Camping is an incredible hobby to really get into that comes with so many health benefits that you wouldn’t even believe….seriously!
However it may be just me but one part I am particularly not fond is the early hours when the glare of the morning sun awakens you at 5:30am that seems to light up the whole inside of your tent like a discoball.
I think it’s the added fact too that I just love my sleep and hate to be wakened before I’m ready…but that’s just me.
Now I understand that it’s actually a good thing to be wakened naturally by the sun just like our ancestors were….
However, this post is for the campers out there that enjoy a lay in during the morning and want to keep that sweet sleep inducing melatonin high when sleeping in a blackout tent.
Blackout tent technology is a pretty new concept to outdoor
camping.
Having blackout fabric is an incredible feature to have if
you’re camping with young children or simply a late riser.
Quick Summary of the Best Blackout Tents
Design
How many can it hold?
Key Features
Where to Buy?
3 People
- Wind Resistant up to 50km/h (Force 6)
- Quick & Easy 2 Second Pitching
3 People
- Ideal Porch / Storage Area for camping gear
- High Hydrostatic Head of 4500mm
8 People
- Quick & Easy Inflation
- Removable Bedrooms to Increase Living Space
The Evolution to Blackout Tents
Since the dawn of the very first tent, tents were always made with a light coloured polyester so that the temperature wouldn’t creep up and become too much of an issue when sleeping or living in.
Yes, the light coloured polyester does control the heat inside of the tent to a certain degree however the only problem is that it lets in a lot of light.
Thanks to enhancements in tent manufacturing nowadays though, we can have the best of both worlds.
Temperature is able to be controlled due to increased air vents and net frame entrances whilst at the same time the evolution to having blackout fabric is able to block out up to 99% of all light even in broad daylight.
10 Best Blackout Tents
Quechua Arpenaz 2 Fresh & Black -2 man
Dimensions
Width & Length: 120cm (3.9ft) X 200cm (6.5 ft)
Height: 105cm (3.4ft)
Key Features
- 2 Person Tent
- Easy pole set up
- Wind Resistant up to 40km/h (Force 5)
Description
The Quechua Arpenaz 2 is a great sleek, simple tent for a 2 person camping trip.
Comes in a handy carry bag that weighs just 2.6kgs in total
It has a nice dome shaped construction that provides ample height that also holds up great in windy conditions up to 40km per hour.
Setting up is a breeze.
Lay the inner bedroom area flat on the floor. Connect the poles together so they overlap in an ‘X’ fashion and clip the inner tent onto the poles.
Throw over your flysheet, clip and tie into place and that’s you!
It’s a great blackout tent that blocks out up to 99% of daylight.
It’s completely waterproof that has been under rigorous testing of up to 200mm water per hour in extreme conditions.
Great value tent for a great price
Quechua 2 Seconds Fresh & Black Pop-Up
Dimensions
Width & Length: 180cm (5.9ft) X 210cm (6.8ft)
Height: 104cm (3.4ft)
Key Features
- 3 Person Tent
- Wind Resistant up to 50km/h (Force 6)
- Quick & Easy 2 Second Pitching
Description
This is a very affordable, quick to assemble tent for three campers.
Thanks to the pop-up technology you’ll be sitting in your tent within minutes….if even!
Remove it from the bag, slide the elastic band off and the poles will automatically pop right into place.
Peg it down and that’s it.
It has a very vibrant white outside look with a dark bedroom area that blocks out up to 99% of daylight.
The inside stays surprisingly cool even when camping on warm days thanks to its double skin, wide door and side ventilation windows so the tent can let in fresh air better.
It has been tested under extreme conditions of up to 50km per hour winds so it’s ideal for camping in windy conditions.
Coleman BlackOut
Dimensions
Width & Length: 185cm (6ft) X 325cm (10ft)
Height: 120cm (3.9ft)
Key Features
- 3 Person Tent
- Large Porch / Storage Area
- Very High Hydrostatic Head of 4500mm
Description
The Coleman Blackout is a tent designed for Colman’s Festival Collection.
