The Best 8 Person Tent
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There aren’t many better ways to enjoy a few days with the family than camping at your favorite park or wilderness area. Not only does camping give you the chance to spend some quality time with your loved ones, it also helps you get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. But if you want to take the whole crew out into the wilderness for a few days, you’ll need a tent large enough to accommodate everyone. An 8 man tent is usually sufficiently spacious for most families, and there are a number of great options available in this size range. Check out my guide to the best 8 person tents.
Looking for another size tent? Check out these other popular tents here:
How to Choose the Best 8 Person Tent
As when purchasing any other type of camping equipment or gear, you’ll want to ensure you choose one of the best options available and avoid those that will cause headaches and heartbreak. Some of the most important things to consider when purchasing an eight-person tent include:
Multiple Rooms / Dividers
Whether you are camping with another couple or you are enjoying the great outdoors with your children, dividers are very useful features, which are included in many large tents. Dividers allow you to establish two separate rooms inside the tent, which provides some degree of privacy for the occupants on each side.
Dividers can also be used to separate your tent into a sleeping section and a gear-storage section, which will make it easier to store your equipment and supplies. But no matter how you divvy up the space inside your tent, dividers are valuable features to seek when making your choice.
Ease of Entry and Exit
You’ll need to enter and exit your tent several times a day during most camping trips, so high-quality doors are important. The best tents usually feature at least two doors, so that you can enter and exit from either side of the tent. If you’re looking for more headroom in your tent, a cabin tent might be a better choice.
This is especially important for eight-person tents, as a single door can create quite a traffic jam. But you’ll not only want to pick a tent with more than one door, you want to pick a tent with doors that feature sealed seams and are made from water-resistant materials.
Ease of Set Up
Experienced campers are often comfortable setting up complicated tents, but weekend-warriors who are traveling with their families usually prefer tents that are as easy to pitch as possible. Nothing is worse than wrestling with tent poles and stakes while you are cold and tired, and the kids have exhausted their supply of patience. If you’re not in need of so much space, it would be worth looking at a smaller 4 person tent tent for easier setup.
Some of the things to look for when seeking an easy-to-pitch tent include color-coded tent poles (which make it easy to determine which pole goes where) and convenient clip designs. Just be sure that you practice pitching any tent you select in the backyard before heading out with it on the trail.
Windows
Ventilation is a very important factor in tent selection, and tents that feature multiple windows generally provide better airflow than those with only one or two. Ample ventilation helps to reduce the amount of condensation that will form on the inside of the tent, which will help keep you more comfortable during cold nights.
However, windows also present a challenge: While windows are certainly helpful for ensuring proper airflow, they also let the heat inside the tent to escape. Accordingly, you’ll have to balance your desire for ventilation with your desire for warmth when choosing a tent.
Included Extras
Included extras are often one of the best ways to choose between two otherwise similar tents. Some of the most helpful extras include things like gear canopies and storage pockets. Small awnings and vestibules also provide additional protection from the rain, and some tents even include things like electric cord ports and adjustable vents.
Just be sure that you still keep overall tent quality at the forefront of your mind. You won’t care about extra features if you end up wet and shivering through the night during your next camping trip.
#1 NTK Arizona GT 9 to 10 Person Camping Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 9.6 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$ | 17.4’ x 8’ | 26 pounds | Two/Three | Gray/Teal |
The NTK Arizona GT Camping Tent is slightly more expensive than many of the other tents reviewed here, but it provides a bit more space, which helps offset the slightly higher cost. This two-room tent features two separate doors and three windows to allow you to enter and exit easily and ensure that plenty of air flows through the tent. It also provides plenty of storage space, as it includes several roomy utility pockets and a gear loft.
Like most other NTK tents, the Arizona GT is easy to set up, thanks to the color-coded poles and aluminum pin-and-ring setup. The Nano-Flex poles are also quite strong and durable, thanks to their 100% virgin (non-recycled) fiberglass construction and gold-plated ferrules.
The NTK Arizona GT features ultra-thin polyester no-see-um mesh to keep out even the smallest insects. In fact, these mesh panels even offer some degree of privacy while the rainfly is off. The bottom is designed to be completely waterproof, thanks to the heavy-duty anti-fungal, seamless polyethylene materials and the bathtub-like construction.
This tent is not only large and ready to accommodate your family with room to spare, it is light enough to use for backpacking and easy to set up. It is one of the best choices for families interested in doing some serious camping, without breaking the bank.
- DESIGNED FOR QUICK & EASY ASSEMBLY – Fully assemble and disassemble the Arizona GT 7 - 8 person instant tent with little to no effort; With only 3 lightweightt, reinforced fiberglass color coded poles, our tents for camping weight 24.9 lbs with a comfortable floor size of 14x8 ft and a 6.7 ft center height …
#2 Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8 Person Camping Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 9.4 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$$ | 10’ x 4’ | 79 pounds | All Seasons | Gray/Olive |
The Kodiak Flex-Bow Tent is designed to work for several different types of camping trips, including weekend getaways with the family. A spacious tent, the Kodiak Flex-Bow features steep walls and a 6’6” ceiling, which means most campers will be able to stand up comfortably inside.
