When the spring starts, it is finally time to start packing for a family camping!
Family camping will allow you to explore nature, hike, and spend some quality time with your family.
But, you will need a good camping tent to accommodate your entire family and don’t break the bank.
Luckily, here is a list that can help!
Here are the best tents for family camping in 2021!
Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent
This Coleman Red Canyon tent is excellent for families with multiple family members, including kids and adults.
The tent fits eight people and gives a cozy, home-like effect.
You can use it whenever you go camping with your family and friends, too.
The tent features a removable wall that allows you to make three separate rooms inside.
The premium fabric will keep you dry during different weather conditions and prolong the lifespan of this tent.
Pros
- Premium fabric
- Ensures plethora of inside space
- Thick, removable walls
- Easy to assemble
- Includes 1-year warranty
- You can fit two queen-sized beds inside
Cons
- Heavy
- Hard to disassemble
Dylan's TakeThis is a 3-season camping tent, so it isn’t suitable for heavy snow and rain.
Everything else works perfectly, including structure and design.
Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
This Wensel tent is suitable for large families.
The tent has a large front screen, which you can use as a porch, and still enjoy sun and rain protection.
The screen room is an excellent sun shelter or room for relaxation.
Overall, the tent has a modern and practical design with two hanging pockets.
It also doesn’t take more than half an hour to be assembled.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Equipped with easy to understand manual
- Handy pockets are great for storage
- Remain dries inside during period rain
- Can fit two queen size air mattresses
Cons
- You have to put a lot of effort to remove the wrinkles
Dylan's TakeThis tent comes with an extended 10-warranty.
Because it can be used on rainy days, and considering all its features, the Wensel tent is a wise purchase.
Kodiak Flex-Bow 6-Person Canvas Tent Deluxe
This Kodiak family tent is a premium piece of camping gear.
It has sturdy construction and will last a lifetime.
The fabric used for it is a marine-grade cotton canvas, which ensures complete weather protection.
Also, it doesn’t require maintenance, and it is breathable.
The frame is reinforced and will hold up well against hard weather conditions.
Pros
- Durable
- Optimal height for most people
- Bombproof floor
Cons
- Heavy
- Not free-standing
Dylan's TakeThis four-season camping tent has a one-room design and has some extra features such as funnel-flow vents, D-shaped doors, four windows, etc.
It is a high-end tent that will pay off in the long run.
Browning Camping Big Horn Family/Hunting Tent
This Browning tent is spacious and can easily fit up to eight campers.
You can organize two-family camping easily, as the tent has two separate rooms.
Each room has windows and pockets for storage, but also a separate entrance.
Therefore, it ensures privacy and ventilation, too.
The tent is practical and easy to maintain.
Pros
- When installed properly, it has a footprint of 10×15 feet
- Two rooms with individual entrances
- Excellent ventilation
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Door zipper aren’t the best quality
Dylan's TakeThe Browning camping tent has thick fabric and durable floors.
It is a 3-season tent, and I recommend it best for beach camping.
Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin
This Coleman tent, called Instant cabin can fit six people and is great for warm weekend camping.
The tent has built-in stakes that ensure setup is quick and easy, and shorter than one minute.
All you have to do is to unfold the tent and extend the legs.
The fabric is premium WeatherTec, which will keep you warm and dry.
Pros
- Quick setup
- Reasonable price
- Tall
- Includes large windows
- Freestanding
Cons
- Large, when packed
- Only one door
- Heavy
- Not suitable for heavy rains
Dylan's TakeEven though this is smaller than some other Coleman tents, it has an excellent pattern of windows, with large front windows, back windows, side windows, and roof vents.
It is a three-season tent, and it offers excellent value for the money.
TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent
This TETON tent is excellent for adventurous campers.
It can fit from one to four persons, and it has an affordable price tag.
It is a dome-type tent, but it is quite roomy.
The micro-mesh inner fabric ensures sunbath and good ventilation.
The tent is also waterproof.
Pros
- Includes a carry bag
- Completely waterproof
- Easy to set up
- Sturdy and durable
- Durable construction
Cons
- A bit heavy
Dylan's TakeThis Teton tent has strong and waterproof construction with reinforced seams and anchor points.
So it is excellent for families who camp in harsh weather as well.
Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe XL
Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent Deluxe XL is excellent for beach camping if your family doesn’t have more than four members.
The tent has three large windows for ventilation and UPF protection of 50+.
It is quite easy to set up within one minute or less.
However, what makes this tent stand apart are its weatherproof properties, due to five sandbags.
Pros
- Includes 1-year warranty
- Comes with stakes, sand pockets and a convenient carrying case
- Lightweight but sturdy fiberglass frame
Cons
- Pricier than other beach tents
Dylan's TakeAdditionally, the Pacific Breeze tent offers premium customer service to its customers.
It has a great balance of lightweight but sturdy construction.
Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person 3 Season Tent
This Mountainsmith Morrison tent can fit two or three people with its 35 square feet of space.
