There are certain items we typically carry in our aircraft, like spare engine oil, wheel chocks, tie-down rope, first-aid kits, and other emergency gear. Beyond those items, we tend to limit what lives in the baggage compartment to reduce clutter and excess weight.
If you have a little extra capacity, though, and you enjoy visiting fly-ins, pancake breakfasts, and airports near beaches, parks, and outdoor events, you might spare some of your useful load for a pop-up tent. These lightweight, portable shelters are known for easy, rapid setup and have continuously improved in materials, sun protection, and ease of use.
In the Northeast, where I fly, popular beach destinations include Block Island, Rhode Island (KBID), Provincetown, Massachusetts (KPVC), Montauk, New York (KMTP), and many others where you can walk to the sand. When you get there, though, having a comfortable, shaded place to sit can ensure that your visit is a joy and not a slog.
Here are five portable shelters worth considering.
Summer may be months away, but you probably have noticed that the days are getting longer, and you might have started making a list of destinations you plan to visit once the chill subsides. Pop-up tent and accessory maker Lozi & Gabe is kicking off summer early, pairing its tents with fitted, fastened-in base towels. The tents offer UPF 50+ protection and “set up in seconds, so you can focus on enjoying time together.”
While Clam is known for mountaineer shelters, ice-fishing tents, and other serious cold-weather equipment, its Traveler, Venture, and Escape screen tents have developed a devoted following. People like screen tents because they give shelter from sun and bugs while maintaining all-around visibility and ventilation. Their size and shape are more accommodating for people who prefer sitting in field chairs instead of on the ground.
Gazelle focuses on camping, with tents that accommodate three to eight people. They also sell versatile screen tents and portable gazebos that help make a range of outdoor activities easier and more comfortable. Its structures use light fiberglass and metal parts that are fully assembled to eliminate the inconvenience and stress of reading instruction manuals and managing loose parts.
Quechua is the in-house camping and hiking brand of the renowned outdoor products retailer Decathlon. Quechua’s pop-up tents are especially well-known for their thoughtful design and “2 second” setup. The company’s lineup ranges from compact sun shelters and camping tents to inflatable camp mattresses, field chairs, cots, sleeping bags, and thermos bottles. Decathlon and its Quechua brand have cultivated a reputation for offering high-quality products at lower prices than competing high-end suppliers of outdoor products.
This classic brand has been the go-to for campers and outdoor sports enthusiasts for more than 100 years. Known for a broad range of lanterns, coolers, thermoses, camping stoves, and other dependable gear, Coleman even made specialized equipment for soldiers during World War II. Today its product line is tailored to civilian use and includes a range of compact Skyshade tents that fit easily in the baggage compartment and are ideal for beaches, picnics, and anywhere else where you might seek protection from the sun.