Best 10 Person Tent for Family Camping

OVERALL WINNER: Best 10 Person Tent

Columbia Mammoth Creek 10-Person Cabin Tent

This large family tent truly has it all. Style, quality, functionality, and practicality are all qualities of the Columbia Mammoth 10-Person Large Family Cabin Tent. The crisp blue on white makes this tent stand out among a sea of earth-tone tents. The quality of the 150D polyester also aids in the stylistic look while also aiding in functionality.

Since the rainfly and the tent, walls are made of the same material, and the rainfly is covered with a 12,000 mm PU coating, you can imagine that rain isn’t getting through this large family tent. To add to this functionality, the wrinkle-free floors are also made of a 150D polyester and has a 3,000 mm PU coating. This is more than enough to keep the tent dry, especially when you consider that the floor is a tub-style floor with taped seams.

You’ll be kicking out a little more than the average cost for this large family tent, but true quality doesn’t come cheap. It’s a great investment piece that you’ll find yourself using season after season.

Best Family Tents for 10 People

A camping trip with friends and family is a great way to have a relaxing vacation. Roasting marshmallows, stargazing, and telling spooky stories while huddled around a warm fire is an experience that you won’t forget. However, everyone will eventually get tired, and that’s where a great family camping tent comes into place.

Despite the name, you don’t have to have 10 people to need a 10 person tent. Ten people would be the max that the tent can hold, packed wall to wall. However, if you have fewer people, you can all space out comfortably and have enough floor space for some gear.

There are a lot of 10 person tents to choose from. This guide was created to point out the important criteria that you need to consider when shopping. You’ll learn about the eight top 10 person tents on the market as well as why the Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Cabin Tent is the best 10 person tent.

Important Criteria to Consider When Shopping

Comfort

When sleeping and living in a 10 person tent, it’s not a five-star luxury hotel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable. Qualities like insulation, fabric quality, ventilation, and adequate space all contribute to the comfort of your family camping tent.

The prime determining factor of how comfortable your camping trip will be is based on the tents floor space. Having adequate floor space ensures that you aren’t all bunched up and sleeping on top of one another. One good thing to look for is vestibule or porch space for storing all your gear on your camping trip. Storing your gear separate to the sleeping area allows you enough space to stretch about a little more.

Quality of Materials

Family camping tents can be made of many different materials. One material isn’t necessarily better than another; they’re just suited for various purposes. It’s important to get the right material for the type of camping you’ll be doing.

Nylon

Nylon is a synthetic fabric that is exceptionally strong. It’s naturally elastic, making it great for applications that involve stretching, such as pitching a 10 person tent. It’s abrasion-resistant, easy to clean, and easily dyed into a multitude of colors.

One of the best properties about nylon that makes it popular for family camping tents is the fact that it’s flame-resistant (not flameproof). This makes it a bit safer for using a camp stove inside your 10 person tent.

It does have two significant downfalls. One is that it fades in the sun. If you’re partial to bold colors, keep your camping tent out of the sun or use a rainfly. The other is that it gets very soggy when it gets wet, so your large tent could cave in a bit when it rains.

Ripstop

Ripstop is a type of nylon that is stronger and much more durable than regular nylon. It’s a woven fabric that uses special threads for extra reinforcement. These threads are woven in the material in a crosshatch pattern that gives the ripstop fabric its distinct look.

Ripstop is an incredible fabric that is both water-resistant and fire-resistant. It’s so durable and dependable that it’s often used in military applications. Unfortunately, it also costs a lot more than regular nylon.

Polyester

Polyester is a good, durable fabric to use for a family tent. It doesn’t fade in the sun like nylon, and it’s water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it getting soggy. This also means that it’s quick to dry.

Polyester often has a protective, waterproof coating, especially when used on tents. There is a good point and a bad point to this coating. The good point is that it makes the fabric much more durable. The bad point is that it makes the fabric less breathable. When buying a polyester 10 person tent, make sure it has adequate ventilation to prevent condensation from developing on the inside of the tent.

Cotton and Canvas

Cotton and canvas, which is 100% cotton, are very durable fabrics for family tents. However, cotton is heavy, so it’s more popular to find a cotton blend tent fabric instead of pure cotton. Cotton is an excellent insulating fabric, and it’s naturally breathable. It keeps you warm in the winter and cools in the summer. It’s a great tent fabric choice for any time of the year.

One maintenance-related point about cotton is that, when the tent is new, it will leak. It must go through a process called weathering. This is when water causes the fibers to swell together so much that they create a waterproof seal. This can take two or three good rains to set in.

