Beach Tent – Choose The Right One

It is time to think of summer holidays. Buckets, spades, ice cream and beach tents. Remember back to the days of dad struggling with an array of poles and a strip of striped awning? Beach tents have come a long way since then. Whether you are looking for a place to stay cool or looking for sun protection, there is a beach tent that can work for you.

Click Here To See The Top Rated Beach Tents

From the most basic windbreaker to super deluxe models, there is a bewildering array of styles, colors and prices.

Types of Beach Tents

Pop-up beach tents in carry bags are a popular and inexpensive option. They range in price from $15 to $70. They can accommodate a single person up to a family, though it is a bit of a squeeze for the latter! Sun factor 50 beach tents with vents for coolness and groundsheets are top of the range. They are relatively simple to assemble and lightweight to carry.

Slightly larger, but still with carry bags come the dome shaped tents with extra flaps at the side and built in flooring.  These are larger and can accommodate a family with a couple of small children.  They still are easy to assemble and retail at around $60.

An alternative to the tent is the sun shelter, a bit like the marquees you get at weddings. These have a roof and a windbreaker at the side. Not great in high winds and rather flimsy given that they cost about $70 so beware of these. There is no point in seeing your investment disappearing down the beach!

If you still fancy the old windbreaker style  tent you can pay up to $90 for a top of the range hardwood pole and UV treated fabric one, but you’ll need help putting it up.

Finally, super deluxe beach tents come as gazebo style with four walls you can roll up and of such sturdy design you can sleep in it at night. You will need about $130 for this ultra cool luxury item.

What To Consider

  • How often used – how often do you go to the beach and will you have someone to help you put up the tent?
  • Cost- Pop up beach tents, easy to assemble, lightweight but not terribly roomy. They are however the cheapest option.
  • Health – given the concerns about skin cancer it is worth thinking about a tent with UV protection, however, this does not take the place of sunscreen creams.
  • Size of family – if you want room for the whole family then it will cost more money and need two of you to put up the tent.
  • Ease of use- if possible, practice assembling and disassembling the tent in the shop. Also make sure you can get it back into its carry bag easily.
  • Looks – what does it look like?  Some beach tents are positively dull, hardly eye catching or cheerful. If you are going to be on a crowded beach you want a tent you can spot easily, one that the children can find as they come out of the water.

Top Recommended Beach Tents

To help you decide, here are the top three recommendations in different price categories.

Genji Sports Pop Up Outdoor Family Tent

The Genji Sports Pop Up Outdoor Family Tent is a great pop up tent for the summer months. It shields from chilly winds but isn’t great for shielding from the sun, the sun shines straight through the opening so far from ideal for keeping the sun off babies and small children. It is a cheerful color so stands out on the beach. It is easy to open but there is a knack to folding it down and getting it back into the bag. It is a good idea to practice this at home first.

One Touch Push Up Beach Shelter

The One Touch Push Up Beach Shelter is big enough for the whole family. It is deceptively small when packed up but has good height when put up. It has UV protection and is a bright blue with yellow trim. However It is light to carry and the bag has proper handles and a zip to keep the tent secure. It is possible for one person to put this tent up but easier with two.  This is a good all rounder.

Coleman Road Trip Beach Tent

The Coleman Road Trip Beach Tent is a top of the range beach tent. This tent is the highest rated beach tent and is easy to setup.  It offers two zippered doors to allow for privacy and an easy change room.The tent has mesh sides so you get air in but no nasty bugs can get through. It comes with a carry bag and is relatively light to carry. The best feature is the flexibility of this tent. The added UV protection of the tent ensures that you won’t have any sun burns while you are inside of the tent. This is a great option for people who are looking for excellent value for their tent.

Texsport Calypso Cabana Beach Shelter

The Texsport Calypso Cabana Beach Shelter is a cabana style of tent is a low cost beach tent option that is great for the summer holidays. It is a 3 sided beach cabana that can keep you protected during the warm summer months. The three pole pin and ring system allows for easy setup of the tent. This is a great option for people who are looking for a cabana style tent to keep their family protected from the sun during the warm summer months.

Final Thoughts

The day of the windbreaker is over. Look for easy to assemble tents but try them out at home first. Somewhere out there is a tent that is perfect for you and your family. Choose one that suits your needs and meets your budget. Enjoy the sunshine.

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Baby Beach Tents

It is coming up to summer and the holidays on the beach are fast becoming a reality.  If you are the mother of small children you know what a mixed blessing that can be.  On the one hand you want your baby or small child to enjoy the beach but on the other it seems a place fraught with danger. One way to keep your baby safe is to consider buying a baby beach tent for the summer.

Click Here To See Baby Beach Tents

Types of tent

Baby beach tents are different from those used by adults as they focus more on keeping baby safe from the sun and sand. Exposure to the sun is dangerous for delicate skins but babies can be notoriously difficult to keep hats on and they wriggle strenuously away from attempts to apply sun cream.  Add to that the need to be able to allow baby to sleep at some point during the day and a baby beach tent comes into its own.

From a practical point of view, the majority of beach tents aimed at babies have UV filtered and treated fabrics to protect against the sun.  They are usually in bright primary colours or cute pastels, often with cartoon characters on them clearly identifying the nature of their occupants.

They tend to be smaller than family beach tents, include netting to keep out bugs and zip closure to ensure that baby cannot decide to crawl away down the beach.

Choosing a baby beach tent

A priority must be that the tent is sturdy enough for baby to be safe inside but easy to assemble.  Any mother knows just how much stuff you need to take with you to meet a baby’s needs.  The beach tent needs to be lightweight, easy to put up and down and easy to carry.  The best types are those with their own carry case with handles you can sling over your shoulder leaving your hands free to concentrate on baby. UV protection is a must. Parents need to keep their children safe from the sun.

After that the issues are those of cost and taste. It is even more important when buying products for small children that you research what is available. Read reviews, ask friends. A good retailer will allow you to take the baby beach tent out of its bag and have a go at putting it up and down.  You need a floor covering on your baby beach tent. Children will eat sand if it is there! A certain amount of ventilation is also important as a baby can overheat very quickly, so look for a baby beach tent with vents. It is a false economy to skimp on cost if the product is inadequate and your baby is not comfortable in it.

The designs of baby beach tents vary from cute to bright and cheerful. Which design you choose is very much a matter of personal taste but gender neutral designs will make your tent more useful for a range of children.

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