If you opt for an inexpensive tent, examine everything extra thoroughly before hitting the trail (it’s always a good idea to pitch any new tent at home first anyway). If you’re concerned about durability, have more of a budget, or plan to be using your tent regularly, go with a tent from a reputable outdoor brand, like MSR, Marmot, or Big Agnes. Most families won’t be camping in harsh weather or going on long excursions, so durability and weatherproof design are less of a concern. It’s pitched with rust-treated carbon steel poles and the floor is made from ultra-thick PVC. However, it does have a well-designed fly that can roll up out of the way when it’s dry for better ventilation.
The taller height of the 6-person tent body means that it is more vulnerable to harsh winds than the smaller models. The aluminum poles are also quite durable; the leg poles are 16mm thick, while the roof poles are 12mm thick. All of these heavy-duty materials add a great deal to the weight—at nearly 25lb, this is the heaviest tent in our 2021 review. There’s no included footprint with this tent, and we’d recommend purchasing either a 9’x9’ or 10’x10’ footprint, which unfortunately is not offered by Coleman.
The E-Port makes it easy to bring electrical power inside your tent. This tent is designed with Illumiline reflective guylines for greater visibility at night. If you’d prefer to pitch your tent in a matter of seconds rather than minutes, the Coleman Instant Tent 6 has you covered.
Unfortunately, it also has a slightly larger weight at about 32 pounds. Its additional screen room was an awesome feature we didn’t see in many of the other tents we tested. We’ve tested it alongside nine coleman 6 person tent other 6-person structures in all types of outdoor environments. Bulk purchases of ten or more units of the same item purchased online in the same transaction where the total price exceeds $1,000.00.
It’s designed to be easy to set up with just one person and a “small helper,” so it also makes the list of solid family tents. The Big Agnes Big House is one of the top 6 person tents because it excels in so many areas. While several of the other tents on this list, like the Coleman Sundome and Evanston, advertise a “fast pitch” of minutes, the CORE Instant Cabin sets up in just 60 seconds. Cheap fiberglass poles are very common in low-end tents and most of the time they’re perfectly fine for camping.
The Sundome tent is very easy to set up with only 2 poles for the main tent and one small pole for the rainfly. This tent does well in most weather conditions including very wet rainy conditions. All of this and the rainfly work together to keep you dry even in heavy rain. This is a solid tent for those who want the security of a well-tested design and build.
But with its higher price point, it’s only practical for hardcore mountaineers. It’s a four-season behemoth that can sleep 6 to 8 people comfortably. While there’s no vestibule, the bathtub bottom and wide overhang above the door keeps things relatively dry.
Some tents come with a bathtub bottom made of heavy-duty leak-proof material where a ground cloth isn’t always necessary. This allows cold air to enter at low points of the tent and hot air to rise out, creating circulation. Large mesh panels at multiple levels around the tent are your best bet if you want to be sure your tent is well ventilated. Having several entry points make it easier for people to come and go, especially at night when you don’t want to be crawling over other people. The shape and construction of a tent makes a big difference when it comes to the amount of space inside.
We love the thick and durable bathtub floor, which should stand up to many years of camping. Free packing/shipping to manufacturer &/or manufacturer’s authorized service center for warranty repairs ($20-$40 value). Check out our other pages for a list of the best tents in each size. If you’re looking for rock bottom clearance prices, however, the end of the season is your best bet. There are usually big outdoor gear sales around Father’s Day in June and REI also holds its largest annual sale in May. Nearly every tent comes seam-sealed nowadays, but on a cheaper tent, you could find subpar waterproofing you’ll want to reinforce.
Coleman also offers the Sundome 4, which we think is ideal for two campers and a dog. With enough floor area to fit two queen-sized mattresses, 6 feet of headroom at the center, and good ventilation, it checks many of the boxes that people are looking for in a tent. It’s not the most weather-worthy or well-built design, but it’s an excellent value for what you get. To see how it stacks up against the competition, see our article on the best camping tents. Bass Pro Shop’s Eclipse 6 Person Tent is an easy to use cabin style tent. This tent is well made and includes all the standard features of quality tents.