We have written this camping tent review to help you determine the best camping tent either for yourself alone, you and a friend, you and your family.
We have compiled a few factors that you might want to consider before paying for any camping tent.
But first, let’s take a quick look at what I recommend:
PLAN
Number
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Price
Price for 1 minute
Mike's Top Choice
(The one we like the best)
SEMOO Water Resistant D-Style Door, 4-person Camping/Traveling Family Dome
Very Easy to setup
Waterproof and lightweight
Large enough to fit a queen size bed
One of the best affordable camping tents
Very Easy to setup
Waterproof floor
Made of sturdy, durable material
Very Affordable
These are the 8 Best Camping Tents we looked at:
- Ozark Trail 16×16-Feet 12-Person 3 Room Instant Cabin Tent With Pre-Attached Poles
- Coleman Sundome 2 Person Tent
- Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon
- Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent
- Core Equipment 9 Person Extended Dome Tent 16 X 9 Ft
- Happy Camper Two Person Tent By Wakeman Outdoors
- SEMOO Water Resistant D-Style Door, 4-Person Camping/Traveling Family Dome Tent With Carry Bag
- GoldenShark 3 Person Tent
You can learn more about camping tents down below:
Or, you can just go straight to the reviews:
8 Best Camping Tents
Making a choice of the camping tent to buy for your camping trip is no longer as easy as it used to be. Now there is a large variety of camping tents on the market (in different sizes and capacities), all claiming to be the best. Below is an extensive list of the best camping tents to minimize any hassle. On the list, you will find the best family tent, best 4 person tent, and many more. Brace yourself and dig in!
Ozark Trail 16×16-Feet 12-Person 3 Room Instant Cabin Tent with Pre-Attached Poles
If you’re looking for a large tent that would not give you problems at all in setting it up, then the Ozark Trail 12-Person camping tent is one of the best camping tents you can buy with money. Ozark Trail is one of the best tent brands in the world. They are known for building high-quality camping tents, and this model is a good flagship.
This tent, however, is great for use in the hot summer months or during the rainy season. This model can also be used as a family tent since it can serve as shelter for 12 people.
Design and Performance
Ventilation: This camping tent is well ventilated so you don’t have to worry about breathing stuffed air. It has seven windows that you can open or close as you like, to keep the air within the tent fresh and cool or warm as the weather dictates.
Ease of Set-up: The ease of setup is the hallmark of this camping tent. You can actually set-up this tent within two minutes! This is because the tent comes with Pre-Attached Poles from the factory. This is very convenient for those who struggle with the setting up of their camping tents or even for first-timers. You can easily setup your tent within two minutes and go spend more time with your family.
Stability: The camping tent is very stable and durable, and water-resistant. You can use this tent in windy areas without worrying about tumbling as it has a very stable base and it is shaped exactly to resist falling when hit by wind. The tent is completely waterproof and as such, you are perfectly safe when it rains.
Spacious: Considering the size (16 x 16), this is one of the few camping tents that are very spacious. Also, there is enough in its three queen-size bed with walking space around them.
Protection: The power outlet allows you to plug in your tent and electrify the exterior. Since you are inside, you won’t be shocked, however, the electrified exterior will prevent wandering animals from coming close to your camping tent.
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Customer Reviews
Most customers are happy with this camping tent, especially its two-minutes setup feature. Simply put: it has lots of credible reviews. However, two customers gave negative feedbacks. Both complained about the poles being all broken during set up.
Verdict
This camping tent from Ozark Trail is, obviously, a must-have for every large family as it is arguably the best family tent. You can camp almost anywhere without worrying about the topography or the weather.
Coleman Sundome 2 Person Tent
Coleman released a series of camping tents that includes the Coleman Sundome 2 Person Tent. This tent has a hooded rainfly for ventilation even when it is raining as it features a mesh roof.
It is very well-ventilated as it has a rear window which you can open and close. This window allows the free flow of air in and out of the tent — keeping the air inside fresh. It also is water-resistant and guaranteed to keep you dry even if it rains heavily. The corners of the floor have also been welded for additional effects. (This is called the WeatherTec System.)
The Coleman model has a lot of pros and a few cons which you might want to consider before buying one.
