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Is the Coleman Evanston Better than the Steel Creek?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Brandon

I’m here to discover whether the Coleman Evanston is truly better than the Coleman Steel Creek, or vice versa.

So if you’re wondering which one IS the best out of the two, keep reading because that’s what I will be finding out in this article.

What Is The Coleman Evanston Screened Tent?


Coleman Evanston Screened Tent With Rain Fly

Product Name: Coleman Evanston Screened Tent
Color: Green
Occupancy: 6 and 8-Person options
Setup Time: 15 minutes
Weight: 26.3 pounds
Center Height: 6 feet
Floor Size: 15 x 12 feet
Packed Dimensions: 9.75 x 11 x 27.75 inches

Description

This tent contains a screened porch and 4 large windows that provide great ventilation.

The Coleman Evanston is designed for simple setup and easy carrying, while the WeatherTec system keeps floors welded and the seams inverted so no rain makes its way inside the tent.

The Insta-Clip poles makes this tent capable of standing in strong winds as well.

Sadly, there isn’t much information around the internet that shows everything this tent offers, but at least I managed to dig SOME things up.

Pros

  • Holds 2 queen-sized air mattresses
  • Stays standing in strong winds
  • Can be pitched in 15 minutes
  • Contains a screened porch with its own flooring
  • Ventilates well due to the 4 large windows

Cons

  • Your stargazing opportunities are very limited
  • The long guylines create a tripping hazard
  • Rain can get inside the screened porch

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What Is The Coleman Steel Creek 6 Person Tent?


Coleman Steel Creek 6 Tent - Front

Product Name: Coleman Steel Creek 6 Person Tent
Color: Grey/Green/White
Occupancy: 6-Person
Setup Time: 7 minutes
Weight: 19.01 pounds
Center Height: 5.8 feet
Floor Size: 10 x 9 feet w/ 10 x 5 feet screened room
Packed Dimensions: 26 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches

Description

Much like the Coleman Evanston, the Coleman Steel Creek 6 Person Tent contains the screened-off porch area, however, this one only has one size rating instead of two (6-person only).

In saying that, you can use the extra spacing (porch) as a room, so somebody can sleep inside it when you know there will be no rain in the night.

This specific tent can be pitched in 50% less time than comparable Coleman tents due to the special feature it provides.

It also contains the WeatherTec system, which is GUARANTEED to keep the rain out, as claimed by the manufacturers.

The frame is designed to withstand winds of up to 35+ MPH.

This tent has reflective guylines so you eliminate the tripping hazard while having enough space to hold two queen-sized air mattresses as well.

Pros

  • Reflective guylines so you don’t trip up at night
  • Contains a screened porch
  • Can be pitched in 7 minutes!
  • Fits 2 queen-sized air mattresses
  • Very weather-resistant

Cons

  • Your stargazing views are limited
  • Rain can get into the screened porch
  • It’s a struggle to get back into the carry bag

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What Tent Do I Recommend


To be totally honest with you, I’m a huge fan of the Coleman Steel Creek 6 Person Tent for the simple fact that it can be pitched in 50% less time than the Coleman Evanston, has reflective guylines, and withstands the elements incredibly well.

However, the Coleman Evanston Screened Tent isn’t far behind!

Both of these tents are similar but still unique in their own way.

After reviewing both of these tents thoroughly, I have come to the conclusion that the Coleman Steel Creek can be pitched faster, it is lighter, and JUST as weather-resistant as the Evanston.

The Coleman Evanston is heavier, takes longer to pitch and has dangerous guylines that you simply can not see at nighttime.

The choice is completely yours, but I can happily recommend the Coleman Steel Creek to you since it contains features that are much better than the Evanston.

Good luck!

PS: Still stuck on what tent to choose? I can help you make the right decision! Talk to me in the comments below 🙂

 

-Brandon

Camping Mastery

8 thoughts on “Is the Coleman Evanston Better than the Steel Creek?”

  1. Vijay says:
    July 11, 2018 at 9:23 am

    Does Steel Creek have complete open back side like Evanston? We like screen porch tent but had to return Evanston as in California it gets really cold at night and Evanston does offer a way to zip up the huge open back window.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      July 12, 2018 at 8:08 pm

      Hello Vijay. I Believe the Coleman Steel Creek does have an exposed back with mesh and there is definitely a way to zip it up. If you’re worried about getting cold, your problem lies in your sleeping bag, NOT your tent.

      A tent keeps you safe from rain and wind, not the cold unless you go for a 4-season tent, which is only good for snow camping and that’s it. More on 4-season tents here.

      Hope this clears things up for you 🙂

      Reply
  2. Renee says:
    July 29, 2018 at 12:55 am

    I am replacing my old tent and feel like after your review I will go with the Steel Creek. Any hints for additional rain protection? I have read that both porches get wet! I will be in Florida late Sept and Early Oct! It’s Orlando it will rain. Also what is your fav footprint? Any suggestion are so very welcome

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      July 29, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Hello Renee. I’ve yet to find a rain fly that covers the porch, so your best bet would be to cover it with a tarp. Pitch it between 2 trees and tie the tarp to the trees.

      The Steel Creek does not have a footprint so you’ll need something else. A tarp will work fine, which is also nice to use in the porch area since there is no floor cover. Hope this helps 😀

      Reply
  3. Chris Kavanaugh says:
    August 27, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    Hello:

    I guess I’m unclear on how these screened porches are different, if at all?

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 27, 2018 at 9:46 pm

      Here are the differences between these 2 tents, as I’ve already stated in the article:

      The Coleman Steel Creek is lighter, has reflective guy lines and can be pitched faster.

      The Coleman Evanston is heavier, takes longer to pitch and does NOT have illuminate guy lines.

      Therefore, my favorite is the Coleman Steel Creek. Does this answer your question Chris?

      Reply
  4. Lynn Dalton says:
    October 15, 2018 at 4:59 am

    So I am looking to get another tent. We have the Evanston 8 person for festival camping. Have used it for 3 years so far and love it. We want to do 2 weeks of beach camping. Gonna take 2 weeks to go to 3-4 different NC ocean side beaches and camp. I am most worried about the wind potential. Am looking at 4-6 person tents, ease of putting up, trustworthy with rain storms, star gazing potential. Don’t want to spend a ton but do want something I can trust so willing to spend money in order to get that. I have about 8 picked out from your reviews but it is getting a tad confusing as to which to use. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      October 27, 2018 at 10:17 pm

      Hey Lynn, sorry for the late reply I’ve been away from my computer for some time!

      The first tent that comes to mind is the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent. It does a marvelous job in the rain, has splendid stargazing abilities and it’s super simple to setup thanks to the “instant” feature.

      Let me know if you still need help 🙂

      Reply

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