Ease of Setup

Tents can run the spectrum of easy to hard to set up. Over time, advances in tent manufacturing have yielded pop up tents that can be put up in a minute or two. This even applies to large 10 person tents. Despite this easy way to pitch a tent, some people still opt to go for the more traditional approach to pitch a 10-person tent because the poles on these are a little stronger.

Waterproofing

The sound of the rain is beautiful when it’s outside of your tent. One sound that’s not great is water dripping inside of your tent. Most shelters will come with some type of synthetic waterproof coating, or it will be naturally waterproof. At the very least, they will be water-resistant. This is important, so you don’t get soaked when it rains. The easiest bet is to make sure the tent you get has an excellent waterproof coating.

Some tents may not have a waterproof coating or may not have one that’s very good. You also must be concerned about older tents – over time, the waterproof coating can wear down. For these tents, you’ll have to waterproof them yourself. You can get spray on or paint/rub-on waterproof coatings. You may also have to seal the seams.

Weight & Packed Size

The weight of a tent is very telling when it comes to quality and durability. When camping, you want your gear to be as lightweight as possible. However, with shelters, a lighter weight usually indicates thinner fabrics and poles, so you sacrifice a bit in the quality department. This doesn’t mean these products aren’t good and worth the buy, it just means that the material is a little more delicate.

It is worth noting that the type of material is also going to affect the weight. You can’t compare a canvas tent to a nylon tent because cotton is naturally a lot thicker and more substantial. When comparing weight, compare it across the same type of fabric for a better idea of the quality.

Also, keep in mind that 10 person tents are among some of the most cumbersome tents because of their size, so lightweight options are your friend, especially if you’re backpacking.

Features

There are many additional features that are popular for tents. These features aren’t necessities, but they can make your camping experience a lot more pleasant and functional. Here are some of the main features to consider:

• Storage – storage pockets, closets, shelves, and gear lofts are helpful.
• Ventilation – ventilation is key to comfort. Make sure your tent has plenty of ventilation ports, windows, and doors.
• No-See-Um Mesh – a specific type of mesh covering that keeps the smallest pests out of your tent. Examples include gnats, sandflies, and more.

FAQ’s

1. What is a tent season?

A tent season is how many weather conditions (not seasons) a tent is suitable for. This can range from one to five seasons. Most 10 person tents are either three or four seasons.

2. Can a 10 person tent actually hold ten people?

Ten is a number that considers average-sized people packed almost wall to wall. In general, if you want space to move around or some people are larger than your average person, you should keep the capacity around six people.

The Best 10 Person Tents Reviewed

CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent

Tallest Cabin Height

If your group has tall people in it, this might be the perfect three-season, 10 person family cabin tent for you. Most large straight wall cabin tents have a height of 78,” which is already generous, but this CORE cabin tent is 86″ tall. That means less ducking and more walking around.

Another impressive quality of this tent is the ventilation. The roof is almost 100% mesh. This straight wall cabin tent also has pop-out ventilation ports at the bottom of the walls. This gives the tent superior ventilation and cooling capabilities – it allows the cool air to flow into the tent at the bottom, which pushes the hot air out through the top.

The CORE 10 person straight wall cabin tent has a lot of great features to complete it. A gear loft and mesh pockets help you stay organized and save floor space. It has a room divider so you can have some level of privacy.

Bottom Line: Not only is the Core 10 Person Family Cabin Tent an excellent choice for tall people, but it has all the features you need in a great, 10 person tent.

Coleman WeatherMaster 10 Person Outdoor Tent

Best Tent Floor

Coleman has an impressive, patented technology called the WeatherTec™ System. It creates some of the most durable and most waterproof floors of any tent around.

The floor is made of 1,000 polyethylene fabric, and it has a polyurethane (PU)coating to make it waterproof. The PU coating is a little low for a floor (450mm), but with the strength of the welded floor and inverted seams, it works incredibly well to waterproof your tent from below.

Another attractive feature is the spaciousness of the three-season tent. Dome tents are usually slightly more compact than family cabin tents, but this one measures 17′ x 9′ and stands 80″ tall. It’s like combining a dome tent with a family cabin tent. Plus, it divides into two rooms, which is okay since there is so much space.

Bottom Line: The superior floor of this tent makes it great for places where wet grounds or runoff water may be an issue.

Ozark Trail 10 Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent

Best Ventilation

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Ozark Trail 10 person dark rest tent is that it has plenty of windows and doors. Even the rainfly has windows. The ceiling is made of mesh, and there are ventilation ports at the bottom, so this is the perfect summer camping tent.

The other major feature of this tent is the fact that it’s a dark rest cabin which is difficult to do since there are so many windows. However, each window has a zippered cover that you can zip up when you want complete darkness. What’s even better is that there is a room divider so you could have one room dark while the other room has windows down.

