Camping is a great bonding and revitalizing activity but the kind of tent you choose can make or break your camping experience. If you are camping in a large group, you need a tent that’s not only spacious but quite secure in any weather.
However, with so many 8-person tents available on the market today, it can be difficult to find a perfect tent that meets your needs and budget.
Coleman Evanston 8 Screened Tent Review
In this Coleman Evanston 8 review, we look at different aspects and features of the Coleman Evanston 8 family dome tent. This is to help you make a more informed buying decision when shopping for a large camping tent.
The 8-person tent is made by Coleman Company Inc.. This is a company with a proven track record of manufacturing top quality outdoor solutions and tents.
The company was founded way back in the early 1900s. It has since then continued to make high-quality tents such as the Evanston, which backpackers and campers across the globe trust. They also manufacture camping accessories including sleeping bags, backpacks, camp stoves, jackets, and other outdoor gear.
The Evanston 8-person tent is a fine example of Coleman’s excellent workmanship. It’s an easy-to-set-up family tent designed to keep you dry and safe in a heavy downpour and storms.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Coleman Evanston 8
One thing we’d like to point out in this Coleman Evanston 8 review is that this tent shouldn’t be confused with other Evanston tents.
It’s a beautifully designed dome-style tent. But keep in mind that it’s not freestanding because it comes with a front awning and extra pole that you must securely stake down for the tent to be functional.
The tent requires a bit of set-up work. Keep in mind also that its rainfly covers half the tent. It’s a tent with a partial rainfly which doesn’t go all the way down.
The Coleman Evanston 8 tent is for the person who wants a spacious and comfortable tent. It has an 8-person capacity but for maximum comfort and livability, you can always downgrade it to 5 to 6 people.
The manufacturer says it can accommodate two queen size beds, which is indeed true. The tent is large enough to take two queen size beds and still leave you with enough space to store your gear.
If you’re looking for an extremely lightweight but large tent, you may need to consider other options such as the Marmot Limestone 8 Person Camping tent which comes at a higher price.
Overall, the Coleman Evanston 8 scores well in every other important aspect of a large tent such as easy setup, the right size, layout, ventilation, doors, waterproofing, material, and durability.
Features and Benefits of the Coleman Evanston 8
This Coleman Evanston 8 review wouldn’t be complete without exploring some of the key features and benefits of this large family dome tent.
Here are some of the notable features and benefits of the Coleman Evanston 8 person tent:
Beautiful Design and Structure
The Coleman Evanston 8 person screened dome tent comes in a beautiful design and natural green and white colors. Once pitched properly, the Coleman instant tent has an eye-catching look and style. It has a dome structure with front and back awnings.
One of the best things about the Coleman Evanston 8 is its double-layer structure. It gives you an inner tent and a rainfly to keep the tent dry in wet weather. The rainfly offers partial coverage, which is a great advantage for summer camping.
The tall dome tent gives you unobstructed views from its 4 large windows. It’s a beautifully designed 8 person tent with a peak height of 76 inches and spacious dimensions of 12ft by 12ft.
Extra Screen Room
Another feature that differentiates the Coleman Evanston 8 from other tents is its extra screen room.
While the 12×12 feet interior space of the tent is large enough to accommodate a group of friends or a small family, the tent still gives you extra space for comfort in the screen room.
Use the extra room as a porch area to lounge and relax while enjoying the outdoor views or as additional storage. You can even use the room as an additional sleeping deck with great views of the night stars and the night sky.
You can even attach the screen or rain fly over the extra space for protection against the elements. On a clear night, you can leave the top open and enjoy a comfortable night sleeping under the stars.
Easy Setup
The last thing you want when you go camping is to spend an entire day trying to set up a complicated tent. Thankfully, the Coleman Evanston 8 is designed for extremely easy and intuitive setup.
The manufacturer claims that the free-standing tent can be set up in under 15 minutes if you’re an experienced camper.
The truth is that it may take a little bit more time to pitch the tent successfully for the first time. But you’ll be able to set it up faster once you get fully acquainted with the process.
Newbie campers will also find it quite easy to set up the tent because Coleman provides you with a detailed manual showing you how to set up the tent in the shortest time possible. In fact, the tent comes with color-coded poles and pole sleeves to make the setup process faster and easier.
You can also break down the tent after use just as easily as you set it up. When you’re ready to break your camping and head home or when there’s an imminent storm that you want to shelter from as fast as possible, this ease of setup and tent break down will come in quite handy.
Great Ventilation System
One thing we can’t fail to mention in this Coleman Evanston 8 screened tent review is the tent’s ventilation.
Every tent user knows that proper ventilation with good airflow and minimum moisture is essential in a good tent, regardless of its size. The Coleman Evanston 8 delivers the best ventilation you can get in a quality 8-person tent.
The tent gives you maximum airflow and keeps the interior cool and comfortable regardless of the outside temperatures.
It comes with 4 large windows and extended mesh walls and awnings. The tent actually uses a Veriflo ventilation system, which keeps the interior of the tent cool and pleasant.
