The Best 10-Person Tents (2020 Buying Guide)
Love camping with a large group of friends and/or family? Then you need a spacious shelter to match your social needs! A 10-person tent can be the perfect upgrade to your camping comfort. These days, 10-person tents come in all shapes and sizes: from elongated tents with multiple room dividers to large and tall dome tents with ample headroom. There’s a match for every camper.
Even better: though 10-person tents are large, their weight has only down in recent years, thanks to innovations, materials, and construction techniques. Using lightweight compounds such as aluminum and titanium, outdoor brands have upgraded these large shelters to maximize comfort, yet minimize their packing weight and dimensions.
To help you navigate your way towards the best options on the market, we’ve created this comprehensive Best 10-Person Tent overview. In this review, we’re highlighting the best-value options on the market, hoping to inspire you to upgrade your camping comfort with a roomy 10-person cabin tent.
Outdoor Command’s Best 10-Person Tents are:
- Ozark Trail XL Family Cabin Tent
- CORE Straight Wall Cabin Tent
- Coleman WeatherMaster Outdoor Tent
- Wenzel Great Basin Tent
- QOMOTOP 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Tahoe Gear Olympia Family Camping Tent
- Ozark Trail Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
- Columbia Mammoth Creek Tent
- Outdoor Products Instant Cabin Tent
- Outbound Lightweight Pop up Family Camping Tent
Explore the top-rated 10-person tents below, and discover the perfect fit for your upcoming camping trips!
Tip: want more information on how to find the Best 10-Person Tent for your camping needs? We’ve included a quick Buying Guide at the bottom of this post, enabling you to create a handy checklist when shopping for the best 10-person tent!
Best 10-Person Tent – Overview
Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent
The 10-person Ozark Trail XL Family Cabin Tent measures 20ft x 10ft, with a center height of 78″. The tent includes a zippered carry bag and packs down to 27.5″ x 10.75″ x 10.75″ dimensions. Weighing 27.6 lbs, it’s not a backpacking-friendly option, but for car campers and family campers not planning on lugging it over long-distances, it’s the ideal solution to your space requirements.
One center door and two side doors offer separate entrances for added privacy. There are six windows for increased ventilation and panoramic views of your camping area.
Ample storage, great ventilation
Other high-quality features on this 10-person tent include an E-port for easy access of electrical cords, an attached mud mat to keep the inside of your tent clean, and even a shoe pocket for footwear storage. Speaking of storage, the Ozark Trail XL Family Cabin Tent also comes with 4 mesh pockets for storage of smaller personal items, allowing you to keep the inside of this large tent nicely organized. This Ozark Trail tent comes with 6 mesh windows, and a partly mesh roof for optimal cross-ventilation, which also offer panoramic views of your surroundings when opened.
The Ozark Trail XL Family Cabin Tent also ticks the box when it comes to quality and durability. Though it’s not the most heavy-duty 10-person tent on the market, it’s sturdy and waterproof enough for 3-season usage. The design includes a quality rainfly and comes with taped fly seams to prevent leakage in bad weather conditions. The shell and fly of the tent are made of poly taffeta and polyester, whilst the frame uses fiberglass and steel to create a stable shelter.
Pro
- Can be turned in 2-room or 3-room tent
- Includes room dividers
- Space for 3 queen air beds
- Mesh storage pockets
- E-port access for electrical cords
- 3 large entry-points
- Relatively lightweight for 10-person tent
- Attached mud mat
Con
- Not the most heavy-duty
- Setup can be a bit tricky
- Instructions on setup not very clear
CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
The CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent measures 14ft x 10ft, with a center height of 86″. The tent includes an expandable, zippered carry bag and packs down to 28.5″ x 10″ X 10″ dimensions. Do note that this is quite a hefty tent, compared to other similar-sized 10-person options, weighing in at 35.5 lbs when packed.
