[2020 Update] Still highly recommended!
Although I originally reviewed this tent a couple of years ago I am happy to report that I stand by the original recommendation. This tent is still a great option for seasonal campers in favorable conditions. All but a few of the reviews posted since the original article have been positive praising such attributes as:
- Easy
- Fast
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable
The handful of critical reviews were due mainly to the tents lack of performance in harsh conditions. This is in line with my original review and would recommend this tent be used seasonally in ideal conditions and cared for to preserve the years of service. As with any purchase it is good to have your expectations set appropriately.
And don’t forget CORE also offers a core 9 person instant cabin tent should you find yourself running out of room.
Happy Camping!
[Original Review]
I absolutely hate getting ripped off. I know exactly how it feels to get a really bad tent after the ratings and feedback have all said nothing but nice things about a product. And that is why I want to stop people from falling into the same trap as I did.
This is my CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent review, and in this article I hope to help you make the right decision to fit your camping needs.
Too many times in this world, thousands of people are getting ripped off by companies claiming that their product is truly THAT good when they don’t even get the basics right.
Is the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent any different, or is it going to be thrown out after the first camping trip and a lot of money wasted? I will be answering these questions and many more in my full review below.
Great Quality For The Price!
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Functionality
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Waterproof
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Strength
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Worth The Price?
Summary:
This tent works exactly as advertised, while it can resist a lot of rain in the process and doesn’t budge in high winds either. And yes, it can literally be pitched in 60 seconds. But what makes this specific tent stand out from its competitors? It has many additional features and free bonuses that other tents don’t offer, not in this price range anyway.
 Pros |
 Cons |
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Specifications
Product name: CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent
Cheapest place to buy: Amazon.com
Color: Green
Size: 6 person
Rating: 3 season
Weight: 22.8 pounds
Center height: 6 ft
Base Size: 11 ft x 9 ft
Tent Area: 99 sq. ft
Packed size: 8.5 x 8.5 x 48 inches
What Is This Tent?
This tent is capable of being set up in 60 seconds due to the ‘instant’ feature that it provides (aka stress-free). Since the poles are pre-attached to the tent, it is as simple as unpacking, unfolding and extending.
When you remove the rain fly you get a full view of the night sky, as the ceiling and windows have been created with mesh material for maximum ventilation and stargazing opportunities.
There are zippered privacy panels for the doors and windows for the individuals who wish to have their own privacy while in a public campsite.
Other items included: gear loft, lantern hook, large wall organizer.
Key Features
- Instant set up – This tent can literally be pitched in 60 seconds due to the poles that have been pre-attached to the tent
- Large Door – There is an extra-large door to make camping life a lot easier
- Water Resistance – The Core, H20 Block Technology has been combined with a strong, water-repellent fabric and active bead technology for extremely fast water run-off. You pair that with a factory sealed fly and floor seams, along with the waterproof door/window seals and you have a highly waterproof tent that has been found by many users to withstand heavy downpours
- Ventilation – This tent also offers an advanced venting system. It draws cold air from the bottom of the tent while the mesh ceiling lets the warmer/hotter air escape, creating a room that will keep you at a comfortable temperature in all 3 seasons (fall, spring and summer)
Bonuses
- Lantern Hook – The lantern hook offers a hands-free location to hang your flashlight or lantern
- Gear Loft – The gear loft is completely free and included in the purchase. This allows you to store your more important items near the roof of the tent, ensuring they will stay safe and secure
- Large Wall Organizer – A large wall organizer is also included and free when you buy the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent. Wall organizers are great for the items that you want to keep close at hand, such as your flashlight, first-aid kit, matches, etc
Is This Tent Unique?
Yes, it does have some unique features that a lot of other tents don’t have. One feature I typically enjoy is the adjustable air intake that’s designed to draw cold air from the ground, while the mesh ceiling allows hot air to escape.
Never do you see a tent, at this price range, that gives you an advanced venting system. This is also what makes it perfect for those hot and muggy summer camping trips where the heat can become unbearable while you are inside it.
Who Should Buy This Tent?
If you’re looking for an AFFORDABLE and high quality tent to use during the summer time, one that’s going to keep you cool without making you feel like you’re in a sauna during the hot days, THIS is that tent.
