Camping in nature is a mesmerizing experience.
There is something about the outdoors that makes you feel alive. Trekking to your favorite spot is easy.
But setting up the tent is a bit tricky. A standard tent has a pole in the center that holds it up. It also has a guy that ties the tent down.
Carrying all of this equipment to the campsite can become quite troublesome. It takes a lot of time to set up a dome or geodesic.
To save a camper’s time, manufacturers came up with a brand new type of tent. This tent is known as the Pop up Tent or an Instant Tent.
You can set up the Pop up tent in less than ten seconds. And the best part is it has no additional gears like a pole or a guy.
These tents are easy to carry and can be set up in a blink of an eye. It also comes with a rainfly and tent stakes. Initially, pop up tents were only big enough to fit two people.
But now you can buy tents that can fit up to five people. The robust design makes it a popular choice amongst campers.
Pop up tents provide excellent ventilation and are comparatively inexpensive. Most tents are not easy on the pockets.
They are hard to carry and even harder to set up. But not the pop up tent. This tent takes a maximum of ten seconds to set up and 1.5 minutes to take down a pop up tent. You can set up some tents in two seconds.
You heard that right! One of the best things about pop up tents is how easy it is to pack them up in a bag!
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Setting Up Pop Up Tent
Pop up tents come in a dome shape. They are ideal for beginners.
All you have to do is pull a string, and your tent is ready. Just like that! You can also open up some Instant tents like an umbrella. These tents are designed to open up with just a pull.
Pop up tents come with a spring that is attached to a spring. When you pull on the string, it triggers the spring, and it uncoils. This mechanism causes the tent to pop up, giving you a well-set-up tent instantly. It cannot get easier than this.
Pop up tents have made camping extremely convenient. Setting up a tent has now become a pleasant, hassle-free experience. It is also less hazardous.
Setting up standard tents can be a bit dangerous for kids. With the pop up tent, that experience has now become much safer. You can easily involve children in the whole experience of setting up a tent.
It is the best way to get them started. Children can tug on the string and watch an entire tent unfold right in front of them!
Pop up tents are ideal for warm sunny weather. You no longer have to sweat the complicated stuff. Pull out your tent and pull it open.
You can get your tent ready in just two simple steps. You can attach the rain fly and tent skates easily. This addition gives you an even better, fully functional pop up tent! You can set up some pop up tents by unzipping the bag.
These tents are specially made to pop up by a simple movement of unzipping. As you slide the zip open, the instant tent pops right out. It is magical.
For years campers have been craving for an easy to set up tent, and now they have it! Pop up tents are a blessing for first-time campers. They also work well for people who consider convenience as luxury.
Pop Up Tent: Pros
Lightweight
Pop up tents are lightweight. It enables you to carry it without putting additional strain on your back. Since pop up tents do not require additional equipment, they weigh relatively lighter.
Traditional tents include a rope, a guy, and other auxiliary equipment. To set up a standard tent, you have to carry all the extra gear that goes with it. When you pack all these things in your backpack, it becomes heavy!
Climbing up and down with a heavy backpack filled with your tent can be tiring. Its weight is one of its most significant advantages.
Easy To Set Up/Take Down
Another significant quality of the pop up tent is how easy it is to set up. It takes between 2-10 seconds to set up.
Just with a simple pull, you can set up the entire tent. Taking it down is also very simple. It will take you less than 2 minutes to take it down. Convenience is a crucial quality of the pop up tent.
This is precisely why pop up tents are also called Instant tents. You can set it up instantly. It is quicker than making a cup of instant noodles!
Inexpensive
Pop up tents are way cheaper than standard tents. They are affordable and easy to maintain. Their compact size and robust design make the price seem like nothing.
You can buy some pop up tents for $100. These might be smaller and more compact than others. The prices on some bigger pop tents are considered a steal.
Perfect For Beginners
If you are a beginner in the camping world, then pop up tents are perfect for you. Just the thought of living in the jungle can be scary enough for a beginner.
Instead of adding additional strain on yourself, you can go ahead and buy a pop up tent. It is convenient, and you don’t have to worry about setting it right.
You just cannot go wrong with a pop up tent. The instant setup mechanism is guaranteed to give you a great camping experience.
Pop Up Tent: Cons
Not Ideal For Harsh Weather
Pop up tents are not ideal for harsh weather. Since they are lightweight, they can be easily blown away by a strong wind.
They are not sturdy enough to survive a rainstorm or a snowstorm. Some options include a guy line and a rainfly. But this makes it no different than any other tent.
If you have to use traditional methods to set up a tent, buy a dome tent or geodesic tent. Pop up tents will not protect you from the harsh elements of nature.
No Weatherproofing
Some pop up tents do not have weatherproofing. They are not well insulated and cannot save you from the rain.
They are not equipped to handle stormy weather. Pop up tents are meant to be used as a light shelter. It means you can only take it out in warm weather.
A strong wind storm will topple your pop up tent. It is not advisable to take it out for anything more than a day trip.
Limited Usage
Unlike a geodesic tent, you cannot use a pop up tent for every camping trip. If you are going for a one-day hike, this tent is ideal for you.
It is not feasible to take it out for more than a night in the wild. Apart from this, the only place you can use it is in your backyard.
Hard to Fix
Tents sometimes collapse due to harsh winds. Even tents tied down with a rope and pole tend to topple.
You can quickly fix up this tent. But if a pop up tent breaks down, it is extremely hard to fix. The complex suspensions of the tent make it impossible to fix.
This means if your instant tent breaks down, there is no way to fix it. You will have to cut your trip short and find shelter someplace else.
How to Choose A Pop Up Tent
Pop up tents come in many different shapes and sizes.
With such a wide array of options, it can become hard to choose the right one. When looking for the right pop up tent, you need to ask yourself these questions.
What is the weather going to be like? If there is even the slightest chance of rain or snow, then a pop up tent is not a good idea.
These tents are flimsy. They are not made to sustain bad weather. Only buy a pop up tent if you plan to go camping in sunny weather.
Another critical question you should ask yourself is – how many people will fit in a tent? Choose a tent that fits up to three people. Anything smaller will cramp up your space.
The pop up tent must have smooth gliding rods and be convenient to pack. It should provide good ventilation and should have enough internal storage. If a tent checks all these boxes, it is a perfect choice.
Conclusion
Pop up tents are easy to set up. But they are not strong enough to protect you from harsh weather.
If you choose to buy a pop up tent, make sure only to use it in good weather. Apart from this, it is an excellent choice for a camping trip.
The easy to set up mechanism makes it an ideal choice for a light trek. Make sure to choose one that fits your needs. And most importantly, have a blast camping out in your pop up tent!
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