Sun shelters are not very old invention that have started to become popular. A sun shelter is basically specialized tent with the front opening. It’s large enough to hold several people sitting side by side on some sort of reclining chairs.
Are you at the beach or outdoors and want to enjoy a bit of respite from the sun? Consider getting sun shelters so you can relax without the sunburn!
Discover the best Camping Sun Shelters and Shades on Amazon, Walmart, REI and other retailers. Find the top most popular sun shelters and shades for camping.
Our Pick: We recommend Coleman Beach Shade Shelter in case if you are in rush to explore rest of options.
List of Best Sun Shelters and Shades for Camping
1. Lightspeed Quick Draw Sun Shelter
100 ratings | 10 answered questions
If you’re looking for an all in one tent that’s going to bring you from the beach to the local water park and give you shade on the go, you might want to check out the Lightspeed Quick Draw Sun Shelter. The tent can be set up and torn down quickly, giving you versatility while on the go. With a large area, it’s going to be a great choice for families with older children.
Other tents may not include poles in the design and just pop-up, once they’re removed from the bag. The Lightspeed Quick Draw Sun Shelter is a great choice because the poles add structure to the tent and create a secure space for the beach, the camp site, the playground or even the backyard. All you have to do is remove the Quick Cabana from the bag, set out the tent in the area where it’s going to be used and pull upwards in a motion that sets the tent quickly, with ease.
Features of the Lightspeed Quick Draw Sun Shelter:
- Compact design but spacious interior
- Quick and easy set-up and tear-down
- Lightspeed telescopic handles for convenient set-up
- Use it for the beach, camping or sports games
- 96” x 54” x 48”
- Light speed tents are extensively tested before use to ensure a high quality protection from the sun
Pros
In addition to the three walled tent you can take advantage of the spacious front “porch” area used to place over the sand or while camping to avoid having to sit on the grass. For parents, this is a great place to use the chairs and loungers to avoid sitting on the ground and placing the children that are napping or spending time in the shade to cool off in the background, in the inside of the tent.
Cons
Rather than pegs used to secure the tent to the beach, sand bags or ‘pockets’ are used on the outside of the tent. Easily filled with sand to secure the tent and provide weight to reduce the chances the tent is going to fly away when a breeze hits the beach, they’re easy to use but do add another step to preparing the tent for use during the day at the beach.
Final Thoughts
Three large roll up windows and the Lightspeed method of being able to set-up and tear down the tent are two features that make the versatile tent a must have for the day at the beach. You can roll the windows for more sun, or leave the windows closed for additional shade.
The added ‘porch’ area in the front of the tent is one of the main reasons that previous buyers have chosen the tent. Though there isn’t the initial shade that is provided through the design of the tent, you’re going to be able to increase the space available to get off of the sand.
2. Genji Sports Pop-Up Family Beach Tent and Sun Shelter Review
When it comes to heading to the beach for the day, the last thing that you want to do is spend the precious minutes setting up tents and getting situated at the shore. Finding a tent that is going to allow you to get it up and ready to shade the kids and family in just one second just got a whole lot easier.
The Genji Sports Pop-Up Beach Tent is perfect for those summer days because it’s able to expand itself in only one second. It’s just as easy to take down, allowing you to take it down to get ready to pack up in just three seconds.
Features of the Genji Pop-up Tent:
- Durable strong steel beams used in construction of the tent frame
- Expands in one second, can take it down in three
- 50+ UPF on three sides of the tent
- Mesh windows for air flow and visibility
- Easy to use carry bag
- Lightweight design
Pros
Created with durable T190 cloth, you won’t have to worry about rips or tears happening in the shade tent while you spend time at the beach. When it comes to choosing a tent, durability is one of the most important things to consider. Looking for durable fabric that’s also going to be lightweight is an important feature for parents, because kids can be tough on products. Genji combines durability and ease of use in this rugged design.
In addition to having durable cloth throughout the design of the tent, you will find high quality components and tent poles used. This will ensure that with proper care taken of the beach shelter, you’ll be able to get years of use out of it.
