Having a poor, unstable tent on a wonderful family trip can ruin the whole mood. If you are traveling or camping in windy weather, it is best to choose a high quality family tent that ensures durability and stability in windy conditions. Buying a tent that can accommodate you and endure bad weather with ease is nothing less than a blessing. At times, winds can be really harsh and you never know when they might be accompanied by heavy rain.
It is best to prepare yourself beforehand so no matter what the weather, you can make the most out of your family trip. With a number of different tent manufacturers out there, it is challenging to pick the one that offers great stability. Here, we have picked 5 top options to ease it down for you!
What to Look for in the Best Family Tent for Bad Weather?
Before we move onto the reviews, let’s look into some significant factors that you must consider before buying a family tent for bad weather:
Type of Poles
Poles act like the support system of your tent. The best quality poles come in aluminum and carbon fiber. These are sturdy and have a high weight ratio. Thus, not easy to break.
Windproof and Waterproof Rating
Every wind and rain tent comes with a windproof and waterproof rating. You can compare the rating with the wind and rain rate of your destination to pick the most suitable tent.
Weight
Anyone would love to buy a lightweight tent for easy portability. However when buying for windy conditions, go for the ones that are a bit heavy as they guarantee stability and endurance.
Capacity
Family tents come in capacity of 3/4/6 and up to 12. Go with the one that accommodates your family conveniently, leaving enough space for movement.
The Top 5 Best Family Tents for High Winds and Rains
Here are the top 5 family tents perfect for high winds and heavy rains, leaving you worriless and cheerful.
5. Browning Camping Glacier 4-Person Tent
The Browning Camping Glacier 4-Person Tent is ideal for a small family or a group of four. It offers full coverage with two large vestibules. This provides high-end protection from wind as well as UV rays, making it ideal for all the weathers.
It features a free-standing design with two strong aluminum poles. Also, it is exceptionally easy and less time consuming to assemble given pole clips that only need to be snapped over tent poles.
As the pole diameter is 19mm, it allows enough space for storage, easy movement and convenient sitting. The straight walls make sure you do not have to bend your head or back in sitting or standing posture.
With the base size of 8 inches x 9 inches and central height of 6 inches, it makes a great small family camping tent. Also, it weighs 19.4 lbs. only, making it easier to carry and set up. The double Oxford floor makes it extremely stable and durable.
Double Opening
The great thing about Browning Camping Glacier Tent is that it opens on both sides. The double doors largely assist in ventilation and easy access.
Mesh Ventilation and Storage: Mesh ventilation and mesh storage pockets are the new things in camping family tents. Thankfully, this Camping Glacier tent got them both. Mesh ventilation on the tent roof allows good air passage. Also, storage pockets help keep your gear without taking too much space inside the tent. The mesh design also helps in quick drying after a bad rain. Falling in an affordable price range, this can be the best investment you make for a perfect family hang-out day.
4. Coleman Elite Montana 8-Person Tent
Coleman is a well-reputed and popular name when it comes to camping gear. Its Coleman Elite Montana 8-Person Tent is the best seller for large families and a group of eight.
Featuring polyester construction, this tent stands atop the list of highly durable camping tents. Its rectangular design allows easy accommodation of eight people with their gear. Also, you can easily fit in three queen airbeds if you plan to spend the night out.
Measuring 16 ft. x 7 ft. it allows full mobility. With this amazing family tent, you can say goodbye to low height camping tents where you would have to bend your head all the time.
When it comes to design, it has a hinged door. It assists in easy and quick entry along with the protection edge. Also, it has 4 poles that give this tent a dome shape, securing greatly in place. With sturdy guy lines and stakes, it remains well-secured no matter how high the winds.
LED Lights
What makes this tent stand out is that it comes with LED tent lights. In addition to that, it offers 3 settings to adjust the brightness i.e. high, low and nightlight. Until now, the tents that provide such assistive features are few and far.
USB Charging Ports: Wow, that’s all that you have been looking for when planning a long camping trip. Coleman Elite Montana comes with a power pack that has USB charging ports. Now, you need not worry about finding electric supply nearby to charge your devices. Coming under $250, Coleman Elite Montana delivers excellent value for its price. This makes it the best tent to get your hands on!
3. Coleman Sundome Tent 2/3/4/6 Person Tent
Here we have another amazing contestant from the house of Coleman. The Coleman Sundome Tent is Amazon’s No. 1 Best Seller in camping tents. It comes in different capacities – 2, 3, 4 and 6 persons. Depending on the size of your family, you are free to choose the one you find most suitable.
Its polyester construction makes it highly durable and stable in harsh weather conditions. Measuring 10 inches x 10 inches with the central height of 6 ft. it easily accommodates up to five people, leaving enough room to move around.
This weather-resistant fabric repels water and ensures high winds in case the weather turns really harsh. In places where wind is often followed by rain, this family tent makes the most suitable option. The zipper guard also comes weather-protected so that your gear remains safe and dry.
When it comes to design, it is a dome-shaped tent and the strong frame comes with 11 mm fiberglass poles to easily withstand bad weather conditions. Another good thing about this family tent is mesh ventilation. It allows enough light, good airflow and quick drying. This tent keeps you cool and comfortable, no matter what’s happening out there.
