This may not be the lightest tent (nearly 50 pounds!), but what do you expect from a tent built for an entire family of 12? Really, the trade-off of extra weight is incredible durability—the poles and stakes are made of steel, and the tent fabric is a thick, sturdy polyester that will shrug off rain and winds like they’re no big deal. The 3-season tent is tough enough to handle heavy rains and winds, and it features “Enhanced Weather Armor” that will guarantee waterproofing even when the sky is pouring hard. You’ll never have to fight over whose turn it is to set up the tent again; thanks to the pre-attached poles, set-up will take a grand total of 60 seconds.
Although we liked the pricier variants well enough, generally we don’t think they’re worth the markup for the extra features. Throughout all our testing, we wanted to know how it felt to be inside the tents for long periods of time. If we had to spend a day in the tent during a storm, would it be comfortable? After first removing the models that failed the structural tests, we slept, watched the stars, and ate our meals in all of the tents, as well as planned hikes from them. Before and after these weekend trips, we turned a neighbor’s large, flat yard into a tent testing ground.
At that point, it’s less of a tent and more of a screened-in porch for warm, comfortable nights. I am preparing for a camping trip of 10 days and nights down in Florida where it rains a lot and the wind sometimes is pretty strong so I am wondering if the fly will stay put. There is a large space between it and the top of the tent that might be a trap for strong wind so the fly gets ripped off. I think I will go shopping this week for another tent that I feel better about. Otherwise I like the tent but do not trust it to hold up in severe conditions.
We erected most of the original group of tents just in advance of a 24-hour rain, checked for leaking midstorm, and then watched for puddles and dampness in the aftermath. It is also important to consider the way in which the tent poles attach to the tent. Many of our picks use grommet attachments, which are more secure and simple to repair if anything should happen. A full rain cover, a spacious vestibule, and a reinforced pole structure make this the best choice for couples who are committed to getting outside no matter the weather.
Like the 12 person tent, it also comes with a T-style door, so you can move camping gear and furniture without having to fangle it through a small, D-style door. This 10 person tent is a whopping 20’ by 10’ and splits into three rooms. You also might be able ozark trail tents to squeeze in another twin-sized bed if you want to pack more people in. But at only 17.6 lbs this is one of the lighter tents that can fit an entire family. Setup may take a bit longer, but that’s ok, you’ll benefit from the extra space in your car.