Australia this year down to how fast it is to set up, it also offers some of the added essential features we like, including ventilation and privacy meshes as well as being entirely waterproof.
To add, this is going to be your multi-environment companion that you can rely on to keep you safe, dry and well-sheltered whether you’re out in the forest, on the beach or in the mountain ranges.
Our Favourite Features
- A setup in less than 60 seconds
- Optimal ventilation and operable side panelling
- Entirely waterproof from top to bottom
- Available in three ideal sizes with 4, 3 and 2 person options
- High-end build with quality canvases
- Included privacy mesh
That tent and all of those features out of the way, we’re sure that all our readers will have a fantastic camping experience with the Outdoor Connection pop-up tent.
What is a Pop-up Tent
For those of you who are new to the camping game, or simply new to pop-up tent products, we have some great little insights for you below.
As you’ll already know, and could have guessed, a pop-up tent is a model of tent that pops up rather than requiring you to set it down and build it with poles and other materials. This makes the camping experience a whole lot easier, and in some cases a pop-up tent can really save you from mosquito bites or getting a good soaking when it starts to rain.
The internal poles in these models of tent are built into the external canvas, which means you’re not going to need to push the tent poles up through the tent to stand it up — they’re simply already in there waiting.
Also known as instant tents, these tents are generally popped up and ready to go in less than sixty seconds, which means there’s no effort required to get your shelter up and running.
One final thing to note is that although the pros far outweigh the cons, some of these pop-up tents are made from a nylon or polyester material which means things can get a little warm inside the tent, so you might need to make use of your ventilation flaps a little more often.
Some Key Perks of Investing in the Best Pop-up Tents
If you’re wondering why it’s worth investing in an outstanding pop-up tent, then we have some quick tips and pointers for you. Right off the top, it’s always good to have something at camp which you can rely on to get you some shelter.
With the best pop-up tent you’ll always know that you’ve got a high-quality product that isn’t going to snag or break during the ‘pop-up’ phase of setting up, which means peace of mind too.
On top of this, some of the better pop-up tents come with a tonne of features and versatility, which adds to your overall camping experience.
Another key thing to keep in mind is that traditional tents with a lot of the pop-up tent features we’ll mention in our article below are a lot heavier than the pop-up models. That means you’ll be lugging something two or three times heavier than our pop-up suggestions and getting the same feature set.
That out of the way, you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg either. A lot of pop-up tents that we’d say are the ‘best’ out there are quite affordable and you can even find some of these at budget retailers like Kmart.
In all, you’ll want the best pop-up tent simply down to the fact that you’re not going to want a poor experience when out at camp.
Our Primary Considerations in the Best Pop-up Tent
Before we delve into our list of the best tents, and before you run out to buy just any old pop-up tent, we have a range of things to consider to make sure you’re getting the best experience out there for yourself and your family.
Whether it’s a high-speed set up, a lightweight model or something with a specific canvas material, you’ll always want to go through your list of considerations to make sure you’re getting the best of the best.
The Size and Supported Sleepers
As one of the most important considerations, we’re placing this at the very top of our list.
You’re going to want to delve into the size of the tents that you’re looking to choose and to make sure that it’s large enough to suit you and your family, or anyone else sleeping within it.
In most cases, you’ll want a two-person tent, though if you want to sleep two people comfortably in this tent, it’s better to choose a three-person model.
A little tip here is that you’ll want to understand that these supported sleeper numbers are the absolute maximum for the tent.
Which means, in a four person tent, you’re going to see enough space for four people, though comfort is going to be very low. It’s going to be a tight and rather cumbersome sleep experience for everyone.
That said, always do your best to go up a size so you get that added wiggle room.
It’s also important to keep in mind that these larger tents can be a little heavier, though, the outcome and comfort is certainly going to be worth it.
For our hiking readers, you may want to stick with the maximum sleeper sizes due to the reduced weight of the tents. You don’t want to be carrying more in your rucksack than you need to and that might mean forgoing just a little bit of extra comfort when you get to camp.
To end, if you’re heading out for just a weekend and you’re not hiking, and have access to a car, then it’s always going to be a better option for the four of you to invest in a 6 person tent. The comfort will be so much better and since you’re not carrying the tent on your person — the weight isn’t going to matter all that much.
