\Getting the right beach shade will make your day out in the ocean more satisfying and even memorable. There’s a lot of varieties offered in the Australian market right now and so we’ve come up with a list to narrow down your search to 10 of the best beach shades we’ve found in Australia. Plus, we’ve laid down a comprehensive guide, from types to materials used to help you choose the right product that’ll suit you and your budget.
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Our Picks for the Best Beach Shades & Tents
10 Best Beach Shades & Tents
- Easthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter – Extended Zippered Porch Included
- OZoola Beach Sunshade Tent with Sandbags UPF 50+
- Coleman Shoreline Instant Beach Shade Shelter
- Neso Tents Beach Tent with Sand Anchor, Portable Canopy Sunshade – 2.1 x 2.1m – Patented Reinforced Corners
- Alvantor Beach Tent Coolhut Plus Beach Umbrella Sun Shelter Cabana Automatic Pop Up UPF 50+ Sun Shade
- Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Coleman 13 x 13 Instant Eaved Shelter
- Beach Shade by Hau’alele – UPF50+ Premium Durable A Frame Portable Beach Sun Shade Canopy Tents for Family | Easy Set Up, Wind Resistant | Beach Canopy Sun Shelter Stakes & Carry Bag
- Mountview Pop Up Tent Camping Beach Tents 4 Person Portable Hiking Shade Shelter
- FE Active Pop Up Beach Shelter – Easy Set up Family Beach Tent Outdoor Sun Shelter Half Dome Canopy Tent
Beach Shades & Tents: Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the right beach shade should not be as hard as you feel right now. Let’s get you started with the types of beach shades that you can choose from to the factors you should consider before making that purchase.
The Different Types of Beach Shades / Tents
There are different beach shades available in the market right. It’ll come in so many forms and innovative designs. But for now, you’ll just need to know the five basic types that are most commonly seen, used, and sold.
Pop Up Beach tent
A pop beach tent is somewhat like a camping tent but without the front wall; so it has all three other sides and the flooring but the front area is wide open and bare. Compared to the rest of the tents, it provides the best wind and sun protection. You won’t need to move around when the sun’s direction moves as you’re all covered on all sides.
It’s called a pop-up beach tent because most, if not all, products of this kind have the poles integrated inside the tent. So you’ll just need to pull a cord or open the straps and it’ll erect on its own. For added sturdiness, you can place tent pegs or put some sand into the tent’s pockets.
Beach Umbrella
Beach umbrellas are what you commonly see at the beach. It’ll come in different sizes, designs, and structures. Some can stand right up, while others are placed on the ground angled. Other designs will even come with a table that’ll serve as the umbrella’s stand and table for your food and beverages.
This type of beach shade might just be the easiest type to set up. However, it’ll be a hassle keeping it in place, especially during windy days. It won’t give you as much shade as the others, but it’ll be one of the cheapest and portable to carry.
Half Dome Beach Tent
Half dome beach tents are fairly similar to a pop-up beach tent but with modifications. The sides are angled to meet the top or roof of the tent, so there’s a smaller overhead space and provides lesser protection from the sun. Although it still does provide great wind protection.
There isn’t much space inside as well, so you might want to reconsider choosing a dome tent if there are quite a few of you sharing the shade. Nonetheless, this type of tent is also extremely portable since it’s a fairly small tent and it doesn’t take up much space for storage. Not to mention, most of its kind is extremely cheap.
Cabana Beach Tent
Also known as a gazebo beach tent. It’s quite a huge tent where you can stand and even have a mini party under its roof. Most cabana tents don’t have walls so it’s quite open and it doesn’t have a floor as well. It’s like a tent you use for events.
It’s quite bulky and heavy and will take a lot of time and effort to set up. But you’ll prefer this type of tent if you’re with a larger group or if you don’t want the claustrophobic feel of a semi-enclosed beach shade.
Cabana beach shades are very sturdy because they’ll come with lots of extra attachment for support. The legs will likely be planted securely in place in the sand. It’s not much of a protection from the wind because of its open side but it does offer a luxurious feel.