The tent comes with two full doors – one on the front, one on the back – to make it easy to enter or exit the tent, and the included awning provides an easy place to take your shoes on and off or set up your pack. The tent is designed to hold up well in high winds, thanks to the 1-inch galvanized steel tubing and 3/8-inch Flex-Bow spring steel rods that form the frame.
The Kodiak Flex-Bow Tent will also keep you very dry in wet weather, as the ceiling and walls are both made from Hydra-Shield, silicone-treated canvas, and the floor is made from 16-ounce, polyester-reinforced vinyl with welded seams. And while the tent walls won’t wick rainwater, the Kodiak Flex-Bow Tent still provides great ventilation, via two funnel-flow vents and four windows. This will help keep the air inside the tent smelling better and reduce the amount of condensation that forms on the walls and ceiling.
The biggest drawback to the Kodiak Flex-Bow Tent is its high price tag, which may exceed the budgets of many families. However, it is a great choice for those who want a high-quality tent that provides most of the features you’d want and aren’t afraid to pay high prices to obtain such a tent. Additionally, because this tent is rather heavy, it is more suitable for car camping than backpacking trips.
- Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable
- Spacious 6'6" ceiling height provides walk-around comfort
- Two large D-shaped doors (front and back) with #10 YKK zippers
- Four large windows with no-see-um mesh
- Flex-Bow Frame: Exceptionally sturdy. Keeps tent taut. Quick and easy, one-person, setup …
#3 CORE 9 Person Instant 8 Person Camping Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 8.9 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$ | 14’ x 9’ | 36.5 pounds | Two/Three | Green/Gray |
The CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is a spacious tent that features an internal wall, which divides the tent into two rooms. This is great for giving mom and dad some privacy on family trips, and even makes it a good choice for “double date” trips consisting of two couples.
The tent’s footprint is large enough to accommodate two queen-sized air mattresses, and it features a 78-inch-tall ceiling, which means that most campers will be able to stand up easily.
The CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent includes a number of helpful design features, including wall storage pockets to help keep your gear organized and an electrical cord access point for plugging in electronic devices. The tent can be pitched in as little as 60 seconds, thanks to the pre-assembled frame. This is a great feature for camping families, who often have cranky, tired kids in tow.
The CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent is made with CORE H2O Block Technology, which features water-repellent fabrics and active bead technology to help funnel rain off the walls and onto the ground. The windows and doors also feature rain-resistant seals to ensure your comfort. This tent also features several different screened panels to provide plenty of ventilation and keep condensation to a minimum.
Although this tent is not the lightest one available, it is probably light enough to take on short backpacking trips. However, it is best suited for campers who value easy set up above all else.
- INSTANT SETUP: The tent body with pre-attached poles that lock into place creates a setup time as short as 2 minutes.
- WEATHER PROTECTION: H20 Block Technology combines water-repellent fabrics with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams to resist rain.
- ADJUSTABLE VENTILATION: Lower air intake vents draw in cool air from the ground while the mesh ceiling allows hot air to escape …
#4 Coleman Evanston Screened 8 Man Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 8.5 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | 15’ x 12’ | 27 pounds | Two/Three | Green |
The Coleman Evanston Screened Tent is a roomy tent that can accommodate two queen-sized air mattresses. Also, unlike many other tents, which only provide an awning-covered area for putting on your shoes or lounging, this tent provides a separate screened room that will allow your family to hang out in a bug-free environment, while still enjoying a view of the outdoors. However, while the Coleman Evanston Tent is pretty spacious, it is not very tall. The 6-foot-tall ceiling may not provide enough headroom for all campers.
The Coleman Evanston Tent provides plenty of ventilation, as the back panel is 80% mesh (this does, however, make this tent inappropriate for winter camping). But while airflow is important, a tent is only valuable if it keeps you dry. Accordingly, the Coleman Evanston Tent uses the WeatherTec system to keep the rain out, via patented welded floors and inverted seams.
The Coleman Evanston Tent is lighter than many similarly sized tents, but that doesn’t mean it is ultralight by any means. You could probably use it for brief backpacking trips, but you probably won’t want to carry a 27-pound tent for miles through rough terrain.
It is, however, easy to pitch; it can be set up in 15 minutes. This tent is probably best suited for families who primarily camp in warm environments, and don’t need to stand up inside the tent very much.
- Weatherproof: Constructed with welded corners and inverted seams to keep water out; included rainfly provides additional weather protection
- Conventional Pitch: Efficient setup in just 15 minutes
- Roomy interior: Measures at 15 x 12 ft. with a center height of 6 ft.; comfortably accommodates 2 queen-size air beds …
#5 CORE 9 Person Extended Dome Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 7.7 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | 16’ x 9’ | 20.6 pounds | Two/Three | Orange/Gray |
The Core 9-Person Extended Dome Tent offers a bit more space than many other tents, and it is large enough to accommodate 3 queen-sized air mattresses. However, like some other family-oriented tents, it isn’t terribly tall: The ceiling is only 6 feet above the ground. However, this tent is lighter than most other tents of similar size, making it an acceptable choice for short backpacking trips.
