Just because you don’t have access to a stove or oven doesn’t mean you can’t make great desserts! Camping desserts are as fun to make as they are to eat. Plus it doesn’t matter if you get a little messy since you’re already outside! Pull up your favorite camping chair, and take a bit of these delicious desserts.

1. Mountain Pies

Mountain pies are a camping classic. They require their own special iron that looks like a square on a stick, but they’re worth the investment. Just spray the iron with cooking spray, put a slice of bread on each half (a sweeter bread like cinnamon raisin or honey wheat would work great for dessert), and pile on a fruit pie filling, chocolate with banana slices, or PB & J. Stick the iron in the fire, flip it after a few minutes, and you have a piping hot hand pie!

2. Banana Boats

These desserts are easy to make and the perfect way to get kids to eat a piece of fruit. Slice open the bananas lengthwise (leave the peel on) and stuff them with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, coconut, or mini marshmallows. Cover them with foil and place on top of a grill over the fire until the toppings start to melt. These are yummy alone or scooped out over ice cream if you have access to a freezer.

3. Campfire Cones

These creative little desserts are sugary sweet and a less messy alternative to s’mores since they have a “cone holder.” Spread some peanut butter inside sugar cones and fill them up with sliced bananas, mini marshmallows, strawberries, chocolate chips, or whatever you fancy. Wrap them in foil, place over hot coals, and turn a few times until chocolate gets melty.

4. Cake in an Orange

This fun dessert makes its own bowl, so fewer dishes to wash or paper plates to throw away! Cut the tops off some oranges, probably one per family member, and scoop out the pulp. Then, pour some pre-made cake batter (your own or a box mix) inside until three-quarters full. You can use any flavor of cake, but chocolate pairs especially well with orange. Wrap oranges in foil, tuck into the coals, and allow them to cook for about half an hour, turning a few times. Who says you can’t make cake on a camping trip?

5. Skillet-Cooked Berry Grunt

This skillet cake is a unique way to get fancy when cooking over the campfire. Combine your favorite mixed berries (like blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries) in a skillet with lemon juice, water, and sugar and cook over the fire until thickened. Then spoon biscuit dough (your own homemade or a boxed mix) in dollops on top of the berries. Cover the skillet tightly with foil and let cook until the biscuit tops are dry, about 20 minutes. Warning: because this one takes longer to make, start it before dinner to avoid grumpy kids at dessert time.

6. Campfire Donuts

These delicious and simple donuts are great for dessert or breakfast. All you need is a can of refrigerated biscuits, cinnamon, sugar, and oil for frying. Heat oil in a pot over the fire. Then separate the biscuits, cutting a hole out of the center of each (you can use a cookie cutter or wine bottle cap for this!). Combine cinnamon and sugar in a paper or plastic bag, fry donuts on both sides in the hot oil, drain on paper towels, then throw them in the cinnamon sugar mixture and shake to coat.

7. Baked Apples

For a healthier dessert idea, try these yummy apples. Cut the core out of each apple, fill with granola, raisins, oats, crumbled oatmeal cookies, or crushed granola bars. Sprinkle each with cinnamon and sugar if you like, then wrap in a double layer of foil. Place them in the coals and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Eat warm for a delicious and nutritious treat!

8. Campfire Eclairs

These decadent desserts will fill you up after a long hike! Wrap refrigerated crescent rolls around a camp fork and close off one end. Wrap loosely with foil and cook over the fire until golden brown. Carefully remove the dough tube, fill with prepared vanilla pudding, and slather with chocolate frosting. These are a bit messy but delicious!

Campfire desserts are a fun way to end a day in the great outdoors with family and friends. Whether you want to cook in the coals, on a stick, or in a skillet or Dutch oven, there are tons of easy ways to make delicious sweets while camping.

Choosing a camping chair is not as simple a decision as one would think. They are a lot of things to consider such as portability and durability, like many other pieces of camping equipment, but you also want to get a chair that is comfortable and functional. Remember, these are chairs that get totally abused from being dragged across campsites and beaches, being tossed in the back of the car and, when they aren’t in use, can be stored on the porch or garage. Despite their mistreatment, we then expect our camping chair to fold out and be comfortable. Here are few tips on picking out a great camping chair and a few reviews of some of the products out there now.

