Coleman Instant 6 Person Cabin Tent Review

When we created this review of the Instant 6, we compared the data from one hundred and twenty-two 6 person cabin tents, comparing more than sixty different points. We also looked at prices including shipping & discounts at thirteen various suppliers websites, to find the best rate for you.

The Instant Fly Open
Coleman's Instant 6 With the Fly Open
In the review, we will show you:
  • A look at the customer reviews we found.
  • A detailed analysis of the features, materials and dimensions.
  • The Pros and Cons about the shelter.
  • Where you can save $48.88

At optimumtents.com our reports are built with the aid of our particular database of over one thousand tents, that are for sale in the USA. Our goal is to provide you an honest report and our own individual rating based on the statistics, along with the lowest price and best value we found.

Best Value & Low Price

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  • Coleman Logo
  • Manufacturer: Coleman
  • Model: Instant
  • Year Introduced: 2015
  • MPN: 2157803
  • Sleeping Capacity: 6 Persons
  • Designed For: 3 Seasons
  • Best Use: Car Camping
  • Type: Cabin Tent
  • Available in: Other Sizes
  • MSRP: $229.99
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Instant 6 Pictures and Videos

Click on an image or video to enlarge them!


The Instant With the Fly Off

Coleman Instant 6 With the Fly Off
Fly Closed on the Instant 6

Fly Closed Instant 6

A video about the Instant 6 tent.

Another video about Coleman's tents.

QUICK OVERVIEW

Logo Representing the Features Section

Features


  • Freestanding: Yes
  • Color: Navy, Gray
  • Number of Rooms: 1
  • Number of Windows: 5
  • Number of Doors: 1
  • Zippers: Zipper Cuff
  • Storage Pockets & Gear Loft: Yes, N/A
  • Mesh Roof & Walls: N/A, N/A
  • Footprint: Not Included
Logo Representing the Materials Section

Materials and Extras


  • Inner Walls: Polyster Taffeta 150D
  • Half Fly: WeatherTec Systems Patented Welded
  • Floor Materials: WeatherTec Systems Patented Welded
  • Pole Material: Steel & Fiberglass
  • Number Of Poles: 6
  • Pole Dimensions: 16mm And 22mm
  • Guy Lines & Guy Outs: Yes, Yes
  • Stakes: Yes
Logo Representing the Dimensions Section

Dimensions


  • Floor Area: 90 sq. ft.
  • Center Height: 5 foot. 11 inches.
  • Packed Weight: 24 Lbs 10 Oz
  • Packed Size: 48.4 x 9.9 x 9.1 inches.
  • Number of Vestibules: None
  • Screened Areas: None
  • Awnings: None

Tent Set Up

Instant setup in about 60 seconds

Green Thumbs Up Logo

Summary: Favorable Reviews

People who used the tent said that: Fast setup as advertised. Purchase the separate rainfly as well, because it is not waterproof on its own. With the fly, it will protect adequately against rain.


Teal Thumbs Down Logo

Summary: Unfavorable Reviews

Campers who bought the tent said that: This model also suffers from leaking when it's raining. If additional waterproofing is not applied, it will be a problem. It is also heavy and bulky.


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SPECS AND CONFIGURATIONS

The Instant 6 has five windows and one door and a peak center height of 5' 11, which is 10 inches less than the average height of the 119 other 6 person tents we have studied. With 90 square feet of room inside, it is considerably smaller than some other 6-person tents, and it would be quite tight for you and, up to five other campers during the 3-seasons, this tent is recommended for use in, smaller tents like this one can generally make an ideal choice for campers who love spending lots of hours outside of the tent enjoying the fresh air.

One of the sweet things about cabin tents is, that the walls are near vertical creating a spacious interior, this makes for much more headroom at the sides of the tent, making it feel much bigger than other types of tents, most of the time, they tend to have large floor areas, so they are great for larger groups. In general cabin tents will be used by families going on a camping trip in a car or a truck as they are quite heavy when compared to dome tents. This dose though make them well suited to cooler nights.

Beneath you can check out an account of the tent's pros and cons.

Click or Tap on the Tab you Want to See!

