Tents

Tents come is so many shapes, sizes, some are basic, some have built in lights, there are so many on the market it is very hard to work out which is best for you.  And I wouldn't assume what is perfect for me, is perfect for you.  

What I can do is share what I look for in a tent, what I like and things to consider.  There are heaps of the 10 "best" tent reviews, I absolutely recommend the snowy's website to check out tent features as they have a lot of videos on setting up, packing down and the features of the tents they stock. 

Now I have owned 6 tents in my life, and I'll go through the reasoning for buying them, and prices, note that 4 were second hand.

Dome 4 man tent:

Purchased from: My Dad

Cost: Free - hand me down

Condition: Used, no damage

Features I loved: 

1. Head height - I could stand up and not have my head touch the top of the tent - so no neck/back issues from crouching over.

2. Large door opening : I could walk through the front door with out ducking.  You will be surprised how much ducking in and out can end up with a pain in your neck and shoulders. 

3. Sturdy construction :  we went through a few ripper windy storms and tent stayed up no issue.  One pole did split, but was repaired using tape, and it continued to hold up. 

4. Great for 1 to 2 people sleeping with gear. 

 

Reason for upgrading:  

Too small to keep gear, cook and eat in tent.  (1 adult, 2 children). 

Coleman Hideaway 7 person tent

Purchased from: Ebay

Cost: $100

Condition: used, 1 broken tent pole, repaired with tape.

I happen to love Coleman gear, it's built to last, is quite simple, but logical to use, and definitely they have become my first choice when looking at gear.

Configuration:

3 room tent, with front veranda door, removal-able inner wall to make into a 2 room room tent. Think of the tent structure as thirds, middle is slightly higher then either side section. 

Set up rating:

2 person set up.

Simple, involves threading in tent poles, popping and locking onto pins on tent edges.

Our set up:

Right Side: 2 x single stretchers on enclosed room, with room at ends of beds for bags

Middle section;  has kitchen table set for cooking, with fat max box beside table. 

Left Side: Single stretcher, clothes bag, additional gear tubs, and small table and chairs, which are usually  folded, but can squeezed opened up in bad weather (we usually eat outside)

Features I loved:

1. Head height: can stand up in tent, especially the middle section.

2.  Fully enclosed inner.  This tent has all windows which can be zipped up both on the inner layer and outer layer.  This makes for a warmer tent.  

Top Tip: Always check the inner tent make up, as many have fly screen in more areas than the just windows, which makes them very drafty, and limits the warmth of the tent.  Note there is one air vent at top of the inner which is open to help reduce condensation.

3. Skylight  at the top of the middle section.  Depending how you line up the top fly layer and the inner layer, you can have it so you can zip up and block the skylight, or you can have it permanently lighting the tent.

4. Perfect size for 3 people, could fit 4 and still have room for kitchen.

5. Easy zippers.

6. When propping front door up and open we can eat underneath it.

7. Great ventilation across tent with windows. 

Things to note:

This isn't a dark room tent, and it doesn't have the extra floor vents the newer ones have.  my kids don't like the dark, so sleeping in a tent that is light when they wake up isn't a problem. 

The "new " tent most like this tent is the Coleman Chalet 9 CV, which from what I can see is a larger version of this tent, with the additional floor vents and permanent walls to make it always a 3 room tent.    

Issues:

The fiber glass poles do split over time.  I taped these heavily and continued to use, until a windy night finally snapped the very end of a damaged pole.  Note - that the tent stayed up and lasted the night, it was just on packing up that we realized the further damage, and the tent material stayed intact.   I still have this tent, as I couldn't quite part with it. 

Now I thought fixing poles was beyond me (which was not true- I've now traced poles easily), and I was too nervous to try it.  I happened to see another Coleman River-view tent for $100, that looked to be the same size, and was a darkroom tent, so I picked it up before the next trip. 

  

Coleman River-view 7 person tent

Reason for Buying: 

Tent pole broken on the Hideaway and was looking for a replacement, thought this was bigger for sleeping in with 4 people. 

Purchased on: Buy swap and sell

Cost: $100

Condition: used, excellent condition, not enough tent pegs. 

Configuration:

1. 2 room tent, with an "outdoor" section  which is enclosed but flooring is not sealed to tent sides.   

Set up rating:

2 person set up.

Simple, involves threading in tent poles, popping and locking onto pins on tent edges.

Our set up:

Right Side: Outside section - as flooring doesn't seal to walls.  Kitchen area, with fat max kitchen box. 

Middle section my single stretcher, bags and gear tubs. 

