Despite how hard you try to forecast before going camping, you can always encounter bad weather. Sudden changes can happen anytime, so you need the best gear to protect your family and yourself.
That’s why today, we will show you how to choose the best family tents for bad weather.
Here are the best family tents for bad weather (Apr 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Coleman Sundome Tent
- Best For A Big Family: CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent - 14' x 9'
- Best For Strong Wind: Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room
- Best For Heavy Rain: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
- Best For Thunderstorm: Browning Camping Big Horn Tent
- Best For Dust Storm: KODIAK CANVAS Family-Tents Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent
| 6 Best Family Tents For Bad Weather | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Coleman Sundome Tent | |
Best For A Big Family | CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent - 14' x 9' | |
Best For Strong Wind | Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room | |
Best For Heavy Rain | ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent | |
Best For Thunderstorm | Browning Camping Big Horn Tent | |
Best For Dust Storm | KODIAK CANVAS Family-Tents Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent | |
Best Overall: Coleman Sundome Tent
- Durable - weatherproof 75D polyester taffeta flysheet, inverted seams, & welded corners
- Offer strength and stability - fiberglass poles
- Good windproof and weatherproof properties - a steel frame with a wind-tested rating of 35+ MPH & fully adjustable and reflective guy ropes
- Allow for electrical power connection to the inside of your tent - an e-port
- Wish the tarp pole end caps were better
Start off with our most favorite pick for families to stay dry and warm against bad weather when being outdoors.
It features a weatherproof 75D polyester taffeta flysheet with inverted seams and welded corners combined with a steel frame with a wind-tested rating of 35+ MPH. The durable fiberglass poles ensure an optimum balance of strength and stability with a low weight.
It also has fully adjustable and reflective guy ropes to ensure it will stand strong in windy conditions.
Combined generously proportioned sleeping area with a peaked porch and generous head height, it provides comfortable accommodation for a small or big family on a campsite. The large mesh window with an adjustable cover on the back provides excellent airflow through the tent and also gives a view of your surroundings.
As a big plus, it has an e-port for electrical power connections to the inside of your tent.
| Coleman Sundome Tent Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 6.38 Pounds |
Material | Polyester taffeta 75 denier flysheet |
Tent Area | 7 x 5 ft. With 4 ft. Center height |
Capacity | 2 to 6 people |
Highlight Features | Weatherproof 75D polyester taffeta flysheet, inverted seams, & welded corners |
The Coleman Sundome Tent will absolutely make the most of it whenever your family has got a chance to get outdoors. Yes, it’s the best overall option in our review list.
Best For A Big Family: CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent - 14' x 9'
- Easy and quick to set up – an instant 60-second setup process
- Offer spacious internal area with extra privacy – enough for two queen-sized air beds & provide a room divider
- Convenient – wall storage pockets, an e-port, and a large t-door
- Great waterproof properties – CORE H20 Block technology
- The tent stakes feel weak
- Putting on the rainfly is a bit struggling
- Not cold-resistant
Most tents designed for a big family usually have a complicated structure, resulting in a time-taking installation process.
If you aim to find something that is less complicated and more comfortable, try this.
It can be easily set up by one person in just 60 seconds and features enough spacious internal area to fit two queen-size inflatable beds. It has multiple wall storage pockets everywhere, a room divider for extra privacy, and an electrical cord access port.
The biggest bonus is its reinvented seams. While normal seams let rain in, this new design is well-sealed for virtual waterproof capabilities, which is called CORE H20 Block technology.
Besides, a large t-door allows for easy access equivalent to such a huge number of people.
| CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent - 14' x 9' Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 30.5 lbs. |
Material | Durable 68D Polyester (600mm hydrostatic rating) |
Tent Area | 14' x 9' |
Capacity | 9 people |
Highlight Features | An instant 60-second setup process |
If you want to have the best big-family tent for bad weather, the CORE 9 Person is a dream come true.
Best For Strong Wind: Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room
- Spacious room for 6 people – fit two queen-sized air beds at times
- Provide extra space for bug-free meals or entertaining - Separate floorless screen room
- 100% waterproof - Coleman’s WeatherTec system, welded floor sheet, and upturned seams
- The painting on tent poles are easily chipped off
- Cumbersome and hefty
The next option on this list is awesome for a small family who loves camping.
It accommodates 6 people and is able to fit two queen-sized air beds plus there is an additional screened-in porch for bug-free meals or kids to plays with their toys.