Comparing beach shelters, there are different styles available. The Genji Beach shelter is designed so you can take it out of the easy carry case and it will immediately pop into shape. After it’s popped into shape, you can place sand inside of the pockets on the tent to weigh it down and reduce the chances the tent is going to be taken in the breeze.
Cons
This isn’t going to be the best choice of tent if you’re looking for a way to get completely out of the sun while at the beach. With two open sides and windows in the other two, there is going to be great air flow throughout the space but there isn’t going to be a fully enclosed space for parents looking for a tent that is going to secure shut for children and infants that are napping or spending time in the tent.
Final Thoughts
Finding products that are versatile and lightweight that you can bring along to the beach with ease takes some experience. The Genji Pop Up Family Beach tent is lightweight and easily packed inside of a suitcase for a family vacation or stored in the trunk for those impromptu road trips to your favorite beach.
3. Pacific Play Tents Seaside Beach Cabana #19091 Review
Bright colors and fun designs can create a haven from the sun that infants and children will want to spend time on their down time at the beach. Shaded from the sun with a solid back, it’s a great choice for parents that are looking for a place for the child to nap while they spend the day out together.
Features of the Pacific Play Tent Seaside Beach Cabana:
- Easy to clean, polyethylene floor
- Two mesh side windows
- Solid back is perfect to keep the sun off of napping children
- Includes carry bag
- Convenient side-tie doors for easy access
Set Up the Beach Cabana In Minutes
With a little help from an adult, kids can easily set up the 60 x 35-inch ‘Under The Sea’ Beach Cabana in minutes. The Cabana is easy to assemble with two (durable PU Coated fiberglass shock-corded) tent poles that are virtually unbreakable and fit easily into the pole pockets on the cabana.
Pros
Parents that are traveling to the beach with children are likely aware of the fact that the infant or child is going to need a place to nap while they`re there – especially if it`s a full day outing. Finding somewhere for the child to nap where they`re going to be out of the harmful rays of the sun can be difficult when all you`re toting along to the shore is an umbrella.
Bringing along the Pacific Play Tents Seaside Beach Cabana, you can create a shaded place for the child to nap under the protection of the sun shelter that`s going to be free of sand. It`s big enough for two children to play in and get out of the sun but also provides you with a place to store coolers and other valuables that you would prefer to keep close.
The mesh windows provide a well ventilated area for the child to nap safely inside of the tent while the parents can spend time in the sun. You won`t have to worry about the child becoming too warm inside of the tent, giving you peace of mind to enjoy your time on the sand.
Cons
The smaller design of the shelter is suited for children and therefore adults that are looking for a place to cool off and get out of the sun might want to consider a larger option that provides more adequate protection. For families, there are larger options available.
Final Thoughts
The fun, surf and beach themed design is a great choice for children, they’re going to love the design. The easy to clean floor is attached to the tent and is going to have to be shaken out before you place the tent back in the easy carry bag, something to consider before making the final decision.
Parents that are searching for a tent that’s going to be used only for children while spending the day at the beach should consider this tent. It’s got popular reviews among the owners that have used it with infants and young children.
Another bonus for parents is the floor. If there are spills, food and mud that’s been trekked into the tent you can rest assured it’s going to be easily wiped clean at the end of the day. Parents of young children know how important it is to have items that are easily cleaned – another reason to choose the Pacific Play Tents Seaside Beach Cabana.
4. Texsport Calypso Cabana Beach Shelter Review
Shopping for a shelter that’s going to be able to accommodate the family for the day out at the beach leaves you with a few options. One option that can suit the needs of the family and provide you with a budget friendly and affordable option is the Texsport Calypso Beach Shelter.
The shelter is designed for an entire day of protection with enough room to house everything that you need for a day trip. Though there are only three sides to the beach shelter, there are extended storm flaps that provide additional protection and privacy for those fun days spent making memories.