Left Side: (low roof) 2 x Single stretchers, clothes bag,

Features I loved:

1. Darkroom, so I actually did sleep longer in mornings. 

2. Bottom ventilation spots meant we could have these vents  open and have cooler air circulating on hot nights. 

3. Skylight  at the top of the middle section.  

4. Perfect for 2 people, is a tight squeeze with 3, and whilst we did sleep 4 it meant packing up the 4th bed every day. 

5. Easy zippers.

6. When propping front door up and open we can eat underneath it.

Things to note:

Door sizes and the "outside" section are definitely lower, and you need to duck through, not just walked through. 

Outside room, meant we have to be very careful about having everything super clean to not attract insects, and you are dealing with more creepy crawlers than usual. 

Lower left side is not head height at all. 

Due to the size actually being smaller, and head height of the the tent, I sold this tent after 1 trip, for the $100 I bought it for.  

I then watched enough you tube videos to tackle the broken tent pole in our hideaway tent, and I have repaired it, however I was still looking for a tent that would handle all 4 of us easily on an extended camping trip. 

Coleman Chalet 9XL

Reason for Buying:  

Wanting a larger tent to cater for 4 of us, gear and eating inside.  

Purchased on: Buy swap and sell

Cost: $220

Condition: used, some split tent poles, and some mesh repaired on door.

Configuration:

4 room tent, with one section an "outdoor", which is enclosed but flooring is not sealed to tent sides. Think of a T shape.   

Set up rating:

2 person set up.

Simple, involves threading in tent poles, popping and locking onto pins on tent edges. Tent poles are colour coded to hooks for easy set up. 

Our set up:

Right Side: Mark's and my bedroom with a queen stretcher bed, including blow up mattress. 

Middle section: kitchen and fat max box, with gear tubs. 

Left Side: 2 x Single stretchers, clothes bag,

Front enclosed outdoor room: extra sports gear, table and chairs, table with coleman sink. 

Features I loved:

1. Darkroom, so easier to sleep in for me.

2. Floor ventilation meant we could have floor vents open and have cooler air on hot nights. 

3. Skylight  at the top of the middle section.  

4. Head height: perfect height to stand in all areas of tent and move between rooms with minimal ducking. 

5. Perfect for families, easily fits the single beds, and could fit 3 single stretcher in each room.  

5. Easy zippers.

6. Outdoor room meant we could eat under shelter, but with doors zippered open, we had mesh to protect from flies. 

7. Absolutely huge amount of tent space. 

Things to note;

Outside room, the flooring is not sealed to tent walls. 

A couple of small mesh only sections in side rooms, that cannot be zipped up. These help with heat escape during day, due to being a darkroom tent.

This is absolutely the bee knees in tents for families I think.  However they do not make it anymore, so you will have to hunt to find one secondhand.  This is our tent for National Parks stay, and when Mark is with us. It does have a huge footprint, so I do have to be careful which site I booked if I intend on using this tent. 

Update 2022:

This tent  has now been passed onto a friend with a large family - for him to get out and about with his kids. We all loved this tent, however the ease of putting up an instant up, when with a less experianced camper, has swayed me. 

Coleman instant up 8 person tent

Reason for Buying: 

Wanting a simple, smaller tent for weekends away with just Mark & I, given Mark's limited (til now) camping experience.   

Purchased New (!!!): Anaconda

Cost: $350 (special)

Condition: NEW

Configuration:

1. 1 room tent.   

Set up rating:

Could actually be set up with 1 person, but it is very easy with 2. 

Simple, involves spreading tent out, securing floor, then extending the tent poles up. 

Our set up:

Back of tent: Mark's and my bedroom with a queen stretcher bed, including blow up mattress. 

Front right: : kitchen and fat max box, with gear tubs. 

Front left: either extra stretcher if we have 1 child with us, or the table and 2 x chairs.

Features I loved:

1. Super fast set up.

2. Great windows for light and ventilation.

3. Tuck in feature for opening internal windows.

4. External windows can be pegged open to allow ventilation but privacy. 

5. Enormous front veranda when opened up and poles added. 

6. Head height perfect for standing, cooking and moving around tent, even when you are Marks height (6ft).

7. Easier pack down, just pop and drop. 

8. Easy zippers. 

Things to note;

Not a darkroom tent. 

This makes quick weekend trip really easy, and for someone less experienced - it is ideal.  I rate it as the perfect "couple" tent, (or even couple with 1 child,  as you can be completely self sufficient in the space for cooking, eating and sleeping. 

Update 2022:

This tent  has now been passed onto a friend for couple camping.  Mark and I loved this tent - however in upgrading our family tent to an instant up - we thought we could pass this one along - and cut down to a one tent for all purposes. 

Coleman instant up, lighted, darkroom 10 person tent

Reason for Buying: 

Wanting an instant up version with the hideaway internal design.    

Purchased New : Anaconda

Cost: $699 (special)

Condition: NEW

Configuration:

1. 3 room tent, with veranda that can be configured 3 ways, with side walls.   

Set up rating:

Could actually be set up with 1 person, but it is very easy with 2. 

