Hanging out in a tent with your family is half the fun of camping, but finding the right tent can be daunting for beginner campers.
Go to a store or search online for tents, and you can quickly be overwhelmed with choices.
In this blog post, I’ll help you decide what works best for you and your family. And I’ll offer a few tents that I would purchase if I was starting out.
Beginner Tips for Picking a Family Tent
If you’re just getting into camping, or if you’re getting back into camping, Welcome!
I’m excited for you!
There’s nothing that creates lifelong memories for your family than camping. And having the right tent makes camping even better.
Here is my advice for beginner campers for choosing their first family tent.
Size Matters
It might be cute to pack two adults and a couple of little kids into a four-person tent for a summer or two, but let’s think long-term.
Those kids are growing as we speak. It won’t be long before snuggle time turns into a cage match with each of you fighting for territory.
Add a dog or two and you have serious problems my friend.
Rule of thumb – double the tent size for the size of your family. So if you have two people, get a four-person tent. If you have four people, get an eight-person tent.
You might have to get multiple tents as your family grows.
Height
I always consider height when picking a tent. I don’t enjoy crouching over for an entire weekend, especially when loading, unloading, or just hanging out.
I like to be able to stand up in my tent.
You may be different. If standing up in a tent is important to you, then be sure to look at the height.
If it’s not that important then you have a lot more options.
Budget
Quality is important, but so is your bank account.
If you’re just starting out, there’s no need to buy the high-end luxury suite that can withstand the fury that comes with Kansas weather.
An inexpensive tent will get you through the next few summers while you figure out what you like and don’t like. Your family might even grow during that time.
Sure, you want your camping equipment to last a long time, so don’t go cheap. But you don’t need to blow your budget just yet.
Besides, you’re going to need other items like sleeping bags, a cooler and maybe a portable grill.
My Tent Recommendations for Beginner Campers
Here are the three tents that I’d buy if I were just getting started. They’re in order from smallest to largest.
Coleman Willow Pass 4-Person Dome Tent
The Coleman Willow Pass 4-Person Dome Tent is a good quality tent that’s perfect for beginners.
Its 6.5-foot by 6.5-foot floor is large enough to sleep two average-height adults and maybe even a dog.
The Coleman Willow Pass is easy to set up and take down, and only weighs about 10 pounds.
And when it’s packed up, it doesn’t take up much space in the apartment or in the car.
Magellan Outdoors Mission 8-Person Tunnel Tent
Got a family of four or five? The Magellan Outdoors Mission 8-Person Tunnel Tent has enough room for everyone.
This tent is eight feet wide and 20 feet long at its base, and the 6.5-foot height gives you enough room to stand up.
The Magellan Outdoors Mission has an attached, screened-in porch to give you an open feeling without letting the bugs in.
The ground-level air vent and four windows provide good air circulation while the rain fly protects you from precipitation.
Magellan Outdoors Grand Ponderosa 10-Person Family Cabin Tent
If you have a big family, or you just like the extra space, the Magellan Outdoors Ponderosa 10-Person Family Cabin Tent has you covered.
This tent has a 10-foot by 14-foot floor and a peak height of 6.67 feet.
For airflow, the Magellan Outdoors Grand Ponderosa has two low-level vents and 6 windows.
This tent also comes with a divider panel, an LED ceiling light, and a tablet holder for entertainment.
What’s the best tent for your family?
There are a lot of tent options out there, and plenty of opinions to go along with those options.
This article isn’t meant to add to the debate, but rather, to cut through the noise.
Your tent doesn’t define you as a camper…going camping is what makes you a camper.
So don’t get hung up on gear decisions, just pick what’s best for you and your family and get out there!
Safe Travels!
Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas
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Featured photos by Everett McIntire and Greg Rosenke at Unsplash.
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