Top 10 Best Grow Tents in 2018 | Reviews and Top Picks

A grow tent is an excellent way to create the ideal indoor growing environment that you can easily control.  While grow lights, hydroponic system, nutrients and ventilation are important, a quality grow tent comes before all these factors. Without one, nothing else matters.

There are many factors to consider when purchasing best grow tents. The features, budget and your growing needs are of paramount importance.

In this article, we are going to dig deep so you have enough information on setting up and using your own grow tent. Let’s get started, shall we?

Why You Should Use a Grow Tent?

Relatively Cheap – The average tents goes for around $70-$150. Setting up a grow space to reflect the same characteristic with air vents, light proof and waterproof is just the same cost or slightly more. It is difficult to set up a do-it-yourself space that works just as well as a grow tent. It will take more time, effort and planning than just buying a pre-made tent.

Easy & Quick to Set Up – Setting up a grow tent is pretty easy. You can set one up in an afternoon even if you are a rookie. Simply follow the manual and assemble one in no time. Overall, the work of assembling a grow tent is not as hard as you might think.

Stealth – A grow tent is great as the smells and light cannot escape the tent when set up correctly. It can also be tucked away at a corner or in a big closet without taking up too much room.

Perpetual Harvest – Grow tents create an ideal self-enclosed environment that you can manage separately for a perpetual harvest. If you want to separate your vegetative and flowering chamber, you can do this with ease using a grow tent.

Maximize Your Grow Lights – A grow tent will typically has reflective walls which are better than what you can do yourself.

Designed for Common Grow Equipment – It is fairly easy to adjust and hang grow lights, find ports and vents, hook up your fan. A grow tent accounts for most of the growing situations creating the ideal environment for plants to thrive.

Light Proof – A grow tent is made in such a way that light does not leak in and out of the tent. This not helps with faster growth bit as prevents light from spilling out. DIY light proofing can be cumbersome and a grow tent eliminates that problem.

Waterproof & Easy to Clean – A grow tent typically has a waterproof floor that has regular spills so you have no worries about water leaking on your floor. It is fairly easy to clean the floors and walls of the grow tent making it simple to maintain one.

Designed for Airflow – The sealed nature of the grow tent combined with air ports and vents are highly efficient. You can set up a whirlwind in the tent by simply installing a strong exhaust fan in any of the ports. This creates a constant supply of fresh air to circulate in the tent from the intake vents near the floor, thus replacing all the stale air in minutes while supplying plenty of carbon dioxide to your plants. This also prevents problems with heat buildup.

Smell-Proof – Grow tents make it extremely easy to utilize a carbon filter. There is negative air pressure caused by the closed up space to prevent smells from leaking into the home will be balanced out as long as the carbon filter in attached, doors are closed and the exhaust fan is on.

How to Choose the Right Size Grow Tent?

The lighting, size, ventilation, filtration and a proper understanding of various growing systems in the market are factors to consider when choosing the best grow tent for your budget and most importantly, your plants.

Here are some general points to consider where the tent is concerned:

Choosing the size of the tent is a vital decision in this process. Together with plant choices, it will aid in your decision for the supporting components and the operating expenses. If you get an oversize tent, you may pay more for basic equipment and the energy you need to power the fans, lights and equipment. If you get an undersized tent, you run the risk of creating an unhealthy and crowded environment for your plants. It may also not accommodate mature plants even after pruning and trellising.

Tents are available in different sizes and shapes but all serve one purpose- housing plants. You can get tabletop models or walk-in tents. There are tents that big enough to hold an attic, basement or suburban garage. Rectangular and square tents are popular choices. Then there are some grow tents with high, low or adjustable height ceilings. The options are plenty, so how do you choose?

What you plan to do with your tent largely determines the type of tent you go for. If you want to cultivate seedlings, you may start with a small or low tent. They do not need roomy ceiling height but might require adjustable lighting.

Read more: How to choose Best Wheelbarrow For Your Garden

General Guidelines on Plant Numbers

The best authority to guide on grow tent sizes is the tent manufacturer, but these guidelines can give you a rough idea on how many plants you can maintain in a particular tent.