Simple, involves spreading tent out, securing floor, then extending the tent poles up. 

Our set up:

Left room: 2 x single stretchers, with walkway between them.  

middel section: kitchen:  fat max box, with gear tubs. 

right room: double stretcher bed (Zempire)

Features I loved:

1. Super fast set up.

2. Great windows for light and ventilation.

3. Ventilation options on bottom for good air circulation.

4. External windows can be pegged open to allow ventilation but privacy. 

5. Enormous front veranda that can be opened as a single, double or triple fronted.  

6. Head height perfect for standing, cooking and moving around tent, even when you are Marks height (6ft).

7. Easier pack down, just pop and drop. 

8. Easy zippers. 

9. Darkroom - it really is dark - which I don't love but everyone else does - as they sleep in til 10am very easily!

10. Lighted - I still use different lights so I can position them over cooking etc - but the boys love. 

Things to note;

This has taken over from our Mark and I tent - as it is just as easy to put up, and means couple camping we can utilise 3rd room to be an eating area.

We have been through horrendous weather with this tent. From massive rain for days and days, and then next trip a storm that ripped through and tore roofs off cabins and destroyed the other campers.  I can honestly say - if put up with all pegs - this tent is solid.  Not a single issue. We are looking to add some clear screening across front of veranda - but honestly that is probably just a reaction to our rained in camp trip.  

The veranda set up was even more enhanced with out wood fire cooker - that we could tuck under to get the wamth - whist the chimmney vented the smoke outside. 

We do uitise heftier tent pegs for the ropes and use the pegs that came with it only on the spots where the poles can be pegged directly in. 

Summary: 

So in summary I am lucky enough have tried out these tents, and I have cut down to one tent that fits all scenarios, with a footprint that doesn't require a large site. 

My kids have definitely benefitted for being my helpers, for all those years of single parent camping.  Watching them help others around campsites isa true testiment to what they gained for having to be such a big part of the camping set up.  So I highly receommend starting a camping journey with a traditional pole tent and having the entire family be part of erecting it. 

Different Tents for Different Scenarios. 

Coleman hideaway - for trips where we need a smaller tent due to site size, or is a quick trip with me and the boys. Perfect for 3 with cooking inside. Pole tent - not instant up.

Coleman Chalet CV 9XL - with either 3 or 4 of us, whenever the site is big enough.  Takes a bit longer to get up and down, so not for weekenders.  pole tent - not instant up.

Coleman Instant Up 8 person : Perfect for couples - that means if the weather is bad - everything can be catered for undercover. 

Coleman Instant up 10 person: This is our one stop shop tent - easy enough for 2 people to erect, big enough for all of us and having the kitchen indoors for both scenarios. 

Key Considerations:

Height of tent: The less you are bending instead of standing tall, the better.

Size of tent: In case of foul weather, you do want to be able to keep your gear, cook, and eat inside your tent.  Consider your gear and where you would place it, without blocking egress in and out of tent. 

Floor size: Need to consider the size of you tent, and the size of the plots you are booking - caravan sites are sometimes very small and often you have to fit your car on the site as well.

Inner layer: Where are the mesh parts and can these be zippered closed at night to keep tent warmer.

Veranda: Usually formed by opening door and propping on tent poles - really great for providing shelter as you re-enter tent. Check the extra poles are included.

Flooring: Tough flooring for durability and lasting longer. The higher grade tent floors also offer less noise. 

Door locations: Look at the entry, exit, can you just enter bedrooms from tent or is there an exit straight out?  Door locations will influence your setup and I know for us, having the kitchen central worked much better when in family camping scenarios.  If you have little ones - consider zip tying or using locks to prevent them being opened from the outside in the area your children are sleeping in. 

Room width: Check the width of the rooms for your bedding, to ensure your beds are fitting, and that you have room for movement in and out of rooms. 

READ REVIEWS. If you are considering a tent, read the reviews, google and research, to ensure you understand the perks and issues, and then consider if those perks are important to you, and if any issues found, do they relate to your camping scenario. 

Tent Pole repairs: Fixing tent poles is not actually a big deal - so picking up tents cheap because they have broken poles - is a really great way to get a quality tent at an awesome price point.  Tent poles do split over time - having a durable tent material that doesn't split in storms is way more important.  A split pole can be repaired quickly and easily on site, a split tent lining - you are packing up and going home.

Family Tents: Think about how you use them, and if you have really young kids, and a partner, do you need a spot for the adults to hang out and have a wine/beer and a chat, whilst children are asleep.  I've mainly camped with just me and the boys, and I've been happy to go to bed at the same time of them.  It is only the Chalet 9XL that has actually given me a space where I can sit up and still be out of the weather after they are asleep. Tent rooms, their size, and configuration can really contribute to your camping holiday.