In the last couple of years there have been an explosion of ‘pop up’ or ‘quick pitch’ tents on the market which are made to make your life easier once on the campsite. We don’t think they will be replacing traditional models just yet but we have created this guide to give you the lowdown on the pros and cons and which types are available.

The Pros

• pop up tents quite literally jump up in front of your eyes using sewn in poles that simply go to their original shape when you release them from their storage bag. Then simply peg and guy out totalling around 60 seconds
• They have similar waterproof head ratings to standard tents and so should keep you as dry
• Their speed of putting up is perfect for weekend stop overs or festivals
• Although not that compact they are lightweight and some come with straps to carry on your back
• Perfect for novices or those who rarely camp no knowledge is required to put up
• Due to increase competition you can pick up models from around £20

The Cons

• Although extremely easy to put up they can be harder to put down until you have trained yourself at home a few times
• Many cheaper models are single skin which brings problems such as leaking water if touched and condensation on the inside of the tent
• Some models although lightweight can be bulky and are usually a big disc
• They are usually less stable than equivalent priced dome tents
• It doesn’t actually take that long to put up a normal tent!
• Manufacturers' person sizes are usually way off

Double or Single Skin?

Cheaper pop up tents have a single skin which means they just have the outer waterproof material and no cotton lining. This obviously lowers the weight and gives you more space inside but can cause problems. Firstly if you touch the skin when wet it will pull water through and start leaks in your tent. It will also allow condensation from your breath to gather on the skin making it look like your tent is leaking. Double skin tents are also available but you usually pay around 50% more. Our advice is get one if you can afford it or alternatively buy a larger single skin tent with good ventilation.