7 Cool Backyard Tents and Outdoor Shelters

The Outback Deluxe: Making Summer Glamping Cooler

First up, the Outback Deluxe. It's the latest design by Lotus Belle, an Australian company that specializes in glamping tents sold worldwide including the USA and Canada.

The tent is a roomy 16-feet — that's a whopping 56 percent bigger than the manufacturer's 13-foot tents. The Outback Deluxe is also loaded with features that will help keep you cooler during the hot summer months including generous roof vents, an extra entrance, and zippable mesh windows and doors. And if you're worried about bugs, each tent has Velcro groundsheet connectors that keep creepy crawlies from sneaking inside.

How long does it take to put this glamping-worthy tent together? The first time it will take you roughly 45 minutes to pitch. However, if you keep the support poles connected to the walls when you pack up the tent, it will take about 20 minutes to set up the second time around. FYI, the entire tent fits into a very portable banana shaped bag. How much does all the glamping goodness cost? $2,800.

Casa Bubble: a Protector You From Pollen and Bugs

Harsh sun, allergens, and pesky bugs can make the great outdoors unbearable. Casa Bubble creates structures that will allow you to enjoy all that nature has to offer in complete comfort 365 days a year.

Shown here is the Cristal Bubble. It's a versatile and portable living space that's quick and easy to install. It has a fresh air system that allows you to enjoy beautiful views while leaving mosquitoes, pollen, and humidity outside. Each bubble is also coated with an anti-UV treatment that will protect occupants from damaging rays.

While plastic items like this aren't so great for the environment, Casa Bubble manufactures their designs as sustainably as possible. They state that they use minimum energy and minimum materials to create structures that provide maximum comfort and maximum interaction with the environment. Contact them for a price.

The Froute Pod: Transforming Outdoor Space Into a Backyard Retreat

Want to transform your boring backyard into an outdoor haven? The (f)route pod by Giant Grass Design is a semi-permanent structure that takes around 45 minutes to build. The pod's beautiful turnip-like shape was created using bamboo fabric, bamboo support beams, and hinged steel supports. The building kit costs nearly $1,500.

The Luminair Tree Tent Lets You Hang Like a Bird

Why camp out on the ground when you can nest in the trees? The Luminair Tree Tent is a lightweight low-impact outdoor shelter designed to keep two adults comfortably perched up in the canopy.

The sphere-shaped structure has a hybrid aluminum and steam bent ash frame that's covered with a 100 percent cotton canvas that's both rot and waterproof. While you can use the Luminair for camping, it makes a great semi-permanent backyard office or studio. Prices start at around $12,000. 

The Sibley Bell Tent: When Camping Becomes Glamping

Believe it or not, this baby collapses down to fit inside the trunk of a car and can be pitched by a single person. With the features of a camping tent and the appearance of a glamping tent, the Sibley Bell Tent by CanvasCamp is the best of both worlds.

The tent, made of 100 percent cotton canvas, is built around a single center pole with short walls around the outside to create more room inside. In sizes ranging from two-person to ten-person, the Sibley tents can meet the needs of a variety of customers. Cost goes from $700 to $1,500.

The Thermo Tent: the World's First Properly Insulated Tent

If you're an avid camper, you know that traditional tents typically feel like broilers during the summer and like iceboxes during the winter. The also suck at dampening annoying outside noise. Enter the Thermo Tent — its creator, Derek O'Sullivan says it's the first properly insulated tent that solves these pesky camping issues. 

The tent has an inner tent that makes all the difference. It uses a brand-new insulation technology (that Derek and his team created) that keeps the temps inside more comfortable for better sleeping. The high-tech material also reduces outside racket by 35 decibels. A two-person tent in the Crua series starts at $250, and prices go up from there depending on capacity and additional features.

The Cinch: a Modern Pop-Up Tent That Can Keep Things Charged

The Cinch is a tent built for the casual 21 Century camper. Not only does it take seconds to pitch, but it can also keep your personal gadgets charged.

The standard Cinch set includes a repair kit, backpack for carrying and LED lighting. An optional solar power package is also available. It includes a roof-mounted solar panel, battery pack and a lock that will keep the system securely in place.

The Cinch comes in two, three and four person sizes. Prices range from $330 to $350 USD.