Family Growing – Best 6 Person Tent, A Great Step Up
If the kids are getting bigger, you’re adding to the family, you’ve got a lot of gear, or you just want some more space to yourself, it’s probably time to upgrade to a larger tent. With 6 person tents, you and your family can experience more space and more comfort while camping.
What is the best 6 person tent? The best 6 person tent in 2020/21 for comfort, durability, and easy setup is the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6.
Other great 6 person tents are the Eureka Desert Canyon and the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Person Tent.
Eureka! Desert Canyon 6 Six-Person, Three-Season Camping Tent
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Person Tent - Gray/Red
It’s time for you and your family to have a more spacious and comfortable camping experience. To help you out, we’ve outlined the best 6 person tent for family camping, followed by other great 6 person tents. We’ll walk you through their basic dimensions, why they’re the best, and all the essential qualities to look for in a 6 person tent. Let’s pop up to it!
Best 6 Person Tent: A Breakdown
Camping with the family is an awesome way to switch from being cooped up inside, staring at electronic devices all day to exploring nature, getting some fresh air, and spending quality time together.
However, if you plan on camping with the family in a tent, there is something camping has in common with home: when everyone’s too cramped in one space, things get uncomfortable quickly.
Maybe the kids have gotten bigger (how do they grow so fast?), perhaps you’ve made some additions to the family, perhaps you’ve needed to pack more gear to compensate for everyone, or maybe you just want to be able to actually stretch out your legs at night when you’re trying to sleep.
No matter what it is, if you’re a family camper and your multi-person tent is starting to feel more like a single person tent, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
When it comes to smaller or growing families, the perfect tent upgrade is often a 6 person tent.
Remember, in our Awesome Camping Tips article, we strongly suggest comfortable camping relies on a tent that is rated for at least 2, and preferably 4, more people than are in your party.
6 person tents tend to have significant benefits for families looking to upgrade their camping game – they’re not much more expensive than smaller tents, they offer a lot more space without weighing too much, and they’re often still easy to set up.
So, what makes a great 6 person tent? What’s the overall best 6 person tent for families, and why? It’s time to find out.
Your Family Tent Requirements
Before looking at what makes a great 6 person tent, it is a good idea to ensure you have a clear idea on your own requirements. We provide a starting template in our guide to Family Camping Tent – Requirements. Please do use that guide as a starting point.
We are also going to be talking about different types of tent in this review. If you are unsure on what sort of tent best meets your needs, check out How to Choose a Tent That is Right for Your Family
What Makes a Great 6 Person Tent
Thinking of how many 6 person tents are out there can make the process of choosing one seem difficult and even daunting. Choosing a 6 person tent for you and your family doesn’t have to be difficult or daunting, though – you just need to know what to look for.
Look no further, because below are some of the qualities that make a great 6 person tent for family camping.
Bigger Dimensions and Taller Center Height
As you know, campers (especially family campers) most often seek out 6 person tents so they can have more space.
That being said, the dimensions of a 6 person tent (especially its center height) can make or break the space a tent offers and how great it is for families.
A tent’s dimensions will be listed on its packaging or in its online sale listing. The dimensions of 6 person tents tend to be around 10×7 to 10×10 feet. While those dimensions might not seem too different, just a few feet can make a huge difference in overall space and size.
Additionally, 6 person tents have varying center heights – meaning how tall they are at the center. 6 person tents with taller center heights (68″ and above) will have more space and feel more comfortable to move around in.
Easy and Fast Setup
6 person tents with easy setup make great tents for families. Not only are there 6 person tents that can be set up by just one person, but 6 person tents can be set up in a matter of minutes. Some 6 person tents are both!
When a 6 person tent is easier and faster to set up, families can get settled in more quickly, dedicate the job of setting up the tent to one or two people so others can set up the rest of camp. There’s less chance of a family feud starting due to setup frustrations.
Weather Resistance and Durability
The great thing about tents is that they can keep everyone warm, out of the wind and rain, and overall sheltered from the elements. However, not every tent is created equal, and not every tent will shelter campers in the same way.