The Different Use Cases
One major point to consider, and this goes with all tents, is how you intend to use your pop-up tent, beyond just sleeping with it. You might also not be planning on using it as a sleeping tent at all.
In some cases, campers have a tent for the main relaxation zone at camp and others use their models for the beach tent that can get dirtier than the other tents at camp. To add, you might also be considering using your tent as a storage space for things like hiking equipment or anything else, which means, you have to keep all of this in mind when buying a pop-up tent.
For some materials and the equipment you’re storing in the tent, you may want to choose something that’s waterproof, windproof and offers some sort of ventilation to keep these items cool.
However, for those who intend to hike with their tent, or for families who want comfort over being lightweight, you’ll want to factor these use cases in too.
To end, always consider exactly how you’re going to make use of your tent and you’ll be on the way to choosing one that suits you and your weekend getaway the best.
How Often You’ll Use It
As goes with every camping equipment piece, you’re going to want to keep in mind how often you’ll be using your pop-up tent.
If you’re someone who doesn’t often head out to the trails for camping, or only goes with friends or family once or twice a year, you’re not going to need to invest in something as expensive or durable – given that it’s not going to see too many rough days.
With that said though, if you are someone who’s planning on using their tent all the time, it’s imperative to invest in something a bit more robust and reliable and, of course, a little more expensive. You don’t want to get out on your fourth or fifth camping trip of the year only to find a large tear forming down the side of the tent.
In all, we’d stand by and highly suggest spending just a little extra to get something a bit tougher for your journeys into the wilderness.
Some Other Essential Features
Now that we have all of our key features and considerations out of the way, we’re going to take a look at just a few other minor things to keep in mind. These things are going to have a small effect on your experience with your tent, but that still means taking these into account too.
Weatherproofing
Going beyond just waterproofing and diving into wind proofing and temperature regulation, this is a key thing to consider in a pop-up tent.
Although a vast majority of tents will have a waterproofing assurance, we want to go above and beyond this and tout that you should also look for something that’s aerodynamic and able to handle winds and cold and hot temperatures with ease too.
If you’re at a beach for example, you don’t want to be dealing with the rustling of the tent all evening, and so a taut and wind-proof tent is going to be the best option for you here.
That said, temperature regulation can be offered by the materials used in the tent, such as the aforementioned nylon.
The Weight
One final thing to keep in mind is how heavy the tent is.
This is a primary concern for hikers and those who need to walk a fair way to get to their campsites. Of course, you’re always going to want a tent that’s as light as possible and not going to take too much effort to carry around, and that means checking manufacturer weight metrics.
On top of this, if you’re heading out to campsite in the car and not planning on hiking anywhere, the weight of the tent might not matter too much here — but in future if you plan on a hiking trip, you might be wishing you chose a lighter tent.
Some Common Questions for Us
We’d like to take a look at just one final thing before we get into our list of all the top pop-up tents out there, and that’s all of the questions our readers have for us about pop-up tents.
We know that some of these models aren’t as popular as traditional tents, which means most people are entirely new to these products.
That said, let’s see some of the most common questions about pop-up tents.
Will Pop-up Tents be Good for Camping
One key question that most readers have are whether pop-up tents are good for camping or if they’re better reserved for safe spaces in festivals or at events.
That said, we’re here to tell you that pop-up tents are going to be your new favourite piece of camping equipment for the rest of your time camping — they’re really that good.
There’s nothing more effective and effortless than a tent that simply pops up in seconds and gives you more time to relax in the outdoors with friends and family.
And that said, the answer is a resounding — yes.
How are Pop-up Tents Packed Up
With the set up of pop-up ants being so easy, you’re likely wondering whether these tents are hard to fold back up and put into their carry bags. And rightly so.
In some cases, these tents can be a little hard to fold back down into their case, though more modern tents have had their packing up solutions simplified and made a tonne easier to fold up.
All you’ll need to do is take a look at your manual and you’ll see that there’s an easy way to pull down the tent and fold it into the small carry pouch it came in. It shouldn’t take any longer than five minutes even for the largest models.