Design and Performance
The Coleman Sundome is designed with very durable coated polyester fabrics. Considering that it is under $100, you actually get a good value for your money. Impressively, it is water-resistant — something that is very hard to find at this price. The external guy lines are better than most of other camping tents at the same or even higher prices, making it stand up in heavy winds without tumbling or collapsing. It is free-standing and so after a few tries, you’d probably be able to set it up in five minutes.
Best Suited For: Seeing that it is almost impossible to find a camping tent for as low a price as Coleman Sundome’s that will keep the rain out, the Sundome camping tent would actually be ideal for a backyard camp out since only two people can use it. So, if you and your partner want to go camping in the backyard, then this is probably ideal. The tent also tends to resist tough winds, so it’s probably ideal for camping in the park.
Not So Great For: This model is meant for two people — but not very big people! It is ideal for a tall person and gears, two tall people and zero gears, or two short people and gears. If you are above 5’9″, you will probably lie with your legs pressed against the edge.
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Customer Reviews
Lots of customers gave this camping tent a great review and that’s impressive considering its price. We expected it to sacrifice benefits for the price but we were surprised.
Verdict
Certainly, we recommend this product to anyone that it suits. Especially if you are planning to cam in the backyard, park, or anywhere small — obviously, it is not the best family tent. But, if you are very tall, we think you should consider looking at other camping tents. Yet, if you are tall and don’t mind having your legs pressed against the edge of the tent when you lie down, then there is no better option for you other than the Coleman Sundome at the same price.
Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon
With the mixed reviews on Amazon concerning the Coleman Red Canyon, one can easily be confused as to purchase it or not.
The Coleman Red Canyon 17-foot by 10-foot modified dome tent is a perfect purchase for some families. This is because the tent has many luxurious features such as:
Its large size: the 170 square feet size is a luxury most families really enjoy. Most customers regard it as the best family tent they’ve ever had.
Its center height: This camping tent gives you room to stand comfortably unlike other camping tents.
Cool-Air port and Variflo adjustable venting system: This gives you the opportunity to adjust airflow and also grant you access to your gear.
Ease of setup: Thanks to its shock-corded and color-coded poles, you can actually set-up this family tent in less than 10 minutes.
Three rooms: This is a definite contender for the best family tent. Why? Because there are three rooms for the comfort of your family members.
Best Suited For: The Coleman Red Canyon is best suited for large families who like camping when the weather is dry. It’s very affordable considering its size, so you get the value you paid for.
Not So Great For: The Coleman Red Canyon Tent is not very suitable for rainy days as the fly is not properly designed and you might end up getting soaked.
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Customer Reviews
While some customers consider the Coleman Red Canyon the best family tent they’ve used, others state otherwise. Most positive reviews revolve around the ease of setup of the tent, the height and luxury space it provides.
While some customers complain about the seams ripping immediately they set it up, some also complain about the floor which is very thin.
Verdict
The Coleman Red Canyon is probably not the best family tent out there — but when you consider the cost and the luxury it provides, you’ll see that it’s actually a great, large tent for a large family with a low budget but with the dream of camping together. If you love luxury space and plan to camp out with your family when the weather is dry, then you should go for the Coleman Red Canyon. But if you are planning on a camp out when it is rainy or looking for a camping tent with exceptional longevity, you should probably look elsewhere.
Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent
The Coleman Sundome 4 is one of the best tents we call a classic dome tent. It is designed to provide shelter for four campers. This Coleman camping tent has a large door for easy entry and exit with a hooded fly for ventilation even when it rains. It also has a rear hooded window and meshed vents on the roof for additional ventilation. Like all other Coleman tent brands, the Sundome 4 Person Tent is very easy to setup and you can get it up in a couple of minutes.
Design and Performance
With its terrific design, the Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent is often considered as the best 4 person tent in the market. It has a rugged 1000D polythene bathtub-style floor wrapped up on all sides for extreme weather protection and its seams are welded in the corner to guard against a leaky floor. The fly and walls are made of durable coated polyester which will not tear off easily. It has an electrical access port, a ground vent, and an interior storage pocket.
There are external guy points. This is to keep the tent stable in high winds or when it is storming. The instructions are sewn to the carry bag, making them impossible to lose and easy to find.
