When it comes to buying a one of the best family tents for bad weather, there are more than a few options available on Amazon. If you are looking to buy your next camping tent from Amazon, probably you will be confused with so many varieties and types of tents available.
OUR PICK: You can go with GEERTOP 2 Person 4 Season Backpacking Tent if you dont have time to read the full article.
Our Recommendation
This makes it very difficult to make the right choice. To make it easier for you, we will feature some of the Best Family Tents for Bad Weather so you can make the right decision easily.
You can also check the top rated tents for families with complete features and product comparison.
Best Family Tents for Bad Weather (Summary)
 | Azarxis 2 Person Backpacking Tent | • 2 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 9’ x 7’ feet (not rectangle) • Extra light-weight 6 lbs. • Backpacking tent • Aluminum poles • Weather resistant fabric | Check Price |
 | Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Person Backpacking Tent | • 2 Persons and 3 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 7’ x 6’ feet (not rectangle) • Extra light-weight 5.2 lbs. • Backpacking tent • Aluminum poles • Weather resistant fabric | Check Price |
 | GEERTOP 2 Person 4 Season Backpacking Tent | • 2 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 7’ x 6’ feet (not rectangle) • Extra light-weight 6.4 lbs. • Backpacking tent • Aluminum poles • Weather resistant fabric | Check Price |
| Amazon Basics 4 Person Tent | • 4 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 15’ x 9’ feet • Cool air-port and variable venting system • Shock corded poles | Check Price | |
| Ozark Trail 11 Person 3 Room Instant Cabin Tent | • 11 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 14’ x 14’ feet • 3 rooms • Easy Setup • Weighs 39 lbs. | Check Price | |
| Ozark Trail 6 Person Dome Tent | • 6 Persons • All-seasons (4-season) • 10’ x 9’ feet • Instant 30s setup • Weighs 32 lbs. • Ground vent | Check Price | |
| Coleman Sundome Tent | • Heavy Duty Tarp • Instant Setup • Extra light-weight 8lbs • Weathertech waterproofing technology | Check Price | |
| Night Cat Waterproof Camping Tent | • Hydraulic instant setup (60 sec) • Durable tarp • Taped seam • Strong fabric | Check Price | |
| Coleman Montana 6 | • Inverted seams • Angled windows • Pin-and-ring easy setup • Large hinged door | Check Price | |
| TOMOUNT 8-Person Tent | • Spacious • 5 Large mesh windows • Multiple color options | Check Price | |
| Coleman 8-Person Car Camping Tent | • 3 rooms with dividers • Comfortable for 8 • Detachable entry mat/tarp • WeatherTech waterproof technology | Check Price |
There are a few things you need to consider before buying your next camping tent. Will this be a good choice for a rainy day? Will it sustain cold weather? Is it have sturdy stakes to keep you safe in rain rains and heavy rains? Will is actually accommodate the number of persons written in the specifications? We have summarized in detail in our review.
What To Consider When Choosing The Best Family Camping Tent
Selecting the right camping tent is one of the essential requirements for making a successful camping trip for your family and friends. Fortunately, given the massive popularity of camping as a past time, today you will find lots of high quality family camping tents on the market. First and foremost, you’ll have to assess your needs and figure out what size family camping tent you will need, and what amenities it should include to keep everyone comfortable and happy.
When selecting a tent it’s important to pay attention to important details such as the quality and durability of the product. You will need something that will withstand a wide range of weather conditions, have ample living space, and lots of storage if you plan on taking an extended trip. Please feel free to browse around Family Camping Tent Reviews to find a large camping tent that fits your family’s needs.
We all know that camping tent is the most important gear when it comes to camping. But what to consider when choosing the camping tent? Go through our blog to skim through the most important aspects that can help you chose the right tent for you.
BEGINNERS GUIDE: What to consider when buying a camping tent?
What to consider when looking for Best Family Tents for Bad Weather?
It all depends on what you are looking for, but to make your choice easier, we will break down some of the important features to consider while you look for buying a tent on Amazon. You can review in detail on our blog Beginners guide to buying a camping tent? as well.
