Best Blackout Tent: Reduce Up to 99% of Sunlight With These 10 Tents

If you’re in a rush, we believe the Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Fresh & Black is the best blackout tent. 

Is waking up early not your thing, even when camping? I’m the same way – which is why I love blackout tents.

Thanks to a pitch-black interior, you can sleep all you want, regardless of how sunny the day might be.

But finding a suitable blackout tent is not an easy task with how many different models are on the market.

So that’s why we’ve rated and reviewed blackout tents to help you narrow down your search:

• Best Overall Blackout Tent: Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Fresh & Black
• Best Budget Blackout Tent: Coleman Dark Room Sundome Tent
• Best Premium Blackout Tent: Coleman Oak Canyon 4-Person Blackout Tent

If you haven’t found the one you love, we’ve got plenty more that we’ve tested and reviewed. Read on!

The Best Blackout Tents: Our Top Picks

• Best Overall Blackout Tent: Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Fresh & Black
• Best Budget Blackout Tent: Coleman Dark Room Sundome Tent
• Best Instant Blackout Tent: Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
• Best Premium Blackout Tent: Coleman Oak Canyon 4-Person Blackout Tent
• Best Value Blackout Tent: Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
• Best Inflatable Blackout Tent: Decathlon Quechua Fresh & Black Inflatable Family Camping Tent 4
• Best Blackout Tent with Extra Storage Space: Coleman Carlsbad Tent With Screen Room
• Best Blackout Tent for Bad Weather: Coleman Skydome 8-person Camping Tent With Dark Room Technology
• Best Blackout Tent for Extreme Cold: Crua Outdoors Duo Combo Tent
• Best Family Dark Room Tent: Coleman 10-Person Cabin Tent With Instant Set-Up & Dark Room Technology

Quechua 2 Second Fresh & Black

Size: 3 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Pop-Up, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 9.3 | Max Inside Height (in): 40.9 | Floor: 40.72 | Setup Time: 1 min

It’s pretty clear why this tent by Quechua holds the first spot on our list.

It checks all the boxes: it’s spacious, affordable, and safe.

As a pop-up tent, this model takes just 2 seconds to set up, and it’s just as quick and easy to dismantle.

When it comes to design, it has 2 side panels that can be extended to allow air to circulate through the sleeping area.

The flysheet is made of polyester and coated with a PU 2000mm layer, which allows the tent to stay dry in heavy rain.

Plus, it offers great protection against most weather elements.

The fabric also has an SPF rating of 50+, meaning it keeps your skin safe from the sun.

Pros

• Blocks up to 99% of sunlight
• Sets up in 2 seconds and can be dismantled just as quickly and easily
• Provides protection against rain and UV rays
• Extendable side panels provide airflow inside the tent
• Withstands winds blowing up to 30mph

Cons

• Bulky when packed

Best for: campers who hate spending time pitching a tent

Check Price at Decathlon

Coleman Dark Room Sundome 4-Person Tent

Size: 4 person | Seasons: 3-season | Type: Dome, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 11 lbs | Floor: 9 x 7 ft (63 sq ft) | Max Inside Height (in): 59 in | Setup Time: 5 mins

Coleman’s Sundome tent is one of the best-selling budget tents on the market.

And for good reason too, as this tent is weatherproof, wind-proof up to 35 mph, and is less than $100 for most of the year. 

But Coleman found a way to make this tent even better by adding its Dark Room technology to it. 

After testing this tent out for ourselves, we found that we were not only able to sleep in later but that the tent performed great in high winds. 

Possibly the only downside is that it doesn’t come with a ground vent and is less breathable than its standard counterpart. It also comes in a 6-person size as well!

You can read our full Coleman Dark Room Sundome tent review here.

Pros:

• Dark Room tech blocks up to 90% of light, so you can sleep in
• Affordable – great value for money
• Can be set up in as little as 5-10 minutes
• Waterproof – you’ll stay dry even in heavy rain
• Large windows and Dark Room fabric keep this tent slightly cooler than standard tents 
• Wind-proof tested up to 35 mph

Cons:

• Less breathable since its missing the ground vent from the standard Sundome version

Best for: campers looking for the best overall value blackout tent

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Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent

Size: 6 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Cabin, Instant, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 16.81 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 68 | Floor: 90 sq ft | Setup Time: 1 min

I simply can’t get over the fact of how affordable this tent is. At this price range, finding a 6-person tent is already practically impossible.

But this one doesn’t just have the right capacity – it also has blackout technology and an instant hub pole system!

This is a cabin-style tent, with a center height of 68in. It’s certainly not the tallest, but so long as you are ok bending down a bit, there is still quite a bit of room inside.

