Purpose Of Screen Tents
Screen tents can be set up in your backyard or in a camping site. A screen tent gives you the best place to have fun and hang out with friends and family. Screen tents can give you instant protection outside the comfort of your home.
Source: flickr.com
Selecting the best screen tent requires you to choose between an instant setup and a non-instant setup version. From there, decide on a size big enough to accommodate your family comfortably and the shape that will work the best. Consider how portable you need your screen tent to be. The environment you’ll be in is important when you’re looking at materials. And don’t forget to compare prices.
Before we look at some of the best screen tents available as options currently, let’s discuss the tent item below and how you can decide what’s ideal for your family.
Instant Vs. Non-Instant Screen Tents
Choosing between the instant and non-instant screen tents is just about how much work you want to do to get the tent set up. It’s much like your sleeping tents. Some of those are also considered to be instant.
Instant simply means that the frame, which holds up the tent and gives it its shape, is attached to the tent already. Essentially, you’ll be able to pop your tent up, secure it, and you’re good to go.
A non-instant type requires that you build the frame and attach the poles manually to the tent material. It’s not a lot of work, but more than an instant screen tent will take.
Best Screen Tents
Size
It might be easy for you to say, “I’ll just go with the biggest tent I can find!” Sounds great, right? Not necessarily.
You want a screen tent that’s large enough to comfortably accommodate your family both for sitting space and head room. However, you also want a tent that’s easy to transport for camping and easy to store at your home. The bigger you go with screen tents, the heavier and bulkier they get.
You can start with looking at the standard size, which is 10’ by 10’. That size is large enough to cover an average sized picnic table for six people. From there, you can decide to go bigger or smaller. If there are very tall people who will be using the tent, make sure to look for one that can adjust to a taller height.
Along with the size, you should look for the shape that will benefit you the most. They come in more shapes than you would think. You can get a square, rectangle, hexagon, round, or dome shape. Assess the way you’re going to use the tent to help decide which shape will work best for your needs.
Tent Portability
The portability of the screen tent is highly important for those who will be using them on camping trips and different adventures. There are a few factors to consider here.
Weight
Look at how heavy the screen tent is. If you’re going to be trekking all over trying to take it with you, you need to be looking for screen tents made of lightweight materials.
Packaging
The way screen tents are packaged can make a huge difference in how portable they are. You want something that folds up to a good manageable size for toting around. If it’s too big and bulky, it can be very awkward to carry.
Tote features
Look for some kind of feature that makes the tent easier to carry when it’s all packaged up. Some are stored in bags with wheels and handles. Others have handles for carrying them. Still others have straps that allow you to wear the bag like a backpack or across your body.
Top Screen Tent Options On Amazon
Coleman Instant Screen House
Coleman is one of the most familiar names in the industry when it comes to anything having to do with camping and the outdoors and screen tents or screen houses. It is high quality, but for an affordable price. The poles are made of steel. The screen tent top is made of UVGuard material that gives you UPF 50+ protection from the sun’s rays. The guy lines are pre-attached so you can just stake your tent down without any hassle. It raises to 7 feet at the center and is 15 by 13 feet on the ground.
Pros:
- Best screen tent yet very affordable
- Durable steel tent poles
- Super-fast setup
- Screen tent loops to hang lighting inside make it great for nighttime
- Performs well for keeping bugs out
Cons:
- A little cramped over a picnic table
- Confusing on which way to lay the screen tent before setup
- Stakes aren’t very hefty
Core Cabin Screen Tent
This one is a little different in that it’s an actual sleeping screen tent, but with a screen room built onto it. There is room inside for three queen sized air mattresses. The front room of the screen tent is a great place to eat snacks or relax and read a book without being bothered by the bugs. It comes with a rain fly and a convenient carry bag. There is an electrical access port on the side of it. The screen tent room is very versatile. You can zip up the side panels on it at night so someone can sleep in there. The material is water-resistant, as well.
Pros:
- Best screen tent due to its large capacity
- The room allows for better air circulation in the screen tent
- Easy setup screen tent
- Carry bag is large enough to make it easy to repack
- High ceiling with well-thought gear loft
Cons:
- Heavy
- A second entrance is needed so not coming through mesh room if someone is sleeping there
- Screen tent may be too large for some campsites
Alvantor Screenhouse Tent
You can get one of these Alvantor gazebos in sizes to accommodate 4 to 15 people. The larger you go, the more it will cost. The design of these is round and dome-like. You can set them up in just minutes with their instant pop-up design. They’re made of lightweight materials that are easy to carry. However, they shouldn’t be used in high-wind environments. These can be used in your backyard or packed up and taken on your camping trips with you. The poles are made of fiberglass so they’re sturdy but lightweight.
Pros:
- Best screen tent with a roomy design
- Very easy to set up
- Performs well against bugs
- Holds up well in moderate winds
- Very portable
Cons:
- Stakes are not heavy duty
- Water collects on top of tent
- Tough to repack
Coleman Dome Tent
This is another tent with a versatile mesh room on the front. You can opt for a 6- or 8-person tent. The tent comes with a rainfly and has features that make it more weatherproof. There are welded corners, as well as inverted seams to help keep the water out. The poles of this tent were designed to handle wind and weather well. The tent is lightweight and easy to transport in the carrying bag.
Pros:
- Quick setup screen tent
- Front mesh room keeps dirt and debris from getting into main tent area
- Very affordable yet one of the most reliable
- Good ventilation
- Performs well in rain to keep inside dry
Cons:
- Screened porch gets wet in rain
- Back panel is all mesh with no option for privacy
- A little tough to repack
Best Screen Tent Insights
Screen tents are not necessary items but can be very useful both at home and out camping. Putting a tent over a picnic table allows you and your family to eat meals without being harassed by pesky bugs. Most of them come in easy-to-carry bags so you can take them wherever you need to. You’ll want to look for the right size and shape for your needs. You’ll also want to decide on how much work you want to do to set it up or take it down. Consider the materials and the durability and match those to your environment. And always stick to a pre-set budget so you can feel good about your purchase.
Best Screen Tent: FAQs
What’s The Best Tent?
In general, the Coleman Screened Canopy with Instant Setup is at top.
What’s The Best Camping Screen Tent?
One of the best tent for camping is the CLAM Quick-Set Escape.
What’s The Best Brand Of Pop-up Canopy?
The best overall pop-up canopy is the ABCCANOPY Pop up Canopy Tent.
What’s A Good Screen House For A Camping Shelter?
The Eurmax Premium Screen House 10×10 Pop Up is very easy to set up, highly durable, and has a high level of wind resistance.
What’s A Screen Tent?
A screen tent provides protection against insects and sun rays when you’re eating outside or just hanging out. They don’t have floors and usually have a zippered door with a water-resistant top.
Are Coleman Canopies Waterproof?
Some of them are, while others are only water-resistant, and some are meant only for providing shade.
How Do You Make A Small Pop-up Tent?
You can make a small pop-up tent with some spring steel wire, thin steel plates, waterproof UV-resistant canvas, pliers, scissors, a sheet, small magnets, and a sewing machine.
What’s A Canopy Tent?
This type of tent has a fabric top that is attached to tent poles. The tent provides a sheltered area from the sun and rain, in some cases.
What’s the Best Waterproof Canopy?
The Eurmax 10×10 Ez Pop Up Canopy is a good waterproof canopy.
What’s the easiest screen tent to set up?
What is the best screened in canopy?
Are screen tents waterproof?
Do you need a screen tent for camping?
What color canopy keeps you the coolest?
What to avoid in tents?
Last Updated on April 14, 2023 by Bernadine Racoma
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