Canopy Beach Tent
Canopy beach tents provide excellent overhead protection from the sun. Just like the cabana beach shade, the canopy does not have a floor nor walls—it’s just as open but will lesser overhead space. Nonetheless, you can still stand up or fit a full-size chair inside.
One of the salient differences between the canopy and the cabana is the number of poles. The canopy beach shade only has two and the rest relies on ropes.
Explaining the Terminology
Anchorage points
An anchor point, or anchorage, is one component of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), which is designed to prevent injury to workers should they fall from their worksite. This refers specifically to the point at which an anchoring device is affixed, fastened, tied, or otherwise connected to a support location.
Tent frame
It is the skeletal body of a beach shade.
UPF
Or “Ultraviolet Protection Factor”. This is an indicator of how much UV radiation can be pierced through or allowed to get through the fabric. A UPF 50 fabric can block around 98% of the sun’s rays. The production information on this is important as it should be a determining factor for you when deciding to purchase.
UV Protection
It is the characteristic of a material that should block ultraviolet light from reaching you, especially your skin, which is why we lather up on sunscreen to protect ourselves from excessive sunburns. Some beach shade fabrics will have this feature integrated into the material used.
Bech Shades / Tents: Main Considerations
Size and weight
Most beach shades come in small and compact sizes, aside from the cabana variants. The sizes will now vary as to how big you want your beach shades to be. The bigger the size of the product the heavier it’ll be. Some companies will charge more for bigger sizes.
If you’re going out on a family day trip, you may want to look into bigger variants. But if you’re going with a friend or two a smaller one would definitely suffice.
Portability
Beach shades will typically come with a carry bag—even some umbrellas will have it. Portability is an important factor to consider especially when traveling. Bringing a large-sized cabana would mean you’ll need bigger transportation. But if you’re walking to a beach near you, a compact beach tent, umbrella, or even a canopy will just be as good.
Group quantity
The number of people sharing the shade will be a determining factor as well. Having 3 to 5 around a tight dome or pop-up beach tent may not suffice.
UV Protection, Material, and Construction
The material and construction of a beach shade are as important as any other outdoor gear. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re sitting on your chair under the shade reading a book or taking a short snooze and your beach shade suddenly collapses on you. Or the fabric easily rips wide open just by a single blow of the wind.
When buying a beach shade with frames, consider those made with either fiberglass or aluminum as they are not as heavy to carry and it can withstand the Australian weather.
Meanwhile, the fabric on beach shades will usually contain some UV protection but not all. Look for products that can offer UV protection of 50+ UPF. Normal tent fabrics can still be pierced by UV rays. What’s the point of having a beach shade if you will still get excessive sunburns while sitting under it?
Anchorage points
To make sure your tent won’t fly away on you, you have to make sure that the product you are getting will have some reliable anchorage system, to assure that your shade is anchored down securely.
There are different anchor points made available like stakes, sandbags, or tent pegs. If you think the number of stakes is not enough or not as good quality as you’d hope, you can buy them separately.
Beach Shades / Tents: Secondary Considerations
Setup and storage
When looking into beach shades, imagine how it’ll be easy to set up alone or with a friend or two. Cabanas and canopies are definitely not a one-man job. It can be but it’ll take a long time to get done and by then you might be too tired to enjoy the beach. Pop-up beach shades and umbrellas will be two of the easiest to set up.
Are you going to walk to the beach or will you ride a bike or motorcycle? If so, you may want to consider portable and compact tents for easy storage. But if you have a truck or other 4WDs, cabanas and canopies will fit inside—depending on your storage capacity. You have to consider your storage first before purchasing a beach shade as you may end up leaving it behind because it will no longer fit inside your vehicle or it’s just too big to store inside.
Price
The kind and type of beach shade you’ll end up buying will, of course, depend on how much you are willing to spend. The more luxurious brands and innovative designs will more likely carry a premium price tag, while the simplest ones will be more affordable. Make sure to purchase a product that’ll last you a while or will not slowly disintegrate while kept in storage when not in use.
The 10 Best Beach Shades / Tents Available in Australia
#1. Asthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter - Extended Zippered Porch Included
Best Beach Shade for Small Family
- The Instant Shade uses Easy Setup Machanism and includes a step-by-step instruction sewed inside the carry bag, making it very easy to...
