https://a.co/d/0i9tGQs6 - I have this one in 6p for car camping, I would totally buy again in the 4p if necessary. The porch is really handy and its heals up great in harsh weather. I can set up the whole thing in 5-10 minutes alone, the 4p would probably be even easier.
I just finished my first cub scouts campout in a Coleman Skydome tent, the kind with the "Dark Room Technology" which I \*highly\* recommend if your child is on the younger side (mine is 7) because it really does stay nice and dark in there, great for kids being able to sleep even with late sunsets and early sunrises. We were not the only Coleman "Dark Room" tents in our pack. We have a 4-person and we fit two cots in there with some room in the middle, but if you go with [the 6-person version](https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-6-person-screen-room-camping-tent-with-dark-room-technology/SAP_2206907.html) you'd absolutely have plenty of room - it'll be downright spacious if you get the screen room. Setup is a breeze. I've only ever set this thing up by myself or with the help of my 7-year-old, which probably makes it take a few minutes longer but it's good for him to help. ;)
I do have the one with the screen room, which is great for extra storage and keeping the sleeping area clean (our system is shoes don't go past the screen room), and the Skydome model has zip-up panels so the screen room stays dry even if it rains (which it did this past trip). The Coleman Carlsbad Dark Room has a fully mesh screen room which I'd imagine would basically trap water along the floor when it rained. Honestly the WeatherMaster pictured in your post looks like it would also let rain inside the screen room area, I'd make sure it has panels to zip up behind the mesh. I \*love\* having that extra screened in area though so I do recommend that.
Ozark Trail is gonna be your friend for getting started on a budget but still using reliable gear. Coleman has really good sales too, and dependable stuff.
Tents will do you just fine to get going. It won't have the fanciest features or be the lightest but it'll be plenty sturdy. If you'll often have 4 people in the tent, get a 6-person tent. If you can budget a little more or stalk for some sales, a Coleman 6-person Sundome or Skydome is going to be a super reliable and easy tent. If your kid ever gets into scouting, those are really common tents to see on their camping trips (we have a Skydome ourselves!)>
I have the Coleman Flatlands sleeping bags, and I got them on sale last summer for $35/each. They're really big and puffy, suitable for car camping. Good starter bag.
Get a sleeping pad and/or (for summer trips if you don't really need insulation) a cot. I got Ozark Trail ones at walmart, again stalked sales, and they work just fine. I actually really like the cots. (I got the [zipper cots](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Zipper-Cot-Adult-75-5-x26-x-5-5/1494929280).)
For cookware and stuff - honestly for starting out on a budget I'd probably look for local state or NPS sites where the site has a grill but to be sure you're in line with any fire restrictions you can get a little pocket stove on Amazon or (sturdier/bigger) a one-burner propane stove. For cookware - on the one-burner stove just bring stuff from your house at first if you're car camping.
Definitely recommend starting out in your backyard. That was like magic to my son and so much fun for him and let me figure out what I was missing that I really wanted before our first time actually being in the woods.
Have fun!
Skip the Skydome honestly. It's decent for the price but the fiberglass poles and lightweight fabric don't handle wind or rain well, and with a 6 and 3 year old you're gonna want something that feels solid when you're wrestling gear in and out. The Wawona's a solid pick but the weight is brutal for what you're getting. At that price point the Big Agnes Wyoming has better materials and the extra headroom actually matters when you're chasing kids around getting them dressed. FWIW I have the Nemo Riff and it's been tank, but for family car camping something with a proper vestibule for muddy boots and gear makes a huge difference.
Our Troop has been using 4-person and 6-person Coleman Skydome tents for the last several years. The boys are rough on tents, so priorities are cost and ease of repair.
Positives:
- The tents themselves are quick to set up and pack away.
- They are well ventilated.
- Inexpensive and reasonably durable.
Negatives:
- They are not especially light, weighting between 8 and 13 lbs.
- Poles are attached to the tent, which makes them easy to pack but could be a problem if a pole needs to be replaced.
- Can handle rain when set up correctly, but may allow in water in a severe storm.
On that last point, it's hard for me to provide a completely objective assessment because we have had Skydome tents become soggy in very bad weather, but this may be because of boys leaving the vent on the door open rather than issues with the tent itself.
I've got a 6-person Coleman Skydome that has done very well for me. "Dark-Light" tech to keep it a little cooler, has a bug-net partially closed patio. I recommend sealing with some kind of silicone spray
Pleaco
