Best Blackout Tents 2023: Dark Room Tents For Camping

For some reason, the sun seems to rise early in the wild. Even though you want to sleep through the morning, you can’t. The glaring sunlight will travel through the tent and slap you on the face to wake you up right away.

You can’t have those extra hours of shut eye while the sun is right over your head. Not inside those ordinary tents. But with the Best blackout tents, things are different. You can sleep through the morning without worrying about the light hitting your face.

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

Then you should check them out if you’re looking for something like that too.

5 Best Blackout Tents

While looking for the best darkroom tents, I’ve come across some great ones. But after making side-by-side comparisons of everything like durability, quality, budget, and other things, I’ve picked the ones here.

So, you don’t have to go through a big pile of tents to get the ultimate camping gear. You will get one from the 5-tents I’ve got here.

For that, you’ve got to check them out first. Let’s do that.

1. Coleman Dome Camping Tent (Top Pick)

When it comes to producing quality tents for camping, there aren’t much better than Coleman dome tents. No surprise, they’ve got some blackout tents in their vault too for the people. The one here I’ve got is the Coleman Dome 4-person dark room skydome tent & it is the best blackout tent on a budget.

The first thing you notice looking at the tent is that it looks great. The black and green color really makes it look a standout. But the function that does make the real difference is the darkroom. With 90% of sunlight getting blocked, you can sleep even if the sun is right in front of the tent.

And not that it just blocks the light, it even works to prevent the heat of it from getting through, which is why you can sleep comfortably without feeling any real heat building inside the den.

No doubt, the ventilation intakes, and outtakes help with that part too as it lets the cold breeze come through and get the hot heat flash out from inside of it.

Besides, helping with the sun and heat, the Coleman camping tent holds up well against wind and rain. The strong frame will make sure you can stay safe and dry if there is a storm out there.

And being a fast pitch tent, you never have to struggle with getting it set up.

Pros

• Quick setup.
• Well seamed canvas.
• Screen room.
• Room for 4-people
• Blocks sun and heat

Cons

• Neon green rainfly attract bugs.

2. Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent

For a big tent, look into the Ozark 10-person dark rest instant cabin tent. There aren’t many tents that can make plenty of room for 10-people inside it at once. This blackout cabin style tent is one of those few exceptions that can do just that.

Besides making room for your whole crew where two queen size mattresses can fit in, you’re getting a durable tent that takes care of other issues.

The most important one is the blocker of the sunlight. Just like the earlier Coleman dark room tent, this one also uses Dark rest technology for the tent, which helps to keep the sunlight from coming in as well as keep things cool inside the den.

What’s great about it is that it got multiple skylight ceiling panels on top that let you customize it. So, at night, you can open them to gaze at the stars while at dawn, close them to prevent the sunlight from glaring at your face.

Though Ozark trail dark rest tent is big enough, the setup of it doesn’t take a lot of time. The pre-attached steel poles help you get it pitched on the ground within minutes. Even the headroom it offers is quite impressive. Tall guys can appreciate this one for sure.

With a durable canvas and strong steel frame, the Ozark Trail Cabin Tent is the best tent with blackout bedrooms for families.

Pros

• Spacious
• Mesh windows
• Durable canvas
• Easy to set up
• Tall tent

Cons

• The tent is a bit heavy.

3. Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup

The instant set up Coleman Cabin tent with blackout bedroom is worth looking into for various reasons. First of all, the brand is something that you can trust with your eyes closed.

Coleman has a reputation for making quality camping gear. To prove that again, they got this massive 10-person tent that is also the best large blackout tent on our list.

Inside the tent, there is an anti-wet floor space that keeps the person dry even if the ground is wet and muddy.

The same goes for the canvas itself, as it got seamless stitching with welded corners to keep the water out. Also, need to mention the room dividers that give privacy if you need it.

For extra protection against harsh weather conditions, the Coleman tent comes with a rainfly too. You will love the fact it got reflective guy ropes, which make it visible even in the dark.

And when talking about the dark, even in broad daylight, you will feel like night inside the inner tent.  The compact darkroom material is capable of 90% light blocking.

No more missing out on those morning naps in the wild camping experience. Just pack it in the storage bag and take it with you anywhere you like. It got made for that.

Pros

• Great space
• Good ventilation
• Visible at night
• Comes with rainfly
• Instant set up
• Room divider for more privacy

Cons

• Not lightweight

4. Coleman Rocky Mountain 5 Plus Family Tent

Another one from Coleman coming to make its mark  & the best premium blackout tent on the list. This time it is the Rocky mountain 5 plus tunnel design tent.