It is a spacious 3 person tent that allows a decent size of storage space at the front to hold all of your camping or festival gear.
Most major festivals are non stop over a long weekend and from time to time, you’ll need some shut eye.
This tent allows you take a nap anytime of the day, blocking out 99% of daylight thanks to the blackout fabric installed inside the bedroom area.
You can really get in that restful sleep needed to continue on the festivities throughout the night.
You can guarantee you’ll stay dry through those rain and muddy days as this tent has an incredible hydrostatic head of 4500mm.
If it’s a festival you’re going to or if not, if it’s just simply for recreational purposes this tent will keep you dry, keep you rested and all at an affordable price.
Coleman Kobuk Valley
Dimensions
Width & Length: 185cm (6ft) X 325cm (10ft)
Height: 120cm (3.9ft)
Key Features
- 3 Person Tent
- Very High Hydrostatic Head of 4500mm
- Ideal Porch / Storage Area for camping gear
Description
A great tent for small families or even a small group camping weekend away.
The Coleman Kobuk is perfectly designed with its dome shaped structure with plenty of room for sleeping three people that holds plenty of gear at the front.
Inside the bedroom area, dark fabric covers the walls eliminating 99% of daylight so you can have that well-earned lay in.
Thanks to its high waterproof hydro static head, yourself and your gear will stay dry the entire time even on the worst of conditions.
It also has a riser groundsheet so wet and muddy conditions remain where they should…outside the tent.
Check it out here
Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 XL Fresh & Black
Dimensions
Two Bedrooms: 140cm (4.6ft) X 260cm (8.5ft)
Living Area: 5.8sqm with a height of 1.95m (6.4ft)
Key Features
- 4 Person Tent
- Large Spacious Living Area
- No Poles - Easy Inflation
Description
If you’re after a tent without the whole hassle of setting up and connecting poles, then the Quechua Air Seconds may just be the tent you’re after.
This tent has a very easy set up.
Using the the Quechua Red 5.2 Litre Pump quickly inflates the tubes to form the structure of the tent. Unfortunately this is not provided but you can check prices here.
The tubes are made of heavy duty materials; it has a two-layer arch structure. The inner material is made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and the outside of 600 denier polyester.
Totally waterproof and robust. No need to worry about tearing or bursting.
The room in here is incredible.
2 bedrooms are located at either end of the tent and a large living area right in the middle.
You can chill, relax, serve dinner or have a few drinks whilst you stare out into your beautiful surroundings.
Quechua Air Seconds 5.2 XL Fresh & Black
Dimensions
Two Bedrooms: 210cm (6.9ft) X 210cm (6.9ft) | 140cm (4.6ft) X 210cm (6.9ft)
Living Area: 7.9 sqm with a height of 2.14m (7ft)
Key Features
- 5 Person Tent
- No Poles - Easy Inflation
- Spacious Living Area
Description
If you fancy a tent with a lot of space and room to sleep and store your gear. This may be your tent.
It’s a very appealing looking tent that is incredibly easy to set up.
Using the Quechua Red 5.2 Litre Pump this tent can inflate in a matter of minutes, taking all the stress away from linking and connecting poles together.
The bedroom areas are installed with black fabric to block 99% of daylight.
The living area has two windows providing greater light into the main area and large ventilation panels that promote greater airflow throughout the tent, reducing condensation.
Bedroom areas are located at the back beside one another, one being bigger than the other. Great for you and your other half to have one room and the kids take the other.
It’s a great all round tent, that is sleek, modern with a lot of functionalities to it.
Coleman Rocky Mountain
Dimensions
2 Bedrooms: 6m2
Living Area: 5.1m2
Head Height: 1.85m (6ft)
Key Features
- 5 Person Tent
- 2 XXL Black Out Bedrooms
- Very Large Living Area
Description
Awarded Winner of Best Family Tents 2019 of the Owners Satisfaction Awards.