| Feature | What to look for? |
| 3-Seasons Tent or 4-Seasons Tent | If you are looking for a tent for cold weathers and snow rains, don’t go for anything less than a 4-season tent. 3 season tents are good for rainy day protection but not meant for very cold temperatures. |
| Setup Time | Is it a pre-assembled tent or not? How long does it take to set it up? How many people are required to set it up? Always good to watch a tutorial video of the tent setup and then try at your home yard for the very first time before going to your vacation. |
| Frame | Is the tent made of steel or fiberglass? Or both? Do you prefer strength over weight? Or you can pay a little extra to get high quality fiber glass that can withstand strong winds and rain. |
| Poles | Similar to frame, the poles also come in variety of materials. Mainly steel and good quality fiber glass can be trusted. |
| Stakes | Stakes are key for most of the camping tents for additional support against high winds and heavy rains. If your camp does not come with steel stakes, we recommend you to buy a few extra steel stakes and don’t rely on stakes of other materials. |
| Tent Fabric | What fabric does tent have, is it Nylon or Polyester? Do you prefer light weight thin fabric or more rigid thick UV and water resistant? What is the Denier of the polyester? In brief, polyester with greater than 75D is recommended to keep you safe and waterproof. You can check out the details of fabrics |
| Floor Tarp | Does the tent you have chosen have a floor tarp? Is it a heavy-duty tarp? Do you need to buy an extra footprint to make your stay more comfortable? |
| Sealed Seam | Most leaks in camping tents happen through the seams. Its recommended to get a tent with factory sealed or taped seams. If you like a tent which does not have factory sealing, you can seal the seams yourself with tent fabric sealants easily. |
| Room Dividers | Need privacy in the tent? Not to worry. There are multiple tents available on amazon that give you plenty of privacy by letting you install the room dividers. You can find plenty of good options from 2-4 room tents on Amazon. All of the multi-room tents come with detachable dividers than you can install and take off when required. |
| Tent Height | Do you want to stand in the tent? How tall are you? Do you just need a place to crash and don’t really care about the height? Small dome tents usually have low height as compared to cabin tents with near vertical walls that give you ample height to stand in the tent. |
| Tent Size | This is the most important feature for next purchase. Ask yourself, if you prefer to sleep in a sleeping bag or an airbed? Airbeds take a lot of space whereas sleeping bags can adjust in quite less space. The marked capacity of the camping tents is always per sleeping bag so be careful when you buy a tent, make sure to check out the footprint area it covers before you buy it. |
| Weight | Do you need a tent for once a year fun in your backyard? Or do you need it for your next hiking trip and plan to carry it on your shoulders throughout your trip? Camping tents weight varies a lot from extra light-weight camping tents which weigh around 7 lbs. up-to 70+ lbs. large multi-room tents. |
| Entry Mat | Do you prefer entry mat so that your tent remains clean and tidy? Not every tent has it but again, not everyone wants it. |
| Shade Awning | Shade awning gives a great tidy entrance so you can have a small porch and keep tent dry. |
| Screen Room | Do you like to view the nature from bug free screen room? Some tents have a large meshed screen room that is great for site viewing. For bad weathers, probably you wouldn’t need the screened room. |
| LED | Mostly tents come with the center hook for LED or fan, some come with built in LED with variable settings. |
Now you have an idea about what features to look for in the tent, below is our top featured list considering multiple aspects and scenarios.
“Remember: Camping Tent is the Most Vital Equipment for your Trip”
It is always important to understand that the money you will be spending will be on the most important equipment for the outdoor camping. Hence, always consider that while looking at the price of the equipment. A few dollars more or less will not matter in the long run. You will be better off with the right camping tent with a few extra bucks rather than saving a few bucks and getting something that you would eventually not feel comfortable in or need to change later. Make the right investment, and get the camping tent that fulfils your requirement.
You can follow the Wikipedia collection of lists of camping related gears and accessories that may help you out too. Camping Equipment
Types of Camping Tents
There are several types of camping tents available to choose from. If you are new to camping, we highly recommend to go through our blog to understand which type of tent suits best for your needs. Honestly, as far as a tent meets your requirements, it does not matter as much as to what type of tent it is but it’s always good to know what the types are so it will help you easily search for the right product. Follow our blog below for details:
BEGINNERS GUIDE: Types of Camping Tents
First thing’s first – Select a camping site
How to Assemble Camping Tents?
New to camping? Wondering if it will be possible for you to assemble the tent without wasting a significant part of the day you planned to enjoy outdoors? Can your grand-ma help you up the tent? Most definitely! Most of the tents are pretty easy to install with ready equipment and color coding. All of the tents come with a guide for setting up the tent. Most of the times, you would not require the guide after the first time. Generally, the time to setup the tent ranges from 10-30 minutes depending on the type of the tent. Tents setup time can vary from anywhere between 5 minutes to half hour. More than half hour up time tents are usually very large tents made for 12+ persons. Honestly, who wants to waste an hour of their camping day on just getting the tent up.
If you are new to camping and have never setup up a family camping tent, you can follow our blog with a quick demonstration for setting up a basic camping tent.