This quality camping tent should comfortably accommodate 10 adult sleeping bags or 2 queen-sized air mattresses. Do note this is one queen airbed less than the previously listed Ozark Trail XL Family Tent (which fits 3 queen air mattresses). This is because of the CORE’s differently-sized footprint. Fortunately, what the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent lacks in the sleeping area, it does compensate for in the headroom. You can enjoy an ample 86″ of headroom throughout the entire silhouette of the tent, thanks to the clever vertical-wall style. This family tent has one large D-style door for easy access, but we kind of wished each compartment has a separate entry-point for added privacy.
Advanced Venting System
The CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent also has some premium design elements to make your family trip more comfortable, and enjoyable. For example, the tent’s ‘Advanced Venting System’ uses adjustable vents to draw in cool air from the ground, whilst regulating warm air out via the large mesh ceiling: allowing for great ventilation. Other pros about the CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent are a gear loft with a lantern hook, ample storage pockets, and an electrical cord access port.
The CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent is made of premium materials, like a durable 68D polyester tent fabric, a tough PE floor, and fiberglass tent poles. The tent also has a water-resistant rainfly, which is removable on fair-weather days. The seams of the tent are also thermally heat-sealed to keep water and condensation out, ensuring you stay dry and cozy at all times.
Pro
- Vertical-walled silhouette
- Ample 86″ center height
- 14 x 10 feet – very spacious
- Advanced Venting System
- Room divider
- Two entry doors
- A lantern hook, gear loft, and storage pockets
- An electrical cord access point
- Thermally heat-sealed seams
Con
- Setup can take a bit longer
- Only 2-room tent, not 3-room
- Quite heavy (35.5 lbs)
Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Outdoor Tent
Coleman WeatherMaster Outdoor Tent measures 17ft x 9ft and has a center height of 76″. This makes it less roomy in height than the vertical-walled CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent, but it should still offer ample headroom for most campers. The Coleman WeatherMaster 10-Person Tent can comfortably accommodate 10 adult-sized sleeping bags or 3 queen size air beds. The silhouette comes with a hinged door at the front and a zippered door at the back for easy access for you, and your family and/or friends. When it’s time to leave your campsite behind, the Coleman WeatherMaster Outdoor Tent packs down into an included carry bag, with the packed dimensions listed as 30.3″ x 10.2″ x 10.2″. The total weight of the packed tent is approximately 31 pounds.
Panoramic views
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, large family camping tent with plenty of weather-resistant features, the Coleman WeatherMaster Outdoor Tent is a real contender. The setup of the tent is relatively straightforward, thanks to its color-coded poles system and continuous pole sleeves construction. Other perks of this tent include large, angled windows that allow a panoramic view of your campsite and multiple storage pockets to help you keep your belongings off the floor, and neatly organized.
Let’s quickly review another big selling-point of this 10-person tent: its patented WeatherTec System. The WeatherTec system is a term used to refer to all the tent’s design-elements that offer weather protection. These include fully-taped seams on the 75-denier taffeta rainfly, weather-resistant fabric that uses a special anti-wicking thread to wick moisture out, protected seams on the inverted 1000-denier PE waterproof floor, and zipper cuffs to keep bad weather at bay.
Overall, the Coleman WeatherMaster Outdoor Tent offers a lot of value for its affordable pricing, and it’s one of the most complete 10-person camping tents at the lower end of the price spectrum.
Pro
- Quick setup with color-coded pole construction
- Hinged door for easy access
- Can fit 3 queen air beds
- 2 entry points
- Room dividers for privacy
- WeatherTec system
- Waterproof floor and zipper cuffs
- Fully-taped seams on durable taffeta rainfly
- Large angled windows for panoramic views
Con
- Less generous in headroom
- Setup can be a bit tricky
- WeatherTec system can still fail in heavy downpours
Wenzel Great Basin Tent
The 10-person Wenzel Great Basin measures 18ft x 10ft, has a center height of approximately 72 inches, and weighs 26.6 lbs. This large tent can be turned into a 2-room, and even a 3-room tent using the included room divider curtains. Do note that though the style does offer the option to configure it into separate rooms, there’s only one large D-style door. This means you’ll have to compromise a bit on privacy, as you’ll always need to enter via the main compartment to reach the separate rooms. Though only a minor con, it is something to keep in mind if privacy is a key priority when buying a 10-person instant cabin tent.
