Best Coleman Tents
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Ease of Use
How easy or difficult it is to pitch the tent can start your camping trip off with frustration or ease. We did the research for each product here and listened to customer feedback to let you know exactly how difficult the process is.
Before heading out, it is a great idea to practice pitching the tent at home. This way, you can be sure that you have all of the materials you need and practice in a low-stress environment with no judgment. As tempting as it can be to think that you can do it without the use of instructions, you should always read through the manual for the first couple of set-ups. Depending on the size and complexity of the tent, you may require one or two helpers. Larger tents with a high capacity, or even separate rooms, will require more time, effort, and teamwork. As you already know, Coleman is the leader in tents and outdoor lamps, with reason. They have been in business for over 100 years and their products never stop improving. Even the most difficult-to-set-up Coleman tent can be tackled with concentration, good friends, and s'mores in under thirty minutes.
Materials
Arguably, the most important feature of a tent is the materials that it is made out of. Coleman offers a wide variety of tents that will suit anyone's needs. The most common materials of a Coleman tent are polyester and polyethylene. Polyester is a great material that has a high UV resistance and is less prone to sagging, providing you with a stable roof. Polyethylene is typically used for the floor of the tents. This material is waterproof and highly resistant to abrasions.
However, no matter how amazing the materials themselves are if the seams aren't perfect, the materials are useless. Coleman tapes the seams of every tent to ensure the integrity of the fabrics. A taped seam is finished with a plastic covering that masks the tiny holes that are present from sewing the fabrics together. This process helps to avoid any leaks or tears in the seams of the fabrics.
Features
The features of a tent can help to make you just that much more comfortable while camping in the outdoors. One of the most impressive features of some Coleman tents is the WeatherTec System. Shockingly enough, Coleman has actually built a room in their factory where they simulate rainstorms to test their tents. This system provides you with leak-free seams, weather-resistant fabric, protected seams, a waterproof floor, zipper protection, and a wind-strong frame. With this technology, the tent can withstand winds up to about 35mph.
Another feature that we focused on was the weight of the tent and its portability. Depending on how far your hike from the car to the campsite is, this is important. Some tents come with great carrying cases, while others are quite heavy and include wheels.
For the interior of the tent, a few of the options on our list have built-in shelves to help you feel more organized and be able to find everything you need, when you need it. Additionally, some tents feature illuminated ropes that will help you see in the dark and hopefully keep you from tripping.
Top Ten Coleman Tents
1. Coleman Pop-up
This four-person tent from Coleman is another quality tent that is easy to set up, affordable, and will fit your family comfortably. The biggest feature of this tent is how easy it is to set up.
Read moreEase of use
This may be one of the quickest and easiest Coleman tents on our list to set up. This tent takes about 10-20 seconds to set up which will have you out of your car and your campsite set up in no time so you have less time assembling your tent and more time with your family.
Materials
This tent from Coleman has tapered floor seams to ensure that no water gets in if you find yourself in nasty weather and you and your gear will stay dry. The whole tent is made from waterproof fabric to keep you protected. It also comes with a rainfly for extra protection if you find yourself in wet conditions.
Features
The biggest feature of this tent from Coleman is how quickly it is to set up and we mean quickly at under 20 seconds. The rainfly offers great ventilation while at the same time keeping you protected from the weather.
2. Coleman Sundome
The Coleman Sundome tent is a dome style tent design, as the name suggests. It is pretty spacious inside and it is perfect for people who find small spaces not too appealing. Even though originally it was made as a 6 person tent, there are other Sundome sizes available starting from a 2 person tent to a 4 people tent.
Read moreEase of use
It has a pole construction and is large enough to feet few queen beds which provide much greater comfort. The pole construction is set up with an Insta-Clip technology which significantly lowers the pitching time of the tent. This leaves you with a pitching time of no more than 10 minutes. Even though this is not as quick as an inflatable tent pitching, as far as pole tents go, that is pretty fast.
However, every camper knows that the most important thing when enjoying nature is keeping us, humans, away from the bugs. Even though they are not dangerous to our health, they could get quite annoying. For this reason, The Sundome has a ventilation system which is allowing air to get inside without inviting bugs inside.
Materials
The Sundome is made from polyester material which also makes it waterproof and somewhat breathable. This is a highly durable material that is relatively resistant to tearing and if you know how to keep your products, it will last you for years.
Features
The Center height of the tent is 59” which is high enough for you to stand, get dressed and move freely. The poles used for the construction are placed at a specific angle that is making the whole construction pretty stable. It could even withstand strong winds. The poles are made from fiberglass which is the logical choice for a tent pole since it is pretty lightweight and strong material. The thickness of the poles is 8.5 mm which makes the whole construction pretty solid.
The floor is made from 1000D Polyethylene, a more durable material that is also waterproof and tear resistant. Even though the tent is closed from all sides in order to prevent bugs and water coming inside, it has a port for electric access which should be additionally covered in case of heavy rain.
The additional features include a rain fly that you could use as a sun protection material as well. It is important to mention though, that if you use it as a rain protection material, you should place it properly and make sure that you prevent a water bubble from being formed.
