I need to purchase a tent...

[lovinmomma]

I was given a giftcard to Amazon and I really want to spend it on something fun to do with the kids. I can't afford expensive water parks, pool passes, and the like but I **know** I can create some lasting memories camping with my kids and hopefully doing so cheaply! :) We are a family of 6, so that adds to the dynamics of picking out a tent. I used to go camping with my parents every summer until I was about 17-19, so I know a little about camping but it has been a REALLY long time. Here's what I'm looking at right now:

 

 

And here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-17-Foot-10-Foot-8-Person-Modified/dp/B000W7BHJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1400378754&sr=1-1&keywords=tent

 

It looks like it has pretty great reviews, but I would love to hear reviews from anyone that cares to share them. I'm also interested in camping checklists (what to pack), advice, tips, etc.

 

Thank you!

[Alessandra]

Coleman? We are involved in scouting, so know a lot of campers. No one I know has said anything good about Coleman. That is also a pretty large tent. You would want to make sure your campsites were free of rocks, tree roots, overhanging branches and so on for a fairly large space. The rain fly IIS a bit skimpy, but that could be fixed by throwing a blue tarp over.

 

Without knowing your family, obviously, I would want to ask if there will be all six camping for the foreseeable future, or would you want two smaller tents?

 

Is there a camping store near you so you could see tents in person before using you gift card?

[lavender's green]

I don't know a ton about camping, but in my experience, if you want to comfortably fit everyone and their gear, you want a tent rated for about 3x as many people as you actually have.  If you want to be comfy and sans gear, maybe 2x.  Maybe you'd prefer to get two tents?  With this one you'll probably have just barely enough room to lay down, packed like sardines.  And don't even get me started on thrashers, cuddlers, and rotating-arounders.

 

I wll say, with two tents, it depends on where you plan to camp.  I was once camping next to someone who was attacked by a bear in the middle of the night.  Not to dissuade you from camping....it's lots of fun.  Just be aware of potential dangers and where the able-bodied adults are sleeping and how well they can hear, and how they can help in a crisis situation.

[lovinmomma]

Coleman? We are involved in scouting, so know a lot of campers. No one I know has said anything good about Coleman. That is also a pretty large tent. You would want to make sure your campsites were free of rocks, tree roots, overhanging branches and so on for a fairly large space. The rain fly IIS a bit skimpy, but that could be fixed by throwing a blue tarp over.

 

Hmm... good to know!!! The 2 people I talked to said that they had a Coleman and really loved it, but I'm most certainly open to other suggestions!

 

Without knowing your family, obviously, I would want to ask if there will be all six camping for the foreseeable future, or would you want two smaller tents?

 

Yes, I loved camping and it's something that I would like to share with my children at least 1x per year. Hopefully, we will be going several times per year.

 

Is there a camping store near you so you could see tents in person before using you gift card?

 

I'm sure there are camping stores near. We live near a major city. I just have to keep my budget within my means, because I'm using my amazon giftcard to buy the tent. :)

[lovinmomma]

I don't know a ton about camping, but in my experience, if you want to comfortably fit everyone and their gear, you want a tent rated for about 3x as many people as you actually have.  If you want to be comfy and sans gear, maybe 2x.  Maybe you'd prefer to get two tents?  With this one you'll probably have just barely enough room to lay down, packed like sardines.  And don't even get me started on thrashers, cuddlers, and rotating-arounders.

 

I wll say, with two tents, it depends on where you plan to camp.  I was once camping next to someone who was attacked by a bear in the middle of the night.  Not to dissuade you from camping....it's lots of fun.  Just be aware of potential dangers and where the able-bodied adults are sleeping and how well they can hear, and how they can help in a crisis situation.

 

2 tents isn't a bad idea! My oldest is only 9, though, so I wonder if that would be an issue? In the past, I've only ever done mountain camping, but this will be more lake-ish camping.

[Alessandra]

My only other advice is to take your time, look around and do research. I have Eureka Sunrise 10' that I used for 3 people and a Eureka Sunrise 8' that I use for 2 people. Both are fine car camping tents, with poles that go in a sleeve -- time consuming to put up, but very sturdy in wind and rain.

