Beach Tent Buyers Guide

If you want to spend a day or two on the beach with your family, then it is essential to have a good beach tent. The tent will act as a shelter while you can enjoy with your furry friend and family. Buying a beach tent may sound like an easy task, but it isn’t.

These tents are available in different sizes, weights, and have different materials, so it becomes even important to choose the right tent. We want you to have the best time of your life inside a secure and beach tent that reflects the UV rays back into the sky.

With this comprehensive buyer’s guide, you can expect to buy the best beach tent that’s perfect for your family. Read on to know about some important factors that you should check before buying a tent.

Beach tent vs. camping tent

You might be thinking that why do I need a beach tent when I can use my camping tent! Well, there are numerous differences between a camping tent and a beach tent, and you cannot use them in each other’s place.

If you want to spend time on the beach side, you need a beach tent. Here we have covered some common differences between a beach tent and a camping tent that you should know.

Water resistance

There are multiple types of camping tents available; some are waterproof while some aren't. But this is not the case with a beach tent. Beach tents are waterproof irrespective of their size and material. These tents are designed to use at the beach, and therefore they are waterproof.

Resistance against UV rays

The material used to manufacture beach tents offers ultimate UV resistance. The exposure to UV rays is high on the beaches, and that is why these tents are UV resistant. You will remain safe from UV rays while staying inside the tent.

Easy to pitch up

Pitching up a beach tent is easy when compared to pitching up a camping tent. Beach tents have a simple mechanism, and they come ready to set up. All you need to do is set up the poles into the sand and assemble the tent fabric, and you are good to go.

Lightweight

Beach tents are made using lightweight materials, and they are not that heavy when compared to a camping tent. The material is either polyester or nylon, and you will feel it easy to travel with the beach tent.

Benefits of using a beach tent

Now that you know the core differences between a beach tent and a camping tent, it is important to know about the benefits it offers.

Here are the benefits that you can expect from a good beach tent.

Easy to set up

Setting a beach tent is easy, and you can do it quickly in minutes. The tents are designed to offer you a smooth experience so that you don’t have to spend hours setting it up. Generally, the tents come ready to set up, and all you have to do is unfold it and snap the clips.

In a nutshell, setting up a beach tent can take around 10 minutes, depending on the size and model you want to buy.

Weather protection

A beach tent protects you from various elements of the weather, such as sun, rain, sand, and saltwater. It acts as a shelter where you can relax on your beach chair while staying protected from all these natural elements.

Burglar proofing

Now there is no need to worry about your stuff, including the beach chair, your kid's toys, and other such items that you have taken to the beach. You can zip the tent to lock it so that no one can steal your stuff while you are enjoying it in the water.

Also, it keeps the food and other eatables safe from saltwater and sand, and that's an added benefit.

Ideal for children

A beach tent is a nice place to relax, especially for children. Your children can enjoy relaxing after spending hours playing on the beach. A tent is a good place to take a nap, and it is perfect for the children.

Ultimate privacy

Beaches are full of hundreds of folks roaming here and there, which means there is no privacy at all. But with a beach tent, you can ensure ultimate privacy. Whether you need a place to change clothes or to spend time with your family, a beach tent will be the best thing to have on a beach.

You can do anything you want without letting anyone disturb you.

Ample light

Most beach tents have transparent windows that allow ample light inside the tent. You can read books and do anything without using another source light provided that there is enough daylight out there.

Factors to consider when buying a beach tent

If you want a beach tent that has abundant space and is easy to set up, then you should buy it following this guide. The guide contains almost all the information that you need to know when buying beach tents.

Let’s get started:

Types of beach tents

The first thing that you should consider is the type of beach tent. These tents are available in a range of options, and each tent has its respective pros and cons. Below we have listed the common types of beach tents available in the market.

Pop-up beach tent

A pop-up beach tent is easy to assemble and offers a swift movement. Also, the tent is easy to pack, and it can be a big relief if you have assembling intricate tents. As the name suggests, the tent pops up after you open it, and it becomes ready to use.

Pop-up beach tents are available in small options and are good for two adults and one kid. However, there are different shapes available in pop-up tents, so choose it according to your preference and the internal space you need.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Lightweight
• Easy to disassemble

Cons

• Don’t have much space when compared to other beach tents

Cabana beach tent

Cabana beach tents are popular because of their design and privacy that they offer. The tents come with a zipper door, and you can lock it to experience ultimate safety. Also, the tent has a bogger door for maximum aeration, and you won't feel suffocated inside it.