Most people think of a camping chair as a simple chair made of fabric that you can easily carry with you and is easy to set up. These days, those are the minimum standards for a camping chair. There are many choices on the market today with different types of features. So many in fact, that it may be difficult to pick the best one.

Different Ways We Use Camping Chairs Today

Tailgating and Car Camping

Tailgating and car camping do not require a lot of walking so the portability of the chairs is not as much of an issue but comfort is. Comfort is one of the most important features customers search for in a camping chair. Durability is also a necessity and a great price is always a bonus. If you are doing a lot of hiking or outdoor activities while camping, when you return to camp you definitely want a chair you can fall into and rest so you want to pick a chair that is the most comfortable. The Kijaro Dual Lock Folding chair is a popular model for relaxing and it offers superb back support. An affordable option is the Coleman Broadband Quad Chair which is a smaller camping chair that takes up less space than other camping chairs when you throw it in the back of your SUV with the rest of your camping or tailgating supplies. It’s also well-ventilated and has a great cup holder. A pricier option is the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong which is very cozy, especially after a long hike, but it is bulkier than the other camping chairs.

Beach Living

A favorite past time of many beachgoers is bringing their camping chair with them to lounge, read or sunbathe under the sun. If you are planning on using your camping chair at the beach a lot, you need a chair with a mesh fabric that will keep you well-ventilated while sunbathing. It’s also a good idea to choose a chair in a lighter color that won’t get as hot in the sun as a darker color chair. Make sure your chair is also pretty stable so it doesn’t wobble in the sand.

Next, consider what part of the beach you usually visit and how far the walk to the beach will be from your car. If you’re bringing the whole family with you, you’ll have a wagon full of beach supplies and sand toys so adding a cumbersome chair can slow you down. If your walk to the beach is short, then the Eureka Curvy High Back is a really comfortable chair to sit in for extended periods of time. It has a unique tall back design which provides great head support and well-ventilated fabric that will cool your body while you sit in the hot sun. It also features a big side pocket that can hold sunscreen, snacks and your reading material. If you usually have a farther walk, the Kelsyus Mesh Backpack Camp Chair is also great for lounging at the beach. It’s easy to carry, has a well-ventilated back and sit close to the ground.

Short Outdoor Trips

These trips can include any outdoor activities where you aren’t camping but you are still going backpacking or hiking. Or you’re going fishing for the day or to an outdoor concert and need something to sit on. For these activities, you need a comfortable, portable chair to sit on and relax once you reach your destination. A great chair for this type of scenario is the Texsport Portable Outdoor Folding Tripod Stool. It’s one of the smaller models of camping chairs and only weighs 2 pounds, however, one of its drawbacks is its lack of stability. Another more stable option is the Texsport Bazaar Folding Camp Picnic Outdoor Chair with Drink Holder, which weighs a little more, 5 pounds, and is still pretty portable for a camping chair. It’s very sturdy and great for lounging around or watching an outdoor concert.

Knowing What You Want

Now that you have considered how you will be using your camping chair you can start to decide what features are the most important in choosing a camping chair. Do you need a chair with ventilation when you will be sitting in direct sunlight? Do you like chairs that have extra storage areas for sunscreen and snacks? The Coleman Broadband Quad Chair has a great storage option for all of your necessities that is also portable and a great value. Older or taller individuals may prefer a chair that doesn’t sit as low to the ground and is easy to get out of like the Coleman Oversize Quad Chair with Cooler and the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong which have higher seats that are more ergonomic.

Camping Chairs Types

Camping chairs tend to fall in one of these two categories – portable and traditional.

Traditional Camp Chairs

Traditional camp chairs offer more back support and don’t sit as low to the ground so they are generally considered more comfortable. Since the seat is higher, they are easier to get in and out of and they are perfect for those that want to lounge around. They do take up more space and are heaving to carry so, if you don’t mind the extra weight, they are a great choice. Traditional camp chairs only take a few second to set up by pulling them opposite ends apart and it basically sets itself up.

