Camping is one of the best ways for your family and friends to spend some quality time together. In fact, many families with young children prefer to share one tent during their camping trips. While this is a great way to encourage family bonding, it can be difficult for larger families to find a dependable tent that also provides enough space for the whole crew.
But don’t worry! For families of eight, there are plenty of great camping tent options! Let’s take a look at the five best 8 person tents.
The 5 Best 8 Person Tents
5. Coleman Octagon Tent
The Coleman Octagon Tent is one of our favorite large camping tents. It features a giant dome construction, which is perfect for a big family, or for tall people that need a bit of extra headroom. Plenty of mesh paneling, a strong shape, and a high-level of waterproofing makes this a great 8 person tent for all four seasons. Inside of the tent, multiple storage pockets hang from walls to keep personal, fast-access items safe and off the floor.
The octagonal shape gives the tent resilience to winds of over 35 mph. And the WeatherTec welded floors ensure that the floor of the tent stays dry. Large mesh panels give the occupants plenty of ventilation, and you can unzip each window panel to allow additional ventilation and air flow. In addition, in the center of the high dome ceiling, there is a convenient hook to hang a lamp and/or small fan.
The Octagon has a divider and two doors, so you can set up two queen-sized mattresses — and couples can also have some privacy. Polyester taffeta 68D makes up the main tent material, which is waterproof but better suited to milder conditions. This tent takes around 15 minutes to erect, and the color-coded support joints and poles help to speed up the process.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 82” (6’10”).
- Floor Space: 13’ x 7’ 13 (8 people).
- Rooms: 1 with removable divider.
- Form Factor: Dome.
- Setup Time: 15 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — Polyester 68D. Poles — Steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, room divider, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 39 pounds (17.69 kg).
Pros and Cons
4. Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
The spacious Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent sleeps up to nine people. Alternatively, you can also fit two queen-sized air mattresses inside, which would sleep four people very comfortably. Compared to other tent styles, the high-ceiling cabin design makes more sense when it comes to using a divider to split the tent into two separate rooms.
A full-mesh ceiling prevents condensation build-up. And mesh ceilings are great for letting you enjoy the twilight without the bugs eating you alive. Around the base of the tent, there are more air vents and a sealable electrical cord port, if you want to route in power from a generator.
A 68D polyester rainfly will stop the rain, but this is a mild weather tent, so do not think that you can go out camping in a hurricane.
What we really love about this tent is that it’s truly an instant set up. Despite its large size, the tent can be pitched in just 60 seconds. Seriously, we’ve tried it! The tent fabric is stitched directly to the tent poles and joints, so as the poles take shape, the fabric follows.
This cabin tent is packed with awesome features. Read our full review to learn more.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 78” (6’6”).
- Floor Space: 14’ x 9’ (9 people).
- Rooms: 1 with divider.
- Form Factor: Cabin.
- Setup Time: 1 minute.
- Material: Fabric — 68D polyester. Poles — steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, a divider, stakes, and tent pegs.
- Weight: 30.5 pounds (13.83 kg).
Pros and Cons
3. Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Tent
The Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Tent is awesome. It is perfect for a family that wants to camp together — but still wants a little separation when it comes to sleeping. The main section of the tent is dome-shaped, and in front is an enclosed vestibule that doubles as a second room.
The entire ceilings of both rooms are giant mesh panels, which both reduces weight and improves ventilation. There are also adjustable mesh ventilation panels near the base of the tent. On the interior walls, you will find pockets and hooks to keep important personal items safe and off the floor.
The tent fabric and rainfly are thin materials, better suited to mild weather. Also included is a polyester taffeta rainfly, which is easy to attach if you need more insulation or protection from the rain.
With plenty of space inside, the Wenzel Klondike tent comfortably sleeps up to 8 people. Alternatively, there is also enough room for 2 large, queen sized air mattresses.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 78” (6’6”).
- Floor Space: 16’ x 11’ (8 people).
- Rooms: 2.
- Form Factor: Cabin.
- Setup Time: 1 minute.
- Material: Fabric — Polyester Taffeta. Poles — fiberglass and steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, room divider, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 27.3 pounds (12.38 kg).
Pros and Cons
2. Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent
Another one of our favorite camping tents is the Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent. This large, family-sized tent has enough room to comfortably fit 3 queen-sized mattresses. Towards the base of the tent is an electric access port to pass a mains cable from a generator.
At the center of the tent, the ceiling is 6 feet and 2 inches high, which should allow most people to stand up comfortably. However, The effective height of the ceiling will be much less when you start hanging lanterns from it. In front of the door is a floor mat, as well as a large awning to leave muddy boots under. Around the inside walls of the tent are small storage pockets for fast-access items.
There is no room divider, so if you are sharing, make sure you are good friends with the other occupants. There is also a single D-door under the awning, and the angled-windows help to prevent rain from entering while they are open.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 74” (6’2”).
- Floor Space: 16’” x 7’” (3 people).
- Rooms: 1 with awning.
- Form Factor: Cabin.
- Setup Time: 15 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — Polyester 68D. Poles — Steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, room divider, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 28 pounds (12.7 kg).