If you are looking for a beach tent that has excellent space and offers privacy and security, you should go to cabana beach tents.

The tents come with multiple pockets, windows, and are good for families. Also, some tents come with a ground sheet that lets you protect your stuff from beach sand.

Pros

• Ample space
• Comes with various pockets and window
• Big windows

Cons

• Pitching up the tent takes time

Baby beach tents

As you can easily guess what these tents are for by the name! Baby tents are specially designed for the little ones so that they can take a quick nap while getting protected from UV rays.

Baby beach tents are small and compact, so traveling with them won't be a pain. Furthermore, the tents are easy to install and offer excellent aeration so that the baby can breathe without any issue.

These tents have multiple pockets where you can store diapers and baby food.

Pros

• Have multiple pockets
• Protects the baby from salt water and UV rays
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Not for adults

Canopy beach tents

If you want to spend a day with your friends and family, go for canopy beach tents as they have excellent space to accommodate a group of people. The canopy tents have multiple openings, so it will be easy for the people to come in and go out.

Installing a canopy beach tent takes a lot of time, depending on the size of the tent and the number of poles to be installed with it.

Canopy tents are the best in terms of space and usability.

Pros

• Excellent space
• Multiple openings
• Ideal for a group of people

Cons

• Expensive
• Setting up the tent takes time

Gazebo beach tent

Gazebo beach tents are extremely popular for their robust design. The design of the tent is similar to that of a canopy, but there is a huge difference. The tents are heavy, so there are fewer chances that the winds blow them away.

Pros

• Heavy-duty construction
• Ideal for multiple people
• Multiple openings

Cons

• Heavy, so traveling with them is hard

Easy to pitch up and use

The beach tent should be easy to pitch up and use so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to install it. Usually, beach tents are easy to set up, but there are some models available that take a lot of time and effort.

Pop up beach tents are the easiest to install, while it takes hours to install a canopy tent. The best way to check if the tent is easy to install or not, is by checking the customer reviews.

Go through customer reviews to find out the experience of the users with the tent. You are going to the beach to relax and have a good time, so it is indispensable to have a tent that is easy to install.

Size of the tent

The size of the tent is something that cannot be overlooked. The size depends on multiple factors, such as how many people want to stay inside it. Most of the beach tents can accommodate two adults and a kid, but there are some tents available that can accommodate a group of people.

When choosing a beach tent, consider how many people you want it to accommodate. If you need a tent for a group of people, go for a canopy tent. On the other hand, if you need a tent for your baby, then you should go for a baby beach tent.

The size of the tent will impact its weight and portability. If you go for a bigger tent, then it will be heavy and hard to travel with.

Take all these points into consideration when choosing a beach tent.

Windows

It is essential to buy a beach tent that has multiple windows so that it allows ample light to enter inside. Most of the beach tents, such as pop-up and baby tents, come with multiple windows as they have a fully covered design.

On the other hand, beach tents such as the canopy and gazebo tents have fewer pockets because they have multiple openings for ultimate aeration. The choice of windows is a personal preference, and it depends on how many of them do you need.

Also, check the material used in the windows, as some tents come with mesh windows while some have transparent polyester windows that allow light while blocking wind and sand.

Stability

When buying a beach tent, it is essential to make sure that the tent is stable because there are strong wind currents on the beach. If you buy a tent that is unstable, then it will blow away with the winds. The stability of the tent depends on its design and aerodynamics.

Also, the stability depends on the tent poles and how you have installed them on the beach. Go for beach tents that have flexible tent poles so that they can bear the wind currents without falling over.

Storage area

The storage area of the tent is also a matter of personal preference. You should go for a tent that has ample storage space so that you can store your glasses, flip flops, some eatables, and clothes. These tents are available with multiple pockets and internal storage spaces.

Furthermore, check if the pockets have zippers so that you can rest assured about the stuff stored in them.

Weight of the tent

The weight of the tent impacts its portability, so it is something you need to check when buying a beach tent. The weight of the tent depends on multiple factors, such as its size, material, and poles. You should go for a tent that is portable so that you can travel with it.

