6 Best Screen Tent
Joshua Keaton
Screen tents are a great asset to your home or camping trip.
Depending on the durability, sizes and features, different screen tents can embellish your backyard and these practical camping screen houses can have numerous functions: the screen can be used to keep the mosquitos and other insects away, it can be used on a car camping trip, at the beach or even as a kitchen area during camping.
Because of their mesh walls, screen tents are better for warmer weather, when you don’t have to worry about cold getting into the tent.
Due to their design that is reminiscent of a dome, screen tents are more similar to houses rather than tents for camping. With screen tents, ventilation and weather resistance are your number one priority.
Always remember to take off your rain gear before coming back to the tent.
All in all, screen tents are a great choice for all outdoor enthusiasts. With a screen tent, you can still feel the magic of camping, even if you just organize a barbecue party in your own backyard.
Most screen tents are similar in the way they look, they are large and high, but there are certain characteristics they are differentiated by.
For instance, there are differently shaped doors, different materials used for poles or stakes or the number of people that can be inside the tent at the same time. If you plan on spending more days in nature, you should also take sleeping capacities into consideration.
Space
Angled sides minimize the space available inside the screen tent. Usually, screen tents can accommodate a larger group of people due to their height and size in general.
Screen tents are not your typical tents for camping, because most of the time, you’ll need a lot more space to fit a table, barbecue or the entire kitchen area inside the tent.
Depending on your style and daily activities, you can choose from a higher but narrower screen tent or a tent with lower peak height, but with more space to move around.
It is important to plan ahead so you can pinpoint what it is that you’re looking for among the tent specifics. Of course, don’t expect your guests to be sitting inside the tent all day. They will circulate all day, and your tent will most likely never be cramped up with people.
Spaciousness is what you should be looking for in a tent. Even though the vast majority of screen tents can fit a table and other equipment inside, there are tents that due to their sloped sides, can appear visually smaller, even though that might not be the case.
Material
In most cases, the material used for the sides or the walls of the screen tent is mesh. Mesh helps with the air ventilation and also stops insects from entering the area where you sit or eat.
Usually, rooftop or edges are made of polyester, which is a well-known material in the camping industry. It helps to keep the inner part of the tent dry and to prevent the excessive water leaking into the tent.
In certain screen tents, it is not recommended to cook, since the material the tent is made of can melt.
If you’re cooking inside, it is of crucial importance to keep the doors and windows open to cut condensation and ventilate the fumes.
Mesh is the best fabric for air ventilation, and although it’s not waterproof, it helps the built up air leave the screen tent much faster than any other material. Be extra careful if you decide to cook, since tents are susceptible to fire damage.
Pay attention to the materials, since some screen tents’ parts are made of nylon. Nylon is thinner than polyester, which means it is easier to tear it when strong wind is blowing, or if there’s a heavy downpour.
Height
High ceiling and roomy interior are two main features of screen tents. Most of the tents are long enough to fit a picnic table inside, and high enough so that tall adults won’t have any problems walking or moving around.
You don’t have to worry about the peak height. Most screen tents have a high ceiling. However, they can be shaped differently, so you’ll notice different heights when you take a look at the corners of the tent. It is great if you can lift up your arms and not touch the ceiling.
Weather Resistance
The rooftop is made of polyester which doesn’t allow the rain to make a pool on the roof, and even if it happens, in most cases it will prevent the leakage from getting into the tent.
Also, it is important to mention that with a group of kids running around it is hard to have doors closed all the time. So, if you still want an insect-free environment, instead of zipping up the doors entirely, leave them unzipped and let the kids run through them. Mesh doors will help you fight bugs and mosquitoes, even if you don’t keep them zipped down all the time.
If you take your screen tent to a beach, you should know that sometimes, the manufacturers make sand stakes for specific use on beaches and sand, which come in handy if you plan a day full of beach activities with your family or friends.
6 Best Screen Tent
4. Coleman – Instant Screenhouse
2. Quick Set – Escape Shelter Popup Tent
3. Wenzel – Sun Valley Screen House
1. Wenzel – Magnetic Screen House
5. Eureka – Northern Breeze Aluminum Frame Screen House
6. Gazelle – Portable 6-Sided Screen Tent
Coleman – Instant Screenhouse
This portable Coleman Instant Screenhouse tent helps you stay protected from different weather conditions, but also bugs. The tent comes with a carry bag, so when you don’t need the screen tent anymore, you can just pack it in the bag and take with you.
The setup process is beginner-friendly, which means it will only take you a couple of minutes to set it up. The fabric used for the tent design is thick, durable with UV Guard UPF 50+ sun protection. The screen tent comes with stakes and the floor area.
There is no need to assemble it, since it can be assembled right out of the box, so, you won’t need much help to put it together.
There are two large T-shaped doors, at the front and in the back, which you can use to enter and leave the tent as you please. It is spacious, so you can put sleeping bags or benches inside the tent and still have enough room to move around. A great thing about this particular tent is that you could get a tarp to place underneath to ensure that no bugs can enter the tent area.
Pros
- Two large doors
- Offers UV protections
- Easy setup process
- Comes with stakes and floor area
- Carry bag for storage and transport
Cons
- Not enough room to walk around (depending on the number of people inside the tent)
- Sides can slope
Our Take
Quick Set – Escape Shelter Popup Tent
The name of this Quick Set Escape Shelter Popup Tent implies that it involves a pop-up mechanism which makes the setup process extremely easy. Once you get it out of the box, it is ready, there is no assembly required.
