Coleman tents are also designed to endure winds of 35 mph, so this model looks to be a good purchase for windy conditions. My buddies actually weathered a Tornado in it in Minnesota last year. It is a bit of a disappointment that this tent doesn’t come with a vestibule. Vestibules are great for storing gear or equipment outside the main body of the tent.
But if you are worried about performance in the wind, we’d recommend looking at a different tent rather than a smaller size. Therefore, we wouldn’t advise taking this tent out in gusty weather. It will cope fine with a summer breeze if staked down properly though.
Note also that all the windows are with zippers, which is surprising when you see its price; but this must be so with such a partial coverage fly. As for the rain protection, the fly is minimal and even if it is fully waterproof, the rain will go down to the walls where you have so many zippers everywhere, so chances for a leak are enormous. They claim that the tent can withstand winds over 35 mph, but this is a very boxy and tall structure.
You’ll see a lot of “60 second” tents out there, but most folks find any tent takes about 5-10 minutes to set up properly. It’s refreshing to see a product like the Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent with Instant Setup with such clear strengths and weaknesses. You may also be coleman camping chair interested in our Coleman Montana 6 person tent review and our Coleman Elite Weathermaster 6 person tent review. If you are planning a winter camping trip, do not take this tent with you as it won’t provide enough protection for you to have an enjoyable – or safe!
With all its windows closed, this Coleman 10-Person Instant Dark Room Tent is almost pitch black, even though there are still street lights from the outside. Each “room” can then fit either 5 sleeping pads or sleeping bags, or 2 queen-sized beds. One room, on the left side of the tent, will have 3 windows and the hinged D-door, while the other room will have 2 windows and the other door.
In that spirit, budget camping tents are basic but fully functional options for fair-weather campers. There isn’t a clear line where a tent goes from mid-range to budget, but we’ve found for six-person options, it happens around $250. Typical budget tents use heavier fabrics, which make them bulky and adds weight to the bottom line, but they’re also durable and resist moisture. When a storm blows through the campsite, more often than not, the budget tents are the ones with soaked interiors or are in a heap of broken poles.
Sitting near the top of REI’s camping lineup for 2023 is their Base Camp 6, which takes cues from mountaineering designs for a sizable boost in weather-worthiness. The Coleman Instant Tent 6 has average dimensions for a 6-person tent, at 10’x9’ (90sqft). The peak height is 6’2”, which will allow most hikers to stand up without needing to crouch.
Beyond that, it’s really just a budget tent that’s lacking in bells and whistles, along with less flashy inclusions—such as ventilation, better weatherproofing, and a second door—that would definitely boost its value. For those cloudless summer nights, this could make for an attractive option for families in search of low-cost camping, however there are still several competitive options out there at similar price points. There are few things more important to consider than the material of your tent. After all, this is what’s going to keep you safe and protected from the elements – you don’t want something cheap, flimsy, and uncomfortable. From my experience, Coleman seems to favor the use of polyester and fiberglass for the tarp and pole construction. And by extension, that means that Coleman doesn’t make tents that are very suitable for backpacking.