The Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge 12 Person is a large freestanding cabin-type tall 2-room family camping tent, ventilated, and with many large windows.
Key features & benefits
- Cabin type tent.
- Very tall.
- 2 Rooms.
- Great windows.
- Ventilated.
- E-cable port.
What this is about
Actually there is a lot to say about the name. This is because Coleman has several series of tents with the word Skylodge in the name. So you can see the following:
- They have the tents under the name Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge Instant 8-12 Person. They are very similar to the tents presented here in the text that are not instant setup.
- They also have the version with a screen room, see this Coleman Skylodge 12 Person Tent with Screen Room. This series is completely different and it is hard to understand why they use the same word Skylodge.
So it is very easy to get confused with such names. In any case, the Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge 12 Person presented here is just a representative of 3 tents, they also have an 8-person and a 10-person tent in this series. You will find them all at the same place on Amazon.
This is a freestanding cabin style tent with a minimal coverage fly that protects only the ceiling. But the good side of this is that you have unobstructed views through its numerous large windows.
Note that the walls are all in windows, and some are full height from the ground to the roof. All of them have double-layer construction with mesh and inner panels fort privacy and protection.
The feeling in the tent is great also because of its straight and steep walls and its height, you have 7 ft (213 cm) in the center. The tent has a removable divider so it is formally a 2-room structure but with only one large door.
Materials
The poles & stakes: You have a combination of 6 steel legs poles and 3 fiberglass shock-corded poles on the roof. They connect with elbow plastic connectors that you have pre-attached to the tent, one is visible in the picture below. You have color-coding for easy and intuitive setup.
There is also a short brim pole that supports the fly on the front and it creates a dry entry, see its details below.
As mentioned, the tent is freestanding but you have a full set of simple J stakes to secure it properly in the corners and in the middle of its sides.
On the roof you have long sleeves to pass the roof poles, and on the sides the usual clips. Note that at the base they use their Fast Feet connection system instead of the usual pin and ring system.
The fabric: They do not provide much information. There is a statement that the fabric is nylon, but no indication about its waterproof rating. This is really disappointing with Coleman-US. Their tents built for the EU market always have a clear statement about waterproof rating.
They use their standard WeatherTec system with inverted seams. From what I know this is their patented design introduced long ago. The floor is a polyethylene and it is tub-like so you are safe from the ground water. They apply welding in the corners. This is all their standard design.
Ventilation
The tent has full height windows in the front room, and the other windows are also very large. The ceiling is all mesh so vapor can easily escape. The fly is not deep, and there is also the front brim, so this is where the vapor cam escape so condensation should be minimal.
To improve ventilation in particular when you have to keep the windows closed, they have added a rear floor vent that will help. So there is not much one could object to this design.
Who is it for
Regarding the area, the official capacity is 12 people, and you have 170.5 ft² (15.8 m²) of the fully protected floor space. So the tent is indeed huge, but this gives only 14.2 ft² (1.3 m²) per person. They use the backpacking principle to determine the capacity so as usual it is best to ignore it. I see it as a tent for 6-8 people maximum.
Regarding seasons & climate, this is a tent for summer camping, or maximum for 2 seasons in the warmer part of the year. It is ventilated, and it offers enough protection but I do not think it is for extreme conditions.
As usual, they write about strong frame tested to withstand up to 35 mph winds, but with such a fly I would not use this tent in windy places.
Regarding the weight, the tent is quite heavy with its 42.5 lb (19.3 kg). Its packed size is reasonable, but in any case this is a camping tent for places with a car access.
It is easy to set up and two people can do this in 15-20 minutes. But as mentioned earlier, they have an instant version which is far easier to use.
Note that the carry bag is with a removable strip to expand the bag, so it is a good idea to expand it and it will be far easier to pack the tent inside.
Regarding the price, Coleman’s tents are usually very affordable, but this series is a bit pricy. This may change in time. The mentioned instant series is far more expensive.
Specifications
- Official capacity: 12 people.
- Weight: 42.5 lb (19.3 kg).
- Dimensions: 15.5 x 11 ft (472 x 335 cm).
- Area: 170.5 ft² (15.8 m²).
- Area per person (if used by 12 people: 14.2 ft² (1.3 m²).
- Peak height: 7 ft (213 cm).
- Packed size: around 25 x 13 x 13 in (64 x 33 x 33 cm).
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty.
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
So this Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge 12 Person is a representative of the series of three tents and it is the largest. Just to know if you feel it is too large for you and for the camping places where you plan to use it.
It is well built and it is always good to have such an outstanding outdoor brand behind a product. It is best to ignore the official capacity and focus on its real dimensions.
Please see how I rate this tent against my usual rating criteria:
Coleman Camping Tent Skylodge 12 Person
Pros
- Tall tent.
- Great windows.
- Ventilated.
Cons
- Heavy.
- Small for 12 people.
- A bit steep price.
BEST PLACE TO BUY:
Check in the category Cabin Tents if you want more options of a similar shape. Bookmark this site and visit it occasionally to stay informed. Thank you for reading.
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