The Best Beach Tents

The 5 Best Beach Tents

What else do I need to bring to the beach along with my tent?

Here are a few extra things may help in making your tent set up and tenting experience a little better:

• Tarp
  Whether your tent has a bottom section or not, a strong tarp can provide extra protection from the sand or any debris that may be poking up from it. If your tent does have a bottom, it can protect from getting dirty or getting ripped. Any tarp you buy should be smaller than the floor size of your tent though, so you have room to stake it down.
  
  
• Mallet
  If you’re using stakes instead of sandbags, it is important to have a mallet or hammer to hit your stakes into the ground with. You can also use a rock if you don’t have a mallet handy, though it’s obviously a bit more difficult.

How do I maintain my tent?

There are a few steps you can take to make sure your tent has longevity:

• Clean and dry it before packing it away

If you’re beach tent has been in the rain, is covered in saltwater, or has sand caked on, it is important to wipe or rinse it clean and let it dry before putting it away. If not, your tent will be susceptible to mold. You can either lay it out in the sun in your backyard or hang it on a clothesline when you get home.

• Pack it up correctly

Try and take a picture the first time you remove your beach tent from its packaging so that you can try and pack it up the same way each time. The manufacturers know the best ways to pack their tent and it’s best to follow their form.

• Air out your tent every so often

In between the times that you are using your beach tent, it is a good idea to open it up and air it out. Moisture can build up inside your tent easily, spiders and other little critters can make it home, and it can end up becoming a stagnant nightmare, especially if stored away in a musty garage or shed. Opening it up even to shake it out and give it some fresh air can make a huge difference in its lifespan.

How To Set Up

Tents are typically pretty easy to set up, though setting up a tent on the beach can be a bit harder. This is because tents benefit from being set up on solid, dense earth. Sand is very fine and doesn’t stick together well, meaning it’s a bit more difficult to use it as a foundation. Before you do anything, find the ideal spot to set up your tent on the sand. The area should likely be flat and far enough from the water that the tide won’t come up and wash it away.

After you’ve found your area, here are a few tips to make your set up easier:

Clear Debris From Your Tent Site

This is very important to do to protect the tent floor from tearing and also protect your butt and backside from being poked. There’s no need to dig for rocks, but any obvious debris like sharp rocks or sticks should be removed from underneath your tent.

Put the Rainfly On

This really depends on the weather, though if you feel like it’s getting a bit cloudy, a rain flap may be a good decision if your tent has an open mesh top. Typically, you’ll find that putting on a rainfly is as easy as securing the Velcro straps to the ends of your poles on each side of the tent.

Sand Bag It!

Once you’ve set up your tent, dig multiple holes about two feet away from each tent post. It is VERY important that you measure this distance as accurately as possible. Once you’ve done this, begin making the sand bags by taking the sand you dug up and placing it into small plastic bags. These can be Ziploc bags, grocery bags, or whatever other kinds of bags you have lying around. Lastly, tie each of your sand bags to the bottoms of the posts and place carefully in the holes and bury them so that they hold your tent tightly to the sand.

Factors to Consider When Buying

Type

The type of tent you purchase will depend on what you need it for. Here are a few types of tents you should consider when making your purchase:

• Baby Beach Tents
  ​If you have a baby, a baby beach tent is a must have! These tents are small enough for your baby to relax in and provide tons of protection for your little one all day long. Baby beach tents typically require little to no set up, as they are usually manufactured with a pop-up design.
• Beach Cabana Tent
  ​These are probably some of the most popular beach tents out there and can be found across the world. Cabana tents look a bit like houses with one opening on the side to enter and closed walls around the other sides. If you’re looking for some quiet time alone, with a loved one, or with the family, these beach tents are easy to set up and provide great protection and privacy!
• Beach Canopy Tents
  These tents looks like large umbrellas, though typically offer a lot more shade than a lone umbrella would. You can find them in a wide array of sizes for a couple or the whole family. They are also typically easy to set up with different instructions from the manufacturer.

Ease of Assembly

It's important to have a beach tent that is easy to set up, unless you want to waste a ton of time on the beach in a struggling match with your impractical shelter. You should be able to get out to your spot, pop it up, and enjoy your time relaxing. Some beach tents are made to pop up in a few minutes with hardly any work and fold up in the same manner.

Sun Protection

A great beach tent should have ample sun protection, meaning it should come with a special type of coating that can help to block out harmful UV rays. This is an absolute MUST if the tent is for your baby or kids. If the tent comes complete with breathable mesh portions, those should be able to close up easily.

Durability

While the beach can be relaxing and easy-going, it can also sometimes be unforgiving. Ocean waves and high-powered winds can rip your tent right out of the sand and send it swirling into Davy Jones’ Locker. Finding your tent out at sea or miles down the beach can be a total bust. You should also think about water protection, as rain can easily leak into your tent and ruin your belongings if it is not properly waterproofed.

Price

The price you pay for your tent depends on how much you use it and what you use it for. Will you be spending multiple days down on the beach every other week or will you be taking it out for small day trips to use for a few hours every month or so? There’s no reason to spend upwards of a thousand dollars for a casual tenting experience.