The Base Camp, by contrast, has four full-size aluminum struts woven throughout it, somewhat like a basket, plus an additional brow pole that frames the front entrance and supports the larger of the two vestibules. The Base Camp also offers more privacy compared with our other picks—with or without the rain fly. For this testing process, I focused on three four-person tents in my backyard.
The continuous curve of the dome shape allows for wind to pass over and around it. You can also get a nice cross breeze going by leaving the vestibules open. On sunny days and clear nights, take off the fly and enjoy the sky through the tent’s clear mesh canopy. Some testers, though, thought the tent was stuffy when the fly was fully closed and the sun was out. Temperatures ranged from the 50s at night to the 80s during the day. To tear it down again, you simply remove those stakes, then push the buttons attached to the red pulls.
But, before you can wake up to the variegated foliage on a crisp autumn morning, you need to make sure that your camping gear is up to par. Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top three-season tents. Have used it roughly once each year and I use it by myself or with only one other person, so not under heavy repeated use. If you want it to last, best not to force anything and follow the instructions on setup. At the top center hub, I got in a hurry and erected the legs too soon in the wrong order which caused the hub to twist breaking one hub link and twisted one D leg tube internally.
If the Mineral King 3 is out of stock, or if you’d like a slightly larger tent, we recommend the Marmot Tungsten 4. The Tungsten 4 shares many of the Mineral King 3’s best features, and provides 10 square feet of additional living space as well as excellent weather protection—as long as you set it up properly. Like our top pick, the Tungsten 4 is a sturdy, two-door dome-style tent that can be deployed in about 5 minutes. It uses high-quality materials such as aluminum poles, breathable mesh, and water-resistant polyester fabric, and it comes with a full fly and a footprint.
Each window comes with a small latch to tie the fabric of the windows up, so that it looks neater. I felt like there weren’t enough pole clips in this tent, and the tent body felt a bit droopy, especially coleman instant tent on this side of the tent. It’ll take about ~7.5 minutes for 2 people to set up this Coleman 10-Person Instant Tent. After the roof poles, pull apart or extend the 6 telescoping wall poles as well.
Some popular SUV camping tents on the market include brands like Napier, Rightline Gear, and Kodiak Canvas. It’s recommended to read reviews and compare different models to find the best one for your needs. Setting up an SUV camping tent typically involves unfolding the tent, securing it to the vehicle, and staking it to the ground. Follow the instructions provided with your tent for specific setup steps.
An integrated, battery-operated light system surrounds the interior roof for ample nighttime light. It has a head-level gear loft and eight pockets, offering plenty of storage options. First and foremost, it’s important to find a suitable location for your SUV camping tent. Look for a flat and level area with enough space to accommodate your tent and any additional gear you may have. Clear away any rocks, sticks, or debris that could be uncomfortable to sleep on or damage your tent.
They are quick to set up with very little effort making the set up process less frustrating than a standard tent. Regardless of the too-long poles, I found this setup to be the most complicated. The tent initially pops up and the hubs all locked into place quite easily. My challenge was with the three interior poles that need to be placed alongside and over the door to give the tent more structure. The four person tent is just under $100, and the two person is just over $50.
Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t. The tent is one complete package, meaning the tent poles are integrated into the actual tent.
This instant tent’s key traits are its simplicity, ease of setup, and affordability. As a four-person tent, it is as basic as you get with a similar coleman instant tent design to the Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Pop-Up. It does have an integrated rainfly that can roll back, allowing ventilation and air circulation.