Great for stargazing
According to Amazon customer reviews, the 10-person Wenzel Great Basin allows for good ventilation via the zippered rear and side mesh windows. There are 3 additional mesh roof vents to further boost airflow, helping you keep cool and comfortable. This big tent comes with a matching extra-large rainfly, which can also be removed for stargazing on clear, warmer nights. You should be aware that because of the large mesh inserts, windows, and vents, the style isn’t as well equipped for cold weather camping – as it lacks the insulation of the inner shell. That said, for 3-season usage and moderate conditions, it should get the job done. Assembly of this cabin-style tent is reported to be quite quick in Amazon reviews, thanks to the tent’s easy-setup shock-corded poles system.
Minor cons are that the floor of the tent isn’t a tub floor, but more a nylon tarp style. Which is slightly less equipped to deal with heavy rain and wet undergrounds. Also, this budget-friendly tent isn’t the most heavy-duty, as some consumers on Amazon say the materials are prone to wear and tear. However, consider its reasonable pricing, we reckon that’s a fair trade-off. This tent may not last you for decades, but it should give you plenty of bang for your buck in the short-term.
Pro
- Special ‘tent light reflection’ system for a cozy atmosphere
- Easy setup with shock-corded poles
- Can be divided in 2-room or 3-room tent
- Mesh windows and roof vents for optimal ventilation
- Door with ridgepole on top
- Gear storage duffel and hanging gear pockets
- Budget-friendly
- Relatively lightweight
Cons
- No tub floor
- Prone to wear and tear
- Only one door
- May lack some privacy
QOMOTOP 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent
The QOMOTOP 10-Person Easy Set Up Cabin Tent has a 14ft x 10ft floor space (168″ x 120″) and a center height of 76″. This ample center height means the tent offers generous headroom to move around comfortably throughout the tent. The cabin tent can accommodate up to 10 regular-sized adult sleeping bags or 2 queen airbeds. The total packing weight of the tent is approximately 29.5 lbs.
The QOMOTOP 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent can be divided into two separate rooms and includes a (removable) room divider. This enables you to create some privacy from your kids or friends (which, let’s be frank, we all need at some point) – or use one room for gear storage. Additional gear storage options of the tent include integrated storage pockets on the sides and a mesh gear loft.
Weatherproof design elements
This cabin tent features large double doors and windows on 3 sides. The tent is equiped with a mesh roof and 2 ground vents, allowing for proper cross-ventilation. The mesh windows also come with weather flaps, allowing you to close them in case of heavy rain. Further protection against bad weather conditions is offered by the included rainfly and PE tub floor with waterproof welded corners. Do note that according to reviewers, the tent’s floor is a bit on the thin side and quite prone to wear and tear. We’d, therefore, advise you to buy a separate footprint to extend the lifespan of the tent.
Another perk is that the QOMOTOP 10-person family tent comes with an electrical cord access port. This e-port allows you to place electrical cables inside the tent, without having to damage the outer shell or leave the zipper open. The tent also includes a handy doormat of waterproof material (serving as a great place to store muddy shoes), tent stakes, and a carry bag for extra portability.
Granted, the QOMOTOP 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent may not be the most heavy-duty or high-quality family tent on the market, but for the price listed, we reckon that’s a fair trade-off. Plus, this tent is still more than stable and secure enough to keep you, and your family, firmly sheltered during 3-season usage. So, if pricing is one of your key priorities when buying a 10-person tent, and you don’t mind compromising a bit on durability, this could be a great budget-friendly fit!