The Sundome also comes with a 1-year warranty.
3. Coleman Evanston Screened
Since the summer campers are preparing for their adventures, we are presenting the Evanston Screened tent from Coleman which is ideal for high temperatures and sunny weather. It can accommodate from 6 to 8 persons and it has a great performance. The center height is 68 inches which is not as high as other 6 person tents, but the height across the whole tent is fairly roomy.
Read moreEase of use
The offered price for this Coleman tent is pretty affordable and the quality it provides will not be compromised. It takes only minutes to set up and take it down and this could be done with only 3 people. The other family members could go swimming without wasting a minute of their time. However, the most important thing is that even though the price is on the low side, not a drop of rain will be able to touch you and your family will be dry no matter what. Even though comfort is a relative feature which many people take differently, for us, it is important that the bottom and the sizes of the top materials don’t differ as much. This gives you the freedom to move around freely and feel comfortable inside.
Materials
The material which the tent is made of is polyester 75 D, the taffeta type which is thicker, and fabric with higher density in order for it to be more durable and strong.
Features
Its only downside is that it is not intended for backpacking and it weighs quite a bit. Also, in order for it to be more weather resistant you need to set it up properly. Otherwise, it will not protect you from the elements and you might even be left without a roof over your head. However, for experienced campers, or the ones that are handy, this shouldn’t represent a problem at all.
4. Coleman Red Canyon
The Red Canyon is another large size tent from the Coleman brand that is able to accommodate 8 people and it is stable enough to withstand winds and heavy rains. It's center height is 72 inches which is high enough for a tall person to stand without any problems. There is also a room divider that will allow you to create two to three rooms that will provide privacy for the whole family.
Read moreEase of use
The setting up is fairly easy and quick. The tent is made with a pole construction and tough and thick fabric. The poles are shock cord ones and the fabrics used is thick enough to keep the whole construction tight. The construction is designed in a way that the tent will not form water pockets if it is raining for hours.
Although it is intended mostly for campers, because with its 15 pounds it is obviously not in the lightweight category, you could also use it for backpacking if you split the weight to all family or group members.
The setting up is done with a minimum of 3 people and it takes somewhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on your ability to pitch a tent. It is relatively easy and literary anyone could do it. If you are expecting thunderstorms, simply make sure you stake down the rainfly and you are good to go.
Materials
The system Coleman uses for rainy weather is the Weathertec which is responsible for keeping your family and yourself dry from wet ground, rainy weather and even a combination of rain and wind. As far as weather protection goes, this is the best you could get out of a tent.
Features
The not so great stuff about this tent is the zippers. After a while, if they are wet for a long time (meaning days, instead of hours) they tent to stuck and they don’t go all the way up or down. In order to avoid such issues, we advise that you always dry the tent before packing it and treat the zipper gently.
5. Coleman WeatherMaster
The Weather Master tent from the Coleman brand is designed for campers that wish to extend their camping adventures for up to several months. Several months camping requires a lot of space and great resistance to any kind of weather. The WeatherMaster offers all of this with an addition of privacy that its two rooms can provide.
Read moreEase of use
This tent is designed to be practical and comfortable to accommodate up to 10 people. What’s best is that it can be divided into 2 rooms for better privacy which suggests that 2 families could live under one “roof” for months. And even better, they have swings shaped in D forms that can be used as doors. The swings allow you to make a different entrance for each family which increases the privacy as well as the enjoyment.
Materials
Responsible for its waterproof properties is the Weather Tech system that makes the entire tent a closed waterproof environment while allowing the ventilation to work properly and the air to flow inside. All sides of the tent are made with taffeta fabrics 75D, except the bottom which is reinforced with a thicker material in order to be more tearing resistant. The tent material is also PU coated which increases its waterproof properties while making the material lightweight and quite flexible.
Even though it is called the weather master, it is not resistant to any weather conditions. In fact, it is not able to withstand low temperatures, snow or ice. This is because the material used for the sides is not an isolator and has single fabrics only. If you are looking for a winter tent it is better to search for double skin constructions. This model of the tent will keep the temperature inside higher and it will keep you warm and comfortable.
Features
This tent can fit 10 people comfortably which is a great feature as it acts as a small cabin and fits all your family and friends. The front door is also hinged to act like an actual door and allows easy entry. It also comes equipped with angled windows to ensure that in tough weather, no rain will seep into your tent, even if you have the windows open.
6. Coleman Montana 8
The Montana tent is built for summer temperatures and high humidity areas. Its best advantage is its performance during a rainy season. The windows of the tent are specifically designed in order to keep the inside nice and dry even though they are wide open. This allows you to breathe in some rainy negative ions which we all know has a great effect on the human body and mood. It can fit 8 people which is enough for a family and maybe even some family guests. The electrical port can be set outside or brought in, depending on your preferences.
Read moreEase of use
This is not a tent that a beginner would set up easily. If you haven’t already done this before, the entire process can seem overwhelming. However, if you have the help of at least one more person, the task gets significantly easier. It also comes with stakes that are necessary to use on windy areas or in case of storms.
