Camping with family and friends is a nice idea. It is a meaningful bonding experience that everyone will surely enjoy. While it’s perfect to camp during summer, it would be nice if you can enjoy camping all year round. If you’re planning to go out of town and camp, you need to ensure you take the best tents that can accommodate the entire family. That’s why a family tent should be prioritized when preparing for camping, apart from your cooking stove, fire source, food, and supplies.
When it comes to choosing the best family tents for bad weather, you have to consider a lot of things. Of course, you want a durable tent that can accommodate as many people as possible, including your mattresses, portable chairs, and tables. In this post, we’ll help you choose the best family tent for your next camping. We have compiled the best family tents and also included a buying guide to help you make the right choice. Let’s get started!
Top 10 Best Family Tent for Bad Weather in 2023
1. Coleman Sundome Tent
If you want a dome tent that you can easily setup (within 10 minutes), spacious, and durable, check out the Coleman Sundome tent. We’re impressed with the patented WeatherTec system because the floors are welded and the seams are inverted to ensure you and your family are kept dry while camping. Don’t worry about ventilation because this tent comes with large windows to keep fresh air circulating inside the tent in addition to the ground vent.
Pros
- Good quality
- Can fit queen-size mattress inside
- Zips great
- Easy to set up
- Useful floor vent
- Useful cord access
Cons
- No footprint (you can use a tarp)
Coleman Sundome tent measures 9 x 7 feet with a 4.11 ft. center height. The best features of this family tent include an e-port so you can conveniently run a power supply via an extension cord. It also has a door awning for superior weather protection. You can stash your small necessities off the floor and within easy reach with the sewn mesh pockets into the side of the wall.
When it comes to the Weathertec features, this family tent for bad weather comes with protected seams, waterproof floors, zipper protection, and a wind-strong frame. With inverted seams, the holes are hidden inside the tent, so your tent has increase weather resistance. The frame is wind responsive because of strong poles, and the zipper cuff is made of highly weather-resistant fabric, adding further protection against elements to the tent door.
Conclusion: While the stakes are okay, we suggest investing in high-quality steel stakes which only cost around $10. We’re generally happy with the features of this family tent. It’s highly recommended for families and large groups. Have fun camping with family and friends using the Coleman Sundome tent!
2. Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Tent
The design of Coleman WeatherMaster is intelligent. This family tent comes with a screen room for a bug-free lounging. It can accommodate up to 10 persons, measuring 11 x 9 ft. The center height is 6.8 ft. You can easily set up this tent in 20 minutes because of its continuous and snag-free sleeves. The Insta-Clip suspension and slip-proof pin-and-ring system are patented, securing the tent poles in just a snap.
Pros
- Plenty of room
- Hinged door
- Easy to set up
- Easy to break down
- Good airflow
Cons
- Flimsy metal stakes
- Cheap plastic stakes (rainfly)
The WeatherTec features a tub floor that comes with welded corners, covered zippers (keep water out), and protected seams. It also includes a rainfly to provide extra weather protection. You and your family members can easily enter and exit the tent because of its hinged door.
Even if it rains hard, the angled windows of this family tent keep the rain out. The tent comes with an e-port or electrical port so you can easily gain access to a power supply via an electrical cord.
The tent is spacious so you can stretch and move freely with ease. You can stash your small necessities off the floor and within easy reach with its sewn mesh pockets of the side walls. It comes with protected seams, waterproof floors, zipper protection, and a wind-strong frame.
With inverted seams, the holes are hidden inside the tent, so your tent has increase weather resistance. The frame is wind responsive because of strong poles, and the zipper cuff is made of highly weather-resistant fabric, adding further protection against elements to the tent door.
Conclusion: Now, you and your family or friends can enjoy extra ventilation and bug-free lounging in a separate screened-in room which offers an extra sleeping area during warmer nights.
