I'm looking at both. Have the Coleman instant up Silver but looking at the North Star because it's got built in lights and a vestibule which is very handy. Will probably just get a cheap king's swag for myself.
Currently only have the tent for the family but I snore and keep my wife up so I'm looking at buying a swag so I can sleep next to the car or something.
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 bought a Coleman Instant Up 6 on the BCF boxing day sales in 2012. It's only just died. The fly ripped where the ropes attached and the UV was starting to make the seam tape brittle and fall apart. I could just get a new fly I suppose. The base is still good. Pretty happy for 10+ years use.
These are backpacking tents made with material that is lighter and more expensive than typical tents. If you're car camping, a $200 Coleman 6p+ tent will be more than fine for a while.
MyLifeOutdoors did a video on YT about a month ago talking about it a little.
Big tents are great in theory. However, you don’t always have the right space to put them in a campsite. Keep that in mind because the large footprints limits locations to some campsite I would like to go to.
I have an instant cabin tent that solved my space issue. It’s a 6 person Coleman. Not too expensive and has held up
6 person at least. Room for sleeping setups, and some gear. You don’t want to be right up against the tent wall. Also look at the center standing height, for the tents you look at they will tell you.
Ex: I have ozark trail 6 person instant up dark rest tent. For me alone, it’s great. I can sleep myself and wife if needed. I would still want bigger.
Coleman instant cabin tent, 6 person, a bit more room than OT, and taller in center. I personally like OT more for the features, but just one example of size being different among brands for 6 person.
But ya it’ll depend on your sleeping setups. If you are trying to do a single queen size mattress, 2 cots / pads, etc.
When you aren’t worried about weight and size as much, you can be more comfortable. 4 person will get it done, 6 person probably sweet spot, anything more and you’d be just looking for more room. It can be good to have a lot of room when rainy / buggy / something keeping you in tent for some reason.
Top Camping Tents on Reddit
1
The North Face
Wawona 6
84% positive of 134 users
Spacious vestibule, strong in storms, but rainfly tricky solo.
BusinessBear53