 

When ds needed a tent for scouts, not backpacking, but not car camping either, I probably made 5 trips to camping stores, read loads of reviews, plotted everything on a spreadsheet, asked for advice. I ended up going with a recommendation from Margaret in CO and the Kelty Gunnison she recommended has been fantastic. Not that you would want that tent, but just saying that research pays off.

 

The Coleman is very economical, but you may be happier with a slightly better quality, since it sounds as though you are planning a bit of camping. Cheap sleeping bags or even pinned together blankets could save you money in other departments.

[jenn-]

I was given a giftcard to Amazon and I really want to spend it on something fun to do with the kids. I can't afford expensive water parks, pool passes, and the like but I **know** I can create some lasting memories camping with my kids and hopefully doing so cheaply! :) We are a family of 6, so that adds to the dynamics of picking out a tent. I used to go camping with my parents every summer until I was about 17-19, so I know a little about camping but it has been a REALLY long time. Here's what I'm looking at right now:

 

 

 

And here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-17-Foot-10-Foot-8-Person-Modified/dp/B000W7BHJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1400378754&sr=1-1&keywords=tent

 

It looks like it has pretty great reviews, but I would love to hear reviews from anyone that cares to share them. I'm also interested in camping checklists (what to pack), advice, tips, etc.

 

Thank you!

 

We have that tent.  I won't lie it was a tight sleeping arraignment but we easily were able to fit all 6 of us in it.  I view the tent kind of like a room on a cruise ship.  They are small but most of your time will be spent outside of it, so it really doesn't matter that much.  I won't lie and tell you that it will fit 6 full grown people in it, but it should definitely fit you for several years to come.  You do need to make sure you spray all the seams and the bottom with a waterproofing spray (but that would be true for any tent).

 

[lovinmomma]

My only other advice is to take your time, look around and do research. I have Eureka Sunrise 10' that I used for 3 people and a Eureka Sunrise 8' that I use for 2 people. Both are fine car camping tents, with poles that go in a sleeve -- time consuming to put up, but very sturdy in wind and rain.

 

When ds needed a tent for scouts, not backpacking, but not car camping either, I probably made 5 trips to camping stores, read loads of reviews, plotted everything on a spreadsheet, asked for advice. I ended up going with a recommendation from Margaret in CO and the Kelty Gunnison she recommended has been fantastic. Not that you would want that tent, but just saying that research pays off.

 

The Coleman is very economical, but you may be happier with a slightly better quality, since it sounds as though you are planning a bit of camping. Cheap sleeping bags or even pinned together blankets could save you money in other departments.

 

Excellent advice! Do you know what brand(s) might be a step right above Coleman?

[lovinmomma]

We have that tent.  I won't lie it was a tight sleeping arraignment but we easily were able to fit all 6 of us in it.  I view the tent kind of like a room on a cruise ship.  They are small but most of your time will be spent outside of it, so it really doesn't matter that much.  I won't lie and tell you that it will fit 6 full grown people in it, but it should definitely fit you for several years to come.  You do need to make sure you spray all the seams and the bottom with a waterproofing spray (but that would be true for any tent).

 

Ahh! I was hoping that someone might have this one! Thank you.

[jenn-]

My dh does want me to point out that we car camp so we always have access to the supplies in the car. This is by no means a backpacking tent. It is a set it up and leave it up until time to go.

[Alessandra]

Excellent advice! Do you know what brand(s) might be a step right above Coleman?

I don't have experience with tents of the size you need, but you migh try browsing the website for Campmor. They have a big selection, and the web site is well organized. The sales people are each specialists in their fields, good advice.

[lovinmomma]

My dh does want me to point out that we car camp so we always have access to the supplies in the car. This is by no means a backpacking tent. It is a set it up and leave it up until time to go.

 

Thanks for the heads up! No backpacking here. :)

[lovinmomma]

I don't have experience with tents of the size you need, but you migh try browsing the website for Campmor. They have a big selection, and the web site is well organized. The sales people are each specialists in their fields, good advice.

 

Thanks! I'll go check that out!

