1. Best Durable Waterproof Tent Under $60
Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent
Pros:
Cons
Commentary: At this price point, you simply won't find a more durable tent to keep you cool and dry! It's a great starter tent for those who want to plan a camping adventure without spending a fortune. Even if you already own the tent of your dreams, I highly recommend buying an inexpensive Sun Dome to set up on the side. It makes a great play tent for children and an excellent spare tent for last minute guests who don't have their own.
- Designed with large windows and a ground vent to help push warm air up and out.
- WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams helps ensure you stay dry, even in torrential rains.
- Sturdy frame with Insta-Clip pole attachments stands up to 35+ mph winds.
- Rainfly with an integrated door awning is included to help keep rain from getting into the tent.
- Durable Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric is designed to withstand the elements for reliable use season after season.
- Offers enough room for one queen size air mattress and comes with built-in storage pockets to help keep your gear organized.
- E-Port makes it easy to bring electrical power inside the tent.
- Sets up in only 10 minutes thanks to snag-free continuous pole sleeves and packs neatly into the included carry bag.
- Large "D" shaped door for easy access.
- Accessories include an interior hook, electrical port, door mat, tent bags, stakes, and poles.
Cons
- Although this is described as a four person tent, it would be a better fit for two or three adults. It's also a decent fit for two adults with two children.
- This is not a true four-season tent. It's a great value for most campers, but wintertime camping enthusiasts will need a more formidable tent.
Commentary: At this price point, you simply won't find a more durable tent to keep you cool and dry! It's a great starter tent for those who want to plan a camping adventure without spending a fortune. Even if you already own the tent of your dreams, I highly recommend buying an inexpensive Sun Dome to set up on the side. It makes a great play tent for children and an excellent spare tent for last minute guests who don't have their own.
2. Best Four Season Tent: $300 to $600 Range
Cabella's Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic
As a Michigan native who camps near the Upper Peninsula where violent storms batter the landscape every spring, I've seen temperatures go from hot to freezing overnight. I won't go for extended trips into the deep wilderness without this Cabela's tent known for 25 years worth of rigorous field testing in Alaska. Back in the late 90s, my husband bought our first Alaskan Guide Model. The shock-corded six pole system has never let us down.The fabric has never ripped. During record breaking wind storms, I've watched the ceiling blow down to the ground and spring back into place as if nothing ever happened. That's the mark of a good four-season shelter. The shock corded poles should be strong yet flexible so they don't snap like twigs, kind of like modern bridges that are built to move with the wind. Twenty years later, my Alaskan Guide Model tent is still fully functional. I gave it to my brother-in-law so that he could camp alongside us. I now have a new Alaskan Guide Model tent, and it's even more powerful against storms than the old one.The full coverage rain fly is another standout, and the large vestibule provides a nice place to kick off shoes. Drawbacks: It's not quick or easy to set up.
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A field proven classic for more than 25 years, Cabella's Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic Tent is notorious among deep wilderness campers and adventurists. Time and time again, blogs written by extreme weather campers in Alaska identify this beautifully designed shelter as a top favorite.
Advantages:
Drawbacks:
Price Range:
Commentary: I've purchased two of these tents in the last 20 years! The older model is still operational after many fine camping trips along Black River in Onaway State Park. I gave it to my brother-in-law so that his family could camp alongside us on our next journey. I can tell you exactly what happens to this tent when a powerful wind storm kicks into high gear. The shock corded poles allow the ceiling to stretch and spring back into place like nothing ever happened.The unique flexibility of this design allows your tent to move with the wind instead of folding or ripping apart. Like all tents, this one will leak at some point, but we were able to use our first one for more than five years before that happened. With a little tent repair tape, it will be as good as new. I look forward to enjoying my new Alaskan Geodesic tent for many years to come. I take great pride in knowing that it's the preferred tent among hard core adventurists who camp in Alaska, and experience tells me that I made the right decision to buy another.
Advantages:
- Its rugged construction boasts 100% ripstop nylon. The floor is made of an abrasion-resistant oxford nylon.
- Heavy-duty shock-corded fiberglass poles for quick hassle-free setup.
- The newly designed integrated vestibule and full-coverage fly adds storage space for your gear and protection from the elements, making the Alaskan Guide a true four-season tent.
- The full-coverage 100% polyester fly is UV-resistant for extended life, and has a 2,000mm-rated polyurethane coating to shed pelting rain and wind-swept snow, while the floor boasts an extra-thick 3,000mm-rated coating to block moisture from below.
- The door uses a "D" design that presents less exposure to rain and moisture, while permitting easy entry and exit.
- Additional "D" design windows and three roof vents create added ventilation.
- The door and vents have No-See-Um mesh screening that keeps out even the smallest pests.
- Smooth-operating No. 8 and No. 10 YKK® zippers throughout.
- Three mesh organizer panels and a gear loft located on the inside walls keep floor space clear of gear and offer a place for stored items to dry.
- Four conveniently located interior cup holders keep drinks from spilling.
- Guy-out loops are reinforced and included.
Drawbacks:
- If purchasing the larger models, this tent is not as easy to set up as described. It helps to have a second person on the opposite end to help spread out the fabric and secure the poles. I'm not fond of the carrying bags that come with most tents, as I don't like to struggle to shove large objects back into small bags. For this reason, I like to store my Alaskan Guide Model in a snap tight plastic bin.
Price Range:
- Eight Person Alaskan Tent: $549.99 (But it often goes on sale for $499.97)
- Six Person Alaskan Tent: $449.99 (But it often goes on sale for $399.97)
- Four Person Alaskan Tent: $349.99 (But it often goes on sale for $299.97)
Commentary: I've purchased two of these tents in the last 20 years! The older model is still operational after many fine camping trips along Black River in Onaway State Park. I gave it to my brother-in-law so that his family could camp alongside us on our next journey. I can tell you exactly what happens to this tent when a powerful wind storm kicks into high gear. The shock corded poles allow the ceiling to stretch and spring back into place like nothing ever happened.The unique flexibility of this design allows your tent to move with the wind instead of folding or ripping apart. Like all tents, this one will leak at some point, but we were able to use our first one for more than five years before that happened. With a little tent repair tape, it will be as good as new. I look forward to enjoying my new Alaskan Geodesic tent for many years to come. I take great pride in knowing that it's the preferred tent among hard core adventurists who camp in Alaska, and experience tells me that I made the right decision to buy another.
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