The Coleman Skylodge blew the competition away and offered not only a quick and easy one-person set up, it offered the most comfortable wilderness lodging of all the tents we tried. Gazelle also has unique pop-out walls that make this an extra roomy tent and the carry bag is extra large so that the tent is easier to pack away. Plus, this tent has a UV coating rated UV50+, which gives you protection from the sun and helps prevent the waterproofing from breaking down as quickly. It’s the best overall instant tent because of its combined ease of setup, layout, and high-quality materials. Gazelle is a well-loved brand for its high-caliber construction.
It’s well known that Coleman’s shelters aren’t the lightest or most compact by any stretch, so we recommend just leaning into it and getting the largest tent you can transport and carry. There is a built-in rainfly in the tent that comes with two vents. Once the tent is setup, the rainfly will also be there so you don’t have to spend coleman ice chest additional time pulling another rainfly over to cover the tent. I agree with the last reviewer…tent looks good, setup is really nice, but the plastic corner brackets break way too easy, metal ones and this tent would be awesome. I like the weatherctec system, on most Coleman tents seems they stay dry even in heavy rains.
Most tents are built to withstand winds of around 15 to 30 mph, once you get around 20 mph most regular tents really start to act like they are going to blow away and take you with them. If the pop-up tent was wet when I put it away I just pop it open when I get home and let it dry out. It’s really easy and not nearly as much of a hassle as drying a regular tent. I found that with the Coleman 2 person pop-up tent all you have to do to clean it is literally just pick it up and shake it. I leave the door flap open and any dirt inside just falls right out.
As a bonus, they are also easy to carry around and even shake the dirt out of before folding it up and putting away. He is a dedicated backcountry explorer and a trained Wilderness First Responder. Tyler has hiked every mountain range in the US and summited Highpoints in several US states as well as Germany. His favorite coleman screen tent outdoor destinations are the Canadian Rockies, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mt. Tongariro in New Zealand, and the San Juan Region of Colorado. We’re going to have an overview of the tents materials, its framework and build style and also its overall performance on the field, including its pitching method.
The bag is nicely done in general, with two carry straps and a zipper it looks like a travel bag. But note that the fly covers mainly the roof, see the picture below, but there is some protection for the zippers as well. So it is up to you, it depends on where you are going to use this tent. I know for sure that I would not go to the Alps without a fly, we have a lot of rain there and it can last for hours.
Also, the porch room has no floor, so you’re not tracking dirt into it. A tent of this size can feel almost like you’re in a house–a house that you were able to build in under two minutes. With that said, if you and your sweetie like having a little extra room for gear and moving around, I recommend sizing up to the 4-person version. However, one thing to note (and this is the case for many pop-up tents) is that it folds down into a circular shape, which might be a little tricky to fit into a backpack. While other tents fill with leaves and dirt that you will somehow have to coax out through the door, this tent can easily be cleaned before packing it up. It has innovative, interlocking diamond walls and ample floor space.
The connections and hinges for instant tent poles are often vulnerable to breaking or bending in heavy wind. The Coleman 6 person instant tent claims to be waterproof, but after further investigation, the tent has proven itself faulty. You’ll need to waterproof this tent as best you can yourself—water gets inside the tent easily and it definitely won’t withstand torrential rain. Sleeping bags do have the added benefit of being easy to tuck away in the 6 person instant tent during the day, so you have more room to walk around and socialize. There’s ample room to pitch a few folding chairs, and even room for you to walk around if you’re under 6 feet tall.
And if you’re car camping at busy campgrounds, you won’t have to worry about accidentally flashing the family next door. The walls and ceiling are made of 211 denier oxford weave fabric. Not only are they waterproof and durable, but the fabric is UPF 50+.