Coleman - Flatwoods II 4-Person Tent

I have an old tent I use for car camping that's big, heavy, and cheap. Backpacking gear comes with compromises, no need to suffer through that or put wear/tear on it unless you are testing new gear. Get a cheap Coleman and you won't be worried about your tissue paper backpacking tent being damaged.

Either a Coleman basic model or Core tent from Costco. I got a Core from Costco about five years ago for about $125, use it all the time, and still love it. I think it’s a six person although only three of us use it with plenty of room and the ability to stand up.

6 person tent is nice and roomie but you only need a two 4 person tents. I'd go Coleman as a basic tent it comes with everything but a tarp to lay under it. Scouting they usually tent two to a tent with smaller kids having an extra person in their tent.

You're getting into a new hobby. Don't drop thousands of dollars up front. Buy a Coleman 3 season tent to start. Same goes for the sleeping bag, just get one with temperature rating 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit less than what the daily low is said to be. If your not hiking into the campsite get regular camping chair and cooler. Same goes for a sleeping pad. Get a heavily well reviewed sleeping pad.  If I was in your shoes and your okay spending a little bit of money. I'd just go to Walmart or Academy sports and buy a tent, bag, pad, and chair there, if car camping. If you wind up enjoying yourself, use the tent and chair until they quit and then upgrade.  Buy a better sleeping bag and pad once you know you're enjoying camping. Waking up well rested helps you enjoy the experience more. 

X = number of people camping, Y = rating of the tent. X+2 = Y for gear space, and a vestibule for inclement weather cooking is really nice. Looking at the tag on the tent we bought a Coleman three season to use camping at the Grand Canyon, it said 8, we had 4, it was just right for size. I've camped two in tent meant for 4, it allowed a cot and stored our gear inside with us. I've moved on to building a DIY camper and keeping that in mind. Queen mattresses and 3 bedrooms are a bit much.

Two people in a two person REI Backpacking in a four person Coleman with a blanket on the top of the two person. The four person had ice on it , but we were cosy warm inside. Some gear inside the 2 person. Some gear between the 2 and the 4 person and some gear in the vestibule.

And Coleman has a super popular four person tent, that will accommodate two comfortably, has that expanding bag, and easy set up and take down. The stakes are junk of course.

I picked up a used Coleman four person tent for my boys for $40 on eBay. They started sleeping in it when they were 4 and 6 years old.

I've had a couple of the instant set-up cabin tents throughout the years, I will keep buying this type until I make the jump to travel trailer. However, I cannot recommend the 10p Core with the built in screened porch. The porch is basically useless in the rain, it doesn't detach & holds the front part of the rainfly. If you decide to keep the screen open it just collects bugs that quickly make it into the tent when you unzip the doors to get in. This is my first Core & probably my last, will probably go back to the Coleman in the same size for my very last tent. Choose Wisely.

My wife and I faced the exact same problem this year and bought a Coleman 4-person for about $100. FWIW, the only time we've used it we got caught in a rainstorm and came out fine. It's not a totally stupid tent, and going with their reputation as making solid non-glamorous gear seems to have worked out. It makes no pretense at all at being light, which for car camping doesn't matter.