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Jun 05, 2023

8 Best Pop

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. These tents will give you

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

These tents will give you shelter from the rain, wind and sun.

There's so much to love about a day of outdoor fun. But even the best-laid plans can go awry when the wind begins to whip and the rain drops fall. Even the blaring sun can threaten to ruin a good time. A pop-up canopy is a quick fix, and the best ones are easy to set up, lightweight, water-resistant, and won't go flying in the wind. So whether you're camping, parked in your beach chairs or standing on the sidelines at a sports game, you can enjoy your day to the fullest.

To make our top picks, our editors scoured top retailers for the bestselling products, reading hundreds of reviews and specifications. Analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab also sent a variety of pop-up canopies to consumer testers to test in real life. Based on our combined research and testing, these are our top recommendations.

Our experts love the wide array of options at your fingertips when you opt for ABC CANOPY's pop-up canopy. Though we're partial to the most versatile 10-foot by 10-foot canopy, the model comes in five other sizes as small as 8-foot by 8-foot and as large as 10-foot by 20-foot. (It also comes in 23 colors!)

Because of its size, setup does require two people, but it's a worthy endeavor. The constructed canopy can provide shelter for up to 10 people at a backyard or beach gathering or could house a full eat-in setup at a tailgate or campsite. And although it doesn't have added features like drop-down sides, the tent does have a fully waterproof UPF 50+ canopy.

It also has a steel frame capable of withstanding wind and rain — especially when used in tandem with the included sandbags, guide ropes and stakes. Despite its durability and size, portability isn't an issue. Our experts love that this pop-up canopy comes with a wheeled storage bag to help you lug the 50-plus pound structure.

You can't beat the price of this pop-up canopy — especially considering the 6-foot by 6-foot size. The portable canopy is designed to seat up to four people in a roomy 36-square-foot space. (There's also a more spacious 8-foot by 8-foot option, if you need more room.) The lightweight tent folds down into a compact bag about the size of a portable crib, plus has a carry handle for convenience.

Still, it has three adjustable stage legs and is chock-full of enviable features, including water-resistant UPF 50+ fabric, mesh storage pockets and built-in weight bags to keep the canopy firmly in place. Testers say setup is a breeze, and can be completed with just one person. It's worth noting, though: The top fabric isn't attached to the frame, so although simple, setup does take a bit more time than is ideal.

After testing the Pacific Breeze pop-up canopy, our testers understand why it's one of the top-searched beach tents online. The tent is exceptionally lightweight — it weighs less than 5 pounds — so it's easy to tote on day-long adventures. It also has a UPF 50+ rating, as well as three full sides to provide ample sun protection. Don't worry about breathability on a hot day: The canopy has large integrated windows for ventilation. It also comes with both stakes and sandbags to provide extra security against harsh winds at the beach. (Just be gentle during setup and breakdown, as some users report instances of the poles snapping over time.)

Despite acting as a suitable reprieve from sunny and windy conditions so prevalent at the beach, we love that the 28-square-foot tent still feels nice and roomy. You can fit at least three people inside at any given time.

It may not look like your average pop-up canopy, but that's part of what our experts say make this one so special. The Shibumi shade is meant to work with the wind instead of against it. It does need a breeze of at least 3 mph to work, but that's not hard to come by in an open area, especially one adjacent to an ocean or lake.

One GH tester said its not hard to assemble, and once erect, it's nice and sturdy. As a nice bonus, the two-toned blue shade looks pretty, too, she says. The tent is easy to transport, as well: The whole thing weighs less than four pounds.

Sides can make a pop-up canopy feel more restricted, but you won't feel claustrophobic in this pick from Helinox, since it's nearly 5 feet tall and has 34 square feet of floor area that's suitable for four people. Despite its size, the tent only weights five pounds and folds compactly into a carrying case that makes it simple to tote just about anywhere — the beach, campgrounds, sporting events and more.

If there's any downside, it's that one consumer tester encountered a few hiccups during the assembling process. But, on the bright side, the canopy provided ample protection against the elements once setup. It has a UPF 50+ rating and provided both wind resistance and temperature regulation in our consumer tests. Plus, our testers said the teardown process was "a breeze."

It may not be the best choice for standing at a sporting event or setting up a table at a farmer's market (the head height really only accommodates lounging), but this pop-up canopy is an excellent pick for anyone looking for a little shade at the park or the beach.

