If a tent that fits one queen-sized bed is good, tents that fit two queen-sized beds must be better, right? We certainly like to think so. If you’re looking to upgrade your outdoor hotel to a luxury suite, an 8 person tent is your ticket to ride.
After researching all the most popular 8 person models out there, we were able to narrow down the list to the seven models below. After analyzing every aspect of these scenic suites, we found that the Nemo Wagontop 8 is hands down the tent to beat.
Of course we couldn’t help but notice it took us more hours than we care to admit to come to that conclusion, so we decided to put together this handy buyer’s guide to simplify your search.
The Nemo Wagontop takes the cake for its massive size, premium materials, and unique design that makes sleeping in any wilderness feel downright luxurious, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
Whether you suffer from chronic sticker shock or just don’t need every bell-and-whistle available to have a good time outside, there’s a tent waiting for your somewhere in the list below. Break out the firewood and get cozy, these are The Wise Adventurer’s favorite 8 person tents of 2023.
| Tent Make/Model | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Nemo Wagontop 8 – Best Overall | Best overall 8 person tent. Big, tall, weatherproof, and packed with modern features. Backed with a lifetime warranty. See Review |
| Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent – Highest Quality | Best overall quality. Heavy canvas construction is weatherproof, and the burly steel frame will outlive us all. See Review |
| Bushnell Sport Series 8 – Best On A Budget | Best on a budget. Smart design, cabin construction, and convenient interior features at an absolute steal of a price. See Review |
| Eureka Copper Canyon LX 8 | A great middle-tier pricepoint with a ton of added creature comforts. Solid investment that will last many years. See Review |
| Columbia Mammoth Creek 8 | All the quality you’d expect from Columbia, at a price that might surprise you. Strong contender for best value. See Review |
| Wenzel Klondike 8 | A roomy tent with a screened-in porch and simple construction. Remarkably inexpensive. See Review |
| Coleman Instant Family Tent | An affordable instant cabin that packs a ton of convenience for the money. Ideal for occasional use in good weather. See Review |
Best 8 Person Tents
Nemo Wagontop 8: Best 8 Person Tent Overall
Specs:
– Weight: 30 lbs. (13.6 kg)
– Packed size: 28” x 13” x 13” (71cm x 33cm x 33cm)
– Floor size: 180” x 100” (457cm x 254 cm)
– Peak height: 80” (203 cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season camping with friend and family
– Price: $$$
The Nemo Wagontop 8 takes the cake for 2023 as our best 8 person tent of the year. This tent excels in every metric we considered, and is packed full of stand-out features you won’t find anywhere else on the market.
Starting things off with the obvious, the Nemo is huge. At 15 feet long (plus the extended vestibule) it’s easily the longest tent in our roundup. Its 8’4” width sits above the 8’ standard (more on that in the guide below), and then there are the ceilings…
Thanks to the “covered wagon” design the Nemo takes its name from, the ceiling stretches to over six and a half feet at its peak, and stays over six feet regardless of where you’re standing. And then there’s the whole rainfly thing…
The Wagontop’s massive integrated rainfly extends out an additional four feet from the main door, giving you a ton of space to store wet gear, dirty bikes, or anything else you want to protect from the weather. We’re also huge fans of the unique aluminum three-pole design, which is shockingly easier to pitch than you’d think with poles this long.
And, if somehow you just don’t have enough room inside the cavernous Wagontop 8 for all your friends and gear, you can even add on an additional “garage” that Nemo claims is large enough “to park a car inside of.”
Cons are few and far between with this model, but if we had to nit-pick here obviously we’d say it’s expensive, and would also add in that for this amount of money we’d like to see Nemo throw in a footprint.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Big footprint, high ceilings – Simplified three-pole “covered wagon” design is easy to set up – Backed by Nemo’s lifetime warranty | – Expensive. Very expensive. – No footprint included |
Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent: Best Overall Quality
Specs:
– Weight: 76 lbs (34.5 kg)
– Packed size: 39” x 15” x 14” (99cm x 38cm x 36cm)
– Floor size: 120” x 168” (305cm x 427cm)
– Peak height: 78” (198cm)
– Rooms: 1
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Hunting/Weatherproof camping with multiple children
– Price: $$$
If you’re looking for a tent made from indestructible materials that will last decades with proper care, check out this classic canvas Springbar-style tent from the folks at Teton Sports.
The Mesa 8 person tent sports a huge interior with a 140 square feet of floor space and 6.5-foot high ceilings. Set up is simple and one-person-friendly thanks to the locking top bar and telescoping side poles. Basically you just build the frame, stake the corners, then hoist it all up. You also get a full-time awning over the front door, which is large enough to create a nice shaded space outside the tent.
We’ve become big fans of Teton Sports’ line of canvas tents, but we know they won’t be for everyone. Namely due to the price tag, which is matched only by our #1 pick, the Nemo Wagontop 8. It’s also worth mentioning that due to the robust nature of the Mesa’s construction, when packed it is by far the largest and heaviest tent on our list.
