Easiest Tent to Set Up by Yourself 2021 – Best Quick Pitching Tents

Are you looking for the easiest tent to set up by yourself? Look no further because you’ve landed on the right page.

Bringing a fast-pitch camping tent will help you avoid the fuss of reading through boring instructions and battling with poles.

In this post, we’ll be looking at some of the best instant camping tents, which you can pitch alone within a few seconds. I’ll also be sharing with you the qualities to watch out for when buying such tents so that you can squeeze every value out of your money.

Then we will treat some of the frequently asked questions that come up about these types of tents.

With that said, let’s see some of the best fast setup tents on the market today.

 

Zenph Automatic 2-3 Person Pop Up Tent

Zenph might seem new in the market, but they have already created some excellent outdoor products from tents to hammocks and sleeping pads. And they are already giving the big names a run for their money.

The Zenph automatic family camping tent is one of the quickest to setup out there. It takes approximately 3 seconds for it to be fully ready for use, and that is going to be hard to beat.

With a dimension of 102*62*43inch, this tent should comfortably sleep two average-sized adults and one child. Unfortunately, there isn’t any room to stand in the tent.

The tent is fully made of PU material waterproof coating, which makes it perfect for use in the rain. Its outer waterproof rating is 2000MM, while that of the bottom is 3000MM. The floor area is completely sealed to avoid water getting into the tent.

It comes with three-dimensional ventilation outlets, which makes the tent well ventilated when it is hot. And you can be sure of protection from mosquitoes with the isolation nets and the two-way lock for the door. This tent has only one entrance.

It weighs only 6.4 pounds. Taking down this tent is not as easy as setting it up, and it doesn’t fold up that easily, but maybe we were expecting too much. Anyway, you may need to go through the manual to get it right.

 

Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent

Coleman has been around since 1900 when its founder by William Coffin Coleman, began the sale of gasoline pressure lamps. Today, they are one of the biggest brands in the camping and outdoor gear industry. And they are reputed to create high-quality products.

This Coleman 2-person Pop up tent comes in a cute green and white design. You can make it pop up in about 10 seconds after a little bit of practice. It comes with preassembled poles, so you don’t have to worry about attaching anything.

With a dimension of 7ft 6′ by 4ft 5′, this tent will hardly sleep two adults except they are averagely sized. The center height is also too short at 2ft 11′, so there isn’t any chance to stand inside it.

The tent fabric is made of 185T 68D for fire and water-resistant polyester fly.

There is a door and a ventilation mesh on the side to promote ventilation within the tent (but you need to be careful with the zippers). You’ll also be able to stay dry in the tent with the tapped floor seams.

The tent will be able to withstand strong winds and can be used in the rain. However, it may not be suitable for harsh weather conditions.

It weighs only 5.65 pounds, folds up easily, portable to carry, and durable.

 

Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup

The 4-person Coleman Instant Cabin tent is another Coleman tent that you can quickly put up by yourself in 1-2 minutes. The tent comes with pre-attached poles, which makes it easy to assemble.

The base of this tent is 8ft by 7ft, which does make it a perfect two-person tent as that will only be enough for a queen-size air bed.

It also has a center height of 4ft 11 inches, and that is not even up to the average man’s height.

The tent fabric is made of 150D polyester, which is an excellent deal for more prolonged exposure to the sun and other harsh conditions. The same material was used for the seams. And that is what makes this a long-lasting tent. What more? Most of the past customers claimed it survived in the high winds.

It comes with three windows and a door to promote proper airflow. And the floor is welded to keep the tent dry. It is advisable to buy a rainfly along with this tent because it doesn’t come with any, and the waterproof system is not convincing.

This unit is still considered light weighing about 20 pounds, but it is quite easy to take down and comes with a carry bag for convenience.

 

Abcosport 2 Person Instant Pop up Tent

AbcoSport is a brand under AbcoTech, a company that prides itself on manufacturing unique products with the goal that each of these products contributes towards optimizing and simplifying the ins and outs of life.

The above statement checks out in the making of this 2-person Instant Pop-up tent because this unit delivers a hands-free and quick setup, eliminating the primary stress most campers face.

The tent is also very well ventilated because it features double doors and double mesh windows, which is not typical for a unit of its size. Depending on your preference, you can switch between total ventilation and total privacy with the combination of the inner zippered screen and outer zippered nylon layer on both the doors and windows.

With a 7.3ft X 4ft base, this is a comfortable two-person tent. But like the other tents that we have reviewed so far, there is no room to stand in this tent because it is just about 3ft tall.

The weight is insanely light at just 3.7 pounds. It is easy to take down and also comes with a carry bag. And finally, the manufacturer is offering a 100% money-back guarantee on this unit.

 

QOMOTOP 4-10 Person Instant Cabin Tent

If QOMOTOP is known for anything, it is the fact that they put in a lot of researches and effort into their products. This is easy to verify through the number of positive comments that the few products they have been getting.