Best Suited For: This Coleman Sundome model is suitable for camping in both hot and cold weather. It has an electric access port that you can easily plug in your AC to keep you cool. Optionally, you can open the meshed window for proper ventilation when it becomes too hot.
It helps to retain the hot air inside and keeps the cold air out. It’s probably perfect for hot nights and cold mornings.
Not Suitable For: No doubt this camping tent is arguably the best 4 person tent — but you do not want to use it during the winter. The rainfly can deal with light snows and downpours, but it lacks behind when there is more. Lastly, it is not ideal for use on rocky terrain.
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Customer Reviews
The reviews are mostly positive feedbacks. Most customers are happy with the ease of setup and the space it provides. To them, it is the best 4 person tent.
Concurrently, a few customers complained about leaks when it rains and others quickly pointed out that this can be remedied seaming and following the setup instructions properly.
Verdict
As emphasized earlier, this Coleman camping tent is arguably the best 4 person tent on the market. It is well-made and designed, and we think it deserves most of the good reviews it is getting from users. Although we do not recommend this camping tent for those planning to camp on high altitude, it is more than enough for camping on average grounds.
Core Equipment 9 Person Extended Dome Tent 16 x 9 Ft
Core Equipment is a small team of camping enthusiasts dedicated to helping others discover the beauty of nature through simple camping equipment.
Design and Performance
The Core Equipment 9 Person camping tent is regarded as the best family tent out there. This tent is designed to house nine people comfortably. It features a zipper privacy panels on both doors and windows, and a gearloft to help keep your gears organized and within easy reach.
This camping tent is also designed with advanced venting systems which ensures that you have continuous fresh air within the tent. It draws cool air from the bottom and its mesh roofs allow hot air rising up to escape quickly to the atmosphere — keeping the tent cool, fresh and warm. It has an H20 Block technology with active water repellant treatment for faster water runoff. This will help you to keep dry when it rains. You can remove the fully taped rainfly in warm weather to allow fresh air into the camping tent through the panoramic mesh.
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Best Suited For: This camping tent is best for families who love camping all year around. With its water repellent technology, you can keep dry even if it rains heavily. With its firm pole, it is resistant even to the toughest wind.
Not So Great For: You might find it a little difficult to set the tent up alone. If you plan to go camping with kids, this might present a difficulty as it requires two adults to easily set it up.
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Customers Reviews
There is a lot of happy customers. Most of these customers are happy with the space it provides. Most consider it the best family tent because it gives them the luxury to stand up comfortably inside the camping tent and with the numerous pockets to keep their stuff. One customer wrote it rained all through the night but he and his family were perfectly dry.
From the overall reviews, most people are satisfied with the overall performance of this camping tent. As expected, some customers complained. Most complaints are about the brittle pole that breaks down easily when setting up the tent.
Verdict
Would we recommend this camping tent to a friend? Of course, we would. It is a very durable tent. From the majority of reviews, it is a perfect camping tent for families who can afford it. Apart from its brittle pole, it’s actually the best family tent out there for families who love to go camping no matter the season.
Happy Camper Two Person Tent by Wakeman Outdoors
The Happy Camper 2-Person Tent is one of the best tent brands from Wakeman Outdoors. It is perfect for hiking considering its lightweight — yet, big enough for 2 campers. It is very easy to setup and bring down.
Design and Performance
Space: The Happy Camper is designed for luxury space and comfort. With an interior height of 3.50 ft. and 6.25 ft. x 4.80 ft. dimensions, this is one of the best tents for luxury space for you and a family or friend.
Durability: The Happy Camper is made of sturdy nylon material. This means you and your items will be kept dry even when it rains.
Convenience: Designed with your comfort and convenience in mind, it features interior pockets for you to keep your items in and very well organized. It is very easy to pack up when you are done camping.
Best Suited For: Considering its weight, the Happy Camper is best suited for use when you are hiking, backpacking or wish to go camping with minimal loads. This camping tent is convenient for use by two people when the weather is dry.
The Happy Camper is also suitable for use in wet areas because its floor is well raced to prevent it from being soaked by running water.
Perfect for kids to camp in around the house or even indoors. Considering that it is quite cheap, you can gift it to your kids to use as a play camping tent and they’d be happy with it.
