Let’s face it, camping can be stressful. This is especially true with family, where you have to consider the equation: being out of your comfort zone + dealing with family in close quarters – access to bathrooms = chaos. That means that the more stressors you can remove from the equation, the better.
While there’s nothing you can do about the bathroom situation (or your family’s ingrained habits, for that matter) you can try to make things as comfortable as possible. That means making sure you know where you’re going, having ample bug spray, and arguably most importantly, bringing a tent that isn’t going to cause any arguments.
What makes for a good tent? It has to be sturdy, easy to set-up and carry, and accommodating in terms of space. Remember, you’re not going to have showers while camping. The more space between you and your stinky tentmates, the better. Coleman is one of the most trusted names in outdoor gear, and we’ve rounded up three of their best tents.
1. Coleman Cabin Tent
This tent comes with a carrying case and a heat and rain-resistant design, but where it really shines is set-up. It can be put up or taken down in only 60 seconds. This tent is part of their darkroom series, and it’s designed to block out 90% of sunlight. So, if you’re camping in the middle of summer, you can stay cool, even in cramped quarters.
Pros: Quick setup, sunlight resistant.
Cons: Not totally resistant to heavy rainfall, additional rainfly may need to be purchased for unpredictable weather.
2. Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
Bringing the extended family and the in-laws along for a trip? Consider this generously sized tent from Core, which has the ability to suit 9 people. The tent is designed to be easy to set up — it’s designed to be able to be put up in just one minute when working with another person. It comes in two colors. Bonus features include a room divider, carry bag, rain fly and tent stakes.
Pros: Large size to accommodate a big group. Includes handy accessories like a room divider, carry bag and rain fly.
Cons: You might want to swap out the stakes for something sturdier.
3. Coleman 8-Person Tent for Camping
This tent includes a rainfly to protect from wet conditions, and an extendable door awning means that when you open the hinged door, you won’t be letting a bunch of water in. For added rain protection, the angled windows allow ventilation while keeping out water.
Pros: Spacious, well-designed to resist rain. Of the three options listed, only this one has the retractable door awning.
Cons: 15-minute setup is quick, but not as fast as the first option.