This instant cabin tent comes in three versions; the 4-person (4P) tent, the 6-person (6P) tent, and then the 10-person (10P) tent.

Each of these versions can be put up within a few minutes. Although QOMOTOP claimed it takes 60 seconds, it may typically take up to 10 minutes if it is your first time setting it up. Unlike most of the other tents in this article, it will require a little support from you to fully pop. But it is still an easy tent to set up alone because the poles are preassembled. It is indeed one of the best instant cabin tents

The 4P tent comes with a center height of about 5 ft and a base size of 8ft by 8ft. It is not really tall and would be perfect for three and not four adults, except they will be sleeping in sleeping bags. It will perfectly fit 1 Queen Size mattress and still leave you with some room.

The 6P tent, on the other hand, features a center height of 5.5ft and a base of 10ft by 9ft. It is a little upgrade to the altitude, but it is also not a real six-person tent. For sure, it will fit 2 Queen Size airbeds, but there will be almost no room left for movement and other gears.

Finally, the 10P tent is tall at a 6.4 ft center height and is also quite roomy with a base of 14ft by 10 ft, which will comfortably accommodate four queen size beds. Although the unit seemed ideal for only eight people, unlike the other versions, it comes with a room divider.

The fabric used on all the versions is the sturdy 68D polyester. The tents also come with rainfly to protect you from the rain. The provided stakes will also help the units sustain in the storms.

When speaking of ventilation, these tents feature enough mesh windows, doors, and even a top screened air duct to ensure decent airflow inside them.

Generously, QOMOTOP provided an electrical cord access point and a gate mat, and also a one year warranty to sweeten the deal. And they are also easy to put down, just follow the instructional manual. You also get a free carry bag.

On the weight, the 4P weighs 16.75 pounds, while the 6P weighs 18.92 pounds, and finally, the 10P is 29.9 pounds.

 

HUI LINGYANG 6 Person Easy Pop Up Tent

This HUI LINGYANG tent is another good one that automatically pops up within a few seconds, with almost no effort from you. The tent is beautifully designed and comes in 2 colors; green and blue. It also features separate rooms and electrical access cords.

This unit has a center height of 4.5 feet. And the base measures 12.5 X 8.5 feet, so it will be perfect for 4-5 adults in sleeping bags but will hardly fit two queen size air mattresses.

The fabric used in making this unit is the 190T polyester, and this makes it waterproof and sturdy. The waterproof rating is up to a whooping 4000MM. 210D Oxford PU3000 is the make of the tent floor, so you’ll easily stay dry inside this tent. And even more fascinating, it comes with an integrated rainfly.

The ventilation of this tent is fantastic. It features a large door and three adjustable mesh windows, which promotes proper airflow and, at the same time, keeps bugs out of the tent.

This is a lightweight tent with a total weight of about 14 pounds. The major turn off for this tent is that it is a bit hard to fold and pack, but they have a video that shows you how to do that easily.

 

Gazelle T3 Camping Hub Pop Up Tent

Gezelle Tents is a company dedicated to creating Gazebos camping hub instant tents. They claim to have teams who actually use these tents, which they create, so they can determine the actual needs of the consumers, which then help them in creating the right products.

The Gazelle T3 Camping Hub Tent is one of their best-selling products. It comes in a beautiful hub design with a green and white color and setup within 90 seconds because of the preassembled poles.

The tent has a base of about 6.3 feet by 6.3 feet so, it won’t be ideal to use a queen size airbed. But it will still be perfect for three adults with sleeping bags and yet allow enough room for some other gears. The tent is 5.7 feet tall, so an average height man should still be able to stand tall inside.

On the materials, the tent was made using 210 Denier polyester, which is known to repel water and doesn’t tear easily. And the waterproof rating is 2000MM. In addition to that, you will also get an easy to install rainfly, so staying dry in this tent won’t be a problem. The floor is also uniquely made to be removable for easy cleaning.

About ventilation, surprisingly, there are six Mesh windows and two doors for this tent alone. So, there is no way that ventilation will be an issue here. The windows are also sure to protect you from bugs inside the tent. Again, the zippers are durable.

The fiberglass pole makes it really strong, and it will hold well in case of winds. The tent is a bit heavy because it weighs precisely 27.5 pounds, which I consider too much for a three-person tent, but with all the options it provides, it seems necessary. Finally, it is easy to take down and comes with a duffle carry bag.

 

Timber Ridge 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent

As some of the companies above, Timber Ridge is also into manufacturing camping and outdoor products only. They have products ranging from camping chairs, cots, tents, etc. Their organizational goal is to enhance the outdoor experience, which they are doing through the comfort their products are providing.

The 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent is designed to automatically setup in 60 seconds with little effort.

