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Have you ever fallen asleep while soaking up some sun and woke up looking like a lobster?
Ever wished you could enjoy the sights and sounds of the sea without having to be directly in the harsh rays of the sun all day?
The best beach tents will protect you from the sun and give you privacy.
You could just walk into your local Walmart and purchase the first beach canopy that you see but that probably isn’t advisable unless you are just looking for a cheap, one time use kind of thing.
Better to spend a little more and get a quality beach tent.
Best Beach Tents
| Pacific Breeze Easy Up Deluxe XL | Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana | Coleman DayTripper | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Dimensions: | 7.9' W x 4.25" D x 4.3" H | 8' W x 4.5' D x 4' H | 7.5' W x 4.5' D x 4.75' H |
| Weight: | 6.5 Pounds | 6.1 Pounds | 5 Pounds |
| Carry Bag: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows: | 3 Mesh windows with shades | 3 Mesh windows with shades | 1 Mesh window with shade |
For more of my beach gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Beach Chairs, Beach Coolers, Beach Blankets.
Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Beach Tents For 2021
- Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe
- Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Beach Tent
- Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade
- OutdoorMaster Pop Up Beach Tent
- Easthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent
- Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent
- OCOOPA Large Pop Up Beach Tent
Our reviews of the top-rated beach tents with a comparison table and our buyer’s guide below will help you choose a tent for you.
Beach Tent Reviews
#1 Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe XL
The Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe, as its name says, really is easy to set up. With its pop up design, there is no need to insert poles or set up frames.
Simply take the canopy out of its nifty carrying bag, grab it by the string on top and pop it open.
After that, drive a few stakes into the ground to keep it in place and you are ready to enjoy your day at the beach with wind, rain and UPF 50+ sun protection.
Expand To See More The PE waterproof floor means that even after a sudden rain shower, you can still continue your day at the beach and not have to worry about your belongings getting wet or ruined. Along with the canopy, you get 5 external sand pockets that you can use in place of or in tandem with stakes. You also get a great carrying bag, stakes are included and there are also interior pockets for keeping your belongings safe and off the ground. Video: See how easy it is the setup the Pacific Breeze Beach Tent. Weighing a mere 6.5 lbs, this is the best pop up beach tent that can easily be stuck inside of your beach bag or tossed over your shoulder to easily transport between the car and the beach. With its super simple setup, this beach shade tent is definitely worth considering for your next trip to the beach!
#2 Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Beach Tent Sun Shelter
The “compression hub system” of the Lightspeed Cabana is designed for easy setup and take down.
With its 8.5 mm thick fiberglass poles, your pop up beach tent has more stability than those with thinner poles of the cheap CVS or Walmart beach tents that are more likely to break.
The exterior is made of the same material and coatings as your umbrella, making it ideal for sudden rain storms. Plus, the combination of stakes and sand pockets help to hold it in place, even with stronger winds.
Expand To See More Its 4.5 feet wide inside and an extra 4 feet of extended porch on the outside, there is enough room for two adults and children or pets. The strong PE floor makes it durable, even against the abuse of kids and their toys, as well as dogs and their claws. It there is a downside of the Lightspeed is that doesn’t stand up as well to strong gusts of wind like the Coleman Daytripper or Pacific Breeze. Video: See how easy it is to setup the Lightspeed Cabana. That is definitely something to consider but it is not a reason to say no to this otherwise awesome product. You get an oversize carrying bag, sand pockets, eight hard plastic stakes and guylines. If your biggest concern is easy setup, this might be the best beach tent for you. All poles are already in place, the only thing you need to do is push the stakes into the ground so it stays in place. If you are on a nice sandy beach, that can easily be done by hand in a minute or two. This is the best beach shelter and well worth the price.
#3 Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade
This 7.5’ by 4.5’ beach canopy has two doors that zip closed for total privacy, allowing you to have a private and comfortable place to change out of your wet swimsuit.
This definitely beats dancing around the stalls of a disgusting public restroom. It offers UV Guard protection of SPF 50+, making it the perfect place for the kids to nap or you to relax and enjoy a good book.
