You can’t go wrong with a big tent. If it’s you, your partner, and a baby or two, a big tent gives you a lot of room for an air mattress, makeshift nightstands, your pups, and all your gear. As a parent with many kids, you can sleep soundly, knowing that everyone is sleeping in the same space.
When researching 8-person tents, we considered a few important features. The tent material is an essential feature because it determines not only how much the tent weighs but also how well it will stand up to inclement weather. Floor material matters, too, because it can be hard to prevent water from leaking in no matter how watertight the top is. We considered ventilation, too, which influences temperature control as well as moisture retention. Windows and doors play a huge part in how well the air moves around the tent. Finally, we considered how much space there is inside to let you know exactly what you’re working with.
To put together our best 8-person tent reviews, we spent a lot of hours reading through information from manufacturers and reviews from hardcore outdoor lovers and people who use these tents for everything from family camping trips to music festivals. First, you’ll find a table to compare our picks side-by-side to figure out which one is the right one for you. Next, you’ll find in-detail reviews of our 8-person tents, followed by a detailed buying guide to help you choose the best one for you. Our Editor’s Pick is the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent. This rugged, all-season tent comes with 12-inch heavy-duty spring steel rods that keep the tent stable and the sides taut. Setup is so easy that one person can do it without any assistance. A strap-and-cinch storage bag is also included for easy transport and storage. The 100% duck cotton canvas material is watertight, breathable, and extremely durable. It has a thick weave and is treated with a silicone finish, but it’s still breathable and does not wick water. Inside, the 6 ½ feet ceiling is high enough for most people to stand and walk around. There are two large D-shaped doors for easy access from the front and back of the tent and, to help with ventilation of temperature control, four large mesh windows, and two funnel-flow vents. The floor is made of waterproof vinyl that’s seamless and puncture-resistant, and there’s a gear loft, and organizer system keep equipment off the floor and out of the way. While this tent is easy to put together, it’s also pretty tall. Campers on the short side may have a hard time putting this tent up without assistance because it is so tall and heavy. The Psyclone Tents Bell Tent features a unique bell design with a 9’9” center height and a 16’4” diameter which gives you a lot of space to work with. It’s made of a high-quality cotton canvas blend that’s not only waterproof but also fire and mold retardants. It features a large door and four windows, all equipped with mesh to allow air to flow through while keeping bugs out. The door has a rain flap, too, for extra protection from wet weather. There are a lot of awesome things about this tent. It comes with a heavy-duty groundsheet that zips into place, and you can roll up the walls for maximum ventilation on a hot day. There are four vents at the top of the tent, too, which provide good airflow, too. It includes durable ropes with metal tension adjusters attached and are generally pretty easy to put up. All of the corners are reinforced for added durability, and the seams are all double-stitched. A canvas bag is included for storage. There aren’t many complaints about this tent. In fact, people who use it seem to be genuinely impressed with the materials and craftsmanship. It is a little pricey but has the quality to back it up. Our Customer’s Choice is the Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent Inside, there’s room for two queen-sized air mattresses and the center is 6’5” high which is great for taller campers. Setup takes about a minute and only requires three simple steps. The poles are pre-attached, so all you have to do is unfold the tent, extend the poles, and secure everything in place. It’s easy to take down, too, and includes a carry bag for easy storage and transport. The 150D material uses the Coleman WeatherTec system as well as inverted seams and welded floors to keep everyone dry. There’s even integrated rain protection so you don’t have to buy a separate rainfly. That said, some people chose to add a rainfly, commenting that while the tent didn’t let any water through the ceiling, the water did run off the roof and through the windows easily. There are two storage pockets for gear, which work great but, overall, the tent could do with a little more storage if eight people are using it. The two doors and large windows are great for ventilation, though the doors are difficult to open with one hand which makes things inconvenient when you’re trying to bring things in and out of the tent, particularly in bad weather. The CORE Instant Cabin Tent sleeps nine so it’s a little roomier than some of the other tents in our review. Inside, you can fit two queen-sized air mattresses and the center height is 6’6”. One of the best things about this tent is how easy it is to set up. Pre-attached telescoping poles pop the tent into place in as little as a minute. A room divider and wall storage pockets help keep the inside neat and tidy while also allowing for some additional privacy. There’s also an electrical cord access port that closes completely when not in use. This tent features an advanced venting system that pulls cool air from vents located near the ground, allowing hot air to rise and escape through the large open mesh roof. There’s also a large T-door and plenty of windows. This tent comes with a rainfly for additional protection as well as tent stakes and a carry bag for transport and storage. Although this tent comes with stakes, several people felt they weren’t strong enough and recommended purchasing better ones. A common complaint was that the same features that made the ventilation in this test amazing also made is a poor choice for windy weather. A lot of wind gets inside the tent.
