Whether you’re looking for a more comfortable way to enjoy your kids’ sporting games or you just want a peaceful way to relax in the serenity of your backyard without the mosquitos and weather, an inflatable bubble tent may be your answer.
Waterproof, easy to set up, and generally transparent for an unfettered view, these tents provide a unique way to experience outdoor activities without subjecting yourself or your family to nature’s whims.
So, what is the best inflatable bubble tent? The Foammaker Outdoor Transparent Tent is my favorite since it is fully waterproof, very sizable, and doesn’t require the blower to be constantly running.
A very affordable second choice, the Happybuy inflatable bubble tent, is fully transparent and has a chamber that doesn’t collapse when it’s opened, though it is a much smaller tent.
Either of these two bubble tents will provide you with a dry space to enjoy the outdoors anytime and anywhere you want. That said, they also have some pretty noticeable differences that may cause you to prefer one over the other.
These two are also not the only ones on the market. In fact, I’ve reviewed five of the best inflatable bubble tents here to help you find the one that’s perfect for your needs and your family.
Last update on 2023-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Reviews of the Best Inflatable Bubble Tents
1. Foammaker Outdoor Transparent Tent
The first thing you’ll probably notice about this tent is that it’s big. While some of the inflatable tents on the market are meant for just a few people, this one has enough space for a whole party at sizes up to 16 feet in diameter.
My favorite feature about this tent, though, has to be the fact that it doesn’t require air to be forced into the main tent space. Many of the available tents have the blower pushing air directly into the tent, meaning you’ll have to keep the blower running even while you’re inside. This also means the tent collapses momentarily when someone enters or exits.
In contrast, with the Foammaker tent, an inflatable honeycomb of tubes creates the dome structure and provides support and shape. This means the blower never has to blow air into the main tent at all, and it doesn’t need to stay running once the tent is fully inflated. For me, these advantages are what make this inflatable bubble tent preferable over its competitors.
That said, this design does come with one drawback: you don’t have a completely clear 360-degree view. However, for me, the tradeoff was worth it, since you only lose a small bit of visibility, but gain immensely in terms of comfort and convenience.
Of course, this tent is also completely waterproof, featuring the highest waterproof coefficient of any tent that I found at 3,000 mm. You can rest assured that your family and your belongings will remain dry in this tent, even if the weather conditions take a turn for the worst.
Pros:
- Available in large sizes 10’-16’
- Won’t deflate when you open the door
- Doesn’t need a blower on all the time
- 3000 mm waterproof
Cons:
- Doesn’t have an unobstructed view
- Takes up to 10 minutes to inflate
2. Happybuy Inflatable Bubble Tent
The cost of most inflatable bubble tents is high enough to deter many people from wanting to make the purchase, since often it will see only seasonal or occasional use.
If you’re in this group, then you may consider the Happybuy inflatable tent. This is the most affordable option of all the tents I looked at, though you probably wouldn’t be able to tell just from the way it functions.
To start, this tent offers excellent visibility in all directions since it’s crafted entirely from transparent PVC. It does include a bag for transportation, as well as a repair kit that can be used to fix small tears and rips in case of emergency.
In my eyes, the real problem with this tent and many others that share a similar design is that the blower pumps air into the main part of the tent where everyone will be sitting. This wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that it must remain hooked up all the time to keep the bubble inflated.
Compounding this problem is the entryway, though this particular tent does a good job of mitigating the issue by including a second zippered entrance between the tunnel and the dome. When you open the tunnel door, the air pressure will drop, and the tunnel will start to collapse. It will refill shortly, but this is still an annoyance.
There is a way to fix this – a set of metal frame rods can be used in the tunnel to help it maintain its shape. However, they’re not included, and it can be difficult to find ones to fit properly.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Fully transparent
- Includes repair kit
Cons:
- 10-15 minutes to fill
- Blower must remain connected at all times
- Needs rods to support the entry chamber
3. LEMONCOFFEE Inflatable Bubble Tent
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This inflatable dome tent from LEMONCOFFEE has some awesome standout features that set it apart from similar inflatables. For instance, the walls offer near-complete privacy in the front, while still allowing for awesome views, thanks to the transparent PVC used for the top and back of the dome.