That's because it's one of the most portable options on the market. The Miasun Sun Shade folds neatly into an oversized clutch that weighs just 2.5 pounds and is small enough to toss in a backpack or carry-on suitcase if you're headed on a trip. The blue-and-white striped print is undeniably more stylish than most, too.

In the Textiles Lab, our analysts noticed that the cotton canvas material doesn't feature high UPF protection like some other pop-up canopies, but it's not a deal-breaker, since you should always slather up in one of Good Housekeeping Institute's Lab-tested sunscreens for sun protection.

When you're camping, you're not only at the mercy of the weather, but also the nature all around you — bugs included. We love this option, because it has fully enclosed mesh side walls that attach with hook-and-loop closures to keep those critters out. They also double as wind protection and privacy screens of some sort.

We also like how easy setup is. Sure, it's weighty at 32 pounds, but a single person can set up this pop-up canopy in just a minute or two. It's as simple as removing the whole thing from the carry case, spreading it out and snapping the fiberglass poles into place. Once set up, you'll have plenty of space to move around your campsite. The inner dimensions are an impressive 11.5 feet across and 7.5 feet high — enough room to set the whole thing up over a picnic table, if you're dining.

The best pop-up canopies are large enough to provide the coverage you need, but easy to get from place to place. One of the biggest reasons we love this pop-up canopy is that it comes with a wheeled carrying case to get it from point A to point B (like from your car to the sidelines of your kids' sporting event) without a struggle, despite its hefty 36-pound construction. Keep in mind: Because of the weight of this option, users say setup is much simpler with two people.

That sturdiness is important when you're so exposed to blazing sun, driving rain and whipping winds. The added weight comes from the canopy's upgraded steel frame construction and four included weight bags that all help to keep the structure firmly planted where you put it. The tent also has a fully water-resistant canopy that's rated UPF 50+ to reflect 99% of harmful sun rays. It's also adjustable to three different heights, so you can lower it when you're sitting and raise it when you're standing, like during a tailgate party.

Our final list of the best pop-up canopies is a combination of our in-Lab analysis, consumer testing reports and editor research. Our editors scouted out the bestselling products from top retailers, reading hundreds of reviews and detailed specification sheets to ensure we considered all of the top models out there.

Because the Good Housekeeping Institute is located in the heart of New York City, our pros sent consumer testers to the beach with a variety of pop-up canopies, where they assessed each one to see how they performed against less-than-ideal conditions, including strong winds, intense sun and wet weather. Testers took detailed notes describing their experiences from start to finish, noting how clear the directions were and how easy or difficult the setup and breakdown processes were. They also rated the overall quality and appearance of the pop-up canopies.

Back at the Lab, analysts in our Textiles Lab assessed the materials and fabrics, analyzing fiber content and product claims to understand how each pop-up canopy could be expected to perform against the elements.

There are so many pop-up canopies on the market, it can be hard to decide which is best. Here are a couple of things to consider when shopping:

✔️ Material: Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are best for pop-up canopies, because they hold up better against elements like sun, wind and rain. They are also typically more affordable than natural materials like cotton. It's also helpful to check the fabric's UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) i.e. the amount of UV radiation a fabric absorbs. A higher UPF rating means that less harmful UV light will hit your skin, so we recommend a water-resistant synthetic fabric with a UPF rating of 50+ (meaning it blocks 98% harmful rays).

✔️ Size: Pop-up canopies come in all different sizes, from smaller options for a single person to roomy options suitable for four or more. The best choice depends on how you plan to use the temporary structure, but a 10 x 10-foot pop-up canopy is a good bet for most use cases. It can accommodate plenty — multiple people and tables and chairs — but isn't so large that it's difficult to set up or prohibitively expensive.

✔️ Added features: When it comes to pop-up canopies, simpler is usually better. Too many added features, and you may have trouble with portability and setup/breakdown. That said, it pays to set your sights on options that come with sand bags, sturdy guide ropes and strong stakes, all of which can help make your canopy more durable in conditions like wind and rain. It's also helpful to have adjustable side walls or netting for added protection, as well as vents, zip-open flaps and mesh screens for breathability and a compact storage bag for portability.

Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about products in the home, travel and outdoor spaces. She worked under the guidance of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute to research and review the pop-up canopy recommendations in this story.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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