In other words, one partner—or one partner’s gear—is always going to get a dose of weather when they head out. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten 4 has a mesh canopy, though the opaque polyester part of its walls go higher, and provide more privacy, than the Mineral King’s. Its tape-seamed bathtub floor and fly had no problem handling rain. The Tungsten’s fly is not adaptable in the same way the Mineral King 3’s is, but it is treated for extra UV protection, which should help lengthen the tent’s lifespan. Finding a small, light tent is the logical approach when you’re backpacking.
When you combine the spacious and tall interior (6′ 6″ max height and 85 square feet of floor space) with the large double-doored vestibule (and additional 44.7 square feet), you have a comfortable masterpiece. The new design also allows the Wawona to be used without the vestibule, adding a great option for warm-weather camping. We also love the tall, full-sized door feature that allows you to enter without ducking. We put these camping tents against the elements, battling kids, wind, dogs, dirt, heat, and a very opinionated husband and wife team. From setup and breakdown to weather resistance and durability to the quality of the space for both hanging out and sleeping, we put these products through a lot to help you find your best match. This tent is so easy to pop into place that the average camper could bypass reading the instructions and still have it fully operational in less than two minutes.
When pushed, most of the reps we talked to estimated five to 10 years, though the actual lifespan will vary widely depending on care and frequency of use (for more advice, read REI’s excellent tips). In conducting research for this guide, we heard multiple tales of careful campers who had been using the same tent for 15 years or more. We’ve tested (and recommended) Eureka tents in past versions of this guide. 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.
We rarely find a quality 6-person tent at a price point this low. To prepare for this review, we scoured the internet, read personal accounts, and dug into bloggers’ and YouTubers’ thoughts on the best tents on the market. After selecting the most promising options, we purchased 16 of the best camping tents on the market and got to work. We measured, weighed, and inspected each before carting them to the woods and desert for proper testing.
The Base Camp tents include a low side vent and multiple stuff pockets on the walls and ceiling, which are made of 75D polyester treated with 1500mm of polyurethane waterproofing. Note that these tents are strictly meant for car camping; the Base Camp 4 and the Base Camp 6 weigh 16 and 21 pounds, respectively, so you won’t want to carry either one very far. Both come with storage sacks that you sling over one shoulder. Coleman makes no dedicated footprints for its tents—the idea being that the polyethylene is tough enough not to need one. (Still, we suggest that you buy a groundsheet.) The tent has two small, internal pockets—fewer than on any of our other picks—and a loop at the ceiling center to hang a small, lightweight light.
With 87 square feet of interior space, plus 28 square feet of vestibule space, the polyester tent fits four adults comfortably, or two adults with two or three children, with plenty of room to store gear and muddy boots. (As its name indicates, it’s meant to house six people, but we wouldn’t recommend that.) The Wireless 6 has two large doors and a full rain fly. A classic polyester dome tent, the Mineral King 3 uses two high-quality pre-bent aluminum ozark trail shower tent poles, which maximize head and shoulder space, making this tent feel less cramped than other dome tents we tested. Two large doors provide easy entry and exit, and a vestibule—that’s camping speak for “mudroom”—outside each door adds significant sheltered storage. The Mineral King 3 has a full rain fly, which you can roll up halfway or completely remove for epic stargazing. It also comes with a groundsheet (aka footprint) to protect the tent floor.
Unlimited waterfront entertainment, premier golfing, and lush scenery greet travelers at our Lake of the Ozarks vacation rentals. As expected, it turned tent-shaped with two easy tugs on the red pulls at either side of the tent (only thing left to do was put six stakes into the ground to secure it). Our Also great picks, the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 and Base Camp 6 tents, are now back in stock. Tent is made of polyester and steel with large windows and mesh screen. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone.
It uses high-quality materials such as aluminum poles, breathable mesh, and water-resistant polyester fabric, and it comes with a full fly and a footprint. The Tungsten 4’s larger size accounts for the higher price tag (about $40 more), but campers who would like that extra room may find the expense worthwhile. Step up your next outdoor adventure with the Ozark Trail 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent with LED Lighted Hub. This spacious cabin style tent requires no assembly because the poles are pre-attached to the tent . This tent features three large mesh windows and one adjustable AC vent for improved air circulation throughout the tent.
This is a great option for beginners, as a kids’ tent, or for budget-minded car campers. One highlight was all the windows with mesh screens and shades that can be strapped over or rolled up. Not only was the natural light welcomed, but the amount of ventilation resisted any moisture buildup. An integrated, battery-operated light system surrounds the interior roof for ample nighttime light. It has a head-level gear loft and eight pockets, offering plenty of storage options.
The Skyward has a 6′ 6″ height profile and a larger-than-normal, built-in vestibule. Since 2012, our team has reviewed close to 300 tents, including the top 16 car camping options in this review. See which ones stood up to our rigorous testing as we take you on a deep dive into the inner workings of the tent market. We put these tents to the test across some pretty rugged terrain and the complicated environment of a family, teenagers, and two moderately trained dogs. With the help of our years of experience, we’ve gathered all the information you’ll need to pick the perfect tent for your next outdoor adventure. This one-room, square tent stood out from all the rest of the tents, and will now be my go-to car camping tent.