It would make a great choice for family campers who want a tent that’s high quality and NOT going to brake on them within the first few trips.
I don’t see why this won’t work for a group of friends who just want to go on a bush excursion either.
Bottom Line
You will need a car if you wish to take this tent for camping, as there’s no way someone could carry it for backpacking even if the weight has been split between a couple of people.
Where Can I Buy?
The CORE 6 Person Instant Tent can be purchased from Amazon.com for under $200. It comes with free shipping, a 1 year return warranty and a 30 day return policy.
The manufacturers will repair any broken pieces on the tent as long as you send it back.
Otherwise you can get a full refund if you decide you don’t want the tent anymore.
See What The Current Price Is On Amazon
Alternative/Similar Tents
If you want a tent that is much cheaper and still going to keep the rain out, while it will stay standing in high winds too (however, it is NOT an ‘instant’ tent and will require a bit more time to set up), then I recommend the Red Canyon to you – only if you are looking for a cheaper option though.
If you want a tent that doesn’t have a problem with the zippers getting stuck and is also much cheaper, it just doesn’t contain the ‘instant’ feature either, then you might want to see my review of the Coleman Evanston Screened Tent.
Do I Recommend This Tent?
If you are looking for a tent that can be pitched extremely fast while requiring only one person to set it up, it has no problems with keeping the rain out either (and if you don’t expect it to last for many years unless you’re a seasonal camper), then this tent is highly recommended for you.
A tent is designed to keep you safe from the elements, and the CORE 6 does a great job at it. I have to give this tent a thumbs up, especially because of the large amount of features that it provides.
Yes, the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent is highly recommended!
My Final Opinion
If you are looking for the absolute best tent, then it isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for one that is simple to set up and affordable while it keeps you bone dry in a rainstorm, then it is definitely for you.
I literally couldn’t find anything bad about this tent, apart from minor problems like the zipper getting caught on the fabric. Apart from that, this tent works wonders and I’m surprised that a tent at this price works as good as it does.
And for those reasons I have mentioned above, and for the simple fact that the positive feedback completely outweigh the negative, this tent is highly recommended!
Click Here To See It On Amazon While It’s Still Cheap
If you found my CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent review helpful, I’d love to hear what you have to say. Leave a comment below 😀
Great Quality For The Price!
-
Functionality
-
Waterproof
-
Strength
-
Worth The Price?
Summary:
This tent works exactly as advertised, while it can resist a lot of rain in the process and doesn’t budge in high winds either. And yes, it can literally be pitched in 60 seconds. But what makes this specific tent stand out from its competitors? It has many additional features and free bonuses that other tents don’t offer, not in this price range anyway.
Very informative! I really like that you do a pros and cons list to make sure that people know the bad as well as the good. It makes it very easy to figure out if this is the right tent for what you need. As someone who enjoys camping, I really appreciate what you’re doing here by featuring multiple options for tents depending on what each individual is looking for. After reading this, I now know that this tent would be a worthwhile investment for my family, and should I decide to buy one, I will definitely come to your site to do so.
Hello Jessica.
I’m glad you found that bit useful! I truly want to make sure people find the right tent to fit them properly, which is why I provide as much information as possible. That makes me happy that someone appreciates what I’m doing.
Thanks for the feedback on my site, much appreciated.
Take care,
Brandon
Hi we are looking for a tent for my two boys and an adult Cub Scout outings…. he just started so we would want it to work easily and quickly fit 6 years total….. would this be a good fit or should we look at the dome version for 6 person by CORE?
Hello Maureen,
Both of these tents work great, but you’ll be very lucky to get 6 years total out of them unless you’re the occasional camper and not an avid camper.
The major differences between these 2 tents is that the dome version isn’t an “instant set-up”, while it’s much cheaper and lighter as well, so the instant CORE 6 is better for family/easy camping and the dome version is a better choice for what you’re looking for.
This tent sounds amazing! I actually just went camping a few weekends ago and we could have used this tent – it was pretty humid and that ventilation system on this tent would have come in handy. Also, I love the automatic set up as the poles are already threaded through – it took us at least 10-15 minutes to get our tent fully set up and there were quite a few pieces that had to be put together. Thank you for the review!!