To make the most use of it, this tent comes with a hanging gear loft for keeping all your necessities off the ground.

The interior ceiling panels/skylights are quite a nice touch. You can shut them close during the daylight but roll them back at night to enjoy the starry sky.

However, the panels can’t be opened, so you don’t have to worry about rain seeping through.

Pros

• Dark Rest technology blocks a majority of sunlight
• Instant hub system makes this tent quick and easy to set up
• Interior ceiling skylight allows you to customize the light inside the tent
• Hanging gear loft and large gear organizer help store your essentials
• Center height of 68in and almost-vertical walls allow maximum use of interior space

Cons

• Not very sturdy in windy weather

Best for: campers on a budget who want an easy to set up tent

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Coleman Oak Canyon 4-Person Blackout Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Tunnel, Blackout, 2-room | Weight (lbs): 37.6 | Max Inside Height (in):  74.8 | Floor: 15.4 x 9.18 ft (141 sq ft) | Setup Time: 15 mins

If you’re willing to invest more, this premium tent by Coleman is definitely worth consideration.

This durable and comfortable shelter will feel like a second home in the wilderness.

The blackout area can be divided into two rooms, which is very useful when you’re camping with kids or friends.

But aside from the bedroom area, the tent has a living area of the same size, so it’s spacious enough to fit a table with chairs.

The weatherproofing is quite impressive with this model.

The rainfly is treated with a PU layer of 4500mm rating, so absolutely no raindrop can pass through.

Given its height, the tent is also rather stable in the wind, due to pre-bent and highly flexible poles.

Pros

• Blocks 99% of all sunlight and lowers the outside temp by 5 degrees
• Bedroom areas can be separated into two for additional privacy
• Plenty of vents on all sides ensure there’s enough airflow inside the tent at all times
• Has a PU rating of 4500mm, which is practically waterproof
• Pre-curved and color-coded poles make setup quick and easy

Cons

• Requires a replacement from the manufacturer in the case of a broken pole

Best for: longer camping trips

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Decathlon Quechua Fresh & Black Inflatable Family Camping Tent 4

Size: 4 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Inflatable, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 32 | Max Inside Height (in): 74.8 | Floor: 70 | Setup Time: 10 mins

What’s there not to love about this 4-person inflatable tent?

It’s super quick and simple to pitch, holds up well against weather elements, and is much easier to repair compared to standard pole tents.

Aside from a sleeping area spacious enough to fit four people, this tent also has an ample living room of 70sqft.

With a center height of 74.8 in, most people can easily stand up straight throughout most of the tent.

Pros

• Blocks up to 99% of sunlight
• Easily inflates using a pump with a built-in pressure gauge that comes with the purchase
• Mosquito net in the living area prevents insects from getting in
• Center height allows most people to stand up straight
• UPF 50+ sun protection keeps you safe from the dangerous effects of sun rays

Cons

• Quite expensive

Best for: couples and families with a small child looking for an easy-to-set-up tent

Check Price at Decathlon

Coleman Carlsbad Tent With Screen Room

Size: 6 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome, Screen Room, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 22 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 72 | Floor: 120 sq ft | Setup Time: 15 mins

By storing your gear outside, you have more room for comfort inside the tent.

Thanks to a spacious, full-floor screen room, this model allows you to achieve just that.

There’s also enough room inside the screen room for setting up camping chairs and enjoying your day.

This tent comes in two sizes: 4- and 6-person.

So, you can choose the one more suitable for your group size and the amount of gear you’re bringing camping with you.

Thanks to the dome shape and a sturdy design, this tent model has excellent water protection and can resist winds up to 35mph.

Pros

• Blocks 90% of all sunlight
• Ample screen room for storing gear and hanging out while also keeping insects at bay
• E-Port makes it easy to bring electrical power inside the tent for your gadgets
• Comes in two sizes, 4- and 6-person
• 1-year limited warranty ensures you get your money’s worth

Cons

• Rainguard over the screen room doesn’t provide complete protection from the rain

Best for: couples with tons of gear

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Coleman Skydome 8-person Camping Tent With Dark Room Technology

Size: 8 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 22 lbs. 9.6 oz. | Max Inside Height (in): 76 inches | Floor: 108 square feet | Setup Time: 5 mins

Blackout tents are great for sunny days, but this model for Coleman has an excellent performance in any weather.

Like many Coleman tents, this one features the WeatherTec™ system.

This means it includes a water-resistant fabric, inverted seams, welded floors, and zipper cuffs to prevent water from getting in.

Thanks to the strong frame, this tent also withstands winds of up to 35mph.

For a dome tent, this model offers quite a bit of headspace.

