The official capacity is only 6 people, but you have seen the numbers, so if necessary, this tent can accommodate twice more. In this Coleman Aspen 6L Tent you have a very typical tunnel type construction supported with 5 long coleman sleeping bags fiberglass loops. You also have a porch visible in the picture with 57 ft² (5.3 m²). Under the shell you have two inner tents with 3 bedrooms, and this is what they call the BlackOut design that blocks 99% of the daylight.
In particular, I believe that the Coleman Elite Sundome 6 person tent is going to give you the best bang for your buck. It’s got all the bells an whistles, including an e-port and LED lighting, without compromising on durability and waterproofing. In order to create an attractively priced tent, coleman cabin tent compromises need to be made somewhere. It can be hard to know if you are comparing apples with apples when you are a new camper. The other changes REI made in the 2018 models of both Base Camp tents include the addition of a low side vent and more stuff pockets on the walls and ceiling.
The last Coleman tent we had made it through five years of regular use and abuse before it started leaking, and we probably could have gotten even more life out of it with a proper refresh of its waterproofing. Tent manufacturers make lofty claims about how quickly a tent can be set up. You’ll see a lot of “60 second” tents out there, but most folks find any tent takes about 5-10 minutes to set up properly. The added bonus included in the family model is the integrated screen room, which uses four full-zip windows to convert the second room into an open porch (that still keeps the bugs at bay) when the weather is at its best. It makes an ideal choice for families and those looking for a tent that will last many years.
Thankfully, Coleman has a wide selection of family and group camping tent options. As with most budget-oriented products, there are bound to be shortcomings, and the Sundome 6 is very limited in terms of storage. In stark contrast to premium models like REI’s Base Camp 6 and its 14 interior pockets of varying sizes, the Sundome 6 features a paltry two pockets.
Furthermore, we like that the Meramac features two doors as opposed to the Sundome’s one, making entry and exit easier should you need to get up in the middle of the night. And finally, the materials used throughout the Alps Mountaineering Meramac 6 are noticeably better. For us, the combination of increased weather protection and nicer materials make the more expensive Meramac 6 well worth considering. It’s a coleman cabin tent step up in price from the Discovery above at $230, but you do get a number of upgrades, including a lighter weight (14 lbs. 1 oz.), taller peak height (72 in.), and smaller packed size. However, the Tallboy boasts considerably less floor area at 86 square feet, and its rainfly only offers partial coverage (like the Coleman, it leaves most of the door and some of the lower tent body exposed to the elements).