What a changing tent is
A changing tent gives you somewhere private to change where there is nowhere: on the beach, by a lake after a swim, at the side of a pool, in the car park after surfing or cycling, or backstage at an event. It is a tall, enclosed tent for one person that opens in seconds and packs into a bag. Most of the tents here can also be used for washing or as a toilet tent.
Stand-up, fold-flat, tailgate or wearable: which changing tent
- Stand-up pop-up tents, mostly 120 by 120cm and 190cm tall, have room to stand and lift your arms. One says adults and children can both stand up in it. See privacy tents.
- A fold-flat changing room 60 by 60cm and 140cm tall weighs about 250g. Its soft polyester does not cling to wet skin, and it is sold for swimmers, divers, dancers and backstage.
- Tailgate tents strap to an open boot, so you step out of the car and into the tent. One has a strap that adjusts to fit different vehicles. See SUV and tailgate tents.
- Wearable umbrella shelters go over your head or hang up, are 170cm tall, and keep off light rain and sun. See shower tents.
Room to stand or room to crouch
Height decides how you change. In a 190cm tent most adults stand upright and can pull on a wetsuit or a dress without bending. The 140cm changing room is much lighter and smaller to carry, but most adults will change sitting or crouching in it. Inside, a pocket for a phone, keys and glasses and a line to hang clothes and towels on keep things off a sandy or wet floor; check the product for them. Opaque or lightproof fabric is what makes it private, so look for those words.
At the beach: sand and wind
Beaches are windy and sand holds ordinary pegs badly. A tailgate tent is the steadiest choice when you can park close. A freestanding tent on sand needs wide pegs made for soft ground and its guy ropes tied out. See tent pegs. Pop-up tents fold back with a twist, so practise at home before the first trip.
Questions people ask about changing tents
Can children use a changing tent?
Yes. The stand-up tents have room for an adult to help a child change, and one says it suits adults and children.
Can people see through a changing tent?
Not one made of opaque or lightproof fabric, or with a silver coating inside. Check each product's fabric before you buy.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
More to look at