Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top three-season tents. Taking it down wasn’t really the issue here but dealing with the bulky mess was a pain in the butt. We just did our best to crumple it up and use the two straps provided to tie everything together and stuff the tent back into the bag. If we can assist you with selecting the right model for you, and your family please feel free to contact us via email, phone or visit us in store.
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. If you’d prefer to pitch your tent in a matter of seconds rather than minutes, the coleman cooler 6 has you covered. At only $146.99, it’s one of the cheaper 6-person camping tents on the market, and it delivers a foolproof approach to tent-pitching that can easily be accomplished by one person, perhaps even one-handed. 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.
Sometimes it’s nice to be able to come in and out both ends of a tent, especially if you’re pushing the capacity. Nobody likes being stepped over or having to step over others for a late-night bathroom trip. The setup and take down is pretty good, unless the tent is wet. Any rainwater comes in the tent poles have started to come apart the bag doesn’t fit. 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. I sweep it out before every take down.Recently, I experienced my first breakage.
Anyone who has spent much time outside has kicked through a stake or guy line in the night. Once the tent was fully setup, it stood 76” high in the center of the tent. This 8 person Coleman Instant Tent takes up 14’x8’ of space and I would consider this the Cadillac of instant tents.
For extra protection from the elements, you can buy the Instant Cabin Tent with a rainfly; this bundle is also on major markdown for October Prime Day at 41 percent off. Last year I bought a Coleman 8 Man Instant Tent, since I usually camp alone it looked like a good product. I spent three weeks going up the Arkansas river valley in Colorado from Salida to Leadville prospecting for gold. The first day I set the tent up the wind blew it over while I was setting it up, 3 “Knuckle” joints broke instantly, they are a part of the tent poles that allow the tent to “pop up”. This was not a strong wind, more like a gust in a breeze and should not have injured the tent at all.
The main appeal of the Coleman Instant 6 is detailed in its name. 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. The floors and canopy on the Coleman Instant Tent 6 are made up of a rugged 150D polyester, which is noticeably thicker than many of the tents in our review and should hold up to a great deal of punishment. The aluminum poles are also quite durable; the leg poles are 16mm thick, while the roof poles are 12mm thick. All of these heavy-duty materials add a great deal to the weight—at nearly 25lb, this is the heaviest tent in our 2021 review.
But before we get to the part about setting it up, the first thing that caught our attention was the size of the tent while in its carrying case. The carry coleman cooler case for the tent is 3’ 10” in length and the height is 11-inches. Unless you have a pickup truck, it will take up a lot of room in your vehicle.