Hello Audrey, that’s because it IS, and works as designed. Damn, that doesn’t sound too good. Well I’m happy that you opened your eyes to the world of tents, because without a decent tent your camping trip will be a harsh one.
Thanks for the comment, it is much appreciated!
-Brandon
Hi Brandon, I love the review and articulate it very well, I love how you describe this because I have a tent similar to this one but not as good, the only difference is the adjustable air intake (which is very unusual and never seen this before) and mine is a 4 man tent which is smaller in comparison. To be honest I purchased mine around the same price but not as good as this one.
Thanks Brandon for highlighting this 🙂
Hello Michael, glad you found this post helpful. Well if you ever need a tent in the future, my reviews are from me, who actually review the tent properly without taking any shortcuts or telling lies about the product.
Take care,
Brandon
Hey Brandon,
Very interesting post…I think this tent is a good deal – it is not that expensive and it can accommodate up to 6 persons which is impressive. You won me over when you mentioned it has the instant feature. Sometimes it is really hard to set them up so this is definitely a plus point for me.
Hi Tasleem, thanks for the kind words, much appreciated. The instant feature is also something I found to be a winner too 🙂
Happy to help you, friend.
-Brandon
Hey Brandon, thanks for your thorough review. As it turns out, I had already purchased this tent from Amazon before I found your review. However, all of the advantages that you had mentioned about it, turned out out to be the same reasons for my personal decision to buy this tent.
It’s early February (here in Missouri), so I haven’t had the chance to try this tent out, yet, but when I do, I’ll be glad to share my appraisal with you, if you’d like. As I said before, I appreciated your review and I’m planning to continue to peruse your web site and check out some more of your reviews.
Thanks, again, for your efforts….
That’s great to hear, John. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂 I’ll be happy to hear what you have to say about this tent after you have used it in the field.
Kind regards,
Brandon
Hi Brandon.
I think the Core 6 sounds like a winner.
The price is right but you do say it won’t last forever.
How many seasons do you think I’d get out of it if I look after it?
Thanks for the review.
Chadd.
Thanks for the comment, Chadd.
That’s because the CORE 6 IS a winner. If you’re a seasonal camper, it will definitely last a long time, possibly years and years.
However, if you camp throughout the year and you simply don’t care about looking after it (never wash it, don’t clear the ground first, etc), then it’s likely only going to last a about 2 seasons.
And that’s why it’s really important to look after your tents, so you CAN have them for many years to come.
What a good question.
Kind regards,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
This is a really good review! When I was in the army, we had all kinds of tents. Of course, when we do personal camping, we want something different, durable, looking nice instead of army-like (just like CORE 6 is). And reliable.
I especially like the video. When I first saw the photo of the tent, I could not get a clear idea of the size of the tent. From the video, I get a very good idea. Plus I can see all the good points you mentioned.
I will be bookmarking your website, and will explore it. Thanks for sharing this.
Timotheus
Thanks for the kind words. That’s great that you enjoyed my review and I’m super glad you got a good idea of the size of the tent. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions if you have any 🙂
Hi there, this definitely looks like a great tent, we are 4 in the family and this tent looks perfect of us where we can comfortably fit it!
The price is right and looks high quality, thanks for your review it really helps, well written and informative.
Since your blog is about camping, do you have any tips to share with us on how to make the camping adventure better?
Something like heads up, things to bring and stuff.
Thank you!
Anis
Yes, Anis. It can house 6 people, but 4 will definitely be able to fit inside it comfortably if that’s what you wish to use it for.
Yes, of course, you should check this out.
Hope this helps,
Brandon
Hey Brandon,
Great review of this tent – I had no idea all the features a tent could include! This is certainly very interesting. I go camping a few times a year and I think this tent would be a great addition to my gear – I’m looking for a new one anyway – great timing!
Hello Helder,
Thanks for the comment. And yes, tents have changed so much over the past 20 years. Manufacturers are coming out with new features to benefit people that use them, especially because of the modern technology in this day and age.
That’s great that you might consider this tent in the future! Just remember that it IS really heavy, so you’ll definitely need a car.
