The 5 Best Blackout Tents for Camping in 2023 [Buyer’s Guide]

“The Early Bird Gets The Worm” is a popular saying in the camping community. But when you have been out on the trails for days, the morning sun can be the worst enemy you have ever encountered!

There have been many times when I have been out camping, that I just wanted to sleep. But the moment the sun came up, that desire became impossible.

This is when I decided to look into blackout tents for these rare camping occasions when I didn’t want to wake up at the crack of dawn.

However, it was a difficult journey to find a quality tent that would meet my needs. So I decided to write a buyer’s guide to help others with the same problem. And I have reviewed five of the best blackout tents to help you on your journey.

Let’s get started!

In this article, we’re going to review the following blackout tents:

• Coleman Dark Room Skydome Tent
• Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent
• Coleman Dome Tent
• Ozark Trail 10 Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
• Coleman Tent with Instant Setup
  
  

Blackout Tent Buyer’s Guide

Whenever I started looking into blackout tents, I found it hard to find any real information on the subject that was helpful. And therefore, with all of my research and experience, I have compiled all the information that you will need to ensure you make the best purchasing decision.

What Are Blackout Tents?

These tents are also called ‘dark room’ or ‘dark rest’ tents. And they get the names because they are made with fabric that has light-absorbing or light-diffusing qualities. Sometimes the fabric is fully blacked out and other times the fabric is dark but not fully blacked out.

Main Purposes For Blackout Tents

The word “blackout” in these types of tents should tell you the main purpose for these tents. But there is one that might not be as obvious.

Most people tend to enjoy camping when the weather is warmer. However, that doesn’t mean that they do not wish to be hot and uncomfortable on their trip.

Not only do blackout tents allow you to sleep longer in the mornings without the annoyance of the sun beaming in on you. But they can also provide a cooler place to rest when the sun is at its peak. And you wish for some shelter in a cooler environment.

The need for a blackout tent is not always linked to your group’s love of sleeping in. Blackout tents were designed to provide with a comfortable place to rest when the sun is at its peak.

It also helps to keep you from having skin problems or getting burned. Especially if you or someone in your camping party have fair skin or issues with being out in direct sunlight.

All Around Tips and Features to Look For in a Tent

Whenever you are looking for blackout tents, it is important to still consider other features, as well. In this section, I’ll go over some generalized features that you should consider.

Tent Style

There are different styles that you purchase blackout tents in. And each one has something to bring to the table. Here are the three main styles:

• Dome Tents – These tents tend to be smaller. And they have a dome-style top, which tends to be suitable for taller people. They also tend to be more open.
• Cabin Tents – These tents tend to be larger and designed for more people. They often have a lot of extra space for the group to store their equipment inside. And they still have room to move around. Cabin tents usually have some way to divide the space inside. However, these tents are usually heavier, which can be difficult on a long hiking & camping trip.
• Backpacking Tents – This is the third major style of tent that people can choose from. The main feature of these tents is that they are lightweight and usually come with an easy carrying bag. They usually are easy to set up, and they can be set up quickly, which backpacking trips tend to require.

One of the most important things to note about the different styles of tents is that sometimes these styles can be intertwined into one design to make it better than any single style. You just need to have a clear image of the tent that you want. And what is important to you and everyone that will be camping with you.

Weight

If you plan on camping at a campsite that isn’t far from your vehicle, weight might not be a huge issue. But if you have to hike a mile or more with all of your equipment to get to your campsite, it can quickly become one of the most important features.

Generally speaking, it is always an excellent idea to look for a tent that is lightweight. That way it can work for different types of camping trips.

Size and Height

Sometimes people say that bigger is better, but that is not always the case. You should consider the number of people that you will be going on trips with regularly.

The larger the tent the more expensive they run. And you might be able to deal with a smaller tent if you don’t plan for lots of people. But you could still go with a slightly larger tent to ensure you have plenty of room for your equipment and all of the people that you want to camp with.

Material

With blackout tents, the material is the most important part to consider. Either a tent is a dark room tent or it isn’t.

If you are a light sleeper or if you plan on camping with people who might be or have sensitive skin, you must make sure that the tent you choose uses a blacked-out material. It will be in the description of the tent.

If it doesn’t mention any of these things and it is something you require, you need to look at other tents. However, you always want to make sure that the tent you choose is made from high-quality material.

It doesn’t hurt to ensure that the material is waterproof and has a durable frame to be able to survive high winds.

FAQ

Are blackout tents capable of controlling temperature?

