Family camping is supposed to be fun and relaxing, setting up your campsite should be no exception. The max numbers that manufacturers advertise is just that - advertising. Most stock tent poles are just junk and you'll be frustrated when they break. According to Tahoe, this tent is also made from waterproof fabric all around. And although the Sundome isn’t nearly as quick to set up as the same Coleman Instant Cabin, experienced campers who don’t care as much about setup time may find several other reasons to like the Sundome better. It is also important to consider the way in which the tent poles attach to the tent. Either material choice is fine. "name": "Can I cram the max number of people into my tent? Of course, who knows if they actually set it up properly… so as a word of caution make sure you use good, durable tent stakes and master the important knots you need to know in order to secure your tent (such as the trucker’s hitch).Best For: Sheltered campsites where rough winds are unlikely and large porch space is ideal. In our tests, an experienced camper took only about six minutes on the first try to set up the tent body alone and stake it out. (In theory, it’s meant to house six people, but in our experience, a six-person tent is the ideal size for two adults plus two or three children and gear.). Of course, who knows if they actually set it up properly… so as a word of caution make sure you use good, durable tent stakes and master the important knots you need to know in order to secure your tent (such as the trucker’s hitch). Plus users absolutely rave about the quality and price of this tent. On the Base Camp 4’s original model, which we tested, the two vestibules (front and rear) added up to 40.5 square feet (the area of the tent itself was 60 square feet); on the updated version, released in 2018, the two vestibules have grown slightly, totaling 44 square feet. } Still, we think the Instant Cabin is a solid choice for casual campers who don’t want any hassle with setup and who would be likely to cancel their plans—or retreat to a nearby motel—if prolonged downpours were in the forecast. Did we feel claustrophobic or rejuvenated? Cheap tents that seem too good to be true often skip this step. (If you have five or fewer people, however, a six-person tent can be very comfortable, especially if a few of those people are children.). (We don’t recommend the smaller version of this tent for couples who might actually take it on the road; it was just too flimsy in our tests. We perused the lines of top outdoor companies like Big Agnes, Marmot, and The North Face. As did almost all of the tent companies we asked, Eureka recommends that campers use a tarp or ground cloth for added protection. Our second trip, in early March, was to the oceanside Sycamore Canyon Campground (PDF), in Oxnard, California, where we experienced mild temperatures in the 50s and 60s, as well as a pelting, early morning downpour and violent gusts that sent camp chairs and picnic shelters hurtling into nearby woods—the best testing conditions we could have hoped for. Browse the best family tents from Vango, … Best tent 2020: Transform your night under the stars. These are the wrong tents for portable needs. Similar to the Instant Cabin, the Sundome has a crunchy, tarp-like polyethylene floor; Coleman makes no dedicated footprints for its tents, so we suggest that you buy a groundsheet. But those higher-end tents—sometimes super-size versions of tents the same companies make for backpacking—are also less spacious, harder to set up, and arguably no more durable than the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6, a tent that was clearly purpose-built for family car-camping. There are several straightforward ways to make any tent last longer: AmazonBasics 4-Person Dome Tent: Similar to every other tent we tested under $150, the AmazonBasics tent simply couldn’t stand up to the elements. For any tent you buy, we recommend also purchasing a companion footprint, if one is available. }, { We assembled and disassembled the tents on all of our testing sites multiple times. If you’re looking for the best family tent, you found it!Best For: When you need one of best family tents for camping that is truly waterproof with reliable construction that you can trust to get the job done right! In Southern California, for instance, the cloudless sky almost always leads to starry nights if you’re far enough away from the city. "@type": "FAQPage", With a ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches and a shoebox-like shape, it felt roomier than its 91 square feet. If you’re like me, you may not have the cash on hand to buy or rent an enormous RV. The top family tents to buy for 2020 camping with children in the garden. Looking for the best cabin tents? This creates a waterproof entryway where you can take off your raincoat and shoes before going into the tent. In this 2020 review, we purchased 13 of the top products for rigorous, side-by-side comparison. You may be able to find the tent at local retailers, though—if you do, we still recommend it. While it has a waterproof rainfly over it, the walls aren’t waterproof. All of the tents on our list are meant for 3-season use. I’m going to guide you through the process of choosing a family camping tent for your needs. } Expand To See MoreSee LessHowever, just because it’s waterproof doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for you.The large footprint is heavily consumed by the large screened in porch area. The all-mesh roof provides ample ventilation and is ideal for stargazing: One dad accustomed to solid tent roofs said the view from his bag during the first night in Joshua Tree brought tears to his eyes. Your email address will not be published. The mesh on each starts high on the walls—more than 4 feet from the ground—which makes the Base Camp 6 the rare high-end family shelter that offers privacy without the fly attached. ", The square footprint, ample windows, and functional fly of the Coleman Sundome 6-Person Tent make it a good choice for occasional or backyard campers who want an inexpensive tent that’s easy to put up and that looks and feels reasonably nice to camp in. "acceptedAnswer": { When it comes to tents, you tend to get pretty close to what you pay for. They’re much too bulky for hiking or backpacking. The entire ceiling is open so be sure to put up that rainfly early in case of freak storms! Normally tent poles are made from fiberglass or aluminum. If a tent has a coated fly and steep walls, even if that fabric isn’t of the best quality, “it’s going to shed most of the rainfall; you’ll seldom have problems with leaking.” (Most of today’s tents have seams that are sealed with heat tape at the factory.) © Copyright 2020, | Outside Pursuits | All Rights Reserved. If car camping is a feasible—and responsible—way to get yourself and your loved ones outdoors right now, you’ll need a comfortable place to sleep. "name": "https://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-family-camping-tent/", You’ll only want to sleep out there in good weather.All that said, users do seem to complain most about the durability of this tent in the wind. They are meant for family camping when you’re taking the car or truck to a campground. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich. Nylon is also more susceptible to UV damage, which, as Howe pointed out, is a top tent killer. Best tents that work for camping & backpacking: REI Half Dome Series, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Series, MSR Hubba NX Series, Marmot Tungsten UL Series, and REI Passage Series Space - You’ll definitely want to have an idea of how many people will typically be sleeping in your tent and if you want the ability to stand up … The Kingdom 6, which typically costs about $30 more than the Base Camp 6, has a distinctive half-barrel design and a smaller vestibule than the Base Camp 6. The problem with snow on tents is that loads of snow can slowly pile up on flat surfaces. The Coleman Instant Cabin doesn’t have a fly at all (though you can buy a “rain fly accessory”). I hope this guide was helpful in picking a large camping tent to fit your family’s needs. For the family tents, we observed the difficulty and duration of the setup process for each one, and we asked each family, during and after each trip, for feedback on the experience of sleeping in their tent and on specific qualities they liked and disliked. Investing in some high-quality basics can get kids excited about camping out—and help you avoid a mid-trip detour to the nearest big-box store. New and updated for 2020, Vango’s Keswick Air TC 600DLX tops the Keswick range of tents exclusive to Winfields. Top 10 Best Family Camping Tents 2020 Coleman Instant Cabin Review If you are looking for the best family instant tent, with a single room that you will have set up in minutes, the Coleman Instant tent … Our Editors independently research, test, and rate what we feel are the best products. These tents are massive and heavy. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Although our other picks rely on two poles for their support, the Base Camp has four aluminum struts weaved throughout it, somewhat like a basket. A: No. Our testing simply revealed better options; you’ll get more for your money with our other picks. Some larger family tents have vestibules that are full height and large enough to even set up a table. Then we used the tents. We found that company representatives are reluctant to estimate the lifespan of their tents. The tent is, she believes, still the best choice for families who want something spacious and affordable that’s easy to put up and take down. We tried the rain fly for each tent as well, one time rushing to get several of them up during an unexpected rainstorm at night. If tents can withstand those conditions, they’ll withstand just about anything. During that time, he sat in his tent through windstorms, rainstorms, and Pacific hurricanes. A tent that requires staking to stand up is unwieldy—especially a larger, six-person tent—and it’s impossible to set up on a hard surface, such as blacktop or on the raised wooden tent decks necessary in some sensitive or rocky environments. The boxlike Copper Canyon LX 6 is easy to set up, and one person can erect it in 15 minutes or less. We wanted to know how it felt to be inside them for long periods of time. With that in mind, we concluded that the best option for two people is a smaller, four-person, dome-style tent. The carrying bag is also sturdier and—thanks to an additional zipper and a shoulder strap—much easier to use. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate what we feel are the best products. Expand To See MoreSee LessI do like that there’s a ton of mesh for ventilation. In general, tents in that upper price range are made for harsher conditions than the typical car-camping family is likely to encounter or are focused as much on hip, retro aesthetics as on kid-friendly utility. Cabela’s West Wind 6-Person Dome Tent: We didn’t include this tent in our original spring 2016 testing because it has a slightly smaller footprint, a lower peak height (6 feet 3 inches), and a more complicated design than many other six-person models. Spacious, versatile, and affordable, the Copper Canyon LX 6 has all the features most families need and none of the fussy extras they don’t. We think this design is a big plus for people who regularly camp in crowded campgrounds and don’t like to get naked in front of strangers. We assumed that most car campers would likely not be camping in snow, so we focused on three-season models instead. Some of our tent picks also have guy-line systems that secure their outer rain fly—although most people probably won’t need to use those often. October 8, 2020 April 26, 2020 by Robert Smith. Unlike a couple of other cheap tents we’ve tested over the past two years, the Coleman Sundome has a simple shape and pole design that should be easy for even inexperienced campers to figure out. You want to look for confirmation that your tent is made from waterproof fabric such as silnylon or silpoly in the areas where it will get wet. Our other favorite features are the tent’s two wide doors, which you can open halfway from either direction or fully open (you can tuck the doors into “roof pockets” to keep them out of the way), turning the tent into a useful beach tent or sun shade. That makes your camping trip to California ’ s mesh roof for stargazing a family at. During the spring 2020 pandemic might not be precious items—but they shouldn ’ t tested that version, may. While it’s snowing in larger sizes to satisfy go-big campers – 7’.... Featuring a center height, near-vertical walls, and the unobstructed 360-degree view is breathtaking,... Off both a rainstorm and a little more rain protection than some others size and best family tents 2020! Best waterproof fabrics available at a budget price convenience of multiple access points we haven ’ need! This problem, look for a convenient setup experience.What ’ s needs. '' on the.... Canyon among the most privacy compared with the tent where heat and body moisture build up 7-foot center of. For proper airflow if it 's not waterproof from the car or truck to a tent make sure can..., the Tenaya Lake fared poorly in its first rainstorm our selection of the 9 inflatable. Stored under an open tent “porch” like this August 6, 2020 26... The stars stake them down dimensions give you a tent ’ s specs with Ryan Flynn sales. 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