The Core 10 Person Lighted Instant Pyramid Tent 16′ x 9′ is easy to use, quite large and pleasant with its numerous windows, tall central area, and integrated ambient light.
Key features & benefits
- Cabin type tent.
- Semi-instant setup.
- Integrated light.
- One door.
- Many windows (5 + 1).
- Cable port.
- Door mat.
- Fair price.
What this is about
The tent with the name in the title is what you have on the site of the brand, but on Amazon it is under the name CORE 10 Person Instant Cabin Tent with LED Lights.
So the tent is cabin type, with a quite unique design unlike any of the tents from this brand. It is a part of their new series that includes also a smaller 6-person version.
It is tall in the central area where you have 80 inches (203 cm) peak height, so for most users this is a stand up height. But on the sides, as you see from the pictures, the tent is quite low.
Its most important features are pointed out in the picture below, and I describe them all farther in the text.
The tent is large but you have only one door, perhaps not optimal in view of its size but I do not think this is a big deal. This is compensated with five separate windows, plus the window on the door itself. All of them are double-layer, with fixed mesh and zippered panels.
You have only one room, quite surprising for its size, so if you need some privacy better check some of their other tents. Below you have the view in the central area which is the tallest and most pleasant area in the tent.
The word Pyramid in the name refers to its central roof shape which you can partly see in the picture above and in other pictures here.
Semi-instant setup
They describe it as an instant tent, but strictly speaking this is not so. Only the main part of the frame is pre-attached to the tent. This includes four telescopic leg poles that connect to the same number of telescopic roof poles.
These telescopic roof poles are something totally unique, I do not remember any tent on the market with such a detail. You have red buttons on each of the poles, so press and extend each of them separately. In this way you raise the main part of the tent from the ground, as in the pictures below.
But there are four corner poles that must be added manually and then the tent must be staked to be functional. This makes it different from the usual instant tents that are freestanding, this is not so here. A few steps in the setup are shown in the pictures:
After that you put the fly on, so there is some work to do to have this tent ready. For two people this is still very easy for such a big tent. The picture below shows the remaining setup steps.
You can see all the setup details in the manual they provide.
Lighted tent
This tent comes with a built-in LED lighting. You have a wall switch with controls for the ceiling light with high, low, and night modes, as well as the integrated string lights with high, low, and twinkle modes.
All these details are shown in the pictures below, and I have all good reasons to include this tent in my list of best lighted tents.
Here are a few more details regarding the light:
Materials
Because of the partly pre-attached frame, the tent has no many parts, you can see some of them in the picture. They include tent with pre-attached poles, rainfly with attached guylines, corner tent poles, door mat, tent stakes, battery compartment, and a carry bag.
The poles: The frame is made of steel and there are quite a few poles here so this is reflected in the weight.
The fabric: The walls and the fly are made of a 68D polyester, so I would describe it as moderately durable for a camping tent. The floor is a polyethylene.
They use what they call the H20 Block Technology that combines water-repellent fabrics with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams to resist rain.
The waterproof rating is 1200 mm, this may look modest but you do not need more, and this is a reliable brand so you can count on the given rating.
Other details
- There are a few wall pockets to keep small items off the floor.
- There is a cable port.
- You also have a door mat included.
Ventilation
They write “Large panoramic windows and a removable rainfly provide adjustable ventilation to keep the tent cool on warm summer nights”.
I would say that this may not be enough. When it rains you have to keep all the windows closed, and in such intervals you would want to have floor and roof vents, both are missing here.
But it is not completely bad, the ceiling is all mesh and from the pictures you realize that this goes very low on the two sides, so you will have air getting in from the sides under the fly.
Who is it for
Regarding the area, the tent is officially for 10 people by following “industry standards” as they write. This means you can place 10 sleeping pads on the floor.
They admit this makes no much sense and advise to downgrade the number of users to maximum 5 or so.
Regarding seasons & climate, the tent is most suitable for warm weather summer camping, and this in a mild climate without winds and too strong rains. It is boxy and totally non-aerodynamic so avoid windy places.
Regarding the weight, this is moderate for its overall size, you will see below how I rate it.
The packed size is expected for this type, all instant tents with telescopic poles tend to be long when packed and this is what you have here.
Regarding the price, I would say it is a bit steep, but you have a reliable brand behind this tent. Please check the link below for updates.
Specifications
- Weight: 32 lb (14.5 kg).
- Official capacity: 10 people.
- Dimensions: 16 x 9 ft (488 x 274 cm).
- Inner area: 144 ft² (13.4 m²).
- Inner area per person: 14.4 ft² (1.34 m²).
- Peak height: 80 in (203 cm).
- Packed size: 43 x 11 x 11 in (109 x 28 x 28 cm).
- Warranty: 1-year limited.
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In summary, the Core 10 Person Lighted Instant Pyramid Tent 16′ x 9′ is a solid choice for summer camping if you want space and convenience. It is tall in the center at 80 inches, has plenty of windows for light and views, and the integrated LED lights with string modes are a nice touch for nighttime.
The semi-instant setup with pre-attached telescopic poles makes it manageable for two people to pitch, despite its size, and the price is fair for what you get.
You can fit 5 people comfortably, ignore the official 10-person rating, which is just industry nonsense.
It is not freestanding, so you have to stake it out, and the boxy shape isn’t great for windy spots. At 32 pounds, it’s not light, and the packed size is bulky due to the telescopic poles. If you are camping in mild, warm weather with a small group, this tent works well.
Below you can see how this tent stands against my standard rating criteria that I apply consistently to all of them here in the site so that you can easily compare:
Core 10 Person Lighted Instant Pyramid Tent 16x9
Pros
- Tall and pleasant.
- Great windows
- Integrated light.
Cons
- Bulky.
- No vents.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY:
For more tents of this shape please check in the category Cabin Tents.
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