Coleman Instant 14- by 10- Foot 8- Person Two Room Tent

Customer Reviews

We got this tent this spring to replace an OLD Coleman external frame tent that used to leak on us like a seive, even when all we had was a heavy dew. Anyway, this tent has performed like a champ for the camping we did this summer.
First of all, the plusses...and there are plenty:
1) This tent is EASY to set up. The external frame and tent never come apart, so you don't have a chance to lose anything. I have set the tent up on my own, but, frankly, it's easier to set up when you have the help of one other person.
2) The set up goes like this...after you have the tent out of its bag you reverse the bend of the corners of the external fram so the poles extend out and down rather than down and up (the way they are stored). Next, extend the four telescoping poles that go from the center of the tent to the four corners until they snap into position at their maximum extension. After you have done that you extend and vertical poles (I recommend doing the corners first) until they snap locked at their maximum extension. Then do the same for the side poles, and you are done with the basic set up. Lastly, use tent pegs to secure to corners and sides of the tent in place.
3) Our first outing it rained, but we stayed nice and dry (be sure to use a ground cloth or tarp under your tent). Thanks Coleman!
4) There are plently of windows in the tent, and the tent can be divided into two rooms - front and back.
5) The engineering of this tent is such that it is able to give and sway a bit in the wind, and that's nice.
6) The tent is made of good materials.
The minuses...
1) The carry bag that the tent comes in seems a bit too small when you try to put the tent back into it when you break camp, but with some grunting and impolite shoving it finally will go back in. (Why do tent engineers always make the bag always do this!?)
2) This is NOT a back-packing tent...i.e., it's HEAVY. That's OK for us, since we camp in campgrounds where we can drive close to where we set up camp.
3) The metal L-shaped tent pegs are inadequate for high wind conditions...and if the gusts are heavy enough the tent will slip out of these pegs and partially collapse...not what you want to have happen to you and your family at night..which leads me to the part of the review where I tell you how to make this 4-star tent into a 5-star tent.
Here's how to make your 4-star tent a 5-star tent. It's easy. The one significant weakness of this tent is that the tent pegs are not substantial enough to hold up to prolonged exposure to wind (and in Idaho where I live it can get mighty windy). So, to correct this flaw simply repalace the light-weight metal tent pegs with more substantial tent pegs, such as COGHLANS Tent Stakes / Pegs 9" ABS Tent Pegs Md: 9309. or Coghlan's Ltd Tent Pegs 12In Abs 6Pk 9312. A half dozen of these pegs will do the trick, and viola, you have a 5-star tent!
The last time we went camping (last week) I had the impression that I should throw some of our old tent pegs in with our gear, and I'm glad I did! They worked wonders.
I hope this review and suggestion was helpful to you.
So, without the alternative tent pegs, 4-stars.

This is a great tent! Do yourself a favor and instead of taking it out of the box and trying to beat the 1 minute time for assembly, read the directions and familerize yourself with the proper way to put it up and take it down. After 1 or 2 times you will be setting up in about a minute.
I am 6'3' so I can easily lift and reach all the moving parts. It is a heavy tent (45lb) and its about 4 feet when in its carry bag. 45lbs may not sound like a lot but when it is stretched 4 feet accross it can feel more like 100 lbs. My wife has a hard time lifting and manuvering it by herself. Keep this in mind if you are short and not very strong. That being said Coleman does clearly state that set up is a 2 person job. I suggest that even carrying it is a 2 person job if you are small.
Taking it down is a slower process but still very easy and I love not having to seperate any parts to do it. However since it is all one piece you will definently want to put a tarp under it to keep the bottom as clean as possible. Remember when I said it is a heavy tent, well rolling it back up is a job in itself and I have used help for this since day one. You will get dirty doing this if the tent is dirty. There is no way around it, you have to man handle this thing to roll it up. Thats not a bad thing (you gotta take the bad with the good) I'm just speaking from my expierence with it and being honest. The bag is very large and you
shouldn't have a problem putting it away.
It is awesome inside. Its huge and I love that so much of it is screened. The room dividers role up real nice and they are permantly attached to the tent so you dont have to keep track of them if you choose not to use them. The windows/walls role in and tuck into the screen when zipped down wich is convienent and easy. Other reviews have stated that the wind can make them unrole and flap around, I have not had this issue.
I have been through 2 good rainy days with this and so far so good. Make sure the windows are zipped all the way up to keep the rain out, if they are even down a little than the rain will flow off the roof and into the crack. If you have little kids they will not be tall enough to zip the windows if it rains so be prepaired to do it yourself. This is a problem when it is hot because it can get very humid and stuffy in the tent without being able to have any air circulation. Camping fans are the solution I have used for this. Also if it is raining and you go in or out of the tent the rain will flow off the roof and in through the door while it is open making a wet spot on your floor. I have found no solution for this. As stated in the description, there is no need for a rainfly on this tent, nor is there one available or neccassary. That also means there is no screening on the top so looking at the stars while laying down is not an option. This is not a problem for me because I have never in my life camped without putting a rainfly over the roof screen "just in case it rains".
I have read other reviews stating that the frame rails have got stuck and they couldn't collapse the tent. I want to comment that. I have had that problem as well but if I twist the stuck pole a little to each side it has loosened it allowing me to collapse it. Once again though I am a big guy and for a smaller person this could definantly be an issue. The poles feel very sturdy to me and I trust the system that Coleman has used but it is inevidable that dust, debri, sand, moisture, ect. are gonna stick to the poles and jam them up a bit. Wiping them down before breaking down the tent may help with this. I also want to add that even with the few stuck poles I have dealt with I am still confident with the system and would not want those comments to take away your trust in this tent, but it is something to conider if you will be lacking man power on your camping trips.
In closing, I love this tent! One night camping trips are know worth the effort becasue there is almost zero setup/takedown time. It is the first and only easy up tent I have used so I cannot comment on what other companies offer in comparison to this. For me the price is right and Coleman is a trusted name. As with every product it has its ups and downs and I tried to be fair and disriptive with both based on my expierence with it.
My suggestions for the next generation of this tent would be -
Utilize the "real door or "D" door as I call it" like many of your newer tents use, that is the number 1 suggestion I have and the greatest progression in tents ever.
Add atleast 1 door on the side, the 2 doors on it now are great but 1 more would elimate having to step over other sleepers to get out when your the person sleeping in the middle of the tent.
It definantly needs more than 2 storage pockets, this is an 8 person tent so there should be 8 storage pockets. A lantern hanger in the middle would be great too.
I would love to see versions of this tent in bright colors, orange being my first choice. Beige and black look great on the outside but from the inside it feels gloomy in my opinion. It just doesn't let the light come through the way brighter tents do.

