One of the best ways to get closer to nature and spend valuable time with the family is camping.
Camping brings you to unique places and gives you access to the beauty that can often be ignored in the midst of a busy life.
Hopefully you’re reading this because you’ve made a decision to take the family on a camping trip. So, we will be talking about the best tents for family camping, so that you can make an informed decision on which tent is right for you.
When you cater your camping needs to specific pieces of gear, the entire experience will be elevated. Having a tent big enough for the whole family keeps everyone together and provides a ton of convenience. Here are the best tents for family camping!
Coleman Weathermaster
The Coleman Weathermaster tent will not only comfortably hold 6 people, but is tall enough for all of them to stand up.
Coleman is a brand that will be mentioned more than once on this list as it can keep costs low and inside space high. After all, these are two really solid attributes you need for a good family tent.
The Weathermaster is a 6-person tent that has a complete screen room for added convenience. When it can hold six people and is tall enough for many to stand in with no issues, you have a really good family tent. You can even fit two queen-sized air mattresses in the main room.
Pros:
Incredibly spacious and tall tent big enough to fit the whole family
Strong frame
Fully screened-in porch
Comfortably fits six people
Cons:
Quite heavy, so good with car camping and not so much for camping on a weight limit
Good rainfly, but there are cases of areas being compromised in heavy rain
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Core 9-Person Extended Dome Tent
The Core 9-person Extended Dome tent is a super spacious option with great ventilation.
If you need to really take it up a notch in terms of capacity, the Core 9-Person Extended Dome Tent is made for you. Not only can it fit a larger number of people, but the tent is very roomy and also affordable.
The Core brand is very affordable while still providing really good quality tents. Nine people is a lot to pack into a tent, so a good way to get the most out of the experience is by camping with 5-6 people instead of nine. This ensures everyone is comfortable and safe.
Pros:
Very spacious
Extended dome allows for even more space
Really good ventilation
Very affordable
Cons:
Very heavy due to the size
Cases of water leaking in the corners known in some situations
The REI Co-op Kingdom tent is a high-end option built to last.
REI is one of the world’s leading outdoor retailers, and their lines of products are of super high quality. The REI Co-op tents are incredible options that range from large, family-style tents to ultralight backpacking ones. So, if you like one in this line, you can cater to all avenues to camping right there.
The Kingdom line has sizes ranging from 4-8 people, so you can get one that best fits your needs on the trail. This is a fairly high-end tent that will cost a good amount, but can last a long time.
Pros:
Very tall and spacious
Big enough for the whole family
Comes in a few variations that can be specified for size
The Caddis Rapid 6 tent has some of the best weatherproofing available.
If you love your tent to have a substantial height, the Caddis Rapid 6 is the way to go. This is a tall, wide tent that offers room for up to six people at once. Now, it may be a bit tight with six people packed into it, but if you have only four or five, you will be really living the life.
Although this is a pretty heavy tent, it is perfect for car camping with the whole family. It is also super easy to set up and enjoy fully.
Pros:
Very family-friendly
Comes from a reliable brand
Reinforced corners and seems to provide the best weatherproofing possible
At 11 pounds, the Wawona 4 from The North Face is a light option for a family of four.
Although The North Face is best known for its outdoor apparel, the tent department can also bring the goods. When you can invest in a tent brand of this quality, you know the customer experience and service both will be up to par.
The Wawona 4 specifically is great for smaller families that still want to be conscious about the size and weight of the setup. With it weighing about 11 pounds, it is nowhere near backcountry light, but to fit four people, it is quite light.
Pros:
Fairly light considering the size
Fits four people
Has a good amount of in-tent storage
Cons:
Four people will be a bit crammed
Not the tallest option out there
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Eureka Copper Canyon LX
The Eureka Copper Canyon LX will hold 6 people and made of high-quality, weatherproof materials.
One way to really up the ante is by getting a 6-person tent with plenty of room. The Eureka Copper Canyon LX is a fantastic family tent as it is spacious, strong, and built for real camping. That being considered, it is quite heavy, so camping out of your car would be best.
Unfortunately, there is only one door and no vestibule, so you are missing out on a couple of key options. Overall, Eureka is a great brand, but the Copper Canyon does lack a couple of key aspects.
Pros:
Comes in four and six person variables
Comes from a reputable brand.