3. Coleman Dome Tent (Evanston Camping Tent
The Evanston Camping Tent by Coleman is a spacious tent that can accommodate up to 6 persons. You can set up this family tent in 15 minutes. You’ll have enough room for your 2 queen-size air beds. For a bug-free lounging, there’s a separate screen room (10 x 5 ft.) you can use. It measures 10 x 9 ft with 5.8 ft. center height.
Pros
- Easy installation (15 to 20 minutes)
- Good ventilation
- You can stand upright with ease
- Holds three portable chairs
Cons
- Small spikes
- Screen area not properly sealed
Keep you and your family dry even with a heavy rain downpour with this family tent for bad weather because it comes with a patented WeatherTec system. The seams are inverted and the floors are welded to keep you dry. It comes with a rainfly and a carry bag. The frame is wind responsive. It has strong poles. The zipper cuff is made of highly weather-resistant fabric for added protection against elements.
Enjoy the fresh air and good air circulation without letting the rainwater in with its extended window awnings. Also, enjoy a bug-free lounging with a separate screened-in room, offering an extra sleeping area during warmer nights. The tent comes with protected seams, waterproof floors, zipper protection, and a wind-strong frame.
Conclusion: The Evanston Camping Tent is so spacious. With inverted seams, the holes are hidden inside the tent, so your tent has increase weather resistance. The spikes are quite small, but the tent is durable overall. Enjoy camping with ease and confidence with Evanston Camping Tent!
4. Coleman Elite Montana 8-Person Tent
Coleman Elite Montana tent is made of polyester taffeta (incredible 75D flysheet). It measures 16 x 7 ft. that can fit up to eight persons or three queen-size airbeds. The center height is 6.2 ft. so you have room to stand and freely move. It is also easy to install, about 15 minutes or even less. With the hinged door, you can easily enter or exit the tent without feeling restricted.
Pros
- Plenty of room
- Great seal
- Child-friendly door
- Durable zipper
Cons
- Lack of ventilation
- Small windows
We were impressed with this family tent because it comes with an LED tent lights. It has 3 settings including the low, high, and nightlight. The poles and the pole sleeves are color-coded for easy identification when installing the tent. When it comes to the Weathertec features, the Coleman Elite Montana family tent comes with protected seams, waterproof floors, zipper protection, and a wind-strong frame.
The frame of the tent is wind responsive because of strong poles, and the zipper cuff is made of highly weather-resistant fabric, adding further protection against elements to the tent door. With inverted seams, the holes are hidden inside the tent, so your tent has increase weather resistance.
Conclusion: We love the LED light concept added to this best family tent. The design comes with the patented Weathertec features like other Coleman family tents. Enjoy camping anywhere and anytime even if it rains!
5. Coleman 8-Person Camping Tent
The Coleman Cabin tent features a built-in closet with a hanger bar and shelves to help you organize your clothes and other stuff. The e-port allows you to bring in electrical power without messy cords and wires. Because of the fast-pitch design, you can set up this family tent in 10 minutes. The hinged door allows easy entry and exit.
Pros
- Awesome door
- Easy to set up
- Quality material
Cons
- Similar zippers
- Windows don’t zip up on the top of the window
The interior is spacious, accommodating up to 8-person. The tent measures 13 x 9 ft. with 2 x 2 ft. closet and 6.ft center height. It also comes with a room divider for privacy. The WeatherTec system comes with patented welded floors as well as inverted seams, keeping you dry all day.
It is a great family tent for bad weather because it comes with protected seams, waterproof floors, zipper protection, and wind-strong frame. The frame is wind responsive because of strong poles, and the zipper cuff is made of highly weather-resistant fabric, adding further protection against elements to the tent door. With inverted seams, the holes are hidden inside the tent, so your tent has increase weather resistance.
Conclusion: The Coleman Cabin tent comes with a rainfly. Now, you and your family can enjoy a better airflow with the rainfly included, offering extra protection in wet weather. You can crack the windows o this tent during a storm and remain dry. Store your necessities off the floor and within easy reach with convenient storage pockets. It is one of the best cabin tents for bad weather today!
6. Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent
This core tent measures 16 x 9 ft., with a center height of 72 inches, accommodating 9 people in total. It fits three queen air mattresses. We were impressed with the adjustable ground vent and CORE H20 Block Technology. It also features a gear loft with pockets and lantern to keep your items off the floor and organized.
Pros
- Spacious
- Zips securely
Cons
- Stakes don’t help with bugs
- Need extra help in installation
The electrical cord access port is closable when it’s not in use. This dome tent also includes tent stakes, rainfly, tent poles, and carry bag. Even if you have lots of luggage, the tent can accommodate your additional gear. The rainfly is removable with mesh ceiling panels to keep you covered if it starts to rain. With the H2O Block Technology, water won’t enter the tent. The rainfly fabric is heat-sealed so the rain and wind don’t stand a chance.
The tent fabric is made of durable 68D Polyester (with a 600mm hydrostatic rating). The floor material is 115gsm P.E. The two extra ridge poles maximize the tent’s interior space, thus making this tent feel spacious for an outdoor retreat. With advanced venting, the tent draws cool air inside from adjustable air intake vents, allowing hot air to escape via the large mesh ceiling.
Conclusion: The CORE Extended Dome Tent has an electric cord access hole to avoid messy wires. Achieve privacy with zippered panels on windows and doors, keeping your gear organized. Experience great camping with CORE family tent!
7. CORE Instant Cabin Tent
This family tent is very easy to set up with its instant 1-minute setup. This tent has a 14 by 9 feet floor plan. It can accommodate up to 9 people. It can accommodate 2 queen-size air mattresses with a center height of 78 inches. We love the adjustable ground vent and CORE Water Block Technology to keep campers dry even with heavy rain.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Great door zippers
- Large front door
- Useful vent for ventilation
Cons
- Windows don’t zip on top
The CORE Instant Cabin Tent features a room divider as well as wall storage pockets so you can keep your items neat and organized. The electrical cord access port is fully closable when it’s not in use. With advanced venting, you can draw cool air inside from the adjustable ground air intake vents, allowing hot air to escape via the large mesh ceiling.
Conclusion: Condensation is not so fun, but this tent offers great protection. It has the ability to vent damp warm air outside, thus keeping things dry inside. For newbies, it goes up and it comes down so easy!
8. Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
The Wenzel Klondike Tent is a family dome tent with an attached screen room that can accommodate 8 people. It is made of quality weather-repellent polyester that comes with a polyurethane coating. For greater stability, it comes with a full mesh roof option and double-stake corners. It measures 16 x 6.5 x 11 ft. and weighs 27.3 pounds. The screened area serves as a second sleeping room or sunroom.
Pros
- Good design
- Easy setup
- Detailed instructions
- Well-designed windows
- Fits 2 queen-size mattresses
Cons
- Dark-colored rainfly makes the tent extremely hot during the day
- Lacks electric cord hole access
The Klondike family tent can accommodate up to 8 persons with an interior space of 98 square feet and a screen room space of 60 square feet. The headroom is 6.5 feet, allowing you to stand up straight while you’re inside the tent. You can use the attached screen room like a sun shelter. It can function as a picnic room, a relaxation, or a gear room.
It comes with a full mesh roof. The two mesh windows let the breeze in while keeping the bugs out. Also, a rear mesh vent provides a ground breeze. For top to bottom protection, the Weather Armor polyester fabric comes with a polyurethane water-resistant coating. The double-stitched and lap-felled seams throughout the body provide against the water shingle effect.
Conclusion: All threads, webbing, and zippers are treated with excellent water repellent applications, thus reinforcing these critical areas. The Wenzel Klondike can resist high winds. This tent is great for camping!
