How Does a Pop Up Tent Work?

If you plan to go to the beach, or to conduct outdoor or indoor camping, a pop-up tent will be your best partner. This type of tent is prominent due to its easy-to-setup feature compared to other kinds of tents. It is user-friendly equipment, but it's not really versatile.

In this article, we will let you have a look at how to set up, take down, and discuss the pros and cons you can encounter with this type of tent.

How does a pop-up tent work?

There are several types of tents that are commonly used by campers or hikers. One of these is the pop-up tent. Usually, other tents require you to exert more effort in the setting up process, but you can erect and take down easily this kind of tent in just a few seconds or minutes.

Now, how do pop-up tents work?

The poles of a pop-up tent are built-in and are connected to its whole body. This is the main reason why it is easy to install. You don't need to attach anything in order to fully set it up. All you need to do is remove it from the locks or straps.

However, note that some pop-up tents are kind of hard to take down.

Through on our previous tests and evaluations, we encountered numerous designs of pop-up tents, but the most often used versions are those with a solid frame and those with a definite shape. Both of them can be set up effortlessly. However, there are extra methods to fortify the installation of your tent, which we will talk about on the next topic of this article.

With such an advantage, we can say that the use of this type of tent is limited due to the structure, but it still depends on the activity it's for and on where you are going to use it. We asked several users, and typically, they use it on beach outings, backyard camping, and even indoors. Some say that they don't recommend using such tents while camping in places with extreme weather conditions.

Ordinary camping tents have a different skeletal structure and setup. If we compare these two types, we can say that other camping tents are sturdier and bears numerous features that pop-up tents don't have. We will talk about the pros and cons as we go on with our discussion.

How do you set up a pop-up tent by yourself?

Since we have stated that the setup of pop tents is simple, there are still a few things that you need to remember and make sure of. Before you go on your adventure, make sure you pack up a tent, mallet, and tent pegs or hooks.

Although you can look for some alternative materials for the setup, it is better to bring a complete set. However, some types of pop tents don't require you to be locked on the ground, so check this with the manufacturer first.

You can easily set up a pop-up tent by removing it from the storage bag and unlocking the straps. The tent will automatically set up or shape on its own after you stretch it out.

Now let's go on with how to set up this kind of tent:

• Remove the locks or straps from the body of the folded tent.
• Throw the unfolded tent upwards until it pops up, showing its whole setup
• Put it in the ground
• If your pop-up tent requires you to be pinned on the ground, please follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to prevent any harmful effects that may damage the tent.

But if you are looking for a pop-up tent that you can use for camping and that has a more durable foundations, we recommend the Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent. This is our best pick for pop-up cabin tent among our reviews.

The setup of the Coleman Instant Cabin Tent is different from that of a standard pop-up tent. On this one, there are pre-attached poles that work as legs and the frame. You just need to extend them.

From our understanding, there are hybrid types of pop-up tents, just like the Coleman tent. There are also dome tents that are structured to be pop-up tents.

How do you take down a pop-up tent?

As we already mentioned, there are different types of pop-up tents. We will be discussing the takedown methods of the standard version first, and then we'll focus on that of the Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent. We chose one product from our best pop-up tent review, since other hybrid pop-up tents are dismantled in similar ways.

To take down a pop-up tent, you first need to compress the roof parts. You can easily distinguish where to fold because that is where the inner poles are sewn. After that, proceed to fold the side parts together with the compressed roof until you can form a semi-circle shape.

From that semi-circle form, compress and fold down the side parts, and press to deflate the inflated area. It will form two twin circles which you have to stuff one into the other. Then, you can pack the tent inside the storage bag.

For the Coleman Instant Cabin tent, you need to unlock the pop-up locks of the poles to shrink it to the original shape. When you are done with all of the poles, the body of the tent will be flattened and that when you should fold the corners going in the inner direction of the flattened tent. Hold the four leg poles then lay down the tent sideways. Roll it until the inflated area collapses, then pack it into the storage bag.

We advise you to double-check the type and setup of the tent you plan to buy with the manufacturer because you may expect that a certain tent is a pop-up one, but end up with the wrong type. Based on our experience, we concluded that all pop-up tents are easy to set up as they do not require a companion to help erect it. 

Are pop-up tents any good? See the pros and cons of a pop-up tent

Pop tents have several advantages and disadvantages. For example, they are easy to set up and can be taken down in a few minutes but with a complex method. You can install your tent without any help and it does not require any additional equipment to make it stand. 

This is a recommended tent for newbie campers and kids. It can also be utilized for other events, however, this is a bulky material with less comfort. Another thing we discovered is you cannot fix the tent if the internal poles break down. 

The key feature that we have found in this kind of tent is the ease to set up. Bear in mind that depending on the activities you plan to partake in, you'll face limitations and restrictions with this equipment. 

Let's discuss its pros and cons below.

• They are quick to set up but hard to take down. As what we talked about in the “setup” section of this article, this is totally effortless to erect but you should follow several steps to pack it back.

• You don't need to bring any other equipment for setting it up. Some tents require you to bring mallets and locks to install the tent, but with pop-up tents, it is structured with an instant setup.

• They're recommended for newbie and are safe for kids. Since it is easy to set up, you will not be confused about how to use it. The design is also safe for kids who want to use it to play indoors because the poles are sewn inside the fabric of the tent.

• They're bulky and heavy. Most of the folded versions of this tent are indeed huge, and even the smaller-sized ones are still heavy.

• They provide less ventilation. This doesn't apply to all of them, but the standard style has fewer mesh panels.

• They're not appropriate for places with intense weather. The structure says it all. There is no solid foundation aside from the flooring. The materials used don't possess weatherproofing, which restricts you from using it in extreme weather.

• They're hard to fix. The poles are commonly implanted in the fabric. Thus, it is impossible for you to repair it or look for some alternative replacements.

Final thoughts

Pop-up tents are best for light and temporary use. We find a lot of faults and restraints on their features due to the easy and less sturdy materials used.

But, if you utilize such a tent in proper places, where it can withstand the surroundings and weather, you can enjoy it and it will come in handy. This is the easiest type of tent to set up as you can do it alone in just a few seconds. And we would like to remark that there are hybrid pop-up tents, which are capable of fierce camping.