[Vida Winter]

Do your research on tents - some of them are incredibly hard to put up, especially the larger ones. I would try to see some of them assembled in stores first. You may be able to save money by purchasing the tent at a discount store and using the amazon gift card for accessories.

[Erica in OR]

We bought a tent setup that is two tents—you have the option to set up one, two separately, or two with a small tunnel entry between them. We've been quite happy with it. Then the kids can have the fun of being in their own, but with adults nearby, or a place to stash the bags/backpacks. I think it is just a Walmart or that type of store brand.

 

Erica in OR

[lavender's green]

Whatever you choose to go with, here's a valuable tip I once received: put a tarp underneath the tent, so that moisture from the ground can't seep up.  It makes a huge difference in your comfort, even if it's not a particularly rainy or damp area.

[anmom]

I just ordered this one and hoping it will be here tomorrow. We are planning to go camping next weekend with our family of 5.

[skimomma]

We do a lot of camping and camp with many friends.  I would never buy a Coleman.  These tents are meant to be set-up and used no more than 10 times then disposed of.  They do not hold up in wind and most will leak during hard rain.  They are inexpensive and tons of people buy them, but in the end it costs more when it has to be replaced after a couple of years.  I cannot even begin to count how many collapsed Colemans I have seen after a night of rain in a campground.  A good tent should last for years and years.  

 

A good tent that will fit 6 people and gear is going to be very expensive.  The trouble with big tents is that the larger you go, it is exponentially more difficult  to design it to be robust enough to handle wind and rain, so the cost for a quality tent goes way up.  You will probably be able to get more for your dollar by getting two smaller tents.  I second the Campmor recommendation.  They sell close-outs and discontinued gear so you can often pick up a really nice tent on the cheap.  Kelty is a good name for smaller inexpensive tents.  I would avoid anything sold at a discount store like Walmart or Target.  

[TrixieB]

I don't know what the campsites are like where you plan to camp, so my comment may not apply...

 

Around here, some campgrounds have "tent pads" which are level, slightly raised areas framed with 2x4 lumber (the lumber is flush with the top of the pad.  They're built to accommodate tents up to a certain size.  A four person tent fits fine.  Sometimes there's a large enough flat space at the campground for a bigger tent.

 

Also, I second a PP's recommendation for a tarp or footprint under the tent.  This will help your tent floor last MUCH longer, and also keep moisture out. 

 

Other suggestions:  always stake out your tent & rainfly.  You never know when a storm will hit in the middle of the night.  And dry out your tent completely when you get home, before storing it away.  Mildewy tents STINK!

[Alessandra]

We do a lot of camping and camp with many friends. I would never buy a Coleman. These tents are meant to be set-up and used no more than 10 times then disposed of. They do not hold up in wind and most will leak during hard rain. They are inexpensive and tons of people buy them, but in the end it costs more when it has to be replaced after a couple of years. I cannot even begin to count how many collapsed Colemans I have seen after a night of rain in a campground. A good tent should last for years and years.

 

A good tent that will fit 6 people and gear is going to be very expensive. The trouble with big tents is that the larger you go, it is exponentially more difficult to design it to be robust enough to handle wind and rain, so the cost for a quality tent goes way up. You will probably be able to get more for your dollar by getting two smaller tents. I second the Campmor recommendation. They sell close-outs and discontinued gear so you can often pick up a really nice tent on the cheap. Kelty is a good name for smaller inexpensive tents. I would avoid anything sold at a discount store like Walmart or Target.

I agree with this. I was probably too polite? wimpy? in my first post. The above is so true, in my experience. Yeah, the collapsed Coleman is not uncommon.

[MarinesWife]

Hinge door. Changed my camping life.

[Okra]

Our girl scout troop was also on a budget, and we bought this tent.  While I'm certain there are far better tents out there, this tent has worked adequately for us.

 

We fit 7 small girls in there with one bag each.  It is a bit of a scrunch, but it works fine also.

 

We have seam sealed the seams, and it has not leaked.  We have a lot of experience with rain because every.single.time. we go camping it rains.  So, if I was you, and you were buying this tent, I would spring for the seam sealant also,  just to make certain it doesn't leak, as this probably isn't the highest quality tent you can buy.

 

But, overall, for the price, it has worked fine for us.

