Beach Tents & Beach Shelters
uquip beach tents offer UPF 50+ sun protection and stay put in the wind thanks to sand pockets, guy ropes and pegs. Buzzy, Speedy and the large Speedy XL use the Quick-Up system for fast set-up and take-down. Shelly and Shelly Mini are classic pole-threaded designs that weigh very little and pack down small.
The range goes from the Buzzy for two people (IMTEST test winner 2025, grade 1.89 in IMTEST 2026) and the Speedy to the large family beach tent Speedy XL for two to four people. The Shelly Mini weighs 400 g and packs to 50 × 8 × 8 cm – enough shade for a break in the park or a walk along the beach. Whether you call it a beach tent, beach shelter or sun shelter: you'll find the right model here for family days, the pool and your holiday.
No single model suits everything. That's why uquip offers five beach tents: three with Quick-Up for fast set-up and two classic designs for a small pack size. Whether you need a family beach tent with a closable entrance, a compact beach tent for your suitcase or a mini beach shelter for a break in the park – here you can see every model at a glance. Tests, comparisons and tips for families and travel are in our beach tent buying guide.
Which beach tent suits you?
Find the right model fast – from family days to the suitcase.
Pop-up, Quick-Up or classic: which beach tent design suits you?
Beach tents differ mainly in how the poles work. That decides how fast you can set up, how easily the tent folds away again and what it looks like when packed.
Pop-up beach tent
also called throw tent · not in the uquip range
Set-up: a pre-tensioned spring steel hoop unfolds the tent by itself when you unpack it.
Take-down: the hoop is twisted into several loops. This takes some practice.
Packed: a flat, round disc.
Quick-Up beach tent
Buzzy · Speedy · Speedy XL
Set-up: the poles are built into the tent. One pull on the frame puts the tent up – no threading.
Take-down: release the joints, fold the tent, done.
Packed: a slim pack bag, e.g. Buzzy 73 × 15 × 15 cm.
Classic beach tent
Shelly · Shelly Mini
Set-up: connect the shock-corded fibreglass poles and thread them through the sleeves.
Take-down: slide the poles out, fold the tent, roll it up.
Packed: the smallest option, Shelly Mini 50 × 8 × 8 cm at 400 g.
Looking for a beach tent that goes up fast but doesn't have to be a pop-up? Then Quick-Up is the right choice: similarly quick set-up, but a slim pack bag instead of a large round disc. If weight and pack size matter most, go for a classic Shelly.
Large beach tent for the family: Speedy XL
If you're after a large beach tent, the Speedy XL is the one. Pitched, it measures 230 × 170 × 115 cm, with room for two to four people depending on how many children come along and how much gear goes inside. Three windows let air through and can be closed when needed, side pockets keep your phone and sun cream out of the sand, and the entrance can be closed.
Despite its size, the Speedy XL weighs 2.5 kg and sets up as quickly as the smaller models thanks to Quick-Up. If you're looking for an XXL beach tent or a beach tent for four, it's our largest model.
| Speedy XL | Speedy |
|---|---|
| Pitched size | |
| 230 × 170 × 115 cm | 215 × 150 × 115 cm |
| Room for (guideline) | |
| 2–4 people | 2–3 people |
| Weight | |
| 2.5 kg | 2.29 kg |
| Pack size | |
| 80 × 16 × 16 cm | 74 × 15 × 15 cm |
| Set-up · windows · UV protection | |
| Quick-Up · 3 · UPF 50+ | Quick-Up · 3 · UPF 50+ |
IMTEST 2025 and 2026
Buzzy in the IMTEST
The Buzzy was IMTEST test winner 2025 and scored grade 1.89 in IMTEST 2026 – 2nd of 7 beach tents tested (German consumer magazine). Quick-Up makes it fast to set up; sand pockets, guy ropes and pegs keep it in place.
View the test on imtest.deWhat a good beach tent should offer
8 criteria at a glance
✈️ Flying somewhere?
Taking a beach tent on a plane
Hand luggage or checked baggage? Pack sizes, pegs, poles – and which models fit in a suitcase. With checklist.
From our guides
Goes well with
FAQ about uquip beach tents
Pop-up or Quick-Up – what's the difference? ＋
A pop-up beach tent unfolds by itself thanks to a spring steel hoop and is twisted into loops for storage; packed, it's a flat, round disc. With Quick-Up, the poles are built into the tent and go up with one pull; packed, it fits into a slim bag. Buzzy, Speedy and Speedy XL are Quick-Up models; Shelly and Shelly Mini are classic designs with fibreglass poles.
How well do uquip beach tents hold up in the wind? ＋
How well a beach tent stands in the wind depends mainly on how it's anchored. Buzzy, Speedy, Speedy XL and Shelly have sand pockets you fill with sand, plus guy ropes and pegs. With the Shelly Mini, you weigh the floor down with sand. Always use sand pockets and pegs together, and take the tent down in strong winds.
Can I take a beach tent on a plane as hand luggage? ＋
That depends on the model and your airline. The Shelly Mini weighs 400 g and packs to 50 × 8 × 8 cm. Check your airline's hand luggage dimensions and rules before you travel. The Shelly at 57 × 11 × 11 cm fits in a suitcase. Many airlines require pegs to go in checked baggage.
How do I stop a beach tent from getting too hot inside? ＋
Heat builds up when there's no air exchange. Open the windows – Buzzy has two, Speedy and Speedy XL have three – and position the tent so air can flow through the openings. In the midday heat, a spot in partial shade helps too.
Do beach tents work on grass, at a lake or in the park? ＋
Yes. On sand you fill the sand pockets; on grass, gravel and campsites you anchor the tent with pegs. That makes the models just as useful at the lake, the pool, in the park or at the campsite.
What is a beach shelter? ＋
Beach shelter is another name for a beach tent: a half-open tent with a floor that gives shade at the beach and protects against wind. All uquip models use fabric rated UPF 50+.
How many people fit in a beach tent? ＋
As a guideline: Buzzy for 2 people, Speedy for 2–3 people and Speedy XL for 2–4 people. How much space you need depends on how many children come along and how much gear goes inside.