Portable Camp Chairs

Obviously the portable camp chairs are the most portable. They tend to be smaller and lighter, the seat is lower to the ground and they take more time to put together. Portable camp chairs are also not as comfortable as the traditional models and they are also a lot less stable. However, if you have limited space and you have to carry the chair for quite a distance than they are the perfect chair for you. Of the portable chairs, the Texsport Bazaar Folding Camp Picnic Outdoor Chair with Drink Holder, was the most stable as well as the most comfortable of the portable camping chairs. The GCI Outdoor Quick-E Seat was modern and nice looking and includes a backrest and beverage holder. However, the Quick-E-Seat is based on three legs and can be unstable for sitting. One of the best choices for a portable chair is the Texsport Portable Outdoor Folding Tripod Stool which is a smaller model so it is easy to carry and is a little more stable.

Chairs for Backpacking

Chairs for backpacking tend to be lighter and easier to pack than a portable camping chair. If you are planning on hiking in the mountains, than you want a chair that has a low weight and is less bulky and less comfortable. Even the portable chairs discussed previously were still fairly comfortable and are definitely a little more heavier and bulkier than chairs for backpacking. The Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat is the most compact and light but it doesn’t have any back support and it has a pretty hard seat. The Alite monarch buttery is also light but it’s a compact chair that has a back. It weighs about a pound and it can fold up into the size of two soda can standing on top of one another so it can be easily be stored in a large purse or a small backpack.

Once you decide what type of chair you want, you can make the final decisions on the rest of its features. If you choose a portable chair, you generally won’t find additional features like storage pockets and cup holders but since the seats are lower, it’s easy to rest your drinks and sunscreen on the ground. Traditional camping chairs usually had at least one cup holder and a storage pocket wit some models having additional features like the Sport-Brella Recliner which not only has an umbrella but also a detachable footrest, cooler and bottle opener.

No matter what type of chair you choose or how you use it, you’ll soon be relaxing in the great outdoors in comfort with a durable chair you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. Enjoy!

Camping with your family can really build a strong, fun-filled memory base to look back on. But camping isn’t only about making s’mores and telling campfire stories. You need to be prepared and the number one thing you’ll need to buy is a camping tent.

There are a lot of camping tents out there with multiple brands and several different uses. You’ll need to know what to look for in your future tent and what the top brands are so you know what you’re buying is of good quality.

To simplify things for you and with the hopes of being helpful, we’ve found and reviewed our choices for the best tents in several different size capacity categories.
Read on for more information.

What to Look For

There are a couple of things you want to look for when you go to purchase your family camping tent.

The first of which is what your purpose for the tent will be. Knowing what you plan to use your tent for, whether it be for camping at your chosen campground or for back trail hiking, is essential to what kind of tent you buy in terms of material, size and construction.

The material of your tent will determine its durability and what kind of weather and outside factors your tent can withstand. It will essentially be what keeps you and your family safe from nature’s elements. Buying a weak fabric tent or even a tent that isn’t properly water proofed can really degrade the tent quickly and not provide you with the coverage you need to keep you safe and healthy. Not to mention be a total waste of your money.

Knowing what size of tent you’ll need is also an important factor in choosing what tent to purchase. Not only will you want to consider its available capacity (i.e. Will is sleep two or ten people?), but also its interior size (i.e. Can you stand up straight or have to bend over when you’re inside?).

The construction of your chosen tent is another thing you’ll want to look into before purchasing. Knowing how it is put together – whether it uses metal posts, plastic posts, stretchable fabric, zippered fabric, bathtub stitching, etc. – could really determine the durability of the product. For example, are the seams that hold the base of the tent touching the ground or are they raised (called the bathtub design) to keep the tent from flooding in the rain? If the wind is blowing strongly, will the plastic pole snap and collapse the tent on you and your family as you sleep; or is it made of steel and won’t bend nearly as easily?

Your intended purpose for your tent will strongly effect the decisions you make in regards to these other considerations in what to look for. Remembering to keep these in mind as you search could potentially save you from buying something that won’t fit your needs properly.

