- One of the most critical pieces of your camping kit is a high-quality tent, and having to deal with a cramped space for you and your family can make your camping trip a lot less fun.
- Having a family tent would be an excellent choice, but is it worth it?
- This article will discuss the advantages of having family camping tents and what needs to be considered before buying them.
Family camping is the best way to reunite and strengthen family bonds through a shared experience. Getting away from gadgets, the internet, and social media and connecting with family can be part of the most meaningful and remembered things for young ones and you.
Of course, as you plan for your family camping journey, you will need a tent. But with so many different designs, sizes, and features available on the market, it can be challenging to know which tent might suit your family best.
We’ve learned that the most essential thing to look for is comfort, and comfort begins with a reliable tent. A well-designed tent needs to be durable, reasonably easy to set up and transport, and able to provide comfort and protection from poor weather that you might encounter. That’s where family tents come into the picture.
So, why get a family tent? There are many advantages of family tents, but here are a few:
If you’re looking for a more luxurious camping experience with your family, we wrote a full article on RV: Living in an RV World.
Table of Contents
5 Family Tent Advantages
1. One large tent to haul around, set-up, and teardown
When it comes to buying tents, bigger is always better. And when a tent can fit up to 6 persons, you can tell that it’s large enough for you and your family. Family tents provide an incredibly spacious room to accommodate even the pickiest of family members. Family tents are usually taller than small camping tents, so it lets you stand comfortably inside.
They are mostly quick to set-up and effortless to fix compared to other tents. The less time you can spend setting up and tearing down, the more time you have to enjoy other activities with your loved ones.
Some family tents have multiple private rooms. That’s a huge factor to consider because privacy is not something you can easily get in the outdoors. Tents generally are not very personal for a large group. You’ll appreciate having your own space to yourself. However, not all tents have this feature. It is therefore crucial that you check any tent that you intend to buy.
2. Durable at a lower price
More money is saved by purchasing the family tents because you will get more service than the money you will use to buy them. Do you want to get multiple small tents with less capacity and pay a lot of money for it, or a larger tent that can accommodate the whole group at a lower price?
Family tents, in general, are less expensive because they’re heavy and made for car camping. Still, they are known to be super durable made of solid materials with high-quality material finishes. This can go a long way in helping you and your family stay safe in the tent even in the worst weather.
3. Fun activities under one roof
Most family tents are big enough to set up chairs inside and play simple inside activities. If it’s raining, or you’re done for the day but don’t want to go to sleep yet, you can light the fire, bring a game to play, play an instrument together and sing songs, or just tell scary stories all in the same space.
The size of your tent is a huge bonus; some of the best family tents can hold 8 people, and if you have inflatable camp beds, your camping night will be perfect!. You can almost always be assured that you’ll have enough room to be comfortable while sleeping after your late-night activities.
4. You can keep an eye on your kids
It is easy to navigate everything because everything is under one roof. If you have a few children, it would be smart to keep them close at night, whether at home or in the wild. We’re not living in fear but knowing that we’re there to resolve it if something were to happen.
It’s more about the comfort for the kids. If they wake up in the middle of the night, they might forget where they are. And with no convenient light switch to flip on, they might very quickly become startled or scared of the unknown environment they are in and old enough to be all right in their own tent.
5. Better ventilation
Family tents have better ventilation than small tents due to an extensive interior and several windows that allow the air to circulate freely, ensuring everybody gets enough air.
The external walls are made entirely of zippered mesh, which keeps the bugs away and keeps the area ventilated. It also cools down the entire tent.
Consider This When Looking At Family Tents
We have done looking at the family tent advantages. Now, let’s look at how to select the tent. There are a lot of reasons to love family tents. But not all of them have the same features. There are a few specifications that might suit others but not for you and vice versa. Here are a few features to consider when deciding which family tent is the best one for you.
Capacity
Packing the right size tent is going to help you to achieve a trouble-free camping experience. You may be a family of 3 or 6, but you can decide whether you want a slightly larger tent built for about two more people than the number planning to use it to give you some extra room. Having a pet that you need to make room for might also be an excellent reason to size up. You also need to take the number of gears you bring into consideration before choosing the right family camping tent.