Pros and Cons
1. Coleman Evanston Camping Tent
The Coleman Evanston Camping Tent uses the dome design to make a tent that is both practical and spacious. The shape helps it to combat the wind, it is better for rain run-off, and it helps with airflow. The main area of the tent is large enough to sleep 8 people or two queen sized air mattresses. In addition, the tent has a screen room, which becomes a separate room once the tent door is zipped shut.
On the sides of the tent are large tilted windows, each with a deep awning to allow the air to come in, while still blocking the rain. All windows and doors have mesh paneling, which provide ventilation and air flow, while also acting as bug screens.Inside the tent, there are small mesh pockets, and the ceiling has a hook to hang a lantern from. The large, covered entrance is also a great place to leave muddy shoes and clothes without dragging the dirt into the sleeping area.
Even though the center of the tent is 6 feet high, the dome style design means the ceiling becomes lower as you move away from the center. However, If you don’t intend to spend much of the day standing up inside of your tent, then the Evanston Tent is likely the best choice.
While the tent does not provide an instant set up feature, it only takes about 15 minutes to pitch.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 72” (6’).
- Floor Space: 15’ x 12’ (8 people).
- Rooms: 2.
- Form Factor: Dome.
- Setup Time: 15 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — Polyester 68D. Poles — Steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, divider, and pegs.
- Weight: 27 pounds (12.25 kg).
Pros and Cons
Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in an 8 Person Tent
We know that choosing the perfect 8 person camping tent is serious business! It’s an investment that you will be able to share and enjoy with your family and friends for years to come. To find the perfect 8 person tent, these are a few of the factors that you should consider.
Size
The size of your tent is one of the most important factors to consider. While an eight person tent does provide enough room for eight people to sleep comfortably, you may also want extra space for your gear and supplies. In that case, we suggest choosing a tent that is a bit larger, such as a ten person tent. Another alternative option worth considering is to use two smaller tents. Using a combination of camping tents designed for four people, or even six people, would provide additional room and even more privacy.
On the other hand, an 8 person tent provides a ton of extra room for smaller families and groups. For instance, if a family of four opted for an 8 person tent, they would have more than enough room for their bags and gear, for the kids to play, and maybe even an area to prepare meals. Additionally, because many of these large tents feature room dividers, the kids could have their own room while the parents enjoy their own privacy.
Height
The height of the tent is another important factor to consider. You may want to be able to stand up in the tent and to store items or hang lanterns from the apex. Even a small lantern will be 4 inches in length, so you want to choose a ceiling-height of no less than 6 feet.
During the colder months of the year, large tents with higher ceilings are harder to keep warm. In the summer, however, a high ceiling will generate more upwards draft and pull in air from the wing vents, helping to keep the tent cooler.
The Entrance
More than a sunshade for when you want to sit outside watching nature, a vestibule marks a place in the campsite. This addition to a tent provides a handy cover for wet and muddy boots and allows you to keep the main door open when it begins to rain.
A good vestibule will offer side protection from the wind. You can also illuminate the corners of the entrance — to make your tent more visible and to individualize it in a busy campsite.
8 Person Tents FAQs
What is the best type of floor for a large family tent?
The thicker and the denser the floor material of the tent is, the better. Ripstop fabric is a must. You never know if that spot you chose to pitch the tent had a hidden rock under it. Also, the denier (D) and thread (T) count is important, denoted as a number and a letter.
For example, 15D is an indicator of the weight and thickness of the material. 40D is thicker and heavier than 15D. This often refers to the tarp or the tub of the tent. 150T would mean 150 Threads per square inch — and is a common term in referring to the main tent material, and the rainfly. 75D 185T for polyester is suitable for most weather conditions.
What is the best coating for a tent?
With a large camping tent, the protective coating needs to be flexible enough to cope with the fabric stretching. Polyurethane (PU) is less expensive, but silicone offers superior waterproofing protection. Additionally, silicone tends to last longer.
How long should it take to pitch an 8-person tent?
It depends on the model of tent and whether you have someone else helping you. Some large family models require two people to set up the tent. If it takes an hour to pitch a tent — something serious has gone wrong with the design. No one wants to be still reading the manual after battling tent poles for hours. 15 minutes is a reasonable time to put together an 8-person tent — 30 minutes at the most.
Final Thoughts
We are big fans of the Wenzel 8 person tent. It has a lot of space and a giant second room. The Wenzel can sleep 8 people, or a small family, in comfort and privacy. The only weak points are the slanting windows with the rain curtains on the inside.
The Core Instant Cabin Tent has a clever design. Additionally, with its amazing instant setup capability, it takes just one minute to completely pitch the tent. The interior is a decent size, and the room divider gives occupants some privacy. The stitching of the materials is also high-quality and gives the tent a proficient level of waterproofing.
Like the Core tent, the Coleman tents also use similar high-quality materials and stitching techniques. Both the Coleman Montana and the Coleman Evanston are great cabin tents. Both with room dividers and good protection from the weather.
Happy Camping!
Is there another 8 person tent that you love to bring on camping trips? We’d love to try it out! Let us know in the comments section below.
