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The Coleman Montana 8 Tent Is Not Recommended (Review)

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Brandon

While I’ve had many bad experiences in tents before, I don’t like to see anyone else go through the same experiences as me.

And it’s not a good thing to happen when you have children involved which makes it 10x worse, as your tent suddenly breaks in the middle of the night from a strong gust of wind, or you wake up and your gear is completely soaked!

Avoid this common mistake and choose the correct tent. Read my full Coleman Montana 8 Tent Review, find out if it’s actually worth getting and then decide if you want to spend on your money on it, or if it’s just not worth your time.
coleman 8 person tent

Features

What does this thing do? The Coleman Montana 8 Tent is typically designed to fit 8 people.

It’s also capable of fitting 3 queen size air mattresses, and the reason this tent stands out from the crowd – it actually has a hinged ‘D’ door, good for keeping those pesky mosquitoes out during the day.

What ultimate benefits does this specific product provide? I find that this tent has incredible room space, unlike some 8 person tents that claim to house 8 people yet will only fit 5 comfortably.

This tent can actually fit 8 people in. However as always, it is best to keep 5-7 people for a comfortable sleep.

What are its specifications?

Material: Polyester
Weight: 24.5 pounds
Design: Cabin-styled
Electrical ports: Yes
Door: Hinged
Door awning: Yes
Dimensions: 16 ft. x 7 ft
Center height: 6 ft. 2 inches
Guarantee: Limited 1 year warranty

coleman 8 person 'D' door

Who It’s For

I would say that this tent is a good choice for family campers, friends who want a weekend trip or car campers just in case you need somewhere to sleep if the rain comes in.

It’s not for extended hiking trips due to the weight and size of this thing.

This tent is also capable of holding 3 queen size air mattresses and it’s pretty high in the center (6 ft. 2 inches).

 

Pricing & Purchase Details

This tent is currently available on Amazon.com, while the price range varies between $120 and $140, it also includes free shipping and a 1 year limited warranty.

Coleman will replace any broken parts on the tent in that first 1 year window.

 

Pros

  • A lot of tents have trouble with the zipper due to excessive use, I find that this tent has a Velcro to hold the door in place during the day and zip it up at night, thus making the zipper last longer
  • The ‘D’-shaped hinged door is by far my favorite feature, makes getting in and out a breeze without having to zip and unzip every time someone wants to go inside.
  • This tent is incredibly roomy, which makes a great choice for someone that’s sick of the normal 2-3 person tents
  • It seems to hold up in strong winds pretty good, something that’s hard to find in a tall tent at this price range
  • Even though it’s a huge tent, it can be pitched with 1 person and in about 15 minutes AFTER a bit of practice first
  • I really like how it has windows even with the rain fly on, most tents that have a rain fly will have no windows, stopping ventilation

Cons

  • As with most tents, this is almost impossible to get it back in its carry bag
  • While the hinged door is a nice touch, it doesn’t really align with the Velcro properly
  • I think this tent would be better if it had room dividers
  • Just like most other tents, the floor can rip if not using a tarp before you pitch it
  • It’s not the greatest for keeping the rain out

coleman 8 person tent no fly

Do I Recommend This Tent?

Although there are many people that claim this tent is completely waterproof and able to stay dry even with hours of downpour, there are also a good number of individuals claiming that this tent is not waterproof at all and just a waste of money.

After some thorough research I have come to the conclusion that this tent is actually waterproof, however there’s an ‘off-chance’ you could get a bad tent, one that wasn’t made as good as the rest, thus causing it to be not as waterproof.

If you don’t want to take a huge risk, where you may or may not get a good tent that is going to be waterproof, then I can only recommend the Coleman 6 Person tent.

If you want a spacious and affordable 8 person tent for backyard camping then yes, it is highly recommended.

 

Alternative/Similar Products

Like I said above, the Coleman 6 Person tent might be what you are after, guaranteed to keep you dry all night and still able to stay standing during strong winds, and it’s roughly the same price too.

Or if you want something a little stronger and also guaranteed to keep you safe from the elements, and a perfect choice for summer months due to the full mesh roof, then the Slumberjack 4 Person tent is something to look at.

 

My Final Opinion

I really like how this tent is spacious enough for 6-8 people, yet I can’t guarantee that it’s going to keep you dry in heavy downpours due to many mixed feedback regarding its waterproof capabilities, and for that reason this tent is not recommended.

However that’s not to say that it isn’t good for backyard camping, because I think it would work perfectly for a night out with the kids, considering you know the upcoming weather forecast, if that is what you are wanting it for then this tent is highly recommended < Backyard camping only.

If you want something that’s going to keep you dry while you are out in the wilderness or in a public campsite then I would rather go with the Coleman 6 person tent < Better choice for wilderness and public camping – which will actually keep you dry during downpours.

