When you arrive at the campground late at night after a long and stressful week followed by a long and stressful drive, you want your tent set up to be as pleasant as possible. The feature we missed most with the Instant Cabin, though, was the Copper Canyon 6’s mesh roof. The company still makes tents for use in the harshest places on earth, but it also understands that a tent for your summer road trip looks not at all the same. (This was before Kit started reviewing tents for Wirecutter, so REI didn’t know who he was.). One more word in favor of using a rain fly: condensation. Tent enthusiasts have a lot of options. A car camping tent can be a serious investment, with... Love to cook? And you can unzip the front door, remove it, and neatly stash it into one of the tent’s internal pockets—a useful feature if you’re feeling sociable. Investing in some high-quality basics can get kids excited about camping out—and help you avoid a mid-trip detour to the nearest big-box store. Finding the smallest, lightest tent that meets your needs is the logical approach when you’re backpacking. This is especially true with the 2018 redesigns because you can no longer wear either tent’s storage sack like a backpack—you now have to sling it over one shoulder. When everything is properly staked and guyed, you could ride out a cloudbuster. This polyester, eight person tent is lightweight and should last through multiple trips without coming in at a deluxe price. However, in the severe gusts of our Point Mugu windstorm, one of the Jade Canyon’s poles bent badly; a couple of other poles bent slightly but remained functional. The tent sites are really nice and private. Guy-line systems are somewhat unique to each tent, with every model boasting its own specific rope bites and tie-downs. We timed the one-person setup for each tent, and we later clocked the time it took for one person to break down the tent and get it back in its bag. And the families universally praised tents that had mesh roofs with little obstruction, and that had built-in pockets within easy reach of a sleeping position. But thanks to telescoping, pre-attached poles, it goes up and comes down much faster (in less than two minutes) than any other tent we tested. The diverse range of car/family camping tents we tested. Different campers will have different ideas of comfort and will define livability according to different standards. They totally reminded us of those handy school backpacks with all the organizer compartments! The Grand Mesa’s rain fly is easy to attach to the tent with plastic buckles and guy lines, and it adds a vestibule to the front of the tent that gives you 14 square feet of space, in addition to the tent’s 55-square-foot area. Eureka Desert Canyon 6: This model comes with a larger rain fly that you can detach and use as a standalone shade structure for your campsite. Grab this tent if you like to sleep in late or get out of the hot midday sun for an afternoon nap, and know that you'll have plenty of bucks left over for beer and snacks. Welcome home. The Sundome 6 offers darkroom technology designed to keep the interior of the tent much darker and cooler than most other tents in direct sunlight; a noteworthy feature for those who appreciate sleeping in or just not getting pounded with early morning or afternoon sun rays. We also found that the minimum peak interior height should be 6 feet, allowing most adults to comfortably stand upright inside (and to lull a cranky baby to sleep by rocking back and forth while standing). The findings of this process are discussed in detail below, so read on! (In theory, it’s meant to house six people, but in our experience, a six-person tent is the ideal size for two adults plus two or three children and gear.). If only the detached garage behind your house were built with these instead of those rotting boards…. We found 40 denier up to 150 denier to be typical for car-camping tents; you can read more about these measurements in gear manufacturer MSR’s blog post and in this Outside article. Had to open all windows to cool it off when the sun finally went down. Lastly, the new pole structure provides enhanced stability. So to protect against rain, the tent employs a solid, coated-polyester roof—though some reviewers have complained that it doesn’t always protect well. We also had an issue with two of the Jade Canyon’s poles sticking together at takedown, making it impossible to get the whole tent back in the already-way-too-snug carrying bag. Other options we appreciate are the Copper Canyon with its dual-zip shoulder-strap laden travel bag and the Marmot Limestone 4 with its tried-and-true stuff sack. There are tent sites right next to the dunes. Dawn at the Kingdom. The couple who volunteered to try out the tent—along with their 6-year-old twins—struggled for well over half an hour to get it up, eventually attracting the attention of other campers, who came to their rescue. REI assures us that the Base Camp 4 will be available again soon (we’ll continue to monitor the situation), but Kelty’s representatives say they don’t expect the Grand Mesa 4 to return until the end of October. Similarly, for sheer size alone, the Kodiak Canvas scored very well for comfort and space. Extra features: Pole strength and arrangements, rain-fly tie-downs, door construction, zipper strength, and gear-loft placements all play a role in the overall comfort and enjoyment of your tent. The inside offers plenty of headroom and space to utilize a table and chairs for the gang to hang out in during inclement weather or for sun protection. The fly stops here. We perused the lines of top outdoor companies like Big Agnes, Marmot, and The North Face. And because the pockets are a bit oversized, you don't need to be an expert in origami to get everything back inside for the hike out. Remember that these are family-sized tents we're talking about here. In general, we figure you'll need to carry these tents anywhere from just a few feet to a few hundred feet. Car camping is having a moment.Rooftop tents have been around for years, of course—but RTTs have become particularly popular in the topsy-turvy year that is … Big Agnes Big House 4 Tent: This is a cabin-style tent that we tested as a control. In short, a lower price doesn't always equate to a better value, nor does a higher price necessarily mean a worse value. Both the Sundome 6 and the Marmot Halo 6 are straightforward and easy to pitch, even if you're setting up when the light is waning. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Two-person Tent is the best two-person camping tent in 2020 with no doubt. It's definitely worth noting tents for the taller crowd because people over six feet like to be happy campers, too, right? Materials: A tent’s materials are, of course, important. He lived in it until both poles snapped and his rain fly tore through. We can see people at music festivals or larger get-togethers enjoying this feature. A leaky, poorly designed tent can quickly ruin a camping … Although we wanted to understand the pros and cons of various tent materials, we didn’t want to get blinded by a “best is always better” philosophy, especially with regard to our picks for family tents. Some of our tent picks also have guy-line systems that secure their outer rain fly—although most people probably won’t need to use those often. For the family tents, we observed the difficulty and duration of the setup process for each one, and we asked each family, during and after each trip, for feedback on the experience of sleeping in their tent and on specific qualities they liked and disliked. Eureka Tetragon HD 4: The Tetragon wasn’t as bad as the Coleman Sundome 4-Person or the AmazonBasics tent, but its fiberglass poles were still weak. In general, tents in that upper price range are made for harsher conditions than the typical car-camping family is likely to encounter or are focused as much on hip, retro aesthetics as on kid-friendly utility. If you're not an early bird or you're living the festival life, this incredibly priced tent will be a welcome addition to your camping arsenal. What sets the Rapid 6 apart and justifies the slightly higher price tag (though not by much) is, of course, the crazy fast setup. There are seemingly endless features and options that can enhance (or potentially ruin) your Happy Camper Experience. It goes up in 2 minutes, pleasing harried parents for whom convenience is king. Nov 21, 2020. 2. Unlike the Eureka Jade Canyon 6, which we also tested, the Copper Canyon has heavy poles made of fiberglass and steel. Photo: Dan Koeppel, The Coleman tent’s poles telescope with the push of a button. The all-mesh roof provides ample ventilation and is ideal for stargazing: One dad accustomed to solid tent roofs said the view from his bag during the first night in Joshua Tree brought tears to his eyes. (REI makes dedicated footprints for both the Base Camp 4 and the Base Camp 6, and we recommend that you buy one to protect your tent’s floor. Most of the tents we looked at could handle an unexpected flurry or a coating of frost, but we wouldn’t intentionally take them on a winter-camping trip. The Wawona is the best of the best when it comes to comfort, ease of set up, weather resistance, and portability. Photo: Dan Koeppel. But in the case of the Base Camp models, the sleeves add extra tension and stability throughout the tent fabric. This tent provides an amazing value and worth considering as your next 6-person camping tent. Below, we have personally reviewed these tents to help you in finding the right one. The boxlike Copper Canyon LX 6 is easy to set up, and one person can erect it in 15 minutes or less. His garage is full of more stuff than you can imagine, and he's biting at the bit to get his barely toddling young twins out on their first extended camping adventure. It also has the best and biggest vestibule for hanging out and cooking during storms. If you’re willing to spend top dollar for a tent that will stand up to the elements and keep you comfortable in rain and mud—as well as offer privacy at a crowded campground—the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 and 6 are the clear choices. That’s pretty fast. How can we improve GearLab? Getting the fly placed and staked properly took about five more minutes. During that time, he sat in his tent through windstorms, rainstorms, and Pacific hurricanes. Beachgoers need windows, air circulation, and shelter from the sun. For example, the Big Agnes Big House 6 can double as a sun/rain shade by merely removing the tent and leaving the exoskeleton and rainfly. It’s like going from buying Patagonia’s H2No jacket to Patagonia’s Gore-Tex jacket. In the packed conditions, its dimensions measure as 43 in x 13.5 in x 13.5 in and the package weighs around 84 lb or we can say 38 Kg. (The Sundome’s center height is exactly 6 feet, while the Coleman Instant Cabin and the REI Base Camp both have a center height of 6 feet 2 inches.). It's worth pointing out that some of the more unique tents we tested offer specific features that have tons of merit in terms of versatility. Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. If car camping is a feasible—and responsible—way to get yourself and your loved ones outdoors right now, you’ll need a comfortable place to sleep. On the Base Camp 4’s original model, which we tested, the two vestibules (front and rear) added up to 40.5 square feet (the area of the tent itself was 60 square feet); on the updated version, released in 2018, the two vestibules have grown slightly, totaling 44 square feet. In our evaluations, we focused on basic function and design, looking for big mesh windows to provide a cross breeze in nice weather; convenient, built-in pockets for stashing car keys, headlamps, and glasses; zippers that pull smoothly; and a fly that’s quick and easy to get on and off as the weather shifts. Our top two favorite camping tents, The North Face Wawona 6 and REI Kingdom 6, both offer the highest levels of performance for reasonable prices. “When you camp with kids, you camp with a lot of gear,” Olsson, author of The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping With Kids, said in an interview. © 2020 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Our pick for two people: Kelty Grand Mesa 4, Our pick for families: Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6, Upgrade picks: REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent and Base Camp 6 Tent, Also great for families: Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin, Budget pick for families: Coleman Sundome 6-Person Tent, The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping With Kids, Coleman Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch 6-Person Cabin Tent, author of The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping With Kids, salesperson for Johnson Outdoors, parent company of Eureka, The Best Canopy Tent for Camping and Picnics, The Best Car-Camping Gear for Wheelchair Users. The square footprint, ample windows, and functional fly of the Coleman Sundome 6-Person Tent make it a good choice for occasional or backyard campers who want an inexpensive tent that’s easy to put up and that looks and feels reasonably nice to camp in. When all the windows are open, being inside the tent is almost like being outdoors. After testing the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6, the new version of our former top pick for family tents, we are reinstating it and making the Coleman Instant Cabin an also-great pick once again. All hatches battened on the super fly of the Bunk House 4. A shelter bought for backpacking, scouting, or festival-going can also double as a car-camping tent. For an additional $150 to $200, you can get a tent from a more-elite brand that will weigh 5 to 10 pounds less, pack slightly smaller, and use arguably superior materials, such as lightweight aluminum poles and coated nylon, instead of steel, fiberglass, and coated polyester. We assessed the performance of 13 popular camping tents by subjecting them to wind, rain, sun, heat, cold, late nights, early mornings, and backyard adventures. Great for backyard overnights, this simple dome-style tent is for parents who don’t want to spend more than $100 on a tent but also don’t want to be buying another one next year. People go outside in all types of weather, and you often need a tent that can keep up the "Happy Camper" experience, no matter what. Not only could we watch the night sky for miles, but the Kelty’s low walls also allowed the desert winds to blow right through the tent. Some of the reinforced crisscross pole structure atop the Kingdom 6. As did almost all of the tent companies we asked, Eureka recommends that campers use a tarp or ground cloth for added protection. North Park Campground in Dickinson, North Dakota: 102 reviews, 26 photos, & 30 tips from fellow RVers. That means you can fit six adults in a six-person tent, but you probably wouldn’t want to, because those adults would be sleeping hip to hip, with little spare room for gear. Instead of trying to fight those breezes, this tent seemed to absorb them, sheltering and keeping us cool without collapsing like a sail. If you still want a smaller setup after reading this guide, be advised that our top pick for couples, the Kelty Grand Mesa 4, also comes in a smaller version: the Grand Mesa 2. We concluded that for a family tent, the footprint should measure between 80 and 100 square feet: enough space for a double-bed-size air mattress and two smaller Thermarest-type sleeping pads; or for five sleeping pads and a line of duffle bags; or for a queen-size air mattress, a pack-and-play crib, and a huge dog. When we tested during 100-degree Fahrenheit nights, free airflow was a definite benefit—but you’d probably want to put up the rain fly if temperatures began to drop. (We don’t recommend the smaller version of this tent for couples who might actually take it on the road; it was just too flimsy in our tests. Our testing also included sitting through thunderstorms on the public land just south of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, near the Grand Canyon. Enter your phone number to get the app. The cool interior of the Sundome 6. Over the past 9 years, we've tested over 30 different camping tents in pursuit of the best. Some experienced camper-parents we talked with wanted a much smaller tent—these were mostly people who had transferred their pre-parenthood, minimalist backpacking ethic (and aesthetic) to car camping. Those same informal surveys found that most families considered between $200 and $400 to be a reasonable amount to pay for a tent for family car camping, so we didn’t test any tents with a list price of more than $450 at that time (again, some have since gotten more expensive). The Kelty Grand Mesa 4 is the best car-camping tent choice for couples, especially for those who tend to camp during the summer, in the backcountry, or in the desert. Seriously. In that spirit, budget camping tents are basic but fully functional options for fair-weather campers. So while the Wawona lacks the openness and interior height found in the Kingdom 6, it will save you money while still providing an excellent vestibule for all your extended camp needs. The Kingdom tents are known for having problems in high winds, though. The Kingdom 6, which typically costs about $30 more than the Base Camp 6, has a distinctive half-barrel design and a smaller vestibule than the Base Camp 6. , shorter pole to form protective peaks over the single door and window on the,. It offers adequate ventilation, storage, and Walmart and after these weekend trips we! 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