With a center height of 76in, you can even stand up straight for the most part of the tent.

Pros

• Blocks 90% of all sunlight
• WeatherTec™ system can withstand heavy rain and wind
• Wide door allows you to move the gear in and out of the tent with ease
• Mesh storage pockets and gear loft make storing essentials easy
• Manufacturer’s 1-year limited warranty provides insurance should something go wrong

Cons

• Quite heavy

Best for: large groups camping in less-than-ideal weather

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Crua Outdoors Duo Combo Tent

Size: 2 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Tunnel, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 4.8 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 49.2 | Floor: 48 sq ft | Setup Time: 10 mins

Camping in snow can be tough, but this model by Crua Outdoor does make it easier.

That’s thanks to the insulated inner cacoon tent.

It blocks light, dampens noise, and regulates the temperature inside, keeping you warm all night.

Snow is also not an issue thanks to the outer tent with a waterproof rating of 5000mm, which is practically impenetrable.

Instead of seeping through, the snow simply slides off the tent walls and onto the ground.

Pros

• Inner cacoon keeps you warm, while also blocking light and noise from the outside
• Outer layer is made of polyester and coated with a 5000mm waterproof layer
• Can be connected with tents of the same model to create a large shelter with separate rooms
• Two-year warranty insures against any defects in materials or workmanship

Cons

• Very expensive for a 2-person tent

Best for: mountaineering

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Coleman 10-Person Cabin Tent With Instant Set-Up & Dark Room Technology

Size: 10 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Cabin, Instant, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 44.6lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 120 inches | Floor: ‎140 Square Feet | Setup Time: 3 mins

Camping with a large family is no problem when you have a spacious tent, like this one by Coleman.

This 10-person tent has almost vertical walls and a center height of 79in, so it’s practically a tiny house.

This is an instant tent, meaning it has all the poles connected to a central hub.

The setup takes only a minute and can even be done by a single person.

The tent is pretty ample, but you can separate it into two rooms using a removable wall divider.

That way, you can have two separate bedrooms for additional privacy.

Another great feature is the E-port, which allows you to use electricity inside the tent.

Pros

• Blocks out 90% of daylight
• 79 in ceiling height allows most people to stand up straight inside the tent
• Can be set up by a single person in just a minute
• Reflective guylines make the tent more visible at night
• Room divider allows you to separate the interior into two rooms

Cons

• Floor isn’t very durable, so you’ll need to use a footprint or a tarp underneath it

Best for: camping with a large family

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Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent

Size: 10 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Cabin, Instant, Blackout | Weight (lbs): 31.86 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 78 | Floor: 140 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

This tent is the definition of value as are most Ozark Trail tents.

For the price it sells at, it’s hard to find a large model with such great features.

Even though it’s huge, this tent is easy to set up, thanks to a single-pole hub system.

Once pitched, it provides shelter for a large camping group.

Of course, you can create two rooms using a removable divider for more privacy at night.

During the day, you can keep the blinds shut to prevent the light from getting in.

But at night, large windows and ceiling panels can be rolled up so that you can enjoy stargazing while laying in your sleeping bag.

Pros

• Blocks daylight with dark rest technology
• Pre-attached poles make setup quick and straightforward
• Ceiling panels allow you to let some light in during the day or stargaze at night
• Gear loft and wall pockets help keep your stuff organized and off the floor
• Very affordable given the tent’s capacity

Cons

• Rainfly doesn’t fully cover the tent, so there’s the risk of rain getting inside

Best for: a group of friends camping during drier months of the year

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What To Look For In Blackout Tents

The idea behind a blackout tent is simple: to make the interior darker, and thus, cooler.

These tents achieve that in a few ways.

Blackout Effect Types

The simplest way is to use black fabric as an inner tent layer.

The dark, opaque material prevents sun rays from getting inside the tent, so you won’t know whether the sun is up or not.

Of course, there’s a drawback to using just black fabric. As you know, the black color absorbs light.

So, while this tent will still be cooler by a few degrees than a regular tent (up to 10%), the difference won’t be that drastic…BUT it will be something, especially on hot camping days!

Another popular option for blackout technology is using a metallic material. This will reflect sun rays away from the tent.

While the metallic fabric works great for keeping the heat out, it doesn’t block as much light as the black fabric does.

Finally, certain models use both a black and a metallic layer, which does both things.

It keeps your tent cool and dark. Of course, these come with a higher price tag.

Also See: Best Tent Material: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing

Tent Type

While blackout tents come in pretty much all types, the two most common ones are dome and cabin tents.

So, even though you’re set on going with a blackout tent, figuring out the best type for your needs is necessary.