9. Core 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
Do you need a family tent that can accommodate a large group? Surely, you probably tried different brands. Let’s check CORE 10-Person 14 x 10ft. Straight Wall Cabin Tent features and benefits. This 14 x 10 ft cabin tent can accommodate up to 10 people. It can also fit two queen air mattresses with a center height of 86 inches. The CORE H20 Block Technology keeps you dry inside when raining. The adjustable ground vents avoid dampness from condensation.
Pros
- Roomy and comfortable
- Water-resistant exterior
- Durable 68D polyester tent fabric
- Removable rainfly
- Durable
Cons
- Rain fly a bit small
This cabin tent includes a room divider that creates two rooms in a single tent. It features front and back door access. Keep your items off the floor and organized with the pockets and lantern hook. Also, there’s an electrical cord access port that you can close when not in use.
You can move around and stand tall freely in this spacious cabin-style tent. Experience comfort cools during warm evenings with these adjustable vents, drawing cool air inside from the ground then pushing hot air outdoors through the large mesh ceiling, perfect for cross-ventilation.
Conclusion: You don’t have to worry about camping again even if the weather suddenly turns bad. You can protect yourself from heavy rain with the CORE 10-Person 14 x 10 ft. Straight Wall Cabin Tent. Camping can be fun and exciting without worrying about the sleeping area because CORE got you covered. Indeed, it is one of the best family tents for bad weather today!
10. CORE 12-Person Cabin Tent
The CORE 12-Person Cabin Tent is easy to set up in just 2 minutes or less. It is comfortable to use because the rainfly is removable and water repellent. Expose the ceiling for panoramic view or star gazing with its mesh material on warmer nights. The tent measures 18 x 10 ft with zippered privacy panels. It has a large double-door design so you can enter and exit the tent easily.
Pros
- Useful room dividers
- Plenty of room
- Easy to install
Cons
- Pulling corners taut every time
There’s a two-entryway as well as three room options. The poles of the tent are conveniently pre-attached to the tent. All you need to do is to remove it from the package, unfold it, and then extend. The Core H20 Block Technology is a combination of water repellent fabrics that comes with an active bead technology, promoting faster water runoff. The seams are rain-resistant. You don’t have to worry about heavy rain while camping because the tent comes with rain protection capabilities.
Conclusion: Stand up and move freely inside the tent even if you’re tall. Your kids can use their queen-size mattresses on one end of the tent without problems. This tent is so easy to install and break down. Enjoy camping at its best! The CORE 12-Person Cabin Tent is a large-capacity tent for your family or large group.
Buying Guide to Family Tents for Bad Weather
A tent is outdoor gear for shelter. Nowadays, tents are used often for recreational purposes such as camping, hiking, etc. There are two categories of a tent, the Large tent and a small tent. The large tent has spring-loaded poles that can be assembled between 5-30 minutes while the small tent is intended for backpackers who travel long-distance riding on a bicycle, a boat, or during a hike.
Guide on How to Buy a best family Tent
Decide on the use
There are different types of tents depending on the use and depending on the place you are heading to. Check the specifications of the best family tents for bad weather to determine the maximum capacity or number of people allowed inside the tent.
Frequency of use
If you’re only going to use the family tent occasionally, then don’t spend a fortune. But you need a versatile tent and spend a little bit more if you want to use a tent even in bad weather for the added extras. For the first time camping, do not spend a lot of money buying a fancy tent. You can invest in an extremely durable and long-lasting model if you’re planning to camp all year round. Thinking about the future is important when deciding what you want and need from a tent.
Decide on the size
In deciding on the size of the tent, you have to consider the space that you will be needing. Know your measurements, if you are a family of 4 you should get a tent that looks like a tent for 6 people to give space for your things. The specifications will provide you with the size of the family tent in feet or meters.
Check the Weight
You have to check out the weight before purchasing. The best way for you to decide on the weight is to consider the distance you will be covering The weight of the tent will determine where you will use it. Usually, for hiking, it is best to use lightweight tents for easy carriage.