BEGINNERS GUIDE: How to Setup Up Generic Camping Tent
Note: Each camping tent setup is slightly different and we recommend you follow the general instructions provided with the camping tent package.
It’s all about having FUN!
Well, what’s the purpose of camping if you are not having the best of the time there. Need tips? Check out a few simple and fun things to do for your next camping trip.
Camping Tents Replacement Parts
Thinking about what if you broke something? What if you lost a part or yours kids misplaced it? Don’t worry at all. Camping Tents replacement parts are available very easily on Amazon. Depending on what item you need, you can easily search and order online. But this is not to scare you at all, if you are handling the equipment with care, it should withstand the normal usage and extreme weather without breaking down.
Best Family Tents for Bad Weather – Detailed Review
Ozark is manufacturing tents for a long time now and they have been producing all types of tents like dome, cabin, sphere, canopies and even ridge. Here, we will feature some of the most common and durable tents considering many factors like price, ease of setup, quality, features and so on. So, which of the Camping Tents best fulfills your requirements? Let’s check out below in detail.
1. Azarxis 2 Person Backpacking Tent
This Azarxis waterproof 4 season tent is a great tent for 2 Persons or a small family for bad and wet weather camping. It is made of strong waterproof fabric 210T polyester and windows made of B3 Nylon airy mesh fabric. Its fabric is rated PU 3500mm for waterproofing so you can relax with rainy or snowy weather outside. It gives you one of the best protections against bad weather.
It’s a double layered tent to give you extra waterproofing. The manufacturer gives 20 months of warranty on its products as well. Its easy to setup up by one person so you don’t have to worry about setting up time in bad weather. It is extra light so you can easily carry as backpacking tent.
Apart from being waterproof and storm proof, it also provides ventilation window so can keep you cool during hot summer weather as well. This tent can be considered one of the best lightweight family tent.
PROS:
- All-seasons (4-season)
- 9’ x 7’ feet (not rectangle)
- Extra light-weight 6 lbs.
- Backpacking tent
- Aluminum poles
- Strong fabric
- PU 3500mm
CONS:
- Quality tent would be even better if it could accommodate more sleepers.
2. Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Person Backpacking Tent
Naturehike cloud-up backpacking tent is a great option for 3 sleepers in wet and bad weather. Its high-quality fabric water PU 4000mm for waterproofing which is very good when you compare with other tents with similar price. Its fabric also gives you UV protection in high altitude bright sun. Its poles are made of 7001 space aluminum which is extra light and strong. The stakes are also made of 70001 aluminum which give it strength in rain conditions.
It comes with 34” long storage room and covers an area of 85” x 71” with height of 43”. Weighing only 5.2 lbs. this is the lightest 3-person tent you can find on Amazon.
PROS:
- 2 Persons and 3 Persons
- All-seasons (4-season)
- PU 4000 mm
- 7’ x 6’ feet (not rectangle)
- Extra light-weight 5.2 lbs.
- Backpacking tent
- Aluminum poles
- Strong fabric
CONS:
- Could be higher from the center for tall people.
3. GEERTOP 2 Person 4 Season Backpacking Tent
Geertop 2 Persons tent surpasses all tents in this list when it comes to waterproofing. It uses an amazing PU 5000mm waterproofing polyester fabric. This rainproof tent does not only protect against the rain water but also keeps you safe and warm under snow and hard weather.
This tent can be considered one of the best lightweight family tent.
Light-weight at about 6.2 lbs., the quality is unmatched with its competitors. You can not stand in the tent but you can give in easily with its light-weight backpacking advantage. It is double layered tent to give you extra protection against strong rain rains. It also has large windows to keep you ventilated in hot summers.
PROS:
- 2 Persons
- All-seasons (4-season)
- 7’ x 6’ feet (not rectangle)
- Extra light-weight 6.4 lbs.
- Backpacking tent
- Aluminum poles
- Strong fabric
CONS:
- Medium-weight (weighs under 19lbs)
4. Amazon Basics Tent
Amazon Basics camping tent for families is one of the reliable products in the list as Amazon maintains the level of quality versus the dollar you pay in all its products. This camping tent for 4 people is no different. It gives strong competition to its competitor brands and remains a favorite to many trekkers and families who use this for vacations outdoors as well as in their yards.
This family size camping tent offers much more space that its rivals and can accommodate a maximum of 8 persons at stretch. However, this makes a very comfortable choice for 4 campers or family members. It stretches on the area of 15 x 9 feet. It measures 6 feet in height from the center. This is the main reason this tent made it to our list of Best Camping Tents for 4 person and Best Camping Tents for families list. Comparing with other 4 person tents, this covers relatively larger area so the living in the tent can be more comfortable.
