What Are Instant Tents? Pros, Cons, & How To Use Them

Sometimes you just want a leisurely camping trip with minimal headaches (who would’ve thought).

No messing around with setting up equipment and just having it all done for you.

If that sounds like you, an instant tent may be the perfect solution.

So, what are instant tents? Instant tents, also called ‘pop-up tents’, come with a closed system of poles that are already attached to your tent’s body. This allows you to set up or take down the tent in a matter of seconds with little to no hassle.

With the benefit of having quick setup poles, there must be some drawbacks.

Continue reading on where I take a deep dive into the pros and cons of instant tents, how to set them up, and more!

Instant Tents Versus Regular Tents

When it comes down to it, there aren’t too many differences between instant tents and regular tents.

After all, they both essentially serve the same purpose.

They are both built using similar tent and tent pole material, serve as a shelter, and more.

What makes them different is, well, one can be set up ‘instantly’.

Instant tents come already put together.

The poles are already attached to the tent body, and they fold in a way that allows them to stay attached even when you take down the tent.

Since you don’t have to worry about the tent poles, all you have to do is pop the tent up for it to be fully set up.

Whereas with a regular tent, you have to lay out the tent body, feed the poles through (after putting them together), then erect the tent.

It doesn’t seem like a lot of extra steps, but it’s actually much faster having the poles already fed through the tent body.

The difference in time depends on what type of tent and how quickly you can set your tent up, but instant tents usually only take about 1-5 minutes to set up.

That doesn’t seem like a lot, but after hiking throughout the day it’s nice to know that you can have your tent set up super quickly.

Another difference you’ll find with instant tents versus regular ones is weight.

Instant tents usually come with thicker poles to support the mechanism that makes them instant, meaning that they will weigh more.

While technology has improved quite a bit, you’re still likely to have a much heavier instant tent than regular tent when comparing roughly the same size.

If weight isn’t an issue, instant tents can be a serious option.

But for those who are looking to shed ounces off their back during hiking trips, a regular tent will likely be the best solution.

Pros And Cons

I’ve mentioned a little bit about what an instant tent is and how it compares to a regular tent above, but now let’s break down the pros and cons to see what situations the instant tent is best used for.

Benefits Of Instant Tents

Quick setup & take down – this one’s probably a no-brainer, but instant tents are way easier to set up than regular tents. Since the poles already come attached to the tent body, you won’t need to feed them through. They also have mechanisms that essentially allow you to pull up on the top of the tent and watch the body unfold and set up “instantly”. And taking down the tent is just the reverse. It can be a great option for those who don’t want any hassle.

All parts are attached – regular tents have the poles kept separate from the tent body. That means that the poles can get lost in storage, or you may have taken them out of your tent bag for any number of reasons. An instant tent keeps everything together to prevent these issues. You also won’t have to worry about snagging your poles while running them through the tent body.

Great for concerts or other events – sometimes it’s a little too sunny to be outside all day at a concert or other event. If that’s the case, an instant tent can provide you with the shade you need to enjoy your time. They work great at the beach too!

Inexpensive – this is really a benefit to both regular and instant tents. There are some very inexpensive instant tents (I bought my first instant tent brand new for only $17) that are great for anyone looking to just try one out. Do your research to make sure that it has everything you need in a tent, read the reviews, and purchase an awesome pop-up tent for a great price.

Downsides Of Instant Tents

Weight – if you’re looking for the absolute lightest tent out there, instant tents likely won’t be the best choice. Since they usually come with some sturdier gear and a few extra pieces, their weight tends to add up to be a little more than what the average backpacker would be looking for. Not to mention they can be much bulkier than regular tents of the same size too! As tent technology continues to improve, we may see lighter options available. But, for now, you’re better off sticking with a regular tent if you need to shave weight.

Weatherproofing might require extra steps – depending on the tent you purchase, your ‘instant’ tent might require a few extra steps if inclement weather is involved. While this is also true for regular tents, you kind of expect instant tents to be ‘instant’ right out of the box. Double-check to make sure the tent material is waterproof, and if not you may need to look into purchasing a rainfly.

Less breathable fabric – since these types of tents are meant to be set up as quickly as possible, they are often what’s known as ‘single-walled’. What this means is that there is only one layer of fabric, the tent body. Double-walled tents on the other hand have a second layer, also called the rainfly. Depending on the type of tent you purchase, it may come without a rainfly. That means that the single layer will usually pull double-duty and try to be breathable and waterproof, which often results in having a much less breathable tent with less ventilation. This makes things hotter and allows more condensation to build up. If it’s in your budget, try to opt for a double-walled instant tent.

Setting Up Your Instant Tent

Since instant tents differ from regular tents, their setup will be different.

Luckily, setting up an instant tent takes much less effort than a regular tent.

They’re usually much easier to set up with a second person, but are definitely still easy by yourself.

To set up an instant tent, you’ll likely do the following (these are general instructions. For best results, follow the instructions given to you with the tent you’ve purchased):

Unpack the bag.
Unfold the tent and lock the tent legs (keep extending the poles until you hear a click).
Use stakes to secure the tent to the ground.
Optional: attach your rainfly.

That’s pretty much it!

Taking down the tent is just following the steps in reverse order.

And keep in mind that if you’re placing your tent on a rough surface or want to prolong the life of your tent, you may want to use a tent footprint.

Pro Tip: your tent can sometimes be tricky to fold back up properly. Since there are a lot of moving parts, it can be easy to fold up the tent incorrectly. Try to remember how the tent was folded up before you unfold it! And if you’ve folded it up and it doesn’t fit in your bag, you’ll likely need to fold it up a different way.

Are Instant Tents Worth It?

Given all the information above, the last question you might have is ‘are instant tents worth it’?

Well, depending on the situation you wish to go camping in, yes.

If you plan on camping near your car or going for a short backpacking trip, an instant tent may be a great choice.

For those looking to shed some weight, a regular tent would most likely better suit you.

And keep in mind that some instant tents will need additional pieces (such as a rainfly) in order to function properly in your camping environment.

Instant tents can be a great solution for those looking to set up a tent quickly and without hassle.