Great 6 person tents for families are tents that have excellent weather resistance and durability.
Why? They’re able to withstand high wind speeds, keep everyone dry from rain and other precipitation, and they can help keep everyone from getting too cold. Really great 6 person tents might even be insulated.
Price
Camping with the family can get pricey, and it can be hard to justify spending money on new camping gear like a tent.
So naturally, a great 6 person tent for families will also have a reasonable price point. You don’t need to shell out $400, $500, $600 or more for a quality 6 person tent for you and your family – many are available for much less than that!
Overall Best 6 Person Tent
With all the different 6 person tents and tent options available nowadays, it can be tough to know which one’s the best.
Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch
You can stay a happy camper because we found it. The overall best 6 person tent for family camping is the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6.
The Basics
| Dimensions | 10×9 ft. with 5’8” center height |
| Weight | 21.3 pounds |
| Shape | Dome or dome with screen room |
| Notable Features | Dark room technology – blocks sunlight E-port* to bring in electrical power Sets up in 15 minutes Can withstand 35+ mph winds |
* Don’t underestimate the value of the e-port. If you are stopping somewhere with the luxury of an electric hook-up it’s a real bonus. Even if you are going dispersed, well off the beaten track, you can use the e-port with a very quiet, efficient camping generator.
Why It’s the Best
The Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6 tent is great for really any campers, but it’s especially great for families.
It tops our list as the best 6 person tent for families for quite a few reasons.
Great Dimensions
We know you’re going to want space and comfort in any 6 person tent, especially when camping with the family. The Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6 can offer that (and more).
With dimensions of 10×9 feet and a 5’8” center height, no one will feel like this dome-shaped tent is cramped.
This tent can fit two queen-sized air mattresses, and with such a tall center height, just about all the kids (and maybe parents, too) should be able to stand up inside without slouching over.
Fast Setup
First, this bad boy only takes about 15 minutes to set up. Thanks so Coleman’s “Fast Pitch” technology, families can set up this tent and get settled in almost as fast as you can make a s’more. It can even be set up by just one person in the same amount of time.
The Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6 has poles that come attached to the tent itself, so users don’t have to push the poles through and risk breaking or ripping the sleeves.
Once set up, this tent also has reflective guylines, so no one will trip over it when they need to make a late-night bathroom trip.
Dark Room Technology
Coleman Carlsbad’s dark room technology is a game-changer. With it, long gone are the days of waking up right when sunlight seeps through your tent. Instead, you can choose when you want to wake up. What a concept, right?
If you want to sleep in a bit longer or keep your young ones from waking up right at sunrise, this tent is probably the one for you.
The Coleman Carlsbad’s dark room technology is said to block 90% of sunlight compared to other Coleman tents. Not only that, but it blocks more harmful UV rays than other tents. Reviewers have even said that they sleep more deeply and more comfortably thanks to the dark room technology.
Screened-In Porch
If you and your family get tired of the dark room, you can simply unzip a few panels to open up mesh screened “windows,” or step out onto your very own screened-in porch!
The screened-in porch also called the “screen room,” is one of the best features of the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6. Families can enjoy a spacious area completely protected from insects and better protected from the sun and weather.
Not only that but since the screen room is attached to the tent, family members can feel like they are in their own space even if they don’t want to go outside.
The screen room is also a great area to store extra gear to free up the bedroom of the tent, or to use as sleeping quarters for the family pet (weather permitting, of course).
Durable and Weatherproof
The Coleman Carlsbad is durable, too – you won’t have to worry about coming back to your campsite after an enjoyable family adventure to a blown-away or broken down tent. This 6 person tent has extra weather protection and can withstand 35+ MPH winds.
One of the most important things to look for in any tent is the weather it can withstand. Thankfully, the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6 is weatherproof. Not only does it come with an extra rainfly, but it also features inverted seams and welded corners to keep water out.
Awesome Price
For all that the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6 offers, it’s available at an excellent price, especially compared to other tents.
With this 6 person tent, families can get a quality, spacious tent and still have money left over for more supplies, some souvenirs, or even just extra snacks.
