Best pop up tents: tried and tested

The best pop up tents are easy to put up, pack away, and keep the weather at bay. So you can spend more time enjoying yourself at festivals and on camping trips.

We've compared popular pop up tents from Decathlon, Coleman, Eurohike, Pro Action and more. There were big differences between the best pop up tents and the worst we've tested.

One stood tall above the others, getting our Best Buy recommendation. But we also found one that was not fit for purpose at all.

The best pop up tents

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The pop up tents we've tested

All the pop up tents we've tested are listed in alphabetical order below. 

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best pop up tents from our tests. 

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Coleman FastPitch Galiano 4

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Four-person

Dimensions (pitched) 100 x 280 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 3.3kg

Stated water resistance 2,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one large entrance, no windows, three large air vents, no porch, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Eurohike Pop 200 2 Person Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 90 x 220 x 110cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.65kg

Stated water resistance 2,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, two air vents, no porch, no storage pockets, no ceiling lamp hook

Eurohike Pop 400 DS Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Four-person

Dimensions (pitched) 160 x 390 x 215cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 5.2kg

Stated water resistance 2,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, no windows, two air vents, small porches at each end, four storage pockets, no ceiling lamp hook

See our reviews of the best backpacks

ProAction 2 Man 1 Room Pop Up Camping Tent

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Available from Argos (£26.25)

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Two-person

Dimensions (pitched) 95 x 120 x 215cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.8kg

Stated water resistance 1,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one entrance, no windows, three air vents, no porch, two storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

ProAction 4 Man 1 Room Pop Up Camping Tent

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Available from Argos (£60)

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Four-person

Dimensions (pitched) 110 x 240 x 210cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 2.6kg

Stated water resistance 1,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one large entrance, no windows, three air vents, no porch, eight small storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Quechua 3 Person Blackout Pop-Up Tent - 2 Second Fresh & Black

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 104 x 185 x 210cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 4.2kg

Stated water resistance 2,000mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, one large entrance, two windows, two air vents, small porch, four small storage pockets, ceiling lamp hook

Risepro Instant Automatic Pop Up Camping Tent

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Most recently tested March 2023

Size Three-person

Dimensions (pitched) 135 x 200 x 200cm (HxWxD)

Pack weight 1.4kg

Stated water resistance 1,500mm

Need to know Groundsheet sewn in, two entrances, no windows, One air vent, no porch, no storage pockets, no ceiling lamp hook

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How we test pop up tents

We select the bestselling pop up tents to test. Brands can't buy their way onto our testing, no freebies given here to influence what we write.

We take every tent out into the British winter, pitch them up and find out how they stand up to wind and rain during a blustery week.

We regularly revisit the pop up tents on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Pitching and collapsing

• We pitch and peg out each tent. We follow the instructions, taking into account how long it takes us, how straightforward the process is, and any struggles we have along the way.
• Once the rest of our tests are complete, we pack each pop up tent back into its bag and note how difficult it is to pack them down to size and stuff them into the bag.
• The best pop up tents go up without a fuss, and pack away without a hassle.

Living in the tent

• We look for those little annoyances you find with tents all too often: zips that catch the canvas, vents that won't stay open for proper air circulation and tiny storage pockets.
• We also assess how bright and roomy the living spaces are and whether we think the number of people the tents are intended to house could actually fit inside comfortably.
• The best tents are spacious, with all the features you expect, working as they should do. Sounds like a low bar to cross but our tests have found many don't meet this mark.

Weather resistance

• During the course of our tests all the tents experience heavy downpours, wind and muddy conditions.
• Every morning we inspect each tent to see if any rainwater has crept into the sleeping area, and check how damp the inside ceiling has is due to condensation.
• We also take note of tents that struggle against the wind and need frequent re-pegging. Some tents actually blow over entirely.
• The best pop up tents keep the weather outside, rather than letting it inside the canvas.

Hope for sunshine and enjoy eating outdoors with the best cooler bags.

Five things to look for when buying a pop up tent

1) Be wary of how many people supposedly fit in the tent

Manufacturers don't appear to take storing kit into account when labelling tents, so you might find yourself short on space. 

A handy rule of thumb is to subtract one person (or two people if you have a lot of stuff) from the number listed. This means if there are two of you (for example) you'd probably be best suited to a three-person tent.

2) Look for air vents and consider their size and quality

Air circulation might not be your first concern when tent shopping, but it can have a major impact on your comfort. 

Small or poor-quality air vents will lead to a hot, stuffy tent and lots of condensation build-up on the ceiling. 

Check how many air vents the tent has, how large they are and whether they can be propped open to help give fresh air a clear path inside.

3) Consider how the door will open, especially in wet weather

If it rains, it can often take a while for raindrops to dry off the tent canvas. 

Some tent doors lean backwards and fall back into the tent as you open them, we've found. This means any raindrops on the door will run straight into your sleeping area.

4) Check how much the tent weighs

When camping, there might be a long walk to your pitch, especially if you're at a festival. 

Check the tent's weight before buying and consider how comfortable you'd be carrying it long distances.

5) Be careful relying on rain resistance claims

Hydrostatic head ratings, which describe how much rain manufacturers say the tent can withstand, shouldn't be relied upon entirely. They don't account for how well zips, seams and other vulnerable points keep the rain out. Check those spots for any loose stitching or other signs of wear, as we do in our testing.

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How to fold a pop up tent

Most pop up tents fold down by: 

• Bunching the spring-loaded poles together
• Then folding the tent in half vertically, and then again horizontally to leave you with the tent folded into a circle
• You can face resistance from the poles while doing this, as they'll want to bounce back into their assembled shape. 
• It may take more than one person to manage it, especially if the weather isn't great.
• This should then hopefully fit back into the carry bag the tent arrived in.

Not all pop up tents fold down this way, though, and some have extra steps, such as buckles to fasten or separate poles to remove.

Checking and following the instructions is the best way to ensure you're doing it right. If you've misplaced them, the manufacturer's website should have a digital copy you can use.

Fancy camping a more traditional way? See our reviews of the best tents

Can you recycle pop up tents?

It's well known that at festivals and other major events, pop up tents are often abandoned, which is a major environmental issue. If you're keen to avoid adding to the problem and recycle your pop up tent, it's possible but not easy.

This is mostly because the canvas is plastic-based and treated with silicone, acrylic polyurethane and fire-retardant chemicals, which makes the canvas difficult to recycle. As pop up tents are all-in-one structures made up of different materials, you also can't recycle one as a whole and must take it apart.

You should, however, be able to hand over your tent to your local recycling point, provided you separate the canvas from the poles and pegs beforehand.

At most major festivals there are also initiatives to reduce the amount of tents going into landfill by donating them to charities and other good causes.

Get help with doing your bit for the planet with our guide on how to recycle in the UK