Why Are Coleman Tents So Cheap?
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Coleman products are popular for a number of events from camping, BBQ’s and outdoor uses. Each product produced is well made and sold at a very reasonable price.
Coleman tents are cheaper than other leading brands due to the lightweight and inexpensive materials used to make the tents. Using polyester fabrics instead of nylon can make the tent much cheaper to produce and sell.
In this article we are going to talk about Coleman Tents, what makes them so cheap and whether they are worth buying.
Who Are Coleman?
Coleman Company Incorporated is a brand that makes outdoor recreation products with an emphasis on camping gear. The company has its headquarters based in Chicago with production sites in Texas, Kansas, and Wichita, all in the United States.
They were most known for their product called the Coleman Lantern, which is a series of pressure lamps that initially used to run on gasoline, unlike the current models that use propane.
Coleman Company Inc. used to produce domestic irons, and cooking stoves but nowadays they manufacture camp stoves, coolers, watches, sleeping bags, barbecue grill, and backpacks. There were days when they made pop-up campers, tent trailers, pontoon boats, snowmobiles, and canoes.
The focus here would be on their camp tents and the reasons why they are affordable to most campers.
Why Are Coleman Tents So Cheap?
Coleman tents are one of the most affordable on the market making them well sought-after. Campers can purchase Coleman tents capable of housing up to 3 people for anywhere between $40 and $70 and this is considered a steal because tents of similar size usually sell for $100 and above. This makes people wonder what makes Coleman tents as affordable as they are.
Firstly, their tents are lightweight. A 4×8 feet tent which can fit 2 people and their gear weighs about 7lbs. This is a testament to the kind of fabric used for the production of the tents. Most Coleman tents are made of polyester, which is less expensive than nylon.
Also, the tents do not come completely waterproof – which lowers the cost for a tent – meaning campers would have to manually make them waterproof by themselves.
Also, they would need to seal any part of the tent’s body seams that might be exposed and not protected by the rainfly. It would be necessary to test the tent with water after sealing to know whether it would hold up under the rain.
The rainfly of a Coleman tent covers only the roof of the tent – basically acting like the tent’s umbrella – which offers enough protection against short and moderate rainfall instead of them having a rainfly that offers full coverage.
Furthermore, the tents have bathtub floors that are made of 1000-Denier heavy-duty polyethylene; the kind of fabric used to produce affordable tarps. The polyethylene floors are efficient at keeping out water and are also cost-effective. While Coleman tents are built to be sturdy, they are not the best option against harsh weather, unlike some more expensive tents.
The users of Coleman tents should not plan to use them in weather conditions where there will be long periods of heavy downpour and strong winds because as discussed earlier. They are not built with the most waterproof material and have solid fiberglass poles which are cheaper and less reliable than aluminum poles.
Are They Any Good?
Yes, Coleman tents are good tents to use although it would not be a crime to say that there are more reliable tents from other brands out there. The most attractive thing about them is how low they cost when compared to similar-sized tents from other brands. Coleman tents have low, hooded vents that allow fresh air to flow into the lower parts of the tent’s body.
The manufacturers have sown in guy-out fabric triangles into the tent wall to spread out the tension from the guy lines which makes the seams and tent fabric not able to be ripped apart easily by a soft wind. Coleman Company Inc. produces family-sized tents and they are the only popular brand that dared to put hinged doors on tents of this size.
Their family-sized tents have fiberglass poles that are inserted into the outer perimeter of the hinged door which lets them keep their shape whenever they are zipped and swung open. The doors have Velcro tabs that hold the door close so one does have to zip open or close the tent if they would be going through it frequently and if there are kids around.
Coleman tents have e-ports that allow extension cords that pass through the tent walls and into the tent to provide electrical outlets to power gadgets. There are two-season Coleman tents that have good ventilation and provide comfort regardless of whether they would be in use in warm or cold temperatures.
Coleman tents are an ideal choice if they are being bought for short-term use because even though the job they were designed for, they are not the most durable option in the market. You would not want to deal with broken fiberglass poles when there is a strong wind or heavy rain. One is better off buying a more expensive tent – which usually has better quality – if that person is a regular camper and would be exposed to tough weather.
However, there is the option of laying a tarp over a Coleman tent during heavy downpours to keep it intact. The tents from this brand are not substandard but are a cost-effective option as opposed to the ones produced by other brands.