What an Instant Tent Is & How to Benefit From Them

Instant tents are highly popular within the camping world, and there’s no second guessing as to why either.

You and I know the main pro, which is that they’re fast and easy to set up.

In this article I’m going to give you MY definition of an instant tent and what they are best used for.

What Is an Instant Tent?

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An Instant Tent has pre-attached poles to the body.

Because of this, they can be pitched in 60 seconds or less.

Most of the time you don’t even need to read the instructions. Yes, they are really that easy to set up.

It’s just a matter of unfolding the tent, extending the poles and locking it all into place.

It really is a 1 minute setup!

But of course there has to be SOME negatives to this massive pro, and indeed there is.

As with all tents, they have their pros and cons, but more on that in a second.

Types of Instant Tents

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Instant Cabin Tents

Cabin tents are square or rectangular-shaped.

The walls are upright to provide as much room inside the tent as possible and usually big enough to house 6-12 people.

Most of the time the ceilings are high enough for people to stand up and walk around in without grazing their head on the roof.

The roof is usually mesh material, so stargazing is completely viable with these tents.

Even though cabin-shaped tents take a pounding from the wind, they are so big and strong that the wind doesn’t really do anything to them.

However, there’s still a low chance for the wind to blow the tent over and break one of the poles, so don’t completely rule that out yet.

Pros

• Setup and take down is fast and easy
• Only requires one person to pitch
• No instructions needed (most of the time)
• Poles are stronger than shockcorded fiberglass poles
• Can handle strong gusts of wind really well

Cons

• Heavy weight
• Harder to fix if broken
• Hinges have known to break
• Needs to be pitched when drying off

Instant Dome Tents

Instant dome tents are the smaller version.

Because the types of poles used are heavier than shockcorded poles, these tents are sometimes heavier than other tents with the same size rating.

To get this tent pitched, just unroll it, unfold the corners, lift the center, then push the switch down.

Even though you can not backpack with cabin tents, you can with instant dome tents.

That’s because they are smaller and more compact.

Pros

• 1 minute setup time
• Lighter than instant cabin tents
• Everything is attached so you won’t lose parts
• No instructions needed
• Does really well in the wind
• Requires one person to pitch

Cons

• Can’t split the weight up when backpacking
• Needs to be pitched when drying

Are Instant Tents Really For You?

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Every outdoor adventure is different, so what type of tent you need all depends on the type of trip you’re having.

For example, a 4-person tent is not needed if you’re going on a solo, ultralight backpacking trip into the wilderness, because there are lighter alternatives.

And a 2-person tent might be too squishy for you if you’re car camping with your partner.

This means you should get a bigger tent since the size won’t be an issue.

So now you know what I mean by every trip is different for everyone, let’s discuss exactly what instant tents are best used for.

What Instant CABIN Tents are Best Used For

Because instant cabin tents are so large, they are best used for family campers – both medium-sized and large, and of course a group of friends.

But if you enjoy your space while out in the woods, there’s no reason why a couple can’t enjoy the benefits of a big cabin tent either.

In my opinion, they are best used for:

• Public campgrounds
• Private campgrounds
• Wilderness camping
• Backyard events
• Backyard camping
• Family events
• Anything similar

What Instant DOME Tents are Best Used For

Instant dome tents still have their place in the camping world even though they are built differently than traditional tents.

They may not be AS big, but a group of friends or a couple can still enjoy the benefits that they offer.

Here’s what they are good for:

• Public campgrounds
• Private campgrounds
• Wilderness camping
• Wilderness backpacking
• Overnight hiking
• Backyard camping
• Family events
• Festivals

Conclusion

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Instant tents – you either love ’em or hate ’em, there is no in between.

Lots of people find them extremely useful and lots of people dislike them.

It’s up to you to decide whether you like them or not, so I hope I’ve provided enough information.

Although it might be easier if you just get one for yourself, so you KNOW what they’re really like.

The CORE 6 has been a great seller for a number of years now. It has great ventilation, is so simple to use and does very well in the rain and wind.

Thanks for reading.

Please share this post with your friends and family. I’m sure they’ll find this article just as helpful as you did 😀

Interested to know more? Talk to me in the comments below! I’ll be happy to answer all questions and concerns you may have.

Cheers.

 

-Brandon

Camping Mastery