Features of the Texsport Calypso Cabana Shelter:
- Pole and Ring System with shock-corded design for easy assembly
- Four weights for stability
- 48” x 48”
- 3 Sided beach protection
- Storm flaps and windows for privacy that allows air flow
- Full UV Protection
Pros
The beach shelter is easily able to accommodate two beach chairs or provide a shaded area on the beach for children seeking shelter from the sun. Extending out from the front of the shelter is a rim that adds to the level of sun protection and creates a comfortable space. The easy to set-up and functional design of the shelter makes it a popular choice for families and people without children alike.
Cons
The floor of the beach shelter is attached. Attached floors can rip or tear when lawn chairs or loungers are being used within the sun shelters and can be difficult to clean. Though durable, this is something you should consider. To get all of the sand out of the shelter it’s often required to flip it over and shake the sand out from within – often requiring more than one person to complete the task.
In addition to the attached floor, customers have noted that the wind can take the shelter quite easily. It’s important to use the attached sand bags to secure the shelter to the ground as there are no pegs that in the design that can be stuck in the sand to secure the tent. You’re going to want to make sure the tent is secure while you’re using it in the wide open spaces at the beach to avoid chasing your beach shade down the shore.
Final Thoughts
The affordable Texsport Calypso Beach Cabana is a great choice for adults that are looking for a bit of shelter from the sun at the beach. It’s also a great choice for families because of the kid-friendly design and the mesh windows can allow you to monitor the children inside of the tent. Combined with an open side, parents are able to have easy access to the children. With enough room for all the gear you`re bringing along to the beach it provides you with an adequate space for a fun day out.
It comes with high quality reviews and seems to be a favorite of families that are looking for a space that is going to be suitable to everyone, not necessarily just for children.
5. Pacific Play Tents Under the Sea Cabana Review
Are you looking for a fun play tent for your children for camping, the beach, or even used in the back yard to give the kids somewhere to play safely? It’s important to find a way to get out of the sun, especially for kids – but what you do look for when you’re choosing a shade? The Under the Sea tent is a fun way to protect the sensitive skin of the children, providing the shade and shelter needed.
You can even bring out the tent at-home to create some fun for a rainy day, as it is small enough to set up in the house. Or, use it the traditional way and bring it outside to spend some time outdoors at the local playground. You can even choose to bring it along to the beach and give infants and children a place to relax during the family day out.
Features of the Pacific Play Tent:
- Fun design suited for infants and children
- Mesh windows for adequate air flow
- Includes sandbags that can be placed in the corner to keep the tent grounded on those windy days at the beach
- Easy set up with shock corded poles
- Includes easy to use storage bag
- UPF 30+
Pros
In addition to taking the Pacific Play tent under the sea Cabana to the beach, you’re able to bring it along on all outdoor outings. The front of the tent has a full zipper closure to protect the infant or child inside of the tent from mosquitoes. The full zippered closure is also a great way to give infants and children a safe place to play during the day while spending time outdoors or provide a soft place for a nap.
There is enough space within the tent for two children to play, or spend time in the tent for sun protection.
Cons
Sandbags can be used on windy days to ground the tent but there are no pegs included to attach the tent to the ground. You should consider where you are traveling to and the type of weather that is going to be found there before choosing between the different types of tents. Also, you might want to consider whether you want to have another task at set-up, like filling the sand bags, when you’re making the choice.
Final Thoughts
The fun design and fact that the bottom is attached to the tent make it a convenient way to travel for weekend road trips and days at the beach. At the affordable price point of around thirty or forty dollars and available for free shipping, parents can find a budget friendly tent that’s going to protect the kids in tow from the sun and other elements while the family is on the go.
6. Coleman Beach Shade Shelter
One of the biggest hurdles of bringing the family to the beach is the space. Young children (and many adults) are bothered by the sun shining directly on them and unfortunately the beach doesn’t come with many spaces that provide cover from the sunlight. The Coleman Beach Shade can provide you with the cover you want from the sun, accommodate the entire family and it is easily stashed in the car so you can use it on the go.
