If you’re looking for a new tent for your next camping trip, then you probably have heard about Coleman’s tents in online or offline stores.
Well, Coleman has been in business for many years. They manufacture a wide range of camping equipment in addition to tents. There is no doubting that Coleman’s tents are among the most affordable, versatile, and feature-rich in the market.
But as a camper, you may prefer a good quality tent that can shelter you safely. So it becomes worth asking are Coleman tents really good?
Hi, if you have such a question in your mind, then here we will go through an impartial review of the most common tent brand “Coleman”.
So, let’s find out how reliable Coleman is as a tent brand!
Are Coleman Tents Really Good?
Yes, Coleman is a well-known tent brand, producing some of the highest-quality tents on the market and Coleman has earned its popularity for its low prices.
When the same sized tent that other companies charge above $100, Coleman offers it for around $70. However, when your money shrinks, you’ll have to compromise on quality.
So, in order to discover the truth about Coleman tents, we will weigh their performance in terms of the essential features of a good-quality tent:
#1. Tent Size
Coleman offers all the standard sizing; you will get all 2, 4, 6, 8 people tents from Coleman.
But, you are probably aware that you’ll need tents that are 1 to 2 persons larger than the number of campers. This is due to the fact that most tents are excessively tiny for their stated capacities.
Coleman tents aren’t any different. So, you must buy a tent which is a minimum of two sizes larger if you want every member to sleep conveniently with some extra room for other stuff.
This means if you are a group of four members, then a six-person Coleman tent would be ideal, and so on.
#2. Build Quality & Durability
For a comparatively lower price, you have to compromise with the build quality of each Coleman tent. But it does not mean that Coleman’s tents are so bad.
Let’s take a look at the build quality of Coleman tents:
– Tent’s Fabric
A large proportion of Coleman shelters is constructed of polyurethane-covered polyester fabric.
Polyurethane is a very common material that is utilized as a waterproof cover for the tent fabrics and its variations are often quite durable. This type of fabric can tolerate some hard weather conditions as well.
But, on the other hand, most high-performance tents are composed of coated ripstop nylon which is much stronger and lighter. On top of that, the addition of “ripstop” fibers makes those tent cloths far more water-resistant.
So, we can say that Coleman’s tents are built with good quality fabrics but are not the best in the market.
– Tent’s Pole
Tent poles have improved substantially in terms of design and material choices during the last decade.
Basically, tent poles are often made from four different materials: fiberglass, steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. On top of that the price, durability, weight, and strength vary greatly.
The least costly materials are fiberglass and steel. As a result, in order to maintain the overall cost low, Coleman tents are typically supplied with these tent poles.
Steel & fiberglass tent poles are quite sturdy and durable, but they are slightly heavier and much less flexible than aluminum and carbon fiber.
So, we can say that Coleman uses medium quality tent poles in their tent.
– Weather Withstanding Capacity
You may have noticed that the majority of Coleman tents have a WeatherTecTM rating in their narrative. But what exactly does WeatherTecTM mean?
The Coleman WeatherTecTM rating, on the other hand, is based on a regulated set of circumstances intended to assess the durability of Coleman’s tents.
Coleman has a dedicated tent testing laboratory where they can recreate various weather situations in a controlled and reproducible setting. It’s literally known as the “rain chamber.”
The usual Coleman rain test involves blasting 35 gallons of rainwater into the tent for 10 minutes and then monitoring how much water seeps in. A tent fails the test if more than 2 teaspoons of water leaks in.
Also, the WeatherTecTM stamp of certification also denotes that Coleman tents have the capability to withstand winds of up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph) as well.
So we can say that the Coleman tents come with decent weather withstanding capacity.
#3. Some Essential Features
Here are some essential features that you will get with most of the Coleman tents:
- Coleman tents are comparatively easy to set up and maintain.
- Coleman tents come with an additional bug protection net.
- All the Coleman tents offer a standard height, which would be ideal for even people who are 6.5 feet tall.
- Offers good ventilation as compared to its price.
- Coleman tents provide extra pockets for additional stuff.
- You will find built-in light with the Coleman Skydome series along with WeatherMaster 6.
- Yes, Coleman tents come with stacks, but not all the stacks are highly durable to withstand all weather.
- With Coleman, you will get all 2, 3, and 4-season tents at a reasonable price.
#4. Customer Support And Warranty
Coleman offers decent support to their customers and you will get a 1-year official warranty with all the Coleman tents.
The warranty would be only applicable to the real owner with the genuine sales receipt, and the tent will get the warranty if it is declared faulty out through the package.
But the warranty does not cover natural damage, excessive usage, animal assault, and inappropriate care.
However, other tent manufacturers, such as REI, Big Agnes, The North Face, Kelty, and Marmot, provide a limited “product lifetime” warranty.
So, Which Coleman Tents Are Good?
Indeed, Coleman provides decent quality tents at a reasonable price, but they have some high-quality tents that can be comparable with expensive brands’ tents.
Here we will see a few high-quality Coleman tents:
#1. Coleman Sundome Tent
For an entry-level tent, Coleman’s Sundome is spacious and reasonably priced. In the 3 to 6 person versions, you will be able to accommodate a queen-size air mattress. Just remember to protect the tent’s bottom with a tarp or footprint.
Coleman claims it can withstand gusts of up to 35 miles per hour, however, users have observed severe bending at 20 mph.
#2. Coleman Pop-Up Tent
Because of their elastic and preassembled poles, Coleman Pop-up tents virtually “pop” into position a few seconds after you take them out of the bag. This tent’s simplicity of deployment also makes it ideal for festivals and gatherings where you may need to move around a lot.
People have reported remaining dry inside of the tent despite pools of water outside.
#3. Coleman Tenaya-Lake Cabin Tent
The Coleman Tenaya-Lake Cabin tent is spacious and waterproof. There is adequate floor room for two queen-size air mattresses with considerable space in between. Several individuals have slept inside during powerful storms (extremely windy) with not a bit of water inside.
This is owing in part to its stainless still poles that are sturdier and more robust than fiberglass poles.
Well, that’s not all. There are many other Coleman tents available in the market which can be a great value for your money.
Must Read: Coleman Sundome vs Skydome.
Coleman Tents Questions
Are Coleman Tents Machine Washable?
Coleman tents really aren’t machine washable and you should not clean your tent in a washing machine. Therefore, rather than using a washing machine, clean the soiled tent with a sponge and mild soap.
In most situations, even the moderate cycle is hard enough to degrade the tent. Also, always allow it to air dry before repacking to avoid fungus and smells.
How Long Can a Coleman Tent Last?
Coleman tents may last anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on how they are used and cared for.
It is advisable to not keep your Coleman tent in the sunlight for a long duration of time to extend its life. The tents may then be readily broken apart while being put up, packed, or simply by using your hands.
Why Are Coleman Tents So Cheap?
Yes, if we look closely, then we observe that Coleman tents are less expensive than other major manufacturers. Because of using ultralight and low-cost materials to construct the tents, Coleman can offer such an attractive price for their targeted audience.
For Example, by using polyester textiles rather than nylon, Coleman reduces the cost of producing and selling the tent at a lower price.
Final Words
Coleman produces a variety of spacious, waterproof, and simple-to-assemble tents at a reasonable price. A Coleman tent will undoubtedly provide excellent value than a more costly tent if you are camping for a few days a year.
To put it another way, there are better tent brands in the marketplace, but they’re not worth the extra money for many people.
Coleman cares about budget users; most occasional campers will be satisfied with Coleman’s tents.