Bottom Line: This is a tent with excellent ventilation options making it an excellent choice for camping in hot weather, but versatile enough for camping in cold weather as well.

Mountain Trails Grand Pass 10 Person Tent

Best Budget Option

The Mountain Trails Grand Pass 10 Person Tent is a budget option, but not because of a lack of quality. The budget price comes from not having as many features and options as other tents. However, some people don’t care about all the “extras.”

The nylon, three-season tent has a mesh roof, two D-style doors, and two windows for excellent ventilation. When it gets cold, the rainfly covers the part of the roof that’s mesh giving you an instant layer of warmth. It’s easy to set up with a shock-corded fiberglass frame. One person could even set it up once they get used to it. It’s very spacious measuring 18′ x 10,’ and at its highest point, it stands 6′ 3′.

There are a few shortcomings, but nothing that’s an absolute deal-breaker.

Bottom Line: If you need a cheap 10 person tent, this is a reliable choice if you don’t mind sacrificing a few non-essential features.

Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Family Cabin Tent

Best Overall 10 Person Tent

Columbia is known for manufacturing top-quality outdoor products, and this tent is a shining example of what they’re capable of. One of the most significant indicators that this is a top-notch tent is the fabric it’s made of. Tents of similar size and design use 75D polyester with a thin PU coating. The Mammoth tent’s fabric and rainfly is twice the thickness – 150D polyester and has a 12,000 mm PU coating. Even the floor is strong and durable – it’s made of a 150D polyester oxford fabric with a 3,000 mm PU coating.

With tent poles made of a mix of steel and fiberglass, strong winds will be no match for this tent. The rainfly also helps to stabilize it once it’s staked down properly.

Inside of the three-season tent, you have several small mesh pockets plus a gear loft to organize things. Room dividers can give you privacy while vents and windows give you adequate circulation. It even has an electronic access port and no-see-um mesh. It has everything you need in a great tent, plus it’s stylish and will make you the envy of the campground.

Bottom Line: If you want the most durable and feature-rich tent that your money can buy, the Columbia Mammoth tent is a tent you should have at the top of your list.

Outdoor Products 10 Person Instant Cabin Tent

Best No-See-Um Mesh

People might think it’s ridiculous to go camping if you hate bugs, but no one wants to get bit by little monsters while they’re sleeping. The Outdoor Products 10 person Instant Cabin tent is made with a high-grade of no-see-um mesh. With this tent, you won’t have to worry about those nasty little pests.

Besides the mesh, it’s attractive because it’s convenient to set up. The poles are pre-attached, so the tent can instantly “pop up” into shape. Secure it with the rainfly, and you have a sturdy three-season tent that will stand up to wind and rain like a pro.

With other features like a tub floor, extended eaves, and a room divider, this three-season tent is perfect for spring, summer, or fall camping.

Bottom Line: No one likes getting bit by bugs, so having a tent with high-quality no-see-um mesh is always a great idea.

NTK Arizona GT 10 Person Camping Tent

Best Tent for Rainy Environments

If you know that there is a possibility you’re going to be caught in a torrential downpour, you want to have the most waterproof tent you can find. The NTK Arizona tent is that tent. To start, the tent has a seamless, tub-style polyethylene floor, so you don’t have to worry about water seeping through seams. It’s an anti-fungal material layered with silver for the ultimate durability.

The tent and the rainfly are both made from 190T polyester fabric. This Taffeta fabric is very strong and extremely waterproof. Both the tent and the rainfly are double-walled, so that’s technically four layers of protection from the rain. It’s safe to say that you’ll stay dry in this tent.

Bottom Line: NTK took waterproofing to the extreme when they created the Arizona GT tent and what resulted was one of the most waterproof solutions around.

Coleman Dark Rest Cabin Tent

Best Dark Rest Cabin Tent

Some people are more comfortable in complete darkness, so the Coleman Dark Rest tent is a tent worth considering if this describes you. It is designed to block up to 90 percent of sunlight, but it works so well that it’s doubtful you’ll even see that last ten percent. It is also designed to keep you cool, so all that dark fabric won’t cause heat to build up.

Despite it being such a heavy-duty dark rest cabin tent, once you lift the dark panels from the windows, you’ll get light and ventilation streaming in. It has plenty of ventilation, including an all-mesh ceiling plus seven large windows and one D-style door.

If that’s not enough to convince you, this is an instant tent, and it takes a minute or less to set it up. Once you take it down, it folds neatly and efficiently into the included carrying case.

Bottom Line: Pair the dark rest features and ventilation with all the typical features, and you have a tent that is truly designed to give you a good night’s rest.

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API