Another unique feature of the LEMONCOFFEE bubble tent is the extra room that is separate from the main dome. Both the entry tunnel and the extra room are both shielded from view for total privacy. If you want to be submersed in nature while still maintaining a bit of personal space and privacy, this is a tent to consider.
Now here’s something I appreciate – a very quick inflation time. This tent takes just a minute to inflate, which is pretty darn impressive compared to similar tents. Of course, this tent is also a bit on the smaller size, being intended for just one or two people, so there’s less space to fill.
So far, this tent sounds excellent, but there are two main drawbacks that stop it from being my top pick.
The first weakness with this tent is that it’s not nearly as waterproof as many similar products. This one is rated 1,000 mm or less. Compared to the 3,000 mm rating of the Foammaker, this is pretty lackluster. While a light sprinkle won’t get you wet, a real rainfall may pose a problem.
Continuing, this tent outprices almost all of the similar competition. It’s incredibly expensive, and even though I think it has an awesome feature set, personally, I can compromise on the features if it means I save two-thirds of the overall cost.
Pros:
- Some privacy with white walls
- Inflates in one minute
- Includes repair kit
Cons:
- Small, for 1-2 people
- Very expensive
- Not the best waterproofing
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4. JYNselling Transparent Inflatable Bubble Camping Tent
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This JYNselling transparent bubble tent is available in diameters of 10-feet or 13-feet. The tunnel is 6-feet long, but honestly, the main dome doesn’t feel that much bigger.
Completely transparent all the way around, you’ll definitely get some excellent views from the inside of this tent. However, I don’t think you’ll be as comfortable while enjoying those views, meaning you’ll lose some of the experience.
First, the blower must be kept on the entire time to keep the tent inflated. Since it’s blowing directly into the main area of the tent, this is going to be a bit of a nuisance with the noise.
As if that wasn’t enough, you also can’t shut the tent all of the way since the blower is running and it may pop the bubble. Instead, the manufacturer instructs you to leave the zippers open 20 cm, so the air can escape. Personally, I prefer my tent to be entirely closed off from insects and the like being able to enter, so this is a definite downside.
This tent will also take quite a while to get set up, as the inflation takes 10-15 minutes. Since the entry will collapse some when you enter and exit, it will probably also take several minutes to fill all the way back up.
On the plus side, the entry tube does have its own blower port, which will allow you to minimize this issue by filling the tunnel separately. Of course, the second blower isn’t included, so that will be an added expense.
Pros:
- Not too expensive
- Available in 3 or 4-meter sizes
- Second blower port on entry tube
Cons:
- The blower has to run all the time
- You can’t shut the tent fully
- 10-15 minutes to fill
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5. RJUN Transparent Viewing Inflatable Bubble Tent
The final spot on this list is occupied by the RJUN inflatable tent. This one is completely transparent all the way around and features a very nice faux grass type floor that gives a unique feeling to this tent.
First thought – this tent is very expensive. Considering it’s just an inflatable bubble tent, it doesn’t provide any features that seem to justify a price tag that’s nearly double the price of other similar offerings.
This tent is also prone to the same problems as other inflatables where the blower forces air directly into the main tent compartment. The tunnel will collapse on entry and exit, and the blower must stay on at all times, becoming a bit bothersome.
You can insert metal frame rods into the tunnel so that it won’t collapse when opened. However, they aren’t included, and at this price, you probably won’t be looking to spend more just to have your tent function well.
Inside this dome is plenty of room for 3-4 people. The thermal protection claims to be anti-cold and a sunshade as well, though I’m skeptical of the claim since this is made of the same PVC that the rest of them are.
It’s also good down to -40 degrees Celsius, though I certainly wouldn’t expect it to protect you from such temperatures. However, it is very waterproof with a rating of 3,000 mm.
