What to Consider When Buying a Beach Tent

Summer is almost upon us and who wouldn't want to spend a day at the beach on a warm summer's day?

It's a great way to unwind, relax, and enjoy the warmer weather, but you you'll need some shade to protect yourself and the younger ones from sun's harsh UV rays.

There are now many different varieties and designs available when it comes to beach shelters, with the most popular being a small beach tent. Some of these can be very quick and easy to set up and pack down, while others can be a little bit trickier to store back in the bag...

Here are 5 things to consider when setting up a beach tent.

1. LOCATION

Beach tents come in a range of sizes so you may have to consider the size of your shelter if it is a larger one.

Generally, consideration towards other beachgoers and some common sense will be enough.

If you are on a more popular beach (think Hyam's Beach or Huskisson over the summer months...) then there are a few extra pointers to consider:

• High Traffic Areas: Try to avoid setting up your beach tent in an area where you may block access 
• Blocking Views: Beach tents should be set up so that you aren't blocking the views of other beachgoers... This is especially important to consider if you have a larger, taller shelter
• Easy Access to the Water: You want to be close enough so that you can take a casual stroll to get to the water for a dip - but you don't want to be too close that the water creeps up on you at high tide
• Tent Spacing: You should set your beach tent up so that it is a reasonable distance away from the person beside you. This will allow you and everyone else to have some privacy. Remember if you have the little ones with you and are in a larger group, you may want to leave some space between the beach tents so that they have space to play.

2. SUN POSITION

The beach shelter should be set up so that it will be blocking the sun for the duration of your stay.

You'll want to consider where the sun is when you arrive, and where it will move to while you are at the beach. If you manage to set the beach tent up in the right direction you may avoid having to move all your gear and coolers 5 metres to the right every couple of hours.

Some beach shelters (like the one pictured below) can also be set up differently depending on if the sun is high or low. 

3. SAFETY & THE WIND

Ideally, we would get a nice day at the beach where there is no wind... but this is rare, so a beach tent must have the ability to withstand windy conditions.

• Beach tents are usually lightweight, however they still need the strength to resist wind gusts. Whether you are using a Beach Tent, Beach Umbrella, Pop Up Tent, or small Gazebo, they should be pegged out with secure guy ropes and decent pegs, and the integrated sand pockets filled with sand if your tent has these. The more anchored points the better!
• Wind protection will make your day at the beach more enjoyable. Strong winds can be painful and uncomfortable - especially when it starts to pick up the sand. However a gentle breeze can give you great ventilation on a hot day. 
  A sun shelter that allows the breeze to pass through could be a blessing on a hot summer's day, however being able to close up the doors and windows can be handy for when the wind picks up.

4. PACK DOWN & STORAGE

Beach tents need to be quick and easy to pack up. The best ones are easy to setup up and pack down, making your life easier.
Try to avoid sun shelters that have a lot of parts or are difficult to pack up.

• Pack Down - After an enjoyable day at the beach, the last thing you want is to be wrestling with your beach tent. You want the tent to pack up as painless as possible as this is one of many other beach items you'll be brushing the sand off and getting back into the car - especially if you've got the little ones with you!
  Preferably the beach shelter will have a carry bag or case of some king that can make the trip back to the car a little easier.
• Storage - Another consideration is how you will store your beach shelter once you get home. Do you have a lot of storage room or will you need something a little more compact?
  It's also to important to ensure that your beach tent is completely dry when you are storing it - especially if it has been exposed to salt water - as this will prolong the life of your beach tent.

5. INSTRUCTIONS & HOW-TO VIDEOS

We would all rather just throw the user manual in the bin, however sometimes it makes sense to give it a quick read and familiarise yourself with the setup and pack down process for your beach tent.

This can save the embarrassment of getting to the beach and not knowing how to setup your brand new beach tent. Or an argument on how to pack it up while you're trying to leave.

Most beach tents should have an instruction manual that comes with the shelter - either printed onto the bag or in the bag with the shelter. Another good source is checking out how to videos.
Of course, if you are checking out the beach tents in-store, our helpful staff are happy to show you how to use your new shelter.

Handy Tip: access an instruction video on your mobile phone while you are on the beach the first time you setup your new shelter. This way you can follow the video step-by-step in real time while you are setting up. You can even pause the video as you go.

1. Land & Sea Deluxe Pop Up Beach Tent
2. Land & Sea Watermelon Beach Umbrella
3. Oztent Malamoo 4 Hub Beach Shelter
4. Land & Sea Sunshine Pop Up Beach Tent
5. Oztent Malamoo 2 Hub Beach Shelter
6. Land & Sea Flamingo Beach Umbrella
7. Shelta UV Protector Beach Tent
8. Land & Sea Sun & Wind Beach Tent
9. OZtrail Sunset Beach Umbrella
10. Outdoor Connection Fiesta Sunshelter