Unless you only plan to bring this coleman cabin tent out for the occasional dry weather camping trip, the fact you have to buy a separate rain fly really reduced the value for money of this tent for us. When testing, we read a fair number of reviews where the expectations of tents may be more than is typically reasonable for the product. Many tents—especially the more affordable ones—tend to require that you waterproof them before their first use and again at regular intervals depending on the use. It’s always best to waterproof a new tent before the first use to keep out heavy rains.
My family loves this tent and—as far as family camping tents are concerned—it has made us complete converts to the world of instant tents. Whether you’re a new camper or just looking to simplify things when taking your family on camping adventures, this tent is a total winner. All cabin tents come with a recommended capacity, which is the total number of people it can comfortably sleep.
Gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash or applied to a previous purchase. Ventilation and ease of setup were two key things we tested for. The Coleman Skylodge had all of the simplicity of an Instant tent with lots of great design features.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our coleman battery lantern team at We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. With 56 square feet, the inside is big enough for a queen air mattress or two twins. Headroom is limited to 4’ 11’’, but this is a fairly small, cheap tent that’s expected. The darkening fabric on this tent was in terrible condition.
Although this is a good for warm weather camping, it’ll be no good for rainy weather. In place of the mattresses, you could easily fit four sleeping bags side-by-side to keep a degree of personal space and bodily privacy. We’re just thinking comfort-wise about sleeping; sleeping bags are fantastic but they don’t offer much padding.
However, the zippers and the mesh netting are poorly made, and the bag will not last more than a season before it rips or springs a leak. The poles are made from aluminum, but many moving plastic pieces hold them together. This is a great tent to bring along for the kids or some extra covered storage, but not ideal for the entire family. At only 56 sq ft, this will be tight quarters, and should the rain come, spending a full day in this tent will test everyone’s strength. The Cabin is the perfect kids’ tent, parent tent, or gear tent, but you only get to choose one. While it bills itself as a four-person tent, know that it’s a tight fit—we wouldn’t recommend it for more than three people and, if you’re tall, it may only be suitable for two.