This tent should comfortably sleep six persons with a sleeping bag (with a base of 10 by 10 feet) but will be too small for two queen-sized airbeds. However, it will be perfect for one queen-sized and twin airbed and still give a little space for other items. It is a tall tent with a center height of 6.5 feet, so how tall are you?

Adequate ventilation is not a problem at all because, in addition to the three mesh windows and one big O-shaped door, you get a top mesh. By the way, you need to be careful with the zippers because they are not as sturdy as we hope.

Furthermore, the tent is very rugged in high winds and rains; make sure to use the stakes and the rainfly, respectively. It comes with a side storage bag that you can keep your small accessories. You also get a carry bag. Taking it down is effortless, and it weighs 25.4 pounds.

As if all those are not enough, the product is backed by a 1-year warranty.

 

Night Cat Instant Pop Up Tent

This Night Cat Instant Pop Up Tent is one of the best easy to assemble tents on the market at the moment. Using the instructions that come with it, you can put this tent up alone within 60 seconds.

One unique feature of this tent is its dual function, which interestingly allows you to separate the rainfly from the main tent. You can then use it as a pavilion for fishing or beaching. So, a single purchase will offer you a camping tent and a fishing pavilion.

The tent is available in 2 sizes; the 1-2 Persons and the 2-4 Persons. The 1-2 person version measures 240x210x140 cm outside and 200x180x120 cm inside, which will fit two adults with sleeping bags. On the other hand, the 2-4 person version measures 260x220x55 cm on the inside and 240x200x140 cm outside, which should be perfect for three adults with sleeping bags.

The skeleton is made of six sturdy fiberglass poles, which is why it holds well even in strong winds. The rainfly, the tent, and floor fabrics were all made with the sturdy 210D Oxford fabric with a waterproof rating of 3000MM, and that should do well in protecting you from rain.

This Night Cat tent is blessed with two mesh doors positioned on opposite sides to each other. These doors are with two sets of zippers; one of the mesh and the other for the actual door cover. The mesh windows feature B3 mesh, which is great for keeping bugs out of the tent and yet promoting proper airflow.

The 1-2 person tent weighs 10 pounds while the 2-4 Persons tent’s weight is 11 pounds. The units fold up easily and come with a carry bag. It’s ideal for car camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, etc.

 

CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent

The CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is one of the easiest family camping tents to put up alone. You can get it up in about 3-5 minutes after some practice. The tent is designed to be used by up to 9 people and features a detachable room divider for privacy’s sake.

With a floor size of 14 x 9 feet, this tent will be able to sleep nine adults in sleeping bags but won’t leave any room for other gears. It can also fit two queen-sized airbeds, but again, you won’t have enough space for your other pieces of equipment. This is a high ceiling tent offering 6.5 feet of standing space.

This unit’s fabric is made of 68D polyester with a waterproof rating of 600MM. You will need a rainfly to keep this waterproofed, and fortunately, it comes with one. The heat-sealed seams style help protect the base from water. The poles are made of steel, and you also get a tent stake, so it should be able to endure in the winds.

The tent features a large T-door to make entries and exits easy.  Also, it features several large mesh windows to provide enough airflow while keeping bugs from getting in.

It is easy to take down and weighs 27.6 pounds. It also comes with a carry bag, and CORE offers a 1-year warranty on the product.

 

Easiest Tent To Setup By Yourself – Buying Guide

There are some important topics of discussion when you are trying to buy the easiest tent to assemble. We’ll be talking about those factors you need to consider before making your mind on an option.

Setup time

Since you are already looking for a quick setup tent, it is necessary to pay attention to how long it will take you to erect the unit you are about to buy. This even becomes more imperative if you are new to this because the worst time to go through a tent set up learning experience is after a long journey to the campground.

Takedown time

Just like the setup, you don’t want a tent that will take you like forever to take down and pack. It’s still not worth it to have a quick (and easy) setup tent that isn’t quick to take down.

Tent Type /Design

The design of a tent is one of the main factors that determine how quick and easy the setup of such a tent will be. Yes, most manufacturers will tell give you an estimated time that it should typically take you, but most of those are not genuine and are merely marketing gimmicks. With that said, here are the tent designs you should look out for;

• Pop-up tents – These are usually the fastest to set up. And as you can see, they dominated the above list. They are designed to pop into shape on their own, usually within seconds after unpacking them.
• Cabin tents – As the name suggested, these tents have the design of a cabin. They are generally spacious. What you should know, however, is that not all cabin tents are quick to setup. So, make sure to only look into the Instant Cabins for that purpose. Fortunately, we reviewed several of them in the above list.
• Dome tents – These are the most popular tent types out there, but there are unfortunately not as easy to set up as the ones above. Not that they are particularly hard either, but they don’t qualify as instant tents, in our opinion.

