With plenty of interior space, near-vertical walls, and a gigantic vestibule that could accommodate a golf cart, the Wawona feels more like a tiny home than a tent. Coleman makes no dedicated footprints for its tents—the idea being that the polyethylene is tough enough not to need one. (Still, we suggest that you buy a groundsheet.) The tent has two small, internal pockets—fewer than on any of our other picks—and a loop at the ceiling center to hang a small, lightweight light. The tent weighs just 16 pounds, less than any other family tent we tested for this guide. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten 4 has a mesh canopy, though the opaque polyester part of its walls go higher, and provide more privacy, than the Mineral King’s.
All the telescoping poles (both roof and wall poles) have silver lock buttons that click into place when fully extended. Once all the poles have been propped up, extend the 4 roof poles at the top by pulling them apart. I did this on my own, so 1 person, and also, I tested this with 2 people as well. That being said, I think this is the absolute perfect tent for hot summer days. I was so comfortable inside this tent, and didn’t feel like I was baking (even at 12 noon, when the sun was scorching).
Once you’ve found the perfect spot, it’s time to unpack and lay out your tent. Most SUV camping tents come with a carrying case or bag, making it easy to transport and store. Carefully unfold your tent and lay it out flat on the ground, ensuring all the corners are in the right place. The bathtub-style floor construction adds an extra layer of security, and the heavy-duty carry bag with compression straps makes transportation a breeze. It is a reliable, well-thought-out tent that campers of all levels will appreciate, whether you are an experienced outdoors enthusiast or just starting your camping adventures. This instant cabin tent might feel like a spacious home away from home.
Even in light rain, majority of the mesh will get wet, as you can see in the picture above. I could crack the windows open a tiny bit in light rain, but in heavier rain, it’s best not to. If I were being nitpicky, I would say that there’s a little bit of light seeping in through the gap between the roof and the rainfly, and also from the bathtub flooring at the bottom of the tent. Each “room” can then fit either 5 sleeping pads or sleeping bags, or 2 queen-sized beds.
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.
The Sundome’s tarp is clearly a budget material, but for what it was, we found it user-friendly. It’s easy to mop up after wet paws and spills, and it doesn’t hold moisture. It’s unlikely to be as durable, though, as the softer, stronger polyester found in our other picks. Measuring 10 by 10 feet, the Sundome coleman cooler covers an area larger than that of our family-tent top pick though its lower roof leaves it with less headroom. We also appreciated the shepherd’s hook stakes that come with the tent. Most of the tents we tested came with basic L-shaped stakes, which tended to spin around in the soil and slip a line.
Setting it up is an absolute breeze; the patented foot sleeves and J-hooks for the poles ensure a secure and windproof assembly. The geodesic structure of the Base Camp tents is built to withstand wind and rain. It has two main that thread through sleeves, coleman instant tent stretching between the four corners of the tent. Generally, we like clip-on designs better, since those are easier to put together, but in the case of the Base Camp models, the sleeves add extra tension and stability throughout the tent fabric.
This is a great tent to bring along for the kids or some extra covered storage, but not ideal for the entire family. At only 56 sq ft, this will be tight quarters, and should the rain come, spending a full day in this tent will test everyone’s strength. The Cabin is the perfect kids’ tent, parent tent, or gear tent, but you only get to choose one. Once out of the bag, simply lift each side of the tent until you hear a “click,” and you’re done.
This spacious cabin tent can fit up to two queen-size airbeds that’s perfect for a group trip or for a spacious endeavor into the wild on your own. The advertised setup time is a blistering 60 seconds, and we found that this was not an exaggeration—even if you start the clock with the tent still inside its travel bag. The tent is freestanding, so any additional pegging can be accomplished at your leisure (unless wind is a factor). You’ll also want to set aside some extra time to strap on the secondary rainfly should you opt to purchase this along with the tent, but we’ll talk more about that later on. It’s also worth noting that this tent can easily be set up by only one person, something that cannot be said for several of the two-person tents in our review. Whether you’re camping with family or friends, these tents offer comfort, durability, and convenience.