There is no doubt that Coleman tents are among the best products available. They are known for their sturdiness, ease of handling, and good value-for-money outcome.
But, how good is the Coleman Evanston 8 model? Is it better for summer, winter, or all year round camping? What are its key features? Are they worth the investment?
Let’s go through a detailed review in this post.
Coleman Evanston 8 - Review Summary
In a hurry? Don’t worry, we understand. Here is our quick review of the product (detailed review below).
Coleman Evanston 8 is a good tent that is an affordable medium-sized tent that will serve different camp needs and be suitable for the majority.
Among its pros, we highlight its waterproofness and good performance under windy conditions, ease of set-up and sturdiness with fibreglass poles, excellent value for money, plenty of openings (ideal for summer camping), internal pockets for storage, and a screened outside area that offers extra space.
On the downside, we do not recommend this tent if you need a model for 8 campers (the internal space is strict, have a look at Columbia Mammoth 8 people instead). Also, polyester does not provide good insulation for winter camping, and this model would not fit a cold trip.
If you only go winter camping once in a while, this model will be fine – you can insulate it (read this article to learn how to insulate a 3-season tent for winter) and use a tent heater.
| Coleman Evanston 8 – Features | |
| Shape | Dome Tent |
| Fabric | Polyester |
| Capacity | 8 people |
| Weight | 26.3 pounds |
| Dimensions | 15 x 12 ft |
| Floor Area | 180 ft² |
| Centre Height | 6 ft |
| Waterproof? | Yes |
| Rainfly? | Yes |
| Free-standing? | Yes |
- Excellent Waterproofness (incl. rainfly)
- Affordable Price
- Good ventilation with lateral openings
- Ease of set-up
- Internal pockets
- Small-screened area
- Does not fit 8 campers comfortably (max. 6)
- Only 1 access door
- Insulation is poor for winter camping
- Excellent waterproofness (including rainfly for rain protection)
- Good value for money
- Easy to pitch - 15 mins
- Carry bag: Included for easy storage
- 1-year limited warranty
Coleman Evanston 8 - Detailed Review
Coleman Evanston 8 is a 3-season dome tent made of polyester, ensuring high durability for this gear.
And what does that mean? Let’s see below.
Shape, dimensions, internal room, and weight
Dome tents are known for their ease of set-up, good performance during rainy and windy conditions, and overall lower price when compared to cabin tents. On the other hand, their shape restricts internal space, making them short for tall campers and for a big group of campers.
Coleman Evanston 8 measures approximately 15x12ft (180 sq ft) and is 6ft high at its centre. Even though the manufacturer claims it can fit eight campers, we would typically recommend not considering this model for more than six people.
Considering that each person would take approximately 21.5 sq ft (2 square metres), and you need to leave some space for moving around and storing your gear (roughly 50 sq ft), we would conclude that 6-night sleepers are its upper threshold.
As for weight, the tent weighs 26.3 pounds, and even though it is not the lightest model, it isn’t as heavy as a canvas tent. Considering its dimensions, we understand that its weight is proportional and ok!
Fabric, Waterproofness, Tent Structure and Openings
The tent is made of polyester, ensuring durability, Waterproofness, ease of maintenance, and an excellent weight-to-space ratio. Conversely to canvas tents that can create mould, polyester tents are easy to clean, wash, and dry relatively quickly.
Apart from polyester waterproofness, this tent comes with inverted seams, waterproof floors (both parts of the WeatherTec system created by Coleman), zipper insulation protection, and a rainfly – it is improbable that you are getting wet during the rainy season inside it.
Similarly, this tent will perform well in windy conditions. While the dome shape provides good aerodynamics, its fibreglass poles are sturdy, come with the insta-clip attachment (ease of set-up), and provide stability.
A highly positive point of this tent is the presence of multiple openings – it comes with lateral windows that facilitate airflow – and a screened and covered area in the front. Even though it is always nice to have a covered area, we believe that the outside screened room is small.
Special Features
There are some features that we liked about this tent, including:
- Internal pockets that help with storage and internal organisation
- One year of warranty
- Comes with a carry bag to facilitate storage
- Already comes with a rainfly.
- Front and back awnings (albeit small)
- Hinged door
- Comes with an electricity port, which facilitates the installation of electric devices, such as a portable air conditioner.
Special Features
There are some features that we liked about this tent, including:
- Internal pockets that help with storage and internal organisation
- One year of warranty
- Comes with a carry bag to facilitate storage
- Already comes with a rainfly.
- Front and back awnings (albeit small)
- Hinged door
- Comes with an electricity port, which facilitates the installation of electric devices, such as a portable air conditioner.
- Excellent waterproofness (including rainfly for rain protection)
- Good value for money
- Easy to pitch - 15 mins
- Carry bag: Included for easy storage
- 1-year limited warranty
Is Coleman Evanston 8 a good tent for winter camping?
Overall, no. Even though there are some tricks to using a 3-season tent in winter (read them here – how to insulate a 3-season tent for winter), we generally do not recommend this tent if you are constantly camping during the cold season.
Polyester does not offer good insulation, and you might get cold. Consider a 4-season canvas tent instead, such as whiteduck regatta canvas bell tent.
Is Coleman Evanston 8 a good tent for summer camping?
Yes, this tent will perform well during summer camping. It has plenty of openings to ensure air circulation. We like that it also has a port for electrical connection, which helps you install a portable AC if you want to (and your campsite has electric infrastructure).
Alternatives to Coleman Evanston 8
Considering the cons of this model, we have selected some alternatives for you below.
More internal space and extra capacity for 8 people
If you are looking for a tent with more internal space, you should consider a cabin tent. The cabin shape will provide you with more internal room (vertical walls) and suit taller people better.
Our recommendation is Columbia Mammoth 8 people (it also comes in models with up to 10 people capacity). It is slightly smaller, but its erected walls provide you with plenty of space (it also comes with internal room dividers for improved privacy).
- Straight wall - Improved Internal Space for 8 campers (you can choose 10 people model)
- Room divider: Removable room divider
Winter Camping
For winter camping, it might be a good idea to consider a canvas tent, which offers better insulation and breathability. Our preferred model here is the whiteduck regatta canvas bell tent since it comes with plenty of internal space and optimal insulation features.
It also comes with a stove jack, which will allow you to put a stove inside it safely (hot tenting) – Check other options of tents with stove jack in this post.
- Canvas tent with great insulation
- Hot tenting ready.
Bigger Screen Area
The Wenzel Klondike 8 Person tent has a spacious external screened area of approximately 60 square feet, offering improved ventilation and protection against bad weather.
- Screen area with 60 sq ft
- Optimal ventilation and external storage area (serve as a kitchen or living room)
Verdict
Coleman Evanston 8 offers a good value for money outcome for you and will be better suited for camping outside the winter season – It provides an excellent relationship between price and included features.
We highlight its ease of set-up and weight, lateral openings and internal storage pockets, and increased waterproofness (you will be dry inside your tent in case of a rainstorm).
We do not recommend it if you are going to camp in the winter season, need to host eight campers inside the tent, and is after a tent with a big screen area. If that is your case, check the alternatives presented by us above.
