Travelers likely know the name Coleman. After all, they’ve been around for a long time, so they’ve likely used a product or two over the course of their travels. For most of the camping trips I’ve taken over the years, I’ve slept in a two man tent or a classic dome tent which comfortably sleeps two but could sleep three in a pinch.
Because of an extended trip through New England this summer, I decided it was worth trying a larger tent that could be used to sleep families (4-6 people) with enough space for a table to prepare breakfast or have coffee in the evening if the weather is cool or it’s raining out. Meet one of Coleman’s larger tents, the Coleman Evanston Screened 8, which we tested out this summer.
The tent is designed for simple setup and easy carrying and is perfect for car camping and long camping trips. The tent even has a screened porch where you can sleep on warm, dry nights, another reason I was interested in trying it out. If it rains, the tent is designed to hold up to the weather which is essential for New England camping. Their insta-clip pole attachments stand up to high wind and the tent’s welded floors and inverted protected seams help ensure you stay dry on wetter than normal nights.
We didn’t any downpours during our trip but did have one drizzly night and its protective layers worked like a charm. Sure it had some misty layers of water on the exterior but it didn’t affect us in the tent.
Below the “Evanston Screened 8” lies out flat on a lawn, the first time we set it up before we went to Massachusett’s North Shore.
A great feature is the snag-free, continuous pole sleeves, which means you only have to feed the poles once. This reduces the setup time to just 15 minutes, although in our experience, expect around 30 minutes for the first time or two until you figure out the short cuts and tricks.
The tent is fairly tall (6 feet / 1.83 m), allowing adults to stand up completely and move about. It is also very spacious, with a 15 feet x 12 feet (4.57 m x 3.66 m) floor, which is large enough for two queen size airbeds with a little room to spare for gear, etc.
We tried it out with one queen and a single and had room left over for a small fold up table, camping chairs and our gear. Another cool feature is the fly, which we think is an essential for any traveler camping on the road, particularly if they expect to deal with dodgy weather. This last thing you want to deal with, whether you’re car camping or not, is wet equipment or clothes. The fly helps you keep protected from the rain, or on dry nights, you can use it to gaze at the stars through the mesh roof. Bear in mind that the mesh roof also helps keep the bugs out. We LOVE this feature!!
We give it two thumbs up! For more information on Coleman and their tent options, check out this link to their various products. The one we tried out can be found under modified dome tents and they’re generally priced at under $250.
We also tested out one of their single quickbeds, which is a great option for either camping or as a second guest bed in your home. Unlike so many other air mattresses, it doesn’t lose air and inflates quickly and easily – we even delegated set up to an 8 year old and he was able to set it up! Check out our review on it.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