Materials
Even though the ventilation works perfectly on rainy weather, on higher temperatures it might represent a problem. In total there are only 2 windows which are not enough to create a constant airflow that will make some breeze inside. This could be solved by opening the door, therefore allowing the air to circulate. However, it is good that the tent is roomy enough to accommodate 8 people. This does not mean 4 people and 4 adults, but it can comfortably fit 8 people inside without feeling crowded inside.
Features
Even though on first sight, you might get the impression that in case it rains you will be left will little breathing air inside the tent because of the small windows, the experiences are proving exactly the opposite. Coleman has solved this problem with a roof installed ventilation system that allows you to breathe fresh air while it is raining outside. The sound of raindrops while you are sleeping combined with the reliability this tent offers will make your camping enjoyable even though you accidentally catch the rain season.
7. Coleman 6-Person Instant
This is a large instant tent that is able to accommodate 6 people at a time. The room is spacious enough to fit 2 queen sized beds. However, is this is not large enough for your big family or a group of friends, Coleman offers an 8 people version that has 2 rooms for greater privacy.
Read moreEase of use
The setting up of the tent is instant as the name suggests. It takes only a minute to set it up and it can be done with 3 people only.
Materials
The material used for the tent is polyester with 150 density. This makes the tent fairly durable, especially for a larger tent that seem to tear easier. For this reason, Coleman has used fabrics that are thicker and with higher quality than the standard fabrics which is usually used for the production process.
Features
And since this is a 3 season tent, it is completely equipped for rainy weather or strong winds. It features a rainfly that has vents that will create a pleasant atmosphere and an airflow that will allow you to breathe even on the highest summer temperatures.
8. Coleman Tenaya Lake
Even though Coleman’s tent is promoted as a fast pitching tent, it takes about 10 minutes to set it up which is certainly not the fastest in this list. However, there are other advantages that cannot be ignored such as its superior weather resistance properties which make it perfect for camping around a lake or a river.
Read moreEase of use
The setting up is easy and you could even pitch it in the dark. However, it will take you a long time under such conditions. You only need 2 people to do the pitching though. If there are extra helpers, the pitching time will decrease.
Materials
It owes its superior water-resistant properties to the setup which is far from conventional. It will be able to get you through a heavy storm and you will be completely dry and comfortable inside. Of course, it has Coleman’s famous Weather Tec system which is allowing airflow during rains.
Features
The Tanaya tent can accommodate up to 8 people, although we suggest that you don’t go over 6 if you don’t want to feel overly crowded. However, if this is not an issue for you, we are positive you will enjoy the benefits of this tent.
Even though it comes with a rainfly, you could even manage without it. The rainfly is a bit smaller than expected and it comes a bit short on the side which is why if there is heavy rain, it is necessary that your windows are closed.
Additional features include illuminated guy ropes that allow you to see them in the dark and avoid getting tripped up.
It also has shelves that will make your organization easier and you will be able to find every object you brought with you immediately.
It is not the lightest in the category which is why Coleman included a wheeled bag for easier transport. It weighs 41 pounds which is too much to carry it around to your favorite camping spot.
9. Coleman Hooligan
This is a small 2 person tent which is very lightweight, which suggests that you can use it for backpacking and it can be set up very fast because it only has one pole.
Read moreEase of use
This tent is a little complicated to set up the first time you use it, but as you use it over and over, you will get used to the setup process. If you have someone that can help you set this tent up, that will make setup even easier.
Materials
As for the rainy season, it is still a Coleman tent, which means that it has the famous Weather Tec Coleman system in order to protect you from the moisture. So as far as water resistance goes, this tent is as good as any other Coleman tent.
Features
There is a rainfly that will keep you dry in the storms. However, in order for it to work, you need to tighten it up properly by following the instructions in the manual. This is a summer tent with a great ventilation system that will keep you cool as long as there is a breeze. The ventilation system is integrated with a mesh tent from the inside.
10. Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch
Carlsbad is a Coleman tent intended for summer vacations designed to block the greenhouse warming effect that is common in many tent models. This means that it will keep you cooler throughout the day. It has some level of water resistance, but this is definitely not its best feature. Even though a short storm might not do damage to the tent, strong winds and thunderstorms might leave you up all night.
Read moreEase of use
This tent from Coleman is a great size tent as it will comfortably fit six grown adults. It takes about seven minutes and is easier if you have someone lending you a hand.
Materials
As far as weather resistance goes, this tent has the ability to keep you cool at the highest temperatures, comparing to other tents on the market. You will be able to sleep until noon without being woken up by the heat or the sun.
Features
Carlsbad might not be able to fight the storms, but it certainly is a comfortable tent.
Its height of 5.5 feet allows you to stand tall and freedom of movement inside the tent. So if you are expecting nice weather with high temperatures, this is the perfect choice for you.
Sources
- What are the best Coleman tents to buy?, Camping Blog ,
- A Camper's Coleman Instant Tent Review, Travel Blog ,