Best Pop-Up Tents for the UK in 2020 (January Update)

Pop-up tents were initially designed for cars and were notorious for their rather limited space.

Modern technology and clever design have made them an excellent – if not the ideal – choice for all kinds of outdoor adventures.

Pop-up tents combine a wealth of advantages for hikers and campers, which is why they have become so popular.

• Easy to set up and store – No detached poles and stakes

• Lightweight and portable

• Much cheaper than conventional tents

• Far more versatile – They can be quickly set anywhere you want

• Provide adequate comfort and weather protection

Top 3 Best-Selling Pop-Up Tents

There are two sides to every coin of course.

All these advantages correspond to certain drawbacks, such as limited headroom and reduced features, and, in some cases, a certain difficulty in taking them down, but all of these can be easily tackled by picking the right model from a reliable manufacturer.

Below you will find the best and more cleverly designed pop-up tents for 2019 in the UK.

We have picked models of various sizes and features, having construction quality, versatility, ease of use and storage as our main criteria, without ignoring the price and overall weight.

Coleman Instant Tourer 4

Accommodating four people, Coleman’s Instant Tourer pop-up tent features sturdy steel poles and a spider-shaped structure, allowing for a swift and effortless pitch that takes less than 60 seconds.

Size & Headroom

Instant Tourer is designed to accommodate four average built persons, which practically means it will be very comfortable for three. It has a headroom of 160 cm – more than most pop-up tents of this size, making crawling around very easy, or even standing for women, children, and men of small stature.

For ventilation, you have a small opening at the top and double-layered windows. Decent ventilation ensures a better sleep, as well as less violent sways in case of rapid winds.

Setup & Teardown

Designed to be pitched in just one minute, Instant Tourer’s secret lies in an innovative set of steel poles that are pre-attached to the tent, giving it a spider-like structure. You just unfold the tent and lift up the side poles.

The set-up is so fast and effortless, that makes this model ideal for multi-stop trips or ventures in areas where the weather changes rapidly.

Teardown, as with all pop-ups, is not as swift and easy, but we are always in a hurry to set up the tent, not repack it. After a couple of teardowns, you will get the hang of it.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

Instant Tourer features fire retardant materials, primarily polyester fabric, famed for its light weight and durability. Polyester fabrics come in varying grades of weatherproofing; Instant Tourer’s has good weatherproof specs, with an extra polyurethane coating that makes it heat resistant and increases durability, as well as prevents water from slipping inside during heavy rainfall. It boasts a 3000-mm water column, which means it can hold a 3-metre column of water on its surface without leaking.

With all seams taped (groundsheet seams are also inverted to keep water out) and a high-end waterproof groundsheet, Instant Tourer affords more than adequate protection against rainy weather. You should expect some leaks, though, under constant heavy rainfall.

Note that its fabric also provides protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, with a certified 50 SPF.

The steel used for the frame and poles is by far the strongest possible material for this type of tents – a bit heavier though than aluminium and fibreglass.

Slumit GOBI 3 Instant Tent

Accommodating two to three people, Slumit Gobit 3’s claim as an ‘instant tent’ hasn’t proved an idle one.

Size & Headroom

Slumit Gobi 3 is designed for three people of average height. As with our previous pick (and the ones that follow), this means that it will prove comfortable for two. Its height is no more than 125 cm, so you will mostly move around by crawling. If seated, you have enough headroom to do stuff (like reading or eating).

Three covered openings, two on the sides and one on the top, combined with the entrance, afford excellent ventilation and zero insects.

Setup & Teardown

Slumit Gobi 3 is described as ‘the perfect easy pitch camping solution’ – and that turns out to be an accurate description.

Featuring an upgraded design since its initial launch in 2008, the new patented frame integrates an innovative exoskeleton pull-up system that allows the user to simultaneously pitch both the inner and outer layers within seconds. You just have to thread and clip one fibre pole, and its ingenious system does the rest. This is a great advantage for hikers and campers exploring areas where the weather is unpredictable. Since you have no threading poles and separate pitching of the inner and outer layers, you save precious time and get sheltered in a flash – a minute or so.

The same system allows for an easy teardown. When packed, it is rather manageable, relatively lightweight (around five kilos) and easy to carry around, measuring around 78 x 18 x 18 cm.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

Slumit Gobi 3 features a set of 8.5-mm thick fibreglass poles. Fibreglass is certainly not as tough as steel, but it is indeed very sturdy and, most of all, lightweight.

The outer rainfly is made of a particular type of weatherproof polyester (namely 190T), rated to a 4,000-mm hydrostatic head (or water column), which means it can withstand a 4-metre high water column without leaking.

The inner tent is made from another type of polyester, far more breathable, for less condensation and better air circulation inside the tent. It is also equipped with a fine bug mesh door, also designed to avert condensation issues.

The groundsheet is made of PE fabric, ensuring proper insulation even on wet ground. All seams are taped.

Note that the Slumit Gobi 3 Instant Tent comes with a 1-year warranty, plus a 3-year limited warranty extension on the flashframe system.