Top Five Brands to Consider

There are a lot of brand out there that make exceptional camping tents. With that being said, I’ve found five brands that are consistent with making durable, safe and dependable tents as well as making their customer’s happy with their purchase. These are (but not necessarily in this order):

1. Big Agnes Tents
2. Coleman Tents
3. Mountainsmith
4. Eureka
5. Coleman

Now read on for the reviews:

Best Family Tent: Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Tent

Our choice for a family tent is the Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Tent. Eureka is considered one of the top brands of camping tents because the brand consistently provides well-made, durable products that customers have generally overall been happy with.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? Eureka’s Copper Canyon Tent is meant to be used for family camping trips. It is relatively easy to set up and has a large interior space. But it is a heavier tent, so using it for back packing is simply not rational.

The materials used to create this tent are a coated polyester that is both durable and long lasting. The coating is both for waterproofing as well as making the tent fire retardant. There are several windows that are mesh covered, and both these and the full mesh roof allows for great ventilation within the tent.

The Copper Canyon Tent measures 10-foot by 10-foot in floor space with a standing space of 7-feet at center of the tent. The large size allows for even the tallest members of your family to comfortable stand in the tent. The total weight is around 25-pounds.

The construction consists of a strong steel and fiberglass frame. The poles are shockcorded and attach with a combination of clips and sleeves. Once connected, the poles then attach to the tent by way of the pole sleeves and pin and ring system.

The floor of the tent is a bathtub design to prevent any flooded water from entering the tent via the seams. All of the seams are factory sealed.

On the outside of the tent are guy points that help in securing your tent to the included ground stakes, keeping it securely in place. This is important in case of high winds so not to blow your tent away.

Other interesting features to the Copper Canyon Tent are things like the clothes line loops and flash light loops that are inside the tent for easy drying of your clothes – like swim suits or wet t-shirts, etc. – or holding your flashlight in place. It also features the E! Power Port which is a zippered flap that allows an extension cord to run into the tent. Lastly, there is one large D-shaped door that features half a mesh window. It, and all the windows, have twin track zippers for a secure closure.

The Eureka Copper Canyon Tent sleeps up to six people comfortably. Customers who have purchased, used and then rated this particular tent have generally left positive feedback. However, it has been noted that floor of the tent is relatively thin, so buying an extra footprint for the tent is recommended. Also, quite a few customers noted that, though the open ventilation top is nice, it does let in a little of both dust and rain which can be inconvenient.

When you aren’t using the tent, it comes with a nice carrying bag for safe and easy storage.

Overall though, the Copper Canyon Tent seems to be a pretty great family tent that is moderately priced.

Best Two Person Tent: Mountainsmith Morrison 2-person 3-Season Tent

Our choice for two people is Mountainsmith’s Morrison 2-person 3-season Tent. It is a small, lightweight freestanding tent that is easy to use and easy to carry.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? The Morrison Tent could be used in simple backyard camping to back trail hiking/camping. It is a very light weight tent that can be easily stored in a backpack.

The materials used to create this tent are as follows: 185T polyester rainfly (covered top of the tent) with 2,000-milimeter-rated polyurethane coating; 190T polyester floor with 5,000-milimeter-rated polyurethane coating; breathable 185T polyester for the remainder of the tent. So, the material is both durable and properly waterproofed.
There are several mesh wall panels to allow for great ventilation while still preventing bugs and debris to enter the tent. The ceiling loft is detachable to allow for even more ventilation and, when on, has interior mesh storage pockets for convenience.

The Morrison Tent has 35-square feet of main floor space with an extra 14-square foot vestibule space. If fully measures 56-inches by 43-inches by 92-inches (width by height by depth). A pretty decent size for just two people, but not huge in any sense. When it is fully expanded, it weights a total of 4-pounds and 11-ounces and when packed away it weighs only 5-pounds and 9-ounces, so, again, it’s pretty lightweight.

The construction of this tent is a two-pole design with a color-coded fly attachment system. There are eight clip-poles which are made with 7000-series Yunan aluminum alloy. There are multiple grommet pole attachment points to make for a secure and simple set-up.