• A 2 ft. x 2 ft. tent  is suitable for 1-2 mature or 4 small plants
• A 5 ft. x 2.5 ft. tent  is suitable for 2 mature or 6 small plants
• A 4 ft. x 2 ft. tent  is suitable for 3 mature or 8 small plants
• A 4 ft. x 4 ft. tent  is suitable for 4 mature or 16 small plants
• A 5 ft. x 5 ft. tent  is suitable for 6 mature or 20 small plants

Height dimensions are not listed above so you must keep in mind that sizes similar to those above can have different or adjustable-height dimensions. Check that the growing information and the cultivation strategies you like are compatible with your project. You may also consider the limitations of suing a small tabletop or any other tent. In small spaces, things often go wrong very fast. There is a risk of heat buildup which limits the style of lighting and the size. You will not have much flexibility either. Smaller tents are pocket-friendly but need diligent monitoring.

Top 10 Best Grow Tents Reviews

**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon

TopoLite Full Range Multiple Sized 24"x24"x48" Indoor Grow Tent Room( Our Top Pick)

Our top choice is the TopoLite indoor grow tent with a durable and sturdy construction. It is a suitable size for small and medium-sized plants.

2. TopoLite Full Range Multiple Sized 24"x24"x48" 32"x32"x63" 48"x24"x60" 48"×48"×80" 96"x48"x80" 120"X120"X80" Indoor Grow Tent Room

Another great tent from TopoLite, this is a multiple sized indoor tent with great reflective interior and a sturdy construction for durability.

3. iPower 96"x48"x78" 4'x8' Hydroponic Mylar Grow Tent

Designed with an interior that features a highly reflective lining, the iPower is a great hydroponic grow tent with a maximized light and heat control. Here are the pros and cons of this grow tent:

4. Quictent 96"x48"x71" Grow Tent

Quictent is an eco-friendly that is genuine, safe and reliable for your growing needs. It is approved by SGS chemical testing as non-toxic as it will not release any harmful gases that could be dangerous to your plants. Here are other advantages of using the Quictent grow tent:

5. CoolGrows Small Indoor Mylar Hydroponics Grow Tent

If you are not much of a handyman, this is the ideal tent for you. You can assemble it with ease without any tools. This mini grow tent will not let any light in and looks like a wardrobe closet for enhanced privacy.

6. VIVOSUN 48"x24"x60" Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent

The VIVOSUN is a great four by two tent that is short and small enough to fit in a closet but still big enough to fit 6 at a go. Unlike other manufacturers, the tent manufacturers offer a longer warranty up to two years.

7. Apollo Horticulture 48”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent

The Apollo is an ergonomically designed tent that is made of 400D thick and light proof fabric with a reflective interior. It is double stitched for safety and comes with sturdy zippers that do not get stuck. The reliable tent will provide an extra grow space and won’t break the bank.

8. Helios 96" x 48" x 80" Grow Tent

Achieve great harvests and unrivaled control with a professional-grade indoor grow door from the – Helios Hydro. The tent is constructed with high-quality materials including a reflective and tear-proof 600D for optimized growth. The thick and dark fabric is reinforced with double stitching for light blocking and odor protection.  Heavy-duty zippers guarantee lasting durability and a seamless opening of the 2 doors.

9. Amagabeli 4x4 Hydroponic Grow Tent

The Amagabeli is a great indoor tent measuring 48"x48"x80" for indoor plant growing in limited space like a small house or apartment. The great closure allows for humidity, light and temperature to create the ideal environment for sprouting seedlings, flowering or sexing plants.

10. TopoGrow 2-in-1 Indoor Grow Tent

TopoGrow grow tent has an excellent and stable construction, with 600D oxford cloth outside and 96% highly reflective waterproof diamond Mylar inside, The tent has exterior zippers design to ensure safety use and easy installation. Also, it has multiple vents to hold the filter and fans.

How to Create the Perfect Environment with Grow tents?

When set up well, grow tents recreate nature under perfect conditions. Once everything is set up, you can plant your vegetables and other plants, water and weed until you harvest.

If you are just starting out, here are a few pointers to help you utilize your grow tent maximally.

The five factors you should consider to create the ideal growing environment are:

• Light
• Air circulation
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Reflection

Light

Light affects how your plants grow. The color spectrum of light, for example, can cause your plants to grow either bushy and squat or tall and lanky. Some grow lights take advantage of a custom color spectrum that helps plants to grow as optimally as required.

