I use a Core Equipment 6 person Cabin tent. I love it, really easy to set up by myself, sturdy, plenty of room for my gear. Their water proofing is not the greatest, I spray a couple coats of scotchguard in the spring and it is good for the Pacific Northwest
https://preview.redd.it/79ldwe7jl2vg1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=253959047430ed810dcae2fe51191c3710ded893
I'm not using an instant tent, it's an actual cabin tent. total of 6 poles, two long fiberglass poles form a shallow dome for the roof, then an aluminum pole on each corner. With laying down the footprint, putting it up and staking the 8 guy lines it takes about 10 minutes by myself. Take down is a little longer, just because of all the folding. But still pretty reasonable and very easy.
I have a Core Equipment 6 person Cabin tent that feels like a freaking mansion inside. I use a XL cot (essentially a twin size bed), have room for 90% of my gear and still have so much room for activities.
https://preview.redd.it/88f8u89v91zg1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40f45e46fc5c96bd48ac86127e40988314797cc8
I've been very happy with my Core Equipment cabin tent. It's easy to setup on my own, it's very roomy, it holds up really well to water (7 days on the very rainy Oregon coast with 5 days of pretty heavy rain and NO water inside), and it's very spacious. Got it brand new from their site for under 200
My core 12 person was an awesome tent. A ridge pole finally succumbed to 45 mph wind gusts after three days in sustained winds of 25-35mph on the beach with no wind block. I did use all the guy lines and also tied off every pole to a fence on the side that the wind was smacking. If I had not done that it would have folded over. But they are surprisingly sturdy tents. Waterproofing is the downside since they don’t have taped seem at the bottom (inverted only) and they don’t have bathtub floor design. I’ve been in mine in rain many times though and the worst we had was some pooling at the bottom seam on the windward side. You can’t beat the for size and ease of setup. The only downside is they are very bulky in the bag.
i have a core 6. too small for a fam of 4
https://preview.redd.it/20cihxunowkf1.png?width=1951&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0b8cab1620d800f28722a212046896594ac2cc5
a 6 person is too small for two adults and 2 kids. i'd go for a 9 or 10 person.
the size rating is based on people in sleeping bag sleeping right next to each other like sardines in a can. I have a core 6. Definately too small.
2 adult size cot and a single baby crib. only enough space for 1 person walking in and out. that's with belongings under the cot.
CORE 6 has an 11'x9' interior floor with mostly straight walls and over 6' height at the peak. Get the **full** fly. A standard 10'x8' tarp works as a footprint if you are so inclined, mine is 12mil.
I am not familiar with the brands. However, is it a tent that you will be comfortable putting up and taking down every day as you travel. BTW, I own a CORE 6 person tent.
My suggestion would be not to get anything expensive until you know camping is something you both enjoy doing together along with the dog. For yourself your partner and your pup I would get a 4 person tent, if you don't have to backpack it anywhere maybe even a 6 person tent. When I go with my wife and dog I bring my Core 6 person tent which came from Costco and was pretty inexpensive. Nothing fancy just easy to set up, keeps the outside outside, and has a tough floor for dog nails. Also, it is a good all rounder to have for just occasional camping. Once you decide this is something you want to make a habit of then I would start looking for a tent that fits your specific needs.
Top Camping Tents on Reddit
1
The North Face
Wawona 6
84% positive of 134 users
Spacious vestibule, strong in storms, but rainfly tricky solo.
Skeezy_mcbuttface