In short, dome tents offer better weather protection, thanks to sloped walls.

However, sloped walls also mean there’s less headspace the closer you get to the edges of the tent.

Furthermore, most dome tents aren’t tall enough for an adult to stand up straight.

Cabin tents, on the other hand, provide exceptional headroom and center height.

With larger models, you can definitely stand up straight and walk around the tent without bending your neck.

However, those tall and practically vertical walls come at a price, which is low wind resistance.

That’s why you should always position your cabin tent so that it has natural wind protection from trees, rocks, or other sturdy things nearby.

Size & Capacity

A tent’s size is always an important factor to consider.

Going with a tent that’s too small will end up with your camping crew packed like sardines.

On the other hand, a tent that’s too big is heavy to carry by yourself.

This, of course, is not such a big issue if you’re car camping.

In that case, why not enjoy all the interior space to yourself?

But you don’t want to carry a heavy, 8-person tent on your back when it’s just you and your partner camping.

Finding the right tent size is difficult given the current capacity rating standard.

Basically, a 6-person tent is a tent that can fit six sleeping bags placed one next to another, with no room in-between.

Your bulky backpack and other gear are not included.

So, when choosing a tent size, always go with a tent that’s one or two sizes larger.

For instance, a couple could use a 3- or 4-person tent and have enough room to store their stuff.

This is especially important in the case of dome tents.

As we already established, the sloped walls make a “dead space” around the walls, where you can only store your gear.

That’s why it’s important to go a few sizes up in order to have everything fit in nicely.

Materials & Durability

The majority of blackout tents are made of either polyester or nylon. So, in most cases, your choice is between the two materials.

Between the two, nylon has better strength and abrasion resistance. It’s also rather lightweight, which makes it a great choice for backpacking.

Last but not least, nylon is more affordable than polyester, which is something to keep in mind.

Polyester, on the other hand, is less stretchy and has better UV protection compared to nylon.

That’s what makes it more durable compared to its counterpart.

There’s no clear answer as to which material is better. It depends on your priority – weight, durability, price tag, or anything else.

Additional Features

Finally, here are some other features that you should pay attention to when choosing a blackout tent.

Ventilation

Ventilation is important with every tent, but that’s especially the case with blackout tents.

Given that they often include more materials and a thicker weave, most blackout tents aren’t very breathable.

But the loss of airflow through the fabric can easily be compensated by well-positioned vent openings.

Ideally, they should be located at the bottom, so that they prevent the sun from getting inside.

Storage Pockets

Unless your tent has a large vestibule, all of your gear will be stored inside the sleeping area, with you.

And in such a messy environment, finding exactly what you need in a pinch can be tough.

But this is where storage pockets come to play.

While they typically can’t hold much weight, they’re suitable for storing essentials like a flashlight, a phone, or a knife.

Plus, you’ll know exactly where to look for them at all times.

Vestibules

Many tents feature small vestibules that can cover your gear and keep it safe from weather elements.

That’s a great way to keep your stuff safe but away from your sleeping area.

Large, family models often come with ample vestibules that double as a living area.

They’re spacious enough to fit a table and a chair, and many also feature mesh walls to prevent insects from bugging you.

FAQs

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Using A Blackout Tent?

The main benefit of using a blackout tent is blocking sunlight and sleeping past the sunrise.

And because light doesn’t reach inside the tent, the temperature is usually a few degrees lower, as well.

Can Blackout Tents Block Out All Light Or Just Most Of It?

That depends on the model. But most blackout tents block out at least 95% light, which is more than enough for most people to sleep.

Are Blackout Tents More Expensive Than Regular Tents?

You can expect to pay more for a blackout tent, but that’s not necessarily always the case.

Many tents on our list are quite affordable and at par with regular tents of similar size and quality.

What Is The Best Size For A Blackout Tent?

That depends on your group size and the length of the trip. When choosing a size, don’t be afraid to go one or two sizes up.

That way, you’ll have additional room for moving around and storing your gear.

What Are The Best Blackout Tents For Stargazing?

Ozark Trail tents are one of the best ones for stargazing.

They come in different sizes, but all of them feature ceiling panels that give you a great view of the night sky.

Do Blackout Tents Have Any Additional Insulation Benefits?

Typically, blackout tent fabric has a thicker weave to prevent light from passing through.

A thicker material provides somewhat better insulation, but the difference is not drastic.

Here are some tips and tricks, to cool your tent down without electricity.

Our Verdict

The best blackout tent that we’ve rated and reviewed is the Quechua 2 Second Fresh & Black – it clearly stands out for its features.

It’s durable, has amazing weather resistance, and sets up practically instantly.

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