Expand To See More The beach tent uses 3 poles that slide into sleeves for a quick, 10 minute set up. Don’t let the 3 poles concern you, there is nothing complicated about it. Maybe it isn’t as easy to set up as a pop up design but the pole style canopy does provide you with a more stable set up. Trading a little bit of ease for a little more stability seems to be a reasonable trade off. You don’t want you beach canopy to be blowing down the shoreline at the first gust of wind. For this inexpensive beach shelter, you get the beach canopy, a great little carrying bag, sandbags, a floor mat and a drying line to hang wet towels and clothes so you don’t have to lay them in the sand or ball them up in a bag, still wet. Coleman is known for their quality products and the Daytripper is the best baby beach tent for the money.
#4 OutdoorMaster Pop Up Beach Tent
This beach shade tent is truly a pop up design. Once you remove it from its bag, it literally pops up into the shape of a tent by pulling two cords. Then all you have to do is fill the sand bags with sand and you are ready to go.
Set up can be done by one person in just a few seconds. If you want a the simplest setup possible, the OutdoorMaster is best pop up beach tent for you!
The shade is made from coated polyester with a UPF 50+ rating makes it good for protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Expand To See More It includes rear and side windows which can be closed when you need a little extra privacy and opened to let in the cool fresh breeze. The large door zips up for complete privacy so you can use it a changing room and functions as a sitting area as well. Also included are stakes so you could use it a camping tent. Overall, this is one of the best beach tents for babies you can buy with its ease of setup.
#5 Easthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent
This uniquely shaped Easthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent includes an extended porch for more room to move about.
When you need some extra privacy for changing clothes, eating, or napping, the extended porch easily zips closed to make the beach canopy fully enclosed for privacy.
With its polyester coating, the baby beach tent is not only waterproof but it also offers UPF 50+ protection from those harmful rays.
Expand To See More With mesh windows on all three sides, ventilation is not a problem, allowing the beach canopy to be filled with fresh air no matter which direction the wind is blowing. Four mesh bags inside the canopy allow you to store your belongings and keep them from being trampled on the ground or covered in sand. For a mid-range price, you get what may be the best beach shade canopy. It comes with a carry bag with a shoulder strap, 10 plastic stakes, 4 guylines, and a storage pouch. If you check out the baby beach tent on Amazon, it doesn’t have many reviews yet but it’s only because it’s a new product. I would consider the Easy Up to be a hybrid beach shelter. While it’s not an instant pop up canopy, it does set up in a minute or two. The door that works as an extended porch is one of its best features. The Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent is the most portable of the beach tents reviewed. At 4 lbs, it is the lightest tent, and when folded fits inside a 32″ x 5″ carry bag. Despite its light weight and compact folded size, it is relatively spacious when erected. At 92″ W x 45″ D x 45″ H, it is comparable with the other beach tents reviewed. It is the fiberglass pole that makes it so light. The frame is simple to set up or fold away, the operation taking mere seconds. Expand To See More The 210T Polyester flysheet is water resistant and provides excellent UPF 50+ protection against harmful UV rays. The polyester flysheet is also breathable for added ventilation. The flysheet also boasts extra features, such as the 2 internal pockets for storing personal items, 2 windows with covers, and an awning for added shade. Because this beach tent is so light, it comes complete with 6 sandbags you can use to weigh it down so it doesn’t blow away. This beach tent is well constructed. It also comes with a 1-year warranty for added assurance. If you’re looking for a beach tent you can take anywhere and set up in seconds, the Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent is a good choice. The OCOOPA Large Pop Up Beach Tent is the most spacious tent in this review. Despite that, it is surprisingly light at 5.9 lbs, which is toward the lighter end of the scale. The 190T silver-coated polyester flysheet provides your family with superior UPF 50+ protection from harsh UV light. As an added bonus, the flysheet manufacturing process is also eco-friendly. With 4 mesh windows and 2 opening doors, this beach tent provides plenty of ventilation. By opening both doors, you can turn it into a kind of wind tunnel to catch that cooling breeze. Expand To