There really isn’t anything better than sleeping in the great outdoors. With the stars shining above you, camping is one of the best experiences in the world, though if you don’t have the right tent, a fun night out in the woods can turn into an experience you’d rather forget.
Thus, it’s incredibly important to put a lot of research and thought into whatever tent you choose to buy. If you like to camp with a large family or a group of friends, the best cabin tent just might be what you need.
That being said, many of us just don’t have the time to spend hours researching the perfect tent for your family. That’s where we come in. Coming up, we’ll walk you through the basics of cabin tents and why they’re great for family camping getaways.
Then, we’ll give you advice on how to choose the cabin tent that’s right for your needs before giving you our reviews of the best rated cabin tents on the market today. Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
- What is a Cabin Tent?
- Pros and Cons of Cabin Tents
- How to Choose Cabin Tent?
- The Best Rated Cabin Tent Brands
- Best Cabin Tents on the Market Review
- 1. CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
- 2. Coleman Cabin Tent
- 3. CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
- 4. CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Awning
- 5. Timber Ridge 6 Person Cabin Tent with Rainfly
- 6. Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin Tent
- 7. QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent
- 8. CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent
- 9. Coleman Prairie Breeze Lighted Cabin Tent
- 10. CORE 11 Person Family Cabin Tent with Screen Room
- FAQs
- The Verdict
What is a Cabin Tent?
Okay, first things first, what is a cabin tent? Well, simply put, a cabin tent is a large, spacious outdoor shelter used for camping. Cabin tents are generally shaped like a simple cabin, with straight walls and a flat room.
They tend to have indoor partitions for creating multiple rooms for people who enjoy their private space. Additionally, most cabin tents will come with windows, one or two doors, and perhaps a mesh sun porch for relaxation.
Pros and Cons of Cabin Tents
Although cabin tents are pretty darn awesome, they do have some pros and cons, especially when compared to other kinds of camping tents. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a cabin tent:
Pros
Cons
How to Choose Cabin Tent?
Alright, now that you understand the basics of a cabin tent, let’s dive right into choosing the one that’s right for your needs. Here’s what to look out for when buying a new cabin tent:
Tent Capacity
If you have a large family, a tent’s sleeping capacity is of the utmost importance. Generally, tent makers will label their tents with the suggested maximum sleeping capacity, though, it’s important to keep in mind that this is just a suggestion, not a rule.
Larger families will often enjoy having a bit of extra space, especially if they have small children. So, while you certainly can fit two 5-person families in a 10 person tent, we’d recommend sizing up a bit, just to make sure everyone has the privacy and personal space they expect. When you have teenage children traveling with you, this becomes even more imperative, so do keep this in mind while you shop.
Waterproofing
No one likes to get soaked in the rain when they’re sitting inside their tent, so it’s important to invest in a tent with a quality waterproofing system. Most tents will come with some sort of waterproof rainfly, which helps to keep the tent dry.
However, some cabin tents have rain flies that only cover the top of the tent, not the sides. This is fine if you live somewhere with little rain, but these kinds of tents will get swamped in a storm. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your tent has fully taped seams on both the floor and the fly to stop water from leaking in.
Packed size
While many of us wish we had huge houses with plenty of space, the fact of the matter is that most of us just don’t have that much storage space at home or in our cars. Thus, the packed size of your cabin tent is pretty important, especially when it comes to packability and transport to and from the campground.
These days, there are plenty of cabin tents with relatively small packed sizes, so if this is a concern for you, you’ll want to pay particular attention to this technical spec while you’re shopping. Generally, the larger the tent, the larger the packed size, though, so keep that in mind during your research.
Ease of set up
If you’re new to camping, the thought of pitching a tent might be a bit daunting. Cabin tents can be pretty tricky to set up, especially if you’re not yet a seasoned camper. Thankfully, while some cabin tents can take up to 20 minutes to pitch, there are plenty of great pop up tent options for people looking for an instant solution to the tent set up process.
Durability
The last thing anyone wants is to invest in a new tent, only to have it completely fall apart after a few uses. A durable tent is worth its weight in gold, especially if it lasts for 10 or 20 years. That being said, many cabin tents aren’t necessarily designed for harsh weather, so tent owners also need to be realistic with their expectations. Should one take good care of their tent and use it only in mild to moderate conditions, a quality, durable cabin tent should last for years.