Not all blackout tents are designed with this purpose in mind, but many of these tents are capable of doing so depending on the type of material they are made from and the way they are designed.

If this is important, you need to make sure that the tent you are considering has this capability listed in its description. If it is not, you might want to consider a different tent or contact the manufacturer to ensure that it will control temperature.

Are all blackout tents the same?

Just like with all products, there are different calibers of blackout tents on the market for you to choose from. Some tents are classified as blackout tents, but not all of them can provide the same features.

They will reduce the amount of sunlight that gets into the tent. But not all of them help with temperature control. Which is important because of the blackness of the fabric used.

Not all blackout tents are designed with this purpose in mind. But many of these tents are capable of doing so depending on the type of material they are made from and the way they are designed.

If this is important, you need to make sure that the tent you are considering has this capability listed in its description. If it is not, you might want to consider a different tent. Or contact the manufacturer to ensure that it will control temperature.

Blackout Tent Reviews

In this section, I have compiled 5 of the best blackout tents that I found that have a lot of the things you should look for. All the information is based on my experience and the research I added to the above buyer’s guide.

1. Coleman Dark Room Skydome Tent

Coleman is a popular manufacturer of tents in the camping and hiking community. They take their time to make sure that every part of their tent model is functioning and well thought out.

With this tent model, Coleman used darkroom technology to help keep the inside of the tent cool and dark, even on the sunniest of days.

Coleman Dark Room Skydome tent can be purchased in different sizes, which makes it convenient for anyone that enjoys this style. It comes with everything that you need to be comfortable on a hiking adventure. Including a carry bag for the tent and all of the materials to pitch it properly.

Specifications:

• Brand: Coleman
• Size: 2 Person, 4 Person, 6 Person, 8 Person
• Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 6 feet
• Weight: 5-10 pounds
• Material: Nylon
• Recommended Uses: Camping & Hiking

Coleman used a WeatherTec system with a tub-like floor that has inverted seams. It is meant to help keep the inside of the tent dry. The frame is designed to be capable of withstanding up to 35 mph winds.

Another excellent feature about this tent is that it provides an extra 20% headroom compared to other tents of the same size.

Finally, the best part about this tent is that it takes less than five minutes for you to set up. When working with one of the larger sizes, it might take two people to get it up as quickly. But it still has an easy setup design, even for those that might be new to camping gear and pitching a tent.

Pros:

• Uses dark room technology
• Designed to be pitched in less than 5 minutes
• Provides 20% more headroom than other models
• Has extra mesh pockets for storage and organization
• Covered by a 1-year limited warranty

Cons:

• Could use a sturdier frame

2. Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent

One of the best features about this particular tent model is that it was validated and tested in a wind tunnel on a turntable to ensure that it would be capable of holding up in bad weather.

It is capable of holding up in 50 km/h winds. It was also tested in a tropical rain setting to ensure that it would be waterproof as well.

This tent has a lightweight design and only weighs approximately 7.30 pounds. So it can easily be used for a regular camping trip or a hiking and backpacking trip.

Plus, it is a free-standing structure that was designed to take less than five minutes to fully set up. Even for those that might be new to camping.

Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping tent comes with a flysheet that has two side panels that are capable of being extended. It provides extra air circulation on the inside of the tent, which makes it cooler.

Specifications:

• Brand: Quechua
• Size: 2 Person, 3 Person
• Dimensions: 25 x 24 x 3.5 inches
• Weight: 6.83 pounds
• Material: Fabric
• Recommended Uses: Camping & Hiking

The external fabric is made from a patented black fabric that provides you with 99% darkness. Whether it is in the morning or noon when the sun is at its peak.

Finally, it comes with everything needed to use the tent. And it even includes a circular carrying bag that makes hiking to your camping site easier.

Pros:

• Provides 99% darkness in broad daylight
• Capable of withstanding up to 50 km/h winds
• Has a lightweight and portable design
• Comes with a flysheet and 2 side panels for air circulation

Cons:

• Minor issues with loud crinkling material used for floor

3. Coleman Dome Tent

With this dome tent, Coleman wanted a tent that would be able to accommodate up to 6 people. They have designed this tent in two sizes to ensure that it would meet the needs of most sized families.

Not to mention, they provide a 1-year limited warranty in case something extreme happens on your outings.

The poles that are required to pitch this tent come pre-attached to the tent fabric. It makes setting up this tent simple and quick.

Most people said they were able to get the tent fully pitched and operational in less than 10 minutes. And that was with a single person setting up the tent.

