Last Updated on January, 2025
Imagine having a camping tent that lets YOU decide when to wake up.
Like you, even I don’t like light getting inside the tent, especially in the morning. That ruins the camping experience.
I did my research on the best blackout tents before you because I wanted to fix it for myself.
All you need to do is read through this review and buy what fits your needs the best.
But wait, why trust me?
Table of Contents
Why Trust Me?
As I said, I resolved this issue for myself, and I’m saving you the tedious research process and comparison.
I chose around 10 potential blackout tents, brought them down to the top five, tested them, and returned four of them.
Let’s start the review with the best, and what I use, the Coleman Skydome Darkroom.
3 of the Absolute Elite Camping Blackout Tents
1. Coleman Skydome Darkroom 6-Person Tent
Coleman is one of the best brands in America, offering you the best outdoor camping gear and equipment.
Their Skydome Darkroom tent is the best blackout tent; let me explain why I say so.
Your prime requirement is a tent’s ability to block bright light; daylight. Coleman’s Skydome Dark room blocks 90% of the sunlight with their Dark Rest Technology.
It’s not even just the light; it’s the heat that gets blocked.
That’s why I could comfortably sleep even in the afternoon, and sleep way past sunrise comfortably.
I love how the 68-denier polyester taffeta tent fabric permits just the right amount of sunlight so that it’s not uncomfortably pitch-black dark inside.
Skydome Dark room also has pre-attached fiberglass poles, which enables you to set it up in under 5 minutes and pack it even faster.
Any camper knows how convenient this mechanism is over manual setups.
When you go inside, you’ll notice that the Dark room has more headroom. The secret is in their nearly vertical walls that offer you 20% more headroom compared to the traditional Coleman tents, with 72 inches of peak height.
The last thing you want during camping is unexpected weather fluctuations.
Does Coleman’s camping tent have a solution for bad weather? Yes, it does. Skydome Darkroom tent has the WeatherTec™ system that has inverted and taped seams that keep the gear dry.
Skydome also has a strong frame that compliments this stability. The tent can comfortably withstand winds up to 35 mph, which is quite impressive. It also has welded corners for better stable positioning.
These camping tents can fit up to two queen-size air mattresses. What I loved the most was the wide door design that made it much easier to get stuff inside and move around conveniently.
I have used enough tents with poor maneuverability that makes me very tired. That’s why appreciate the design attributes, by Coleman.
Not only that, but this lightweight tent also has several mesh storage pockets with a gear loft. This will make it easier to keep the small items well-organized and easily accessible.
100% convenient mobility is guaranteed with the carry storage bag. The tent weighs only 18 pounds with a packed size of 9 x 25.75 inches.
As the product name confirms, this blackout tent is designed to hold six persons comfortably. The floor dimensions are 120 x 102 inches with a floor area of 85 square feet, whose material is made from a durable 1,000-denier polyethylene sheet.
Any outdoor adventure, especially car camping, would be better with a tent like this.
Since Coleman specializes in camping products, it’s easier to find complimentary products like lighted tent fans, camp stoves, and lights that can be hung on gear loops easily.
Coleman also offers you a one-year company limited warranty.
Coleman’s Skydome Darkroom is the perfect tent and what I use now and would recommend it without hesitation for to block out any bright light for a good night’s sleep.
Pros
Cons
2. Ever Advanced Tent
Ever Advanced isn’t an unfamiliar name to campers. The brand was founded in 2017 in Germany.
Their black-out tent is the best alternative for the Coleman Skydome Darkroom.
Let’s dive into the details.
Similar to Coleman’s tent, this blackout camping also blocks 90% of sunlight; the inside won’t be in complete darkness. The fabric density is high enough providing ample privacy too.
While that is true, I noticed that interior heat increased. This is due to the blackout interior which absorbs heat..
However, Ever Advanced has a signature screen large window at the top. This enables great ventilation and vision.
Campers will also never have to worry too much about mosquito protection. This zippered mesh roll-up window also facilitates better heat dissipation, which increases the ventilation quality.
Who doesn’t like some breeze?
So, even if the heat inside these camping tents is relatively higher compared to Coleman’s, the impact will be lowered as much as possible by design.
This will make sure the inside isn’t in complete darkness that would make it uncomfortable.
What about the fabric? Ever Advanced uses a UV-resistant tent fabric reinforcing comfort. Its rain resistance ability ensures that water doesn’t seem inside, maintaining a dry space for elevated comfort.
Being able to accompany 6 persons is another common feature between the Ever Advanced blackout tent and Coleman’s, complimenting a good night’s sleep.
The ample space provided by the 9′ L x 9′ W x 73″ H size with a 9-foot wide floor supplements this capacity.
Not only that, there are several storage bags for everyone inside the tent. The best thing about this storage is that there is a reserved wire channel that allows external power to pass through.
What about power? Ever Advanced blackout tent has elevated the tent design by placing the power port at the corner to keep it alive and safer.
