UPDATED REVIEW: I've had this tent for a number of years now and I can confidently say that the value proposition is STRONG! We've weathered tornado force winds and torrential downpours with rarely even a drop of water getting in the tent. With all of the guy lines pegged down, the tent is VERY stable. It has held up to a lot of use and abuse and continues to work well for me and my camping crew. Just be sure you have enough flat space to place this tent. A lot of campsites may be big enough, but the amount of flat rock-free space may be small. I've always been able to get this tent to fit the spaces we've chosen, but sometimes is seems like a beast. We always appreciate the ample size and conveniences that this tent offer. My only wish is that it had a power port for running a power cord. Other than that, I would buy this tent again if something ever happened to this one. I've really grown to appreciate the smart construction and durability this tent has delivered.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I read a lot of reviews and searched high and low for the best value before purchasing this tent. The Coleman Red Canyon was in my price range and appeared to meet my needs. I wanted an eight-person tent that would comfortably hold two queen-sized mattresses plus have space around for extra stuff. On paper, this tent definitely fits the bill!
The package arrived faster than I expected and the integrity of the packaging was in good condition. I haven't camped with this tent yet, but I didn't want too many days to pass without at least putting it together in the back yard, and checking for any missing parts, so that's what I decided to do. I bought a fairly inexpensive heavy tarp to go under the tent. Because of the unusual footprint, I purchased a 10x20 foot heavy duty tarp which I marked up and later cut down to the size of the fully assembled tent. That part was easy! NOTE: when camping, you want your tarp to either be exactly the size of your tent footprint or else slightly smaller to avoid puddling of rainwater.
Assembling the tent probably took us somewhere around 30-40 minutes the first time. Since we weren't in a hurry, we flubbed a few steps and had to backtrack. The instructions were simple and mostly easy to follow, but a few of the steps could have been made a little more clear. I like that the instructions are stitched into the bag! It was also a windy day ... so that slowed us down as well. At least the instructions didn't blow away. Once we had the poles in the correct holes, the tent came together easily and quickly. We will definitely be faster at it next time. In my opinion, this tent is a two-person job unless you're an experienced camper. And if you're bringing a tent this size, you've probably got extra hands on deck to help with this process. Two people can get it done with relative ease! I would be challenged to assemble this tent alone, but I'm no expert.
Once assembled, the tent easily withstood some decent breezes in my back yard. It was a fairly windy day. It wasn't raining, so I will have to experience the weatherproof features at a later date. Attaching all of the guy lines would add further stability, but it felt plenty stable without. This is one SPACIOUS tent! You will be proud and your friends will be jealous. With the rain tarp off, this tent is also quite open and airy. There are plenty of windows to make this big tent feel light and bright. I am 5'11" and can stand comfortably in most of the tent. The edges taper down, so putting beds at the corners with a common area in the middle would work perfectly. The zipper was reasonable to open and close. Time will tell if it holds up to repeated camping trips. I trust the Coleman brand and expect that it's designed for many years of repeated use. We didn't assemble the side curtains to create the "rooms" inside, but the anchor points were all there, If I was camping with kids or bashful friends, the ability to close off both side sections of the tent would be quite handy. There are two small storage bags built into the sides of the tent to hold small items on the inside of the tent. The upper mesh bin would easily hold a light or a few more small items that you wanted off the floor. Our first impressions of the tent are that it is a good value, good quality, and we are eager to try it out it on a camping trip!
Taking the tent down happened in half of the time or less from putting it up. I would estimate that we had it down and packed in fifteen minutes. The tent fit back into the bag with very little drama. It's a snug fit, so definitely squeeze out the air and roll it tightly. Also, I had a borrowed tent to compare to and the stuffed bag was no larger than a much smaller 4-person REI tent ... so I think it's an efficient packaging accomplishment.
With all of the good news aside, I can only think of a few downsides to this tent. First all, I wouldn't want to backpack with this tent. It's compact enough in the bag, but I wouldn't want to carry it very far because it felt rather heavy to me. Secondly, the diameter of the assembly poles and the amount of bending really had my buddy worried as we assembled this tent. I was a little less concerned. I think the poles are fiberglass and should withstand some abuse. They're meant to bend, right? Again, time will tell. The smallest poles cover the rain-fly on the front of the tent. I am hoping they all hold up well. Since I don't have significant experience with tents, I can't say if this is normal or not. Nothing broke during assembly, so there's that! In my estimation, this tent is an excellent value!
So if you're looking for an attractive, large, reasonably priced tent that will be the envy of the campgrounds, this might be your tent!
| Brand | Coleman |
|---|---|
| Occupant Capacity | 7 |
| Design | Camping Tent |
| Material | Fabric |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Camping & Hiking |
| Seasons | 3 |
| Color | Black |
| Sport | Camping & Hiking |
| Item Weight | 21.5 Pounds |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Installation Type | Free Standing |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash |
| Included Components | Stakes, Pole |
| Pole Material Type | Steel |
| Size | 8 Person |
| Closure Type | Zipper |
| Number of Doors | 1 |
| Floor Length | 204 Inches |
| Water Resistance Technology | 1500 Mm |
| Maximum Height | 6 Feet |
| Floor Area | 170 Square Feet |
| Style | Tent |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Number of Guylines | 4 |
| Form Factor | Dome |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 25.91 x 14.17 x 10.2 inches |
| Package Weight | 11.26 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 25.25 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches |
| Brand Name | Coleman |
| Model Name | Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent |
| Manufacturer | The Coleman Company, Inc. |
| Part Number | 2000018299 |