One of the most appealing things about the Core Extended Dome Tent is the impressive list of features it possesses. For example, it comes equipped with both a gear loft and a lantern hook, which are very helpful for keeping the tent tidy and maximizing the space available.
However, it also includes other helpful features, such as the electrical cord access port. This allows you to pass an electric cord from your car or nearby outlet into the tent quickly and easily. This port can be closed and sealed when not in use to keep water, bugs and other critters outside.
The Core 9 Person Extended Dome Tent is designed to allow plenty of air to pass through the tent, via the ground-level air intake vent (which is fully adjustable) and the mesh ceiling. These features help to ensure that condensation won’t form on the interior surfaces. However, it also means that this tent won’t stay terribly warm, and is only appropriate for use in the spring, summer and early fall.
- Sleeps 9 people; Fits three queen air mattresses; Center Height: 72 inches
- CORE H20 Block Technology and adjustable ground vent.Pole Type: Traditional Fiber Glass Poles
- Features gear loft with lantern hook and pockets to keep items organized and off the tent floor
- Electrical cord access port (port is fully closable when not in use) …
#6 Browning Camping Big Horn Family/Hunting Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 7.4 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$ | 10’ x 15’ | 35 pounds | Two/Three | Brown/Yellow/Khaki |
The Browning Camping Big Horn Family Tent is intended for large camping groups and extended trips. With 150-square-feet of space and an incredible 87-inch-tall ceiling, this tent provides plenty of space for up to 8 people. It also features a room divider, to provide some privacy during two-family trips.
It is clear that ventilation and airflow were priorities for the Browning Camping Big Horn Family Tent, as it features two large screened doors, six windows and a mesh roof. This will compromise the tent’s ability to keep you warm during cold weather, but ventilation is a more pressing concern for most recreational campers.
But despite providing plenty of ventilation, the Browning Camping Tent provides plenty of protection from rain, thanks to the factory-sealed fly and floor seams. It also features a small awning over each door to help prevent rain from entering the tent, and a 150D polyester oxford floor with a 2000mm coating.
Unlike some other large tents, the Browning Camping Big Horn Family Tent is relatively easy to set up, thanks to the hub design and pole-clip attachment points. It isn’t a great choice for backpackers, but dedicated hikers could conceivably use it for trips that don’t stray too far from the beaten path. It is best suited for car-camping trips and families who prioritize elbow room and ease-of-setup.
- Our Browning Big Horn Series is a free-standing tent with fiberglass poles and steel uprights, giving ultimate extra strength and stability
- Two-room wall divider, extra tall center and straight side walls gives more room for cots, sleeping bags and extra gear
- Six large windows, two doorways and mesh roof offer easy entry and ultimate ventilation …
#7 NTK Laredo GT 8 to 9 Person Sport Camping Tent
Professional Camping Rating: 7.1 / 10
| Price Range | Dimensions | Weight | Seasons | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$ | 10’ x 15’ | 23.8 pounds | Two/Three | Teal/Gray |
The NTK Laredo GT Tent is a spacious tent, designed to be easy to set up for families who’d rather spend their time enjoying the outdoors, rather than futzing around with a tent all day. It features color-coded poles and aluminum pin-and-ring attachments to make set up as easy as possible, and two people can set it up in 10 to 15 minutes. It has a generous footprint which allows it to accommodate up to nine people, and the 74-inch-high ceiling offers a little more headroom than many other tents.
Nevertheless, while the NTK Laredo GT is definitely a large tent, it is most notable for its robust and durable design. It features Nano-flex fiberglass, low-memory poles which are capable of standing up to strong winds and built to last.
They also feature gold-plated ferrules, for even more durability. The heavy-duty polyethylene material used in the tent’s construction provides supreme water resistance, and the tent’s unique bathtub-style bottom barrier ensures you’ll stay dry in most downpours.
Because this tent is easy to set up and weighs relatively little, it is a great choice for backpacking families and small groups. Additionally, because it is so easy to set up, this tent will work well for families with small children. The quality of the materials used in the construction also helps ensure the tent will last for years, and that it is worth the slightly higher cost.
- SPACIOUS 9 to 10 Person (adults/kids), 1 Roomy Door, 3 Windows Tent Designed for Easy Assembly with color coded poles. Super 6.2 FT height for maximum comfort.
- FULL COVERAGE RAINFLY: Double layer 190T polyester laminated with polyurethane 2500 mm water column, partially aluminum coated, heat-welded PU seam sealed and UV protection, Large covered mesh vents provide even more ventilation. Inner tent: Large D-style doors with mosquito mesh for great views and ventilation. Roomy utility pockets for extra storage …