The Best Rated Cabin Tent Brands
When you buy a tent, you want to be sure you’re purchasing from a reputable brand. With so many different tentmakers out there today, it’s good to know that you’re buying from a company that’s dedicated to quality in their products. Here are some of our favorite cabin tent brands:
CORE
CORE is well known for creating a large array of different car camping tents, from small dome shelters to large, luxurious abodes. With a wide range of cabin tents to choose from, CORE has a camping shelter for every need.
Coleman
Coleman has been making quality, affordable outdoor gear for decades, and their cabin tents are no exception. Coleman is constantly raising the bar when it comes to innovative designs in the cabin tent market.
Best Cabin Tents on the Market Review
Okay, we’ve finally made it: It’s time for our reviews of the ten best cabin tents on the market today. Let’s dive right in:
1. CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
Simple, yet functional, the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent features a center height of 86” and straight-sided walls for maximum internal liveable space. With enough room for two queen-sized air mattresses, as well as a room divider, everyone can have the privacy and space they need inside the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent.
As far as breathability and weatherproofing goes, the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent is one of the best rated cabin tents for rain, thanks to CORE’s H20 Block Technology and adjustable ground vents, which keep you dry, yet well-ventilated during the summer months. With an included gear loft and plenty of storage pockets, the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent even helps you stay organized in the outdoors.
2. Coleman Cabin Tent
Hate pitching a tent? Don’t want to fuss around with tent poles and flies? Have no fear, the Coleman Cabin tent is here. With a ten person capacity and an easy, breezy instant set-up, you can arrive at your car camping location and have a shelter for the whole family in just one minute when using the Coleman Cabin Tent.
In addition to its status as one of the best pop up cabin tents, the Coleman Cabin can fit four queen-sized air beds, so its also one of the best large family cabin tents on the market today. IF that wasn’t enough to convince you, the Coleman Cabin tent also features Dark Room technology, which blocks 90% of sunlight for a better night’s sleep, everytime.
3. CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
The CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is a small family’s best friend in the outdoors. As one of the best instant tents out there, the CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin can be set up in just 60 seconds to sleep up to 9 people or fit two queen-sized air mattresses.
With CORE’s proprietary H20 block technology and adjustable ground vent, the CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is great at keeping the interior tent temperature comfortable, while also keeping you dry in a rainstorm. An included room divider and a handful of wall gear storage pockets round out the CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent’s list of great features for families who like a bit of added comfort while camping.
4. CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Awning
Do you have a small family but appreciate your personal space? Then look no further than the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Awning, which combines functional performance with plenty of livable space into one package.
The CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent has a T-shaped door for easy access while an overhead awning protects campers from the elements when they head outside in the middle of the night to answer nature’s call. Plus, with a large gear loft with lantern hook, as well as a large wall organizer, the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent makes it easy to stay neat and tidy, even when you’re in the woods.
Waterproof, yet breathable, the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent is a great option for small families looking for the comforts of a cabin tent without the hassle of a large shelter, making it one of the best rated cabin tents for summer on the market today.
5. Timber Ridge 6 Person Cabin Tent with Rainfly
Featuring a quick and easy instant set up, the Timber Ridge 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent is your home away from home in the great outdoors. With a large door providing easy access to the inside of the tent, the Timber Ridge 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent is great for small families and friends, alike.
The Timber Ridge 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent has a 78 inch center height, which means it’s easy to stand fully upright inside the tent. Plus, with three large zippered mesh winds, and a mesh ceiling, the Timber Ridge 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent provides ample ventilation during the warm summer months while its rain fly protects you from the rain. With a range of features this awesome, what’s not to love about this 6 person tent?
6. Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin Tent
Aptly named, the Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin tent offers a 14’ x 10’ floor plan and a 78 inch center height for maximum interior living space. Thanks to its straight wall design, the Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin feels more like a home than a tent when you’re out in the woods.
This 10 person cabin tent has large pull-out windows for plenty of breathability during the summer months while a large, adjustable ground vent provides lots of air flow without allowing small critters inside. With crunch-free polyester floors and a strong, water-repellent fabric, the Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin is a one of the best car camping cabin tents on the market today.
7. QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent
Instant, yet durable, the QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent is designed to be pitched by two people in just under one minute so you can spend more time enjoying your camping trip and less time messing around with your gear. The QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent has a spacious 10 foot x 9 foot interior with a 5’9” center height, providing enough space for a single queen airbed or six campers in their sleeping bags.
