We also wanted self-standing tents, which can stay up on their own. Even so, you should, ideally, stake down each corner securely; in some crowded campgrounds, however, finding a flat spot with soil soft enough to do that can be difficult. A tent that requires staking to stand up—especially a larger, six-person tent—is unwieldy, and it’ll be impossible to set up on a hard surface such as blacktop or on raised wooden tent decks. Whether you’re thinking of hitting the road or staying close to home for your next car-camping adventure, you and your loved ones will need a comfortable place to sleep. It’s wonderfully versatile and can be used for a wide range of purposes. It’s stable and tough, so you’ll always be able to depend on it for all your outdoor adventures.
ozark trail canopy tentFor instance, there’s no floor inside at all, which makes for excellent drainage, but also means you’ll need to bring your own (like a tarp) or plan on standing on wet ground. Overall the design is very solid once assembled, but getting it there can be a pain. That’s because the Texsport’s poles don’t fit as snugly as we’d like into their designated hubs, so having a pole or two pop out of place during assembly is a common occurrence. All things considered, the Texsport Instant Shower is about the most space you can get for the money, and makes for a great multi-use privacy area in the outdoors as well. Some campers might find the Wawona 6’s footprint unwieldy in smaller campsites, or they might simply prefer a tent with a more straightforward design. If you want a six-person tent made with high-quality materials but a traditional profile, we recommend the similarly priced Big Agnes Spicer Peak 6, or Nemo’s Aurora Highrise 6.
If you’re nodding at the screen, you’ll definitely want to check out these fabulous shower tents. If you’re traveling somewhere without running water, a shower tent is an invaluable structure to have at your disposal. Before you head off for your adventure, it’s worth knowing how to use your shower tent.
ozark trail instant cabinWalmart has the Ozark Trail 2-Room Instant Shower/Utility Shelter for only $79 Shipped! (Reg. $130) A 5-gallon solar shower comes with it, heating water up to luxurious temperatures using natural light. Families who regularly pitch their tent in rainy locales need a wind-fighting tent with a good-size vestibule for storing wet shoes and gear, as well as a full rain fly for added weather protection.
We then rotated the tents looking for structural weaknesses, and we tested their guy lines and tabs to see which tents had the best and most intuitive design for withstanding wind. To compare tent fabrics, you also need to know their overall rip strength. For most fabrics, rip strength is expressed as a measurement of the diameter of the fibers in their thread, or a denier—the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric.
Throughout all our testing, we wanted to know how it felt to be inside the tents for long periods of time. If we had to spend a day in the tent during a storm, would it be comfortable? After first removing the models that failed the structural tests, we slept, watched the stars, and ate our meals in all of the tents, as well as planned hikes from them. A full rain cover, two vestibules, and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for families who want to get outside in any weather. It really does have everything you could possibly wish for and then some. Shower tents either have no floor for easy drainage or a drainage opening or a section with mesh if there is a floor.
The tent comes with a full rain fly that adds two vestibules for storage (each 14 square feet), totaling 115 square feet of livable space—which is fairly generous yet still practical for most campsites. Nevertheless, it still comfortably accommodates four people, and it’s a roomy choice for two. This no-nonsense tent is intuitive to set up, has mesh on the top halves of two walls, includes a partial rain fly that’s easy to put on and stake out, and feels cheery inside and out. (We don’t recommend the smaller version of this tent for couples who might actually take it on the road; it was just too flimsy in our tests.) Also note that this tent does not come with its own groundsheet.
That isn’t to say there aren’t some awesome pop-up tents out there, so if you are a fan of that idea then go for it. At the end of the day, it really comes down to your own personal preference and what works for you. There are so many different options out there and that can make choosing a shower tent overwhelming. Deciding which one is right for you is really going to come down to what your personal priorities are. On top of that, it’s got some sweet extra features like pockets to hold your things and a clothesline.
If you’re worried about the rain coming through the mesh top, don’t be. This shower tent comes with a rainfly, so you can stay dry inside no matter the weather. The first step of any proper shower is getting naked, and to do that legally, you’ll want (need) some degree of privacy to keep your self to yourself. The asking price of the Nemo Heliopolis is its main drawback aside from the fact that it doesn’t include the shower itself. It’s also worth mentioning that because Nemo uses a single-wall design, the tent breathes well but doesn’t include a mesh ceiling, which is a nice feature to have when the sun is high in the sky. Still, if you’re serious about your hygiene and want a shower tent that you know will last, you just can’t go wrong with Nemo and their commitment to quality.
A full rain cover, two vestibules, and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for couples who want to get outside in any weather. It’s pricey, though, and unless the other couples’ tents we recommend, it doesn’t include a footprint. There’s a side bag where you can store your personal items, and a clothesline where you can hang your garments and towel.