Quick Summary
Editor’s Choice:
Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent
"The best in its kind tent for 8 adults with 6’6” ceiling height, two large D-shaped doors with mesh windows and 10-by-14 feet room space"
Best 8-Person Festival Tent:
Psyclone Tents Bell Tent
"Bell-shaped tent from Psychlone Tents can fit up 10 people. Made of 340 gsm polyester cotton canvas blend, this tent will keep all of the campers out if wind and rain"
Customer’s Choice:
Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent
"Made in USA 8-person tent from Coleman can fit up to 8 people in its 14-by-10 feet room space in one minute since setup beginning"
Best 8-Person Easy Setup Tent :
CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
"Instant 8-person tent from CORE with 78-inch ceiling height, room divider, and wall storage pockets"
Best Tent with Room to Spare:
fortunershop Family Cabin Tent
"This tent can accommodate between 2 to 4 families as it has four rooms with separate dividers. You can however tie back a divider to get a large room."
Best 8-Person Backpacking Tent :
TOMOUNT 8-Person Tent
"A waterproof and windproof tent with 1 large mesh door and 5 mesh windows, lightweight and portable, includes carry bag, a 1-year full replacement is guaranteed"
Best Storage for 8 Person Tent:
Gazelle 26800 T4 Plus Portable Camping Tent
"8-person tent from Gazelle Tents features 110 sq. feet of rugged polyester floor space, waterproof rainfly with taped seams, fiberglass poles to setup in 90 seconds"
Best 8-Person Cabin Tent:
Browning Camping Big Horn Tent
"Two-room wall divider, extra tall center, six large windows, two doorways and mesh roof – that’s not a complete list of features that you’ll find with this Browning Camping tent"
Best Weather-Resistant 8-Person Tent:
Dream House 4 Season Camping Tent
"The best model from Dream House will fit-in up to 10 people, durable tent construction of galvanized steel tubes will keep the tent stable regardless of weather"
Budget Pick:
Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Car Camping Tent
"Another tent from Coleman features 17-by-10 feet room space, removable privacy walls to create three rooms for all family members"
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4409 people in the past 30 days
9.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.5
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.8
1
Editor’s Choice
Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent
Features
What are its best features?
What could be improved?
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4817 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.7
2
Best 8-Person Festival Tent
Psyclone Tents Bell Tent
Features
What makes it stand out?
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 5129 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.9
9.4
3
Customer’s Choice
Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent
Features
What do we love it for?
What were we disappointed with?
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3171 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.3
4
Best 8-Person Easy Setup Tent
CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Features
What are its best features?
What could be improved?
Also Product Ranking:
You won’t find many family tents that offer such a large surface area as this family cabin tent from the Fortunershop! The quality of the materials is not at the same level as reputable companies like Coleman, High Peak, Skandika, or Outwell Willwood but at this price, it is frankly difficult to ask for better. This tent can accommodate between 2 to 4 families as it has four rooms with separate dividers. You can however tie back a divider to get a large room. The tent had four doors with 12 windows.