- Constructed of ultra-light, water-resistant 185T polyester coated with UPF 50+ protection that blocks 97.5% of harmful UV sun rays,...
- Durable 120g PE floor gives 82" W x 47" D x 50" H plus a 43" front porch of space for 2 adults and children or pets, keeping you from...
Weight: 2.27 kg | Dimensions: 119.38 x 208.28 x 127 cm
Standout features: Three-sided mesh window for ventilation; Extended floor fabric
The asthills Outdoors Easy Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter is a great option to consider when looking for a beach shade for your small family. It only weighs around 5 pounds and can fit conveniently inside the trunk of the car.
The material of the beach shade is high-gade. It bears an ultra-light, water-resistant 185T polyester coated with UPF 50+ protection. The fabric blocks 97.5% of harmful UV sun rays, providing all-day protection for your family.
You can definitely lounge inside while watching your kids run around in front of you because of its extended floor fabric that is around 43” long. You can even use that extension as a front door cover when you need a bit of privacy, such as when changing. You won’t feel hot inside because it has mesh windows on all sides.
#2. OZoola Beach Sunshade Tent with Sandbags UPF 50+
Best Overall Canopy Beach Shade
- Perfectry sized at 2 * 1.5m (unstretched)
- Provides an excellent sun protection UPF 50+
- Lightweight (1.7 kg) easy to carry and set up
Weight: 1.7 kg | Dimensions: 49.53 x 15.24 x 12.19 cm
Standout features: Sandbag used for anchorage point; stretchable fabric material
Bask under the sun with style with OZoola Beach Sunshade Tent with Sandbags UPF 50+. It’s definitely a canopy beach tent that is worth considering. The fabric itself looks very fancy and it stretches quite wide, so you can enjoy the shade with a few others.
It’s super easy to set up and takedown but it will still be a job for two people. It’s also light and easy to carry. Basically, you are just carrying two light poles and a few fabrics as its anchorage points are fabrics as well. You just need to gather up the sand that’s already all around you and fill each bag with as much sand as you can. The more sand you put the sturdier your anchor points are.
The fabric has UPF 50+ which is a big plus. This product is actually considered to have excellent fabric quality for sun protection according to Australian and New Zealand standards.
#3. Coleman Shoreline Instant Beach Shade Shelter
Best Beach Tent for Beginners
- Product Type: Sporting Goods
- Package Quantity: 1
- Package Dimensions: 31.9 inch (L) x 9.1 inch (W) x 9.16 inch (H)
Weight: 2.59 kg | Dimensions: 78.99 x 10.41 x 10.49 cm
Standout features: Extended floor fabric; 50+ UPF protection
The Coleman Shoreline Instant Beach Shade Shelter is a great beach tent to purchase if you’re new to outdoor purchasing. The brand itself will make you trust the product instantly.
One noteworthy thing is that this is not a pop-up beach tent. So it won’t pop open and erect after pulling a cord or the lock. Nonetheless, the poles are already pre-attached to the fabric. All you have to do is finish setting up the poles to let the tent stand erect.
On the other hand, the fabric is made with UVGuard material, which provides a 50+ UPF protection from the sun’s dangerous rays. Meanwhile, the floor fabric is extended and it can be used as a front door cover for a bit of privacy when changing. This is a fairly simple beach tent that’ll provide the essential uses that you will likely need the most.
#4. Neso Tents Beach Tent with Sand Anchor
Best Canopy Beach Tent with Design Options
- 7 x 7 NESO TENT (Periwinkle Blue). Made for the outdoors, your Neso Tent weighs in at 4 lbs/ 19.5 inches. It can easily fit over your...
- MADE FOR LONGEVITY. Designed with the highest quality Nylon/Lycra blend, rust-proof aluminum poles, and patented Reinforced Corners,...
- FOR ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. Sold in 57 countries and counting, Neso Tents are the sunshades of choice for beachgoers, surfers, soccer...