Pro
- Quick set up under a minute
- Budget-friendly
- PE tub floor with welded seams
- Rainfly included
- Room divider included
- 2 ground vents for proper ventilation
- Telescoping poles with pre-attached frame
- Can fit 2 queen-sized air mattresses
- Electrical cord access port
- Mesh windows and mesh ceiling allow for great airflow
Con
- The material of the tent floor is quite prone to wear and tear
- Not the most durable tent on the market
- Only partial-coverage rainfly
Tahoe Gear Olympia 10-Person Family Camping Tent
The Tahoe Gear Olympia 10-Person Family Camping Tent measures 18ft x 10.5ft in floor space (216″ x 126″) and has a center height of 84″, providing ample headroom for taller campers. The large tent is surprisingly lightweight, especially compared to other 10-person camping tents. The total packing weight of the Tahoe Gear Olympia is approximately 23 lbs.
The roomy interior space of the Tahoe Gear Olympia can comfortably accommodate up to 10 adult sleeping bags or 2 queen air mattresses. A minor con is that the tent does not include a room divider, meaning privacy is a bit limited.
Great ventilation options
What the Tahoe Gear Olympia 10-Person Family Camping Tent lacks in privacy, it more than makes up for in great quality and construction. The tent features a durable, waterproof polyester rainfly with taped seams and a polyethylene binding floor with water-resistant properties. The Tahoe Gear Olympia is also well-ventilated, thanks to the mesh roof and ground vents, ensuring proper airflow.
This tall 10-person tent also comes with an electrical cord access point, an awning over the front door, and a carry bag included. There is also a 1-year product warranty on the tent, ensuring that if you do encounter any manufacturing defects, you can get a refund or replacement (subject to conditions).
Besides the lack of room divider, another minor con is that the Tahoe Gear Olympia 10-Person Family Camping Tent only has 1 door. This makes entering and exiting slightly less convenient, especially when nature calls in the middle of the night and you have to crawl over your camping buddies. That said, it’s not a major issue – but it is something to keep in mind if you plan on packing the tent to full capacity with 10 campers…
Pro
- Pin-and-ring-system setup
- Mid-budget
- Large floor space
- Rainfly included
- Mesh ceiling and ground vents for proper ventilation
- Can fit 2 queen-sized air mattresses
- Electrical cord access port
- 84″ center height ideal for taller campers
- Lightweight
- Included carry bag
Con
- Only 1 entry door
- No room dividers
- Fiberglass frame may damage in strong winds
Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
Another best-selling tent by Ozark Trail is the 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent. Not only does this tent feature a super easy setup in minutes, but it also comes with ‘Dark Rest’ technology that allows you to easily customize the interior illumination. The result: a better night’s sleep, and a tent that stays cooler, longer.
The Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent measures 14ft x 10ft in floor space (168″ x 120″) and has a center height of 78″. The cabin-style tent includes a (removable) room divider, which allows you to split the interior space into two separate rooms. The tent can fit up to 10 campers in adult-sized sleeping bags or 2 queen-sized airbeds.
The steel-framed Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent is very easy to pitch, with no assembly required. The silhouette features poles that come pre-attached to the tent shell. According to the manufacturer, setup is possible in just 2 minutes, thanks to this instant, pre-assembled construction.
Dark Rest Technology
Though it’s roomy interior and easy assembly are great perks, the real attraction of this 10-person tent by Ozark Trail is its Dark Rest Technology. Dark Rest means that this Ozark Trail tent features special technology to help block sunlight. The silhouette of the tent features multiple skylights with interior ceiling panels. These panels allow you to easily customize the amount of sunlight in the tent or block out the light completely when it’s time for bed. The ceiling panels on the skylights can also be fully rolled back, allowing for great stargazing and a clear view of the night’s sky. If you’re a sleeper that’s sensitive to light, or you simply want a tent that stays cooler, longer, this Dark Rest technology may be the solution to your camping comfort!
Other pros of the Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent include integrated storage pockets and a hanging gear organizer, enabling you to keep your belongings neatly organized and off the ground. The Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent also comes with an electrical cord access port, tent stakes, and a carry bag included. The tent is furthermore covered by a 6-month product warranty, which is always a plus.
