Longs Peak 4-Person Fast Pitch Dome Tent

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

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.

Really depends on the kind of camping. To start stay car camping. Get a cheap coleman 4 person tent and an ez-up canopy and two tarps that match its color. One close to tent footprint, one about twice as big as the canopy pitch the tent on top of the smaller tarp, fold it up under the tent if its sticking out. You want it 4" inside the tent footprint. Put the ez-up right in front, overlapping slightly if possible. Then attach the second tarp to that, and run it over the tent, staking it down behind the tent. In hot weather raise the back one up and move it around like a shade cloth to keep the tent cool. When the rain comes pull it tighter and lower on the back corners and put and high in the middle to make a roof. Use sticks to set levels and paracord to stake it out. Get a folding table. A big one. 6 footer. It goes under the canopy, with two coolers under it. One for food, one for drinks. Drink one gets salted crushed/cubed ice, but put a ziploc full of normal ice cubes in there for drinks. Food one gets block ice or frozen juice jugs. Cheap picnic tablecloth over the table to shade the coolers. On top goes a two burner propane stove. If it doesnt have legs, put it on top of a sheet of plywood or wood cutting board to not melt the table. Next to that a cutting board and one of those 5 gallon refillable water jugs for dishes and handwashing with a bucket underneath it. Get a closet hanging shoe organizer. Hang it off the canopy by/behind the table to put spices, oils, utensils, etc in. Keep a citronella candle bucket lit on the table. A roll of astroturf is nice under the canopy to keep it clean in the tent. Two zero-g camp chairs and throw blankets. Real pillows. Cots are better than air mattresses. Camp shoes. 12v rechargeable fans to circulate air in the tent and canopy. A small bluetooth speaker. Insulated tumblers for adult beverages. A shovel, a rake, an axe, and a broom. Multitool knife. Sunscreen. Bug repellent with deet. Board/card games of your choosing. A lantern. If you really wanna win points, get a camp shower and stall, and a bucket loo that you know how to use (hint, a little kitty litter in nested garbage bags, pull one out and tie it off and throw in another bucket with a sealing lid after every #2). They make toilet lids that snap on buckets. Get a floor grate so you don't stand in mud. I just use an old pallet that I nail the popup changing stall corners to with astroturf on top. My camp shower is a 5 gallon bucket with a little black garden hose, and a gardening soaker head with a shutoff valve. Little 12v pump inline. In the morning kick on a gallon of water on the stove to boil and mix with the other water in the shower bucket and start making coffee. If she wakes up and you're handing her coffee and pointing her to the shower, telling her that breakfast will be done after her hot shower... camping will live up to its nickname.

I always recommend a Coleman tent to new computers. A 4 person Colman isn’t expensive but you will get your money’s worth out of it. This will give you time to get a better idea of what is actually important to you, and what kind of camping you like to do.