Ever been woken up with the birds by the glaring sun on your relaxing camping trip? A blackout tent could very well be the answer to heat and daylight woes within your tent.
Introduction to blackout tents
Here we explore the benefits of a blackout tent versus traditional tents and whether this particular feature brings more enjoyment to your camping experience. Although we can not stop the birds from waking us up, stopping the sun from beaming down on us at the crack of dawn through the tent roof sounds awfully appealing.
Blackout tents were introduced to the market in 2016 but have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Due to their growing popularity, blackout tents are now widely available in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit anybody’s camping needs, whether you are planning a solo journey or a family trip down the coast.
This option has come as a welcome relief to seasoned campers around the globe. There will no longer be the need to fight over that prime pole position campsite with the big shady tree, you know the ones I’m talking about. A sun blocking tent means you can stay cool, cut out glare and get better rest as well as a good night’s sleep.
What is a blackout tent / dark rest tent?
Blackout tents (also referred to as dark rest tents) use a light-diffusing or light-absorbing fabric that inhibits light. Not only do some blackout tents claim to block up to 90 – 99 percent of the sun’s rays but they also reduce heat within the tent due to the additional shade the tent produces with some manufacturers claiming between 5-14 degrees cooler during the day.
This is a particularly good feature for those with small children who nap during the day, or adults for that matter. The reduced heat during the day means you can also spend some quiet time in your tent without it turning into an unwanted sauna.
“There’s no wi-fi in the mountains, but you’ll find no better connection”
ANON
Are blackout tents / dark rest tents worth it?
For parents with young children – dark room tents are well worth the investment. As much as some parents want their children to be enjoying the great outdoors, the reality is they won’t be doing this all day long. Camping days start much earlier than a morning at home. And through the day, adults and children enjoy their chill time.
Especially these days with children also enjoying screen time on holidays, a blackout tent during the day becomes a private space for their downtime.
Historically, the inside of a tent during the day is usually avoided like the plague, unless you were the fortunate one to get that prime spot under that shady tree. However, with the blackout tent this is no longer an issue, as the tent stays cool.
How do I blackout my own tent?
Unfortunately, there is no special paint or dye that you can purchase to blackout your existing tent. However, you can use opaque material or sheets to clip up on the inside of your tent. You can also reduce the amount of sun exposure to your existing tent by setting up a tarp over your tent. The tarp would need to be freestanding and not draped over your entire tent, as this would create a sauna!
You could go one step further and add side walls to the tarp set up however this would take a lot of time and extra camping gear which you would need to take into consideration when packing for your trip. Follow this link for other ideas on how to blackout your tent.
Do dark tents stay cooler?
Technically darker tents will stay a few degrees cooler than a tent with no “shade†at all. However, due to the growing market for blackout tents, there are several variations to the blackout tent. Some manufacturers may use the terms dark room or light-diffusing instead of stating that it is a blackout tent which may only reduce light or glare.
The most heavy-duty blackout tents claim to block up to 99 percent of daylight which then creates the shade required to keep your tent cool.
What’s the best colour for a tent?
When looking for a blackout tent, you don’t necessarily need to concern yourself with the colour of the tent but more with the features it provides such as whether it is a blackout tent, size, weight, measurements, and any other specifications you are looking for.
Blackout tents come in a variety of colors and sizes so this choice would come down to personal preference.
Which is the best blackout tent?
Before we try and figure out which is the best blackout tent, you need to figure out which is the best blackout tent for you. If you prefer to see and touch the tent before you purchase it there are several large retail chains that display a very wide selection of tents such as Tentworld, Anaconda, Snowys and BCF.
However, if you are happy to purchase online after doing your own amount of research, taking into consideration your own camping needs and budget there are a variety of online retailers as well.
Best blackout tents
Coleman Blackout Bedroom
One blackout tent that seems to stand out from the rest is made by Coleman’s. The Coleman blackout bedroom was the winner of the Camping Magazines 2016 Editors Choice Awards in the Best Camping Innovation category. It has fire retardant material, UV Guard Sun protection and the blackout technology blocks up to 99% of daylight from entering the sleeping space, making it one of the darkest tents.
Coleman Dome tent
The Coleman Skydome camping tent is a 4 person or a 6 person tent, fitting a queen sized air bed, and has dark room technology which can blockout up to 90% of sunlight. It can be set up quickly, in under 5 minutes and the nearly vertical walls allow for more headroom.
Beesky Dark Room Tent
As the market continues to expand, we now have a wider selection of other competing brands, such as the Beesky 4 person dark room tent that offers value for money.
This tent has blackout technology blocking up to 90% of daylight and while it is quick and easy to set up, there is a little more work involved than the previous option. There are 2 fiberglass poles which need to be inserted and it may need to be a 2 person job.
Ozark Trail Dark Rest Tent
The Ozark Trail Dark Rest tent is also a solid choice. It’s a 6 person instant tent and requires no fiddly assembly as the poles are already pre-attached to it. It’s affordable, has 3 large windows and dark room technology, as well as plenty of floor space. It’s a large tent with many tent features, at a good price!
“Real freedom lies in wildness, not in civilization”
Charles Lindbergh
Summary – Blackout Tent
So, if your trusty old tent has had a good run or you need to upgrade to accommodate for new family members, the blackout tent should not be overlooked, as it can provide much needed relief when you need to stay cool, and compared to traditional tents, can allow for a dark space during the day, cutting out light and hot air. The Coleman tents offer some great quality blackout camping tents but there are also some solid competitors out there with attractive price tags.
Black out tents will soon become the new norm for family camping trips, especially in the hotter climates. Ultimately, the more ways you can find to make camping more comfortable, the better. Do you have an amazing tent with blackout bedroom technology? Let us know in the comments!
