Between the school year ending and the official start of summer just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to get outside. But if the thought of family camping brings to mind the worst parts of a Griswold vacation, just know that it doesn’t have to be that way. Hammocks and rooftop tents might be ideal if you’re rolling solo or with just one fellow camper, but if the whole family is coming along, cabin-style tents are where it’s at. She points out that, when shopping for tents, you will absolutely get what you pay for. Higher-quality tents will have seams already sealed to protect from rain. They will also have a rainfly, which helps when you experience unexpected bouts of rain.
When pushed, most of those we talked to estimated five to 10 years, though the actual lifespan will vary widely depending on care and frequency of use (for more advice, read REI’s excellent tips). In conducting research for this guide, we heard multiple tales of careful campers who had been using the same tent for 15 years or more. We were surprised at first to see the Mineral King 3 come out on top.
And seeing as this tent is actually kind of perfect for those sort of trips, it could be good value for you. You can take the savings you get from buying a tent without a rain fly to invest in other camping gear. The Sundome offers more storage pockets and a lighting loop that is great for holding a lantern. Deciding which factors are most important to you before making a purchase is important. As anyone who has ever gone camping knows, setting up a tent can be time-consuming and frustrating. There are endless poles to fumble with, and it always seems like half of them end up in the wrong place.
Coleman Instant tents are where it’s at.If you’re 4 people, get a 6 person tent. My SO and I share a 4 person and it’s enough for us to sleep in and store all our clothes. Unless you only plan to bring this tent out for the occasional dry weather camping trip, the fact you have to buy a separate rain fly really reduced the value for money of this tent for us. The Coleman 6-Person Cabin Tent with Screened Porch can accommodate up to six people, making it perfect for families or groups of friends.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. With all that being said, we still highly recommend treating any Coleman tent with a proper DWR treatment as well as beefing up the seams with a brush-on seam sealer. Honestly any tent on the market will benefit from these measures, but because Coleman tents are still budget tents first and foremost, it’s an especially important step before taking your Coleman out in the wilderness.
The tent is made from 150D polyester and you can see the seam seals all the way around. We haven’t had a chance to test it in the rain yet, but we’d expect it to hold up well initially and potentially not be the most durable tent over the years since the zippers and mesh don’t appear to be high quality. What we did like about this tent was the spacious footprint and the two large doors that allowed for a refreshing cross breeze. This tent has an integrated rain fly, and could have been stuffy without a lot of thoughtful attention to ventilation. What’s more, the carrying bag split open the first time I zipped it shut and, from the looks of it, won’t last more than two or three camping trips before it needs to be replaced.
The CORE tent is comfortable, originally made to sleep 9 people, there is plenty of space for 8. The Ozark 8 Person Instant Tent is the best value for money out of the 4 tents we’re reviewing today. It could be just the thing for you and your family to increase the enjoyment of your excursion. Please note that Klarna does not verify whether the user has used or purchased the product. Thankfully, the package includes everything you need for a comfortable adventure. There is a carry bag as well, allowing you to transport the tent easily.
With the Coleman 6-Person Cabin Tent, you do not have to worry about this. The included mud flap and WeatherTec system keep you dry in wet conditions. The detachable coleman cabin tent rainfly also provides additional protection from the elements. The included screened porch is perfect for relaxing or, in a pinch, sleeping 2 more campers.
You secure the rain fly to the tent using velcro, although you also have to pull it tight and stake it. Assembling this tent is easy thanks to the pre-attached poles which click into place, forming the cabin shape of the tent. The 4-Person model is better at dealing with wind because it has a smaller peak height and vertical walls. We used a Colman instant cabin before I bought the pop up camper.