The Best Sports Pod Pop Up Tent

Sports Tents for Parents: Brilliant!

Who hasn’t wished for a magical portable shelter from the elements on an uncomfortable day?  This goes for sports parents, as well as photographers, fishermen, beachgoers, tailgaters, and more.  Under the Weather invented the Pod to make this dream a reality.

Mark Cuban understood the potential of the sports pods when he saw them in action on Shark Tank in 2017. Since that time Under the Weather has expanded its line of products and we are seeing them being used at sporting events, on the beach, and many more places.

The Original Sports Pod Tent – Under the Weather MyPod

The MyPod is the original model presented on Shark Tank by company founder Rick Pescovitz. Rick assembled an intricate display to demonstrate the personal pop-up tent performance in the elements, such as rain, wind, and sun. Mark Cuban was sold.

Weighing only 7 pounds, the tent folds into a small circle and is easy to carry in the included backpack carry case, which also holds the included stakes. When the weather takes a turn for the worse, the tent pops up in seconds.

The full canopy enclosure allows for 270-degree viewing and sun protection.  The stakes and a steel wire frame stand up to wind, within reason for something that weighs 7 pounds.

Under the Weather MyPodXL – Bigger!

They took a good idea and made it better! The MyPodXL is 40″ x 40″ and 58″ inches tall. These are big enough for a couple of chairs, or your backpack, and even a small cooler.

It weighs in at 7.7 lbs, a little more than the standard model, but still quite manageable. It sports all the features of the original too. You have the 270^° viewing radius due to 3 clear sides, and when you zip everything up on those cold days the temperature inside can be as much as 30^° higher than outside conditions.

And you can connect multiple MyPodXL tents together at the sides for a strong line of support for your little all-star.

Under the Weather Meshpod

Following the success of the Mypod and PodXL, came the Under the Weather MeshPod specifically designed to shelter you from the sun and biting insects. The lightest of all of them, this baby is only 4 lbs. The inside measurements are 34″ length, 34″ depth, and 58″ inches tall.

The front and 2 sides are made from a fine gauge ultra-soft mesh, allowing for 270^° viewing. We found this to be really comfortable and easy to see what was going on around us. Each of the mesh sides features full zip doors for easy in and out.

Like all of these sports tents, it’s fast and easy to set up and take down. Overall we love this thing, it’s great protection on those hot sunny days, and it even provides UPF 50 sun protection.

Under the Weather Sports XLPod

After the success of the personal canopy tent option, Under the Weather followed with the XL Pod.  These pop-up pods offer 10 more inches of height and 5 more inches in length and width.  This large pop-up tent can easily fit a heavy duty folding chair.  The website offers its proprietary XL Pod Bench if you want to ensure a perfect fit.  Younger kids can also hunker down with you in this spacious personal tent.  The spaciousness and versatility of the XL Pod quickly propelled it to a best seller for Under the Weather.  As well as being a useful shelter for you, this pop-up tent makes a great gift to another sports parent in your life.

However, two adults may be cramped in this canopy.  If your spouse or grandparents are joining you at the games, you may want to consider the Under the Weather MyPods.  This new pop-up sports tent features straight sides so that friends and family can sit next to each other.  Each person sits in their own MyPod, but the front and sides can zip down completely.  This allows for conversation without losing warmth.  And finally, for our warm weather fans down south, meet the MeshPod.  This pod has just been patented and is for sale through May.  Mesh walls instead of plastic allow for a breeze to pass through but still keeps out bugs and direct sunlight.  An optional Sun-Fly attachment fits over the top to provide extra shade.

Other Folding Personal Sports Tents on Amazon

Under the Weather has certainly revolutionized the idea of a personal pop-up tent.  This product beats the rest as far as full personal enclosures go.  However, some similar canopies offer shelter differently for great value.  Perhaps you want to sit with a few friends or family under one pop-up shelter.

Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent

You may be interested in a different canopy tent, like the Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent XL.  The open front spans about 8 feet, allowing a few people to sit side-by-side out of the sun, wind, or rain.

At 47”, the Easy Up tent stands a little shorter than the Under the Weather XL.  The large windows and open front, along with the solid canopy along the back, make the Pacific Breeze the more compelling warm weather option.  The instant canopy easily folds to a carrying weight of less than 7 pounds.  The waterproof floor also makes this tent ideal for a family day at the beach or a festival.

Otentik Sun Shade

To maximize breeze and capacity, a sunshade may be your best bet.  Sun shades spread a high-quality fabric atop four poles. 

One top sunshade on Amazon is the Otentik Sun Shade. This popular option comes in three different sizes and includes sands bags to weigh down the canopy. The poles and sandbags allow this design of pop-up canopy to be erected on any type of surface, from concrete to shallow water.

This tent style is perfect if you have a lot of kids to shade, or a lot of traffic in and out, like a track meet or tailgate.  Also, people love bringing their sunshade to the beach or park for its instant setup and ease.

Why Buy a Personal Sports Tent

We have presented Mr. Pescovitz’s intriguing new invention and introduced a few of the other options available on Amazon.  There is truly a cheap pop-up tent for every shopper and situation.  With these great options, you will have no trouble braving the elements this season, from frigid cold to scorching hot.

Also, check out our review of waterproof outdoor blankets for additional shelter and comfort, or save your back and your rear with one of the best bleacher chairs available.

Having the right equipment makes it a lot easier to convince siblings and grandparents to come to support your junior all-star from the sideline.  Like we always say, the best sporting parent is a prepared sporting parent.