It is categorized as 4-seasons camping tent unlike its rivals and can keep you warm in cold and wet weather. Its large mesh design keeps it well ventilated. It also provides cool airport and adjustable ventilation system. It also comes with a rain-fly so you don’t need to purchase it separately.
PROS:
- Great ventilation
- Very spacious
- Cool air-port and variable venting system
- Shock corded poles
CONS:
- Medium-weight (weighs under 19lbs)
- Not easy to unzip windows from inside if rainfly is on.
5. Ozark Trail 11-Person Family Camping Tent
This Ozark Trail tent is slightly larger than the Ozark Train 9 and definitely worth a pit move price tag. It gives and extra 2 square feet and total of 14’ x 14’ feet covered area. It has 6 large windows that keep the tent ventilated and give a pretty good outside view. It can accommodate 2 queen airbeds.
This has room divider for private space in the tent that allows 3 Persons to sleep. The room dividers are included in the tent package. It also has pockets for keeping your cellphones, flashlights, cords safely and securely. It has a large front awning for protecting the tent entry as well. One of the best large tents for windy condition.
It comes with rainfly and steel stakes. Overall it is one of easiest tents to assemble with most of the buyers setting it up in less than 5 minutes. Note that these large tents with rooms are supposed to be up by at least 2 people. This tent is categorized as all seasons tent that means its fabric is well protective against cold weathers as well.
With the given size and space, it weighs much lesser than its 12-person version at 39 pounds. Most people will prefer Ozark Trail 11-Person 3 Room instant Cabin for its relative light weight.
PROS:
- Spacious with 3 rooms.
- Easy Setup.
- Ring to hand Light.
- Windows on each side.
CONS:
- Medium-Weight (39lbs).
6. Ozark Trail 6-Person Dome Tent
Ozark trail 6-person tent is quite spacious spanning over 10’ by 9’ giving ample space to sleep for 6 people. It comes pre-assembled so basically making it extremely easy to erect the tent without wasting the previous holiday time. After a few times, you can set it up in under a minute easily with 2 Persons.
It comes with a ground vent which can give your tent ventilation. You can also use ground vent to setup an AC duct in your tent in case it is needed in hot temperatures. If you want to install AC in your tent, you can also check out the tips and recommendations for AC tents in our blog 5 best tents with AC opening (2019). Overall the tent weighs 32 lbs. and is a medium-weight tent.
How to setup Ozark Trail 6-Person Dome Tent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzC3KTpnPng
The tent is classified as all-season or 4-season tent since its strong construction (steel and polyester) can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Is this the best of Ozark Trail 6 Person Tents?
This tent is definitely the most reliable product among all Ozark Trail 6 person tents. This being all-season tent gives it far better reliability than any other competitors
PROS:
- Instant Setup
- Medium-weight (32 lbs.)
- Steel stakes
- All-seasons tent
- Ground vent
CONS:
- Slightly heavier than expected but that is covered well with the high-quality build.
7. Coleman Sundome Tent:
Whenever you are buying online, you must ensure that you get the most value out of the dollar you spend. More importantly, the item you purchase is actually meeting your requirements since every buyer’s requirements vary. Coleman Sundome Tent is by far the safest choice and the top choice for most buyers considering variety of the aspects which are discussed below in the category Coleman Arch Rock Dome Tent.
Coleman is one of the leading brands with a huge variety of camping tents and gears so you can rely on it with peace of mind. Coleman do have very high-end tents but this one is the best choice when it comes to value for money. Spacious 6m high tent which can accommodate 6 people (laying down all together) and 2 twin airbeds with 10ftx10ft extends to the humungous size of 10ft by 10ft. This is by far the most spacious and comfortable options in budget tents if you need to accommodate up-to 6 people though 4 can be accommodated comfortably.
Whether you are looking for a best camping tent for family or friends, this 4-person tent is our editor’s choice. Although it’s a 6-person tent, however it recommended for 4 for a much comfortable stay.
This is by far one of the best tents to give protection in high winds and heavy rain. The rainfly comes with the tent. It has a nice ring at the top for the light, pockets inside for keeping your cellphones, floors come with heavy duty tarp which is a huge plus, and the tent has large screen panels on the “ceiling”, which makes for a great view when the rain fly is not on.
Don’t be worried of the tent setup after looking at the size, it can be setup within 10-15 minutes to give you rain, rain protection as well as its WeatherTech System patented welded floors keep the water out of the tent making it waterproof and storm proof. Quality of the tent is pretty good considering the price and it comes with standard 1-year manufacturer’s warranty as well. We always recommend to keep a waterproof rain sealant as a precaution whenever you want to go out camping. You can always find handy Coleman Tents Parts online which can be a life saver on your holiday.