The Coleman Rocky Mountain is an incredibly spacious tent that offers room to sleep 5 people, has a massive 5.1m2 living area that can hold a table and chairs along with plently of room of storage.
It’s basically a home from home.
This tunnel tent has a waterproof hydrostatic head of 4500mm which is guaranteed to keep you and your camping gear dry. Due to this tunnel design it promotes a more aerodynamic structure meaning it’s no match for wind and rain.
Two bedrooms are located at the back, sided by side and separated by a divider. However, if you wanted more space, this can be removed offering one extra large bedroom.
Large windows are located in the living area that offer optimum light but can covered over to offer more privacy.
It’s a great tent for any large family that looks perfect on the campsite.
Coleman Oak Canyon
Dimensions
Sleeping Area: 7.3m2
Living Area: 5.5m2
Key Features
- 5 Person Tent
- Large Living Area with 2 Doors & Side Window
- 2 Massive XXL Bedrooms
Description
Another great family tent that offers ample space for 5 people to live in.
Similar to the Coleman Rocky Mountain however the Oak Canyon has the usability of 2 doors.
2 bedrooms in the back are fully fitted with dark fabric to block out daylight. This also allows the rooms to stay 5 degrees cooler during the day & 1 degree warmer during the night.
This then leads onto the living area which is an incredible size where you can stand up fully without hunching.
It has a hydrostatic head of 4500mm which allows the tent to be completely waterproof even in severe conditions.
It’s a fantastic tent well worth it’s weight in gold that can be trusted by the reputable tent manufacturer, Coleman.
Quechua Air Seconds 6.3 XL Fresh & Black
Dimensions
Bedrooms: 140cm (4.6ft) X 210cm (6.9ft)
Living Area: 10sqm with a height of 2.10m
Key Features
- 6 Person Tent
- Choice of 2 or 3 Bedrooms
- No Poles - Easy Inflation
Description
Another awesome tent in Quechua’s Inflatable Tent range.
The 6.3 XL Fresh & Black is an ideal tent for a large family or group of people camping.
It’s very easy set up.
Simply pump the heavy duty tubes up with the Quechua Red 5.3 Litre Pump. Unfortunately, no supplied with the tent but is very affordable.
There is a built-in pressure gauge to let you know when the tent is filled to its optimum amount.
The tubes are very made of very robust TPU and polyester and will stand the test of whatever elements throw at it.
Inside is very spacious. You have the opportunity of either having 3 bedrooms – 2 at the back and 1 in front.
Although if you want more space, simply remove the partition wall at the front and you instantly have a incredibly large living area.
It’s a great inflatable tent that simply takes the hassle of connecting poles – also thanks to this it makes it a lot easier to carry.
Quechua Air Seconds 8.4 XL Fresh & Black
Dimensions
Bedrooms: 147cm (4.8ft) X 210cm (6.9ft)
Living Area: 9m2 with a height of 225cm (7.4ft)
Key Features
- 8 Person Tent
- No Poles - Easy Inflation
- Removable Bedrooms to Increase Living Space
Description
The biggest tent on the list that sleeps up to 8 people – perfect for large families for long camping trips.
This is part of Quechua’s Inflatable Tent Range that is super easy to inflate and set up. The pump is purchased separately but it is very affordable.
The inflatable tubes come pre-installed onto the tent itself so it’s just a matter of inflating and pegging down.
It’s a great sized tent with 4 separate bedrooms with ample space.
2 of the bedrooms on the right side can be removed to increase your living quarters so it can be a very customisable tent.
This tent can hold up against 60km/h winds so you can stay safe even in the windiest of nights.
Conclusion
So if you’re just like me and really do appreciate your sleep then one of these blackout tents may be just the one for you.
All of these tents claim to be able to block out 99% of daylight so you’re not being wakened at first light.
These are very good too if you have a family with small children and want them to get a restful sleep.
I hope one of these tents provides the solution you are looking for when out camping next.
If you have any questions, drop me a comment and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
