Everyone loves adventures! Hiking and camping offer an excellent opportunity to spice up your boring daily life routine. Outdoor exciting activities and nature help you unwind from the hassles and bustles of life.
However, if you’re planning a holiday or weekend getaway with family or friends, one of the essential things you need to bring along is a quick pitch tent. The tent will be your shelter and storage place to sleep, rest, sit, and keep your valuables.
The quick pitch is a term for tents that are easy to set up and fast pitching, whether it’s a pop-up, inflatable, or instant tent with or without poles. Finding a good instant tent that suits your camping needs isn’t easy, so scroll down to know about the best quick pitch tents in the UK.
Are pop-up tents any good?
One of the most common instant tents is the pop-up type. These tents are a good option for all campers and nature lovers. Nobody wants to carry heavy, bulky tents that are time-consuming and difficult to set up.
A smooth, quick assembly makes pop-up tents the top choice among backpackers, hikers, and campers. They go up in a few seconds to offer you full coverage and shelter from rain, sun, and wind wherever you want; in the backyard near the beach, mountains, or lake. All you have to do is gently throw the pop-up tent in the air when pulled out from the bag. Besides, they are super easy and quick to takedown at the end of your camping trip.
When you’re trekking miles into the backwoods or up the mountains, every ounce of gear weight counts. So if you often go for overland hiking or mountaineering, a lightweight and compact tent is the best choice for such adventure conditions. The pop-up tent is what you need; its lightweight yet provides enough sleeping space for 2-3 people. There’s no need to wind tent poles or tent lines.
Make a camping trip with your friends or family a fun-filled and memorable experience!
Best Quick Pitch Tents in the UK
Coleman Instant Tourer 4 Tent
A spacious tent that pitches in 1 minute, thanks to the revolutionary instant tent frame. Awarded for the best tour and camping tent for a family in the camping magazine
Detailed Review
The Coleman instant tent lets you enjoy the outdoors in less than 1 minute. It’s a spacious tent that pitches in 1 minute, thanks to the revolutionary instant tent frame. Awarded for the best tour and camping tent for a family in the camping magazine, the instant 4 tourer has a durable design with pre-attached sturdy steel poles. Plus, the spider-like construction makes tent pitching fast and effortless. It comes with flysheet pre-attached as well, so there’s no need for flysheet clips.
Once pitched, the Coleman instant tourer is a comfortable tent with 5.9m2 living space and generous head height. The green tent stands strong under all weather conditions; the tent features a wind-stable construction. The polyester flysheet has a hydrostatic head of 3000mm and fully taped seams to keep out heavy rain from entering your tent. Moreover, the tent fabric also has Coleman UV guard with an SPF 50+ to protect you and your family from harsh sun rays. Not only this, but the tent is also fully fire-retardant for extra peace of mind during camping. Thanks to the tough and waterproof polyethene groundsheet that offers a dry interior and bug-free zone. For more convenience, it has a large D-shaped door and a PVC window at the front.
Users appreciate its water and leak-proof design even during heavy showers. Although there’s an adjustable vent for ventilation, many users complain about high condensation build-up.
Coleman Instant Cabin 4 Persons
This black skin tent features intelligent, fast-pitch technology that’s simple to pitch in less than 3 minutes.
Detailed Review
Looking for an effortless fast-setup tent for camping? The instant cabin by Coleman can be a great option to enjoy outdoors with your family and friends. This black skin tent features intelligent, fast-pitch technology that’s simple to pitch in less than 3 minutes.
The instant cabin is ideal for your weekend adventures and touring camping as it comes with all the features for comfortable accommodation on any campsite. This tent has sturdy steel and fibreglass poles pre-attached to the central summit hub with a spider-like frame that stands strong during high winds. It lets you click all the 4 poles easily in place at 45ₒ.
The cabin has a roomy interior that comfortably fits four large airbeds. Plus, four large mesh windows with covers offer the ultimate balance of light and privacy. Experience the surroundings’ panoramic view. Entry and exit to the cabin are simple with its large front door. Moreover, the adjustable guidelines make sure that your cabin remains secure in all conditions. Tent fabric made from polyester and taffeta to withstand the outdoor environment while a hydrostatic head rating of 3000mm gives you better and long-lasting rain protection.
