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. Made from 210T polyester, this can handle a lot of abuse. It’s puncture resistant and durable. The poles are fiberglass. There are six sandbags to offer extra support. There are also steel tie downs. The UV protection keeps you safe from a whopping 99% of harmful UV rays. There are windows angled to provide decent air flow. Unlike some tents, this doesn’t let air sit and stagnate. You’ll stay cool even on the hottest days in this beach tent. 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. 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. 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. 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. SizeWith 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. 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.

Take where you’re going into consideration. Steel legs are sturdy, sure. But they’re also heavy. If it’s a long walk from the car to the beach, you may be straining yourself. Ribs You need a sturdy tent built to handle a beach wind. A solid double beach canopy or sturdy legs are a must have for any beach tent or beach canopy. Double canopies are necessary for what they bring to the table. They allow airflow between them which you want. But they prevent the tent from parachuting. Sun Protection

The Best Beach Tent, Overall: Pacific Breeze

If you are travelling on foot, have a full car or getting on public transport, it needs to be light to carry and compact. 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 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. 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 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 tents and beach canopies can be made from a variety of materials. Everything from 190T polyester to canvas. Keep in mind what the tent is being used for before you settle on a material. Most beach tents offer UV 50+ protection which is important if you are on the beach, especially in hot weather. A big tent always seems like a fun idea, but it’s a lot more work. Harder to store, harder to carry, and harder to set up. The upside is you can store all your gear inside. It makes a fun place to get out of the sun and have a drink. You can play a game or even nap as well. 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. 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.

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. Small beach tents and beach canopies are great for just an afternoon trip. Put a cooler in the tent and stash your shoes in there, too. Lay your towel under the canopy and avoid the harsh rays after a swim. Large or small, there are clear benefits to each. You’ll need to consider how often you hit the beach and how much use you really get out of the tent or canopy. Set Up

Your beach canopy or beach tent can’t just float in space. You need to secure them with legs. Tie downs and stakes are key here. The legs themselves are typically vertical or with a slight slant. What’s the difference? There isn’t one. If anything, the slanted legs are slightly more prone to tipping, actually. That said, they look a little more sleek than straight legs. They can also offer the illusion of more space. They spread out more, but the space is not usable. So in a way you’re just wasting space with slanted legs. 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. LegsWhatever 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.