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Reddit Reviews
Not sure if you mean 2-3 person in tent numbers or in real life numbers, but I have used an 8-person Coleman Skylodge for 3 adults in high winds and had no issues. It actually rained a couple of times on trips along with the wind with no issues as long as I staked it down with good stakes. Only has doors in front, but has windows on all sides.
I got the coleman skylodge 8-person on ebay for about $160 shipped. It's listed about $400 on the Coleman site. It is a quick set up tent, and has been good for me. It's a little heavy, but I will trade that for the ease of set up every time.
I would go with a Coleman Skylodge Instant Tent, at minimum 8-person. I have the 8 person and the 4 person and they both are solid. The 8-person should allow for a queen size air mattress and plenty of room for "stuff". If you can swing it, the 10-person may be better because your family can grow with it as you need more space. I wouldn't get it directly from Coleman, they are cheaper elsewhere.
Yes, they make a 10-person Skylodge. I have only used the 8, and it wasn't hard to put up alone. I had it staked and up in about 4 minutes. The 10 shouldn't be much different. Instant tents are very convenient for set up.
I have the Coleman Skylodge 8 person we mean to get the four. It is such a breeze especially when moving camp sites too. Only caveat is its size when being packed. I just throw it on the roof rack.
We have the Coleman 8 person Skylodge. It has plenty of ventilation to limit condensation. It’s easy to set up and price fits your budget. I can’t speak to the fit when using cots, we camp with a queen and a twin air mattress and it has room to spare with 10 days worth of gear.
I have a 4,6 and 8 person Coleman Insta-tent. I take the 8 person when my wife goes with me. Plenty of room, actually has a divider to section it off into two rooms. Get the biggest tent you can afford. You'll never regret extra space,
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.
Like you, I had a Coleman pop-up for 12 years with no issues. I am also worried about the quality now. I got the Blackberry Skylodge and the poles snapped. It was an awesome tent tho, the bug doors were so nice. I didn't like the T4 for the reasons I mentioned. I now do not have a tent and no clue what to do.
Honestly, I considering getting the same tent. I am just worried about reports that it is not the same quality because it is more money. It was a main pole. I was folding it, like I have done a 1000 times and it snapped.
Try Coleman Skylodge Instant tent. Extremely easy to use. Only downside is occasional leakage.
I've got a similar issue. I've got 2-3 tents that I've narrowed down to but haven't pulled the trigger. For size, it really depends on if you want lounging space inside. A 3-4 person tent is good for two adults with gear inside. If you want to set up chairs inside then a 6 person would be better. With a 4yr old you might even be able to get away with a 4 person but a 6 person would allow for growth. Coleman and Kelty have a lot of nice tents that would be fine for what you want. A Skydome with the screen room has the vestibule for a reasonable price. Not to mention being a darkroom tent so you're not having to wake up at first light. Something like the Coleman Skylodge would allow you to walk around inside. If you want to use cots then bigger might be better. I went solo camping with a 4per dome and my cot took up most of the space. There's no chance to fit a second one in there for sure.
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.
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