Instant and Automatic Tents

What an instant or automatic tent is

An instant tent is any tent where the frame does the pitching for you. In some the poles are already joined to the fabric and open with one pull; in others a pump fills air beams, or a gas strut lifts a hard roof. What they share is that there is nothing to thread or assemble on the campsite. You unpack it, open it, peg it and you are done.

One-touch, ridge, air, rooftop or awning: which instant tent

• One-touch and pop-up tents are the biggest group here, from beach shelters to family tents. See pop-up tents.
• Automatic ridge and cabin tents, such as the Naturehike Village tents, unfold on a built-in frame. See cabin tents.
• Inflatable tents go up with a hand or electric pump. See inflatable air tents.
• Hard shell rooftop tents open on hydraulic or gas struts in moments. See roof tents.
• Retractable awnings fold out from a car, 4x4 or caravan, one by remote control. See car awnings.

What does the work: spring, hub, air or strut

The kind of frame tells you how the tent behaves. Spring and hub frames are quickest of all, but the fabric is tied to the frame, so a broken part is harder to replace than a single pole. Air beams fill in a couple of minutes: the 4-5 person inflatable dome here is ready in around two minutes with its hand pump. Struts on a rooftop tent lift the lid, and the tent stays on the car.

The price of speed: weight and packed size

Because the frame is built in, an instant tent packs longer and heavier than a pole tent of the same size. The Naturehike Village 13 packs to 110 by 30 by 30cm and weighs about 23.8kg; the 4-5 person inflatable dome packs to 76 by 20 by 30cm and about 7kg. Measure your boot before choosing a big one.

Questions people ask about instant tents

Do instant tents still need pegging?

Yes. The frame gives the shape, but only pegs and guy lines keep it on the ground in wind. A rooftop tent is the exception, because it is fixed to the roof bars of the car.

Can one person pitch an instant tent?

Most of them, yes, which is much of the point. The big cabins and rooftop tents are easier with two.

Is it as quick to take down?

Mostly. Air tents let the air out through their valves, and one-touch frames fold quickly once you know how. Try it at home first.

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

• Pop-up tents
• Inflatable air tents
• Cabin tents
• Roof tents
• Family tents
• Car awnings
• Guide: Air tents or pole tents
• Guide: The festival tent guide