Coleman Tent The Blackout is built in two sizes for 3 and 4 people, with an inner room and a porch, a dark-rest technology that blocks 99% of the sunlight, and a huge waterproof rating.
Key features & benefits
- Dark rest design.
- Huge waterproof rating.
- Fiberglass poles.
- Floored porch.
- Roof vents.
- Great price.
What is in the name
The Coleman brand is the best-known among the so-called dark-rest tent builders. As of the moment of writing this text they have at least 17-20 of such dark-room tents on the market. They call this series BlackOut Bedroom Tents, and if you are not familiar with this terminology, this means that they are built from dark materials and they claim that 99% of daylight is blocked out from the bedroom.
This means you can sleep longer in the morning and even take a nap during the day. There are many tent manufacturers that build such tents, but the tents of Coleman are darker than any others.
This particular mini-series includes two tents, one for 3 people and one for 4. You will see them also under then name Coleman Festival Collection BlackOut 3+ Tent and Coleman Festival Collection BlackOut 4+ Tent. The sign + indicates the fact that you have plenty of protected space.
But in Amazon shops you will find them under the name used in the main title above. Some use the name Coleman Blackout 3 Tent and Coleman Blackout 4 Tent. The focus here is a bit more on the 3-person tent but the main features are the same, and they sell it at the same place on Amazon.
In any case, this is an extended dome type tent with an inner tent under the dome and with a large vestibule in front of it. The extension has its own support pole so perhaps it would be appropriate to describe it as a porch, or even as a separate room. The shape is similar to their Coleman Rock Springs 3 Person Tent.
Note that this front area is floored and you have a bathtub type linked-in type floor, see the picture below. So in this front area you have full protection from the rain, from groundwater, and from flying insects. But the inner tent is with the usual fully sealed and sewn-in floor for full protection.
Climate control
Related to the dark rest design mentioned above, according to their statements, the tent offers climate control. They claim that you have 5 degrees cooler inner during the day, and 1 degree warmer during the night. I am not really sure about the former because of its dark fabric which should absorb more heat, and I am not aware of any reflective features integrated into it.
The windows & the door
The tent has one large door and two solid windows in the porch area. You have inner shatters for the windows to reduce glare and for privacy.
Ventilation
The inner tent is a taffeta with some mesh sections and you have the inner door that is also partly double-layer with a mesh and a panel.
The fly is a full-coverage type so it goes all the way to the ground, but you can regulate a bit air flow from the ground. They have also added roof vents on the fly. So there is not much one could object to such a design.
Materials
The poles: You will see its great price below and for such a budget tent fiberglass is a natural material to expect. So you have two poles for the dome and one for the porch.
The fabric: The floor is a polyethylene, the same material is used in both rooms. This is a highly waterproof and durable plastic.
The shell is a PU coated polyester with an impressive 4500 mm waterproof rating. This is their UVGuard material and they claim it provides a high SPF 50 protection from the sun’s rays. All seams are taped. The inner tent is a breathable polyester and a no-see-um mesh.
The solid windows is a PVC translucent material. You also have a carry bag and tent pegs included. Please see a bit more about the tent in this short video:
3-Person version – who is it for
Regarding the capacity, officially this is a 3-person tent and for this you have an inner area of 41 ft² (3.78 m²). But the large vestibule adds lots of space so you have a total protected area of 58 ft² (5.38 m²). This is quite a lot of space for three users. But if you want more comfort you can use it with your partner and also as a solo camping tent.
Regarding seasons & climate, this is a true 3-season tent, you have seen its impressive waterproof rating and its huge fly so you have full protection with this tent. Note also that the tent is quite low and aerodynamic, so it will behave well in any weather situation.
Regarding the weight, the tent is a bit heavy with its 11.24 lb (5.1 kg) but this is not a big deal because this is a camping tent. The packed size 22.8 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches (58 x 16 x 16 cm) is really good, it is such that you can transport it even on a bicycle.
Regarding the price, the tent is a true bargain for what it offers, just see its size and the features.
Specifications
3-Person tent
- Weight: 11.24 lb (5.1 kg).
- Dimensions: 10.66 x 6.07 ft (325 x 185 cm).
- Inner area: 41 ft² (3.78 m²).
- Vestibule area: 17 ft² (1.6 m²).
- Total protected area: 58 ft² (5.38 m²).
- Total area per person: 19.3 ft² (1.8 m²).
- Inner peak height: 47.2 in (1.2 m).
- Packed size: 22.8 x 6.3 x 6.3 in (58 x 16 x 16 cm).
4-Person tent
- Weight: 14.55 lb (6.6 kg).
- Dimensions: 11.15 x 9.19 ft (340 x 280 cm).
- Inner area: 58.8 ft² (5.46 m²).
- Vestibule area: 25.2 ft² (2.34 m²).
- Total protected area: 84 ft² (7.8 m²).
- Total area per person: 21 ft² (1.95 m²).
- Inner peak height: 51.2 in (1.3 m).
- Packed size: 22.8 x 7.9 x 7.5 in (58 x 20 x 19 cm).
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In the summary of this Coleman Tent The Blackout review, I wish to stress that you have a great value/price combination here. Even if you ignore the official numbers on how much sunlight it blocks, this is indeed a true dark-rest design and you will hardly find something darker on the market.
The rating summarized in the table below is for the 3-person tent, note that the 4-person version offers more space per person.
Coleman Tent The Blackout
Pros
- Great waterproof rating.
- Incredibly dark inner.
- Great price.
- Floored porch.
Cons
- A bit heavy.
Please check under the categories of Tents for 3 people and Tents for 4 people if you need more options. In particular, check this nicely designed REI Base Camp 4 Tent with plenty of storage space and aluminum poles. But if you would rather have an interesting cabin-style tent with steep and straight walls, check this Coleman Tent OctaGo 3 Person Tent.
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