PROS

  1. Freestanding. The Instant can support its own weight on any terrain. It does not even have to be staked down in most cases. But in case of strong winds, it is always best to secure it to the floor with the included steel stakes and guylines.
  2. Internal storage. It is good to see Coleman has added a gear loft and pockets in the interior to store some of your stuff.
  3. More than one window. With 5 openings it is easier to keep the tent ventilated on a hot summers night.
  4. Lots of Positive Reviews The Instant 6 has Tons of excellent Reviews
  5. Great Ratings The Instant 6 has some of the best ratings of all the tents on optimumtents.com
  6. Available in other sizes. Coleman has also made this model available in Other Sizes.
  7. Low price. It is a great buy for a 6 person cabin tent that provides this much space. Not many tents available on the market give this level of quality for only $181.11 info_outline

CONS

  1. Vulnerable to wind. Because of its size and shape, the Instant may not do well in strong winds if it is not firmly secured with the provided guy lines and stakes. Even though the tent is listed as freestanding in all but very calm conditions, one would need to stake and tie it down correctly.
  2. Not spacious. With a floor area of 90 square feet, the Instant 6 is smaller than quite a lot of the 127 other 6 person tents we have looked at.
  3. Lacking in Headroom. With 10% less headroom than similar sized tents, one can see how this could be a negative thing for some campers.
  4. Only one room. The Instant is designed for 6 people, many other tents of a similar size have more than one room allowing for a little more privacy.
  5. Only one door. With just one door to get out in the middle of the night, it may disturb other campers that are sleeping.
  6. No Vestibules. If you want to keep your dirty shoes, clothes, and backpacks protected from the elements, you need keep them inside the tent.
  7. Rainfly does not wholly cover the tent body. The rainfly only covers the ceiling and part of the tent body from the top. Meaning it might not protect against heavy downpours.
  8. Uses Fiberglass poles. Even though the poles are comprised of steel & fiberglass. Using even some fiberglass with a large tent like the Instant 6 could possibly lead to problems, if there were to be extreemly windy conditions.
  9. Poor Heat Retention. The general construction of the Coleman's Instants interior is designed to easily let air in and out. Therefore, it cannot keep heat inside, making it unsuitable for use in cold weather.
  10. Footprint not Included. There is no included footprint, The floor may be made of WeatherTec systems patented welded but it is still best to protect it further with a footprint, especially on rough terrain.

CONCLUSION

4.8 Stars Logo

Our Ratings: 4.8 STARS

Coleman's Instant 6 tent is really good for car camping. There are a few other points not mentioned above which, we noticed and liked, while reviewing the model: The included rainfly and the WeatherTec system with its patented welded floors and inverted seams will help you stay dry., Storage pockets to keep your gear organized and Integrated rainfly doesn’t require separate assembly.

With fantastic ratings, lots of reviews and a minimum headroom of 5' and 90 square feet of area to sleep, this tent is like your very own little residence. It will enable you and up to 4 other people to spend some delightful time exploring the great outdoors. We found a decent amount of positive points about the tent that you can check out above.

If you found this website looking for an endorsement on this specific tent, our view is, it will make for an awesome acquisition. If you simply happened to land on this page while browsing for a brand new tent having never heard of this manufacture or this tent model before, it is possibly a good idea to check out some more comparable tents.

Value for money: In terms of value for your money, this tent is undoubtedly more competitive than the standard cost of all the one hundred and nineteen, six-person tents we have taken a look at, this just by itself does not make it good value for money. We also need to look at other areas in-depth, as we do for every tent.

When we measure the score of a single tent, we reflect upon plenty of conditions, finding things where the tent could excel against other similar tents and where it is not quite as good. On this occasion, with a total rating of 4.8 and the price info above, one can view that with a cost of $181.11 info_outline The Instant 6 is an awesome bargain and incredibly cheap when compared with comparable tents.

Its ratings show that the quality and size the tent provides were not in any way skimped on to obtain a price undoubtedly under the average price for comparable tents. It is also worth noting it is marked down by 21% from the manufactures suggested retail price. It could make an exceptional choice for most people looking for an adequate three-season cabin tent to camp with, that should serve you well for years to come.

Best Value & Low Price

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Fast 2 Day Shipping Available to Most Locations
$181.11 info_outline
You Save $48.88 (21%)
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COMPARE WITH OTHER SIMILAR TENTS

COLEMAN TENT MODELS

CABIN TENTS || 6 PERSON TENTS

Other Sizes and Variations of the Coleman Instant Model

Model Headroom Sleeping Area

Coleman Instant 10
Instant 10 Dark Room

6' 7"140 sq ft

Coleman Instant 4
Instant 4

4' 11"56 sq ft

Coleman Instant 6
Instant 6

5' 11"90 sq ft

Coleman Instant 8
Instant 8

6' 7"140 sq ft
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