The guidelines are reflective and come with a “tri-glide” cord to make adjusting the tent simple.

The floor of the tent is a bathtub design to prevent water from seeping into your tent. All the seams, on the floor and throughout the tent, are taped with waterproof tape in order to keep the entire interior of the tent dry.

Other interesting features to the Morrison Tent are the two zippered doors for easy entrance and exit. Also, there are two vestibules that provide additional storage space.

A 30-denier 244T nylon storage sack comes with this tent for easy and secure storage.

As far as customer reviews go, those customers who have purchased and used the Mountainsmith Morrison 2-person 3-season Tent have been pretty pleased with it. Most believe it to be made with great quality and say it does well in the rain. Customers also noted that the rods that hold the tent together are strong and secure. However, a few customers reviewed that the stitching became raveled after some use and that it folded down bulkier than they would have like.

Overall, the Morrison Tent seems like a great choice for just two people either camping or hiking together. It’s not too hatefully priced either.

Best Three Person Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3-person Tent

Our choice for a three person tent is the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3-person Tent. The Big Agnes Brand is one of the top brands for camping tents as it consistently produces products that are both well received by customers as well as being made of good quality.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? This 3-person tent is a great choice for anything from camping at a campground to hiking back trails. It is very lightweight but still sturdy which allows it to be versatile in its uses.

The materials used to create this tent is a silicone treated, ultra-light nylon rip-stop with a 1,200-milimeter waterproof polyurethane coating. This material makes up both the walls and the floor of the tent. The windows are mesh and allow for great ventilation within the tent.

The Copper Spur Tent measures in with 22-square feet of interior space. This isn’t very large, but it comfortable fits up to three people which would be your desired number. When it is fully expanded it weights a total of 3-pounds and 11-ounces. And when it is packed up it weighs the light total of 4-pounds! This is obviously very light and great for traveling purposes.

The construction of the tent is made up with gram-saving poles that allow for the lightweight design. These DAC poles are a feather light NFL pole system with press and fit connections and light weight hubs that feature an eco-friendly anodizing. They’re made from TH72M aluminum which is a special lightweight technology that also improves their durability. These hubbed poles go into color-coded rainfly attachments and curved clips so set up is both easy and quick. Twist clips attach the tent body to the pole frame.

The reflective guylines on the outside of the tent allow for its easy visibility at night time. Eight super light aluminum ‘J’ stakes come with the tent for securing it to ground. All seams are taped with a waterproofing solvent-free polyurethane – this means no PVC or VOC’s in the material.

Other interesting features to the Copper Spur Tent are the two rainbow shaped doorways as well as the two vestibules with single stakeouts with storm flaps over the zippers. Also, there are two roof vents with an abundant amount of mesh for great ventilation inside the tent and little condensation build-up. There are eight interior mesh pockets and two media pockets.

Customers that have used this tent have generally only good things to say about it. Most customer think that its lightweight design makes it perfect for backpacking and quite a few customers noted that the tent was made to be sturdy. With that being said, many customers experience that, though it kept rain out pretty well, the thin walls didn’t dampen the sound of the heavy rain which was loud and made for difficult sleeping conditions. Other customers noted that the ground sheet was pretty thin, and though it wasn’t easily torn, they could feel every rock or stick that laid beneath them without added cushion. Also a few customer’s noted that the doorways are rather low.

Though this tent is a great choice for those looking for a comfortably fitting three person tent, it is pretty expensive. This may be a deterrent to prospect buyers.

Best Four Person Tent: Coleman Sundome 4-person Tent

Our choice for the top four person tent is Coleman’s Sundome 4-person Tent. The Coleman brand is another of the top brands of camping tents as they have consistently provided good quality products to the public.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? The Sundome Tent is perfect for family camping trips to the campground or out in the back yard. You could take this tent on fishing trips, hunting trips, or nearly any type of activity where it will remain unpacked and used as a home base.

The materials used is a waterproof coated polyester fabric for the walls and top covering. The floor of the tent is made with 1,000 polyethylene so it is durable and waterproofed. There are several mesh windows as well as a mesh ground vent that allows for great air ventilation inside the tent.