When safety is assured, convenience also gets the required importance. You can set up the Ever Advanced blackout tents in 60 seconds in theory.
However, there’s a slight exaggeration in this claim.
When I tried it, it took me around 6-7 minutes the first time. Eventually, it got me somewhere close to 5 but I don’t think it can be set up in 60 seconds by the average person.
On the bright side, Ever Advanced blackout tents have retractable side poles.
This approximately 27-pound blackout tent is conveniently portable, and package dimensions are 48.8 x 8.2 x 8.2 inches, available in blue or orange. I suggest the orange version because it’s a bit more darker.
You also get a one-year warranty.
If not for Coleman’s Skydome Darkroom, the Ever Advanced blackout tent is the best in the market.
Pros
Cons
3. Bushnell Instant Tent
Bushnell is another brand dedicated to producing high-quality outdoor products that include tents.
Their simple design instant tent is the next best alternative for the Coleman Skydome.
Bushnell blackout tent features a special heat shield technology. Although the product is not a blackout tent explicitly, the tent features a special reflective coating on the underside of the fabric.
This coating lowers the light inside the tent although there is no 90% reduction guarantee.
Additionally, the coating is designed to block the sun’s UV rays, reducing the day and night temperature inside the tent. Upon testing, it feels much more comfortable, although it isn’t as soothing as Coleman’s Skydome.
Bushnell lives up to the expectations as you can set this tent up in around two to two and half minutes, although the product description claims a solid 2 minute easy setup time.
I felt that the secret was in the better maneuverability of its legs which can be folded and extended as needed.
The comfort level of the Bushnell instant tent is higher, especially with its 12.5’’ x 17’’ mesh A/C vents. These vents with 17’’ covers make it easier for you to install A/C units much easier.
Durability is at the heart of the design of the Bushnell instant tent. Its walls are made from durable 150 denier blackout fabric. The floor material is tougher (as it should be) with 240 denier floor material.
There’s another reason that makes the Bushnell tent special; room dividers.
You can buy the Bushnell instant tent for 6, 9, or 12 persons by multiroom design. The included room dividers allow you to divide the massive interior into 3 separate rooms.
This feature justifies why Bushnell wants to offer this tent specifically for a family with kids or bigger groups.
After all, the 12-person tent has a wide width of 11 feet.
You should also know that the tent’s dimensions are 216″L x 132″W x 80″H.
There are some differences between the tent types based on the number of persons it can accompany.
For instance, the 12-person tent features a peak tent height of 80’’ whereas the 9-person tent has a peak height of 78’’.
On top of all this, all Bushnell instant tents have rainfly ensuring that the tent is fully waterproof. That’s why you can use this tent even under heavy rains with no stress.
One downside of this blackout tent is its weight. Weighing 58 pounds, carrying it around won’t be as easy as the Coleman or Ever Advanced. However, you will get a carry bag which makes mobility more convenient.
Additionally, this tent’s poles are made from aluminum, not fiberglass. The tent’s base material is synthetic – you need to understand your preference here.
Considering all the factors, it’s safe to endorse that the Bushnell instant tent is a great option to choose to rest after a long day of outdoor adventures.
Pros
Cons
These are the three best blackout tents that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Now, there’s a question; how did I choose and rank them? Let’s look at the guide next.
Buying Guide: Best Camping Blackout Tents
Not all blackout camping tents are the same. So, if you have something else in your mind (outside my recommendations), I recommend you run them through these filters.
Opt for blackout tents that don’t have a dark interior
Opt for blackout tents that don’t have a dark interior
Pay attention to the setup convenience
Choose tents based on occupancy
Windows
Overall portability
Material quality
Cost
Benefits of Buying a Blackout Camping Tent
There are three key benefits of buying a blackout tent compared to regular tents.
Apart from this, there are several case-specific benefits delivered by blackout tents.
#1 Mistake in Buying Blackout Camping Tents
While there are several criteria for buying the best blackout camping tents, most of us end up making a critical mistake based on sensible self-misleading.
This mistake is choosing all-black blackout tents.
Although the fabric color might look like it makes sense, you’ll notice how Coleman’s Skydome Darkroom uses a bright color to cover the top. The purpose of this decision is to reflect as much light as possible.
The dark fabric underneath only absorbs a part of the heat, and the non-black interior reflects the absorbed.
This is why Coleman has the best blackout tent by design.
Instances Where Blackout Camping Tents are Most Useful
As I said, there are several case-specific benefits of blackout camping tents. Let’s look at some of those instances where blackout tents are most useful.
Blackout tents are more useful:
That’s why these blackout tents are so popular.
Read more:
In Conclusion
Blackout tents can block more sunlight by design which is most useful for campers. But they’re also for anyone who wants to block out external light when you’re inside the tent.
While the market has several options, the best recommendable is the Coleman Skydome Darkroom. In terms of blocking out light and heat, with overall features that deliver value for money. Above all, the one-year guarantee makes everything risk-free.
I hope this review helps you make a better choice for a blackout tent.
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