[Soror]

We just bought this and have used it once so far. It worked well for us, someone else had the same tent during our campout fwiw. We actually considered one of the nicer tents, like a Eureka but decided to go for the more one for now. We are the occasional fairish-weather campers, with 4 smallish kids I'm just not looking to be camping a ton and I'm not camping in hard rain, no matter if the tent is waterproof. Personally while I generally like to go for quality for our use it didn't seem worth it, however when ds moves up to Boy Scouts we will definitley be getting a nice long lasting model as he will be using it often in various weather conditions.

[Melanie in WI]

We have 2 Coleman tents, one is a two room, supposed to sleep 8, but we use 1 of the rooms for storage. We have had it for over 15 years. We spray it and it doesn't leak. We have also gone thru thunderstorms and it has never collapsed. (This was the kind before the domes. We also have a 4 person Coleman dome tent. It also doesn't leak and has never collapsed. We have had it for more than 10 years.

[lovinmomma]

We bought a tent setup that is two tents—you have the option to set up one, two separately, or two with a small tunnel entry between them. We've been quite happy with it. Then the kids can have the fun of being in their own, but with adults nearby, or a place to stash the bags/backpacks. I think it is just a Walmart or that type of store brand.

 

Erica in OR

 

That sounds just about perfect! :)

[lovinmomma]

We have that tent and are very happy with it. We just got it last year and also have a family of six. We originally bought a much more expensive tent from REI, but after reading reviews, we returned it and got the Coleman. It was easy to put up. We haven't used it in the rain yet though. It does require a large tent pad area at the campsite.

 

The one tip if you get it is to not stake it too tightly stretched as the front zipper gets more difficult to operate if it's stretched tight (probably an issue with any tent).

 

Thanks for the tip and the review! :) Much appreciated.

 

I just ordered this one and hoping it will be here tomorrow. We are planning to go camping next weekend with our family of 5.

 

Let me know how it works out!

[lovinmomma]

We do a lot of camping and camp with many friends.  I would never buy a Coleman.  These tents are meant to be set-up and used no more than 10 times then disposed of.  They do not hold up in wind and most will leak during hard rain.  They are inexpensive and tons of people buy them, but in the end it costs more when it has to be replaced after a couple of years.  I cannot even begin to count how many collapsed Colemans I have seen after a night of rain in a campground.  A good tent should last for years and years.  

 

A good tent that will fit 6 people and gear is going to be very expensive.  The trouble with big tents is that the larger you go, it is exponentially more difficult  to design it to be robust enough to handle wind and rain, so the cost for a quality tent goes way up.  You will probably be able to get more for your dollar by getting two smaller tents.  I second the Campmor recommendation.  They sell close-outs and discontinued gear so you can often pick up a really nice tent on the cheap.  Kelty is a good name for smaller inexpensive tents.  I would avoid anything sold at a discount store like Walmart or Target.  

 

I will definitely do my research! Thank you for the brand name suggestion. I appreciate the advice.

 

I don't know what the campsites are like where you plan to camp, so my comment may not apply...

 

Around here, some campgrounds have "tent pads" which are level, slightly raised areas framed with 2x4 lumber (the lumber is flush with the top of the pad.  They're built to accommodate tents up to a certain size.  A four person tent fits fine.  Sometimes there's a large enough flat space at the campground for a bigger tent.

 

Also, I second a PP's recommendation for a tarp or footprint under the tent.  This will help your tent floor last MUCH longer, and also keep moisture out. 

 

Other suggestions:  always stake out your tent & rainfly.  You never know when a storm will hit in the middle of the night.  And dry out your tent completely when you get home, before storing it away.  Mildewy tents STINK!

 

I actually don't know the answer to your question about tent pads. I should ask the people we're going with.

[lovinmomma]

Hinge door. Changed my camping life.

 

I've heard that MANY times since I started looking for a tent. Good to know. :)

 

Our girl scout troop was also on a budget, and we bought this tent.  While I'm certain there are far better tents out there, this tent has worked adequately for us.

 

We fit 7 small girls in there with one bag each.  It is a bit of a scrunch, but it works fine also.

