Best Grow Tent 201​8
Buying Information and Resource

Plants can grow in tons of different locations. Depending on the species and variety of plant you want to grow, you’re only really limited by your imagination and climate. That being said, sometimes growing plants in certain locations or with certain environmental settings, can allow for you to highlight certain properties you find more appealing. A grow tent is designed so you can do just this.

Don’t forget, though, that the actual grow tent is only one of the many different things you need to consider when you want to become a modern farmer. One aspect you’re also going to want to consider is what soil you will use and what nutrients you’re going to want to put in that soil.

This article will cover other aspects you may need to consider when selecting a grow tent, which brands are the best on the market and which actual tents are most deserving of being bought.

Best Grow Tent 2018

The Gorilla GGT55 is a great grow tent with some great features. There is ample room for extras to be added when needed and a good amount of space inside for most farmers’ growing needs. With measurements of 60" x 60" x 83", you’re going to able to grow a lot of plants, whilst maintaining a reasonable amount of space for them to flourish.

The Gorilla GGT55 comes with a reflective inner coating and a window, meaning you’re going to be able to see what’s going on inside. You can also expect a 100% metal, interlocking frame with a free 12” height extension kit. And for the really avid modern farmer out there, there is even a convenient tool pouch provided on the outside of the tent.

The only point to be wary about with this one is the price.

The Yaheetech Hydroponic is the answer to many small needs farmers’ needs. By this I mean that whilst the other options here are pretty sizeable and offer a large amount of space, the Yaheetech Hydroponic is smaller and so much cheaper.

Yaheetech actually only manufacture and market smaller models of grow tent, but don’t let this put you off. The tents might be small, but they are mighty reliable and offer brilliant value for money.

The Yaheetech Hydroponic comes with a standard inner reflective coating, yet misses out on incorporating a window. Other features include a three bottom rectangle mesh air vents with light-proof covers so that you will lose a little light as possible, and reinforced corners and sewn-in edges for overall extra protection. If you’re looking for a budget option, then this is probably it.

The Urban Farmer 96x48x80 is, again, one of the bigger models available on the market. As standard, it comes with a reflective inner layer, yet again no window. This isn’t really a problem, however, as the incorporation of easy to unlock and access flaps means that you can check your plants with ease.

TIt is more expensive than several of the competitors, but you also get a lot of features which other choices don’t afford you. For example, the Urban Farmer 96x48x80 has been designed to resist pests by maintaining a tight and securely enclosed design. This also means that the Urban Farmer 96x48x80 can stop certain odors from leaking out.

The Vivosun Horticulture 48"x24"x60" is a great middle of the range option. It’s not too big, but it’s also not too small. This means that it’s going to be able to fit a sizable amount of plants, but it’s not going to take up too much room.

The Vivosun Horticulture 48"x24"x60" comes with a reflective inner coating and a window. The design is incredibly durable and reliable. It is lightproof, meaning your light will stay inside the grow tent as opposed to escaping out of the side, and it makes use of an extra thick canvas, which keeps smells in and pests out.

For its size, the Vivosun Horticulture 48"x24"x60" is reasonably priced for a grow tent of this quality, and Vivosun provides a huge range of other products which can be used inside their hydroponic tents to help support them. If you’re looking to set up a complex and advanced grow tent, then the Vivosun Horticulture 48"x24"x60" is probably your best option. However, another competitor, which is of around the same quality is the Apollo Horticulture 48"x48"x80".

The Apollo Horticulture 48"x48"x80" is very similar to the Vivosun Horticulture 48"x24"x60". They are both from companies who manufacture and range of equipment to be used with their tents and they both make use of similar windowed designed with an interior reflective coating. The Apollo Horticulture 48"x48"x80" is potentially more heavy duty than the Vivosun in the long run, but short-term, there are no noticeable differences. Both companies make use of Mylar in their design, and both designs are, aesthetically, pretty similar.

What you’re going to want to compare when you look at these two options is what other equipment the companies offer. Vivosun appears to have more to offer than Apollo, but this is marginal at best, so assessing your needs and checking out both is probably the best idea.

Overall, the best grow tent out there is one which meets your needs. If you’re looking for space, then the Urban Farmer, for its price, is probably your best option. However, if you’re looking for equipment options, then the Apollo and Vivosun are pretty neck and neck. Meanwhile, the Yaheetech Hydroponic 24"x24"x48" is best for price and portability.

Make sure that you don’t forget that using a grow tent means making sure that the environment they produce is best for the type of plant you want to grow. Different plants have different requirements for optimal growth. Whilst temperature and airflow are the main considerations, it’s also important to give a thought to space and accessibility.

Grow Tent Buying Guide

So let’s begin by covering the features you’re going to want to consider when buying a grow tent. These are not all the features available on the market, but they are probably the most important for most average indoor growers.