The Sundome Tent measures 9-feet by 7-feet. The size allows for four people in sleeping bags or one queen airbed to fit comfortably. The center height is 4-feet and 11-inches. Not super high, so there may be some ducking while standing involved, but plenty of head space while you’re laying or sitting down. The total weight of the tent is 10.62-pounds, so it’s not too heavy to pack around, but obviously not something you want to drag on hikes with you.

The construction is of dome design with fiberglass poles. These poles slide easily into the attached snag-free, continuous pole sleeves. It’s a quick and sturdy set-up. The Insta-Clip™ pole attachment for the tent secures it in place even with mildly strong winds.

The floor of the tent is made of a special WeatherTec™ system. This patented system involves welded floors and inverted seams that help in keeping water completely out of the tent. All of the seams of the tent are welded, even in the corners.

Other interesting features to the Sundome Tent are the mesh vents in the roof of the tent which allow for additional ventilation. Also, the single door entrance to the tent is accompanied with a rainfly awning that provides more shade and protection from the rain. There are also several storage pockets throughout the tent and an electrical access port for an electrical cord to be brought into the tent.

The Sundome Tent also comes with a carrying bad for easy and secure storage.

Customers seem to genuinely like this tent. Most liked that it was easy to set up and permitted for good air ventilation within the tent. Other customers noted that the interior was pretty small, and though the seams are welded, some noted that they may require an additional seam seal before use as some customers had small leak problems.
Overall, the Coleman Sundome Tent seems to be a pretty great choice for a four person tent. It’s also super inexpensive. This is fantastic for those who wish to go camping but are on a relatively tighter budget.

Best Six Person Tent: Coleman Instant Cabin

Our choice for Best Six Person Tent is another Coleman tent, the Coleman Instant Cabin Tent. This tent doesn’t only come as a six person tent, but can also be found as a four person or eight person tent. So, if you like the design of this tent, you don’t necessarily have to buy it at this size.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? This is a good tent for camping at a campground or even taking on hunting and/or fishing trips. It’s not a super light tent, so using it for backpacking or trail hikes wouldn’t be sensible.

An anti-wicking polyester fabric material is used to make this tent. The anti-wicking is a special treatment that protects the tent against rain and condensation. The floor of the tent is also made with the same anti-wicking polyester fabric as the walls and there are quite a few mesh covered windows that provide for good air ventilation.

The Instant Cabin measures 10-feet by 9-feet. This allows for comfortable sleeping for up to six individuals in sleeping bags or up to two queen sized airbeds. The center height is 6-feet high, so most people can comfortably stand in the tent, though those who are taller than average may need to bend over ever so slightly. This tent weighs a total of 8.6-pounds. This isn’t too heavy, but still a bit much in terms of packing it around in a back pack or bag.

The construction is made up of pre-assembled poles that are a sturdy mixture of fiberglass and steel. These 16-poles are easily inserted into the rainfly attachments that allows for quick and easy set up. The poles are 20-milimeters in width that provides strength to the frame.

The floor of the tent is made of a special WeatherTec™ system. This patented system involves welded floors and inverted seams that help in keeping water completely out of the tent. All of the seams of the tent are welded, even in the corners.

Another interesting feature to the Instant Cabin Tent is that it is divided into two rooms. Also, there are two inner pockets for storage and fold out vents to help with air circulation in the tent. There are a lot a windows and all the zippered areas have zipper cuffs to protect the zippers from accidentally being pulled off. The guylines are reflective with their patented Illumiline™ so it’s easier to see at night, and there is a built-in vented rainfly for extra weather protection.

The consensuses by most customers about the Colman Instant Cabin Tent is pretty positive. Most customers have found that the tent holds up well in wet, rainy conditions and they really enjoy that the set-up is quick and easy. With that being said, some customer’s found that the ventilation – despite the widows and fold out vents – wasn’t nearly as perfect as they would have been led to believe. Because of this, some customers noted that condensation seemed to build inside the tent after a wet night.

This Coleman Instant Cabin seems to be a pretty good choice as a six person tent. This size, and the other sizes as well, are relatively inexpensive and great for a family on a smaller budget.