Are There Big Pop-up Tents on Sale
Yes, you can find a tonne of pop-up tent sizes on the market today, which means you’re getting a comfortable sleep without the setting up processes. As you might already know, setting up large and multi-person tents for up to eight people takes ages, though pop-up tents make this effortless.
That in mind, you can typically find pop-up tents for up to eight people and some brands are beginning to offer ten-person sleepers.
Can Setup be Done Alone
For the times when you’re looking to head out on the trails on your own, we’re glad to say that you can set these tents up on your own. That said, you won’t need to fight and struggle with the tent for it to set up properly, you can simply set it down and take it out of the case and see it stand up into its final shape.
This is excellent news for those of our readers who do go out camping on their own and always struggle setting up the tents by themselves.
The Best Pop-up Tents in Australia for 2021
With all of our key points and questions out of the way above, we’ll take a look at all of the best pop-up tents in Australia below.
Outdoor Connection Easy Up 4
As we outlined at the start of our article, a favourite for campers this year is the Easy Up 4 designed by Outdoor Connection.
This is somewhat of a no-frills tent, however it does come with an ultra-fast set up process and you’re going to be able to rely on this tent to have you sheltered in no time at all. On top of this, it’s also a great model for those who camp alone and just want a tonne of extra sprawl space when they sleep.
It is technically a four-person tent, however, it’s so lightweight and easy to carry around that you could effectively use this model as a single person tent.
We’re happy to say that this tent does come with a durable zippable carry case and this case has been designed well enough to make the set up process exceedingly easy. All you’ll need to do is unzip the case and flip open the safety bucket and throw down the tent and see it work to expand and fully set up all on its own.
That in mind — you can do this on your own without issue.
This model of tent is a four-person, which means plenty of space for three, and a snug fit for four. However, you can choose between a two and three person model too if you’re looking for something just a little more compact.
The size comes in at 2.6 by 8.5 metres which means it is a huge tent when you consider just how light it is. The total weight of this tent is just 5.8kg which was somewhat of a surprise for us, and one of the reasons it lands so high on our list.
In all, you’ll find that working with this tent takes just about all of the struggle out of carrying your tent to camp and setting it up. And when you consider all of the extra added weatherproofing and durable seams, you’re getting an excellent quality tent here for not a whole lot of money.
There’s the UV protection features coming into play here too along with a tonne of ventilation, so it’s a great fit for the hotter campsite and the cooler ones too.
The Air Inflatable Tent by Dometic Hayman
On to a tent now that isn’t explicitly a pop-up model, but rather an air tent that works so seamlessly we’re going to jam it into the same category.
This tent is another model that’s ultra-easy to set up and you’re going to be able to use this one for camping close by wherever you’ve parked your car. That’s down to the weight being a little bit much to bear for most campers. At 18kg you’re not going to want to hike too far with this tent, however, this weight is a testament to the quality of the canvas used to make the tent waterproof.
There’s great ventilation here along with some operable windows that you can zip open and shut for those warmer nights.
The size of the tent is also ideal for multiple sleepers given that it’s 4.1 metres by 3 metres, so getting three to four people in here isn’t going to be an issue at all.
To end, you’re certainly getting great value for money here and the setup process is seamless — it is just a bit heavy though.
The by Speedy 3 Black Hole Explore Planet Earth
To one of the tents on our lists that meets requirements for beachside and windy-location sleeping, the Black Hole tent by Explore Planet Earth is going to be a winner for you.
The design of this pop-up tent is ultra aerodynamic and you’re going to be able to rely on this to keep the wind from lifting or bothering the tent too much as you sleep.
With that in mind, you’re also going to get the super simple set up process that takes just seconds, and given that the tent is one of the lightest on the market, pulling it out and throwing it down is easier than doing just about anything else.
One major perk of this tent are the blackout materials. Given the name ‘Black Hole’ you can rely on this tent to simply blackout everything outside and give you a jet black interior when it comes time to go to sleep. This is particularly useful for those who find their campsites a little bright during the evening, or if you’re unlucky enough to have set up shop close by a parkland streetlight.
The size of the tent is ideal in that it comes in a 2.4 by 3 metre size, making it ideal for three people. However, you’re not going to want to share this tent for too long with three people as things can get a little bit tight.