If you want something durable and spacious, don’t want to be cramped in the tent while camping and also don’t want to spend a fortune on a tent, Coleman Sundome Tent is the safest choice for you option for you and is one of the Best Coleman Tent available in reasonable budget.
PROS:
- Easy set-up, most of the times you can set it up without the manual as well.
- Complete package with carry bag, with tent, poles, rain fly, ground stakes, door mat.
- Floor is heavy duty tarp.
- Spacious for maximum of 6 people (comfortable for 4 people).
- Zipper panel for extension cord into the tent.
- Ring for small light and interior small pockets.
- Light-weight (weighs less than 7.4lbs)
CONS:
- Footprint not included, if you need it on top of tarp.
- Stakes are not heavy duty. They fulfill the need but it is recommended to get heavy duty ones if you want to use it regularly.
8. Night Cat Waterproof Camping Tent
Night Cat is one of the newer brands in the market but it has made its mark due to its craftsmanship, quality of manufacturer’s warranty and hydraulic setup system. This tent can be setup possibly faster than any of the rival dome tents in 60 seconds, thanks to the innovate technology.
It comes with heavy duty ground tarp as well as the roof/rainfly. It uses durable quality fabric (210D waterproof oxford fabric PU 3000) which is the main reason for it being one of the best tents for heavy rain. Its aerodynamic shape and strong fiberglass stakes ensure the rain does not take the tent off the ground. For further safety, the tent comes with pegs and ropes to secure it well to the ground.
It comes in two sizes with only about 10 bucks’ difference. Smaller one is advertised as 1-2 person and larger one is for 2-4 person. However, due to its smaller size comparing to its rivals, we have rated it as a tent for 3 Persons.
PROS:
- Hydraulic instant setup
- Taped seams
- Light-weight (10 lbs.)
- Comfortable space for 3
- Durable tarp
CONS:
- Not very spacious as some of the rival tents
9. Coleman Montana 6
Coleman Montana tent is one of the best tents for heavy rain. Many people prefer this tent as it can occupy up-to 6 Persons in sleeping bags and at the same time, its build and quality overall is considered slightly better than the previously discussed large 8-person Coleman tent. Its modified dome design gives a good entry cover as well.
It is slightly smaller than the 8-person version of the same tent spanning over 16 x 7 feet and can accommodate 6 people with sleeping bags. However, if you don’t want to feel cramped up, most people would prefer a maximum of 4 people staying in this tent. Its 74 inches from the center which makes it pretty good for tall persons. It comes with all the required accessories so you really don’t have to get anything off the market; except maybe a hammer to push the stakes firmly in the ground. We recommend you always carry waterproof sealant that can save your day in case of an unforeseen event. You can find plenty of Coleman Tents Parts online as well. The poles are fiber glass that make it lighter to carry around, at the same time, you need to be careful in installing them as they are not steel and may break if you apply more than reasonable pressure. However, the fiber glass is pretty strong itself so you don’t need to worry about breaking it if you handle it with normal pressure.
With a small amount of extra price, you can get the Coleman Montana tent version that comes with the lighting. The lighting has 3 levels so you can adjust the brightness as required. It also comes with a standard power cord access that most Coleman tents have.
With extra space that the standard dome tent comes with angled windows that make it good for ventilation at the same time keeps you dry keeping the rain away in rainy rain conditions.
You can fit in 3 queen size air-beds in the tent if you do not prefer sleeping in sleeping bags. The patented pin-and-ring technology makes it very easy to set up the tent in minutes as well. There are no major draw backs of this tent hence it is quite favorable choice and one of the best Coleman tents.
PROS:
- Fits 3 queen air-beds
- Made for 6 Persons, recommended 4
- Angled windows
- Pin-and-ring easy setup
- Large hinged door.
CONS:
- Medium-weight (weighs around 23lbs)
- Small windows for ventilation.
10. TOMOUNT 8-Person Tent
If you are looking for a decent size Camping Tent with Rooms and at the same time not very comfortable going for a heavy tent, this tent is the right choice for you. It is a roomy tent for maximum of 8 persons and can fit in 3 queen mattresses. It spreads over an area of 14 x 9 feet rectangular and almost 6 feet high from the center. Spreading a little less than the other tents discussed in this list, this camping tents takes the spot light when it comes to the weight. It weighs merely 18 pounds so you can easily transport it for trekking, hiking or fishing.
