Do you have a budget? Higher end backpacking tents combine spaciousness with light weight/space savings by using thinner ultralight fabrics but they're more costly. For example, I invested in a Big Agnes 5-person Copper Spur that is about 9 lbs packed and about the size of two bread loaves end to end. I say "invest" because I spent about $400 on it—which I think is a lot of money—waiting for it to go on mega sale during a black Friday event or old stock dump. New models are $850-950 at full price.
For my intended use, it was worth it. I have a family with young ones not yet old enough to be able or want to sleep in their own tent yet, but old enough to go on short backpacking trips where weight/space is an important factor. You're always going to pay more for premium fabrics that shed weight AND space.
It's hard to advise on a specific brand and model, but here are what I hope are helpful snippets: Stand alone tents are typically more spacious and easier to set up than tube-style or tensioned tents. But stand-alones have more fabric so they tend to weigh more and use up more cargo space.
Another consideration is that your cots will put pressure points on the tent floor where they contact the ground. You may not want to invest in an expensive tent if you're using a cot unless you plan to cushion the contact points because expensive tents are also typically designed to have "bathtub" floors that remain completely or highly water resistant even if you're in a puddle. A hole in the bathtub floor of your expensive tent would be really demoralizing during a rainstorm. If you're in a position to invest in gear, you might want to consider inflatable sleeping pads instead of cots. They'll probably fit better inside the tent and they won't put pressure points on the floor.
Realistically, your stated preferences are going to have to be a compromise between living space versus cargo space.
Also dad of a 7 and 10 year old. The tigerwall UL 3 is a spacious tent for 2 25-inch pads and a good tent for 3 20-inch pads. It’s a snug fit, but bumping up another size incurred a size/weight penalty that wasn’t worth it to me. I also have the copper spur 5 for when mom comes.
I have 3 of the previous model insulated nemo tensor, 20-inch, rectangular. The tigerwall fits those.
Always sharing. I have a three person tiger wall for me and a kid (or both kids). I have 3 20 inch pads (last model Nemo tensors) when it’s both kids. For one kid, we use two wide REI helix pads (25 inch). If all 4 of us go, then I bring a 5 person copper spur, and then it’s 2 helix and 2 tensors. I use a quilt, but my wife and kids are all in sleeping bags. Solo, I mostly stick to my plex solo (with wide helix and quilt).
I carry most of the gear under any group configuration. The 5 person tent is tough. I like the copper spur, but any tent that fits 4 is going to be a pain in the ass. The tiger wall 3UL is not too bad, poles and all.
Be mindful of usable space. If you share a 2 person tent, it may limit your pad selection.
I snagged a pre-2025 edition (not their new "hyperbead" tech) of Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 5p for $350USD (\*significantly\* cheaper than original MSRP) seller Branded Factory Outlet. It was brand new, never opened. Two doors, two vestibules for small storage.
[https://www.amazon.com/Big-Agnes-Copper-Backpacking-Person/dp/B09R2M269L](https://www.amazon.com/Big-Agnes-Copper-Backpacking-Person/dp/B09R2M269L)
Packed weight: 3 lbs 3 oz (\~1.45kg), Packed size: 22 x 6 inches (55.88cm x 15.24cm)
If you're able to find a similar/same seller on ebay or something who can ship to you (if the Amazon listing won't), that might be a good option as it's a large high quality backpacking tent at a really good price.
We have a core equipment tent that we got from costco for car camping. i think its the 10 man version. it is hilariously huge, and weighs like 40 lbs. it is very spacious, has a built in LED light strip, and sets up in under a minute. it has held up well in the rain. the 6 person version is on costco for $140
i have a ultra light 2 and 5 man big agnes copper spur tents for when we are hiking in to camp, but for car camping the ease of the core equipment tent is great, and you really dont need something as technical as the Wawona.
I’ve started camping often in NC for whitewater trips and it rains more often than not. My tents are UL backpacking (Durston XDome and BA Copper). The BA wets out too easily and I need more room for gear than the Durston provides. I’m looking for something more rugged and impervious to heavy downpours. Doesn’t matter how heavy since I’m car camping. I’m thinking of the Coleman Sundome 2 person bc of the bathtub floor, but else? I don’t have much experience car camping. TIA.
It’s the floor that starts to wet out- it doesn’t become completely wet, but if there’s a hard rain, patches of the floor will start to darken and become damp bc water is underneath. I have the BA footprint for this tent and I’m setting it up properly to avoid rain getting trapped, so I’m stumped.
AdkSeoul