Weight: 1.8 kg | Dimensions: 208 x 203 x 168 cm
Standout feature: Pantended reinforced corners
The Neso Tents Beach Tent with Sand Anchor, is a fun-looking canopy beach shade. It’ll start to brighten up your experience from the availability of design that you can choose from. You can even pick a design that’ll suit your bubbly personality best. Or if you’re the minimalist kind, it does come with plain colors.
The fabric has SPF 50+ coverage and it’s really lightweight but water-resistant. The whole product is made for longevity. The poles are even made with rust-proof aluminum and it embodies patented reinforced corners. Meanwhile, the anchorage system will depend on either sand or rocks which you can put inside the small bags that come with the package.
#5. Alvantor Beach Tent Coolhut Plus Beach Umbrella
Best Pop-Up Beach Tent with Excellent Ventilation
- ☀PATENTED AUTOMATIC OPEN sun shade beach tent on the Market : Patent pending HUB mechanic system on the top,which make tent open by...
- ☀INNOVATIVE DESIGN: 50+ UPF UV protection and water resistant fabric for walls and floor. 3 sides mesh provides excellent...
- ☀SUPER EASY UP & DOWN: This beach tent sun shelter pop up automatically instant in a second. Sets up less than 30 seconds. Folds down...
Weight: 2.27 kg | Dimensions: 200.66 x 119.38 x 134.62 cm
Standout features: Fiberglass frame; Anchorage points: Sandbags and stakes
The Alvantor Beach Tent Coolhut Plus Beach Umbrella can give you and your family excellent ventilation inside the beach shade in very hot Australian weather while still being protected from the heat and rays of the sun.
The tent itself is quite spacious and can fit a family of three (max.) conveniently. Although, it doesn’t have an extended floor fabric like the other items on this list.
It takes pride in its patented hub construction system; setting this tent up and taking it down real easy. Also, its anchorage system comes with two materials— 4 sandbags and 4 stakes. This makes the beach shade windproof up to 25 mph.
#6. Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter
Best Pop-up Beach Tent for 4-Person Family
- Easy Setup and Portable - This instant beach tent features automatic patented pop up mechanism, makes it fast and easy to take down and...
- Strong and Durable - Umbrella rated 3000mm PU coating by newest breathable 210T polyester, anti 99% harmful UV, durable floor made of...
- Luxurious Space - XL Large size: 92" x 45" x 45" providing generous space for upto ( 2 adults with 2 kids ). Spacious design provides...
Weight: 1.81 kg | Dimensions: 80.77 x 13.72 x 13.46 cm
Standout features: Easy set-up and take down hub system; Two anchorage system
The Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter is such a spacious beach shade that can fit 4 people inside. It’s also equipped with strong and durable materials; the flysheet is made with 210T Polyester with water-resistant PU coating while the floor fabric is made of 150D PE. It’s also coated with a UV protective coating rating of 50 + UPF.
Meanwhile, the tent frame is made with 6.9mm fiberglass poles, which have a very convenient setup and take-down system. Meanwhile, it has an excellent anchorage system, with the sandbags integrated with the fabric and there are 6 of them too. There are 4 steel pegs as well, which makes the whole beach tent secured from strong winds.
A noticeable feature of the beach shade is that it is built almost like a camping tent already. The only difference is that the front side is open, but it does have an extended fabric that can be used as a door (with velcro attachments) for the needed privacy.
#7. Coleman 13 x 13 Instant Eaved Shelter
Best Cabana Beach Shade
- UVGuard material offers UPF 50+ sun protection
- Instant setup in as fast as 3 minutes
- Comfort Grip technology locks shelter into place for pinch-free pole extending
Weight: 22.37 kg | Dimensions: 124.99 x 27.99 x 22.99 cm
Standout features: Pinch-free pole extending; Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric
Pros:
- Easy setup
- Highly durable fabric
- UPF 50+ sun protection
Cons:
- Too heavy and bulky
The Coleman 13 x 13 Instant Eaved Shelter is built to eliminate the hassle when setting up and taking down a big cabana beach shade. All you have to do is to spread out the foldable tent frame, extend the legs halfway and place the roof fabric before extending the leg frames all the way through. There is no need to build the frame part together as it is just a 1 pc. foldable frame. It also has support ropes to make sure the tent is securely kept in place even with a strong wind.
