What are Blackout Tents?
Wondering about the best blackout tent? Have you ever heard of blackout curtains? They keep rooms in your house dark at any time of day by blocking the light from coming through your window.
Blackout tents, or darkroom tents, work by filtering out light that would otherwise come streaming through your tent. The opaque material blocks out sunshine and keeps the inside of your tent dark.
Do Blackout Tents Really Work?
We have found that blackout tents do, in fact, really work! The technology that tent manufacturers use keeps about 90% of light from coming through the tent. Learn more about blackout tent camping.
Why Do You Need a Blackout Tent?
Blackout, or darkroom, tents are perfect for keeping unwanted light out of your tent. This makes it easier to sleep comfortably. You won’t be awoken by the sun beating down on your face while you sleep.
Buying a blackout tent is an affordable upgrade for tent-camping. We don’t see a reason why you would pass up this addition to your tent. In addition to easy-up/pop-up tents, this is one of the best upgrades made to tents that we have seen.
Who Should Use a Blackout Tent?
Anyone who camps may find having a blackout tent to be useful. If you are a light sleeper, a blackout tent may be vital to getting good rest while camping. Likewise, if you just want to sleep in while sleeping outdoors, blackout tents are a must. Who can sleep with the bright sun beating down on their face?
Darkroom tents are also a great option for families with small children. If your child takes naps during the day, it can be hard to get them to sleep if they don’t have a dark space to fall asleep in. Having a blackout tent can make it easier to control the atmosphere for your child so they can get the rest they need.
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Which Blackout Tent is the Best?
The best blackout tent for you will depend on your personal needs. We have found the top darkroom tents based on actual reviews from real people who use them to camp.
Choosing the Best Blackout Tent
This table shows our top 5 blackout tents based on their ability to block out light, how spacious they are, how easy they are to set up, and the additional features they have.
Read more about each individual pick below.
Rank | Blackout Tent | Size | Notes |
#1 | 10 Person | Easy up, spacious, rain protection, ventilation, double door, organization | |
#2 | 6 Person | Easy up, rain protection, spacious, ventilation | |
#3 | 4, 6, 8 Person | Roomy, durable, weatherproof | |
#4 | 10 Person | Rain protection, spacious, durable, room divider | |
#5 | 4 Person | Lightweight, affordable budget option |
1. Ozark Trail 10-Person Blackout Tent
This dark rest tent has enough room for 10 people while being relatively lightweight at 20 pounds. It is an instant setup with poles already attached to the tent making it really convenient. The inside of the tent has side pockets for storage so you can stay organized. The ventilation windows let light in when you want to and keep air circulating.
This is our top pick based on size, ease of setup, and functionality.
2. Ever Advanced Darkroom Instant 6-Person Cabin Tent
This blackout tent has all of the features you need. Not only does it keep the sun out, it is water-resistant, has ventilation, and has a height of 73″. You can fit two twin air mattresses inside of this roomy tent and fit up to 6 people. The tent only weighs 22 pounds so it is manageable to carry as well. You can’t lose with this easy-up tent.
3. Coleman 4, 6, or 8-Person Darkroom Skydome Tent
This blackout tent comes in 4, 6 or 8-person sizing options. With its wide door and extra inside storage, this is one of the tents we love for its practicality. This is an easy-up tent that weighs about 20 pounds making it easy to carry and assemble. Coleman has built this tent to stand up to inclement weather with welded corners and inverted seams. Stay dry and comfortable in this darkroom tent. The skydome feature also gives you more head room in this tent.
4. Coleman 10-Person Blackout Cabin Tent
This huge tent, complete with a room divider, is another great darkroom option. However, this one is a little heavier and is a little more work to assemble. The sturdiness and quality are definitely worth it though. We love this option for family camping and added privacy. The weight of the tent is almost 35 pounds. With the extra weight comes reliable durability that keeps you dry.
5. GEERTOP 4-Person Darkroom Tent
This tent is a great option for those wanting something lightweight for hiking or backpacking. This setup only weighs about 7 pounds and is really quick to assemble. The blackout effect is highly rated as well so you can avoid the sun. The only downside to this tent is that the weatherproofing is not very reliable. It’s recommended to tarp the tent or seal the seams yourself. With that in mind, this is a really affordable option that is perfect for summer or mild weather.
Using a Blackout Tent for Camping
Now that we have used a blackout tent for camping, we can’t go back to a regular tent. The convenience of being able to block out unwanted light makes it so nice to sleep outside. We get to enjoy the outdoors without having to adhere to Mothe Nature’s clock.
Have you used a blackout tent? If not, we hope you choose one from the list to get better sleep while camping and make your trip more comfortable.
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