Coleman certainly wasn’t the first company to attempt to make a tent that could be set up in seconds instead of hours. However, there were very few instant tents that actually received any acclaim from campers or experts. The reason for this was essentially the way instant tents were made. The flimsy materials were only suitable for building tents that were small and weak. However, coleman changed all of that with their revolutionary instant tent design. Not only was it made to be wind and water proof, but they also had sizes ranging from 4-6 person tents, to enormous 8-10 person tents. They were a much needed product for the weekend camper.

The secret of the coleman instant tent lies in the exoskeleton framework of the tent. Rather than have poles that need assembled and inserted into holes in the tent canvas, the coleman instant tent has the poles permanently fixed to the tent canvas. This allows you to simply pull out the sides and lock the tent legs into place in under a minute.

The obvious benefit of having a tent that can be set up in under a minute is the convenience of being able to do whatever you want with your free time. Whether it be fishing, hunting, or experimenting with your military survival knives, an instant tent gives you the maximum amount of free time on your camping trips. Most people would much rather be having fun than trying to figure out how to set up their tent.

There are however, a few downsides to the exoskeleton design that should be considered before you plan your next camping trip. First and foremost, be prepared to transport the weight of the tent. Weighing over 40 pounds, you can’t exactly throw this tent on your back. Second, with no rain fly included, make sure to plan your camping drips in the best weather possible.