Coleman is a trusted name when it comes to tent manufacturers and for good reason. For over a century, they’ve helped individuals and families alike to enjoy reliable protection from the elements through high-quality tent structures with just the right features. Plus, this is the same brand that started out by making camping stoves for WW2 troops so it’s no wonder they make the best family tents. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for the best Coleman tent then you should definitely read on.
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Best Coleman Camping Tents
Look at any Coleman tents reviews and you’ll soon see that this brand leaves nothing but scores of satisfied customers in its tracks.
But, we didn’t want to take anyone else’s word for it so we took the brand’s latest tent models to the test and the result is the following review of the best Coleman tents.
1. Coleman Sundome Tent
This Coleman octagon tent is a work of art. It owes its unique dome structure to its interconnected fiberglass poles which are surprisingly sturdy. The tent itself is made from 75D polyester taffeta with a rainfly and a 1000D polyethylene floor. Pretty standard stuff. But then you’ve got inverted seams and welded floors for even more protection against the elements, especially in the rain and snow.
You’ll be glad to know that this is a well-ventilated tent with a ground vent and a large window that help to prevent condensation and overheating.
Despite its roomy 4-foot center height, this Coleman 2-person tent is relatively lightweight. You can easily carry it to your camping site via backpack and use the e-port to keep your electronics charged up so you can stay connected to the outside world.
Although it does come with internal storage pockets, we do wish it had vestibules since tents of this size typically come with this feature. But, it’s still a budget-friendly option worth considering if you’re looking for a simple tent that’s ready to go when you are.
2. Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup
Of all the Coleman camping tents that we reviewed, this one right here took top honors for having some of the most innovative features.
Of particular mention is the Dark Room technology which has been used to enable the tent’s material to repel up to 90% of the sunlight that it catches, creating a comfortable environment all day long.
Speaking of its construction, this is probably the best Coleman tent to take with you on long journeys, especially if you want to be prepared for different weather conditions. It’s made from 150D anti-rip polyester with 1000D polyethylene flooring. This is in addition to welded corners to keep leaks out and a waterproof exterior that’s guaranteed to keep the elements out.
This tent also comes with a pre-assembled aluminum frame so that it’s easier to assemble within minutes – even for beginners! The only downside to this tent is the fact that it’s heavy so it’s not very portable unless you’re traveling by car. Also, its zippers aren’t as strong or durable as they can be.
3. Coleman 8-Person Tent for Camping
Not only is this a great family tent but it’s also the best Coleman tent for rain.
It comes with a bathtub floor to prevent leaks when it’s rainy and you can wait out the storm for as long as you like in its spacious 170 square foot interior which can be divided into three different rooms using the included dividers.
All in all, this tent offers a great combination of space and privacy, which is just what you need when camping with your family.
4. Coleman 4-Person Pop-Up Tent
This is the best Coleman tent for beginners, festival-goers, or anyone who doesn’t want to be bothered with a time-consuming tent setup.
First of all, it’s lightweight and easy to carry so you can take it with you anywhere and because of its pop-up design, you can have it set up and ready to occupy within 10 seconds. We’re not kidding. This thing is incredibly easy to use.
We also like the fact that it won’t take up much space among your gear and can be carried in a backpack when needed.
Yet, it comes with decent weather protection features too, including a water-resistant and fire-resistant polyester fly, waterproof flooring, wind-strong frame, inverted seams, and zipper protectors.
5. Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent
In our quest for the best Coleman tent, we also came across this behemoth of an outdoor shelter which is large enough to fit up to 3 queen-sized air beds and 6 to 10 people at a squeeze. It comes with dedicated room dividers to ensure privacy for everyone involved and it sports a nice center height of 6.8 inches.
Although there’s plenty of space for your gear, it’s nice that this tent comes with dedicated storage pockets and hinged doors for your convenience.
Assembly takes about 20 minutes but that’s only because it’s made from heavy-duty materials that aren’t particularly easy to handle. Over time, it will be easier to set it up though.
In case you’re wondering, this tent is referred to as the WeatherMaster because it’s designed to handle whatever the seasons throw at it. We’re talking, wind, rain, snow, and sun. This thing has strong zipper protectors, inverted seams, welded floors, and even a wind-strong frame to give you peace of mind.
6. Coleman Tent Coastline 3 Plus Tent
Next, we have the nice and compact 3-man tent with the largest awning we’ve seen on a tent this size. It comes with a dedicated sleeping area for two as well as storage space for your gear.
This is in addition to a living area with two doors and a fine mesh bedroom door for excellent ventilation. Then there’s the awning as mentioned which allows you to create a nice outdoor area that you can use as an entertainment space.
We like its PVC windows because they not only allow for airflow but they’re also see-through so you’ll be getting plenty of natural sunlight streaming through.
This can really come in handy when you don’t feel like being outside in the middle of the day because of the sun or if you just want to stay in and read a book or lie down.
