While cabin tents usually provide plenty of room for sleeping, screened porches offer a bug-free zone to relax in during the day.
This guide takes an in-depth look at five of the leading cabin tents with screened porch to help you decide which one is right for you.
What To Look For In A Cabin Tent With A Screened Porch
What Is A Cabin Tent?
There are many different types of tents on the market but cabin tents are typically larger and heavier than dome tents and other popular types. They feature high ceilings and walls with very little slope, which makes it easy to stand and move around.
These units are best suited for situations where you can drive your car directly to your campsite, when the extra weight won’t matter.
Benefits Of Cabin Tents With Screened Porch
Why should you choose one of these tents in the first place? Here are just a few of the best reasons:
- Versatility—The screened area will give you more space to relax
- Pest Control—You’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of being outdoors—the cool breeze, the starry sky—without having to worry about insects or rodents invading your space
- Cleanliness—You can remove your shoes before entering the main tent so you won’t track in dirt and mud
Key Features
When you’re shopping for your new tent, keep the following criteria in mind. This will make it easier to select the product that meets your specific needs.
Size
One of the most important rules to follow when it comes to tents is to err on the larger side. It’s better to have too much room in your tent than too little, especially for families. Chances are, you’ll find ways to make use of the extra space.
Also, consider how large you want the screen room to be. Some units feature only a tiny vestibule, suitable for keeping your shoes dry and not much else. Others will have room for a couple of small camp chairs and perhaps a cooler to hold your drinks. A few of the oversized models will have screened porches that are large enough for the whole family to dine in. It’s up to you to determine how much space you’ll need.
Price
While tents with built-in porches are usually more costly than their simpler counterparts, there are budget options available. If you don’t camp that often and are able to avoid inclement weather, a less-expensive version could still be a good investment.
Material
Canvas tents are durable, weather-resistant, and quite popular, but you might have a hard time finding one that includes a screened porch. Nylon and rip-stop polyester both provide easy-to-find and lightweight alternatives. Try to find out if the walls and/or floor have been treated with a polyurethane or polyethelene coating—this will make the material more resistant to moisture.
For a closer look at the differences between the most popular modern tent fabrics, check out this YouTube demonstration.
Ease Of Assembly
It’s possible to find a cabin tent that can be set up in mere minutes, even with the included porch feature. Families with small children would benefit from a tent that can be assembled quickly, as it would give the youngsters fewer opportunities to get into trouble. Serious outdoor enthusiasts will also prefer to get the tent up as soon as possible, so they can get down to the business of hiking, kayaking, or whatever they have planned for the trip.
Best Cabin Tents With Screened Porch: Product Review Guide
1. CORE 11 Person Family Cabin Tent With Screen Room
The main structure of this well-ventilated polyester tent features a center height of 86 inches and can accommodate three queen-sized air mattresses. The screen room measures 8 by 7 feet—large enough for a small card table and a few folding chairs. The spacious interior offers plenty of pouches and hooks for storage, making this a true home-away-from-home.
2. Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent With Screen Porch
Ozark Trail’s offering is lightweight, affordable, and big enough to accommodate large families. Be forewarned that the screen room is much wider than it is long, so you’ll only be able to fit two or three people in there at one time. The quality isn’t as high as some of the alternatives listed here, but for occasional campers, it should get the job done.
3. Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent With Screen Room
The interior of the WeatherMaster features a high-tech welded floor design with inverted seams to keep out moisture. The company claims that you can fit two queen-sized airbeds in there, but we think that’s overstating the case a bit. On the plus side, the screen room measures 9 by 7 feet—big enough to fit up to four people at once if they don’t mind cozying up.
4. Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent
A unique LED lighting system sets this unit apart, allowing you to choose between three brightness settings. Again, we think the 6-person designation is too generous, unless four of the six people are small children. The screen room measures 9 by 6 feet and includes a built-in floor.
5. Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
The Wenzel is a creatively designed model with a screen room large enough to accommodate a modestly-sized picnic table. The seam-sealed fly offers weather protection, and inside flaps on the windows allow for a nice cross-breeze effect.
The Bottom Line
Would we recommend one of these tents over the others? As long as you’re willing to put in the preliminary work of waterproofing the walls and rain fly, I would give the top spot to the Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent. The fabric is durable, it’s easy to set up, and the price is right. It also features one of the roomiest screened porches we’ve seen, so if that’s the main reason for your purchase, you won’t be disappointed.
Happy trails!