Are you planning a recreational camping trip with your family? Or a summertime trekking expedition with your buddies?
Then you surely are looking for a bunch of camping gear and items, and a tent is most definitely in your “things-to-buy” list.
Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is a blessing for group campers looking for an instant camping solution or outdoor shelter.
If you want a large, spacious and easy-to-setup tent for your family’s adventure, stick with us.
We are going to analyze this tent in-depth- the good, the great and the flaws!
Before we jump into a detailed review of the Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent, let us look at factors to look for in a large tent
Like any other camping item that assists you to make your trip a happy adventure, a reliable tent makes your stay comfortable and safe. This small guide will help you in comparing your options and making an informed decision to get the right tent to meet your needs.
Check for the material the tent is made of. Ensure that it’s a high-quality material that is not prone to easy wear and tear. Apart from body, check what material poles are made of, for a strong frame ensure the tent is sturdy. Look for quality of zippers, check the seams as well as the fly.
If you are buying a family tent or a large tent, you clearly are looking for a tent that can accommodate at least 4-5 people, sometimes even more. A rule of thumb when buying large tents is to always upscale- meaning buy a tent larger than your need. Say, you are looking for best tents for 4 people and get a 6 Person tent. This will ensure that you have enough space for storage, moving around and sleeping comfortably.
A point of consideration in large tents is the number of doors. Sounds odd? Well, it's not. More the people in a tent, more the number of doors needed. This comes in handy when someone is say sleeping and you want to move in or out without disturbing them. Trust me, you don’t want to be tumbling and falling on each other when entering or leaving .
If you are camping with kids or friends, always look for tents with rooms. This will help in ensuring anyone who wants privacy for say, sleeping or changing can have it. Also, check the layout of the tent. For example, if you have young kids, you might want rooms next to each other, so you can keep an eye on them or remove the dividers if needed. You must look for vestibule area too- it comes handy when you need extra storage space for your gear or an area to keep you mudded shoes and clothes.
Tent with proper ventilation is paramount for a good camping experience. You don’t want to wake up to everything being damp and wet. Look for tents with large windows, roof vents and mesh openings. In addition, also check for a rainfly to keep the rainwater out but still maintain airflow within the tent.
The idea behind camping is to enjoy nature in its true form. And well nature can be quiet unpredictable. The weather can change in minutes. It can go from a bright sunny day to a gloomy rainy one in no time. Hence, when outdoors you must always be prepared. So it is a must that you get a waterproof and leak-proof tent that can keep you dry and safe even during a downpour. It should have a rainfly, should be made of waterproof material and all seams and corners must be properly sealed to keep the water from entering the tent.
Now that you know what you a family tent should have, let’s review the Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent to decide if it’s the right family tent for you or not.
The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is a cabin-style with two rooms. It is an instant setup tent which means the poles are pre-attached to the tent body (fabric). All you need to extend the unfold the tent, extend the poles and fix up in the right places.
It is a single layer tent with an inbuilt rainfly. The tent is made from a heavy-duty 150D material which makes the tent extremely durable and strong. It also uses the Weathertec system making it waterproof and safe for use in case there are rains.
SPECIFICATIONS:
WHO IS IT FOR?
Coleman is a pioneer brand providing you with quality and innovative outdoor solutions and tents. The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is a blend of innovative design and modern technology. The large tent with two rooms is ideal for a family camping trip. Though it is an 8 person tent it can accommodate not more than 4-5 adults at a time. If there are kids, you can probably fit in 2-3 adults and 3-4 kids at max.
The tent is a great entry-level tent. Its ease of setup makes it a great option for people who are new to the camping world or don’t go camping for more than 2-3 times a year in moderate weather conditions.
PROS:
CONS:
Space is a significant issue when camping in large groups, especially during family camping trips. Adults want a space to relax while kids want to play and have fun.
The Coleman 8 Person Tent is ideal for such a situation. It measures 14 by 10 feet and is very spacious. It can easily accommodate two queen size airbeds without crowding the area. So if you are a large group who doesn’t wish to split up, then this is worth the investment.
With a room divider, the tent can be converted into two separate rooms. This comes handy when you want a separate area for kids to play so they do not trouble the adults. Privacy is, of course, an additional benefit of this feature.
This is a cabin-style tent with a centre height of 6ft and5 inches, which is a great height for a tent. So even you are taller than average people you don’t need to scoot or bend, you can stand and move around comfortably.
Having a reliable tent when camping outdoors is a must to keep yourself safe and protected in unfavourable situations. While a tent is a temporary dwelling for your outdoor adventure, it still needs to make you feel secure.