Durability
Family Tents can protect you from unexpected harsh weather. That is why the tent should be durable and made up of strong, high-quality materials. Choose a 3-season family tent if you’re planning to camp in the spring, summer, and fall. If you plan on winter, you’ll need to consider buying the 4-season one.
Budget
This is a big decision for everyone. Don’t let budget stop you from buying the family tent because not all good family tents are expensive. While it is nice to get some of the extra bells and whistles of the more expensive family tents, some cheap tents with local brands can actually do an excellent job. Shop around and look at the reviews and specs. Look out for sales too! Tents can be discounted up to 50% during the holiday season.
Sectioned dividers and private rooms
The best part about a family camping tent is that many have sectioned rooms with dividers for privacy. Separate rooms are ideal as a changing room or room for kids, especially when you want to put kids to bed earlier and not disturb them later at night.
Tent Materials
Check the materials used for the tent. Since there are varieties of materials that have been used, it’s arguably the most crucial aspect of the tent. The most famous material is polyester or nylon with a polyethylene base because it is waterproof, but it can deteriorate over time and not last long when exposing to UV light. Cotton canvas is also waterproof but can be super heavy when the canvas gets wet, and eventually, the tent collapses.
Need to know more about the difference between canvas and nylon? Check out this article by Outdoor Command: Canvas Tents v.s. Nylon Tents: Which are Better?
Best Family Tents Reviewed
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Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent – 14’ x 9’
Pros.
- Its price is affordable.
- It has ample interior space.
- It is pleasant.
- It has dividers and two private rooms set-up.
- It is straightforward to use.
Cons.
- It has no vestibule.
- It doesn’t have many features for storage inside.
Coleman 8-Person Tent for Camping – 16′ x 7′
Pros.
- It has color-coded poles.
- It is waterproof.
- Its price is affordable.
- It has ample space for 8 people.
- It has an easy-access hinged door.
- E-port is included for electrical power.
- A rain cover is provided.
Cons.
- It is not suitable for hot weather.
- It has only one door to access the tent.
- It has fewer windows compared to other family tents.
CAMPROS 8-Person Camping Tents – 14′ x 9
Pros.
- It is roomy.
- It is durably made up of high-quality material.
- It is easy to set-up.
- It has an excellent ventilation system.
- It comes at a budget-friendly price.
Cons.
- It has an inferior build quality.
- It has only one zipper around the door.
- It sometimes leaks in the rain.
Frequently-asked Questions
1. What is a good family tent?
A good family tent should be spacious to accommodate more than 4 people, simple to set-up and pack away, durable enough to handle rainstorms and windstorms at a reasonable price. We have listed certain features to consider when choosing the best family tent for you above in this article.
2. Why is a tent necessary?
Having a tent can protect you from outside elements such as wildlife and harsh weather. It also prevents you from outdoor temperatures and gives you a bit of privacy to have personal time and sleep comfortably.
3. Can a 4-person tent really fit a family of 4?
We recommend you to size up your tent, as if you are a family of 4, you should get 6-person tents or more to give you some extra room and comfort.
4. How do you stay warm in a tent?
You can make your DIY heat pad while camping by packing hot water into a Nalgene bottle and put it in your sleeping bag. And don’t forget to layer up early to avoid losing more body heat. You can also invest in a high-quality tent carpet or sleeping pad to insulate your tent floor. They are super effective at trapping heat. Lastly, heat up your sleeping space and don’t go to bed cold. You can have a warm drink, have a brisk walk, or star jump to bring your temperature up a bit before you get into bed.
5. How long does it take to prepare an 8-person family tent?
It depends on which 8-person family tent you use. Some require only a few minutes to set-up, while some others take a longer time. So do your research first before you buy the tent and decide the best one.
Conclusion
It’s never too late to start planning your next camping adventure with your family, and it is possible with a family tent. No matter how many people are in your family, there are many options to choose from when buying family tents for your upcoming camping journey at your favorite campground. We have proved with our list of family tent advantages that a family tent is worth the price, and you should consider one.
If you’re looking for reasons to have a camping toilet for your camping trip, check out this article Is a Camping Toilet Necessary?
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