Not So Good
You may remember – our our article on Awesome Family Camping Tips – we mentioned you should go for a tent rated for at least 2, and preferably 4 people more than the manufacturers claim? The Coleman Carlsbad is a case in point.
It’s a great tent, but there is only room for one queen size mattress. So, if you want to sleep in real comfort, on an air mattress and off the floor, there’s only room for 2 people.
Other Great 6 Person Tents for Family Camping
There are a lot of different 6 person tents available out there. While they may not be what we consider the best of the best for families like the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6, they are nevertheless worthy of consideration.
Below are a few other great 6 person tents for family camping to consider.
Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Person Tent
While it has a steeper price point than other 6 person tents, the Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Person Tent has some great qualities for families that need an upgraded tent for camping.
The Basics
| Dimensions | 10×10 ft. with 7’ center height |
| Weight | 23.2 pounds |
| Shape | Cabin |
| Notable Features | Three-season tent Near-vertical walls Gear loft and storage pockets E! Power Port Steel/fiberglass frame |
Why It’s Great
The Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Person Tent is the 6 person tent to have if you and your family value space over everything.
This 10×10 foot tent with a 7-foot center height has a cabin shape, which makes you feel like you’re actually walking into a cabin. No, really – it has near-vertical walls!
The Eureka Copper Canyon also steps up the storage game for families that have a lot of gear. It has a mesh gear loft at the top of the tent with storage pockets just below. That way, there can be less gear on the floor of the tent (AKA, your sleep space).
If you’ve got access to electricity while in the great outdoors, the Eureka Copper Canyon 6 also has an E! Power Port entrance so that you can run a line of electricity from the source to the tent.
Although the Eureka Copper Canyon isn’t as easy or fast to set up as the Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6, one person can set it up, although it might take 20 to 30 minutes to do so successfully.
One of the minor drawbacks of the Eureka Copper Canyon is its price tag. It’s double the cost of the Eureka Copper Canyon 4 person tent, it may be out of price range or a bit unjustifiable for some families.
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6
If you’re familiar with the tent world, then you’re probably familiar with the brand ALPS. Known for producing durable, high-quality tents, ALPS also makes a great 6 person tent for families – the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6.
The Basics
| Dimensions | 10×10 ft. with 7’ center height |
| Weight | 23.5 pounds |
| Shape | Cabin |
| Notable Features | Easy setup Near-vertical walls Fiberglass tent poles Weatherproof fly that creates large awnings Mesh storage shelf 4 windows |
Why It’s Great
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 has a similar shape to the Eureka Copper Canyon, and that’s one of the great things about it.
With a cabin shape and nearly-vertical walls, families can enjoy 100 square feet of space and a 7-foot tall center height in the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6.
All that space is utilized well, too – there’s a mesh shelf and mesh pouches for storage and four large windows to make the tent feel even more spacious.
Even though the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 is known for its weatherproofing and durability, families won’t have a problem setting it up. In fact, even grandma could probably set up this 6 person tent.
Many people report that they are able to set up the ALPS in 15 minutes–if they follow the setup instructions. If you decide to ignore them, it might take a little longer.
Once this tent is set up, the family won’t have to worry about inclement weather, either. The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 has durable features like double-stitching, factory-sealed seams, and a sizeable waterproof fly that provides awnings for both the front and the back.
This 6 person tent is “3 season,” meaning it can withstand some colder weather, but it isn’t rated for winter.
Surprisingly, at the time of writing, the Charcoal/Blue coloring was selling for considerably less than the Gray/Red coloring. Whichever one you choose, you can be confident that the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 is an excellent tent for family camping that won’t also break the bank.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there are tons of options for 6 person tents out there for when you decide you and your family need a tent upgrade.
However, choosing between them all doesn’t have to be difficult, because we found the best 6 person tent: The Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch 6.
Other great tents for families are the Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Person Tent and the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6.
No matter your reason for upgrading and no matter what 6 person tent you decide to commit to, there’s one thing you can know for sure: you’ll soon be on the way to more space, more comfort, and more durability while camping with the family.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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