Choosing this, you virtually don’t have to worry about rain or fierce gusts thanks to its 100% waterproof design. The tent highlights Coleman’s WeatherTec system, a nicely welded floor sheet, and upturned seams that can stop water from sipping inside.
| Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 32 pounds |
Material | 19-millimeter steel 1,000-denier polyethylene 68-denier polyester mesh 75-denier polyester taffeta fly |
Tent Area | 11 x 9 feet with a 6-foot 8-inch center height |
Capacity | 6-person |
Highlight Features | Fit two queen-sized air beds at times |
Camping with confidence and comfort regardless of strong wind or fierce gusts in the Coleman WeatherMaster.
Best For Heavy Rain: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent
- Able to resist heavy rains - UV-resistant polyester fly, double-sided zippers, factory-sealed seams, and 2000mm coated waterproof poly taffeta floor
- Offer good storage space without taking much area - two vestibules & mesh storage pocket and gear loft
- The rain fly can get a little debris-covered
This three-season rated tent from ALPS is perfect for a 4-member family or three with gears.
It has UV-resistant 75D 185T polyester fly, double-sided zippers, factory-sealed seams, and 2000mm coated 75D 185T poly taffeta floor with waterproof properties. Quite typical of a bad-weather-resistant family tent that can protect against tough conditions like heavy rain.
What truly draws our attention to it in the first place is the two vestibules for storage space-wise.
Besides, it has a mesh storage pocket and gear loft for your essentials.
| ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 8 lbs. 10 oz. |
Material | Polyester |
Tent Area | 7'6 x 8'6, Center Height: 52" |
Capacity | 4-Person |
Highlight Features | UV-resistant polyester fly, double-sided zippers, factory-sealed seams, and 2000mm coated waterproof poly taffeta floor |
The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4-Person Tent is our top pick for heavy rain conditions.
Best For Thunderstorm: Browning Camping Big Horn Tent
- Able to handle thunderstorm and heavy rains - waterproof 2000mm coated 150D polyester oxford floor, steel uprights, and ultra-durable fiberglass poles
- Provide more privacy – a two-room wall divider
- Feel comfortable and roomy - straight sidewalls & extra-tall center
- Quick setup - a unique hub design
- Very little built-in storage space
- Tent stakes are bent easily
If you only care about the durability and rain protection that you’ll have from a tent, this fits the bill.
By featuring steel uprights and ultra-durable fiberglass poles in addition to completely waterproof 2000mm coated 150D polyester oxford floor, it holds up thunderstorms beautifully. Some customers even said that it kept them dry even when it rained over 1”.
This family tent has enough room for five people at times but what we like the most about it is the two-room wall divider, perfect if parents want to have private space from their kids.
Besides, the straight sidewalls combined with extra-tall center make the tent interior feel roomier and comfier.
| Browning Camping Big Horn Tent Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 34 lbs. 11 oz. |
Material | Polyester, steel, & fiberglass |
Tent Area | 150 ft² |
Capacity | 5 people |
Highlight Features | Waterproof 2000mm coated 150D polyester oxford floor, steel uprights, and ultra-durable fiberglass poles |
Wherever you make camp, even in thunderstorms, you can depend on the Browning Camping Big Horn Tent to stand up to the elements.
Best For Dust Storm: KODIAK CANVAS Family-Tents Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent
- Good dust-proof for the price - 100% cotton duck canvas with Hydra-Shield technology application
- Durable - #10 YKK zippers
- Good ventilation - 2 special vents
- Heavy
Better than any other type of family tent, this KODIAK is dust-proof once being sealed down completely.
If you leave its vents open for circulation, it might let some dust in but for the price, such performance is incredible.
For Burning Man, this option is one of the worthiest investing.
If you’re wondering about its materials, this tent is made of breathable, watertight, and durable cotton duck canvas with Hydra-Shield technology. It also uses #10 YKK zippers which stands out for quality and smooth operation.
| KODIAK CANVAS Family-Tents Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 57.8 pounds |
Material | 100% cotton duck canvas |
Tent Area | 9x8 ft |
Capacity | 8 people |
Highlight Features | Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas with Hydra-Shield technology application |
Designed with top-notch dust-storm protection, KODIAK CANVAS Family-Tents become one of our most favorite picks for those families who are serious about the outdoors.
How To Choose The Best Family Tent For Bad Weather?
