Are you planning a camping trip with your family or friends and need a reliable and spacious tent to accommodate everyone? Look no further than the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent 6-Person Dome Tent! This tent is designed to provide comfort and convenience, with a range of features that make it a top choice for camping enthusiasts. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at what makes the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent stand out from the competition and help you decide if it’s the right choice for your next outdoor adventure. So, let’s dive in!
What Kind of Tent Is This?
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is a spacious 6-person dome tent that features a unique extended dome structure with a separate screen room. The tent is designed to be set up quickly and efficiently using Coleman’s fast pitch system, which includes shock-corded poles pre-attached to the top hub element and a fast-fit feet system. The pre-attached hub element eliminates the need for pole sleeves on the inner tent, while the fast-fit feet system uses short tube-like elements in each of the tent’s corners for easy attachment of the pole’s end.
Extended Dome Structure
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is an extended dome-type tent, meaning that it has a dome-shaped top supported by two X-shaped poles, along with a screen room visible below that is supported by an additional front pole. This structure provides ample headroom and living space inside the tent while also allowing for a separate screened-in area for enjoying the outdoors without worrying about bugs.
Screen Room
One of the standout features of the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is its screen room. This screened-in area provides additional space for lounging or eating while keeping the bugs out. It’s perfect for hot summer days when you want to enjoy the outdoors without being bothered by insects. The screen room is located at the front of the tent and is accessible through a large door that can be zipped closed for privacy.
What is Fast Pitch
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent uses Coleman’s fast pitch system, which is also found in several other Coleman tents. This system consists of shock-corded poles that are pre-attached to the top hub element, eliminating the need for pole sleeves on the inner tent. This saves time during setup and makes the process more efficient.
Fast Fit Feet System
The fast pitch system also includes the fast fit feet system, which uses short tube-like elements in each of the tent’s corners instead of grommets or pins. This allows for quick and easy attachment of the pole’s end, making setup even faster. While it may not be quicker than other attachment methods, it is a unique design that sets the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent apart from other tents.
Pre-Attached Hub
The pre-attached hub element also makes setup faster and more straightforward. Some people have complained about this system, but I find it to be an efficient and convenient feature of the tent.
Freestanding or Not?
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent has a partially freestanding design. The dome part of the tent is freestanding, meaning it can be set up anywhere without the need for stakes or guy lines. However, the poles are connected to the top hub element and their ends are fixed by the fast fit feet system, so the tent does require stakes to set up fully.
Extra Pole Above Screen Room
The tent also features an extra pole above the screen room, which is necessary for the screen room to function properly. To set up the screen room, you will need to stake it to the ground using the three loops provided. Only when the screen room is staked to the ground will the roof become fully tensioned and the ceiling take its proper shape and height.
Not Fully Freestanding
Overall, while the dome part of the tent is freestanding, the tent is not fully freestanding due to the need to stake the screen room to the ground. However, this is a common feature in many tents and does not detract from the tent’s overall functionality and convenience.
Who is it for
Space-Wise
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is designed to accommodate up to 6 people comfortably. The tent has a total floor area of 140 ft² (13 m²), with a total room per person of 23.3 ft² (2.17 m²). However, it’s worth noting that the screen room area is not fully protected from rain, so it’s not recommended for sleeping in wet weather. That being said, the screen room is a useful area for storing gear or cooking, and the tent provides a good amount of space for the declared number of people.
The capacity of 6 People vs. 4 People
While the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is advertised as a 6-person tent, it’s important to note that the inner room is 10 x 9 ft (3.05 x 2.74 m), and it can be cramped if you try to fit 6 sleeping pads on the floor. For optimal comfort, it’s recommended to downgrade the capacity to a maximum of 4 people. The tent can still comfortably fit 2 queen airbeds, but keep in mind that this may limit storage space underneath the beds.
Suitable Seasons and Weather Conditions
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is designed for summer camping and mild weather conditions. The tent has a lot of mesh, which provides excellent ventilation during hot weather but may not keep you warm in cooler temperatures. It’s important to use the tent for its intended purpose and not expect it to perform well in extreme weather conditions. If you need a tent for cooler environments and lots of rain, consider checking out other options.
Weight and Accessibility
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent weighs 19.01 lb (8.62 kg), which is relatively heavy for a camping tent. This is a tent that is best suited for places with car access, as it may be too heavy and bulky to carry long distances. However, the tent is easy to set up and take down, making it a great option for car camping trips where ease and convenience are top priorities.