Many families shopping for beach tents and shades are familiar with the Coleman name brand. With this familiarity comes the quality that Coleman has been associated with. Based on the reviews of the Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade, the majority of customers are satisfied with the function, design and quality.
Features of the Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade
- Easily provides an instant shade for the beach or outdoor space
- Pop up poles are attached the to the tent for easy assembly
- UV Guard Features 50+ UPF (Ultraviolet protection Factor)
- Can be set up and taken down in one minute
- Provide shade for the entire family
Pros
Finding a beach shade that’s going to work for the family and be easily assembled doesn’t have to be difficult. Using the Coleman beach shade, you can have a shelter from the sun created in just one minute, with enough room for the entire family.
Coming from the beach, it’s common to find shoes filled with sand, blankets that have to be shaken off and a beach shade that’s been filled with sand. It’s quite easy to get sand everywhere from the constant in and out action throughout the day. The three-sided beach shade can be easily lifted off of the ground and shaken out to remove any of the excess sand that has made its way into the tent.
The Coleman tent includes what’s known as a “porch” or an area of the front of the tent where the tent bottom extends, providing space where chairs can be placed. The additional space is helpful for larger families and can accommodate loungers and beach chairs – leaving room in the back for kids that want to nap or get out of the sun. In fact, it’s one of the most desired features for families searching for beach shelters.
Video Review
Cons
Shades and tents are available from a variety of brands, at a variety of price points. Though the Coleman Road Trip beach shade comes with many useful features, it’s one of the more expensive models that are available, at upwards of $109.99 (MSRP). It might not be the best choice for families that are looking for an inexpensive way to shade the sun.
Final Thoughts
Though on the higher scale for beach shades, the Coleman Road Trip Shade provides you with enough space for the entire family and it’s one of the tallest shades available. Based on the reviews that have been left by previous customers, it’s well worth the price of the shade. Considered One of the best Sun Shelters.
7. Shade Shack Instant Pop-Up Family Beach Tent and Sun Shelter Review
Finding shelter at the beach can be difficult. Usually, there are hundreds of meters of sandy shore but at the prime location close to the water enjoying a picnic or day with the family, there isn’t a lot of shade. The shade that is available at the beach is usually upwards of the beach, bringing you quite a ways from the water that you came to enjoy.
Bringing along your own shade with pop up tents designed to provide your family with shelter is convenient and ensures that you’re going to be able to spend the entire day at the beach.
Features of the Pop-Up Family Beach Tent Sun Shelter:
- One piece pop up design that has no assembly required
- Bottomless design makes easy clean-up and sand removal
- Design that can be set up in seconds
- 30+ UPF
- 90” x 53” x 51”
Pros
Usually, the biggest concerns that families have when choosing a tent that is is how easily it is going to be maintained and cleaned. Choosing a pop up tent without a floor attached, like this one, can help to save cleaning time because you aren’t going to have to worry about leftover sand in the tent to shake out.
UPF rating is another thing to consider when you’re shopping for a beach shade, especially if there are going to be young children coming along. It’s important to search for a tent that’s going to protect their skin by blocking the UVA/UVB rays of the sun. The pop-up Family Beach shelter has a UPF rating of 30+, which is most accurately compared to a sunscreen of 30 SPF.
Taking time out of the sun to be shaded can help to reduce the chances of overheating, sunburn and even sun stroke. It’s important to consider the protection level while you’re shopping for a beach shade and this shelter can is a safe choice.
Cons
The shade provides cover from the sun above, but one side of the tent is completely open and the other side of the tent is designed to be tied to be open. If you’re looking for an easy to use shade that covers only the top of the tent, this is a great choice. If you are looking for something for more coverage, there are other choices available.
Video Review
Final Thoughts
Beach shelters that provide you with the shade you need and get you out of the sun, but that are large enough for the family are often expensive. Models that are convenient and allow you to create shade in seconds with the pop-up design are usually even more expensive. Shade Shack has created an affordable option for families to fully enjoy an entire day at the beach with this pop-up tent, and the size and portability makes it the perfect option for a family road trip.
Beach and Sun shelter – Introduction
What is Sun Shelter?