Designed for use in the summer months, the QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent has a mesh roof and ground vent system so you can get plenty of airflow throughout the tent at night. Plus, the QOMOTOP Camping 6 Person Cabin Tent’s electrical cord port makes it easy to connect to the hookup in your campsite so you can charge all of your electronics on-the-go.
8. CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent
Have a large family? Not sure if you can all fit into just one tent? That’s where the CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent comes into the picture. This incredibly spacious cabin has a 16 foot x 11 foot interior plan with an astonishing 86 inch center height, which means it can house up to 12 people all in one shelter.
If that wasn’t amazing enough, the CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent has a waterproof rainfly that can be removed to reveal the tent’s mesh ceiling for star gazing on those clear summer nights. Plus, you can use the included room divider to create two separate bedrooms or a living room with a secondary door for families that love their privacy and added comfort. With the CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent, the options reall are limitless.
9. Coleman Prairie Breeze Lighted Cabin Tent
Do you love the great outdoors but find that you often miss the comforts of home while you’re camping? Thanks to the Coleman Prairie Breeze Lighted Cabin Tent, however, you no longer have to compromise on your comfort.
This 9-person cabin-shaped tent features a unique LED-lighting system which allows you to illuminate the tent at night and enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing on those creature comforts that we’ve all come to love. If that wasn’t enough, the Coleman Prairie Breeze Lighted Cabin Tent has an easy snag-free set-up system and a fully-waterproof design, so it can be used in any conditions at a moment’s notice.
10. CORE 11 Person Family Cabin Tent with Screen Room
When it comes to versatility in your camping gear, you’ll probably find it’s hard to beat the CORE 11 Person Family Camping Tent with Screen Room. This spacious tent has enough room to sleep 11 people or fit three queen-sized air mattresses inside its vast interior. It also has a built-in gear loft and interior pockets so you can keep your gear organized at all times.
The real selling point of this tent? Its amazing screen room, which allows for some great outdoor relaxation in the summer months without exposing yourself to the bugs and the rain. If we had to choose the best cabin tent with a screened porch, we’d be hard-pressed to find something better than the CORE 11 Person Family Camping Tent with Screen Room.
FAQs
Here are our answers to some of your top questions about cabin person tents:
What is the difference between a cabin tent and a dome tent?
The main difference between a cabin tent and a dome tent is the shape of the shelter. While a dome tent, is, well, dome-shaped, a cabin tent tends to have straighter sides and resemble more of a small hut than a tent. This means that cabin tents tend to provide a larger inner ceiling height and more interior livable space when compared to a dome tent. However, dome tents tend to be a bit stronger in foul conditions, so there are pros and cons to each kind of tent.
How is the ventilation in a cabin tent?
Whether or not a cabin tent has lots of ventilation really comes down to the tent in question. While some cabin tents offer plenty of breathability, others leave a lot to desire. Generally speaking, a tent’s breathability comes from the amount of mesh it has in the tent body. The more mesh a tent has, the more breathable it is. Of course, this breathability comes at a cost of decreased insulation in the colder months, so this is something to keep in mind when shopping for a highly ventilated cabin tent.
How long does it take to set one up?
Every tent has a different set up process, so each cabin tent will take a different amount of time to set up. If you’re experienced with tent pitching, setting up even the most difficult of cabin tents shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes. However, if you’re concerned that your tent will take too long to set up, you can always invest in an instant pop-up cabin tent, instead.
How do you keep a cabin tent exterior clean?
To keep the exterior of a cabin tent clean, you’ll need to take good care of your tent at the end of every camping trip. In general, we recommend unpacking your cabin tent once you return home and spraying it with fresh water from your hose at the end of your trip. Then, hang the tent up to dry in your garage or draped over a fence and only pack it away when it’s fully dry. If you pack a wet tent away, you’ll likely have mold and mildew growth, which not only stains your tent, but is bad for your health.
The Verdict
Ultimately, you’re probably only going to choose one cabin tent to take on your camping adventures. But, with so many different models to pick from, how do you know that you’re getting the tent that’s right for your needs?
Well, after reviewing the ten best cabin tents on the market today, we’ve come up with a winner for our head-to-head match-up. At the end of the day, if we had to choose just one of these fantastic cabin tents, we’d go with the CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent, due to its massive interior space and added features which make life easy and comfortable in the great outdoors.
Of course, what’s important here is that you find the cabin tent that best matches the needs of you and your family. At this point, you should have the skills and knowledge necessary to choose the best tent for your next adventure. Happy camping!
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