BCF acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. Weighing just 7 pounds, the tent is light enough to double for backpacking trips, especially if you divide the pieces among hikers.
One night during testing, for example, clouds loomed in the distance with clear skies overhead. After we pitched the tent, the Mineral King 3’s adaptable fly let us leave half the mesh dome uncovered. At the first sign of rain, it took only a few seconds—and a quick hand stuck outside the tent—to unfurl the fly and secure it for a dry night’s sleep. When we awoke, we could roll back one part of the vestibule, make coffee, and watch the sky lighten even though it was still raining. To test the tents, we first opened them, splayed out their parts, and tried to put them together without consulting the instructions. We assembled and disassembled the tents on all of our testing sites multiple times.
Measuring 10 by 10 feet, the Sundome covers an area larger than that of our family-tent top pick though its lower roof leaves it with less headroom. The Wireless 6’s drawbacks have mainly to do with material quality. These can be as strong, or even more so, than aluminum poles (especially cheap ones), but they’re always bulkier, heavier, and not as nice to handle. However, the Wireless 6’s poles were the best fiberglass ones we tested—they left no splinters, unlike those on the Camp Creek 6 or the Copper Canyon LX 6. We also appreciated the shepherd’s hook stakes that come with the tent. Most of the tents we tested came with basic L-shaped stakes, which tended to spin around in the soil and slip a line.
The best-selling Coleman Sundome 6-Person Tent has a footprint larger (100 square feet) than that of our top-pick tent for families, but it felt smaller because it has a lower ceiling, no vestibule, and only one door. Nevertheless, it still comfortably accommodates four people, and it’s a roomy choice for two. This no-nonsense tent is intuitive to set up, has mesh on the top halves of two walls, includes a partial rain fly that’s easy to put on and stake out, and feels cheery inside and out. (We don’t recommend the smaller version of this tent for couples who might actually take it on the road; it was just too flimsy in our tests.) Also note that this tent does not come with its own groundsheet.
Marmot uses color coding smartly to help you position the tent as well as set it up. Both of the doors zip open to the side that’s color-coded blue, as opposed to zipping open to opposite sides. In other words, one partner—or one partner’s gear—is always going to get a dose of weather when they head out.
The time it takes to set-up a tent will rely on the type of tent you purchase. Family tents may take a bit more time for construction and may require a lending hand to help erect the steel poles that will inevitably secure a rigid structure. While still providing strength and durability, instant tents and pop-up tents are designed to be set up within minutes.
We loved that area for eating meals or just hanging out after a day of exploring. Regarding the weight, in view of its 16 lb (7.3 kg), this is not an item to carry long distances. Being a utility item, you will transport it together with your camping tent and all other stuff. There is also a sewn-in shower mat and a 5-gallon solar-heated shower that uses natural light to help heat up the water. You start by expanding its base and then extending its four legs poles. You can attach the fly before you extend the legs completely, this is easier to attach it to the frame because the shelter is tall, you have a 7 ft (213 cm) peak height.
Bring some practical comfort on your next camping adventure with the ozark trail instant cabin. This outdoor essential can be set up and taken down quickly and easily thanks to the innovative, pre-attached instant frame design. A 5-gallon solar shower comes with it, heating water up to luxurious temperatures using natural light. This 2-room portable shower tent includes a separate changing/utility room, so your clothes stay dry.
In October 2023, Eureka’s parent company, Johnson Outdoors, announced that it was discontinuing the Eureka brand. The product line, including its tents, should remain available through the end of 2024. The Wawona 6’s side-walls are high and straight, but the structure stays very stable in wind thanks to a final pole that wraps around the front and sides—and thanks to the absence of any acute angles in the poles. We were skeptical about the vestibule’s ability to handle wind, since it’s big and supported by a single pole, but it stood fast in 30 mph oceanside gusts and 15 mph hilltop winds.
A full rain fly with easy-attach color-coded clips covers the tent body and adds two large vestibules. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten has aluminum poles that are connected at the top (for lightning-quick pitching) and pre-bent, which increases the dome tent’s headroom. You can also set up the tent without the fly while retaining some privacy, since the tent body has a high polyester wall on one side.