12 thoughts on “The Coleman Montana 8 Tent Is Not Recommended (Review)”

  1. Mohammad Makki says:
    September 23, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Excellent review Brandon. I absolutely hate being under prepared for camping, especially when it rains, and if this tent is unreliably waterproof, then I can see using it becoming a disaster. It seems that the smaller tent is a better choice. Looks like making the tent fit 8 people had some drawbacks. I know you suggested the 6 person tent, but are there any 8 person alternatives? Or are 8 persona tents inherently unreliable?

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 25, 2016 at 9:56 am

      I do too, hence why I’m always thinking ahead of time and preparing for everything that comes my way. There are some big tents that are actually pretty good, BUT you will have to do your research first to find out if it’s worth buying, I’m here to help you along the way 🙂

      Actually there is a great alternative, so you’re in luck my friend. The Red Canyon (8 person) is perfect for a big family or group of friends.

      Thanks for stopping by buddy!

      -Brandon

      Reply
  2. Scott says:
    September 23, 2016 at 10:51 am

    I can remember camping out when I was a bit younger and something that always stays in my mind and I always bring up is waking up cramped in the corner, getting a face full of a wet tent. Wetness as soon as I wake up isn’t something that goes well with me. I’ve never been one to cramp too many in a tent. I’d probably use this tent for about 4 which would give you your own space and get you a good nights sleep. Great post Brandon. I’ll check in again if you just send me some more of your posts. Cheers

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 25, 2016 at 10:18 am

      That wetness is from condensation build up, you’re either purchasing tents that are lacking ventilation OR you’re covering up all the vented spots, hence why condensation is building up and making the walls of your tent wet.

      This is not the best tent and not really recommended, well I personally wouldn’t use it myself. But I will definitely keep in touch with you and let you know of any new tents that I recommend. Thanks for the comment buddy.

      -Brandon

      Reply
  3. Ben says:
    September 23, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I like that this takes care of the mosquitoes during the day and night. Since people have blood that is liked by mosquitoes more, and I am one of them. Without a proper screen, I can get ten to twenty bites a night, unless I smother myself with DEET. Even then, I get bitten on my lips, where i don’t put DEET.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 25, 2016 at 10:14 am

      I hate mosquitoes too, so it is only necessary to have a tent that will keep the bugs out, ESPECIALLY if you get bitten that much. There’s a bug-repellent hack in this article that I like to use when I’m camping.

      Best wishes,
      Brandon

      Reply
  4. Hari says:
    September 23, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    You are really doing a very good job Brandon, by helping people with camping because I really know what a pain it is when it does not go according to the expectations. What could be worse than coming back drenched and terribly ill.

    Coleman Montana 8 seems to be a great one for family camping as it is very spacious but of what use if it cannot protect you during heavy rains, so thank you for letting me know about that buddy 🙂

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 25, 2016 at 10:02 am

      Hi Hari, thanks for the comment, much appreciated. I enjoy helping people and providing honest opinions for tents, so if I helped you then that makes me very happy, friend.

      I would only recommend this tent for backyard camping and that’s probably it (lol), just in case it rains and the tent starts leaking then you can sleep inside, otherwise if you’re out in the wild, you’ll be stuck there cold and wet, an alternative is a must-have.

      Thanks for the comment,
      Brandon

      Reply
  5. Filichia says:
    October 4, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Brandon, this is a great site, very informative and the perfect topic for me. I am also a great lover of camping, although in the beginning of our camping trips it was just the two of us but it was great, we then started taking the whole family and they all came to love it. Now we are in need of a decent tent, thank you for being honest about this one. I now know which one to stay away from 🙂

    Your site teaches new campers a lot about camping and teaches old campers new tricks,
    great work.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      October 20, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Filichia. It isn’t the best tent, so I would rather you choose the Red Canyon Tent, which is also an 8 person tent but so much better quality and will easily keep the rain out better than the Coleman Montana 8 Tent.

      Happy to help you.

      Kind regards,
      Brandon

      Reply
  6. Robert J. hamilton says:
    September 15, 2018 at 5:38 am

    It seems that the smaller tent is a better choice. Looks like making the tent fit 8 people had some drawbacks. I know you suggested the 6 person tent, but are there any 8 person alternatives? Or are 8 persona tents inherently unreliable?

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 15, 2018 at 1:40 pm

      You are correct Robert, the Coleman Montana 8 has so much negative feedback with the weatherproofing there was no way I could recommend it.

      And there definitely are some great 8-person tent alternatives.

      The next runner up is the Coleman Elite Montana 8 Tent. It’s the “elite” version of the Coleman Montana but much more higher quality with more features than the normal version.

      Hope this helps 🙂

      Reply

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