The 8 Best Beach Tents of 2021

Written by
Jessica Macdonald
Jessica Macdonald lives in South Africa's Eastern Cape province and has been TripSavvy's Africa Expert since 2016. She also covers travel products and has written about everything from camping knives to climbing chalk.
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Jessica Macdonald

Updated 07/01/20

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The Rundown

Best Overall: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent at Amazon

"Its hub system is a particular highlight, which allows for quick and easy setup."

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Alvantor UPF 50+ Beach Tent at Amazon

"Combines easy setup, portability, and smart design at a reasonable price."

Best Budget: iCorer Pop Up Beach Tent at Amazon

"This budget-friendly pop-up tent doesn't skimp on features."

Most Versatile: All-Weather Sun Umbrella at Amazon

"Part beach tent part umbrella, the Sport-Brella offers an innovative design."

Best for Sun Protection: Lightspeed Outdoors Sun Shelter at Amazon

"The tent’s overhang provides plenty of shade, while its front porch can close up for more protection."

Best Features: Coleman Beach Shade at Walmart

"Highlights include storage pockets and a drying line for hanging wet swimsuits and towels."

Best Setup: WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent at Amazon

"Just throw the Zomake Tent in the air and you’ll have a beach tent ready in seconds."

Best for Babies: Monobeach Baby Beach Tent at Amazon

"Features a mini pool so your baby can still play in the water without stepping foot on shore."

Our Top Picks

01 of 08

Best Overall: Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent

Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent
Courtesy of Amazon
4

For the perfect all-rounder, look no further than the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent. Its hub system is a particular highlight, which allows for quick and easy setup. At 87 x 47 x 49 inches, the tent is also incredibly spacious and even comes with pockets for convenient storage. Its fiberglass frame makes the tent durable enough to withstand rain, wind, and other outdoor activities. 

Despite its size, the tent is still lightweight—it’s made of breathable, water-repellent polyester and weighs just 4.5 pounds. Even more, the tent boasts a UPF 50+ sun protection and large windows so you’ll be sure to keep cool. 

02 of 08

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Alvantor UPF 50+ Beach Tent

3.3

Another solid choice, the Alvantor UPF 50+ Beach Tent combines easy setup, portability, and smart design at a reasonable price. This beach tent is so simple to put together, it automatically opens up in less than 30 seconds after tossing it in the air. Measuring 70 x 53 x 48 inches, the mid-sized beach tent can also fit two to three people. Its water resistant, 50+ UPF-protected fabric and mesh windows will keep things cool at the beach. 

The Alvantor weighs a mere 2.5 pounds and comes with a carry bag, making it extremely travel-friendly. Its lightness doesn’t forgo durability, however—fiberglass frame poles keep the tent in shape for long usage. Plus, the tent can withstand winds of up to 25 mph and includes four sandbags and stakes for extra stability.

03 of 08

Best Budget: iCorer Pop Up Beach Tent

This budget-friendly pop-up sun shelter by iCorer doesn't skimp on features. Made of durable nylon, this tent has UPF 50+ protection to shield you from the sun's harmful rays. It also comes with six metal stakes and sandbag pockets for added stability that will come in handy on windy days at the beach. The lightweight tent doesn't require any setup either—it automatically opens in one second. To put the tent away you simply need to twist and fold the tent, it only takes three seconds.

The tent measures 65 x 59 x 43 inches and weighs 2.2 pounds. Reviewers loved how spacious this tent was and said that they could easily fit two adults inside.

04 of 08

Most Versatile: Sport-Brella Portable All-Weather Sun Umbrella

4.5

Part beach tent part umbrella, the Sport-Brella Portable All-Weather Sun Umbrella offers an innovative design. The umbrella’s eight-foot canopy is made from 210-denier polyester protecting you from all types of weather, plus it’s water-repellant and has a UPF 50+ rating. In addition to nice airflow, its side windows mean you can watch friends and family play at the beach while relaxing in the shade. There are top wind vents for even more ventilation, as well as side panels for full coverage from the sun. 

To complete this offering, the Sport-Brella comes with three tie-down cords and eight steel ground stakes for stability. Choose from a variety of colors like blue, red, and turquoise.

Continue to 5 of 8 below.
05 of 08

Best for Sun Protection: Lightspeed Outdoors Sun Shelter

Lightspeed Outdoors doesn’t disappoint when it comes to quality beach tents, but this Sun Shelter stands out for its strong sun protection. The tent’s large, front overhang provides plenty of shade, while its front porch can close up for more protection and privacy. You can still enjoy views of the beach, thanks to mesh windows that offer 360-degree visibility—as well as ventilation. 

As with most beach tents, this one boasts a UPF 50+ rating. The tent, which measures 95 x 54 x 59-inches, also comes with sand pockets, stakes, and guylines to hold everything down. Plus, side-pull hub technology makes the tent easy to set up and take apart. 

06 of 08

Best Features: Coleman Beach Shade

Coleman Beach Shade

Courtesy of Walmart 

The Coleman Beach Shade has all the features you’d want in a beach tent at a reasonable price point. Easy to assemble, this pop-up tent offers zippered doors for privacy and a back window that unzips to increase airflow. Other highlights include storage pockets for personal items and a drying line for hanging wet swimsuits and towels—perfect if you’re planning to make a quick stop at the beach. 

In addition to offering UPF 50+ protection, the tent is also made with Polyguard material that helps it last season after season. The tent also offers various color options, including blue and lime, blue and white, lime, pink, and yellow.

07 of 08

Best Setup: WolfWise Easy Pop Up Beach Tent

Just throw the WolfWise Pop Up Tent in the air and you’ll have a beach tent ready in seconds—no poles or other attachments necessary. The tent has doors on both of its ends, along with two large mesh windows for letting air in and blocking out mosquitos. Even more, there are storage pockets underneath each window to hold sunglasses, sunblock, or any other small belongs.

This 86 x 57 x 47-inch tent still packs a punch with size, as it’s spacious enough for three to four people. Along with UPF 50+ sun protection, the tent is made with water resistant and anti-UV material. And, as easy it is to set up, the WolfWise folds nicely into a disc that you can store in the included bag. 

08 of 08

Best for Babies: Monobeach Baby Beach Tent

Enjoy beach day while keeping your little ones safe with the Monobeach Baby Beach Tent. Designed for children ages 3 and under, the tent features a mini pool so your baby can still play in the water without stepping foot on shore. Better yet, its zippered curtain and UPF 50+ protection ensures coverage from harmful UV rays. 

The small, 47.5 x 31.5 x 27.5-inch tent automatically pops up so set-up won’t be a fuss. It also only weighs 1.8 pounds and comes with a carry bag for seamless transportation.

What to Look for in a Beach Tent

Desired use Much of what you want out of a beach tent will be dictated by how you’ll use it. If you plan on using the shelter for a quick change of clothes or a brief respite from the sun, then you likely don’t need a tent with 1,001 features. However, if you want to provide shelter for the whole family, you’ll want a larger tent with features that regulate air flow (like windows, mesh panels, or vents).

Size Consider both the overall footprint of the tent as well as the height. Larger tents allow more space to maneuver, but smaller tents may be sufficient as a kid-friendly refuge if that’s what you’re after.

Setup and portability Although most beach tents are a breeze to set up, some can be assembled quickly by one person while others take more time (and coordination) to get it right. Most also collapse into a tight package for easy portability, but if you’re facing longer walks, some models may prove easier to carry than others — just think about what’s right for you.

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