Vango Lightweight Hydra 300

We move to a different yet equally efficient subtype of pop-up tents.

The semi-geodesic Vango Lightweight Hydra 300 is described as perfect for camping ‘on terrain where you are not guaranteed an ideal pitching spot.’

Let’s see if that’s true.

Size & Headroom

A mere glance and you will instantly see that this tent was not designed for socialising. Its maximum height barely peaks at 120 cm. Note that the tent’s headroom steadily decreases until it stands 112 cm from the groundsheet.

Still, that’ hardly a flaw. Semi-geodesic tents are designed this way to minimise height and stand firm against harsh winds and stormy weather.

Featuring a large, O-shaped inner door that can be easily handled with a single hand, Hydra 300 accommodates three averagely-sized persons. The flysheet door can be easily opened from either side or even completely rolled away.

Because of its rather large entrance and rear opening, there is no need for side windows, but proper ventilation is enhanced by a small covered opening at the top. The entrance opening is semi-covered by a flysheet, with the shaded space covered underneath with a groundsheet extension. This easily removable porch groundsheet affords a dry storage space for your footwear and gear while sleeping.

Setup & Teardown

When packed, the tent turns into a 49×19-cm pack that is easy to store away and carry around. As soon as you unpack, its cleverly designed self-supporting structure will be up and ready in a flash. What stands out is its well-studied balance between weight and stability.

The moment you are ready to go the tent will be quickly torn down and swiftly packed in its bag, which can be further tightened with compression straps.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

Let’s start with the poles. Hydra 300 stands on Vango’s PowerLite 7001-T6 alloy poles, well known for their light weight and amazing durability – simply ideal for long-distance hiking.

Now the flysheet is made of ProTex 70D hexagonal polyester, a quality used exclusively by Vango and famed for its breathability for minimal condensation, as well as excellent waterproofness. It boasts a 5,000-mm hydrostatic head (water column), capable of withstanding 5 metres of water without leaking.

The groundsheet is made from the same material but with an even greater water column (6,000 mm), ensuring a dry sleep no matter the weather and the humidity of the ground.

Coleman Cobra Unisex Backpacking Tent

Featuring a strong and stable wedged tunnel design, Coleman’s Cobra backpacking tent is lightweight, comes in a compact pack size that will fit neatly in your backpack and will stand up in a no more than a few seconds.

Size & Headroom

With a headroom of merely 105 cm, Coleman’s Cobra will keep you and your pair of companions warm and comfortable during your sleep and night chatting.

Its low-profile design is intended to keep the tent firmly attached to the ground even against the strongest winds, and you as less bothered as possible. The wedged tunnel design serves the same purpose.

Entrance is allowed from one of the long sides and, combined with a small opening shaded opening at the top, it affords excellent ventilation. The entrance is cleverly covered at the front with a flysheet, protecting you and your gear from strong winds and rain, while keeping them close at hand.

Setup & Teardown

Designed to be set up in a couple of minutes, Coleman’s Cobra allows you to pitch it quickly even at the roughest terrain. Teardown takes a bit more but, usually, it is the pitching that must be done in a haste.

When packed, the tent measures to a small package of roughly 49 x 21 x 20 cm. Combined with a weight of less than three kg, it will be hardly noticeable in your backpack.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

The poles this time are made from 7001-T6 aluminium, which is less tough than steel but still very durable and much lighter, making it ideal for long-distance travelling in regions with relatively mild weather. This does not mean of course that it will betray you in rougher weather; its light structure is supported by its low, aerodynamic profile. In fact, it boasts excellent stability in high winds.

As it comes to protection from the rain, the flysheet is made from durable and highly breathable polyester, with taped seams and a dedicated PU coating. The water column is neither very high nor inadequate, is rated at 3,000 mm, but you get an extra inner tent fabric and a polyester-made groundsheet of 5,000 mm. No doubt Cobra offers much better protection against the wind than rain, but rest assured you’ll enjoy a dry sleep under normal rain conditions.

FUSIONLC Automatic 4-Person Pop-up Tent

Perfect for a small family. Set up very quickly and offering excellent protection from the wind and rain, it is surprisingly light for its overall size.

Size & Headroom

Designed mainly for small families and groups of friends, FusionLC easily accommodates four averagely built persons, with a headroom of 1,30 metres – much more than most pop-up tents.

In tents designed for so many people, proper ventilation is of the essence. FusionLC has two large oval entrances and four double-layered windows. There is no opening at the top, but with so many side openings you won’t really need it. All double layers come with zippered nylon at the outside and zippered mesh inside, affording excellent privacy and fresh air on demand.

You also get a dedicated space for your gear and numerous mesh storage pockets, allowing you to keep your things separated and the interior tidy and clean at all times.

Setup & Teardown

The manufacturer promises a full set-up within a couple of seconds. Well, that’s an exaggeration – you will need a bit more, but surely you will get it up and ready in a minute or so – still very fast for a tent of this size. Combined with its excellent windproof and waterproof performance, it is ideal for all sorts of outdoor ventures, including camping, hiking and road trips.

