LOOKING for a tent you can put up at seconds, but don't want to pay the extortionate price tag on some top models? We've got you covered.
The best pop up tents should be easy to pop up and pack away so you can spend your time having fun at festivals and on camping trips.
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No one wants to spend hours faffing around with poles or trying to squeeze a tent into a bag half its size at the end of the trip.
But these tents should also keep you dry if the good old British weather lets you down.
To help you pick, we tried out a selection of budget-friendly best-sellers. Here's what Lynsey Hope thought.
Outsunny Four Man Pop Up Tent Automatic
- Robert Dyas
- £98.99
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This family-sized tent opens using a hydraulic pressure mechanism and has pre-attached poles, which is a bit unusual.
I didn't find it terribly easy to put up, to be honest, and in the end I had to seek help - it's definitely a two person job.
That said, it was probably still up in five to ten minutes, which is pretty quick.
It's very tall compared to the other options at 199cm, so might suit a tall family who don't want to hunch down inside.
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It's a good size, too, and comes with a carry bag and eight ground stakes as well as a six month guarantee from the retailer.
When I tested it overnight, it held up well against light wind and rain and I enjoyed that there were four windows for ventilation.
The two inner pockets for storage were also useful.
- Ease of use: 4/10
- Quality rating: 8/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Pro Action 4 Person 1 Room Pop Up Camping Tent
- Argos
- £63
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I managed to pitch this easily enough but it was needlessly difficult to pack away.
The frame was super springy and kept unfolding on me as I tried to wrestle it back into its bag.
It's similar in size to the Asda one, even though it is meant to be for four people.
I definitely think it would be tight for four people, and it leaked a bit in the rain too which is far from ideal.
It’s not really worth the usual £95 price tag, although it is currently on offer at Argos for £63.
Even with the discount, I’d probably give this one a miss.
- Ease of use: 4/10
- Quality rating: 6/10
- Value for money: 5/10
- Overall score: 5/10
Abco Tech Pop Up Tent
- Amazon
- £58.99
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This tent pops open in the blink of an eye with no issues to report.
It's designed for "casual" use, so probably won't withhold storms or severe rain, but it's great for sheltering from the sun on the beach or casual playing.
Despite opening easily, I didn't find it easy to fold down and had to watch their video several times before I mastered it.
This one is also a little pricey given it's not top quality.
- Ease of use: 7/10
- Quality rating: 6/10
- Value for money: 5/10
- Overall score: 6/10
Decathlon 2 Second Easy Tent
- Decathlon
- £129.99
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This tent is expensive, but promises to pop up in two seconds, which is an impressive boast.
It didn’t on first try and, in fact, it took me some time and several goes to get the hang of it.
Once you do get the knack of it, though, it does go up literally in two seconds and you can get it down just as quickly.
It’s an unusual shape but the material is really high quality and should stand the test of time and bad weather.
- Ease of use: 9/10
- Quality rating: 10/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Aldi Festival Tent
- Aldi
- £17.99
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I didn't expect much for this price, but actually, for less than £18, this tent wasn't bad.
It’s small - tight, even - for two people, but it would probably be okay for the odd night.
It popped up easily, was easy to pack away and it even has two windows to air or let in light.
If you’re looking for something cheap for the kids to play in, or something just to do you a night or two, you could do a lot worse than this.
- Ease of use: 10/10
- Quality rating: 6/10
- Value for money: 9/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Ozark Trail 2 Person Pop Up Tent
- Asda
- £70
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This one was my favourite tent to use, an therefore my winner overall.
It was a generous size for two people and was much sturdier than most.
It generally seemed far better quality and looks as though it’s built to last.
I liked the idea of it being less throwaway than others which might only last a short time.
And, crucially, it literally went up in under a minute and was one of the easiest to fold away.
It is dark enough inside to help you get a decent night’s sleep and there is a small porch area for dirty shoes and bags. A worthy winner.
- Ease of use: 10/10
- Quality rating: 10/10
- Value for money: 9/10
- Overall score: 10/10
Orange Portable Pop-Up Waterproof Camping Tent
- B&Q
- £19.99
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The B&Q website says this tent suitable for 2-3 people, but I wouldn't want to squeeze in here with two others. It's very small.
That said, it does pop up in under a minute, so you won't need to spend hours assembling it.
The zip flap makes it easy to get in and out of and you can secure the door open with velcro tabs too.
This one doesn't come with ropes or pegs so you'll need your own if you want to pin this down in the wind, but for £19.99 that isn't surprising.
I didn't hold out much hope with this in the rain, but actually it was waterproof and we had no leaks.
It also comes up with a six month guarantee.
- Ease of use: 8/10
- Quality rating: 5/10
- Value for money: 6/10
- Overall score: 6/10
2 Person Pop Up Tent
- Halfords
- £32
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This tent pops up and folds way easily with very little effort required.
It doesn't have a huge waterproof rating, which wasn't a surprise given the price, but I found it to hold out well and withstood some heavy rain.
A little bit of water did get in the near the zip, but given the price, I didn't mind.
It's a good size for two and was light and easy to carry around. Overall, a good option weighing up budget and durability.
- Ease of use: 10/10
- Quality rating: 8/10
- Value for money: 9/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Modern Outdoor Living 4 Man Lightweight Waterproof 30 second Pop Up Tent
- Amazon
- £54.99
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The manufacturer claims this goes up in 30 seconds. In reality, I think it was closer to a minute, but it was easy to do and that's pretty quick.
I liked the shape and design, it was a reasonable size for four people and did a great job of withstanding heavy rain showers.
The tent frame is made from a strong, lightweight poles that keeps the tent rigid and makes it simple and fast to assemble.
It has two doors for easy entry and exit, two windows for ventilation with zip up insect nets.
The tent also comes with a compact carrying bag with carry handle, as well as a mallet, pegs and all the guidelines you'll need to get this set up.
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But, it was a right faff to put down and that alone would put me off buying one again.
- Ease of use: 4/10
- Quality rating: 8/10
- Value for money: 8/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Other product tests from The Sun
WE have conducted a number of tests to find the best buy for you this summer.
Last week we tested pressure washers and found the winner cleaned the patio better than a top brand.
We have tried a huge number of sauces and sides for your summer barbecue including BBQ sauce, supermarket coleslaw and supermarkets' ketchup dupes.
And we tried the best Pink Gins to sip on a warm evening.
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