Pop Tents?

[whitedoor]

Does anyone here have experience with pop (i.e., self-erecting) tents? I'm thinking of getting one for car camping.

 

[siguy]

We have a couple, older models from about 6-7 years ago, that are wonderfully easy to put up. Generally it seems that they are dome shaped, which means alot of headroom. Probably a good idea for car camping.

 

[Harayasu]

I saw a couple of videos on these tents and also got interested. What interests me most is: how strong are they?

 

[siguy]

oops, made a mistake...

After reading Harayasu's question about how strong they are, I wondered if we were talking about the same thing. We weren't.

I have a couple of tents where the pole system is built into the tent, and it works like an umbrella. You push the center up and lock it in place, forcing all the poles straight, which makes a sturdy (but heavy) tent. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Josh K]

oops, made a mistake...

After reading Harayasu's question about how strong they are, I wondered if we were talking about the same thing. We weren't.

I have a couple of tents where the pole system is built into the tent, and it works like an umbrella. You push the center up and lock it in place, forcing all the poles straight, which makes a sturdy (but heavy) tent. Sorry for the confusion.

That's the kind (umbrella) that I have.

Not the easiest to setup, sometimes it takes two people. Quick to take down and pack up but that thing is a beast to carry.

 

[Foilist]

We have a large, pop-open screen house. It works great, but a mild wind will collapse it if you don't guy it out.

 

[kgd]

They aren't very good tents. I've had both the throw and pop ones and the umbrella types. They are designed to appeal to the market based on the novelty more so than the materials utilized. They aren't particularly stable and are much heavier than normal tents. I wouldn't recommend them.

 

[Katdaddy]

They aren't very good tents. I've had both the throw and pop ones and the umbrella types. They are designed to appeal to the market based on the novelty more so than the materials utilized. They aren't particularly stable and are much heavier than normal tents. I wouldn't recommend them.

+1 on this. Get a simple dome tent; two poles and clips. They go up in minutes.

 

[ejes]

I have a Coleman that is probably 15 years old now. It is easy to put up, harder to take down for some reason. I wouldn't say I've used it a whole lot because it is not packable for hiking, but it has been a good car camping tent. It has held up to some pretty good storms. Don't even know if they make it anymore, but it has a hub in the center sort of like an umbrella and then you tie it in place with two straps. I would have never thought it would have held up or stayed in place, but so far so good. Been a pretty good tent for the money and what it is meant for.

I had a couple of the ones you throw out and they pop up all on their own. I could never get the damn things to fold back up and put back in their carrier. Nearly turned me into a clock-tower sniper it frustrated me so much. Hated them.