Coleman - Gold Series Instant Up 8-Person Tent

I have the Coleman cabin with the full closure / waterproof front and I love it! It’s survive a few rainstorms and kept us dry. Very spacious and easy to set up.

I started out with that Coleman Gold series tent when I first got into camping couple years ago, and it’s been super reliable for me. I’ve taken it through some pretty wet weekends and it’s always kept me dry. The setup is a breeze and the space makes it way more comfortable, especially when you’ve got a lot of stuff to keep organized. Just make sure to practice setting it up at home before your trip so you’re not fumbling around at the campsite. Also, I think the extra space really does make a difference when you’re camping solo with all your gear.

For car camping I like: Reasonable durability Instant up Standing height Large volume Relatively cheap. My ethos is , It's gonna last 5-10 years. I want to be comfortable in the space, be able to stand and change. Have cots or air mattresses, and get into camping mode fast to enjoy my time. I also want to be able to pack it down fast or ditch it without money factoring into my decision in worst case scenarios if there is dangerous weather that pops up The Coleman instant up 8p is what my wife And I have ran for the last 8 ish years The gripe I have with that era is that there is no rain fly. They have since fixed that. It's a lovely tent that can be lazily pitched completely in 5 minutes, and popped up in 90 seconds. I've taken it camping over 20 times, probably spending 100 nights in it. Not huge numbers, but it's honestly held up. The new generation ones have dark out fabric as well. Growing up my mom had this vintage eureka cabin tent, it was like a six-person, but the walls were damn near slab side, and it had an over 6-ft internal height. That one wasn't instant up, But it was pretty close. I think I could get that one set up in 5 to 10 minutes

I've used the Coleman Instant Up 8P for years. If you peg it down well it holds up well in strong gusty winds and bucketing rains.

If the budget can afford it, stepping up from the Coleman Silver to the Gold/Northstar range is a significant increase in quality and experience. Treat it well and it will last for years.

I've used 4,6,8 man Coleman Instant Tents for years. Goes up in about 3 minutes, comes down in about 8 minutes (you have to roll it and smash it back in the carrying bag.

Just get a Coleman easy up and be done with it honestly

I agree that the Coleman is a great value. I have a 8p one and use it for troop outings. When it’s just my son and I, I opt for my smaller 4p one as it is easier to set up and tear down.

I have had the eight person for about four years now. We use it maybe three times a summer. It’s very heavy. So definitely a car camping tent. It is easy to set up. Not quite as easy to pack away. We did camp through a torrential downpour. With the rain fly, it did leak a bit near the windows. I subsequently bought tint wax and waxed all the seams near the windows. Haven’t used it in the rain since so I don’t know if it worked. One thought. We are two adults and one kid. We can all sleep in half the tent. That leaves the other half as a living room if the weather is no good or at night, I put a blanket down, a couple of camping chairs, and a table, and we have our own little tent cabin.

If you are car camping, go big on the tent. The space is great. I use a 6-8 person tent for myself and two dogs. I can fit a queen sized cot, side table, and double camp chair in the tent with plenty of space left over. Really nice when there is bad weather. Plus being able to stand up and move around in a tent is great. The exped megamat is one of the most comfortable sleeping pads you can get. I recommend putting it on a cot to get yourself further off the ground. I don’t bother with an electric cooler and just have a good Rotomolded cooler from Ozark trail. Can hold ice for a 5 day trip when packed correctly. For cooking I bring a Coleman stove and a tripod so I can good over the fire or on the stove depending on what I’m making. Between that and a cast iron pan and a pot I can make just about anything. I just bring my pillow from home. I’m by my car so space isn’t an issue. Especially since I switched to a minivan this year. Even with two large dogs along I have a ton of space to pack. I used to have a small sedan and packing was a bit more interesting in that. A roof bag came in handy. For water I bring a 7 gallon igloo container that I put under the table. I have a USB powered faucet and a hose runs down to the container. Works out great and so much easier to use. I get a lot of heat on sale, second hand, and from Sierra. My tents are Coleman and Ozark trail. The Ozark trail one is a 6 person instant tent that I bring if it’s a quicker trip and good weather. The Coleman is an 8 person but not instant. Has better weather resistance though so if rain is in the forecast I bring that one.