Not So Great For: The Happy Camper is not great for camping on rainy days as you might actually end up getting soaked. This is because the rainfly is not properly attached to the seam.
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Customer Reviews
Most customers are happy with the Happy Camper camping tent since it comes at a very affordable rate. A 6’2″ tall customer expressed satisfaction with the space as he was able to sleep comfortably in the tent with a shorter female friend. On the other side, a few customers complained about the rainfly — which they said cannot prevent rainwater from sneaking into the tent.
Verdict
If you are looking for a camping tent that’s very cheap, you might want to consider the Happy Camper. It very cheap and convenient to carry about. It’s easy to setup and what more? It has a convenient and spacious interior for two people. However, if you want something that will last longer or you are planning to camp during the wet season, you should save up more money and consider other camping tents.
SEMOO Water Resistant D-Style Door, 4-Person Camping/Traveling Family Dome Tent with Carry Bag
SEMOO is a company known internationally for the design, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality camping tents and other outdoor gears. SEMOO aims to provide maximum comfort to customers as they enjoy nature during camping. Due to the high-quality materials, fashionable designs and competitive prices, SEMOO has been able to build a solid reputation for itself in the camping tent industry and have made their products really popular amongst campers throughout the world. SEMOO makes more than one of the best tent brands.
The SEMOO 4 person family dome tent is a winter tent that was designed to keep the warm air inside and the cool air outside. The tent is designed to handle an extremely cold weather.
If you love hiking and don’t have the strength to carry much, this camping tent is probably best for you. Even if you are going to a training or military camp, it is lightweight and extremely easy to carry around. There is a lot of interesting features that you might really want to see.
Design and Performance
Lightweight: With the thick material that this tent is made of, one would actually expect it to be heavy. Surprisingly, this is one of the lightest camping tents. It is so light that you can actually use it as a backpack. It’s really rare to find tents made from such thick—yet durable—materials which are at the same time very light as this camping tent.
Stability: SEMOO surprises us once again. This tent comes with a high-strength fiber 3D frame which is guaranteed to keep this tent in place at all times. The shape of the tent was specially designed to resist drought and its materials are made waterproof to keep rainwater from the tent. With this SEMOO camping tent, you don’t have to worry about tumbling with the wind or getting soaked when it rains — you are perfectly and completely safe.
Ventilation: This tent is actually poorly ventilated! It is designed to retain the temperature inside regardless of the degree outside. You are perfectly equipped when using this tent during winter as it helps to keep you warm by keeping cold air outside. This is very good during cold weather but when the weather is hot, you might feel hot as it does not allow cool air in from outside. As long as you are using this camping tent during cold weather, you will be very happy with it.
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Customer Reviews
Most customers are really satisfied with this. Some call it the best 4 person tent while some compare it with the so-called best camping tents. Especially its price, ease of setup and the ability to keep rainwater out. However, a customer wrote the seams ripped off while trying to set it up.
Verdict
Overall, this is one of the best tents by SEMOO. It is actually a solid tent brand with years of quality product to show for it. The 4-Person Camping Tent Dome is of high-quality and we definitely recommend it for those who plan ,to go camping during winter. Unfortunately, if you are planning to go on a camping trip during the summer, this camping tent might actually not be good for the trip.
GoldenShark 3 Person Tent
This GoldenShark model is a three-person camping tent for four season camping. It is quite light and good for backpacking and hiking. It is as easy to setup as indicated by the manufacturer, and taking down it down is just as easy.
Design and Performance
This camping tent is designed with sturdy 210T RipStop Armed Polyester material for long-term durability. (That is a tough one!) It uses fiberglass for its poles, and this tent is designed with a single large room spacious enough for three people. It has a large door vestibule for comfortable entry and exit in or out of the tent.
It is guaranteed to keep you dry when it rains as it is water-resistant with an Oxford Cloth 11000MM Waterproof both at the roof and floor. The water-proof material is also designed to shield off UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun.
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Best Suited For: Suitable for three people camping, although a user said they were able to squeeze four in. This camping tent is designed for camping on regular-leveled grounds and is most suitable for camping when rain is not expected.
Not So Great For: You will probably not want to go camping with this when it rains heavily. The rainfly around the door is not properly attached and it might permit leakage.
