13 BEST Screen Houses for Camping Bug-Free 2023 Guide

For disc jockeys, bartenders and photo booth vendors, the best resolution for outdoor events is one with drop-down sides. This type of tent will surely keep you safe from rain and wind and give you the display you want. The added perk of sandbags for the legs provides stability through stormy weather, so you may wan to look for that feature. When it’s time to pack up, some models break down in a few easy steps and slip it into the rolling storage bag included. While the price of this tent is low, so is the quality and overall design. It fell short in every category and scored among the worst in our entire lineup.

In our tests one camper took less than 10 minutes to put it up on the first try. Two shorter aluminum poles cross to support the roof while four longer poles join to the roof poles at the top of the tent and slide into pegs at the ground. The tent roof is made of polyester taffeta treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating. The walls are made of fine no-see-um nylon mesh edged with polyester taffeta. This polyester material is less susceptible to UV damage than the nylon that previous versions of this tent incorporated, but it generally has a feel that is not quite as soft.

The Coleman Back Home Instant Screenhouse assembles in three minutes in just three steps to create a shady, bug-free area outdoors. Great for picnics, barbeques, campouts, and more, this screened canopy is made with UVGuard material that offers 50+ UPF protection from the sun’s dangerous rays. The rugged Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric stands up to the rigors of the outdoors, so you can use this screened tent season after season. Ground stakes and pre-attached guy lines are included for added stability.

The quick pitch setup is also perfect for when you don’t want to waste time setting up a second tent. This is also the screen house to choose if you want to move it around easily. Say, the sun shifts, or you’d like to take your relaxation over to the picnic area.

When not in use, you can store this screen tent in the wheeled carrying bag that fits inside most car trunks. At only 45 pounds, it’s easy to wheel right to the campsite or a backyard party. The canopy tent has mesh walls on all four sides and an edge of polyester fabric (also DWR treated) at the ground that deters mosquitos and other critters from invading from below. Like many tents of this type, the REI Screen House Shelter has a fabric hook in the center of the ceiling that accommodates a small lantern or other light. Screen tents (or screen house) is a tent-style shelter that’s entirely mesh.

On top of that, the pole sleeves and side clips are all color coded, which makes assembling this screen house a breeze for anyone. Nothing less important is the little features that make this product even more enjoyable. There are plenty of gear loops throughout the interior that allow you to keep your necessities close at hand. No, the tent does not have any vestibules to store your dirty boots and outdoor clothing, etc. When we measure the score of a single tent, we study tons of areas, searching for things where the tent could exceed other very similar tents and where it is not quite as good.

After all, if you’re camping in the backyard, the worst-case scenario is you end up back in the house in your own bed. This is a very reasonably priced tent, so expect to get what you pay for in some regards. They’re generally designed for occasional use while camping. There are “rain gutters” that give rain a fast, efficient channel to flow off the top of the roof. A 150D rating is around the lower end of what you might see in an outdoor backpack type of material, with the higher end being around 350D.

The entire tent packs down into a large duffel bag, and at only 31 pounds, it’s very easy to transport to wherever shelter is needed. The Big Agnes Sugarloaf Camp Screen House Shelter is made for discerning outdoor gear buyers who value quality in lightweight solutions. The Colorado-based Big Agnes is known for its ultralight backpacking gear, coleman screen tent but the company also makes excellent lightweight camping gear, too. Its Sugarloaf Camp Screen House Shelter is made with high-quality aluminum poles. Our favorite benefit is the excellent detachable rainfly that extends over the sidewalls so rainwater won’t fall into the mesh. If you want a fully mesh ceiling, you can leave the rainfly off.

There are also guylines and stakes to use if you end up in heavily windy conditions, but they’re not integral to its instant setup. The large door that opens to the width of the screen house will also help you get the smoke out if needed. However, it also closes up and keeps you safe from bugs and other pests. Regarding the purpose & functionality, they describe it as suitable for picnics, BBQ parties, and for camping.