Just as a note, the blower uses an EU style 220 V plug, so powering this may be difficult in the US.
Pros:
- 3,000 mm waterproof
- Good down to -40 degrees Celsius
- Fits 3-4 people
- Thermal protection
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Needs metal frames that aren’t included
- European style plug
220 V blower
What to Look for in an Inflatable Bubble Tent – Buyer’s Guide
When you start looking at the inflatable bubble tents on the market, you’ll realize that there are some key differences between them. But which features should you be prioritizing?
Well, it depends a lot on what you plan to use your tent for. In this section, I will cover some of the key features to pay attention to while looking for your inflatable tent.
Views / Transparency
One of the main reasons for wanting an inflatable bubble tent in the first place is to have completely clear views of the world around you, without being subject to the less comfortable parts of nature.
All of these tents provide a high level of visibility all the way around. That said, some definitely provide a more inclusive viewing experience than others.
The downside to transparency is, of course, a lack of privacy. Some tents work to find a balance between views and privacy by making some parts transparent and some parts private.
Naturally, this blocks the view both ways where it’s intended to be private, so you will definitely lose some visibility if you want more privacy.
How Does it Inflate
Many inflatable tents on the market feature a design where the blower pumps air directly into the main bubble of the tent to keep it full. While this is an easy design to implement, it can be less than optimal for the occupants.
In such a tent, the blower will still have to run while you’re inside the tent. This can be quite noisy and create a distraction from the peaceful environment you were hoping to experience.
Moreover, it can also be less than comfortable having a fan constantly blowing and making the air dry, possibly making you colder as well.
Some designs feature instead an inflatable framework that will hold the tent up. The blower will only need to pump air into the inflatable frame.
Once the frame is fully inflated, the pump will no longer need to be run. The dome will not collapse when the door opens since it is not reliant on the pressure inside of the tent to remain standing.
While there are obvious advantages to having an inflatable framework instead of the blower pumping directly into the main part of the tent, it’s not a perfect system. You will lose some visibility in the tradeoff, so it’s something you’ll need to consider before making a final decision.
Waterproofing
While all of these tents will protect you from a base level of moisture, some of them are far more waterproof than others. You may never intend to take your bubble tent out in inclement weather. But sometimes, weather patterns change unexpectedly, and you may decide you’d rather be prepared.
While some of the lower-rated tents offer water protection of 1,000 mm or less, this isn’t going to keep you dry should a rainstorm start pounding your domicile. Some of my favorite choices featured waterproofing up to 3,000 mm; that’s sure to keep you dry in even the wettest of conditions.
How Many People
I’m guessing that you aren’t purchasing your inflatable bubble tent for solo camping. Most likely, it’s going to be for small gatherings, social events, sporting events, or family outings. In such cases, you’re going to want ample room for all of the guests.
Some of these tents feature footprints as wide as 16 feet, allowing you to fit numerous people comfortably inside. Others only have room for one to two people.
Think carefully about what you intend to use your tent for, so that you purchase one that provides enough space for you and everyone else to be comfortable.
Also, keep in mind that you may want to be able to fit furniture and other things inside as well. A few chairs or a small loveseat can provide comfortable seating for your guests. A bed could make it much more comfortable for spending the night out under the stars.
My Choice for the Best Inflatable Bubble Tent
I’ve covered a lot, so let’s bring it back to a short recap of my choice for the best inflatable bubble tent.
With a class-leading 3,000 mm waterproofing coefficient, and a smart design that won’t disturb your peace with a constantly running blower, the Foammaker outdoor transparent tent is my top recommendation.
It’s available in large sizes up to 16-feet across, and thanks to the honeycomb support structure, it never collapses when you open it to enter or exit.
For those shoppers who are a bit more budget-conscious, the HappyBuy inflatable bubble tent offers some excellent features at the most affordable price point. Fully transparent for a clear 360-degree view, waterproof, and with an included repair kit for emergencies, this tent is another great option, especially if you want to save some money for your adventures!
Top Rated Inflatable Bubble Tents
Last update on 2023-03-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