Happy to help 😀
-Brandon
Good stuff, Brandon!
I used to camp once a year when I went to Reading Festival, England, but I have to admit that this tent would not be ideal for festivals. However, if I was to plan a camping trip with some mates, I think I would consider this.
Cheers buddy. I agree, this tent isn’t the best choice for a Reading Festival, but it does do a great job in the wilderness and public campgrounds.
-Brandon
Thank you so much for this review and video! I had purchased a Coleman 7 person instant tent and with first set up, the buttons on 2 of the 4 poles broke when extending the poles. It was very disappointing! So I was looking for another option and came across your throrugh review. I really want a tent that I can set up myself that is tall enough to stand up in and has lots of room for my double high queen air mattress. This tent seems to have multiple additional features that will be excellent as well!
It was my pleasure, April 🙂
Wow, that is horrible. I hope you got a refund.
I don’t blame you that you’re wanting a 6-person tent to pitch by yourself easily and effortlessly.
You’ll be glad to know that you can most definitely pitch it by yourself – in 60 seconds actually. It is 6 feet tall so anyone less than that can stand up and walk around in it freely. It holds 2 queen air mattresses as well.
If you’re taller than 6 foot, you might want to consider the Eureka Copper Canyon 6 Tent since you want one to walk around in without grazing your head on the roof. This one is 7 foot, so much higher.
If you have anymore questions I’ll be happy to help 🙂
Thank you! I’ve sent back the Coleman and waiting for a refund.
I just got this Core tent today and set it up tonight! It was SO easy and was genuinely, as you said, up in a minute – including the rain fly! I only pitched it in my basement so obviously there would be more time needed to stake it down, but otherwise it’s amazing. I had no trouble walking around inside it, it’s definitely going to be big enough. Also I love all the little added features. It seems to be much better quality than the Coleman I tried and I can’t WAIT to go out camping with it!
Good to hear April! Glad you like it so far 😀 Let us know your experiences with it after you’ve had a few trips.
Have fun!
I’m struggling. This tent sounds amazing. I’m trying to decide between it and the Coleman Waterproof 10 X 9-Feet 6-Person Instant Tent. They are priced about the same. The Core is a foot longer. But which is the better tent?
The CORE 6 is better. It has WAY more purchases than the Coleman Waterproof 10 X 9-Feet Tent, so it’s been tried and tested in the field by individuals and families, whereas we are limited with the performance of the 10 X 9-Feet 6-Person Instant Tent since it doesn’t have as many reviews.
Thank you for your thorough review. I’m looking for a 6 person tent to use 3-4 times a year in spring through fall for cub scouts and this one seems to fit the bill. Also costo.com is selling it for $129.99 right now. Cheers!
No worries Jeremy. If you still have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate in asking 🙂
Great review, Brandon, thanks for the details. I’m looking for a tent for my wife and myself to replace the one that we’ve used for the last 20+ years. This one ticks off all the boxes except for one – a window on the back wall. We have an inflatable mattress and like to lie with our heads to the window so we can see the trees and stars a little more than just through the mesh roof. It gives us just a little more of a panorama. Is there a version of this tent that you know of that has windows on all four sides? I’m tall and have a bad back, so I love how this looks so easy to set up and how high the ceiling is.
Hey buddy, check out the Kelty Trail Ridge 6 Tent. It has the same height and mesh ceiling but offers more panoramic viewing opportunities.
The CORE 6 Person Dome Tent is another great alternative and is probably more of what you’re looking for 🙂
This tent appears to be exactly what my family (me, my husband, 2 children and a dog) is looking for. Would you recommend this tent, if we are needing to set up and break down almost daily? Planning a month long trip out west and hoping to camp more than stay in hotels. Thanks!
Hello,
Going camping with the family in a couple weeks and I am having a tough time deciding between this and the Coleman Steel Creek. Seems like they both have their strong points. Do you have a personal preference?
Thanks!
Hi Brandon,
Happened to find your review while i’m looking for a tent. We’re a family of 3 and this will be our first camping trip. Your review is very helpful. Thanks !!! But i’m wondering if the CORE tent will be warm enough for camping on end of Nov in Big Sur? Any thought? Thanks so much!