Its setup time is under 10 minutes considering 2 people are setting it up. It may take considerably more time if you are setting up the camp for the first time. Directions are pretty straight forward to follow. This tent has mesh windows as well as top for better ventilation.
The tent comes with a divider screen than allows you to create room. Though the it is just a screen, it can technically be called a room which we believe is enough for camping privacy.
Due to its dome shape and water-proof index of over 4000mm, it is a safe choice for rain conditions and rainy weather. This tent cab be referred as one of the best waterproof family tent.
Bottomline, if you do not need a really large camping tent, go with Fortunershop Family Cabin Tent 14-Person Tent, which is a light-weight option that serves the purpose and is easy to carry around. This is also best tent for bad weather.
PROS:
- Good waterproof and storm proof rating
- Instant Setup
- Spacious than competitors
CONS:
- Not for cold weather.
- Medium weight (18 lbs.)
- Directions to up the tent could be better.
11. Coleman 8-Person / Car Camping Tent
The same quality of Coleman Arch Rock Dome Tent and WeatherTech fabric, this is one of the be Best Coleman Tent for 8 persons. The extra space comes with a little more price tag than the other Coleman Arch Rock Dome Tent discussed above but it’s worth it if you have a big family, want to go out with friends or just like extra space to lay down and enjoy the scene outside instead of cramped up space in a smaller tent.
This tent spreads over 17 x 10 feet with 6-feet height from the center. It also comes with dividers so can split the tent into 3 rooms for privacy. The extra space also comes with a bit more extra weight to carry. This tent weighs a little under 22 pounds which is not a great deal if you consider the relaxed space inside the tent as shown in the picture. The camp comes with the rain-fly so you don’t have to worry about purchasing the rain-fly off the market or search for Coleman Tents Parts.
The camp can be set up in minutes with color coding to make is more convenient for beginners to assemble. After a few times, you will be able to up the tent within a minute. The tent comes with separate bags for tent, poles, and stakes. The tent has 2 windows; one on the back and one on hinge door that can be closed or opened as per your needs. On top of that, on either side, the tent has mesh which makes the tent ideal for ventilation and breeze but not so ideal for cold temperatures. If you are looking to camp in cold weathers, this tent is NOT a 4-season tent so you might opt to explore 4-season tents that can provide you comfort and insulation in cold and freezing temperatures.
If you really need a tent where 8 people need to sleep, then this is recommended for you. Otherwise, we recommend to get lighter options we discuss in this Coleman Arch Rock Dome Tent blog.
PROS:
- WeatherTech technology
- Comfortable space for 8
- Detachable welcome mat/tarp
CONS:
- Medium-weight (weighs around 22lbs)
- General build quality not as solid as other Coleman tents.
Best Family Tents for Bad Weather (Final Verdict)
As we reviewed, there are various options for you to select. What matters the most is which tent meets your requirements the most. All the products listed above are worth considering as they have topped the reviews out of dozens of options not featured in this review. The best overall tent comes out to be GEERTOP 2 Person 4 Season backpacking tent with its strong waterproofing PU 5000 mm fabric and extra light-weight:
| GEERTOP 2 Person 4 Season Backpacking Tent | BEST 14-PERSON TENT | Check Price |
Don’t forget to check out our other review blogs on
- Best camping tents with rooms
- Best camping tents 4-person
- Best Coleman Arch Rock Dome tents
- Best camping tent 20 persons
- Best Coleman waterproof tents
- Best Ozark Trail tents
- Eureka Copper Canyon Tent Series
- Best Queen Air Mattress
Useful Tips for Camping Accessories
If you are new to camping, we strong suggest you take precautions and bring all the needed equipment and spares when you go camping. In this regard, we have made some of the blogs for recommended products that can help you in buying the right stuff for your next trip. Check out:
- 5 Best Hiking Boots for Men and Women
- 5 Best Gas Lanterns for Camping
- 5 Best No Cook Backpacking Meals
- Camping Tent Lighting Ideas
- Camping Accessories you might need for Camping
Best Tents for Bad Weather (Tips for Beginners):
Want your zippers to last long?
Don’t let people climb in and out with the door unzipped only part way on the long vertical side. Open it all the way to the top. The area around where the side panels change color puts the hardest lateral pull on the zipper. Opening it only that far, and then having people move the door flap out of the way adds to that stress and increases the chance you might damage the zipper.
What to do when you break your tent?
When you break camp, if the tent isn’t going to be set up again very soon, let your tent dry before you roll it up. If you roll (or stuff it) while wet, and then forget to dry it out when you get home, you’ll have problems with mildew. It can lead to a musty smell, unsightly spots, and (in the most extreme cases) holes in your tent. If you must pack up a wet tent, be sure to air it out when you get home. You can set it up in a sunny space, or hang it (we hang it from our deck, but you could hang it from a tree or clothes line).
