Honestly, people recommending $300+ tents for simple car camping are nuts with money to burn.
Used a 12 year old, $60 coleman this year in the rain, was fine
A lot of people in these subs are either unlucky or spoiled. I just gave my 3-person, $60 Coleman tent I bought roughly 12 years ago to my sister to use, as I needed to upgrade to a 4-person now that I've got a toddler.
It rained when we went out this year, and it didn't didn't leak.
I waterproof sprayed it about 10 years ago, so I doubt that even did anything other than permanently stain it a bit as I can still where I went over the seams with the spray lol
People preaching "you get what you pay for" have to say that to justify spending $800 on a tent when their doing the same kinda camping I'm doing (car camping) with less space than me lol
We used a 3 person Coleman tent for almost a decade of car camping and a few years of back country winter camping. It held up through tornado warnings, snow and rain. We finally upgraded this year because the zipper and the poles were starting to go.
It was well worth the $70? we spent on it.
If you are car camping get a 2 or 3 person tent. That way when they start to get older than can camp with a friend. I got a cheap 3 person Coleman as a kid. Then used with with a friend. Plenty of room for 2 people and gear spread out.
I feel like location may be a big factor. My troop mostly car camp. Very infrequent backpacking.
I’m in Missouri and a $40 Coleman 2 or 3 person is a great starting point. If they stick with it upgrade from there.
6 person tent is nice and roomie but you only need a two 4 person tents. I'd go Coleman as a basic tent it comes with everything but a tarp to lay under it. Scouting they usually tent two to a tent with smaller kids having an extra person in their tent.
Karona_