Poles
To get the best tent for your family to use in the bad weather, you need to pay attention to the number of poles and their material.
First of all, pick a family tent with more poles, and secondly, pick a sturdy, durable material.
Tent poles are usually made of aluminum or fiberglass. Aluminum is stronger, quite lightweight, resilient, and withstand stress better.
Meanwhile, fiberglass is cheaper, rust-resistant, and doesn’t corrode easily.
Size & Shape
Even when a tent is advertised as made for families, you still need to pay attention to its size. The best tent is the one that provides enough space for everyone but not so large that makes them cold at night.
Ideally, 60 or 70 square feet is enough for a family of 4, and 80 to 100 square feet is enough for a family of 6. Also, make sure there is extra room for your personal items.
When it comes to the shape, you will have to choose between cabin and dome style.
Dome
It’s shaped like a dome. It provides lots of space and the dome allows the wind to pass. Besides, the steep roof allows water and sleet to flow downwards easily. Therefore, it’s a better choice to use in bad weather, suitable for couples.
Cabin
The cabin features vertical walls, looking like a cabin.
This type provides a lot of space, especially the headroom. It lets the air freely flow inside but it’s likely damaged by storms and strong winds due to being shaped like a box. Its flat roof collects water and snow, making it easy to collapse in bad weather.
Therefore, it’s good for family camping, but only in good weather.
Setup Time
No matter if you’re a beginner or a professional camper, it’s always good to be able to set up a tent fast. And a freestanding design is the best choice with pre-attached poles so that you just need to extend them. This design also withstands bad weather better, which is a plus.
Ventilation
The bad weather can cause serious condensation in your tent, which is irritating to every member of your family. Therefore, it’s best to choose a tent with a specialized ventilation system to help it avoid being damp.
For example, you can opt for a tent with windows, which lets the air to flow through to help the tent ventilate better.
Material & Flooring
Like the pole material, the fabric of your family tent must be strong to withstand bad weather.
We recommend that you go with polyester or nylon for the best waterproof ability, but make sure it’s DWR treated. Just polyester or nylon will not ventilate well and doesn’t keep you warm in the cold weather.
You shouldn’t choose canvas or cotton because they are heavy and absorbs water very easily.
Besides the tent material, you should also choose strong flooring to protect your family and your gear from the bad weather.
Most waterproof tents have polyester double-coated floors, but if your tent doesn't, you can buy a footprint or a tarp to enhance durability.
Weight
Though this is not the most important factor to determine a good tent, you should still look for one as lightweight as possible.
A heavy tent makes it harder to move, especially if you go on foot.
Which Brands Make The Best Family Tent For Bad Weather?
Coleman
With the aim of enhancing your outdoor experience, this brand offers a range of family tents created with innovation to protect your loved ones from bad weather.
CORE Equipment
If you are looking for a customer-centered brand, this is the one for you. It makes products in response to customer needs, so it will definitely have strong family tents for bad weather.
ALPS
Founded in 1993, this one has become a leading brand in outdoor gear with a competitive advantage in design. Here, you will find the highest-quality family tent on the market.
Browning
Browning offers you family tents made of the best fabrics, featuring the highest-quality components as well as the best construction techniques.
KODIAK CANVAS
With a decade of experience in the business, the brand makes comfortable, reliable, and sturdy tents that will give you amazing camping trips with your family.
FAQs
How long do family tents last?
With proper care, your tent can last 5 years or more, depending on how often you use it.
What’s the best way to use family tents?
You need to follow the manual and set up your tent properly. However, it’s best to apply a ground cover under your tent, which will help you avoid moisture, wetting your gear, and protect yourself.
How do you keep a tent warm in cold weather?
To keep your tent warm in the cold weather, you can do the following:
Use a portable gas heater
Keep the tent insulated
Place hot water bottles in the sleeping bag
Set up the tent in a good spot, avoid the high ground and open field
Heat some stones and place them in the tent
How cold is too cold to sleep in a tent?
If the night temperature can go down to around 40 degrees F, you shouldn't go camping, it’s too cold.
Can you heat a tent with a candle?
Yes, you can heat the tent using tea light candles, this will also help significantly reduce the humidity.
Conclusion
As of now, we hope that you have figured out what you should look for in the best family tents for bad weather. Remember that the tent will have to withstand terrible conditions, so make sure it’s strong and durable enough.
Bryan Listor