Compared to the other one, it is a bit different in the sense that it blocks out almost all the daylight. That’s right. The two blackout bedroom area you get with the tent are capable of keeping 99% amount of light out from coming into the room.

From inside you never feel like the sun has risen as it blocks it so well. It doesn’t even let you feel the heat as it got a UV protection canvas to keep things cool under the roof.

Leaving aside the quality darkroom capabilities of it, it offers a quality tent overall. This tent is one of the lightest blackout tents, super easy to carry around while traveling. A great part of it is because of the lightweight fiberglass pole construction it uses to pitch the tent. It can take on the winds without adding the weight of the steel poles for you to carry bag.

Coupled with that you get a large living room within it. Five people can easily sleep inside which makes it the perfect traveling gear for family camping trips.

But what truly impresses it is the balance it offers of light and darkness. You get large PVC windows that let the light come in without letting the bugs or water get inside. And when you need privacy, you get the covers to shut it off whenever you one.

Plus, it works wonders with its 100% waterproof canvas and groundsheet to keep the people dry.

All in all, this one is the best blackout tent for backpacking & one of the most brilliant camping gear not just as a tent but as camping gear as a whole.

Pros

• Got 3 rooms
• Breathable tent fabric
• Great water resistance
• Sturdy structure

Cons

• Zip closure on the entrance doesn’t work smoothly.

5. Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent

For the best pop up blackout tent, go with the Quechua one. All you need is 2 seconds to get the structure up and have a place to live anywhere you want. That’s because it got a free-standing structure.

When it comes to blocking the sunlight, the Quechua works wonders. Similar to the previous Coleman tent, it offers complete darkness(99%) inside it. All thanks to the black layer inside the inner tent. The blackout material keeps the light out while the fresh white exterior works to not absorb any heat.

Besides that, the flysheet with its side panels lets the air circulation quite well within the tent. So, it doesn’t get warm inside like a hot oven, unlike some other tents. The two-person tent is really comfortable. But that’s not all.

Aside from dealing with the heat, the den does a good job of keeping the tent rain to creep in. And the pop up blackout tent itself has a quiet structure that can take on crazy gale force winds.

Now, that’s the kind of shelter you need while camping in the wild.

Pros

• Free-standing.
• Good space.
• Well-ventilated
• Wind and rain protection

Cons

• Not for a large family.

Verdict

Going family camping trip or with friends, the night gets quite crazy. You play games, party, and right when you go to night’s sleep in the tent, the morning light gives a smack on the face making you regret your earlier decisions.

But with the best blackout tents for camping, no such regret. The sun can be right outside your window, and you can sleep inside it like it doesn’t exist.

The light blocking tents on the list are that great. But maybe you’re still not sure which one to pick.

Considering the build quality, performance and price, my first recommendation would be the coleman dome tent.

For someone who travels alone a lot and looking for a pop up blackout tent, Quechua is the best choice. It is small, durable, and blocks out light quite well. For those who camp with crews, either the Coleman 10-person or the Ozark Trail is what you need. They got plenty of space.

All five of the black out tents are great. There is no wrong choice you can make.

Blackout Tent Buying Guide

What are actually the blackout tents?

The tent with blackout fabric is also known as a ‘darkroom tent’ or ‘dark rest tent’. The blackout tents hold a specific exterior fabric that has light-absorbing or light-diffusing quality. This tent is used for keeping your tent inside as dark as possible so that you don’t have to wake up early in the morning when the sun rises.

The black-out tent is recommended for those who are planning to arrange camping along with children and babies. A person who is sensitive to light while sleeping can also go for this type of tent.

Basically, the blackout fabric is fully blacked out such as Coleman tents. Some tents also hold a dark-colored fabric though. Most heavy-duty black-out tent has the ability to block 90% of the daylight, whereas the rest of the blackout tent can reduce morning light significantly.

Generally, the tents always had a lighter color for helping in terms of keeping the tent cooler inside. But, the blackout tent has the ability to keep your tent inside cool and comfortable due to the climate control fabric and ventilation.

Why do you need a dark rest tent?

Well, anyone can opt for blackout camping tents. A good number of people used to go for the best dark rose tent. But this type of tent is familiar to the person who can’t sleep in the presence of a light. Without it, there are lots of people who look for this type of tent.

Camping with kids:

When you talk about camping with children, then the dark rest camping tent is the best option for you. The dark can provide a suitable place whenever the children require an afternoon nap in the daytime. So, there is nothing to worry about as there will be no possibility of walking up to your children in at early morning due to sunlight. Definitely, you will have a comfortable and pleasant morning in a dark tent.

