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Reddit Reviews
I do a lot of beach camping, and have a 4 person Coleman dome tent that has stood up to 35+mph winds on Cape Lookout. The only issue was that the wind was blowing the sand so hard it came up and into the vents in the top of the tent. It has gone through other thunderstorms too. One wiped out 3/4s the tents at Ocracoke and ours was standing strong. Probably not the best tent, but it has survived a lot of heavy weather. Ours has the little patio entrance thing, which is nice for sand. Just make sure you have good stakes.
Assuming car camping, a simple Coleman 4 person dome tent that they are capable of putting up/taking down with a friend.
4 person with a 6' height so you can stand. you want extra room for gear and if it rains... maybe a chair or 2. I used an 8 person for just me and a dog. that way i had a table and chair in there plus room for the dog and her steel cage (yes i had to bring a steel cage for her - she was not a "people person" After the dog died, I got a coleman 4 person (10'x10')
Coleman makes decent lower cost tents. I had an 8 person that withstood several crazy winter storm fronts in florida while island camping (60-70 mph)...I did use all the guy lines and they were secured to trees or tree roots. I have also had a 4 person 10x10 dome tent from coleman that worked great https://preview.redd.it/f61egic2lptf1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7894d5619f7bcf8c2db3f933bfa9419af460dc4
personally i would buy 2 10x10 coleman dome tents.
I’ll add this, we used a 10x10 Coleman for years while car camping with two kids and felt it was plenty roomy. The same size Springbar feels much larger in comparison due to the straighter walls & high ceiling. You mention Burning Man and wind being a concern. I set this tent up in the yard for ten days to season. Completely dry through two rain storms, including one with 50mph gusts. I’m starting to believe the hype surrounding these tents.
We moved from a Coleman 4P to a 6P, and it was a game changer, WAY more space for cots, and you don’t feel like you’re rolling over someone to get out at night. I’ve heard great things about Gazelle tents, especially for their quick setup, but I also agree they run a bit tight if you’re factoring in cots rather than foam pads. If vertical space matters (standing up, changing clothes, or convincing the dog to not sleep on someone’s sleeping bag), I'd say go for the biggest tent you can justify lugging in your car. Comfort > convenience when you’re camping with the fam.
For car camping, I’d get a Coleman 4p. I’ve had one for 5 years. Use it 3-4 times a year when I’m not backpacking. Then you can afford to get yourself a nicer backpacking tent. 3p Tarptent. Or 3p Marmot. I wouldn’t go down to 2, if you’re taking the pup.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the boat destroyed my tent!!! I'm sure this will make a great story once I have the details. My Coleman was good to us, too. It was going to need another waterproofing, but it did a great job. I'll consider another one for sure.
I have a Kodiak 10 X 14 flexbow. Though it is heavy, it is quicker and easier to setup than my 4 person Coleman. If you get a tent with a lot of stake points, get a drill attachment. It makes things quick as well.
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