A unique feature that every camper loves is the Coleman Dark Room technology; it makes interior dim for sleep during the day and reduces the internal temperature on hot days. One downside that many users reported is it’s a bit heavy for backpacking; 7.8kg.
Slumit CUB 2 Instant Tent 2 Man
This pop-up tent by Slumit is a quick setup instant tent for 1-2 people in less than 60 seconds.
Detailed Review
This pop-up tent by Slumit is a quick setup instant tent for 1-2 people in less than 60 seconds. The CUB 2 features a unique FlashFrame pull-up system with a quick-release pitch and pack method with a locking loop slot. Remove the case, unfold legs, lift the central hub above head height, and engage the mechanism to lock, it’s that simple.
Unlike other pop-up tents in the market, CUB 2 packs up more compact with dimensions 70x17x17cm while weighing only 3.8kg. The tent has 8.5mm fibreglass pre-attached poles and breathable polyester dual-layer inner tent fabric. To create a bug-free area inside, there’s an integrated PE fabric groundsheet and a fine-mesh door. This not only offers a bug-free interior but also prevents the build of condensation.
Thanks to the 190T polyester outer rainfly with a 4000mm hydrostatic rating, your tent will be secure from leaks even during heavy storm or rain. Plus, UV50+ guard and fire retardant tent fabric offers full-time protection during day and night at the campsite.
The reason people love this Slumit CUB 2 tent is that it’s simple to set up; all they have to do is pop, peg, and enjoy. Excellent camping gear for all outdoor enthusiasts!
Qeedo Quick 3 Man with Quick Up System
The Qeedo Quick 3 Man is constructed primarily out of rugged polyester and steel poles and pegs. It comes fully assembled and sets up in 60 seconds for convenience.
Detailed Review
The Qeedo Quick 3 Man is constructed primarily out of rugged polyester and steel poles and pegs. It comes fully assembled and sets up in 60 seconds for convenience. This dome tent opens up fully to 300 x 200 x 130 cm and spaciously provides room for three or two sleeping people with extra space to store your luggage.
To promote fresher airflow, the tent features two side vents, mesh nets, and two entrance doors that avoid condensation build-up inside and keeps out pests. Qeedo Quick 3 is resistant to wind, water, even mildew with 3000mm hydrostatic head while features a UV 50+ rated tent material with sealed seams to protect you from the sun and other outer elements.
The ultra-fine mesh nets ensure that even the smallest bugs are kept out of the tent. You can store valuables and small items in the gear loft or remove it to utilize the torch or lantern. Waterproof sewn-in groundsheet offers an arid resting space. Quick 3 is loaded with additional features like two mesh vents that allow ample ventilation, 2 D-shaped doors with mesh screens, and wall-mounted pouch pockets.
Users like that, although not a massive tent, it can comfortably accommodate two large airbeds. However, Qeedo is not a black-out type; that’s why some users complain about being awakened by the sunlight and heat in the early dawn.
Night Cat Pop Up Tent 2 3 4 Man
Night Cap pop-up tent has got you covered with its instant 1-minute setup.
Detailed Review
Every moment counts when going out camping or hunting and you don’t want to waste time putting up a tent when you arrive, the Night Cap pop-up tent has got you covered with its instant 1-minute setup.
Night Cat is a sturdy 2-3 person tent with a simple setup via a hydraulic pressure system that takes a minute or less. The tent and rainfly are made from a durable 210D Oxford fabric with a 3000mm hydrostatic rating that means you’re safe from heavy rains. Besides, the robust fibreglass poles also stand firm and stable during heavy winds and storms. 240x200x140cm interior is perfect to fit three adults and three sleeping bags. This 2-3 person tent packs compact into 85x17x17cm and weighs 11lbs only so you can easily carry it anywhere. 2 entrance doors and mesh windows keep the pests at bay.
The most unique and useful feature of this pop-up tent is that the rain fly doubles as a pavilion. It easily detaches from the tent to enjoy shade during fishing or beach. Unlike other pop-up tents, there’s no sewn-in groundsheet. However, it comes with a waterproof PE tarp that attaches easily to the tent.
Ideal for staying overnight at campsites, days at the beach, festivals, and backyard camping!
ZOMAKE Pop Up Beach Tent 2-3 Person
The ZOMAKE pop-up tent is easy to set up in just seconds; unstrap it and throw in the air. There’s no need for special instructions or poles setup.
