The Gear Junkie: Coleman ‘Instant Tent’

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. That mesh also keeps the tent feeling airy and cool in hot climates. Measuring 10 by 10 feet, the Sundome covers an area larger than that of coleman instant tent our family-tent top pick though its lower roof leaves it with less headroom. But it’s one of the least expensive tents we found that had no significant drawbacks and will truly cover your bases for three-season camping. The tent also comes with its own footprint, a groundsheet that protects the tent from abrasion, which we recommend that you have.

Over the past 10 years, we have owned half a dozen tents from an ultra-lightweight tent that we used to backpack along the Appalachian trail to a 10-person luxury tent for glamping. Both were great for their own reasons, but now that we have 2 kids and a dog, we once again coleman cooler need a new style of tent, one that is quick and easy to set up. On our camping trip, the four-person tent, which costs just $136.99, did in fact set up with ease. Unfold the bundle of nylon and interlinked poles from its duffel bag and the shelter almost pops to its shape.

Bought two air beds, both lost air in a matter of a few hours. Unlike our top pick, the Tungsten 4 is coated with flame retardants. I cannot recomend this tent, the ease of putting the tent up stops as soon as these crucial parts break which happens almost instantly. I may just end up making my own parts out of aluminum or steel. The North Face Wawona 4, which we used to list in our Other Good Tents section, has been redesigned; it’s now made of polyester, not nylon. BCF acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and communities.

For an additional $28, Coleman offers a secondary rainfly accessory made of Polyguard 2X that straps to the top and allows you to have open vents without getting your stuff soaked. Although it’s less than ideal to add a 20% upcharge to unlock this feature, it’s still much easier on your wallet than the majority of the tents in our review. However, this rainfly really only serves to add extra protection to the roof; it does not extend out far enough to provide sufficient protection for the doors and windows.

This large family tent features WeatherTec welded corners and inverted seams to keep water out of the tent. An included rainfly provides added protection from the elements. The tent has reflective guidelines for improved visibility at night, a patented hinged door, and room divider for extra privacy. Instant tents make setting up camp simple and incredibly fast. While you can still opt for the traditional tents that have a higher level of technical features and customization, you can now choose a tent that prioritizes speed and ease.