The tent itself is made of 190T nylon. It’s been coated for UV protection as well. It’s moisture resistant and sturdy enough to handle some tough wind. Just close the mesh window to avoid any harsh weather conditions. If you are travelling on foot, have a full car or getting on public transport, it needs to be light to carry and compact. A UV beach tent will provide protection from direct sunlight so is ideal if you are at the beach with kids.

Throughout its use, our Coleman beach tent has held up extremely well. There are no rips in the fabric, the poles are all still straight and unbroken, and the color isn’t showing any signs of fading from the sun. Size The Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade does not have side windows. This creates a slightly narrower range of viewing angles than is possible in tents with side windows. The Eureka Solar Shade (paid link),for example, does have side windows. With room for three to four adults on a beach blanket, the Pacific Breeze beach tent is roomy and comfortable. At 95” long by 52” high and 51” deep, few tents can match this for size. Especially at a lightweight 6 pounds. That said, the Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade is very wide, this isn’t a limitation that has ever upset me. However, it is worth keeping in mind during your own purchasing decisions. I can see how side windows may be useful to create a breeze during very hot days, but we’ve found the large rear window in our tent adequate for that purpose. Placement Restrictions Beach canopies are obviously a great choice here. With open sides you have nothing to worry about. When you opt for a tent though, make sure it can breathe. Vents and window panels are key. And don’t forget that double beach canopies offers excellent airflow. MaterialMost beach tents offer UV 50+ protection which is important if you are on the beach, especially in hot weather. These crafty little huts offer you a little oasis in the middle of miles of scorching sand and respite from direct sun exposure, which can lead to the development of skin cancer, eye damage, and accelerate the rate that your skin ages—plus, most importantly, kill your vibe on an otherwise blissful beach day. Ever tried and failed to lodge your beach umbrella in the sand only to have it flap away in the breeze, nearly impaling a fellow beach-goer? Never again. A beach tent is the most luxurious way to plant your flag on a prime strip of beach, and not think about the blazing sun for a couple hours. With superior sun protection, the Neso beach tent is ahead of the game. They’re sold all over the world, so you’ll see these on beaches everywhere. It’s also available in a wide array of colors to meet your style needs. A solid carrying case is also important. You want a sturdy case with quality handles that’s easy to transport. You’d be surprised but not every tent offers this.

If you’ve never seen a tent catch fire, it can be surprising. Older tents especially were veritable tinder boxes. Once the material catches, the whole tent will burn and melt in just minutes. Be safe and be smart about placement near fires. Air Flow We recommend polyester or nylon as the best materials. We’ve experienced a canvas tent after being stored for a season when it was still damp. That means we know what we’re talking about. Walls The Coleman Beach Shelter is a pop up tent to save you time. No need to fuss with poles and shaping things here. The tent pops into shape in minutes. Set up and take down will take you about four or five minutes.

The tent weighs just over 6 pounds. It’s easy to manage and carry around with you. The base is polyethylene. That makes it durable and waterproof. It can handle some abuse and is puncture resistant. If you’re choosing a beach tent, keep an eye on the side walls. These offer wind and full sun protection that a canopy can’t match. Remember, if you’re on the beach at sunset, your canopy is essentially useless. A beach tent, however, offers coverage at any time. Legs Naturally, you need some valid sun protection. You want a UV rating that will keep you safe from harmful rays and sunburns. These tents work a lot like sunscreen in that regard. The higher the UV rating, the safer you are. The UPF rating on a tent means ultraviolet protection factor. Look for a UPF of at least 50. This will help cut those rays and protect you from getting skin cancer.

Whatever style you like, make sure they are secure. Those tie downs and stakes will need to be rooted firmly. This can be a problem on some beaches. Loose sand and gravel is not a secure substance, after all. Depending on what you choose, there can be a handful of extras involved here. Some beach canopies and beach tents include sand bags. You can fill these and use them to weigh everything down. This is essential in windy conditions. The Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade does have one area where quality could be improved. The quality of the metal eyelets at each corner could be improved. The eyelets are used for pole mounting.

One Quick Note on Beach Tents 

This is another part of a tent or canopy that is easily overlooked. The quality of the material means nothing if the seam quality is poor. Look for taped seams. These will be extra durable. They’ll also stand up better to wind and rain. If the seams are exposed, they risk pulling apart. This can happen from poor handling or from accidental damage. But the constant pulling of wind can wear them out over time as well. Better seams can last for the long haul. Size How hot is this beach, right? Well, the fact is the beach and grilling go hand in hand. And that’s awesome, so long as you are safe. A lot of people want to set a beach canopy up over the grill. That keeps the wind and sun out of the way. But be cautious. You need a beach canopy that is flame retardant. If just one spark or coal pops out, it could spell disaster. The frame is high quality steel. It adds weight to be sure, but it keeps it strong and sturdy. There’s a double truss one-piece frame around the top. Count on that to be tough. Some beaches—like those in New York and New Jersey—ban people from erecting tents, which makes sense considering the problem of overcrowded beaches. So just make sure you do some research in advance to make sure you’re actually allowed to pitch a tent, or that the one you have is at least small enough to not piss off your fellow beachgoers. And the next time you’re hitting the beach, come prepared with one of these, the best beach tents we could find, from small domes for one or two people to the truly extra beach canopies for protecting your whole crew from the sun's glare. The frame of this tent is made of plastic, so be aware. It’s very sturdy, don’t get us wrong. But it’s not aluminum. You can’t put this one through as much abuse as some others. But if you take care of it, it can handle wind, rain and sun.