The Ozark Trail Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent isn’t the cheapest 10-person tent on the market, but for its fantastic quality standard and great Dark Rest technology, it’s no doubt worth the investment for campers that want the best night’s sleep possible…
Pro
- Instant easy setup, no assembly required
- Excellent quality standard
- Steel frame more durable than fiberglass
- Tent stays cooler, longer
- Rainfly included
- Dark Rest technology
- Great for stargazing
- Multiple mesh windows for great ventilation
- Electrical cord access port
- Removable room divider
- Includes tent stakes
- Included carry bag
Con
- Expensive
- Not lightweight
Columbia Mammoth Creek 10-Person Tent
The Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Tent measures 14ft x 10ft in floor space (168″ x 120″) and comes with a 78″ center height. The spacious tent can fit up to 10 campers in adult sleeping bags or 2 queen-size air mattresses. The 10-person tent features large pull-out windows, enabling you to keep them fully open for maximum airflow on warm days. Further air circulation is boosted by an adjustable ground vent and no-see-um mesh panels. On bad weather days, the waterproof polyester floor and partial-cover rainfly will keep you dry and sheltered.
Omni-Shield coated fabric
Another weatherproof perk is that the Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Tent comes with Omni-Shield coated fabric. This patented type of water-resistant fabric dries up to 3-5 times faster than regular, untreated polyester. Not only does it dry quicker, but it also gets less weighed down when wet – reducing the strain and pull on the tent’s frame in heavy rain.
Do note that though the product description on Amazon lists the shipping weight as an ultralight 4 pounds, this is an error. According to Amazon reviews, the total packing weight of the tent is approximately 22 lbs; which is still relatively lightweight for a tent this size.
A minor con is that Columbia Mammoth Creek 10 Person Tent isn’t an instant setup tent, meaning you will have to spend more time on assembly than other, easy setup models in this overview. Also, some reviewers mentioned a lack of clear setup instructions – which can pose a time-consuming challenge… That said, once you’ve figured out which part goes where setup will already be quicker the second time around. In this case, it’s a matter of practice makes perfect.
Pro
- Vertical wall silhouette
- Maximum interior space
- Omni-Shield waterproof fabric
- No-see-um mesh
- Room divider for privacy
- Large pull-out windows
- Adjustable ground vent for air circulation
- Can fit 2 queen-size air beds
Con
- Not the quickest in setup
- Some reviewers mention a lack of clear set-up instructions
- A discrepancy in packing weight in the product listing
Outdoor Products 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent
The Outdoor Products 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent measures 14ft x 10ft in floor space (168″ x 120″) and has a center height of 78″. The tent includes a (removable) room divider, allowing you to create two separate rooms. Ideal for when you need some extra privacy from your camping buddies or want to use one part of the tent for gear storage! The tent is also equiped with additional storage pockets, allowing you to keep your personal belongings neatly stored.
Extended Eave Technology
The 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent by Outdoor Products is well-ventilation thanks to dual ground vents and mesh windows, which create ample cross ventilation throughout the tent. The tent comes with a water-resistant, particle-cover rainfly, plus a tub floor to protect against wet undergrounds. This large cabin tent also features ‘Extended Eave Technology’. This means the automatically extended eaves holds the tent fly away from the tent body. Not only does this boost breathability, but it also allows you to keep the windows open in light rain.
Do note that the Outdoor Products 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent is quite a hefty tent, weighing 41.6 lbs. Though a carry bag is included, it’s relatively heavy carrying weight does make it less portable than other tents in this overview. However, we think its easy and quick setup, great pricing, and roomy interior space make the extra carrying weight a worthwhile trade-off.