Detailed Review
The ZOMAKE pop-up tent is easy to set up in just seconds; unstrap it and throw in the air. There’s no need for special instructions or poles setup. Just because the ZOMAKE pop-up tent is simple to put up doesn’t mean it falls behind when it comes to protection. This self-erecting tent made from fibreglass poles the highly waterproof PU-coated 190T silver polyester fabric that is durable but offers full protection from harsh UVA and UVB rays. Wind and water-resistant, this 2-3 person camping tent has two layers of design that keeps away condensation.
Both tent ends are open with D-style doors with mesh layers, and the attached tarp is made of moisture-proof 210D Oxford fabric. The top opening and two mesh windows with adjustable cover act as shade from rain and sun. It folds very compactly in a disc with an 80cm diameter in this circular carry case.
Although it’s a durable, sturdy tent with ample shade and protection, this pop-up is ideal for beach and park trips but not for an overnight camping stay.
Things to Consider before buying a Quick Pitch Tent – Buying Guide
Tent type
There’s an array of different quick pitch tent types in the market which try to find a perfect balance between ample sleep space and weight or pack size.
- Instant or pop-up tents
It’s a popular backpacking tent type. A coiled long sprung frame is attached to the tent fabric, which opens up circular when the frame is twisted. Pop-up tents are the easiest to set up and carry. It pops open when thrown in the air and sets itself up in seconds. Most of the pop-up tents have lightweight poles attached to them that open and closes via hydraulic pressure.
They are fully waterproof and UV-resistant, but lightweight poles without staking are less stable during wind or storm.
- Inflatable tents
An inflatable tent is quick to pitch constructed around semi geodesic or full geodesic frame of aluminium poles. Unlike a tunnel tent, an inflatable tent is self-supporting. It consists of several interconnected panels that form a self-supporting structure with a minimum of 4 poles. What’s excellent about inflatable tents is that they are impressively stable in high winds due to their robust pole system. Made from durable materials, they are designed to withstand heavy snow and wind.
One downside is that the air-tube frame tent is difficult to move in one go as it’s bulky and heavy.
Capacity
Another critical thing to consider when choosing a quick pitch tent is capacity or how many persons plan on staying in a tent. If you plan for a solo camping, you will be fine with a smaller 1-2 people capacity tent. However, if you need to share a tent with multiple people, look for the one with 4-6 person capacity or large living area. Choose a tent that’s a bit larger than the number of people if you carry extra gear.
Shape and Style
Freestanding tents stand on their own when setup with the poles. They set up in a pinch, and you can instantly climb inside if bad weather rolls in. But not all tents are equally spacious and comfortable. Some tent style and shape will skimp on features to minimize weight while others have extra features to make the tent more comfortable.
The sloping sidewalls drastically cut down the headspace in the interior but also save some weight. The vertical sidewalls offer a lot more interior room and headspace, which allows you to sit up comfortably in the tent, which is a useful feature if you enjoy reading a book or a coffee cup.
Cabin-shaped tents offer the most comfortable interior space where even a person can stand easily due to straight high walls. Dome-shape tents are smaller with little head space but are more stable during windy conditions.
Weight and portability
Once you decided with the type and size of the tent you want, the next thing to consider is portability to strike a balance between weight and comfort. The tents that fold up compact and light weight are ideal for backpacking. On the other hand, those large-capacity cabin-style tents are easy to set up but not appropriate for a long day hike. They are suitable for car camping.
Freestanding tents stand on their own when setup with the poles. They set up in a pinch, and you can instantly climb inside if bad weather rolls in.
Other features
Dual-entry or two doors; one front and rear into a tent is great if you’re sharing with a partner. It offers its entry-way and exit during night bathroom breaks without crawling on each other. Some tents also come with two vestibules or covered outdoor spaces. It is an excellent feature to look for as this allows you to store your gear or luggage without cluttering up the inside of the tent. Pockets on the inside also let you organize your stuff nicely or hang headlamps.
Conclusion
Quick pitch tents are great for all your adventures and camping trips since they offer full shelter and protection from the external environment. A great add-on is that fast pitch is effortless and straightforward to set up in less time without requiring any tools at all. Make your hiking and mountaineering experience more enjoyable with a quick pitch tent!