The Coleman Bayside 8 is a big tent shaped like a dome. It has a door with hinges like a normal door, a cupboard for your things, and four windows to keep the air flowing. Even though it’s large, it’s simple to put up and take down, which is great for families or friends camping together.
Key features & benefits
- Spacious and Comfortable: The extended dome design gives you plenty of room to stand up and move around, making it perfect for families or groups.
- Easy Access: The hinged door makes it easy to get in and out without having to crawl around.
- Durable and Lightweight: Strong fiberglass poles provide stability while keeping the tent lightweight and easy to transport.
- Convenient Power: The E-cable port lets you easily bring electrical power inside for charging devices or lighting.
- Cool and Comfortable: A floor vent increases ventilation, keeping the tent cool and comfortable on warm nights.
- Organized Storage: The built-in closet with shelves helps you keep your gear organized and out of the way.
- Enjoy the View: Four windows and a door offer great views and plenty of natural light.
Where to Buy
Looking for a spacious tent with a door and closet? Find the Coleman Bayside 8-Person Tent on Amazon! Along with the tent’s great features, Amazon offers competitive prices, fast shipping, and hassle-free returns.
Tent Overview
Construction and Design
This tent is like a big dome with one room. It has a special cover (a fly) that goes over the top, but doesn’t cover the whole tent. There’s one door shaped like a “D” and four windows. The windows have two layers: a mesh screen to keep bugs out, and a zippered panel for privacy. They also have little ties to keep the window flaps neat and tidy. Two of the windows are under a small awning at the front, so you can keep them open even when it’s raining! The other two windows are on the sides and are partly covered by the fly, so you’ll always have fresh air.
You’ll need to use the tent stakes to hold it up properly because it has special poles that support the sides and front awning.
Hinged Door
One of the coolest things about this tent is its door! It swings open and closed like a regular door, thanks to two poles that make it sturdy. These poles are easy to put in place. You won’t have to struggle with zippers every time you want to go in or out, which makes it super convenient. (The tent still has zippers on the windows, though.)
Closet
The Bayside 8 has a built-in closet at the back, giving you extra space to store your things. The closet floor measures 38 x 20 inches, which is about half a square meter – plenty of room for your gear! It also has three shelves to help you keep organized. The closet floor is part of the tent’s floor and is held up by the same poles. The tent’s fly keeps the rain out of the closet. It even has a curtain for privacy, so you can separate it from the rest of the tent.
Ventilation
This tent is built for fresh air! With mesh on all the windows and the door, plus a big mesh ceiling, you’ll have plenty of airflow. Even when it rains and you have to close the windows, there’s a special vent in the floor to keep the air moving. This vent is designed to keep you comfortable, even on hot days.
Space and Capacity
They say this tent fits 8 people, but it might feel a bit cramped. It’s supposed to be 15 feet long and 10 feet wide, but with the extra space from the awning (like a little roof over the door), it’s actually closer to 15 feet on all sides. Keep in mind that there’s only one side of the tent without windows, so you might not have as much privacy as you’d like with a full house.
Even though it’s called an 8-person tent, the Bayside 8 might feel a bit snug with that many people. You could probably fit two queen-size beds inside, but realistically, it’s best for five people or fewer. If you need a bit more space, check out the Coleman Bristol 8P, which is similar to this tent but a little bigger.
Seasons and Climate
The Coleman Bayside 8 is a great choice for summer camping trips if you’re expecting good weather. The mesh ceiling will keep you cool and comfortable on warm nights, but it won’t offer much protection from the cold. Just remember that this tent isn’t ideal for windy conditions, as the awning and rain cover aren’t designed for strong gusts. So, if you’re planning a camping trip in a place known for its breezes, you might want to consider a different tent.
Weight and Packed Size
Think of this tent like a big, comfy family car. It’s great for road trips because it has lots of space, but it’s not something you’d want to carry on your back for a long hike. It’s a bit heavy and takes up a lot of room when packed.
Why is it like this? Well, this tent is made to be affordable. They could have made it lighter and smaller, but that would have made it more expensive. This way, more families can enjoy camping without breaking the bank.
If you need a tent for backpacking or hiking, where you have to carry everything on your back, you’ll want to look for something smaller and lighter. Those kinds of tents usually cost more, though.
The Materials and Construction
Coleman uses good materials in the Bayside 8, making it a reliable and waterproof tent for your camping adventures.
Poles:
Imagine the tent like a skeleton. The poles are the bones that hold it up! This tent uses poles made of fiberglass. They’re light and a bit bendy, which is good for keeping the tent from breaking. Two of the poles are special for the door, one holds up the awning (the little roof over the door), and the rest make the dome shape and hold up the sides. Fiberglass isn’t the strongest material, but it’s good for the price, which is why they use it in this tent.
Fabric:
The rain cover (fly) and walls of the tent are made of polyester. It’s like a raincoat for your tent! It can handle a little rain, but not a huge downpour. All the seams (where they stitched the fabric together) are sealed up tight so water can’t sneak in. The floor of the tent is made of really tough stuff that can handle lots of rain. It’s like a bathtub – the edges are turned up to keep water from getting in, and the seams are extra strong.
Other Features:
This tent comes with everything you need to get started! You’ll get special stakes to keep it firmly planted on the ground, and a handy carrying bag to make it easy to move around. Inside, you’ll find some pockets on the walls to keep your small stuff organized, like your phone or a flashlight. And here’s a cool feature: it has a special opening for an electrical cord, so you can plug in a lamp or charge your devices!
Setup Time:
While setting up this tent might take about 20 minutes, that’s normal for a tent this big. With a little practice, you’ll be a pro at pitching it in no time.
Specifications
- Space: It says it fits 8 people, but it’s probably best for 5 or fewer.
- Size: Imagine a square that’s about 15 feet on each side. That’s how big this tent is! It’s tall enough for most adults to stand up straight inside.
- Weight: This tent weighs about 26 pounds. That’s about as heavy as a small child!
- Packed size: When it’s all packed up, it’s about the size of a large suitcase.
- Closet: It has a built-in closet, which is really handy for keeping your stuff organized. It’s about the size of a small table.
- Extra space: Besides the closet, you’ll have over 100 square feet of space inside the tent. That’s plenty of room for your sleeping bags, air mattresses, and gear.
Coleman Bayside 8-Person Tent vs Competitors
The Coleman Bayside 8 is a reliable and comfortable tent that’s perfect for warm-weather camping. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something affordable and practical.
Pros
- Easy on the wallet: This tent won’t break the bank!
- Comfy: It’s a nice and pleasant place to hang out.
- Easy in and out: The door swings open like a regular door.
- Built-in storage: It has a closet to keep your things organized.
Cons
- Only one way in and out: There’s just one door.
- A bit heavy: It’s not the easiest tent to carry around.
- No hook for a lantern: You’ll need to find another way to hang your lantern.
Conclusion:
Happy camping! The Coleman Bayside 8 has everything you need for a fun and memorable outdoor adventure. It’s spacious, affordable, and packed with handy features.