This tent is easy to set up in 20 minutes. In addition, it is beautiful, sober, and efficient. Even if it is a tent designed to accommodate 14 users, we recommend that you use it with a maximum of 10 to 12 people. Indeed, it is far from being as big as what we are led to believe. Each room can fit in a queen-sized mattress. Queen-sized mattresses can only accommodate two to three persons, which takes the actual capacity of the tent to under 14 – 8 to 10, realistically.
However, if your budget is limited, this is a great alternative that will allow you to go with friends and family inexpensively for the summer vacation.
If you’ve been looking for a lightweight tent, the TOMOUNT 8-Person Tent is a great choice. It’s the lightest tent in our reviews and the only one appropriate for backpacking. This is a great choice for a family tent and can fit three queen-sized air mattresses or eight individual sleeping bags. Plus, there’s a curtain to divide the tent into two separate spaces for some privacy when you need it.
This tent features snag-free pole sleeves so you only have to feed the poles through once which saves a lot of time. In only a few simple steps and about 10 minutes, you’re ready to go. The poles are designed to withstand windy weather and the material is wind and waterproof. A rainfly is included, too, so this tent keeps you safe and dry in inclement weather.
There’s one large door with two-way zippers as well as five windows, all covered with mesh for good airflow while keeping insects out. The tent top is mesh, too, for improved ventilation. An electrical access port makes running a power cord easy and there’s an interior pocket to stash personal belongings.
Some people had problems with the zipper, commenting that they were difficult to open and tended to snag. The instructions can also be a little difficult to follow so setting it up for the first time may take a while.
Next up is the Gazelle 26800 T4 Plus Portable Camping Tent has 110 square feet of space with a ceiling height of 6’8”. This tent has a pop-up design that goes up in minutes using an innovative framework, fiberglass poles, and all-metal hubs. It’s a solid structure with enough flexibility to tolerate strong winds. Stakes and guy line are included.
The 100% coated polyester material is strong and durable and resistant to water and UV light. The tent includes a waterproof rainfly with taped seams for additional protection but it can be left off to get a good look at the night sky on clear nights. There are plenty of other storage options, too, including two removable gear lofts, large side storage nets, and wall-mounted pouches.
One of the cool things about this tent is the removable floor in the screen room. It’s held securely in place with Velcro around the perimeter but can be quickly removed for easy cleaning.
Although it includes a storage bag, users commonly complained that getting it back inside the bag was next to impossible. It’s also really heavy at just about 50 pounds so transporting this one is a bit awkward. People also commented that the tent stakes were not the best quality.
Next up is the Browning Camping Big Horn Tent, a roomy cabin tent that uses fiberglass poles and steel uprights for strength and stability. Quick-snap pole clips make for easy assembly and steel stakes and guy ropes are included.
This tent has two large doorways for easy access as well as four windows for temperature control and ventilation. The center height is 7’3” tall so there is plenty of headroom, even for tall campers.
Straight sidewalls allow for better use of the space and there’s a wall divider to create two separate rooms inside. Mesh storage pockets along the walls keep equipment and personal belongings organized.
The factory-sealed floor seams and rain fly provide excellent water resistance. The rain fly uses weatherproof buckles to hold it in place but it can be easily removed when the weather improves. When the weather is cooperating, the large mesh ceiling gives you a spectacular view of the night sky. That said, this design doesn’t make it a cold-weather tent.
While there is storage, it consists only of six small pockets on each side of the tent which may not be enough considering this tent is meant for eight people. Setup is pretty easy once you figure it out, but you be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
The Dream House 4 Season Camping Tent is made from beige cotton canvas coated with waterproof PU. It also comes with a heavy-duty PVC groundsheet that’s really easy to wipe clean and provides excellent protection from the rain. On some really hot summer days, it might cause some lack of ventilation though, so it’s better to get a tent air conditioner for this model.