High quality materials that are waterproof
Cons:
Does not have a vestibule
There is only one door, so getting out can be a pain
The rainfly does not have great coverage
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REI Co-op Grand Hut
The REI Co-op Grand Hut holds six and sports a large rain fly for great weatherproof protection.
We round out our list with the REI Co-op Grand Hut. This is a great family tent as it can hold six people in total but four people is the number for really good comfort.
The Grand Hut has four standard walls and a pretty high ceiling. One of the shining stars is the rain fly. It is large and thick to provide the best protection possible. Plus, it is long enough to create a nice vestibule.
Hopefully this recap of some of the best options out there for tent camping with your family will be the final step to getting started on making some unforgettable memories with your family!
In this review, I tested the Rage Trypan NC, (no collar). I had been wanting to test this head for a while.
In this broadhead test I used my Bowtech SR6 set at 72 pounds and I used a Bishop FOC King Arrow for most of the shots, and then the Bishop FAD Eliminators for the really hard impact shots.
Let’s check out these broadheads and then put them to the test.
The Rage Trypan NC Broadhead Up Close
Here’s a good look at the head close-up. The ferrule is made out of titanium and it has been age-hardened, which is just a process of hardening where a solution is added to the metal and brought to a super high temperature. Then it is quenched and brought down to a really low temperature and then heated up to an intermediate temperature for several hours. Itresults in an extra hard ferrule that is extra durable, resistant to wear and readily machinable.
The blades of the Trypan NC are stainless steel. They are 0.039 inch thick, so, relatively thick. They are double bevel on both sides.
Now, you’ve also got this little collar down here. This is not a retention collar. But rather, this is what they call their FAT adaptor, (Ferrule Alignment Technology), which just allows the ferrule to taper smoothly and transition smoothly into the end of the shaft right there.
The blades deploy simply by pressure on these two like blunt wings or “bats” of the blade.
The pressure causes the blades to slide back and reach their full open position, which is 2 inches. So, you’re getting a full 2 inches of cut, plus a about a quarter of an inch from the tip going in the opposite direction.
I was hopeful that the Trypan Hypodermic NC would be more durable than some of the other Rages that I’ve tested in the past. But, initially, it looked like a pretty cool head. So, let’s see how this Rage Trypan NC performed.
I shot the Trypan NC into ballistic get that was fronted with 1/2″ MDF and foam matting.
The Rage Trypan NC penetrated 6 inches into the ballistic gel.
Here you can see that the blades open to almost their full position upon impact. They had 1-1/2 inches of opening on their initial impact. But, then as you can see, the blades begin to close because they don’t lock open. They begin to close and they reached their closed position and then they just stayed in that position.
I shot the Trypan NC into MDF board 5 consecutive times to see how durable it was.
Here’s the head after going through the MDF 5 times. And as you can see, the blades did bend pretty significantly. That started to happen on the second shot. However, the ferrule is in excellent shape. It still spun perfectly well and the blades didn’t collapse. They didn’t bend laterally and they didn’t break off. So overall, I’d say this held up fairly well especially compared to the other Rages that I’ve tested.
I shot the head into a cinder block to see how it would fare…
Here’s the head after impacting the concrete. On the good side, it penetrated really deeply into the concrete. And also on the good side, it held together. It didn’t break into a bunch of different pieces. On the bad side, it did bend considerably.
Now, I know we don’t hunt concrete, OK? So, you can hold back on your comments about that. But, this is a good test of the structural integrity of a broadhead. And again, the goal is just to expose the weak points a head may have.
It doesn’t mean it’s not a great hunting broadhead. But, it does show you what’s going to happen in a zero penetration test on a really hard impact with things like heavy bone. This is a good indication of the weakness of that really vented titanium ferrule.
So what do you think of the Hypodermic Trypan NC? You know, it performed better than I expected.
I’ve come to kind of expect that most of the Rages that I test are just going fall apart. But these didn’t. They bent, but they didn’t break and they have lot of good things going for them.
Now, ad for the “NC.” It’s an advantage in some ways that you don’t have to mess around with the collars and the bands and stuff like that.
And, I know usually even when a mechanical doesn’t open well in testing, it usually does OK on animals because of the hide, and the body behind that hide, and the tissue being stretched really tight and so forth.
