Coleman Dark Room Technology Family Tent, 10-Person

Last updated: February 21, 2023


Darkroom technology sets the Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup apart from competitors. This tent blocks out 90% of the sun's rays, making it easy to take a midday nap or enjoy some shade when spending the day on the beach. Interlinked poles mean you just unfold this tent and maneuver it into its natural shape. During our testing, we found this tend to be super simple and quick to assemble. It's nice that the assembly instructions are printed on the tent so you don't have to worry about losing them.

Coleman Dark Room Technology Family Tent, 10-Person

We looked at the top Family Tents and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Family Tent you should buy.

Product Details

Key Takeaway: Darkroom technology keeps the sun out even on the brightest day, making this Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup perfect for daytime nappers.

In our analysis of 133 expert reviews, the Coleman Dark Room Technology Family Tent, 10-Person placed 13th when we looked at the top 15 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

The Coleman Instant Cabin makes getting camp set up quicker and easier than ever. This instant tent has pre-attached poles that make setting up camp as simple as unfolding, extending, and securing. You can assemble the tent in about a minute and then get started on your adventure. This camping tent is designed with the WeatherTec system that features patented welded floors and inverted seams to help ensure you stay dry if it starts to rain. An integrated vented rainfly offers added protection from the rain and improves airflow without the need for extra assembly. This backpacking tent is made from rugged Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric that stands up to the rigors of the outdoors, so you can use it reliably season after season. This 6-person tent offers enough room for two queen size air beds and comes with integrated storage pockets to help you keep small items organized. And when it’s time to go home, the camping tent packs away securely in the included expandable carry bag that lets you tear away the rip strip for easy packing.

Our Expert Consultant

Shawna Newman 
Camping And Outdoor Expert

Shawna Newman is the editor-in-chief of Active Weekender, a website that provides resources — from gear recommendations to beginner tips — to people looking to plan outdoor adventures. Her favorite outdoor activity is hiking, and she is on a quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

 

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

Coleman Instant Tent 6 is adequately comfortable. It's not fancy, it's not innovative, and it doesn't set a new standard. But it is roomy, easy, and readily vented. That will get the job done.
On our camping trip, the four-person tent, which costs just $136.99, did in fact set up with ease. Unfold the bundle of nylon and interlinked poles from its duffel bag and the shelter almost pops to its shape.
This instant cabin tent has a WeatherTecTM system with patented strong electrically-fused floors. Together with the upended seams, these work to ensure you remain dry in your outdoors.
Compact and lightweight, this tent is easy to carry, provides real protection against elements and boasts a sturdy construction, all at a more than affordable price.
You will love the reflective Illumiline guy lines on the tent, which ensures visibility at night dark. Pre-attached poles make it easy to set up the tent in sixty seconds or less.
The price is one of the best features of this tent, as of the moment of writing this text it is around $175, which is simply amazing for such a tool.
The tent is very comfortable and the ventilation is just perfect when you're camping during those hot summer days.
It's quick and easy to set up, very spacious, and tall enough for a 6-foot man to stand up in it.
There are 2 vestibules within for storing all the necessities, a welded waterproof floor, coated polyester sides, and reflective guy lines.
The tent is with large windows on two sides, plus a huge door with the mesh window on the front. So you can use it also as a sunshade on a beach or in the garden.
The Coleman 6-person cabin tent comes with Coleman’s patented WeatherTec system which includes welded floors and inverted seams to keep you free from water. The floor is also shaped into a tub like formation, which helps keep the ground water out and completely away from all seams.
There's also two roof vents, that can be unzipped and raised up on a prop to maximize ventilation. This is pretty neat and definitely a welcome feature!
An interesting feature of this tent is the darkroom technology, which blocks out 90 percent of the sunlight. Not only does this keep the tent cooler in warm weather, but it also aids sleep during the day.

What reviewers didn't like

It's not reliable for bad weather. The rain fly only covers the top of the tent, neglecting most of the main tent walls.
Lying in the quiet of the North Woods, the tent itself was unusually loud. The floor fabric is crinkly and noisy when you move. The dual zipper pulls on the windows and door, which are made of metal, tap together with the breeze to make a quiet but persistent “ting-ting-ting” to interrupt the nature outside.
There is no information about this even on the Coleman’s site, this is disappointing from such a big company. But the packed size of this tent is not so great.
The Coleman only has two storage pockets. Since this is a tent built for six people, it seems odd there are only a couple of storage pockets available. The tent does have a hook where you can put a light, but a few more pockets would have been nice.
Takes a little longer to take down than to set up.
The biggest negative of this tent is probably the fact that Coleman makes you buy the rain fly for it as a separate product.
Not for heavy rains and winds.
There is actually no separate rainfly for this cabin tent, which is viewed as a negative if planning on camping in heavy rain environments.
Two pockets on the inside give you storage room for the important items, though it would be nice to have more (especially for a tent designed for 6 people!) and a conveniently placed hook allows you to hang a lantern or lamp.
View our Family Tent buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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