Pro
- Instant setup in just 2 minutes
- Removable room divider included
- Dual ground vents
- Mesh windows for proper airflow
- Water-resistant rainfly included
- Extended Eave Technology
- Carry bag included
- Great value-for-money
- Integrated storage pockets
- Can fit 2 queen-size air beds
Con
- Heavy-weight
- Not the most portable
- Not the highest quality standard
Outbound Lightweight Pop up Family Camping Tent
The Outbound Lightweight Pop up Family Camping Tent measures 14ft x 10ft in floor space (168″ x 120″). This is enough room to accommodate 10 regular-sized adult sleeping bags or 2 queen-size air beds. The tent has a 76″ center height. The family camping tent by Outbound comes with an ultralight fiberglass frame system, which is part of the reason it only weighs 12 lbs in total packing weight.
The roomy tent includes a partial-cover rain fly with a 600mm waterproof rating. Once again: this is not the most heavy-duty on the market, and a waterproof rating of 600mm won’t be enough to keep you fully dry in heavy rain. However, for fair weather camping in the summertime, it should offer sufficient shelter to keep you comfy and secure. The rainfly does come with leakproof seams, whilst the polyester tub floor offers adequate protection against wet undergrounds.
Includes all the essentials
The Outbound Lightweight Pop up Family Camping Tent features a large, D-shaped door with built-in zippered windows and a mesh roof for proper airflow. The tent also has mesh storage pockets on the interior, providing a great place to organize your smaller personal items. This large, lightweight tent by Outbound also includes tent stakes, guy lines, and a zippered carry case for easy transport.
It’s not the most durable tent on the market, nor is it equipped for extreme weather conditions. However, when it comes to portability and lightweight appeal: this Outbound Lightweight Pop up Tent is one of the best family tents you’ll find. Plus, it’s price-tag is equally lightweight compared to other tents on this overview, making it a budget-friendly backpackers favorite!
Pro
- Very lightweight (12 lbs)
- Affordable and great value-for-money
- Easy and quick setup
- Large D-shaped door with zippered windows
- Mesh ceiling panels for proper airflow
- Mesh storage pockets
- Very portable and suited for backpacking
- Includes tent stakes
- Includes guy lines
- Includes zippered carry bag
- Rainfly included
- Carry bag included
Con
- Fiberglass frame may shatter in heavy winds
- Rainfly only has a 600mm waterproof rating
- Not recommended for bad weather conditions
- No room dividers
- Only one entry-point
Verdict
Every product in this Best 10-Person Tent Overview has its unique appeal. Which one ranks as ‘the best’ is very dependent on the type of camper you are. For example, family campers that don’t care much about privacy may already be satisfied with a single-door design, such as the Wenzel Big Basin. But campers who travel with friends and value privacy as a key priority may want easy access to their compartment, without having to disturb others. In that case, the 10-Person Ozark Trail Family Cabin Tent, which has 3 separate entry-points, could be a better match.
These 10-person camping tents also vary in shape and size. If you want maximum headroom and maneuverability throughout the entire tent, vertical-walled options such as the CORE Straight Wall Cabin Tent, the Columbia Mammoth Creek Camping Tent, or the Outdoor Products 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent could be a perfect fit. Then again, perhaps your key priority is protection against the elements, in which case the Coleman WeatherMaster with its special WeatherTec system could be the tent for you. And if you want a tent that stays cooler, longer – consider the Ozark Trail 10-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent, which can block-out sunlight and help you get a better night’s sleep…
Don’t stress, we can promise you one thing: every 10-person tent on this overview is a great choice, so you honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. No matter which style you choose, they’ll all keep you comfortable, sheltered, and cozy! All you need to do is determine which style matches your needs best: getting the best deal on a large family camping tent is that easy!
Winner
Picking a winner from this line-up is a challenge, as each 10-person tent has its pros and cons. A lightweight and very portable tent that may be ‘the best’ fit for one camper, may lack the heavy-duty performance another camper is looking for. So, which is ‘the best’ is more a matter of preference than clear-cut facts. That said, we can share with you which tent we’d buy if we wanted to invest in a 10-person tent: the Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent.