Light sleepers:

Well, if you are a sleeping sensitive person, then you should go for dark rest tents. Lots of sensitive sleepers pick these types of tents for camping. Because this type of tent can make you feel comfortable in a cozy and dark enough environment.

Camping while hot:

If you think about camping in desert, then you will have to go for a dark tent. Otherwise, camping in desert or falling asleep in the southwest can be feral in the summer. The dark rest technology tents are renowned for blocking the bright sunlight and also for keeping your tent environment cooler than the common tent.

Northern hemisphere camping:

Well, you will need a dark rest tent if you want to camp in the northern hemisphere. Because you are supposed to know that the sun never seems to set in Alaska or Northern Minnesota. In this kind of situation, a dark tent will assist you to get into sleep earlier than the sin used to go down.

Astronomers:

The black rest tent is a good choice for you if you are thinking about enjoying stargazing. Without it, lots of hunters, and astronomers go for this type of tent as they need to get their activities done during night time and sleeping in the sunlight.

Festival-goers:

Well, the blackout tents for camping have good fame to the festival-goers. Because these tents can block the brighter lights as well as their activity. You will find the dark rest tent useful if you think about spending your time beside alien campers who are sleeping following a diverse time schedule.

Features You Should Search in a Blackout Tent

Well, you will find black out camping tents on the market in different styles and shapes. Although, style and shape do not matter very much. There are some common features that you should look for in all blackout tents. The features of blackout camping tents are:

Capacity:

The first and foremost feature you should look for in any type of tent is its capacity. So, you have to check your blackout screen tent capacity first. Give a quick count of how many if you are going on camping. If you are thinking about camping alone or with a single person, then you can get a small blackout tent. It will be easier in terms of transporting and setting.

On the other hand, you have to go to a large tent if you are camping along with your family. You will find a tent that can make space for about 10 people comfortably.

Ventilation:

Ventilation is an important feature that doesn’t matter whatever your tent type is. Obviously, you will be looking for a way of adjustable opening that will allow airflow. The mesh panels remain hidden often back after the rainfly that is used for light-blocking in the darkroom tent. You are allowed to open your tent till sunlight if you wish so.

Storage pockets:

Storage pockets are very effective if you really like staying organized. So, it will be better if you opt for a tent that has multiple storage pockets. Thus, you will find your tent inside bigger.

Electric port:

Electric ports are also crucial things if you wish to camp with luxury. In this case, you have to go to a tent that belongs to an E-port. You will be able to use the inside electric cord access of your tent without opening any of its elements. This kind of facility is available in Coleman tents.

Waterproof feature:

Well, having a waterproof tent is always an advantage. So, make sure that all openings of your tent such as vents and windows have an awning, or the rest of the material has the ability to prevent water from getting inside. Without it, you should also look for welded corners and inverted seams. Because these features will keep you dry.

Brand:

Well, you will very few brands in the market that produce quality blackout technology tents. Among them, the Coleman is perhaps the popular one that holds very few various darkroom tents. Before you going to make a purchase, you need to ensure that the tent is really blocked light rated. Because you will find some tent in the market that is colored and can’t block about 90% of light. Therefore, pay heed to this issue.

Best Blackout Tents FAQ

What is Dark Room Technology?

Well, darkroom technology is a method that is used for reducing bright light from entering a space. The fabric for the darkroom is made for eliminating about 90% to 99% of luminosity. However, most tent has also the capability of building up heat regulation which is important as the blackout material is used to block sunlight heat.

Do blackout tents have the ability to my tent completely dark?

You will find some tents with a good light-blocking ability. The blackout fabric can block almost 99% of sunlight. It will seem to you as if you are staying in a dark environment. On the other hand, the most tent has the ability to block about 90% of the light which is good enough for sleeping comfortably.

Are blackout tents/darkroom tents worth it?

They are blackout tents worth it if you don’t want to be disturbed by excessive sunlight while inside the tent. Especially if you are a light sleeper, blackout camping tents are the perfect option to go for.

Are BlackOut tents cooler?

Most of the blackout tents are cooler expect some exceptions. They stay cooler due to the use of standard blackout technology.

How much a darkroom tent cost?

Well, the price actually depends on the tent’s brand, style, and size. A high-quality premium tent can cost up to $700 or even more. You will get amazing service from this kind of tent. However, the cheaper tent will also be fantastic and will fulfill your expectation. You will find a tent at an affordable price of $50 and up.

Does the light-blocking property fade over time?

The straightforward answer is yes for most cases. There is some high-quality premium tent where special fabric is used and the properties will not fade over time.

Do blackout tents work?

Yes. Blackout/darkroom tents are really effective.

Disclaimer: CampGrasp is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, We may earn from qualifying purchases.