The teardown is equally fast; we tore it down faster than we set it up, which is interesting because it usually goes the other way around. It is also designed to pack up flat for easier storage and carrying around. It comes with its own carrying bag and weighs under 5 kg.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

FusionLC used for this model material that would render it not just waterproof and windproof qualities, but also high breathability and durability.

The PU-coated 190T polyester fabric boasts a water column of 4,000 mm, capable of taking 4 meters of water without leaking or tearing apart. Moisture or condensation won’t be an issue too. Seams and zippers are sturdy and durable, while the poles are made from solid fibreglass, which explains why a tent of such dimensions and durability weighs less than 5 kg. The groundsheet is also made of high-quality waterproof PE, and tent pegs from galvanised iron to prevent rusting.

Khyam Highlander

Combining an impressive rain resistance, a clever wind responsive design and Khyam’s famed Quick Erect System, Highlander will do more than just cater to the needs of three campers.

Size & Headroom

It takes more to explain this tent’s diverse side dimensions than to set it up: the back starts with a 195cm width that gradually gets to 180 cm before reaching the trapezoid entrance groundsheet. Lengthwise, the covered area from back to front reaches 315 cm, but the groundsheet is actually 20 cm shorter – still ample space for three averagely built persons.

The headroom is also great. Despite the fact that you obviously have to crawl to enter the tent, once inside you can actually stand with a bit of hunching, making several tent chores, like changing clothes or eating much easier. The numerous interior pockets are also very handy, helping users keep their personal items separated and the groundsheet free of things.

As to ventilation, aside from the big entrance, Highlander comes with a full-length side window with a curtain protecting your privacy, as well as the standard fully covered top opening.

The side and top of the ‘porch’ are covered with transparent waterproof fabric allowing a panoramic view of the surrounding area, which can prove very handy in areas where safety or local wildlife maybe an issue. The front porch allows you to keep your equipment and shoes clean and properly covered. The waterproof groundsheet (already sewn-in) affords extra protection against annoying tiny insects.

Setup & Teardown

Khyam is famous for its patented Rapidex Quick Erect System. Pitching the Highlander is a matter of 30 seconds, even if you are a relatively inexperienced camper. The poles are already sewn into the flysheet, and all you have to do is just erect them and click them into place.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

We mentioned already that Highlander comes with a rather impressive Hydrostatic Head of 5,000 mm, assuring you that heavy rain will not be a problem. Its water- and windproof polyester flysheet is also flame retardant, minimising the risk of a fire accident. All seams are taped, while the poles are made from solid fibreglass. The auto joints feature a durable and highly reliable nylon fabric.

Bear in mind that Khyam has also made available an extra SPS groundsheet as additional protection to rather humid or dump terrain. You will have to buy that separately though.

Outwell Roswell 6A Family Tent

Plenty of space, excellent stability and fast setup placed Outwell’s Roswell 6A Family Tent at the end of our best 2019 pop-up tents.

Size & Headroom

We have one problem with Outwell’s Roswell 6A Family Tent, and, unfortunately, we have to state it right from the beginning; while claiming to be a 6-person tent, at least two of them will actually have to be toddlers for a good night’s sleep. Six adults can still make it, but it will be a bit poky. Of course, another option would be to use the living area as an extra bedroom – it will easily accommodate two adults during the night.

Aside from that, everything else about this tent is great. Roughly divided into three areas, it offers plenty of space for all to store their gear and personal items, with several organiser pockets. The lamp holder and light cable tidies are nice additions too.

The tent is well-ventilated with its mesh front and side doors, tinted windows (equipped with toggle-up curtains), and rear ventilation system. With a headroom of 210 – 250 cm, you will be able to move around freely inside the tent, especially in the designated ‘living-room’ section. Equally handy is the large canopy towering over the entrance and offering extra protection, shade and room on rainy days.

Setup & Teardown

Compared with the other picks of our list, Roswell takes more time to set up – around five to ten minutes, depending on your experience – but do remember that we are talking about a tent of considerably bigger size than anything we mentioned so far.

Its sturdy inflatable struts are easily and quickly inflated with the handy air pump included in the package. This innovative air system creates a rather stable tunnel-shaped construction that’s easily inflated. The only thing you have to do next is pitch it to the ground with its colour coded pegs.

When packed, the tent turns into a 44 X 83 cm package weighing around 30 kg. That means that the best way to carry it around is by car. The tent comes complete with its own well-made carrying bag.

Materials, Durability & Weather Protection

With a tent of this size the poles are rightly made of steel, affording extra stability and durability to the whole structure.

The flysheet is made from prime quality breathable polyester with a hydrostatic head of 4,000 mm. All inner tent seams are taped, while the 19-mm thick polyethene groundsheet features an amazing 10,000mm hydrostatic head, keeping you protected from water, moisture and maddening insects.

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Last Updated on January 8, 2020