Why do we rate the Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent as our winner? Because for us, this roomy tent ticks all the important boxes. Our 3 most important buying factors would be budget-friendly, privacy, and great storage space. Which the Ozark Trail XL all has.
Fits up to 3 queen airbeds
This large family tent can easily be turned in 2-room or 3-room tent, thanks to the handy included room dividers. This means the tent offers enough space for 3 queen-size air beds, whilst other 10-person tents only tend to fit 2 airbeds. Additionally, each room has its entry-point, as this tent comes with 3 doors. This means you don’t have to crawl over your camping buddies or kids to reach the exit when – in the middle of the night – nature calls. And that’s always a plus to us!
Excellent value-for-money
Furthermore, the affordably priced Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent delivers excellent value-for-money. Though budget-friendly, the tent is packed with premium perks, such as an electrical cord access point, mesh storage pockets, and an attached mud mat.
The trade-off is that the Ozark Trail 10-Person 3-Room XL Family Cabin Tent comes with a fiberglass frame, not a steel frame – which makes it slightly less durable in the long-term. Also, this tent does not feature an instant setup construction, making assembly slightly more time-consuming. However, we don’t mind spending a bit more time pitching the tent, if it allows us to enjoy more privacy (and save quite a bit of money).
That said, any tent in this overview is worth the investment – the Ozark Trail XL by no means reigns supreme. It’s simply the best match for our wishlist of tent features – but it may not be for you. That is exactly why we advise you to determine which buying factors are most important to you (packing weight, ease of setup, number of doors/rooms, materials, pricing, etc.) and matching them to one of the 10 tents in this overview. That is how you ensure you get ‘the best’ tent for your camping needs, and will receive a product that will live up to – and exceed – expectations!
Tip: Need help understanding what the different buying factors are? We’ve included a handy Buying Guide below, enabling you to create your checklist when shopping for the best 10-person tent!
Best 10-Person Tents – Buying Guide
When shopping for the Best 10-Person Tent for your camping needs, there are several buying factors to take into consideration. By determining which factors are most important to you, you can easily create a checklist to find your perfect fit. These are the most important buying factors to consider when shopping for large family tents:
Size, layout, and silhouette
10-Person tents come in all shapes and sizes. Though they can all accommodate 10 regular-sized adult sleeping bags, some are roomier than others. For example, a 10-person tent with a 14ft x 10ft footprint will fit 10 sleeping bags, but only 2 queen-size air beds. Whilst a 10-person tent with a 20ft x 10ft footprint can easily fit 3 queen-sized air beds. This may sound pretty logical, but it’s worth repeating that just because a tent is listed as ’10-person’, doesn’t mean it can comfortably accommodate 10 campers and their gear. That is why we recommend you to always double-check the floor space of a tent, ensuring it has enough room for your camping requirements.
Additionally, the tent’s center height and shape are also factors to consider. Some tents have a 74″ center height, whilst others reach up to 84″. Those extra 10 inches can make a big difference to your comfort, especially for taller campers. When it comes to the shape/silhouette, vertical-walled tents offer more interior space than a dome tent – maximizing on headroom to move around.
Privacy
If you want the option to enjoy some privacy from your friends and/or kids, choose a tent that includes a room divider. You may assume that all large 10-person tents come with some type of room divider, but this is not the case. Some tents only have one big main cabin that cannot be separated in the different rooms. Whilst other tents come with multiple room dividers, allowing you to instantly turn them into 2-room or 3-room tents. Creating your makeshift room divider is quite the hassle, so save yourself the effort, and simply choose a tent that includes room dividers instead if privacy is a priority.
Doors and windows
Another thing to consider is whether you want a tent with multiple doors, or if a single-door tent will do. For smaller, 4-person or 6-person tents a single entry point may be adequate, but when camping with a big group in one tent, the more doors, the easier is it to exit and enter the tent. If you don’t want to crawl over your camping buddies in the middle of the night, when nature calls, consider a tent with a front and back-entry point: as this will make your camping experience a whole lot smoother.