Product Features

• Spacious 8-person, 2-room tent designed for quick assembly
• Poles come pre-attached to tent, ensuring setup in 1 minute or less
• Exclusive WeatherTec system with thick waterproof walls and welded floor
• 2 doors and 7 windows for full ventilation; removable divider between rooms
• Base measures 14 by 10 feet; center height of 6 feet 5 inches; 1-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 48 x 10.9 x 10.3 inches ; 43.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 43.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B003QUT9OE
• Item model number: 2000005512
  

Price : $204.98
You Save : $37.01 (15%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Tired of tents that promise a quick setup, but still have you puzzling over the shock-corded poles 10 minutes in? Turn to the Coleman eight-person Instant Tent, which assembles and collapses in one minute or less.
The Coleman Instant Tent sets up and collapses in 1 minute or less. The secret to the tent's seamless setup is the pole system, which comes pre-attached to the tent. As a result, assembly couldn't be easier: just unfold the tent, spread it out, extend the poles, click them together, and lock them into place. Before you know it, you'll have a full two-room tent that stands 14 by 10 feet, with a center height of 6 feet 5 inches.
Despite the tent's versatility, it's still as strong and weatherproof as ever, with Coleman's exclusive WeatherTec system helping protect you from inclement weather and nasty storms. WeatherTec tents are built with a coated polyester fabric combined with anti-wicking thread, webbing, and zippers, all designed to keep you dry when the rain comes down. The tent's welded waterproof floor and inverted floor seams, meanwhile, dramatically increase the water resistance by hiding the needle holes inside the tent and away from the elements. And campers will love the strong, wind-responsive frame, which includes redesigned poles and guy-out triangles that anchor the tents and increase performance. In fact, Coleman is so confident in its WeatherTec system that it exposes its WeatherTec tents to a rain room that simulates nasty downpours, and to a wind machine capable of blowing hurricane force gusts. The results? Even after the tests, Coleman guarantees its WeatherTec tents will keep you dry.
The tent's exterior is tough and long-lasting, with heavy-duty 150D construction that's twice as thick as Coleman's standard tent fabric. When combined with the fully taped rain fly seams, the tent can even keep you dry without requiring a separate rain fly. The tent also offers ample room for sleeping or hanging out. Campers have their choice of sleeping in one large room with enough space for eight people, or dropping down the divider and turning the tent into a two-room palace. And hot nights will seem far more refreshing thanks to the two doors and seven windows, which provide terrific ventilation and 360-degree views. Other features include vertical walls that make it easy to stand and move about the tent, an interior gear pocket, reverse angle windows, and easy-to-follow instructions sewn into the durable carrying bag. The tent carries a limited one-year warranty.

The tent boasts a roomy interior with sleeping space for up to 8 people. Specifications:

• Center height: 6 feet 5 inches
• Base dimensions: 14 feet by 10 feet
• Doors: 2
• Windows: 7
• Body fabric: 150D polyester
• Country of origin: Made in China
• Warranty: Limited 1 year

About ColemanMore than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman, and the company he founded would change life in America. A man plagued with such poor vision he sometimes had to ask classmates to read aloud to him, Coleman saw a brilliant light in 1900 in a drugstore window that stopped him in his tracks. He inquired about the light inside and discovered he was able to read even the small print on a medicine bottle by the illumination. The lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline under pressure instead of coal oil. Soon afterward, Coleman started a lighting service that offered a "no light, no pay" clause--a big step forward for merchants who were burned by inferior products that rarely worked--and drew substantial interest from businesses that wanted to keep their lights on after dark.
In the ensuing years, Coleman expanded its product line well beyond lanterns. The company's current catalog is thick with products that make spending time outdoors a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for days on end, comfortable airbeds that won't deflate during the night, a complete line of LED lights that last for years, powerful portable grills that cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more. Coleman has truly fashioned much of our outdoor camping experience, and expects to do so for generations to come.

The Coleman Instant 8 person 14- by 10- Foot tent is perfect for the family that is looking to get their campsite set up quickly to start enjoying the outdoors. This is an 8 person, two room tent that has straight walls that make standing up in this tent easy with plenty of head room at 6'5" center height. Fully taped seems with 150D fabric allows Coleman to provide the keeps you dry guaranteed without the need to install a rain fly.
List Price : $241.99