Before you pack your tent away … Do this
Bring a broom and sweep out your tent before you pack it away. If you pack it up with dirt and sand inside, it will act like little bits of sandpaper and wear away at the materials.
Avoid eating in your tent if you can
Avoid eating in your tent, or keeping food in your tent, especially if you’ll be in bear country. Smells from dripped or spilled foods can stick around a long time, and animals’ noses are often far more sensitive than ours.
Keep the rain-fly off if you don’t need it
If you’re not too concerned about privacy, it’s warm enough, and you know that rain isn’t likely, consider leaving the rain fly off. It makes set up and tear down quicker, and it will let you watch the sky while protected from the bugs. Just keep the fly and stakes in the bag near the door, in case you need to put up the fly quickly due to unexpected changes in the weather.
Clear your area before setting up the camp
Don’t get too hasty or excited; make sure you clear up the space and remove any noticeable rocks, sticks, or anything that might damage the tent floor or make your sleep uncomfortable.
Camp away from dead trees and branches
If setting up in or adjacent to a wooded area, look around for dead trees that could blow over or fall onto your tent, and be sure to look up for any live trees with dead branches hanging above you. You don’t need a lot of rain and rain for dead wood to come down! It’s very common for dead branches will fall from rain or with time, sometimes quite large limbs drop off. It makes sense to look up before you place a tent, or your chairs!
Full-dress before the final event!
Be sure to set it up once at home before you head out, even if you’ve set it up before. It’s a great way to remind yourself how to set it up, and to make sure you have all of the stakes and poles together (especially if you broke camp in a hurry during your last adventure
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
u003cstrongu003eIs the brand of camping tent important?u003c/strongu003e
Yes. The tried and tested brands have developed design technology to keep you safe, dry over the years incorporating customer feedback. Unless you do know about a new brand or it has been reviewed positively by our reviewer’s, it is always safe to choose a well-known brand when it comes to buy a camping tent.
What size tent should I buy?
It really depends on your requirements but always know that the listed capacity for sleepers is only enough for sleeping bags and more often than not, does not give you much room to move about. If you need a spacious tent with some privacy, go for the tent with rooms or get a lightly bigger tent than you need.
I am new to camping and have never setup a tent. Will I be able to setup the tent easily?
Most tents in the market are fairly easy to up. The time it takes to up the tent is usually mentioned on tent reviews. Generally, if it says it can be up in 5 minutes, realistically it may take you 20 minutes to up for the first time. Remember that it is always recommended that at least 2 people set up the tent. This will make the process quicker, easier and also ensure that you don’t rip off the tent if you are pulling from one side alone. Don’t forget to check out details on our blog u003ca href=u0022https://bananareview.com/how-to-setup-up-a-tent/u0022u003eu003cemu003eHow to setup camping tent?u003c/emu003eu003c/au003e
Will I be able to carry the tent in a backpack?
Almost all of the tents come with a carry-bag. Some of the light weight tents are easier to carry for u003cstrongu003ebackpackingu003c/strongu003e. Make sure you read the weight of the tent so you are well aware of it when you plan your holiday.
Which tools do I need to take with him to set-up the tent?
Most of the tents reviewed by us don’t require highly sophisticated tools and assemble pretty quickly. We always recommend to keep an ordinary hammer with you so you can make sure stakes are well hammered in the ground. Be careful with the hammer since some of the stakes are made of fiber glass and may break if too much pressure is applied.
What is 3-season or 4-season tent? Which one should I buy?
Most of the camps are season rated. 4-season tents can be used in any weather condition. These are generally made of strong fabric which keeps you warm in colder weathers as well. 3-season tents can be used in all weathers except winters since they do not protect against cold weather and snow. If you don’t plan to camp in cold weathers, we recommend not to go for 4-season camp and get a well ventilated one 3-seaons tent. Don’t forget to check out our blog u003ca href=u0022https://bananareview.com/types-of-camping-tents/u0022u003eTypes of camping tentsu003c/au003e for more details.
What accessories do I need?
If you are new to camping, we strongly recommend to go for the u003ca href=u0022https://amzn.to/2Yhj7tiu0022u003eOzark trail bundle optionu003c/au003e that has a lot of useful accessories with the 4 person tent. Generally, it depends on where you are camping, what weather would it be there, how many people are going and how do you plan to stay. Some people prefer air beds, though it reduces the capacity in the tent. It all depends on you. Generally, you can consider getting sleeping bags, sleeping bag mats, thick tarp of you tent does not have a strong one, basic tools, seam sealant, lantern, extra batteries, extra ropes, dry bags, sand bags if you tent needs those specially canopy tents require them and so on.
