Tent Seam Sealer

While tent construction has improved over the years, tent seams are still a week point even on some of the best tents. And since I'm sure you don't really like waking up with a drip of rain to the forehead spending a few bucks on seam sealer is probably a pretty good idea for next Summer's camping season

Kiwi Camp Dry, Heavy Duty Water Repellent

 

This Kiwi can does the trick. Use it on tarps, boots, or fabrics. We tried it first on our old tent, then on hiking boots. It sealed out the moisture well enough for continuous use. It also allowed us to use the tent for another two seasons before getting a new one. 

I look for new stuff at camp to try it on. You have to let it dry fully like the directions say, but after that it's good. Anything that will see full rain exposure, do a couple of coats for best results.

COLEMAN SEAM SEALER

This product is completely different from what it shows in the picture. Its the same one that you will see in your local sports store or walmart by coleman. It doesn't have a brush at the end which i would have liked because it is in the picture which is why it loses 1 star. Most tents have pretty tight seams so getting into them with the product can be difficult due to the fact it doesnt have the convenient brush. 

The tip is actually a somewhat flat sponge that only protrudes from the bottle by 1-2 millimeters. The good part about this is you waste less product, the bad part is you may need some help pulling the seams apart far enough to apply the product unless you have 3 hands

Best Camping Tent

Coleman Foot 8 Person Tent

 

Coleman 14x10 Foot 8 Person Instant Tent is a great tent. It is easy to set up and is very roomy ,to set up is kinda funny but, it is fast to set up and it is all put together however you do have to tie it down I guess they didn't think about that part.

GREAT TENT ! It is a little tricky getting it back in the bag though just remember how you unfolded it and it will not be a problem hope this helps your tent buy.

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Wenzel Kodiak Family Cabin Dome Tent

Wenzel Kodiak Family Cabin Dome Tent is great because you don't feel claustrophobic when you step inside. It has a big, simple, square floor plan which is great. 
The walls don't slope in to the point of making the outer edges of the floor unusable the way dome tents do and my six foot four husband can walk comfortably around inside the whole tent without stooping. 
If you like a home away from home when you're camping this tent is for you. Also, when the rain fly is removed the entire ceiling of the tent provides a great view of the sky, while still giving you privacy. I love this tent! 

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Wenzel Great Basin 9-Person Tent

Wenzel Great Basin 9-Person Tent is a monster. The size would easily accommodate a family with room to stow a lot of gear. It is very easy to setup but requires at least two people due to it's size. 
The seams appear well made, however, the little tassels on the zipper pulls pulled out on about the third pull. It is well ventilated. The rain cover is rather minimalistic in design. 
The slight overhang does not cover the entire door during a rain storm. The doors and side windows must be zipped up tight or rain will get in. The rectangular divider does not conform to the shape of the tent so it is open at the angle of the walls.



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Best Family Tents

Coleman Montana 8 Family Dome Tent

Coleman Montana 8 Family Dome Tent  has a vented Cool-Air Port for improved airflow which helps the air circulate when it gets hot in the summer or steamy during a rain storm. And while we are on the subject of rain the Coleman Montana 8 has a WeatherTec rain protection system that keeps the rain outside so you don't wake up in a puddle. 

The rain fly that covers the outside of the door is part of the whole rain fly (all one piece), there is actually room for three chairs to stay dry under it (picture misleads that it is smaller). I was just out there smoking a cig thinking, America still has a few great companies left that mean well for their customers.

The front door is pure genius. The zippers are re-inforced and glide like butter. But, if you don't want to add tons of wear on your zipper (and we all know a tent is useless when the door zipper breaks, unless of course it's a coleman with this design), just don't zip it, and let the hinge spring it lightly shut. And the factory well placed velcro hold it shut.
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Eureka! Apollo 1210 8 Person Family Tent

Another top family tent for you is the Eureka! Apollo 1210 Dome Tent which is the 2012 version of the very popular Eureka Tetragon 1210 - an 8-Person two room dome tent that gives you a lot of quality features for your money.

Pros: Plenty of room (12-Foot by 10-Foot) but not too big, 2 doors for easy access, good ventilation, easy set up for 2 people, a lot of tent for the price - center height of 6'4"
Cons: Seal those seams and get quality stakes! (pretty much a must with any tent), Zipper can be a bit tricky to zip because of added rain flap, a bit too much ventilation for cooler weather camping, poles are so-so quality (your typical corded poles that sometimes separate when pulling them through the guides.

Overall, this Eureka! Apollo 1210 Dome Tent is a nice affordable family camping tent. If you have a family of five or six you'll fit right in - I grew up using Eureka tents so I know they hold up well
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Coleman 6-Person Instant Tent

The Coleman 6-Person Instant Tent is the first large tent that lives up to the "easy to set up" moniker.

When it's time to take down your tent, fold it up as instructed, then roll it, on the ground, just like a sleeping bag. Just keep rolling it until you get the air squeezed out. Not only was it easy to get this tent back in it's storage bag, I was able to put THAT back in the box that it came in!
And the carry bag. Even the bag is well planned! It has a full length zipper (think of your standard gym duffel bag, only longer). It's bigger than it needs to be, so it's easy to get the tent back in. And, if you have a hard time getting the air out of it, and CAN'T zip it, there are straps with buckles, so you can strap the top, then cinch down the buckles to tighten the bag enough to zip it up

The secret to the quick set-up is the pole system, which comes pre-attached to the tent. You'll find set-up almost fun, well maybe I won't go that far but at least you can get the tent up quick so you can get that fire going and hit the toasted marshmallows.
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Marmot Limestone 6P Tent

I love Coleman tents and as I look over the reviews that I keep featuring as the top tents for 2013 it appears that they are well represented. But if you want a family tent that is a step up from your Coleman or Eureka tents you should check out this Marmot Limestone 6 person family tent - it is one high quality family tent!
With a price tag above your typical entry level family tent the Marmot Limestone has to deliver on quality or it just wouldn't sell. Good thing for Marmot the Limestone 6P delivers with a Heavyweight Oxford 150 Denier floor, 2 doors - One D Shaped Door, One Vestibule and DAC DA17 poles to hold it all up. If you don't speak high tech tent speak - here is what all that means: you have a tent that holds up well in wind and rain plus has the added convenience of 2 doors which helps with airflow as well as ease of entry. Plus the extra strong tent poles are a step up from some other tents with flimsy poles so you will be able to withstand some nice big storms if you are as lucky as we are with our camping weather.
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Coleman WeatherMaster Screened 6 Tent

The Coleman WeatherMaster Screened 6 Tent provides the best of both worlds. If you've been camping on a sultry summer night you are sure to make friends with some hungry mosquitoes, well 'friends' may be the wrong word... 

What I love about this Coleman WeatherMaster 6 person tent is that it has the built in screened porch so you can stick your tongue out at those pesky bugs without loosing a pint of blood.

The Coleman WeatherMaster Screened Tent wins out based on price (because it is a reasonably priced tent for that size), volume of five star reviews and weather durability (although more sturdy stakes and a dose of seam sealer wouldn't hurt)

My only complaint is that the large door leading from the screen room to the rest of the tent doesn't zip along the bottom. There is a screen door that completely zips closed, but the solid tent material that went over the screen door only zips up and down to provide privacy. So, we had full protection from the bugs, but no protection from the drafts that creep through the bottom of the flap. If you'll be camping in extreme cold you should definitely consider this negative
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