Reflective Inner Coating

Not all indoor grow tents will incorporate reflective inner coating, but it’s pretty important if you want to keep high temperatures inside the tent and cut down on energy bill spending. Having reflective inner coating means that you aren’t going to be able to get much natural light inside your grow tent, so you’re going to have to install a lighting system inside the tent itself. Whether this is really worth it is largely up to you and what plant you are going to be growing. Because this type of grow tent is the best at controlling the environment, all grow tents looked at in this article are going to incorporate this feature. 

Lights

Lights are great for injecting that extra bit of energy for allowing plants to continue with that all important photosynthesis. Making sure you buy quality lights which emit the correct light for your plants is one of the most important steps, especially if you have a grow tent which makes use of a reflective inner coating.

Windows

Windows let you see what’s happening inside your grow tent easily without risking to much change to the environment you have created inside. This means that you’re able to check the progress of your plants with ease and without risking severe changes which may stunt their growth. However, checking your plants through a window too much can still be just as damaging to the environment in the tent as a great big hole. The window will allow light and heat to escape at a much faster pace.

Overall thought, a useful and efficient way to check on progress if used sparingly.

Fans

Fans are pretty important for making sure that new air is being circulated through the inside of the tent. Plants rely on photosynthesis to breathe, so a healthy mixture of good light and fresh air do them wonders when combined in optimal dosages. Sure, a standard tent without a fan system will still have a circulation of air. However, if you want your plants to really thrive in your grow tent environment, you’re going to have to invest in one which leaves room for the installation of fans.

Filters

Installing fans is step one, and is going to ensure that you provide your plants with a steady supply of fresh air. However, step two is making sure that air is of a good quality and that no horrible smells or odors are going to leak out into your house. The best way to do this is through using filters. Filters come in several different types including Carbon filters, odor neutralizers, air purifiers and ozone generators. All of these have their own advantages, however, it is usually recommended not to use ozone generators as they are pretty bad for human health.

Brands Of Grow Tents

There are several companies out there who manufacture and distribute indoor grow tents. The best of these have perfected their trade by listening to customer feedback and building on already useful and efficient designs. The best of the best, or cream of the crop, are as such:

Gorilla

Gorilla have made a conscious effort to get their brand out there and have really worked with customers to make sure that their products are receiving the best feedback around. Their tents are durable and efficient. However, Gorilla tends to charge a little bit more than the other options when it comes to price point. Yes, the tents are usually of a better quality, and yes, you get great customer support with this one. If, however, you already know what you’re doing and you don’t need the support Gorilla offer you, it might very well be a good idea to go for one of the cheaper options.

Yaheetech

Yaheetech has a certain ring to it. The name is reminiscent of a stereotypical farmer who waves a lasso above his head and carries a blunt pitchfork with him. Unfortunately, compared to the alternatives, Yaheetech offer a much smaller range than the other brands shown here. This is unfortunate because they have a pretty decent build quality and a cheap price point. Spending money on Yaheetech’s products, you will not. This means you can invest in better equipment when it comes to lights, fans, and filters.

However, the size of Yaheetech’s products means that you’re going to have less growing space. Yaheetech’s products are perfect if you’re looking to only farm a small number of plants or want to keep them portable. However, if you want more, then it’s probably better to shell out the extra cash in the first place and go for a brand which makes larger, less portable, grow tents.

Urban Farmer

The name says it all really. A modern answer to farming in an urban environment. The Urban farmer brand is great for making products which match the needs of your modern farmer. They include large enclosures with reflective inner coatings and space for the addition of lights, fans, and filters.

The brand itself also manufacture fans and filters, which work perfectly with their products. Compared to a lot of the more mediocre brands, Urban farmer make sure they explore the equipment needed for their tents themselves. This is great if you want a grow tent kit which works together seamlessly, but it can mean that installing third party equipment in these tents can be a bit of a pain.

Overall, though, Urban Farmer are a great option if you’re looking for a brand which has reliability and efficiency, whilst still maintaining a reasonable price.

Vivosun

Vivosun are primarily manufacturers of hydroponic systems, so buying a grow tent from Vivosun means you’re buying from a brand which knows what they are doing. This is similar to Urban Farmer. However, Vivosun are much more entrenched in the market and have made available a much larger range of equipment for their grow tents for sale than other manufacturers.

If you’re looking for advanced timers, specialized hydroponic systems, fan boosters, premium insulation or humidifiers, Vivosun are probably the best choice available. However, similarly to Urban Farmer, you might end up with some issues when it comes to compatibility with other brands’ products. Obviously, a grow tent is made out of fairly easy to modify material, yet using other brands’ equipment is still going to require a certain level of DIY in some cases.

Apollo Horticulture

Apollo Horticulture is one of the best brands out there. Their products ooze quality, reliability, and efficiency. They are very similar to Vivosun, both in quality and making available a wide range of equipment for their hydroponic tents The price range for both is also pretty equal. If you’re looking for the best brand available for flexibility, Apollo and Vivosun are very close.

Product images sourced from Amazon.com