Also, take into consideration what type of windows you prefer. Some tents come with larger, pull-out mesh windows, whilst others feature zippered windows integrated into the doors. If you often go camping in the summertime and warm conditions, consider a tent with multiple mesh windows on all sides to enable proper ventilation and airflow. If you often find yourself in wet and rainy surroundings, ensure the tent comes with zippered and waterproof windows to prevent the interior from getting soggy. The type of windows and number of windows may not be your biggest priority, but it’s something to take into account when browsing for family camping tents.
Weather Resistance
Not every 10-person tent is fully able to keep sheltered and dry, even on bad weather days. Though every tent on this list offers some degree of weather protection, some are more capable of dealing with heavy rains and bad weather conditions than others. If you’re looking for a 3-season tent that holds up well in all types of weather, make sure it has enough weather-resistant design elements to battle the elements. For example:
Staying waterproof
Always choose a tent that comes with a rainfly. Secondly, check if the included rainfly is made of quality materials and what its waterproof rating is. The waterproof rating (also known as the hydrostatic rating) refers to how much water the fabric can handle before moisture starts seeping through. For example, a rainfly fabric with a waterproof rating of 500mm is only moderately water-resistant, whilst a rainfly with a 1500mm rating is far more capable of handling heavy rain. As a general rule of thumb: the higher the waterproof rating, the better.
Sealed, welded, and taped seams
A 10-person tent’s weather-resistance also depends on the type of seams. Even if the rainfly is 100% waterproof, the seams of the tent can still let water in and cause leakage. That is why we’d recommend picking a tent that comes with factory-sealed, taped, or welded seams. You can also waterproof/seal the seams of the tent yourself, but this can be quite the hassle. If you want to save yourself the annoyance of having to waterproof a tent at home, choose a silhouette that comes with factory-sealed, welded, and/or taped seams instead.
Material
Picking the right type of materials will ensure you get the most enjoyment out of a tent. Which material is ‘the best’ depends on where, and when, you plan to use the tent. For example, for backpacking trips or family hiking adventures, a tent frame made of lightweight materials is ‘best’. Lightweight material options include fiberglass, aluminum, and plastic. That said, these ultralight materials compromise on durability and stability. Fiberglass may shatter under pressure, whilst aluminum may bend. Alternatives are heavy-duty materials such as stainless steel. The advantage is that steel is more durable, heavy-duty, and wear-resistant than fiberglass and aluminum. However, it also is heavier – and often more expensive – which are also cons to take into consideration…
For the tent’s shell, the most commonly used materials are nylon and polyester. Nylon and polyester are quite similar in standard and performance. That said, there are gradations in quality – which is why we’d advise picking first-class nylon or polyester shell. There are two ways to check a fabric’s quality standard. First, if a fabric is listed as ‘ripstop’, it means its more tear-resistance and less prone to punctures. Second, check the product’s reviews, because other campers are a great way to check if the tent’s materials are capable of keeping you dry and comfy. If you don’t want to bother checking hundreds of Amazon reviews, use our Best 10-Person Tent Overview, as our experts have already researched for you!
Ease of setup
One of the leading buying factors for campers is often the ease of setup. Whilst some 10-person tents only take minutes to assemble, other styles can quickly set you back an hour (or more). How easy setup will be, depends on the type of frame and construction. For a lightning-fast setup, an instant tent is a way to go. An instant tent comes with part of the frame (or the entire frame) pre-assembled, allowing for nearly instant setup. Whilst standard camping tents come with separate tentpoles, instant tents often feature pre-attached poles. This helps you save time (and frustration) when pitching the tent. You simply need to unfold and/or extend an instant tent’s frame and let the parts slide/click into place.
Though instant tents are great, there’s nothing wrong with standard dome tent and/or cabin tents that do require some type of assembly. Especially not if you plan to camp at the same spot multiple nights in a row, as you’ll only need to set up once. That said, it is indeed something to consider, as we know a hassle-free and quick setup is something many campers look for when buying a new tent…
Recap