The roof fabric is made with a rugged, Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric with UVGuard material that offers UPF 50+ sun protection. So it can durably protect you from the sun and other weather conditions.
It has a vented roof as well that helps release trapped heat and serves as good ventilation when deciding to cook or heat the food inside the tent. It’s very spacious inside which makes it a great tent for a family getaway.
#8. Beach Shade by Hau'alele
Best Unconventional Canopy Beach Tent
- ☀️LOVE THE OUTDOORS under the comfort of your new premium quality beach shade tent from Haualele. We deliver a UPF 50+ sun tent...
- 🌊EASY UP BEACH SUN SHADE CANOPY comes in a carry bag & includes a rot proof 3.8m x 1.8m striped canvas canopy tent with 8 reinforced...
- 💯SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: We know you'll love relaxing while protected from the harmful sun under our UV beach canopy sun shelter....
Weight: 5kg | Dimensions:
Standout feature: A-Shade design; adjustable height
The Beach Shade by Hau'alele is an A-Shade design, instead of your typical web-like canopy structure. It is definitely an unconventional canopy product it is quite promising.
It’s a great canopy beach tent that won’t take up too much space out on the beach. This is a good feature if it is a little crowded at the beach. It won’t give you a headache looking for a spacious spot to set up the canopy beach shade.
It has adjustable 12 gauge anodized aluminum upright poles and crossbars that will never rust. You can adjust the height of the tent conveniently and it comes with two spare pegs (6 pegs included all in all), just in case you lose a peg or two. However, it doesn’t have included sandbags, so the sturdiness of the tent against strong winds remains to be seen.
Like all the others on this list, the fabric has a certified UPF 50+, so you can relax and not worry about your skin’s safety. It’s a bit on the heavier side as it weighs around 5kg. Nonetheless, it does have a reinforced canvas bag that will make the carrying less of a burden.
#9. Mountview Pop Up Tent Camping Beach Tents 4 Person Portable Hiking Shade Shelter
Best Overall Pop Up Beach Tent
Weight: 1 kg | Dimensions: 220 x 100 x 120 cm
Standout feature: No setup needed
The Mountview Pop Up Tent Camping Beach Tents 4 Person Portable Hiking Shade Shelter is the best example to present when looking up actual pop-up beach shades. You won’t need to set up any poles, you just open it up and it’ll prop erect on its own. Although you’ll still need to manually hammer in the pegs to keep the shade securely in place.
It’s very spacious as it can fit four people inside. Ventilation is not so much of an issue as it has a zippable window on the backside. It does not necessarily specify the UPF rating but it does say it is UV resistant, so it still offers sun protection. It’s weatherproof as swell and the fabric is made of breathable interwoven mesh.
#10. FE Active Pop Up Beach Shelter
Highly-Durable Half Dome Beach Shade
- DESIGN: The Mavericks half dome tent will be one of your favorite beach accessories. It is easy to set up and once folded it fits...
- CONSTRUCTION: The beach shade tent is built with a high end water resistant 190T Ripstop polyester PU 600mm, which is extremely...
- DIMENSIONS: This versatile half dome beach tent provides extra shade with oversized dimensions of 90.5in x 59in x 49in or 230cm x 150cm...
Weight: 1.81 kg | Dimensions: 148.84 x 229.87 x 125.98 cm
Standout features: Oversized dimensions; Perfect mom and baby shade tent
The <FE Active Pop Up Beach Sheltert can be considered a front runner in the half dome beach shade market. The brand itself is a well-known label for durable yet affordable camping and outdoor gear items.
This half dome tent is equipped with highly durable material. The fabric is made with high-end water-resistant 190T Ripstop polyester PU 600mm and the connecting poles are upgraded aluminum stakes. It has built-in clip hooks which makes it easier to set up and to take down. It doesn’t specifically state the UPF rating but it does say that the material has UV protection.
It doesn’t have side windows but the opening is wide enough to regulate the air inside and the fabric has some kind of mesh characteristics which also helps with airflow. This half dome tent is deemed ideal for a family with a baby as you can securely place the baby inside without worrying about a few sand particles flying inside and it gives decent privacy for a mother to nurse while still enjoying the view.