Two large doors and four triangular windows have mosquito netting for cross-ventilation without letting in any bugs. All of the seams are double-stitched, and pressure points are reinforced. It can stand up against winds as fast as 30 mph.
This tent comes with everything you need to get it set up: galvanized stainless-steel center and door poles, rainproof caps, small stake, large stakes, and wind ropes. This isn’t as easy to assemble as some of the pop-up versions we reviewed but once you get it set up, it’s sturdy and spacious. There’s easily room for eight people with some space left over for gear.
Everything fits into a matching carrying bag for storage or travel. We should mention that, at 99 pounds, this is one of the heaviest tents we reviewed. It’s made of high-quality, durable materials but requires at least two people to get it into the car and to the campsite.
Note that this tent is waterproof, but you may get some leaking the first time it’s exposed to rain. The cotton canvas will shrink after it’s first exposed to water, which closes up any holes.
Our choice for the best budget 8-person tent is the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Car Camping Tent. The WeatherTec system makes this tent waterproof and includes inverted seams, welded floors, and a zipper cuff for extra weather protection. The frame is strong and can tolerate some wind gusts and included rainfly comes in handy when the weather is bad.
The center height is only 6 feet which is a little short for taller campers but still provides enough clearance for most people. There are room dividers to create three different rooms and a large door for easy entry.
Two large windows and top vents allow for good air movement but a lot of people were disappointed that the windows did not zip closed. The large door zips shut, though the zipper itself is not exceptionally durable.
Setup and cleanup are easy because there are separate bags for poles, stakes, and the tent itself. Some people reported that the stakes for the rainfly were a little flimsy. Others reported that the tent leaked a bit in heavy rain. The rainfly is somewhat effective but can be difficult to install. Overall, this tent is a great choice for nice weather and affordable enough to fit into any budget.
The right tent can take an already awesome camping trip and make it even better but choosing the right one isn’t always easy. We put together this buying guide to show you what to look for to find the right tent for you.
There are some very important features to consider when choosing a tent. The bottom line is you want to find one that’s going to keep you as comfortable as possible. There are a lot of things that contribute to that, so let’s take a closer look at what you should look out for.
One of the main things to consider about tent material is whether or not it’s waterproof. Most tents claim to be waterproof but you’ll find that isn’t always the case. When you’re trying to determine how effective a tent is at keeping you dry, there are some things to look out for. Double-stitched, taped, or inverted seams are a little more effective at keeping water from leaking in. You should also look for reinforced corners which help maintain the integrity of the tent so problems don’t arise in the future.
When thinking about waterproofing, there are two more things to consider. One is the floor. No matter how effective the top of the tent is at keeping out water, you still have to consider the floor. In heavy rains, water runs down the tent and collects with all the other groundwater under and around your tent. A good waterproof floor with sealed seams is needed to keep it outside where it belongs.
You should also consider whether or not you need to get a separate rainfly. Some of these tents come with one while some claim you don’t need one. A rainfly is a good thing to have because it gives you an extra bit of protection. You never know when the weather’s going to shift and you should make sure you’re protected as possible.
Another reason that the material matters is because it determines the time of year you can use the tent. Some of the lightweight tents we chose are better for warmer weather but the canvas ones, like the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent, are thicker and can be used in fall and, in some cases, winter.
The area of the tent tells you exactly how much floor space is inside. This can be a little misleading because you always need to consider the shape to really know what you’re working with. Circular tents can be very spacious but they lack the straight walls and 90-degree angles that make it possible to line up sleeping bags and air mattresses to use up every inch of space. Also, some manufacturers label their products 6-person tents, but when you look at the dimensions, you’ll realise that most of them are suitable for 8 people as well.
Ceiling height might not be important to a lot of people but if you’re tall or have someone in your family who is, it matters. These tents come in a range of heights. The Psyclone Tents Bell Tent is the tallest with a center height of 9’9” while the Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent is one of the shortest at 6’5”. Keep in mind that this is the center height; as you work your way out to the walls, the height often gets significantly smaller.