7. Coleman Octagon 98 8-Person Outdoor Tent
As the name implies, this is an octagonal shaped tent, a shape that gives any structure a homely feel. It’s large enough to comfortably accommodate up to 8 people with their own individual sleeping bags or two queen air mattresses, with a center height of 6’8”.
What surprised us about this tent is just how easy it is to set up. That’s all thanks to its color-coded poles that make it easy to figure out what goes where. As a result, it shouldn’t take you longer than 15 minutes to assemble it.
You’ll also be glad to know that this stand is made to handle wind speeds of up to 35 mph while the rainfly offers additional protection from the elements by keeping the water out.
In terms of ventilation, there’s a mesh roof and large mesh windows to keep it cool and condensation-free for the whole trip.
8. Coleman Hooligan Backpacking Tent
This model is considered the best Coleman family tent for many reasons. For starters, it comes in a wide variety of sizes with the largest one being big enough to accommodate up to 10 people. Some of its most notable features include a storage vestibule so there’s a place for everything in your tent. If you remember, we were complaining about this earlier so we’re glad to say that this tent has this feature.
As one would expect from a Coleman tent, this model is made to handle the elements. It comes with a full-length fly with a tall center height so that even the tallest member of your party will be able to stand up straight in it.
However, all of this comes at a cost as this tent isn’t the smallest or easiest to carry. It’s definitely going to take more than one person to set up or even carry unless you’re traveling by car in which case you can just pop it in the trunk and call it a day.
Other than that, we found its ring and pin system to be refreshingly simple and it helps with setting it up. We don’t know what we would’ve done without this feature. It really helped when assembling this tent. We should also commend Coleman on making gapless pole sleeves so that stuff doesn’t snag onto them. That was very thoughtful on their part.
How to Pick the Best Coleman Tent
Whether you think that the Coleman red canyon tent is the best Coleman tent on the market or you like any other model, here’s a checklist of features your tent should have:
Material
It’s very important to pick a well-constructed tent that’s made from weatherproof and even waterproof materials. That way, it will last much longer than just a few seasons.
Go for something that’s breathable as well as resistant to ripping because camping is a demanding activity. Some of the most recommended options include high-grade polyester, cotton canvas, and poly cotton.
Shape
Coleman camping tents come in all sorts of different shapes from high-top teepee tents to octagonal models that look like a dome house from afar.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this feature except that it depends on your personal tastes as well as the type of camping that you plan to do.
Size
How large or small your tent is will depend on the number of people you’re traveling with and what your needs are.
Ideally, if you’re traveling as a party of more than 3 or 4 then you’ll want a large tent that comes with dividers so that you can create separate rooms or areas for everyone.
On average, each person should have 30 square meters of dedicated space to be comfortable so if your tent’s measurements cater to that, then you’ll be fine.
But, keep in mind that in addition to its occupant, each tent needs to hold your gear as well including camping furniture, bags, clothes, etc. So, it helps to have a dedicated storage vestibule.
Weight
When it comes to weight, you want a tent that’s lightweight and easy to carry so that you can carry it on your back if needed without feeling too weighed down.
However, you can get away with a larger, heavier tent if you’re traveling with a group of people or have access to a car or trailer. Otherwise, stick to something lightweight and portable.
Portability
The last thing you want is to be dealing with the frustration of a tent that won’t fold while preparing to go home. Once your trip is over, you want to be able to just pack up and leave without any issues.
It’s also important to keep in mind that a tent’s original folds will fade away over time so you should practice regularly until you’re used to it and can disassemble your tent quickly and effectively.
Needless to say, a lightweight and portable tent will be much easier to fold up and pack away. But you should still make sure to pack it properly when it’s not in use so that it holds its shape and can be ready to go when you need it again.
Season
For best results, you should always opt for a tent that can be utilized for at least three seasons. These are often referred to as three-season tents which means that they can be utilized in the spring, summer, and fall.
You’ll find that they’re comfortable throughout these seasons and offer a reasonable amount of protection against the elements to be expected during this time of the year.
However, if you’re one of those people that like to chase adventure all year round, even in the winter then you’ll want to invest in something sturdier. A tent that’s designed to handle even the worst that winter can throw at it, including sub-zero temperatures and snowfall.
These types of tents typically feature specialized insulation and double layers of protection to make sure that nothing gets in. And when camping in the height of summer, your biggest concern is ventilation which means plenty of windows, doors, and maybe even a mesh roof for good measure.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding the best Coleman tent, it can be difficult to pick just one option because this legendary brand is really good at what they do.
But their Coleman Sundome Tent is arguably our favorite option. It’s lightweight and portable, cost-effective yet spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two people at the same time whether together or each with their own space.
Another likable feature of this tent is the fact that it comes with an e-port that you can use to connect to electricity and recharge your devices which is important when you’re in the middle of nowhere away from civilization.
Most importantly, this is a weatherproof tent which means that it can handle the elements and can be utilized across the seasons. All told, it’s a great small family tent!