They are great family tents, suit the nocturnal type and have even been considered for use as photography darkrooms, although we cannot guarantee their suitability here. I occasionally even use my instant tent as a place to store my RV camping gear when it’s raining outside. When something is easy to set up like this the usability goes up and you can find lots of little uses every day.
The only ding on the windows is that they have no ties or way to secure them once opened, so they are left to simply dangle. Although some tents promise to hold up to 12 people, things can get a little cramped when you coleman ice chest have all the sleeping bags fully rolled out. Measurements will matter more than how the tent is advertised, so use a measuring tape to map it out and decide on the size that will accommodate sleeping arrangements.
Whether you’re a new camper or just looking to simplify things when taking your family on camping adventures, this tent is a total winner. So this design has its advantages, but there are also some downsides, this is all the matter of compromise and priorities. I have included it on my list of 10 best car camping tents for 2018 and also in the list of best cabin tents for 4 people.
Ventilation and ease of setup were two key things we tested for. We pitched each of the tents in our yard to test for durability, comfort, space, and water resistance. The plastic welding used here creates the best and the most durable seals which will not deteriorate or decay in time. The tent is also fully freestanding, so you can pitch it anywhere, regardless of the terrain. This is the smallest tent in the Coleman Instant Series of tents which includes several sizes, see for example this Coleman Instant Cabin tent 6.
The only big difference I found is that Coleman tents tend to be made in China, while both my CORE tents were made in Bangladesh. The mesh is also pretty good quality, and keeps out larger bugs like mosquitoes, but not no-see-ums. Another reason why I love the Coleman 10-Person Instant Tent is because it has this amazing hinged door. However, on the other hand, the Coleman 10-Person Instant Tent has 2 amazing features that the Core Tent does not. I feel that my Core tent’s instant mechanism is slightly better, for 2 reasons. I’ve got 2 CORE Equipment Cabin Tents, and also a whopping 14 Coleman tents, so based on my experiences with these tents, here are my thoughts on both brands.
You may also be interested in our Coleman Montana 6 person tent review and our Coleman Elite Weathermaster 6 person tent review. While the delicate nature of the poles is understandable—it makes the tent lighter and easier to remain instant—it’s best to take extra care when handling the pre-attached poles. In place of the mattresses, you could easily fit four sleeping bags side-by-side to keep a degree of personal space and bodily privacy. We’re just thinking comfort-wise about sleeping; sleeping bags are fantastic but they don’t offer much padding. Our final verdict is that this is a great dark room tent with an incredibly fast pitch and some cool added features. For a family of 4 or a group of 3 to 5 campers, this is a fantastic choice.