When it comes to doors, a lot of people prefer a tent with two doors because it allows campers to enter the tent from either side. So, for example, if your gear and sleeping bag are located in the back left corner and there’s a back door, you can come in that way and have easy access to your stuff rather than coming in the front door and walking through everyone else’s stuff. That said, some people might prefer a tent with a single door like the TOMOUNT 8-Person Tent because it controls entry to the tent a bit more and is one less thing to worry about if it starts to rain.
Windows and doors should be covered in mesh to allow air to move through while keeping bugs outside. The more windows you have, the better the ventilation. For example, the fortunershop Family Cabin Tent for camping has six windows so air flows right through when they’re all open. On the other hand, the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Car Camping Tent only has two windows which can mean that the inside of the tent gets a little stuffy.
(You might be wondering if there is any circumstance in which someone might want a tent with fewer windows and there is. In the case of cold weather camping, too many windows can be a bad thing because there are more places for cold air to get in and hot air from your space heater to escape.)
Another thing that affects ventilation is the ceiling. Some of these tents, like the Gazelle 26800 T4 Plus Portable Camping Tent, have open mesh panels that work well letting hot air escape. If you go for a tent like this, though, make sure you choose one with an easy-to-attach rainfly so you don’t get caught in bad weather.
The pack weight is pretty important to transporting your tent to and from camp. We only found one large tent that was appropriate for backpacking with a weight of about 18 pounds. Our other choices are all pretty heavy, weighing from about 30 to about 100 pounds. As you can see, that’s quite a range. If you have regular help carrying the tent from the car to your campsite and back again, the weight isn’t as important. But if you regularly go camping on your own and like using a big tent, make sure you choose one that’s light enough to carry by yourself.
There are a lot of nice features available on some of these tents that don’t necessarily affect how well they hold up or how comfortable they are but are nice things to have to make life a little easier.
Storage is one thing you can never have enough of when you’re camping, especially when you’re in a tent with seven other people. Some of these tents have mesh storage pockets on the walls but if you’re worried about clutter, look for a tent with a gear loft. Gear lofts allow you to stow some gear in compartments near the ceiling instead of taking up valuable space on the floor.
Another feature that might come in handy is a room divider. Some of these tents have curtains that you can hang to separate the tent into two or three different areas. This is great for large families where the kids want some privacy but you don’t feel comfortable letting them have their own tent. It’s also useful for smaller groups because you can designate one area as gear storage and keep the other as a living area.
Electrical access ports are handy, too. They let you feed a power cord through to connect to an outside power source without having to worry about feeding it through a window or door where it can easily get stepped on.
A few of these options have a removable floor that connects to the base of the tent with Velcro. This is a great feature to have, particularly after a week camping in the rain and mud. Cleanup is so easy when you can remove the floor to scrub and spray it with a hose. It’s so much better than crawling around inside the tent trying to scrub it clean.
Prices vary a lot with these tents, from about $130 or so to around $700. So, there’s something for every budget. The more expensive tents are usually made of treated canvas and are a little more durable than other materials and will last a lot longer but they’re also significantly more expensive.
Our Editor’s Pick and the best 8-person 4-season tent we found is the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent. The 100% duck cotton canvas material is breathable, durable, and watertight. It features plenty of ventilation, including two large doors and four windows, as well as a waterproof vinyl floor and plenty of gear storage.
The Psyclone Tents Bell Tent features a unique bell design with a 9’9” center height and a huge 16’4” diameter. The high-quality cotton canvas blend is waterproof and fire and mold retardant. You can roll up the walls for maximum ventilation and, generally, it’s pretty easy to put up.
Finally, we recommend the Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent. It’s the best 8-person instant tent because the pre-attached poles and three-step setup only takes a minute or so. The WeatherTec system provides good weather protection and the windows and doors give great ventilation.
