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Beach pods - overviewThere are a number of things to consider when purchasing a beach pod. If you're taking the whole family on holiday then a large cabana with lots of storage space is likely to appeal but if it's purely for babies use, a smaller, more practical pod that offers a high level of UV protection is a better option.
Beach pods come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and our parent panel found quite a few differences between the ones on test - particularly when it came to quality, space and accessories. Read the parent panel reviews and look at the results table below for a full view on how each pod performed. Our parent panel comments on the following: If it's a simple and easy to use cabana you're after, then the Prince Lionheart Pop n Play certainly won't disappoint. Our panel found it 'very simple to erect' with built in instructions that were 'easy to read and follow'. Similarly, the Worlds Apart Sun Tent scored well on ease of use with the panel describing it as 'a simple, versatile product that can also be used as an indoor play tent'. Our panel found the Travelling with Children Mini Beach Shade Plus and Koolsun Jacshade quite similar in terms of construction and they liked the 'automatic pop-up and twist-fold action' that 'took seconds to put up and fold away'. However, some felt that the pods 'were a bit wobbly' when upright, with 'ground stakes that were quite difficult to push into the ground'. The Jo Jo Maman Bebe was a 'tad on the large side and a bit of a handful to put up', our panel also agreed that you needed 'two people to put it up effectively' and although it 'pops up easily', 'collapsing it is quite tricky'. This is an issue you're likely to face with a lot of family sized shelters as they are bigger and therefore, take longer to construct and take down. The Worlds Apart Sun Tent scored well on practicality due to its 'large opening that made it easy to squeeze everyone in!' Our panel also loved the fact that it simply 'popped up and snapped into place', without the need for pegs to secure it - 'a bonus for busy parents who don't want to spend ages searching for a soft, but sturdy patch of soil!' Our panel liked the extra front groundsheet that came with the Koolsun Jacshade as it could be 'pulled up to make a little play den' and is 'very useful for sleepy babies or mums who don't want to breastfeed in public'. The Jo Jo Maman Bebe Family Beach Shelter was found to be 'practical for families who are spending long periods of time on the beach' but for shorter trips out, 'it's too much hassle'. The Koolsun Jacshade is a slightly smaller option and our panel found it 'much more practical for trips to the park as it's lighter, quicker to use and still fits the family in'. Our parent panel fell in love with the Prince Lionheart's 'colourful fabrics' and 'super shape' and most of our mums even admitted to trying it out for themselves. They also liked the style of the Worlds Apart, whilst the Koolsun Jacshade scored points for its 'brilliant colour that's perfect for both boys and girls'. The Jo Jo Maman Bebe Family Shelter was described as having a 'sleek and simple style that will suit any family' whereas the Travelling with Children Mini Beach Shade 'looked a tad on the flimsy side when erected'. The Koolsun Jacshade scored well on space and our panel liked the fact that it had room for 'at least four toddlers and a selection of toys'. All agreed that the Prince Lionheart was 'deceivingly larger on the inside than it looked' and they liked the cosy interior of the Worlds Apart. Being the only family sized pod in the test, the Jo Jo Maman Bebe tent was the largest of the bunch and our panel felt that it 'offered a generous amount of space that you could happily use for playing, feeding, sleeping and relaxing in'. The Travelling with children Mini Beach Shade Plus was 'probably the smallest of the lot, but offered a nice little space for baby and toys' and is 'a great option for younger babies'. Sun protection was at the top of the checklist with all of our parent panel members who felt 'very reassured with the SPF50 fabric on the Prince Lionheart and Worlds Apart tents'. The Mini Beach Shade and Koolsun Jacshade also block up to 97% of the sun's harmful rays and our panel liked the way it kept the 'interior nice and cool for baby'. Despite being unsure of the level of protection offered by the Jo Jo Maman Bebe Family Tent, our testers liked the 'silver coated material on the top of the tent that reflects heat and stops the inside from getting too hot'. The Travelling with Children Mini Beach Shade and Koolsun Jacshade are both equipped with mosquito-proof fabrics. Our panel also loved the white meshed zippered front on the Prince Lionheart which 'effectively kept out insects' and 'ensured the inside remained nice and clean'. Our mums were most impressed with the play pad that comes with the Prince Lionheart as 'it made the inside nice and soft for baby and strengthened it into a good shape'. They also liked the lip on the front of the Travelling with Children Mini Beach Shade that's 'great for playballs and keeping everything inside the tent'. The Prince Lionheart is equipped with built-in pockets on the side walls that are great for 'storing things in and weighing the pod down to feel more secure'. The Jo Jo Maman Bebe Family Tent also has built in 'sand or stone pockets that weigh it down' although our testers found that it still 'felt a bit wobbly, even when pegged into the ground'. The Prince Lionheart scored points for its 'smooth, high-quality fabric' that 'doesn't crease' and 'looks as though it will last for years'. The material on the Jo Jo Maman Bebe tent was slightly more flimsy but offered a 'nice and airy space if constructed properly'. All agreed that the Travelling with Children Mini Beach Shade and Koolsun Jacshade had relatively good fabrics, but the Worlds Apart 'looked a bit cheaper' than the others in the test. The Prince Lionheart comes with its own carry case which our panel loved. Most of the other tents come with a carry bag which you fold the tent into, but our panel sometimes found them 'difficult to squeeze back in - especially if they'd been up for a while'.
Got something to say? If you're a long-term user of one of the beach pods in our test and want to add your opinion, visit our individual parent panel reviews using the links below and share your views with other babyworld mums. Where to next:
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