Best Eight Person Tent: Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-person Tent

Our choice for a party of eight is the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-person Tent. It is a very sturdy choice in tents.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? This tent is good for camping at your favorite campground to taking on fishing trips. It definitely has versatile usage, but as it is larger and not very light, so it is best purposed for a strong home base campsite.

To make this tent 100-percent cotton canvas that is made with hydra-shield is used. This material is water tight, durable and breathable. The ceiling is made with 10-ounces of this material where the walls are made with 8.5-ounces of it. The floor of the tent is 16-ounces of polyester-reinforced vinyl, so it too is durable and waterproofed.

Also, there are four large, mesh windows for great air circulation and ventilation.
The Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent measures in at 10-feet by 14-feet. This is a pretty large size that easily and comfortably fits up to eight people. The center height of the tent stands 6-feet and 6-inches tall so the majority of people using this tent will have very comfortable standing room within it. It weighs a total of 84.65-pounds, so it is definitely not light weight.

The construction is made with a 1-inch thick galvanized steel tube framing. The rods are 3/8-inch solid spring steel flew-bow. You secure the tent and framing into place using hefty, 12-inch steel ground stakes. In short, this tent is constructed to be very sturdy.

Another interesting feature to the Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent is the large awning that comes off the front. It provides extra shade and is great for sitting out in the rain and keeping you dry. Also, this tent comes with a customized gear loft and organizing system as well as two funnel-flow vents that help improve air flow and temperature management.

Customers who purchased and used the Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent generally enjoyed its usage. Most customers appreciated that it was a sturdy home base for their camping adventures and believe it to be an overall good product. However, a big downfall for the tent is that it is on the more expensive side.

Overall, the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent is great choice for an eight person tent if you’re looking for something sturdy and durable.

Best Pop-Up Tent: Gengi Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent

Our choice for Best Pop-Up Tent is the Gengi Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent. This simple tent is versatile, easy to use and easy to store.

So what purpose can you put this tent to? As stated above, this pop-up tent is very versatile. You can use it as a sun cover at a sports event or simply buy the waterproof covering and use it as a conventional tent to hike and/or camp with.

The materials used to create this tent are T190 nylon cloth for the floorings and sides. The top is mesh that allows good ventilation as well as keeping bugs and some sun off of you. Again, you can separately purchase a nylon waterproof cover if you wish to use it as a conventional tent.

The Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent measures 52-inches by 50-inches by 82-inches (width by height by depth). So, it isn’t very big but can easily be used as a single person tent. It weighs only 4-pounds and 8-ounces, so it’s also pretty lightweight.
The construction is made of steel beam framing. This is a bendable frame design so you can easily fold the tent back into a compact size for storing. You can ground the Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent by using the supplied set of four plastic ground stakes.

Other features include a zippered front door that allows you simple and easy entrance to the tent. Also there are zippered screens on all four sides of the tent that allow fresh air in. The tent easily sets up on its own within a second and can be collapsed back down within three seconds.

Included with the tent is a 22-inch shoulder bag that the tent easily packs into.
The overall conclusion from customers who have bought and used the Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent is generally positive. Most customer really enjoy the very simple set up of the tent, however, several noted that they had a more difficult time re-folding it to put away than they were made to believe. Also, quite a few customers noted that the floor was rather thin and could have been made to be a bit sturdier and that the zippers were made of poor quality.

The Genji Sports Self Expanded Screen Tent seems to be a pretty reliable choice in pop-up tents. It is a moderately priced tent, not too expensive, but not exactly cheap either.

In Conclusion

Even if none of our choice picks are right for you and/or your family, keeping in mind what you need to look for in your camping tent choice is essential to buying something that is both durable and safe.

So, when you are searching, think about your intended purpose for your tent. This will affect your choices in what materials you’ll want to look for, what kind of size you’ll want – in both sleep capacity and interior size – and what kind of construction the tent should be made with.

Camping is meant to be a fun family past time where you can make lasting memories. Don’t ruin the fun by purchasing the wrong kind of tent.

Have fun camping!