The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is designed with patented Weathertec system which utilizes welded floors. This keeps the tent dry by preventing the groundwater to seep in even during rain.
Additional features like inverted seams and zipper cuffs, further eliminate the water from entering the tent and keeping things dry inside.
However, the tent is only water-resistant and not entirely waterproof. While it can shelter you in drizzles and mild rainfalls, you might get swamped in water puddles if there is a heavy downpour.
I would recommend you get an additional rainfly for added protection and to make the tent fully waterproof. It comes with an option to buy with a rainfly or you can get a separate rainfly.
This, however, makes the inside of tent unpleasant as there is no roof vent for ventilation.
One of the strongest features of The Coleman tent is its quality and strength. It uses high-quality durable material- ensuring it lasts years and providing you with the value for your money.
It is made from a thick and rugged Polyguard fabric that protects it against wears and tears. The fabric is 150D, not many tents use that or have this durability.
The tent poles too are made from heavy-duty steel. The main poles are 16mm and roof poles are 12mm. Most tents on the other tent have fibreglass poles which are not more than 11mm.
The tent has a strong frame and rugged fabric. It can thus withstand strong winds easily.
The only downside to this is that all this heavy-duty material increases the tent's weight and makes it slightly difficult to carry or transport.
An ill-ventilated tent can leave everyone feeling trapped and uncomfortable. This is the last thing you want on your trip. Luckily, this Coleman tent uses innovative design and good engineering to ensure proper ventilation.
Seven large windows and two doors with mesh panels assure you that there will be proper airflow in the tent and condensation will not be a problem.
The tent is perfect for summertime trips. The screened doors and windows keep you cool and let the airflow even in warm weather and also offer a great view of your surroundings. Oh, the screens and mesh also ensure that the tent is bug-free and no insects or mosquitoes spoil your getaway.
The tent, however, can be inconvenient and stuffy during rainfalls for you will have to close the panels and doors. This will restrict airflow. Further, there are no mesh or vents on the roof and you need to add rainfly separately which only makes the situation worse.
Setting up a tent for the very first time can be a struggle. Or if you are someone who occasionally goes on camping trips and has long breaks between the trips, then each time feel like “first time”. As mentioned earlier this Coleman tent was built for new campers.
You will be surprised how easy it is to set up this large cabin-style tent. The tent comes with pre-attached poles within the tent walls making setup and breakdown of tent a child’s play.
The manufactures provide a 3-step guide to set up this tent. All you have to do is unfold the canvas, expand the telescopic poles and fix-and-lock the poles in the right places. Voila! Your tent is ready for occupation.
The whole process takes not more than 5-minutes.
It is equally easy and quick to breakdown and fold back the tent.
It comes with its own carry bag making storage and transportation of tent super easy. The carry bag is also expandable which makes packing up the tent very convenient and quick.
The carry bag can easily fit in a car’s trunk or can be comfortably carried on shoulders.
The Coleman family tents has some great features and is a high-quality durable family tent. However, if you are a frequent camper or are looking for a tent that works in all-weather condition, you might want to check out some alternatives.
Here is a list of great alternatives for the Coleman 8 Person Tent that you can consider:
This spacious, extremely easy to pitch, and set up tent is just like Coleman 8-person tent. An awesome mesh ceiling that makes it perfect for stargazing makes it a bit different from Coleman.
Coleman Evanston 8 person tent is best to serve big families and groups as it is an excellent choice and can be easily carried throughout the camp. Requires more maintenance than Coleman 8 person tent, but this tent gives a very comfortable and capable home in the outdoors.
The Browning Bighorn Tent is a superior quality tent that keeps you dry even on rainy days. Slightly expensive than Coleman 8 person tent, this product is also made to last and withstand harsh environments, and just like Coleman gives you enough shelter in the woods.
Camping with family is a great bonding and rejuvenating experience. It helps you reconnect with friends, family, nature and yourself. The Coleman 8 Person tent can ensure that you and your family safely enjoy this adventure.
With exceptional features like two rooms, quick setup facility, great height and modern design, The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is a great entry-level tent and definitely a great bargain.
However, it is a summertime tent and maybe quiet redundant without an additional fly. Also, the tent has no vestibule area and only two storage pockets on the wall. This means all your gear needs to store in the main tent area or you need an additional tarp to keep it protected outside.
So if you are a new camper looking for a hassle-free good quality tent, go with the Coleman 8 Peron Instant Tent. We promise you will not be disappointed.