Can you actually setup the tent in 30 seconds?
Well, for some tents it is advertised and claimed that you can setup in 30 seconds. They often label it as Instant Tent. Yes, its definitely possible. The instant tents are generally pre-assembled tents that means you don’t have to actually screw and join the poles and fabric. This process is way easier and takes far less time than the usually camp erection. So, if you have another person helping you up with setting up the pre-assembled instant tent, yes you will be amazed how quickly you can set it up. It is basically just expanding and pulling the tent to its place and does not take more than a minute after the second or third try. Check out in this video how a u003ca href=u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzC3KTpnPngu0022u003e6 person dome tent is set upu003c/au003e.
What is a rain-fly?
The outer part of the tent is called the u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003e-fly which protects the tent from any u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003e water coming in. Most of the tents come with a mesh ceiling and a detachable u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003efly. It means that you can install the u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003efly when you need to, and at the same time enjoy star-gazing and sky through the mesh ceiling if there is no u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003e at night. Keep an eye as there are some tents which are sold without u003cstrongu003erainu003c/strongu003efly however it is very rare and normally if we feature such a product, we will highlight this in the cons section of the review.
Water proofing and Material of Tent
Good water-proofing of tent
As you have heard, the product is as strong as its weakest link. You tent can be very solid inside out, but it has one weak part that is leaking, your holiday will be messed up.
There are a few things you can keep an eye on while considering waterproofing of the tent. Each of the below feature adds to the tent’s capability to protect against rain and rain.
- Weather resistant Fabric
Always prefer tents that use coated polyester fabric with anti-wicking thread, webbing and zippers designed in keeping you safe and dry.
- Leak-free Protected seams
Seams are somehow the weakest link when it comes to durable camping tents. Always go for the tents that come with factory sealed or taped seams which hide the needle holes to keep you dry. However, as a general camping rule, we highly recommend to keep seam sealants handy on every trip. For more useful and handy tips on camping, please visit our blog camping tips.
- Wind-strong frame
Technology has evolved the design of the frame to be stronger and more rain-responsive. The frames are generally made of fiberglass and steel depending on your tent, with poles and guy-out triangles which withstand winds and rain. Always go for aerodynamic tents if you think you can face strong winds.
- Zipper Protection
Zippers! Be it your winter jacket or tent, when they don’t work, it’s ANNOYING! Always make sure the tents have sturdy smooth zippers and the cuff adds protection from outdoor elements.
- Waterproof floors
Most of the tents have strong tarp floors that eliminate needle holes and protect you against water seeping in from beneath. Make sure you check these before getting a tent.
Different tent fabric in the market
Most tent fabrics nowadays are polyester, and sometimes Nylon. But is it a good quality polyester? You need the tent to be insulated most of the times, to keep to either warm or cold so generally thicker fabric is preferred. It gives you insulation, keeps the tent cooler for longer durations in summers and warm in winters, and at the same time it is more lasting. You can always roll up the windows for ventilation when needed, and most of the times the tents come with ventilated ceiling and ground vents as well.
Nylon fabrics are lightweight, preferred by backpackers but not as UV resistant as polyester so we recommend polyester fabric with good thickness and blocking. The Denier (unit for fabric thickness/threads) should be 75 or higher at least. The higher the D the thicker the fabric is. 75D to 150D fabrics provide a good protection and insulation. Lower than that will not give you protection but definitely will be light-weight.
Can I install an AC with my tent?
Most of the campers do not prefer to do that, however if you are camping in heat and have access to electricity, you can definitely do that. If you want to install and buy a tent which suits installing the AC, we suggest you read our blog 5 best tents with AC opening.
WARNING! You must take care of the safety concerns since there are quite a few in this case including the high voltage electric cables, heat from condenser and melting of your tent fabric. If the condenser of window AC is blocked by fabric, it may lead to heat and fire
Some of the accessories you need other than the AC are:
- AC Stand
You need AC stand to put your AC on, in a stable position. Usually the tent flaps are 10-12” high from the ground, so depending on your AC design, you need a stand for your AC that can keep the AC on the required height.
- Power cord
This is pretty basic, but you need a high-power AC source at your camping site. Make sure you have the length of the cable you need to go through to the power source.
- Portable Generator
If you are looking to camp far from formal camping sites where you don’t have any AC power source, we suggest you buy a small portable generator that can keep you cool and run the AC. Any portable generator from 3000-5000 watts will be enough.