Temperature

Get the right temperature for your tent so it is comfortable for your plants. Some plants will run into problems if the temperatures are either too low or too high.

Air Circulation & Exhaust

Ensuring that your plants have a cool breeze and plenty of fresh air makes your plants grow faster and optimally. Getting this right can also cause problems with pests and mold. Make sure the breeze is directed over and under the plants rather than directly. Also, ensure the air is circulating the grow space. 

Reflection

You will get the most of the tent’s indoor grow lights be reflecting it on the plants. Use reflective material on the walls to maximize on the light as it will bounce back to the plants. This allows you to get better yields from the same grow light without having to alter your environment.

Humidity

Humidity will not cause much problems to your plants unless it is too low or high. However there are ways to regulate the humidity for faster growth and better yields. As too much moisture causes mold, mildew and rot, make sure there is a breeze over the pants. Keep the humidity relatively low as you get closer to harvest.

Read more: How to choose best orchid pots?

How to Set Up a Grow Tent?

You will need:

• Grow tent
• Grow lights
• Carbon filter
• Possibly Ducting

1. Clear Space & Put Together Tent

This will require some time so free up an afternoon to take care of this project. Clean up the space you want to build your tent as it easy in the beginning rather than when you are working. Also take this time to see that your ideal spot fits right. You do not want to start your construction only to find that it does not fit through the doorway.

2. Hang Grow Lights

It can be hard to choose which grow lights you need for your tent but once the decision is made, it is easy to hang your light. The best way to hand lights is using rope ratchets that you can find with ease and a cheap price. Rope ratchets make it simple for you to adjust lights at any time without dropping them on your plants.

Make sure what you use to secure your lights can handle the weight of your lights.

3. Hang Exhaust Fan

The best way to create an efficient exhaust system to hand your fan inside your grow tent. This will muffle the sound of the running fan and allows you to make a straight path from the fan to the light for maximum airflow and circulation.

You can use a nylon rope or rope ratchets to hang your exhaust fan in the tent from the top bars thus significantly reducing vibration and sound. The fan will sound much worse if you simply set it outside or on top of the tent.

If you use a grow light with an air-cooled hood, connect the exhaust fan to the hood directly for efficient cooling. This prevents the hot air from beaming down on your plants.

For the best results, ensure there’s a way to have fresh air in the tent. Most grow tents have removable tents at the bottom to allow fresh air to get in.

4. Connect Carbon Filter

Using carbon filters ensures you have no foul smells building up in the tent. Hang the filter with rope ratchets to make it easy to make adjustments. It is also vital to have an air-tight line from the carbon filter to the fan to prevent the smells from leaking out of the tent. Most growers will hang a carbon filter at the back so it is out of the way.

If you have an air-cooled hood, simply connect the carbon filter-light-exhaust fan as a complete exhaust system. This way it cools the grow light and removes all the smells in one flow.

You can use ONA gel to control the smells when you open the door of the tent. For short-term basis, this gel is highly effective.

Now that your grow tent is already set up, there are several checks you should conduct.

Sound Check

You can reduce the sound of fans in the tent by hanging them instead of having them rest on something. Keep them clean to ensure maximum efficiency. For air and water pumps, it is better to place them on something rather than on the ground. This will muffle their vibration.

Smell and Light Check

You want to ensure no smells or light leak outside the tent. When everything is set up, test out your new tent. The sides of the grow tent should bow inwards when the fan is on as it creates negative air pressure. This will prevent smells from leaving the tent without passing by the carbon filter first.

Next, make sure that the carbon filter is well secured to the exhaust fan to prevent air leakage. Lastly, take a look inside and outside the tent. There should be no strange sounds or suspicious light leaking in or out.

Safety Check

The last step is to check inside the tent. Everything should be in its rightful place. No electronics such as ballasts, wires or power strips should be on the floor in case of a water spill. A good way to ensure safety in the tent is to have all electronics above waist and anything with water below the waist. No cords should be hanging around the tent. It not only looks nice but also is safe when the cords are neat and secure.

Conclusion

Picking the right sized tent is very important as this is the best way to guarantee proper indoor gardening. With so many different sizes, it may be hard to get what is the ideal size for your needs. There are plenty of models too making it a tough decision. Consider the factors we have discussed in this review and follow this guide to make the best out of your grow tent. You can also share it with others so that they may also learn what to look for in a plant growing tent.