Family Camping on a Shoestring

Posted By Cathy Genthner Plaisted, Registered Maine Guide

As gas prices continue to fluctuate – more up than down – taking the entire family camping in a motor home or a travel trailer hauled behind your vehicle can make a simple vacation simply too expensive. That is why camping in a tent is such an attractive and affordable option. You can also take tents to places where campers are prohibited.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out Coleman’s Weathermaster 17′ x 9′ three-room tent. Now, don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t have any of the luxuries of a motor home, but I found it plenty roomy inside and the retail cost is just under $200. It also costs less than many upper-scale tents. Coleman says the tent sleeps six to eight people. I believe five people would sleep quite comfortably (with gear) and it was downright luxurious for the three of us when I tested it out.

Aside from the tent’s roominess, was the ease in which I was able to put up the tent, with the help (or hindrance) of my six-year old son Forrest. The first time I put up the tent, which included reading the directions for the first time as well, it took just over an hour. The poles were clearly marked and directions easy to understand. My son enjoyed putting the tent poles together because they were color-coded. Getting the tent fly on was a bit difficult for a short person like me (5’4”), but I figured out a way to drape the fly over the awning that allowed me to ease it over the tent so that it wouldn’t slide off. The next time I put the tent up, it will probably take less than a half an hour, a relatively short time for such a large tent.

Although the tent doesn’t come with a lifetime warrantee, Coleman offers a five-year warrantee, enough time to put it through a few seasons of weather and wear when problems might arise. The Weathermaster tent features Coleman’s WeatherTec(tm) system, which includes many construction features designed to increase the tent’s performance during rain and wind. The tent is sewn to the floor, from the inside (called an inverted seam) to keep the rain out. While I think the inverted seam is a great idea, I would have liked for the floor to come up a few inches above ground level for those nights and days when it rains several inches. This would ensure dryness even on those days when you wake up and your tent is in a puddle. However, during one of the four nights I spent in the tent, we had heavy rains and thunderstorms. Our gear, and I, along with my family remained dry.

For the money, the Weathermaster is a great tent, especially for families who need lots of room and a tent that can withstand the testing of the elements and active kids. It is part of Coleman’s Centennial Product Collection, celebrating 100 years of manufacturing outdoor products.

Tags: Camping, Coleman

Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Filed under Guide Articles.