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Top Pros
Top Cons
Reddit Reviews
oxbowlake808If 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.
BusinessBear53I'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.
Confident-Caramel-11Another vote for Coleman Instant up 4P, or maybe 6P for 2 people! I camp solo, and am a shorty, can easily setup in 15 mins, and fits in smallish car!
jaymthsI recently sold my Coleman instant up 6P. It was ok, but packed down it was huge. It didn't fit in my palisade without the seats down, needed to go on a roof rack. It was ok when the kids we little, it went on the floor under their feet but now they are older it doesn't fit there anymore. I will be buying a spring bar Kodiak tent in the new year [https://longwayleisure.com.au/product-category/kodiak-canvas/](https://longwayleisure.com.au/product-category/kodiak-canvas/) I saw these at the Scout Jamboree last January. The scouts I talked to loved them. Easy to pitch and pack up. only need 4 pegs to get it up. The tent and poles store separately so are easier to pack things in around them. We are also looking to buy them for our scout group after some significant fundraising. Only issue is the cost up front but I expect it to outlast any poly tent.
Mackheath1While I don't have the full answer for you, buy a larger tent than you think you'll need. I'm one person comfortable in a 6-person EZ Coleman snap-up tent, I don't want anything smaller even if I'm hiking in. And kids grow fast. So while you might think a 4 person tent is fine, it is not - treat yo self.
mattsmith146I just bought Coleman 6p instant up and used it for the first time this weekend, family of 4 with two young kids. Very happy with it, size is right for 4 of us, I definitely would not want to squeeze into the 4p version with 4 of us. I can set it up by myself in about 20 minutes with all the guy ropes out etc. So far so good and would recommend it. Check that you can fit the packed up bag in your car, it is quite long.
SeishikinUsed Coleman Instant 6P for scouts trip, legit 1 min setup, zero stress, tons of gear space.
Spute2008I third this as long as you are car camping. Where you only have a very minimal walk from where you park to where you put your tent. For a newcomer/1st time these tents are fantastic. They go up in a minute or two. They are well-made. They’re quite tall in the middle and in the 4P will give you extra room, with near full head height depending on how tall you are, and a secure zip so no critters can get in. If you’re feeling really luxurious get the 6P so you don’t both have to share one air mattress which makes the other bounce around all night. If you want a backpack-able tent, consider a three man, 3 season tent with a fly, but where the tent attaches to the poles with little clips, rather than having to thread the poles through sleeves. It just is a lot easier to put the tent up that way. And again, if you are car camping, there’s nothing wrong with bringing your bedding from home to ensure you have a warm night. I would lay a blanket or sleeping bag down as my top sheet and then have a blanket/doona or unzipped sleeping bag as my top layer. I use my actual big and lovely down pillow from Home as well. But if you are backpacking, consider a three season sleeping bag that is lightweight but still warm. And if you are taller or bigger, get the oversized ones so you’re not scrunched up like a caterpillar crammed in a cocoon all night. It’s a tiny bit of extra weight, but the extra comfort is worth it in my opinion. And finally, for that extra bit of extravagance, if you have the money and are car camping buy the instant up gazebo. Put it up right next to your tent opening for some shelter so you can step right out of your tent and be undercover.
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