 

We have seam sealed the seams, and it has not leaked.  We have a lot of experience with rain because every.single.time. we go camping it rains.  So, if I was you, and you were buying this tent, I would spring for the seam sealant also,  just to make certain it doesn't leak, as this probably isn't the highest quality tent you can buy.

 

But, overall, for the price, it has worked fine for us.

 

Great to know! Thank you so much. I was really hoping there were people here who had used this tent.

 

We just bought this and have used it once so far. It worked well for us, someone else had the same tent during our campout fwiw. We actually considered one of the nicer tents, like a Eureka but decided to go for the more one for now. We are the occasional fairish-weather campers, with 4 smallish kids I'm just not looking to be camping a ton and I'm not camping in hard rain, no matter if the tent is waterproof. Personally while I generally like to go for quality for our use it didn't seem worth it, however when ds moves up to Boy Scouts we will definitley be getting a nice long lasting model as he will be using it often in various weather conditions.

 

I'm wondering if you're describing our family, too. Glad it's worked well for you!

 

We have 2 Coleman tents, one is a two room, supposed to sleep 8, but we use 1 of the rooms for storage. We have had it for over 15 years. We spray it and it doesn't leak. We have also gone thru thunderstorms and it has never collapsed. (This was the kind before the domes. We also have a 4 person Coleman dome tent. It also doesn't leak and has never collapsed. We have had it for more than 10 years.

 

The reviews on Amazon seem to line up with your comments. Thank you!

[Artichoke]

2 tents isn't a bad idea! My oldest is only 9, though, so I wonder if that would be an issue? In the past, I've only ever done mountain camping, but this will be more lake-ish camping.

When we've needed two tents, we just set them up across from each other with the doors facing together. While we put them a bit closer than you normally would, there was always plenty of room; and if dc needed us in the night, they just had to go out their door and directly (probably about two steps) into our tent door. We stil do this when backpacking as older dd likes a one-man tent. I don't feel comfortable with her tenting alone otherwise.

 

Is there a possibility of you using the Amazon card for other household necessities and then shopping at a place like REI or Campmor? Have fun shopping and creating memories with your family!

[lovinmomma]

When we've needed two tents, we just set them up across from each other with the doors facing together. While we put them a bit closer than you normally would, there was always plenty of room; and if dc needed us in the night, they just had to go out their door and directly (probably about two steps) into our tent door. We stil do this when backpacking as older dd likes a one-man tent. I don't feel comfortable with her tenting alone otherwise.

 

Is there a possibility of you using the Amazon card for other household necessities and then shopping at a place like REI or Campmor? Have fun shopping and creating memories with your family!

 

No, I wish there was. The only way we're able to get the tent is because of the giftcard. :) Thank you for all of the advice!

[mirth]

Of the Coleman line, the only thing I might buy is of the Hooligan line because they have full rain flys.  But in comparing full fly tents, I doubt Coleman would be my first choice *unless* I found it dirt cheap.  This is where I differ from the other good tent enthusiasts.  I am perfectly happy to entertain having several medium quality tents with full flys.  (Very high end tents made by Hilleberg or geodesic tents easily approach $10,000.  Then you'd have to worry about tent theft   :001_unsure:  so there is advantage in choosing cost over quality.)  

 

Basically here are the best and worst case scenarios for first time camping:

 

BEST - you have a functional tent, the weather is not one bit rainy, and everyone comes home smiling with dirt on their faces.  Many happy memories generated.  Desire to go camping again declared by all.

 

WORST - you have a functional tent but there is a surprise shower in the middle of the night and you did not have a full fly tent or you did not tie a tarp to trees overhead.  You pack up in in the rain in the middle of the night because rain will soak through an unprotected tent surprisingly quickly and you huddle in the car all night until daybreak as you drive home.  If you are super unlucky, other families will be awake in the morning to stare at "that family" who made alot of noise and ended up sleeping in their car.  No good memories generated.  First time camping experience negative.  

 

For us, I would not even consider a tent unless it had a full rainfly.  Underneath the rainfly is a full mesh tent which is very nice for ventilation and star gazing on all those clear nights.