Organization and Structure
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent has a unique double-layer structure that includes two rooms: a dome sleeping area and a screen room. The screen room is covered by the fly but has angled walls and no panels, making it exposed to rain and not fully protected. The screen room has a full floor, however, and is permanently attached to the tent, making it a bug-free zone. The main entrance door on the screen room is an inverted T-shape and is made entirely of mesh.
Dome Sleeping Area
The inner dome sleeping area is fully protected and includes a mesh and panel door for privacy and ventilation. The tent has two windows on the sides that can be zipped up for extra privacy and protection. The dome sleeping area can only be accessed through the screen room, so the proper setup of the screen room is necessary for access.
Full Floor in Screen Room
The full floor in the screen room includes mesh openings along the wall on the floor for drainage, which is useful during wet weather. While the screen room is not recommended for sleeping during rainy weather, it can be used as an extra sleeping space during dry weather.
Double-Layer Type
As a double-layer type tent, the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent requires the use of the fly for privacy and protection from the back side of the tent. While some campers have complained about this requirement, it’s a common feature in most dome tents. If privacy from the back side is a concern, consider checking out single-layer tent options. However, a fully enclosed tent will likely have less ventilation than the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent.
E-Port and Small Pockets
The tent includes an e-port for electric power and a hook in the middle for a lantern. The tent also has small pockets inside for storing personal items, although some campers have noted that more pockets would be useful.
Waterproofness
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is designed with waterproof features to help keep you dry during wet weather. The tent has a bathtub floor with welded corners and inverted seams in other parts of the tent to prevent water from seeping through. However, it’s worth noting that the tent has a partial fly, which covers the roof and creates awnings above the windows. Coleman doesn’t provide information about the waterproof rating of the materials, so it’s not recommended for use in areas with heavy rainfall. If you’re camping in an area with lots of rain, consider checking out tents with full-coverage fly options that will keep you dry in any weather conditions.
Setup
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is easy to set up and can be done in about 7 minutes with two people working together. The carry bag is expandable, and there is a rip strip for this purpose, which makes it easy to pack up and store when you’re ready to move on to your next destination.
Ventilation
While the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent doesn’t have floor vents in the dome section, it has mesh on the back, an inner door, and two side windows, which provides decent airflow. The partial fly also helps to keep air circulating throughout the tent. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this tent is designed for summer camping and mild weather conditions, so it may not provide sufficient ventilation in extreme heat.
Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch vs Coleman Evanston 6 Tent
When comparing the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent and the Coleman Evanston 6 Tent, there are a few key differences to consider. While both tents have the same size and organization with a two-room structure, there are some notable distinctions between the two.
Dark Rest Technology
The Coleman Evanston 6 Tent features dark rest technology, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. This technology reduces the amount of sunlight that enters the tent, creating a darker and cooler sleeping environment. In contrast, the Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent does not have dark rest technology.
Fast Pitch vs Sleeves
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent features a fast pitch system, which involves pre-attached poles and a fast-fit feet system for quick and easy setup. The Coleman Evanston 6 Tent, on the other hand, has the traditional sleeves for the poles.
Specification
- Type: Extended dome tent
- Capacity: 6 people
- Weight: 19.01 lb (8.62 kg)
- Total floor dimensions: 14 x 10 ft (4.27 x 3.05 m)
- Dome dimensions: 10 x 9 ft (3.05 x 2.74 m)
- Screen room dimensions: 10 x 5 ft (3.05 x 1.52 m)
- Total floor area: 140 ft² (13 m²; 8.36 + 4.64 m²)
- Total area per person: 23.3 ft² (2.17 m²)
- Inner area per person: 15 ft² (1.4 m²)
- Peak height: 68 in (173 cm)
- Packed size (L x D): 24 x 12 in (61 x 30 cm)
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Attractive design
- Versatile and functional tent
- Well-organized with separate rooms and a screen room
- Fastpitch construction saves time during setup
Cons
- Peak height may be a bit low for some campers
Conclusion
The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Tent is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable and versatile camping tent. Its extended dome structure and screen room provide ample space for up to six people, and the fast-pitch construction saves time during setup. While the peak height may be a bit low for some campers, the overall functionality and organization of the tent make it a great option for families or groups who want to enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank. Overall, we would recommend this tent to anyone looking for a reliable and functional camping shelter.
