A beach trip is not complete without a beach tent to protect you from the scorching sun. We’ve scoured the web to find the best options for you to buy online right now.

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If you are spending any time at the beach, staying out of the sun is a must.

The humble beach umbrella has been our go-to for many years but if you need something a little larger — or are sick of chasing it across the sand after the first gust of wind — there are lots of beach tents and shelters that offer plenty of shade and are relatively easy to set up and transport.

Keep on scrolling to see our selection of beach tents and shelters including top sellers and highly rated options to suit all budgets.

SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent, Amazon Australia, from $139.95

Looking for a pop-up beach tent with relatively easy set up? One five-star Amazon reviewer described this one as being “simple, light, effective” and the “best beach shelter I have ever had”.

The Sun Ninja tent is designed to literally pop out and secure in place with stability poles and anchors – all of which are provided. The canopy also comes with a travel bag so you can keep it organised and out of your beach bag.

We also love how multipurpose these gazebo-style tents are. You can use them for entertaining at home, or on any other outdoor adventure. Feel free to grab the bigger size, as the brand offers 4-person and 8-person sizes.

This one is made from fabric that is both water-resistant and UPF 50+ protective from the sun.

The best-selling CoolCabanas Beach Shelter has racked up more than 120 reviews on BCF, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5. One five-star reviewer said it’s of “great quality, easy to assemble” and they “wish we had bought it sooner”.

The CoolCabanas Beach Shelter offers 50+ UPF protection from the sun, eight internal pockets to keep things out of the sand and sun and a compact fold-up design.

And it all comes in a very beach appropriate blue stripe fabric.

Instahut Gazebo Pop Up Tent, Myer, $82.95

If you’re looking for something a little larger than your average beach tent, a gazebo style is a good option. You can also use it in the backyard or for parties or picnics.

This gazebo-style pop-up tent is made with an effective UV and water repellent fabric and the canopy offers 300 x 300cm of coverage. It can protect you from the sun, and also give you shelter if an unexpected shower comes through.

It is designed to be easy to put together. The attachments are smooth and easy to use – the nylon inserts glide on with ease.

Neso Beach Tent, Amazon Australia, $189.25

If you’re looking for a portable sun shade, you can’t go wrong with the Neso Beach Tent. It comes in a bunch of fun summer-ready colours and prints, so you can really customise your purchase.

It’s racked up more than 2600 reviews on Amazon, so you could say it’s pretty popular. The product is portable, lightweight, SPF 50+ and water resistant.

Alvantor Beach Tent, Amazon Australia, $91.51

The Alvantor Beach Tent has gathered more than 1400 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. One reviewer described it as being “amazing” and “ticking all the boxes”.

A more traditional beach tent, all the walls and floor offer an UPF 50+ and water resistant fabric. You’ve got side pockets to fill with sand (to make sure the tent doesn’t go anywhere), and you’ve got additional sandbags for extra security.

We also love how easy the assembly is designed to be – the beach tent literally just pops out as you unfold it.

FE Active Pop Up Beach Shelter, Amazon Australia, $49.99

A bestseller in camping shelters, this pop-up doubles as a beach tent. It’s made to have easy assembly and set up. Once you’re finished with it, it folds back up and it fits nicely into a portable carry bag.

The FE Active Beach Tent also offers a water resistant and UV protective fabric, with four aluminium stakes to make sure it doesn’t go anywhere on a windy day.

OCOOPA Beach Tent, Amazon Australia, $133.46

Looking for a spacious beach shelter? We love this pick from Amazon as it comfortably sits up to four people. It’s got a great four sided ventilation design, with two mesh windows and two doors that all close. It guarantees that you won’t feel overcrowded once you’re inside the tent.

The set up seems relatively easy, and it also folds up inside a portable carry bag for easy transportation.

Mountview Pop Up Tent, Amazon Australia, $31.95

Shopping on a budget? We recommend the pop-up tent from Mountview, coming in at just $31.95. The automatic spring control means the tent instantly pops out in seconds, no assembly required.

There’s multiple colours to choose from and is interwoven with mesh to keep the tent feeling breathable and comfortable.

WHICH IS BETTER – A BEACH UMBRELLA OR BEACH TENT?

At the end of the day, what you choose to bring to the beach is entirely up to you. However, there are some benefits of a beach tent that a beach umbrella cannot compare to.

Many beach tents on the market are easy to assemble and easy to pack away in portable carry bags. Umbrellas can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable to hold, especially if you’re lugging a number of different bags to the beach.

They also offer more protection from the sun, as the space they cover is generally larger than an ordinary beach umbrella. Some beach tents can also offer extra storage.

DO BEACH TENTS GET HOT?

Most beach tents on the market are made from a UV protective material, but that doesn’t guarantee you won’t start to feel hot when sitting under one.

If you know the sun is going to be scorching, we recommend opting for a beach tent with mesh detailing and/or windows. This will ensure you’ve got a breeze coming through and the tent won’t feel too hot.

Looking for red-hot deals and savings? Head on over to our news.com.au Coupons page to save big at all your favourite online retailers.

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