Just about everyone who loves camping wants their experience to be memorable –- in a good way.  One of the most important aspects of the camping experience is a good night.  If you don’t have a good night sleeping, then you won’t enjoy the trip.  The tent you use is integral in sleeping well, so we’re going to take a look at one of the best tents out there –- the Coleman instant tent.  There are a lot of cheap tents available that are prone to leaking in a thunderstorm, or blowing away in strong wind, but the Coleman instant tent gives you an excellent deal for your money while keeping you safe and dry.  Also, some cheap camping tents are confusing to set up, but you’ll see that the Coleman instant tent is as simple as it gets.  Let’s get to it.

Size does matter

The Coleman instant tent fits 8 people, which means 8 people can sleep in it, but probably only  6 people can comfortably.  An 8-person tent (often called a family tent) is one of the largest family camping tents there is, which makes it perfect for those large-group camping trips.  The Coleman instant tent measures 14 feet by 10 feet; this is mid-range in terms of size for an 8-person tent.  Coleman says the tent can fit 4 queen-size mattresses inside of it, but users have said 2 can fit with plenty of room to spare.  This family tent has vertical walls, which make for easy standing while on the inside.  The tent can be split into 2 rooms with a divider in the middle.  The divider is comparable to a 2-piece curtain, and each half can be secured to respective sides of the tent wall to turn the unit into one big room.  Many 2-room tents have a tunnel connecting each half to the other in order to ensure tent stability, but the Coleman instant tent is the same height throughout almost the whole unit.  The center height is 6 feet, 5 inches, so only the tallest of people will have to duck down while inside.

Faster than a speeding bullet … almost

What makes the Coleman instant tent one of the best tents out there is the instant part.  Coleman advertises that it take one minute or less to set up with two people.  Testimonials given vary slightly from this time (some say 2 minutes, some say 5), depending on how many people are helping and how much of a hurry you’re in, but the point is that set-up for this family tent is extremely quick.  The secret behind its fast set-up time is the Coleman tent poles.  They come already attached to the tent walls, and they fold along with the rest of the tent with hinge mechanisms.  They’re made like a telescope, so all you need to do is unfold them, lengthen them, and snap them into place.  Instructions are sewn into the carrying bag that’s included, but users have said the instructions aren’t even necessary because set-up is so easy.  One complaint by users is that the tent is difficult to put into the bag after use, and that the bag is somewhat heavy, but if you’re with another person, these factors shouldn’t prove too difficult.  Plus, both of these issues just show that Coleman isn’t skimping on the thickness of material used to make the tent!

Hurricanes are no problem

Another great part of the Coleman instant tent is the durable WeatherTec system used in most Coleman tents.  The tent fabric is 150D polyester, which is twice as thick as Coleman’s other tents.  Many cheap tents are only made out of 75D polyester, which is half the thickness of the Coleman instant tent.  The walls are coated with weather-protecting polyurethane to keep water out.  Also, the thread used to sew the material together, along with the webbing and zippers, are anti-wicking to reduce water soaking up water.  The seams of the tent are inverted to protect the needle holes from letting water inside.  The polyethylene floor is welded to the walls, which eliminates the need for holes and reduces the risk of water leaking into this family tent.   The zippers feature cuffs on the outside of the tent, which is another water-protection mechanism.  The Coleman tent poles are made from strong fiberglass, which is flexible enough not to break in extremely strong winds.  And finally, the guy-out loops, which are used to secure the tent to the ground with rope, are triangle instead of circular which ensures sturdiness.  If you don’t believe you’ll be safe and dry in the Coleman instant tent by now, there’s one more thing that might convince you.  Coleman has tested this 8-person tent in a weather room with downpour conditions and hurricane-force winds, and it withstood the test.  Just as an added feature, no separate rain fly is needed for the outside like other family tents.  Some users have said they would like the option of using a rain fly, but it wasn’t required to keep them dry.

Just like home

The Coleman instant tent has a large door which can be partitioned into 2 parts and fastened to either side (like the middle divider on the inside) to make a spacious opening.  It also has a door on the side opposite of the big door.  This allows campers on both sides of the center divider to enter and exit the tent if the divider is used. This Coleman camping tent has 7 windows – 2 windows on 3 of the sides, and 1 window on the fourth side.  This means you can have full ventilation in the tent for those stuffy summer nights.  But when you want some privacy, the screen windows can be zipped shut with covers made of the same material as the tent walls.  Another handy feature of this 8-person tent is the pocket on the inside which can hold just about anything you want.  To top it off, Coleman gives buyers a 1-year warranty on the Coleman instant tent.

• Where can I buy a Coleman instant tent?

Currently Amazon sells the Coleman instant tent at a great price, especially for an 8-person tent.  There’s also a free shipping option right now with this tent.  This makes getting it through Amazon the cheapest option.  Click here to see it on Amazon.

• Where can I read more reviews on the Coleman instant tent?

Amazon actually has many reviews on this tent by people who have used it.  You can also watch a demonstration of the tent being set up in less than 60 seconds, and some pictures of the tent being used by buyers.  Click here to see more.

What’s Included

• Coleman Instant Tent
• Durable Carrying Case

What Others are saying

The Coleman instant tent has received excellent reviews from Amazon and the Coleman website, with an average of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Some recent comments:

• “Can be set up with one person”
• “Outstanding ventilation and privacy”
• “Best tent I have ever owned!”
• “The tent stood in 50mph winds and torrential rain”
• “Room divider is wonderful”
• “Easy to set up”
• “No rain got inside”
• “Exactly what I was looking for”

See Tent Page With Reviews Here

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team