Ensure Durability
It is important to check the durability of the tent so as not to waste money. It is good to invest in high quality but cheap tent. Before purchasing, you have to check if the tent will survive in the weather condition you are heading to. Read customer testimonials and check the comments about the features of the stakes, poles, and other components of the family tent. Not all family tents are equal so make sure you buy a good brand with good quality tent features.
Components of a Tent
Inner Tent
It comprises the main sleeping area of the tent. The inner tent serves as a waterproof, breathable material for single tents. But for double skin tents, it just serves as a lining because the flysheet will serve as a waterproof covering.
Flysheet or rain Fly
This part of the tent is only available for double skin tents that serve as protection from the water. Flysheet does not only serve as a protection from the outside but it also serves as absorption of moisture in the inside tent.
Vestibule
This part of the tent is the removable attachment usually used for the storage of gears. Ground Sheet- Thi part of the tent is a barrier between the ground mat and the sleeping bag. It serves as a path for moisture circulation into the tent.
Poles
This part of the tent can be extractable for easier storage and transport. Some poles are made of metal while some poles are made of fiberglass and inflatable beams. The poles serve as the skeleton of the tent because it provides a framework.
Stakes- This part of the tent is also known as the tent pegs or screws and is used to fasten the tent on the ground to prevent it from being blown away especially if the tent is lighter.
Look For the Best Camping Family Tent Features
Durability
You need a family tent with sturdy poles, double-sewn seams, securely fastened grommets, and non-rusting and heavy-duty zippers. It’s a good idea to test the zippers. Make sure that the zippers open and close freely. They shouldn’t catch on the tent fabric. The best family camping tents have a waterproof seam sealer. Make sure that the seams are waterproofed prior to your first trip. Allow the seams to dry before you pack the tent.
Framework
A family tent with a flexible framework is an important feature. It’s good to choose a tent with good quality and sturdy poles.
Fabric
The best family tents for bad weather are made of nylon because. Nylon is both durable and lightweight. Coated nylon is usually used for waterproofing. Most tents have nylon mesh in the inner walls. Polyester is another material to consider, which is slightly heavier as compared to nylon. Polyester does not expand when it’s wet. It is also more tear-resistant. On the other hand, canvas tents are extremely durable but very heavy.
Poles
The poles of the best family tents for bad weather is light, durable, and easy to set up. Most high-quality poles are made of aluminum, which is resilient and lightweight. There are also poles that are made from fiberglass. Many tents have poles linked together using an elastic shock cord, which makes an easier setup.
Rain Fly
It should be made of a waterproof material that can extend over the tent, to provide protection from the harmful sun rays and the rain. These elements can damage the waterproof coating of your tent. The best family tents for bad weather have a rain fly that extends all the way into the ground.
Setup
Find a family tent with durable shock-corded tent poles to speed setup. It will be convenient if you’re planning to move to various campsites. If you’re staying in one place, a cabin tent provides a good place to stay and comfort for you and your family. The color-coded tent also helps in quick setup.
Guylines
This feature connects through the rainfly to the tent and the pole, to make your tent more stable in stormy and windy weather.
Vestibule: It serves as an entryway or a covered front porch to your tent.
Ventilation: The air vents located on the top of the family tent help eliminate condensation on the tent’s interior walls. The mesh panels allow breezes, making your tent cooler and keeping the bugs out.
Waterproof: The water-resilient fabric is important to avoid rain from accumulating on the roof of your tent.
Insect Protection: Protect your family from unwanted insects and animals with an insect protection feature.
Roominess
Make sure you get a spacious tent for your children to freely move and play indoors. The tallest member of the family should also feel comfortable when standing and walking around. It also ensures that you can organize your things properly without being too crowded inside the tent. Enjoy camping with a spacious family tent today!
Final Verdict
Buying a family tent is like buying a real house, you should consider a lot of things such as the size, price, durability, etc. to ensure that you are getting the right ones that are suitable to your family’s needs and comfort. Tents are investments. Buying any tent can make or break your camping adventure, so be a smart buyer.