Beach tents

UV-protected shade for the beach, outdoor pool and windy corners

A day by the sea is wonderful. If it weren't for the risk of sunburn or the sand everywhere. Beach shells and beach tents protect you and your loved ones from the wind and sun, not just on the beach, and offer the perfect place to snooze. The tent is easy to pack and light in weight, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

• Advantages of beach shells at a glance
• Checklist: What should a good beach tent or beach shell have?
• Different types of beach tent: pop-up or frame
• Folding up a pop-up beach tent - quick instructions to follow

Advantages of beach shells at a glance

• Lounger and parasol in one
• Shady spot
• Protection from the wind
• UV protection
• Protection from flying grains of sand
• Changing room protected from view
• Towel & co. remain sand-free
• Retreat for undisturbed snoozing
• Privacy
• Easy to transport
• No tedious lugging around
• Shade without having to constantly adjust to the position of the sun
• Quick to set up
• Keep provisions cool

Checklist: What should a good beach tent or beach shell have?

To make sure you actually get something out of your beach shell on the beach or at the outdoor pool and don't have to bother with it, you should take a closer look at the following aspects:

1. Sun protection & UV protection You are protected from the sun in the shade of your beach shell. Right? Not quite. To really protect you (and your children) from the dangerous rays, your tent should be equipped with UV protection. An added bonus: UV protection not only protects you from sunburn or worse, but also makes the material of your beach tent durable and resistant to external influences.
2. Water-repellent, quick-drying material You've just come out of the water and want to relax in your beach tent. You lie down comfortably and shrug - the floor is wet, even though you have moved the towel to another place to dry. The material of your beach tent should be water-repellent or be able to dry quickly. After all, you don't want to have to scrape sand or soil off the ground when you take it down. The advantage of plastic fabric over cotton is also evident in drizzle.
3. Pop-up tents and tents with poles each have their advantages. However, pop-up tents are clearly in the lead when it comes to pitching, as they only need to be untied and then pitch themselves. However, bear in mind that their pack size can get in the way, especially when travelling by plane.
4. Good ventilation Good ventilation is particularly important if you want to keep your children or your baby (or even your dog) in the beach shell. Otherwise, the tent will heat up and the air will become very stuffy. Side windows, open areas or nets ensure that the air circulates and the climate in the beach tent remains pleasant.
5. Small pack size Are you going on holiday? Then the pack size is particularly important to you. Check whether the tent still fits in your suitcase when folded. This can be particularly problematic with pop-up beach tents. Tents with poles, on the other hand, fit in any bag or suitcase.
6. Low weight The beach is only a few hundred metres away from your holiday accommodation? So the weight of your beach shell is completely irrelevant? You might regret this optimistic view on the third day of your holiday or at the end of a relaxing day at the beach. Make sure that your beach tent weighs very little - fortunately, most tents are ultra-light and usually weigh less than 1 - 2 kg.
7. Windproof fastening devices As a rule, beach tents and beach shells are fastened to the sand or grass with pegs and can therefore beat the wind. Additional "sand anchors" or "sand pockets" are also practical. Once filled, they hold your tent to the ground with their own weight. It also helps to place stones in the corners of your tent to withstand strong gusts of wind.
8. Quantity of people Think about how many people you want to accommodate in the beach shell. Then check how wide the tent of your choice is. Will it fit two adults next to each other? Does it provide enough shade for everyone? Or do you only need a small area because you are buying the beach shell for your children or baby?

Different types of beach tent: pop-up or frame

Beach tents or beach shells consist of just a few components and are therefore quick to set up. Broadly speaking, they can be divided into two different types of set-up - pop-up tents and tents with poles:

Beach shell as a pop-up or throwing tent

Pop-up beach tents can be set up very easily and in just a few seconds. All you have to do is "untie" the tent and "throw" it on the ground. The tent unfolds - and the set-up is complete. Taking it down takes a little practice, but is not particularly complicated. Shortcoming: The pack size can be a challenge, especially when travelling by plane. This is because some throw tents do not fit into the suitcase due to their round shape. Then it gets tricky and the tent may have to be checked in as special baggage if the dimensions do not correspond to hand luggage.

Beach tent with poles

In contrast to pop-up beach shells, there are beach tents with poles. They are reminiscent of classic camping tents and are set up like these. Accordingly, they take longer to set up and take down than throw tents. They can also be slightly heavier than their counterparts due to the poles. On the other hand, the tents have a much smaller pack size - they fit in any suitcase or bag. This means you can easily take the beach shell with you on a package holiday or on a plane.

Folding a pop-up beach tent - the quick instructions to follow

You're convinced that a pop-up beach tent is the right thing for you. And it was super quick to set up! But how do you get it back to its original, handy state? We explain how to fold up your pop-up tent in no time at all:

1. Firstly, grab the tent in front of you by the two to four sides or 'rings' at the top.
2. Press them together so that the tent looks a little more folded and hold it there with one hand
3. Turn the structure to the side so that a kind of "pillar" "stands" in front of you.
4. Then use your free hand to push the upper semicircle inwards towards your other hand, which is holding the rings from step 2.
5. Press the two rings you have just created down onto the third lowest ring.
6. You should now have a multi-layered circle in front of you (don't forget to hold on tight!).
7. If necessary, secure your work with the appropriate device and pack it into the envelope.

The following video will help you to fold it even faster! You will see - the more often you fold the beach shell, the easier it will be for you.