This screen tent can accommodate from 6 to 8 people at the same time, including a standard size picnic table. Some of its features are no-see-um mesh screen, water resistant roof with taped seams and triple layer corner pole pockets.
It comes with tent stakes, ropes and an oversized carry bag which can be used for storage and transportation. The tent construction is durable and sturdy, with fibreglass poles and quality hub-style assemblies. There are also wind panels for extra protection. Corner poles are triple layered so they are more resistant to tear or wear.
Pros
- Accommodates 6 to 8 people
- Comes with stakes, ropes and a carry bag
- Triple layered corner poles
- Easy setup process
- Strong constructions
Cons
- Water resistant instead of waterproof roof
- Weather panels sold separately
Our Take
Wenzel – Sun Valley Screen House
Wenzel Sun Valley Screen House is a screen tent that has 2 large inverted T-shaped front and rear doors. Setting up the tent is not difficult thanks to the shock corded fibreglass poles and ropes that can be used for extra stability during windy weather.
The tent consists of guy ropes on each corner for extra stability, mesh walls and seams on the top you should seal to prevent the rain from entering.
Pre attached guy ropes help with the tent’s stability and give extra support to its construction. This is a light tent, with a smaller package when stored. You can fit a long picnic table inside the tent, and it will still be spacious enough for other activities.
There is a floor area which eases the setup process and ensures the tent stability. It performs well in rain, wind or storms.
Pros
- 2 large doors
- Lightweight design
- Performs well in different weather conditions
- Beginner-friendly setup process
- Stability
Cons
- Sold in one colour (blue)
- Doesn’t have a floor area
Our Take
Wenzel – Magnetic Screen House
This easy-to-set-up Wenzel Magnetic Screen House is a great screen tent for picnics or backyard parties. Instead of T-shaped doors, there are two I style doors you won’t be zipping in and out, since they are magnetic.
The ceiling is high, so the environment is not claustrophobic at all, and there is plenty of room for a picnic table and bunch of kids who will be all over the place.
The tent comes with a storage bag, which is a great asset for transport, and steel and fiberglass poles to ensure the ten will remain in place even if the weather is bad.
The material combination consists of mesh for large walls and doors, and polyester taffeta for rooftop and edges. The best thing is that you get a 10 year warranty on the product, so you can expect your needs to be met in any way possible.
Pros
- Two large automatic doors
- Roomy and spacious interior
- 10 year warranty
- Easy to transport, due to a storage bag
- The combination of mesh and polyester
Cons
- Water resistent instead of waterproof top
- Bottomless, no floor area
Our Take
Here are a few reasons why we selected Wenzel Magnetic Screen House as the winning product. First and foremost, it comes with a warranty, which is a proof that the manufacturer is confident in his own product.
Not to mention, you can always call them and ask for help if you have any doubts. Furthermore, the one-of-a-kind magnetic feature is not only useful for children who are always on the go, but also you don’t have to think about constantly zipping the entrance up and down.
- It has a warranty, and if there are any problems with the tent, you can directly contact customer service and explain the problems you’ve encountered.
- There are two large and easy possible entrances and exits.
- If the screen tent is properly staked down, all the insects will be kept out of the tent.
- Comes with a carry bag which is very useful for storage and transportation.
- There are no zippers, so the process of leaving and entering is facilitated.
Eureka – Northern Breeze Aluminum Frame Screen House
You’ll find a perfect escape from the sun, bugs and rain in Eureka Northern Breeze Aluminium Frame Screen House. Mesh walls keep the bugs out, and allow the fresh air to enter the tent. With its minimum weight of 25 pounds, it is not heavy or bulky for transport or storage.
It is perfectly sized so you can put a picnic table inside.
The poles that come with the screen tent are made of aluminum. If you know that you’ll be having a lot of kids over, simply zip open the two full-length front zippered doors so they can freely run around and enter and leave the tent with ease.
If you need more shade, there is an awning attached to the tent you can install to provide a shelter from the sun.
To be more precise, there are built-in wind/rain curtains, which double as awnings when extra space or shelter is needed. The combination of polyester and no-see-um mesh walls is perfect for keeping the sun and the bugs away.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Built-in rain or wind curtains
- Commodious interior
- Two full-length front doors
- Polyester and mesh combo
Cons
- Aluminium poles
- Long zipper
Our Take
Gazelle – Portable 6-Sided Screen Tent
In Gazelle Portable 6-Sided Screen Tent there is enough room for 8 people. It comes with a convenient carry bag, which is a practical solution for storing and transporting the tent.
To prevent the zipper from breaking, zippers on this particular screen tent are rugged, dependable and beefy.
A sealed roof panel with UV protection will stop the rain from ruining your camping day, and it will also block the UV radiation, which is extremely important on a hot, summer day.
To strengthen the tent even more, every corner of the gazebo has an extra layer of fabric and high-strength pole pockets. When it comes to repelling insects, each wall is made of protective tight weave mesh, which is a perfect fabric for keeping the unwanted flying visitors away.
Pros
- Accommodates up to 8 people
- UV protection
- Protective tight weave mesh
- Carry bag for storage and transport
- Sealed roof panel
Cons
- No hooks included
- Optional wind panels for additional protection from the elements are sold separately
Our Take