When it comes to hiking and carrying this tent, we’re happy to say that coming in at just 3.5kg makes this an undisputed winner for the hikers out there. You’ll have absolutely no issue at all carrying this tent for hours on end, and that’s fantastic for finding those secluded and hidden camping locations.
A few added features you’ll find included in this tent are the awesome rope LEDs here for some added luminance inside this pitch back tent as well as a nifty and arguably essential USB battery adapter charger.
You’ll have no issue when it comes to keeping your device charged.
To end, the tent also comes with plenty of ventilation, storage pockets and some reflective guide ropes too.
The Get Up 2 by Caribee
Coming from the camping experts at Caribee, the Get Up pop-up tent is another contender for the best pop-up tents in Australia this year.
It’s ultra-simple in its design, relatively affordable and we’re going to say that it’s been designed for beginners to the tent set-up game. Given that set up is arguably easier than most pop-up tents, this tent gets points in the campsite preparation department.
One key feature of this tent is that there’s a dual-skin canvas coming into play here that helps with temperature regulation in the cooler months, and it’s made of a PU clad polyester sheeting, which makes sure you’re getting something durable too.
The PE floor that’s integrated into this tent also means you’re not going to have to stress about where you set this tent down. It’ll simply handle any sort of terrain without tearing.
With those points in mind, there’s also a sleeping area of 1.4 by 2.3 metres, so getting any more than two people in here is a bit tight. In fact, we’re inclined to say that fitting two people might even be a stretch, at least when comfort is concerned.
We would focus on this tent for the solo hiker and camper.
To end, the tent is only 3kg which makes it another ideal companion for hikers and there’s fine mesh built into all the operable windows here, which means you can get ventilation without the threat of bugs of mozzies coming in for a feast during the night.
The Cicara 1.0 by Malamoo
If the spontaneous camping trip is something that you’re often keen on, then the Cicara is going to be a great choice of pop-up tent for you.
It’s one of the easier models to pack and store on the list thanks to the super compact carrying case. You could almost slip this tent into the car door if you needed, it’s really that compact.
With that, you’re going to find everything from waterproofing here as well as one-person set up.
The size of this tent is a little small, so we’d be confident in saying that keeping this tent for just one person is a better option if you’re focused on comfort. Although it is advertised as a two person, the smaller 2.4 by 1.8 metre size is a bit small for us.
The tent’s total weight is just 3kg, so it’s another excellent option for those who want to take a hike to their campsite rather than just setting up shop right by the car park.
A couple of special features are the privacy windows and added ventilation, so you’re getting that nice cool breeze without exposing anything inside the tent to the outside world.
The Blitz 3 Eco Dome by Oztrail
For those who know anything about camping, you’ll know that Oztrail are some of the experts in the field that you can trust for comfort and effortlessness at camp.
As our final product on the best pop-up tents for Australia this year, the Eco Dome is the tent for those who aren’t camping too often, though still need something light and easy to take out to the wilderness with them.
It’s got great waterproofing, a good design and an easy set up, though it is a little cheap, which means durability in the design does take a bit of a hit.
The tent weighs just 3.4kg so you’re not carrying anything too heavy here, and with a sleeping area of 1.8 by 2.4 metres it is large enough to sleep two people relatively comfortably for at least one night.
One great perk of this tent is that it’s a model that takes packing up into consideration too, so you’re getting a simple fold down process here too — which you can do on your own without any trouble.
The PE floor and high-quality seam work in here also makes sure you’re getting the chance to set up this tent on about any ground type, and the canvas on the tent is durable enough not to rip with prolonged use.
Our final favourite feature here are the huge operable windows which enable plenty of ventilation but also privacy too.
The Takeaway
Now that you have some great insights into all the best pop-up tents in Australia this year, you’ll have no trouble at all when it comes to getting the most comfortable sleep at camp without the hard work.
As we mentioned, always be sure to consider things like how often you’ll use your tent, for what use and how many people you’ll want to sleep inside of it. With this points out of the way, and your own style preferences considered, you’ll be able to choose something that works best for you and is going to stand by you for years to come.
All in all, with the considerations above, or with one of the tents on our list, you’ll be in good hands with any pop-up tent you choose this year.
