It is a specialized flap that allows the cord to enter but not bugs and water. The combination of slick marketing and lack of technical information combined with attractive pricing means that a lot of people own Coleman tents that aren’t as good as they hoped. Coleman doesn’t make the flashiest, most sophisticated, or highest performance tents on the market, but few (if any) brands can beat their combination of value, quality, and customer support at this price point.
This type of pole tends to be less flexible and bulkier than pricier aluminum, and it can be a pain to handle. Our only quibble with the Mineral King 3 is that it comes with coleman sleeping bags only six stakes. (Our runner-up pick comes with eight.) Six is enough to secure the tent and fly but not to fully secure the tent’s extra lines in very windy conditions.
The trick with breaking down and rolling Coleman dome tents is to remove the tent poles and spread out the flattened tent. Fold up the collapsible tent poles and set them at the bottom of the spread-out tent near the middle. Next, fold in each side of the tent until its width matches the length of the folded-up tent poles. Place the coleman sleeping bags poles (in their storage bag) atop the folded tent and roll up the tent so the poles are in the center. The tent took our team 14 minutes and 20 seconds to pitch fully — much longer than the majority of our other tents and with much more frustration. First, the cheap fiberglass poles get snagged when pushing them into the sleeves.
The warranty ensures the product will be free from defects in material and workmanship [Reference]. But, the incorporation of “ripstop” fibers make the fabric much more resistant to tears. This small difference in fabric material can help prolong the life a tent. This is great for avoiding potential exposure to hazardous chemicals, but you should pitch the tent well away from any open flames.
The quality might not be the same as a brand like Marmot, but that’s because they’re targeting a different demographic. Coleman users probably aren’t hoping to backpack through the Himalayas – instead, they want an affordable tent option that’s good enough to get them through a little summer car camping. In order to create an attractively priced tent, compromises need to be made somewhere. It can be hard to know if you are comparing apples with apples when you are a new camper. Again, assuming you’re shopping for a car camping tent here, weight and packed size aren’t a major concern when buying a Coleman tent. 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.
An open vestibule with an attached floor means while you may be dry inside your tent, all your gear will be taking a bath. Ultimately, the best 6 person tent for you will depend on your camping needs and preferences. With the right tent, you can have a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience. One drawback is the lack of a full rainfly, however, the tent cover does provide additional protection from the rain. Personally, having camped through some pretty nasty rain storms, a full rainfly is extremely important to me. Likewise, a covered vestibule area before entering my tent is valuable to dry off before entering.