If youre spending any time at the beach this summer, staying out of the sun is a must. The humble beach umbrella has been our go-to for many years, but if you need something a little larger or are sick of chasing it across the sand after the first gust of wind there
If you’re spending any time at the beach this summer, staying out of the sun is a must.
The humble beach umbrella has been our go-to for many years, but if you need something a little larger — or are sick of chasing it across the sand after the first gust of wind — there are lots of beach tents and shelters offering plenty of shade that are relatively easy to set up and transport.
Need some inspiration? CoolCabanas is showing off its Sunshine Coast roots in its latest collab with popular influencer Sammy Robinson’s fashion label, One Mile. The limited-edition beach tent will feature One Mile’s signature Paloma print, along with a unique blue and brown colour palette inspired by the Aussie coastline.
“Growing up spending every holiday on the beach, the vision of One Mile is to bring the essence and beauty of Australian summers, and we’re so thrilled to amplify this further with the CoolCabanas collaboration. Our Paloma print was designed exclusively in-house, and I can’t wait to see it all over Aussie beaches during the Christmas season… a dream!” Robinson said in a statement.
If you need a new beach tent for Christmas, the One Mile x CoolCabanas beach tent is now available and will arrive in time for the festive season.
Keep on scrolling to see our selection of beach tents and shelters including top sellers and highly rated options to suit all budgets.
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BEST BEACH TENT TO SHOP RIGHT NOW
CoolCabanas CoolCabana 5 – One Mile Edition, $249, CoolCabanas
What You Need To Know
Iconic beach brand CoolCabanas has joined forces with label One Mile for its “first-ever fashion collaboration”. Featuring One Mile’s Paloma print in shades of blue and brown, the gorgeous design is said to be a “celebration of Australian design and coastal living”.
And this limited-edition beach tent isn’t just a pretty face either, sporting CoolCabanas’ famously easy to set up design, sturdiness and ample shade coverage. Plus, the large tent offers UPF 50+ protection and convenient sand pockets to keep it stable.
Beachgoers can now order the One Mile x CoolCabanas beach tent from the CoolCabanas website and expect it in time for Christmas.
BEST EASY TO SET UP BEACH TENT
CoolCabanas Beach Shelter, $249, CoolCabanas
What You Need To Know
If you’ve been anywhere near a beach this summer then chances are you’ve spotted a CoolCabanas tent (or 50) on the sand.
The beach tent has exploded in popularity in recent months, sparking a host of now viral TikTok videos about the phenomenon.
While some have complained on the social media the “eye sore” tents are “taking over” beaches, the vast majority of shoppers say they are “worth every penny”. Sturdy in wind and “super easy to put up and down”, beachgoers who own a CoolCabanas tent can’t stop raving about how “amazing” they are.
“Greatest beach invention ever. I have three,” one commenter wrote, while another TikTok user added: “They are the best, can’t beat them at the beach.”
The best-selling CoolCabanas Beach Shelter has racked up almost 400 five-star ratings on BCF, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5. One five-star reviewer said it’s of “great quality, easy to assemble” and they “wish we had bought it sooner”.
And it all comes in a very beach appropriate blue stripe fabric.
SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent, $139.95, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know:
Looking for a pop-up beach tent with relatively easy set up? One five-star Amazon reviewer described this one as being “simple, light, effective” and the “best beach shelter I have ever had”.
The canopy also comes with a travel bag so you can keep it organised and out of your beach bag.
We also love how multipurpose these gazebo-style tents are. You can use them for entertaining at home, or on any other outdoor adventure. Feel free to grab the bigger size, as the brand offers 4-person and 8-person sizes.
This one is made from fabric that is both water-resistant and UPF 50+ protective from the sun.
Neso Tents Grande Beach Tent, $209.99, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a portable sun shade, you can’t go wrong with the Neso Beach Tent. It comes in a bunch of fun summer ready colours and prints, so you can really customise your purchase.
It’s racked up 1000 reviews on Amazon, so you could say it’s pretty popular. The product is portable, lightweight, SPF 50+ and water resistant.
“This has been one of the best purchases for the beach! It is so easy to set up, nice and compact and very durable,” a reviewer posted.
Alvantor Beach Tent, $123.44, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
The Alvantor Beach Tent has gathered more than 2800 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. One reviewer described it as being “amazing” and “ticking all the boxes”.
A more traditional beach tent, all the walls and floor offer an UPF 50+ and water resistant fabric. You’ve got side pockets to fill with sand (to make sure the tent doesn’t go anywhere), and you’ve got additional sandbags for extra security.
BEST BUDGET BEACH TENTS
FE Active Pop Up Beach Shelter, $59.99, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
A bestseller in camping shelters, this pop-up beach shelter doubles as a sleeping tent. It’s made to have easy assembly and set up. Once you’re finished with it, it folds back up and it fits nicely into a portable carry bag.
The FE Active Beach Tent also offers a water resistant and UV protective fabric, with four aluminium stakes to make sure it doesn’t go anywhere on a windy day.
Mountview Pop Up Tent, $35.99, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Shopping on a budget? We recommend the pop-up tent from Mountview, coming in at under $30. What a find!
The automatic spring control means the tent instantly pops out in seconds, no assembly required.
There’s multiple colours to choose from and is interwoven with mesh to keep the tent feeling breathable and comfortable.
WHICH IS BETTER – A BEACH UMBRELLA OR BEACH TENT?
At the end of the day, what you choose to bring to the beach is entirely up to you. However, there are some benefits of a beach tent that a beach umbrella cannot compare to.
Many beach tents on the market are easy to assemble and easy to pack away in portable carry bags. Umbrellas can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable to hold, especially if you’re lugging a number of different bags to the beach.
They also offer more protection from the sun, as the space they cover is generally larger than an ordinary beach umbrella. Some beach tents can also offer extra storage.
DO BEACH TENTS GET HOT?
Most beach tents on the market are made from a UV protective material, but that doesn’t guarantee you won’t start to feel hot when sitting under one.
If you know the sun is going to be scorching, we recommend opting for a beach tent with mesh detailing and/or windows. This will ensure you’ve got a breeze coming through and the tent won’t feel too hot.
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Originally published as Best beach tents for Australian summer 2023
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