Sun shelters are not very old invention that have started to become popular. A sun shelter is basically specialized tent with the front opening. It’s large enough to hold several people sitting side by side on some sort of reclining chairs.
The idea behind the sun shelter is that you can go to your favorite beach or outdoor area and quickly set up a shelter from the sun. Now despite the comparison to tents, sun shelters are designed to quickly set up. You won’t need to fiddle around with any tent pegs or poles. It’s possible to set up your sun shelter in minutes.
What is Beach Sun Shelter?
Beach sun shelters are a must have beach accessory. It can be easy to forget just how dangerous the sun can be for your skin. Skin cancer cases are on the rise and the leading cause for this is too much exposure to the sun. In certain parts of the world, the ozone layer is thinner and the UV radiation is much more intense. Standing around in the blazing sun on the beach for more than a few minutes is a good way to inflict UV damage on your skin.
You can get a beach sun shelter online as there are many different companies that sell their products on the internet. Before you actually buy one, you should have a good idea what sort of beach shelter you want. There are really quite a few styles out there. Two of the most common are the pop up sun shelters and the traditional open tent beach shelters – though you can certainly find more variety if you look around for it.
When choosing a sun shelter, you are going to have to balance a few different things – cost, type of sun shelter, and size of the sun shelter. Probably the most important thing to keep in mind is the size. Do you want your sun shelter for two people or a family sized one? The larger the sun shelter, the more expensive it will likely be and the less portable.
It’s a good idea that you read some consumer reviews online to pick out the best one. This will help you determine which sun shelters are better than the others. I personally prefer the popup sun shelters because of the complete ease of deployment, though some people prefer the standard tent like sun shelters. Personal preference can have a lot to do with your choice, but it’s a good idea just to check what other people are saying.
Reasons to have a Sun Shelter
There are several good reasons to have a sun shelter. One is that the sun is one of the leading causes of skin cancers in the world. Indeed cases of skin cancer are on the rise. It’s not safe to endure too much sun, especially if you are reclining near the beach where the white sand and water magnifies the sun’s effect on your skin. A sun shelter allows you to enjoy the comfort of the beach and sun without taking any of the skin damage you will invariably get.
They are also high portable, designed to be quickly packed up into a portable bag and quickly deployed. There should be no problems bringing a sun shelter to the local beach or even to carry it along on a hiking trip.
If you have children, you will want a sun shelter because you can give the kids a much needed break from the sun if you have a sun shelter. Beaches are particularly hard on children because there is usually no form of shade anywhere close. A sun shelter provides this much needed refuge from the sun.
Different Types of Sun Shelters
There are of course different types of sun shelters out there. You can choose between instant pop up beach tent sun shelters or more traditional designs where you set up poles that hold the shelter over your head. There are different styles and sizes of sun shelters. You can get ultra portable single person sun shelters, two person sun shelters, even sun shelters for an entire family!
Where to buy from?
The best place to buy your beach tent shelter is online retailer like Amazon or Walmart, though you certainly can find them at your local sporting good or outdoor store.
If you have reservations about buying something online that you have not yet seen in person, you may want to visit your local sporting goods store to see a few beach sun shelters. You might even find one that you like. If so, simply go online to buy that exact model and brand, but for significantly cheaper than a brick and mortar retailer will offer.
Some other useful blogs are:
Check out Sun Shelters at Amazon| Walmart | Home Depot | Rei | Rei Beach Shelters
Questions (FAQs)
What is Sun Shelter?
A sun shelter is special shelter that’s designed to help protect a person (or people) for the harsh rays of the sun.
What is the difference between between a Sun shelter and tent?
The difference between a sun shelter and a tent is a sun shelter has a wide opening on one side for people to “face” outwards. You can, for example, set one up on a beach so people can face the open ocean while being protected from the sun.
Why sun shelters are more popular?
One reason why the pop up sun shelters are the most popular is that you simply pull it out of the bag and it pops up in seconds. There is something to be said about ease of deployment when it comes to outdoor tents!