[Soror]

Get the tent you can afford and have fun! Camping gear is easy to "get into" (and we are INTO it in this house!) but the fact is, with kids as little as mine, we're not going camping in ANY inclement weather. It just isn't going to happen, so not only do I not need a 'bombproof' tent, I don't even need an average tent. Wehave a chintzy little "three man," $30, tent (significantly lower quality than a coleman!) that my two boys, dog and I can just fit into, and it's completely FINE. I can set it up alone and if I want to go camping without DH, we can go. No fuss. We've had it for 6 years and used it dozens of times, and it's still exactly like it was when we bought it. We have nicer ones for anything that isn't perfectly-fair-weather camping, and DH will be getting a fancy solo hiking tent here soon I think. But for the family, car-camping? Just get one and go!

 

Get as good of a tent as you can, certainly, but for sure the most important thing is to get one and go camping!

Same here! If we use it enough or wear it out we'll upgrade. Before this one we had one my mom gave us that was a far cheaper model and we used it for years and they had used it for years before us. 

[Carol in Cal.]

I would buy very good sleeping pads and rent the tent.

Thermorest pads are amazing.

[LucyStoner]

I had a slightly older version of that tent. I say had because it was such a mess (I must have repaired the zipper dozens of times) that we pitched it in the garbage at Farragut state park in Idaho last July. We only had that tent because my dad gave it to us. We got 2.5 summers

out of it. I am a cheapskate who uses stuff up rather than replaces willy nilly. The fact that we tossed it in the garbage rather than attempted further repairs says a lot.

 

Lots of people buy expensive tents and never use them much. I would look for something on Criagslist. I've usually had good luck with REI branded tents. My son sleeps in an REI flyte tent that is nearly 30 years old and it's great.

[ktgrok]

We have this one. Honestly, it's $30 less at walmart, but if you have an amazon gift card, you gotta do what you gotta do. I love it. It is huge. It is DRY. We had torrential rains with it, standing in the backyard for days, and no water once we sealed the main exposed seams. Very comfy and would fit you I think. I know we've had 3 adults and a teen in it with room to spare. And this weekend we had DH, Me, a 4 year old and a toddler with plenty of room for two more people. 

 

When I researched my main things were a tub floor and good ventilation. http://www.amazon.com/Ozark-Trail-Weatherbuster-Tent-Sleeps/dp/B00CGNH3T0/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1400518879&sr=1-1&keywords=tent+ozark+trail+weather+buster

[ktgrok]

Get the tent you can afford and have fun! Camping gear is easy to "get into" (and we are INTO it in this house!) but the fact is, with kids as little as mine, we're not going camping in ANY inclement weather. It just isn't going to happen, so not only do I not need a 'bombproof' tent, I don't even need an average tent. Wehave a chintzy little "three man," $30, tent (significantly lower quality than a coleman!) that my two boys, dog and I can just fit into, and it's completely FINE. I can set it up alone and if I want to go camping without DH, we can go. No fuss. We've had it for 6 years and used it dozens of times, and it's still exactly like it was when we bought it. We have nicer ones for anything that isn't perfectly-fair-weather camping, and DH will be getting a fancy solo hiking tent here soon I think. But for the family, car-camping? Just get one and go!

 

Get as good of a tent as you can, certainly, but for sure the most important thing is to get one and go camping!

Agreed. A better tent will last through more trips maybe, but I've done fine with cheap tents. REALLY cheap tents. 

[ktgrok]

ok, looked again. For 10 bucks more the Ozark Trail one is bigger, and has a bathtub floor. That means floor seams are above ground level so they don't leak when there is standing water. Also, having had both Coleman and Ozark Trail tents, the Ozark Trail one I linked to is SO MUCH easier to get in the stupid bag. And is easier to set up. I spent a LOT of time researching, and for the money the one I linked above, the Ozark Trail  Weatherbuster, was the best in our price range. I would only get the Weatherbuster, fyi. 

[Artichoke]

Agreed. A better tent will last through more trips maybe, but I've done fine with cheap tents. REALLY cheap tents.

Us too. We had a couple of three man tents from Target ( $7 each on clearance ) that we used for at least six years. When we backpacked, dh and I just split the parts between us to carry. If we hadn't lost them in a flash flood, we'd probably still be using them.