This is extremely helpful. It will allow the other people with you to start working on other base camp preparations rather than having to fiddle pitching the tent.

Specifications:

• Brand: Coleman
• Size: 4 Person, 6 Person
• Dimensions:108 x 49 x 84 inches
• Weight: 10.24 pounds
• Material: N/a
• Recommended Uses: Camping & Hiking

In this tent design, Coleman also uses darkroom technology that helps to provide you with a dark place to relax. Regardless of the time of day. It also helps to keep the interior of the tent cooler than other types of tents that absorb and trap the heat inside.

Finally, if you are in a camping site that has power or allows you to be close to your car, it comes with an e-port. It will allow you to hook up electrical devices inside of your tent. So they will be safe from any sort of hazardous weather conditions that might arise on your trip.

Pros:

• Comes with a 1-year limited warranty
• Takes approximately 10 minutes to pitch
• Uses dark room technology to block sunlight
• Designed to reduce heat inside tent
• Has an E-port to allow electrical power

Cons:

• Minor issues with the front door only opening partially

4. Ozark Trail 10 Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent

Ozark Trail is one of the top manufacturers of camping equipment. And this is one of their best blackout tents for larger groups.

It was designed to be able to hold up to 10 people. And still have some room for other equipment without it being cramped.

This model has a cabin-style design, which will allow everyone to be spaced out as desired. It has a few spots on the inside that are designed for internal storage.

The tent is made from high-quality polyester that was treated to provide a blackout effect. It will allow the entire party to sleep in if they desire without worrying about the morning sun waking them up.

Specifications:

• Brand: Ozark Trail
• Size: 10 Person
• Dimensions: 165 x 120 x 78 inches
• Weight: 20 Pounds
• Material: Polyester
• Recommended Uses: Camping & Hiking

Ozark Trail 10 Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin tent has two triangular parts at the top. It makes it suitable for taller people to walk inside of the tent without having to constantly bend over.

However, the fabric does attract heat. And some people have mentioned that when opening the windows for air circulation the fabric became heated by the sun. It can make a little uncomfortable to rest in during the hottest parts of the day.

Pros:

• Designed to sleep 10 people
• Doesn’t require any assembly
• Easy to carry to campsites
• Uses light-resistant polyester for darkroom effect

Cons:

• Minor issues with zipper snagging at door

5. Coleman Tent with Instant Setup

When it comes to tents, one thing that Coleman excels at in their designs is making them easy to set up. They have proven it with this model.

The tent was designed to make it so that even a novice camper could easily set up this tent. It does have a hinged door that makes it easier to get in and out. But it is not centered.

So you have to take that into account when you are picking where to sleep to avoid having to step over other people to get out.

Coleman tent with instant setup is also designed to be a cabin tent, which means that this design is meant for multiple people to use it at once.

It comes in three different sizes. They all have a room divider that can be put up for privacy. It is much needed, especially with larger tents and the more people staying in it.

Specifications:

• Brand: Coleman
• Size: 4 Person, 6 Person, 10 Person
• Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 6.7 feet
• Weight: 42 Pounds
• Material: Polyguard 2x double-thick fabric
• Recommended Uses: Camping & Hiking

Coleman has included a 1-year limited warranty with this tent.

It was designed with taller people in mind because the center of the room is 6-feet 7-inches. It gives most people plenty of headroom to move around on the inside of the tent.

Finally, this tent also comes with a carry bag that has a rip-strip for extra storage. And plenty of room for carrying everything needed to set up this tent.

It is also important to note that the larger size of this tent is capable of housing up to 4 queen-size air beds.

Pros:

• Designed to block 90% of sunlight
• Comes with a 1-year limited warranty
• Has a room divider for privacy
• Has welded corners and inverted seams for waterproofing
• Capable of being set up in approximately 1 minute

Cons:

• Doesn’t have a centered door

Insights and Takeaway on Blackout Tents

Blackout tents can provide you with a lot of comfort on short or long camping trips. They make it possible for people who have issues with the sun to still join in, as well.

After the research I’ve done and even tested some of the tents myself, the Coleman Dark Room Skydome Tent model has all of the things you should look for.

The material is dark and will help to provide you and your camping buddies with the protection from the sun that you need. Whether you have sensitive skin or are just not a morning person.

Plus, this model comes in different sizes. It means you have more options for space than with other tent models that we included. Not to mention, it comes with a WeatherTec system that has been tested and proven to work in heavy rain and wind conditions.