WeatherTec System
The Coleman Sundome tent features a special WeatherTec system to keep your tent dry and safe in all weather conditions. Its weather-resistant fabric and sturdy poles add to the strength and safety.
Tub Flooring: Tub flooring is the best idea for windy and rainy weather conditions. Featuring tub floors with inverted seams and welded corners makes this tent highly waterproof. So if you are looking for a family tent that keeps all the moisture and high wind impact out, Coleman Sundome Tent is the best option. It gives you the size flexibility to make the right purchase as per your family needs.
2. Browning Camping Big Horn Tent
The Browning Camping Big Horn Tent is a part of Browning’s Big Horn series. It features a free-standing design with fiberglass poles. The added steel uprights make it more powerful and sturdy, providing extra strength and stability in different weather conditions.
Looking more into the design, it has straight walls, allowing enough room to stand and move around. Measuring 8 ft. x 10 ft., you can fit in all your gear including cots and sleeping bags with great ease. With the tall center of 84 inches, standing upright is no issue at all. Thus, saving you from camping fatigue.
Moreover, it has a waterproof rating of 2000 mm, making it greatly suitable for rainy conditions.
Mesh Ventilation
Browning Camping Big Horn comes with mesh ventilation. Mesh roof, four large windows and a door ensure light wind crossing and enough sunlight during the day. Weighing 21 lbs. it is portable enough to carry. Or when camping with family, you can always use a helping hand.
Available in Two Styles: An interesting thing is that this Big Horn tent is available in two styles – 5 person and Two Rooms. With a little difference in price, you can go for ‘Two Rooms’ style if you want to accommodate more than 5 people and some extra gear. Coming under $300, both styles make a great option for outdoor camping and great adventure. Go with the one that caters your needs in the best possible manner.
1. Coleman Cabin 4/6/10 Person Tent
Another great family tent choice from Coleman, the Coleman Cabin is the Amazon’s choice for popup tents. You can go for a 4 person style if you are a small family. However, it also comes in 6 person and 10 person to offer more room and accommodate up to 10 people. The size and prices vary accordingly.
The 4 person tent measures 8 ft. x 7 ft. x 4.11 ft., 6 person tent measures 10 ft. x 9 ft. x 6 ft. and 10 person tent comes in 14 ft. x 10 ft. x 6.7 ft. Each size has large dimensions according to the number of persons and offers enough room for easy sitting and moving around.
Thankfully, each size shares the same construction and features. With 150D polyester construction and taped seams, this makes Coleman Cabin a wind resistant and strong family tent.
Featuring a WeatherTec system, it comes with a tub floor that has welded corners and inverted seams to prevent any objects or water from coming in. The integrated rainfly provides better airflow and extra protection.
Dark Room Technology
Coleman Cabin offers complete privacy, thanks to its Dark Room technology. It blocks out 90% of the exterior light allowing a dark and dim interior. For people who prefer tents with lesser light, this is definitely the best choice.
Instant Setup: Another best thing about this family tent is that it can be instantly set up in a minute. It comes with pre-attached poles and that’s what makes it Amazon’s choice. You won’t need to spend a lot of time and effort in setting it up. Coming in an affordable price range, you are good to get your hands on this family-friendly and weather-friendly camping tent.
Family Tents for Windy Weather FAQs
1. How high a wind speed can a good tent withstand?
A stable and durable tent can withstand any wind speed between 0 to 50 kph. However, it requires sturdy construction and strong poles. Most of the tents can withstand the wind speed between 12.5 to 25 kph.
Make sure you know the windproof rating of a tent before adding it to your cart.
2. Does using a tarp help in bad weather conditions?
Yes, using a trap largely helps. You should definitely use a tarp in windy and rainy weather conditions. Always put them inside the tent to gain maximum dryness. However, tents with tub flooring do not require using a tarp.
3. How to ensure safety in high winds in a family tent?
The safety from high winds does not only depend on the material and quality of the tent but the way you set it up. Following tips can help:
- Find a sheltered spot to set the tent such as under the trees.
- Find out the wind direction and secure strongest pole on that side
- Never tie your poles with weak trees
4. Which flooring is better for family tents in winds and rains?
The best flooring for family tents for windy and rainy conditions is bathtub flooring. It features inverted seams and welded corners that prevent the water or objects flowing due to the wind from coming in. This way, it keeps you and your gear dry and protected.
5. Which season-type family tents are great to endure windy weather?
Tents come in different types. Some are 2-season camping tents that hold well in summers or winters while others are 3 and 4 season tents that are made to ensure wind and rain. For windy conditions, it is best to go for 3 season or 4 season tents.
Final Verdict
If you are going to buy a family tent for windy conditions for the first time, it can be really daunting. Always look into capacity, material, protection mechanism, windproof and waterproof rating and flooring of the tent before buying. It helps make a confident purchase.
However if you are still not sure, we suggest going with any of our family tent picks reviewed above. Choose the one according to your capacity needs and you are good to go.
Plan an amazing camping day, pack your gear and woohoo! and get the best family tents for windy conditions.