These gave me a bit of pause and a bit of concern about how they would open.
Check out the score sheet below and see how they performed in the areas that matter to you the most and see how they stack up to other mechanicals of this size.
Taking your furry friend into the wilderness with you can be such a unique and fun experience. And while some areas will not allow pets on the trails or in the campsites, where it is permitted can be super fun and enjoyable.
When bringing a dog camping, there are a few aspects you need to keep in mind. Having dog food, a water bowl, and a few other items will ensure that your dog is safe and happy. You must also have a tent that caters to both you and your best friend.
So, let’s cover the best tents for camping with dogs!
MSR Expedition Remote 4
The MSR Expedition Remote 4 has extra padding and insulation to keep you and your dog comfy and warm!
MSR is a fantastic backcountry brand that makes excellent tents. When it comes to camping with your dog, You will need that extra room to be comfortable. Although this option is fairly expensive, it provides incredible quality.
One aspect unique to MSR is the winterizing factor. The extra material and padding allows for much better insulation and heat trapping during those cold months.
That durability also translates to ensuring that your dog’s nails won’t completely tear up the fabric. When it is strong enough to handle it, you won’t have to worry about this aspect.
The Coleman 6-person Dome Tent provides not only ample space, but provides a large screened area where you can feed your dog.
You definitely need to make sure that there is plenty of space between you, your dog, and anyone else who is camping with you. If you are crammed with an antsy dog, it can make for a long night.
So, the Coleman 6-person dome tent will have more than enough room for everyone. This tent has a ton of space and keeps things simple and affordable. It is easy to set up and is still very weatherproof.
One of the big selling points alongside the size, is the vestibule. There is a large screened area in front of the tent that makes camping with a dog very convenient. This area can be used to clean up or feed the dog before jumping into the tent.
Pros:
Extremely affordable for the size
Plenty of room for you and your dog
Reinforced corners to keep rain out and heat in
Super easy to set up
Clovered vestibule area
Cons:
Not the most durable tent
The screened portion can be susceptible to to the elements
The Coleman Steel Creek Dome Tent is an affordable option providing space and functionality.
As we stick with Coleman, you can see that this brand focuses on functionality, space, and affordability. Those three functions are top priorities when camping with dogs. So, the Coleman Steel Creek dome tent follows those points to a tee.
A big part of this tent’s identity is the fast pitch design. You can set it up fully in a matter of minutes and dedicate the rest of the time to enjoying nature.
This is also a 6-person tent, so there is plenty of room inside. They also do a good job of weatherproofing the fly and corners, so there will not be water seeping in during the night.
Pros:
Very spacious design
Has fast-pitch technology for ultimate ease of use
The PetEgo Portable Tent is made specifically for pets, including claw proof floors and mesh windows.
One brand that is specific to dog camping is the PetEgo Portable Tent. Because the brand specifically caters to pets, you know you have something that can work with you and your dog on the trail. This is a super easy tent to pop up and get you and the dog out of the elements.
It is also outfitted with claw-proof floors, so there is no worry about ripping up the materials. There are mesh windows on the sides that can provide air flow if you so wish. Overall, this is a decent tent that is made to withstand your pet and their needs.
The Wenzel 8-Person Klondike provides maximum space for you, your family and your dog to move around comfortably.
The best tent on our list for many people camping at once is the Wenzel 8-Person Klondike tent. With a large inside and very spacious vestibule, this is an excellent option for dog owners. With that space, you will not feel cramped, and your dog can feel as comfortable as possible.
It is 6’6” tall, so the normal person and dog can both stand and move around comfortably. So, you can pack yourself, your dog, and some other people all in the same tent!
The Moon Lence Camping Tent is ourpick for the best lightweight and compact tent for camping with your dog.
As our pick for the best lightweight, compact tent for camping with a dog, the Moon Lence camping tent is an awesome option. Now, this is designed specifically for people who are camping solo with their dog. It is a 2-person tent by design, but your dog will take up one of those spots.
It weighs just over five pounds while still having room for you and your furry friend. If you are doing some backcountry camping or you really need to save weight, this is the option for you. It is a dome tent with a small vestibule on the side. It has good ventilation and is roomy enough to get by when saving weight.
Pros:
Very lightweight and compact for certain camping situations