See More The 2 larger mesh windows and 2 doors are closeable. This means that this beach tent can protect you from the wind and rain should the weather turn bad. The 4mm steel wire frame is relatively lightweight yet sturdy and stable. This frame makes this beach tent more durable than comparable designs. This beach tent sets up or folds down in a simple operation that takes only seconds. This tent can easily be secured using the 8 steel pegs provided. There are also 4 sandbags to help hold it down in windy weather. When you need to hike to the beach, this pop up beach tent is easy to carry. It weighs only 5.9 lbs and packs away in a circular carry bag that’s only 19″ in diameter. For families who appreciate space and want a durable beach tent that will last for years, the OCOOPA Large Pop Up Beach Tent is a great value choice. If your like me, one of your biggest complaints about going to the beach is a lack of shade when you want to cool down and take a break from the sun. The ideal solution for me was a beach shade tent! Beach tents are a great way to be able to spend hours on the beach without worrying about too much sun exposure. They also provide you will a little privacy during nap time and comfort during snack and meal time. Beach tents can help to make your next family vacation or beach outing with friends more exciting, relaxing, and enjoyable. Need some ideas for what to do at the beach? See 10 Fun Things To Do At The Beach. Of course you can just goto to the local CVS and just get the first beach tent that you see but that probably isn’t the best idea unless you are just want a one time use canopy. If you want to find the tent that is right for you and your family and friends, you will probably want to put a little more thought into the buying process. If not, it could spell disaster for your perfectly planned beach trip. There are primarily three types of beach canopies and each type has its pros and cons and deciding which type you want is the first step into narrowing your search. A beach tent is similar to a camping tent and many of them our list offer complete privacy for changing or taking a nap. If you need privacy or complete sun protection, a tent is the best option like the Easthills. If you are looking for the easiest possible setup, you may want to consider a pop up canopy. These canopies are easy enough to be set up by one person in just a few short minutes and are the most convenient of the three types of canopies. This type of beach shelter tends to be sturdier than pop ups because of their use of poles and cords used to create a stronger and steadier structure. These beach canopies have a built-in frame, making them the strongest of the three types of canopies but also making them heavier and move difficult to pick up and move quickly. But their built-in frame does make them sturdier, even in stronger winds. Deciding which type is best for you is important because then you can make your searches more specific, which will give you fewer options to sort through to find the right one for you. Beach canopies comes in a variety of heights, widths and depths. If you are looking for a nice comfy place to set up two beach chairs or lay out your towels or beach blankets, you probably don’t need a super tall canopy. If you have plans for multiple people in the canopy at the same time, a wider canopy is probably a good choice. Seeing what is on the market and considering your beach going situation will help you decide. Special features can include a variety of things, such as exterior pockets that can be filled with sand to help the beach canopy stay in place on the extra windy days. Other options include being waterproof, fully enclosed verses two or three walls, and windows that can open and close to allow for privacy or a cool breeze. Other extras include, floor mats, drying lines to hang wet clothes and towels, and sandbags to help your beach canopy sturdier, even on windy days. These features may or may not be part of most beach canopies so it is important to explore the options that are available and choose the options that best meet your needs. Though beach canopies don’t tend to be extremely expensive, there is a pretty big price range, depending on exactly what you are hoping to get out of your beach canopy. Prices can range from $30 to over $150 depending on the size, features and type of canopy. All of the canopies featured in this buying guide fall significantly below the $100 range. Sometimes, higher priced canopies can definitely be worth the extra buck. But in this guide, we are going to show you five beach canopies that you can get for a good price, without sacrificing the quality. The beach tents on our list all provide adequate ventilation with either screens in the windows and doors to allow a breeze to pass through. Most beach tents have an open front so you should have plenty of air flow to keep you cool but just be aware that they will also provide less protection from the sun. Let’s make this simple. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before making your purchase: A: The beach tents on our list are quite durable and do not require much in the way of care or maintenance. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Since you will be using it at the beach and possibly around salt water it’s a good idea at the end of the day to rinse the sand out of hinges in the poles to keep them working smoothly. After rinsing it’s best to let the canopy air dry before packing it away in it’s storage container. By letting it air dry before storing it, that will prevent bold and mildew from starting to grow. By rinsing it you will also clean off corrosive salt prolonging the life of your beach tent. A: This is pretty simple to determine. Most importantly is how many people will you need to keep out of the sun? Most of the tent on our list will comfortably shelter 4 people. If you think you are going to need to shelter more people you may want to think about getting a pop up canopy. These are larger shelters designed to keep the sun off a larger area and maybe have a grill and some coolers out of the sun. They are designed for groups of people and do not have the privacy of a beach tent. A: Like we discussed above, beach canopies are usually in the size of 10x10 or 100 square feet. You would use these for large family get togethers to shade a larger area. Beach tents on the other hand are designed for families. They allow for privacy for changing into your bathing suit or changing diapers on your baby. Canopies on the other hand are completely open and provide shade only. In most circumstances a tent with a bottom will be a better choice for a baby because it offers more protection from sand. Just keep in mind that if you or your children will be coming and going frequently they will track sand into the tent and can be difficult to get it out. If that’s the case you may want to go with the Demco Beach Tent, it has an open bottom and you may be better off laying down towels that can be easily shaken out. A closed bottom tent will do a much better job of keeping you dry if you have a rain shower, assuming the tent is waterproof! An open bottom will most likely get all wet inside. One other benefit of a closed bottom tent is it protects your family from bugs that are in the sand like gnats and sand fleas. Once you have answered the above questions, you are another step closer to enjoying a perfect day at the beach without too much exposure to those nasty UV rays. If you still aren’t sure how to answer these questions or you don’t know what exactly what you are looking for, that’s alright. Reading the reviews of the products below may help you see what’s available and how the features may benefit you. When making any kind of purchase, it is good to know what you are getting. This is doubly true when you are making a purchase of something that you want to last for a long time and be able to withstand things like the sun’s powerful rays and windy beaches. Figure out what is most important to you, start with one of the canopies in this guide and then go from there. Before you know it, you will be on a nice sandy beach in your beach canopy, all set for a day of fun in the sun and shade. I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best beach tent to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a canopy I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch. Have fun and enjoy your day at the beach!
#6 Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent
#7 OCOOPA Large Pop Up Beach Tent
Beach Tent Comparison Table
Beach Tent Dimensions UPF Weight Bottom Rating
Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe XL 95" L x 52" H x 51" D 50+ 6.5 lbs Attached 4.7 / 5.0
Lightspeed Outdoors Cabana Sun Shelter 96" W x 54" D x 48 "H 50+ 6.1 lbs Attached 4.5 / 5.0
Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade 90" W x 53" D x 57" H 50+ 9.5 lbs Attached 4.1 / 5.0
OutdoorMaster Pop Up Beach Tent 95” W x 53” D x 51” H 50+ 8.1 lbs Attached 4.3 / 5.0
Easthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent 82" W x 47" D x 50" H 50+ 4.5 lbs Attached 4.4 / 5.0
Oileus X-Large Beach Tent 92" W x 45" D x 45" H 50+ 4 lbs Attached 4.5 / 5.0
OCOOPA Large Pop Up Beach Tent 96" W x 57" D x 51" H 50+ 5.9 lbs Attached 4.5 / 5.0
How to Choose the Best Beach Tent
Before You Buy a Pop Up Beach Tent
Types of Baby Beach Tents
Tent
Pop Up Canopy
Pole Canopy
Frame Canopy
What Size Beach Tent Do You Need?
Special Features
Budget
Ventilation
FAQs About Beach Tents
Q: What do I need to do to care for my beach tent?
Q: How do I know what size I need?
Q: What the difference between a beach tent and a beach canopy?
Closed or Open Bottom Beach Tent
Final Thoughts
Notice:
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