Also, the weight of the tent should depend on your vehicle. If you have an SUV with a cargo roof rack, you can buy a heavy tent. On the other hand, if you are dependent on the trunk of the car, then go for a small tent that occupies less space and is lightweight.

The weight of the beach tent ranges between 2-10 pounds, depending on the tent model.

Portability

After checking the weight, check the portability of the tent to make sure that it is something you can travel with. Most of these tents come packed in cases with handles or shoulder straps so that you can carry them on your shoulder.

Materials of the tent

A beach tent is made up of multiple components, such as the shell, tent poles, and the frame. You should check all the materials to ensure that the tent is durable and waterproof.

The shell

The shell is the outer layer of the tent that covers the entire frame. It should be durable enough to keep the winds, sand, and other things out of the tent. Usually, manufacturers use nylon and polyester to manufacture the outer shell because they are lightweight and waterproof.

Polyester is affordable and lightweight, whereas nylon offers ultimate sun protection and is waterproof as well.

The choice of the material depends on how much you want to spend on a beach tent.

The poles

The poles or the frame are the core foundation of the tent. If the frame is of bad quality, then the entire tent will collapse due to strong wind currents. There are multiple materials used to manufacture the poles or the frame of the tent, and that is:

• Fiberglass
• Aluminum
• Steel

Fiberglass is one of the common materials used to manufacture the poles as it is lightweight and durable. The material is flexible, and it can withstand strong wind currents without falling over.

On the other hand, if you need an inexpensive beach tent, you should go for aluminum. Aluminum poles are also lightweight, but they aren't that flexible as compared to fiberglass poles.

Some beach tents come with steel poles, and they are the most affordable among all options. These tent frames are heavy due to the material, so the overall tent will be heavy as compared to aluminum and fiberglass frame tents.

Height and floor size

The height and the floor size of the beach tent will impact its comfort and how easy you will feel inside it. All tents have different height and floor sizes depending on the type and model you are buying.

Go for a tent that has enough height so that you can stand inside it without bending too much. Beach tents like canopy have decent height, and they have good floor sizes to accommodate a group of people.

Also, the floor size will help you decide how many beach chairs you can set up inside the tent. Go for a tent after determining the height and the floor area to have a good experience with it.

No floor or floor

Different types of beach tents come with different types of floors. Some tents have floors whereas some don't have it. If you go for a canopy beach tent, then there will be no floor at all. On the other hand, pop-up and other such types of beach tents have the floor.

The choice is up to you; if you don't have a beach chair to relax and you want to lay down on the sand, go for a tent that has the floor so that you remain protected from the sand.

Color

Most of you might be thinking that why the color of the tent matters when purchasing a beach tent. But the color of the tent has a significant impact on your experience with it. Beach tents with dark colors absorb heat, so they will heat up faster.

On the other hand, light-colored tents absorb less heat and remain cool so you can relax inside them.

Warranty

Before making a purchase decision, it is essential to check the warranty. Most of the branded beach tents come with decent warranties so you can rest assured about the longevity.

Price

The price of the beach tent depends on multiple things, such as its type, size, and features that it offers. Before you start searching for a tent, make your budget to avoid overspending.

FAQs: Best Beach Tents

Q: How to assemble a beach tent?

A: It depends on the type of beach tent you have. If you have a pop-up tent, then it will be easy to install it. On the other hand, canopy and gazebo tents are hard to assemble because of the size. We suggest you install the tent in the backyard before taking it to the beach.

Installing the tent will give you an idea of how to install it the right way.

Q: Are beach tents expensive?

A: Beach tents are available at a range of prices starting from affordable and ranging up to some high-end models. Even if you don't have a big budget, you will still find some good beach tents.

Q: How long does a beach tent last?

A: A beach tent has to withstand a lot of things such as UV rays, sand, saltwater, and much more that have a direct impact on its life. If you buy a good tent following this guide, then expect it to last around 4-5 years without any issues.

Proper maintenance and upkeep of the tent are important to enhance its lifespan.

Conclusion

With all the factors in mind, you can buy the best beach tents. Make a list of tents and compare them based on these factors. When comparing the tent, check its weight, size, floor area, and material to make a rewarding choice.

Also, check some customer reviews to ensure that the tent you are planning to buy is a good option. Always buy branded tents that come with decent warranties and are durable.