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Customer Reviews
It seems the GoldenShark 3 camping tents are relatively new in the market. It has just two positive reviews in the market with very little details. All that could be deduced from the reviews is that the customers are very happy with what they got.
Verdict
This camping tent surely is a simple one compared to other camping tents in the market and on this list. If you don’t care much about privacy during a three-person camping trip and love easy to set-up luxury space, you should probably consider getting one of these as it is quite good and a great value for money. The only worrying drawback is its incapability to use when rain is expected.
Mike’s Top Choice
With all the best camping tents mentioned, the 4-person camping tent by SEMOO is Mike’sGearReviews‘ top choice. Although the decision was tough, we picked it. We have carefully given you a buyer’s guide and reviews of eight of the best camping tents available.
SEMOO Water Resistant D-Style Door, 4-Person Camping/Traveling Family Dome Tent with Carry Bag
Let us know your choice or the camping tent you are currently using in the comment section below. Happy camping!
This review gives you a few recommendations of the best camping tents in the market to help narrow down your search, and a buyer’s guide to—apparently—know which to lay your hands on. Read on to get full details on each of the best camping tents and also find out if they are suitable for your particular needs.
What is a Camping Tent?
The answer to the above question should be obvious to you.
A camping tent is a portable shelter that is used in camps, consisting of sheets of nylon, canvas, fabric, or any other clothing material. Most camping tents are held up with poles or supporting ropes, while some smaller camping tents are attached to the ground or completely free-standing.
A camping tent, originally, provides an area for you to sleep in when you are in a camp. But nowadays, the majority of camping tents provide more than just a sleeping room but a place for keeping your gears, cooking your meals and relaxing when it gets hot.
Why you need a Camping Tent
Camping tents are designed to give you comfort when you are outdoors.
They keep you dry when it rains and protect you from wandering wildlife at night when you decide to take your rest. You probably won’t be able to get a comfortable sleep without a camping tent when you are in the open. So, getting a camping tent is a must if you plan to spend a few nights out.
Much like our usual houses that provide shelter and protection from our environment, camping tents do the same while being portable. Although our houses have far rigid architecture, camping tents do their job efficiently.
In this camping tent review, we are going to give you a few of the best camping tents on the market to help you abide by a solid decision. However, before then, let’s walk you through some important things you must consider before paying for any camping tent.
How to Choose a Suitable Camping Tent
Choosing the right camping tent can be very hard when we consider a lot of factors that may influence our camping such as rain, wind, humidity, and the environment, etc. The wide variety of camping tents available on the market is another culprit that leaves us with a wide range of choices that will definitely leave one confused. In this section, we are going to give you a few questions you should answer before any disbursement.
- What is the number of campers that is going to sleep in the camping tent?
When choosing a camping tent, you have to consider the number of campers that is going to be sleeping in it. This aspect is not hard to determine and most tents are designed to house a definite number of people. Some family tents are designed to house nine people while some even house more. Unfortunately, there are some that house far less: two to four people. So, if you are planning to camp by yourself, with your family, with friends or you are on a survivor mission, determine your number and look for a camping tent that can house the number.
- Do you plan to stay put in a campground or move from one to another?
If you plan to stay put in a campground, getting a heavy camping tent should not be a problem since you plan to camp at a site till you return. If you are a spontaneous camper that prefers to sleep in different campgrounds, you should probably get a camping tent that’s very lightweight for easy mobility. Easy setup should also be your priority, and the ability to quickly pull down — so that you won’t spend all your camping time working on your camping tent.
- Which season do you plan to go camping?
The season you plan to go on camping “must” be put into consideration. If you plan on going when it rains cat and dog, you should consider the waterproofing ability of a tent than all other properties. Check the rainfly to ensure that it is properly sewn to the seam to prevent any leakage. Proper ventilation is important for a humid climate. Ensure that your camping tent properly meshes before you pay for it.
- What about the ease of set-up?
Some campers go camping without being able to set-up their camping tent. Even before buying one of the best camping tents, ensure setting it up is as easy as possible. Check the instructions manual and if you can understand how it works, you should get it. Note that there are some camping tents that are only easy when it is being set up by 2 people. If you are camping alone, look for one that you can set up within 10 – 15 minutes.
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