Size

You need to match the size of your group with the size of the tent before purchasing it. Commonly, the manufacturers will tag the product with the number of persons it was created for, but in the real sense, that is without considering other gears you might be bringing. So, we advise you to subtract at least 2-3 persons from that number.

Camping Season

It’s crucial to know the periods of the year that you will be camping the most. This should be considered when you are choosing your tent. A tent may be excellent during the spring, but bad for summer. If you are not sure about this, you can go for a 4 season tent. However, if you are sure you won’t be camping during the winter, a 3 season tent is what you need. I won’t advise buying a 1 or 2 season tent anyway. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with having more than one tent for different occasions.

Camping Frequency

If you are an avid camper who camps continuously, then you need to consider buying a very durable tent that can stand the test of time. However, if you seldom go on camping trips, maybe once or twice a year, then you can save a couple of bucks and buy a less expensive tent, which may be a bit less durable.

Materials Used

The durability of the tent will depend solemnly on the materials used. There are two basic materials to consider here, and they are;  the tent fabrics and the tent poles.

Tent Fabrics; most stores will provide you with the specifications of the tent’s fabric. This will help you understand the capacity and sturdiness of the tent. There are a lot of specs here;

• Denier: denoted by ‘D’, e.g. 68D, 75D, 150D, etc. Here we have Nylons and Polyesters. The higher the number, the more durable, and of course, the heavier the tent will be.
• Thread Count: the fabric’s thread count is denoted by ‘T.’ this is representing the number of threads used vertically and horizontally on the material. 185T means 185 threads, while 210T means 210 threads. So, the higher the thread, the greater the density of the fabric.
• Polyurethane (PU) Coatings: these are applied mostly to the outer layers of the fabrics to make it water-resistant.
• Silicon and PU Coating: instead of using only the PU coating, some manufacturers use both the PU coating and the Silicon coating to increases the efficiency of the fabric in resisting water.
• Waterproof rating: This is the amount of water the PU/silicone coating can hold. It is measured in mm. Ratings above 1500mm are generally considered waterproof, but then again, the higher, the better.

Tent Poles;

• Fiberglass is probably the most common pole material. It is cheap and yet does a great job, which explains why most manufacturers prefer it. However, it is notorious for breaking under heavy use, but it can also be easily replaced.
• Aluminum is more expensive and more reliable compared to fiberglass. These materials can also be replaced if spoilt.
• Carbon Fibre is more expensive when compared to aluminum, yet has less weight. The problem with this type of pole is that the quality varies a lot.
• Steel poles are the most reliable of all these poles. They are used in building expensive, heavy-duty tents. However, replacing steel poles can be a headache; you may have to talk to the manufacturer.

 

Weight

The question of weight has to do with the mode of transportation to the campsite. If you are backpacking, there won’t be a luxury for a heavy tent. On the other hand, you can carry a huge tent if you are taking a car or van. You also need to consider the other gear you are taking when choosing a tent.

Storage

These days, most tents come with a carry bag; make sure yours does too. It’s not worth it if you have to provide/buy a carrier yourself.

Price

It all boils down to the pricing. Ultimately, the size of your pocket will shape your decision on the unit you finally buy. However, you must be careful not to fall into the trap of purchasing the wrong product all because it is cheaper than the right option for you. So, try to find a balance between quality and pricing.

 

FAQs – Best Instant Camping Tents

What is the easiest tent to put up?

This competition is clearly between the pop-up tents and instant cabin tents. We have already reviewed some of these above, please go through them once again and make your choice. Many of the tents blow up within 60 seconds or even less.

What are instant tents?

These are those that can be set up within a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Are instant tents any good?

Sure, many instant tents are made with durable materials just as the other tents you know. And their flaws are not that different from those peculiar to other types of tents.

How do you set up an instant tent?

This varies from products to products and manufacturers to manufacturers. You will generally get an instructional manual as part of the package when you buy your tent.

How does pop-up tent work?

Pop up tents are super simple to use. You simply remove them from the bag and throw them in the air, and you will have a fully ready tent. They also come with a pre-attached floor, so you almost have nothing to do.

What are the cons of instant tents?

There are a few downsides to instant tents. Here are some of them;

1. Despite blowing up in few seconds, you still have to fix the tent stakes into the ground, and many of these tents rely on an external rainfly, which you will yet have to install.
2. Pop up tents are usually short, so there is no luxury to stand up in the tent.
3. They can be heavy too.

How do you properly fold a tent?

Watch the below video to see how easy it is to take down a pop up tent.

If your tent looks different, then you should check the instructions from the manufacturer,

 

Last Words

In the above article, we have reviewed some of the best easiest tents to put up alone and the various types of instant tents we have. We also went through several issues you need to consider when putting your money on such items. So, by now, I am sure you will be able to make the right decision in your purchase confidently. Which of these tents are you going to buy? Let us know in the comment section.