Water Resistance
Water-resistance is a must-have feature in any good tent, especially when camping in regions with unpredictable weather.
The Coleman Evanston 8 screened tent doesn’t disappoint when it comes to water resistance. The tent employs Coleman’s patented Weathertec system technology to keep the tent’s interior dry even in heavy rain.
The tent’s first line of defense against moisture is its waterproof rainfly. The next line of defense is the Weathertec system which keeps out moisture to maintain the interior of the tent dry at all times.
For additional protection from outside moisture, all the tent’s zippers are securely covered with leak-proof fabric and the floor welded with waterproof material.
The tent also features taped seams and weatherproof-coated joints to enhance the tent’s water resistance. You can also count on the tent’s sturdy poles to keep the entire structure intact in stormy conditions.
Hinged Door
Another key feature of the Coleman Evanston 8 worth mentioning is its hinged door.
The hinged door works better than zippered doors found in other types of tents. This is because it has poles around the door that make it stronger and easier to use than zippered doors.
The hinged door has a semi-rigid structure and looks great from outside. There are two doors on this tent and one of them is hinged.
Strong and Durable Construction
The Coleman Evanston 8 person screened dome tent is a heavy-duty tent with a strong and durable construction.
The entire tent’s body including the cover and rainfly are made from top-grade 75-denier polyester taffeta material further. It’s coated with 50mm polyurethane for perfect insulation.
The tent’s bathtub comes with a patented floor design made from 1000-denier polyethylene to prevent water leakage through the floor and keep the bathtub sufficiently protected against rocky surfaces and damage caused by uneven surfaces.
For stability, the tent uses 11mm heavy-duty fiberglass poles and pole sleeves to create a stable dome structure.
Overall, the Coleman Evanston 8 can withstand strong winds and heavy downpour. It uses high-quality materials to remain sturdy and durable in every type of outdoor environment.
Easy Portability
Another feature worth mentioning in this Coleman Evanston review is the tent’s portability.
This is the kind of tent you can carry to your camping site quite easily. It comes with a beautiful and convenient carry bag for easy portability.
Some people claim the Coleman Evanston 8 is a bit heavy but it only weighs 25 pounds and packs to a compact size of 28x11x10 inches.
This makes it easy to carry around or store at home. You can easily transport the tent in a small vehicle without a problem.
Extra Features
Other cool features of the Coleman Evanston 8 person tent include the following:
- An electricity access port which is a convenient e-port that allows you to charge your phone, a few lights, and other small electrical gadgets and devices.
- A tall center height of over 6 feet which allows easy movement inside the tent.
- An affordable price for all the features, benefits, size, and overall quality of the tent.
Social Proof
The Coleman Evanston 8 person tent has an average customer rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This is an excellent rating as most of the verified customers who bought the item state that it’s quite roomy and spacious and water-resistant even in heavy downpours.
A few complained about the setup process but stated that it becomes easier to set up the second time you do it.
Overall, most people who reviewed the Coleman Evanston 8 tent expressed satisfaction with its quality and performance.
Alternatives to the Coleman Evanston 8
The Coleman Evanston 8 tent is a great outdoor tent for a small family or group of campers. But if you want to explore other options, here are a few good suggestions:
1. Coleman Red Canyon Tent
This is another good 8-person tent from Coleman. It has a huge 170 square feet of space and a height of 6 feet.
The tent looks like a small and cozy living space and comes with the same color-coded poles as the Coleman Evanston 8.
It’s also easier to set up, features the Weathertec system, and good ventilation. It comes at a cheaper price point than the Evanston 8 and comes with a 5-year warranty.
2. Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Tent
This is another great alternative to the Evanston 8 tent that delivers value for money.
It’s a spacious tent with a cabin-style design and plenty of room for your family or friends.
The tent features 6.5-foot walls that allow easy and comfortable movement for everyone inside the tent.
It has a large screen porch, tall ceiling light, and a mesh roof, and large windows for perfect ventilation. However, it lacks the same level of waterproofing found in the Coleman Evanston 8.
3. Marmot Limestone 8 Person Camping Tent
This is a freestanding tent with a height of 77 inches, 129 square feet of space, and double rooms. It can be used in 3 seasons and is extremely lightweight for easy transportation.
The tent is made of high-quality 68D polyester taffeta fabric for the rainfly and canopy and is completely waterproofed for stormy weather.
It even allows you to create a secondary meshed room and is quite easy to set up using pole sleeves and clips. However, expect to pay significantly higher for this high-end 8-person tent.
Final Thoughts
The Coleman Evanston 8-person family dome tent is a perfect option for families or large groups camping together.
It comes with everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors or summer camping, such as extra sitting space, screened porch, a hinged door, 4 large windows, Veriflo adjustable ventilation system, strong and durable construction, electrical access port, and a host of other useful features.
I hope this Coleman Evanston 8 review will help you make a wise purchasing decision.