It offers enough light and excellent ventilation because of the large mesh wall panels.
The bathtub floor keeps the tent dry, and the freestanding design ensures simple installation.
Additionally, the tent provides 14 square feet for storage, with canopy shelves.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Top shelf design
- Good waterproof properties
- Excellent ventilation
- Spacious for two-people tent
Cons
- Heavy
- Floor is a bit thin
Dylan's TakeOverall, the Mountainsmith Morrison tent is a practical and useful camping tent.
You can expect waterproof performance and a simple setup.
Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot
Some senior campers prefer a cot instead of sleeping on the ground in the tent.
This Kamp-Rite tent cot has an oversize design, with nylon sides and mesh doors and windows.
Moreover, the legs are raised 11 inches from the ground, which keeps the cot away from moisture and rodents.
The cot is quite spacious but bulky to carry along.
Pros
- Simple installation
- Excellent for sleeping
- Versatile use
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Not the best for tall campers
Dylan's TakeThis Kamp-Rite cot is easy to set up and gives you plenty of options to enjoy the sun and be safe from moisture.
The 420-denier nylon fabric and aluminum frame ensure that the cot will stay dry and durable over the years.
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent
This ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent is possibly the best 1-person tent and it comes with a budget-friendly price tag.
It can be a nice option for families who want to sleep in separate tents on their family camping trips.
Some of the features that make it so great are rainfly cover which ensures storage spaces stay dry and half mesh walls for sufficient installation.
The tent is lightweight and installs in seconds.
Pros
- Roomy for 1 person
- Excellent ventilation
- Quick installation
- Plenty of storage options
Cons
- Doesn’t have a footprint
- Heavy
Dylan's TakeALPS tent has aluminum poles and coated floor to keep a camper dry during different weather conditions.
It is also an excellent option for solo campers.
Buying Guide
When you are buying a tent, there are a few things to consider to make sure you are getting the exact match for your needs.
Let’s take a closer look at the most important tent features.
Capacity
When buying a tent, the most important thing to consider is the capacity, in other words – how many people can fit inside it.
Most of the tents come with an already determined number of people who can sleep in them.
But, things such as equipment, pets, and furniture also need to be considered when deciding what size of the tent is good for you.
Also, consider the sleeping patterns of your fellow campers and possible medical and health conditions.
Construction
The tent fabric is highly important as it determines durability and waterproof properties.
If you are buying a tent you wish to last for years, I recommend you to buy a higher-denier fabric.
Also, find out how much the tent weight folded, as you will have to carry it with you until you find the appropriate place to land.
Structure and Setup
There are tents of different designs that can match the same number of people inside.
For example, a cabin-style tent offers more space inside and a higher roof, but a dome-style tent usually offers better waterproof properties.
Also, find out how easy is to set the tent up.
For example, pole-fixing clips are easier to use than long pole sleeves.
Still, the sleeve structure is sturdier.
Additionally, check the material of the poles as aluminum poles prove to be more durable than those made from fiberglass.
Tent Seasonality
There are different labels related to tent seasonality.
Let’s see what those mean
3- Season Tents
These are the most popular for plenty of campers.
3- season tents are lightweight and a better fit for spring, summer, and autumn, seasons with no harsh weather.
These usually have ventilation windows, mesh panels, and bug-proof properties.
3+ Season Tents
Senior hikers and campers prefer the 3+ season tent models.
They have smaller mesh panels, less ventilation, and keep the campers warm.
These can be used in early spring or late autumn, as they are quite warm.
4- Season Tents
Professional campers prefer 4- season tent because these are able to withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy storms and rains, and snow.
These tents are sturdy and provide coziness to the campers.
Tent Accessories
The best tents come with convenient accessories that can help campers in unexpected situations.
For example, the ground cloth is useful for keeping the tent floor dry.
Next, pockets for storage are convenient for small items.
Tent repair kit, seam sealer, and utility cord are must-have items for campers who go to distant locations.
A battery-powered ventilation fan is handy for tents with fewer ventilation mats.
Frequently Asked Questions about Camping Tents
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about tents!
Are Tents Waterproof?
Some tents are waterproof, but others are suitable only for dry weather.
The tent needs to reach the waterproof grade of 1000mm HH and above to be listed as waterproof.
Are Cheap Tents Worth It?
Cheap tents aren’t a good choice, because they can deteriorate soon and cost you more money in the long run.
They can also be hazardous in unexpected situations.
What is the Price Range for Tents?
The price range for tents goes between $35 to $1000.
However, the tent features and the construction quality determines the price tag, as well as the capacity.
Usually, more expensive tents have better construction, more tent accessories, and last longer.
Conclusion
Family camping is an excellent way to spend quality time with your family and make some unforgettable memories.
But, the first thing to do is to pick the appropriate tent in which all your family members can fit.
There are more things to consider when buying the tent, such as tent accessories, waterproof properties, budget, etc.
The Coleman tent is my top pick, and what is yours?
Best Overall Choice
Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent
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