Still, if you’re interested in an heirloom-quality tent and have the space to store it in your vehicle (and at home), camping in one of these is an experience like nothing else on our list.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Built from nearly indestructible materials – Waterproof – 2 super-wide doors | – Heavy – Bulky – Expensive |
Bushnell Sport Series 8: Best 8 Person Tent On A Budget
Specs:
– Weight: 28 lbs (12.7km)
– Packed size: 36” x 13” x 13” (91cm x 33cm x 33cm)
– Floor size: 168” x 96” (426cm x 244cm)
– Peak height: 76” (193cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season camping for smaller families
– Price: $
We definitely had a tough time deciding on the best budget-friendly 8 person tent. Between the Bushnell you see here, the Columbia down below, and the Coleman Instant cabin, there are several great tents to choose from at great prices in this category.
Ultimately the Bushnell Sport Series 8 won out for (a) its super-low price and (b) its thoughtful design. No, it doesn’t have the sweet pop-out windows of the Columbia or the “instant-cabin” frame of the Coleman, but for around $50 less, it shares so much with both we couldn’t pass it up.
For instance, the Bushnell shares the same fourteen-foot length floor plan (although the Coleman is wider by two feet), as well as the double room setup with a privacy divider.
It’s also got the requisite 76” peak height that makes tents like these so great, as well as floor-to-ceiling ventilation that you’ll really appreciate in the hotter months.
The only major oversight on this budget-friendly Bushnell is the lack of a second door. It’s a small gripe, but if you’re going to divide the rooms anyways, why not include one?
| Pros | Cons |
| – Two-room design with divider adds livability – Stand up height throughout – Great price for this much tent | – Fiberglass/steel pole combo – Single door for two rooms |
Eureka Copper Canyon LX 8
Specs:
– Weight: 34 lbs (15.4 kg)
– Packed size: 29” x 11” x 11” (74cm x 28cm x 28cm)
– Floor size: 156” x 120” (396cm x 305cm)
– Peak height: 84” (213cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: 3 season family camping in any weather
– Price: $$
Eureka’s remodeled version of their Copper Canyon LX 8 person tent got a handful of commendable upgrades recently, making it a serious contender as a high-quality tent at a middle-tier price point.
The latest Copper Canyon is taller than ever, with a full 7-foot peak height and vertical walls that make the entire interior stand-up-and-walk-around friendly. It’s also got a two-room design for 2023, which includes an optional room divider. Each room gets its own door, and we particularly like Eureka’s decision to put them both on opposite ends and opposite sides of the tent for optimal airflow.
As with all Eureka tents, you’ll also find a few subtle design features that help set it apart. Overhead mesh storage pockets keep your odds and ends organized without sacrificing floor space, dual power ports for your electronics zip closed when not in use, customizable openings on the windows, and pre-installed floor hooks (in case you want to install Eureka’s non-slip flooring) are just a few that come to mind.
The new Eureka also got an extended “front porch” on the rainfly to help shield the door from rainfall. Truth be told it’s a nice touch, but to be fair it’s smaller than the awning of the Teton or the extended vestibule of the Nemo.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Eureka quality construction and design throughout – Split rooms with individual doors – Super high ceilings throughout | – Partial fiberglass frame – Slightly smaller floorplan than some – More expensive than similar tents on this list |
Columbia Mammoth Creek 8
Specs:
– Weight: 30 lbs. (13.6 kg)
– Packed size: 10” x 10” x 28” (25cm x 25cm x 71cm)
– Floor size: 168” x 96” (427cm x 244cm)
– Peak height: 76” (193cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: 3 season family camping in any weather
– Price: $$
Another serious contender for the best 8 person tent on a budget, the Columbia Mammoth Creek has all the quality and innovation we’ve come to expect from the brand at a thoroughly competitive price point.
One of the major highlights here is the Mammoth’s rain-friendly construction, which uses both fully taped seams and tall tub floors to provide the essentials of waterproofing. On top of that we also love that Columbia uses the same Omni-Shield fabric technology to add an additional degree of rain and UV resistance to the body of the tent. And, like all Mammoth Creek Models, if it does happen to rain Columbia includes their pop-out window design, which allows you to keep your main windows wide open without any water getting into the tent.
The Mammoth creek has a center height over 6 feet, and the majority of the interior maintains that 6-foot-plus height. It does taper down a bit toward the doors and walls though, so you may be stooping down a bit coming and going. Overall the nearly vertical walls give a proper “cabin-style” feel though, so you won’t ever feel cramped inside
This 8 person tent also shares the same 14-foot length as Columbia’s 10 person model, so although it’s slightly more narrow, the Mammoth Creek is more than happy to accommodate two queen beds. It also borrows the same two-room construction with a full-length room divider from its larger sibling, which adds a touch of privacy and livability you’ll appreciate.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Tons of wet-weather features – Vertical walls and high ceilings give the feeling of a larger tent – Omni-Shield fabric is a nice touch | – Fiberglass poles throughout – More narrow than some models – Both doors on far end of tent |
Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Tent
Specs:
– Weight: 26 lbs. (11.8 kg)
– Packed size: 28” x 12” x 11” (71cm x 30cm x 28cm)
– Floor size: 192” x 132” (488cm x 335cm)
– Peak height: 77” (196cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin/Dome hybrid
– Best for: Small families or couples who want a spare room
– Price: $
We’ve always been a sucker for a tent with a good hangout spot, and the Wenzel Klondike delivers the hangs in spades.
That’s because the entire second room of the tent converts into a separate screened-in porch area with plenty of room for a couple camp chairs, a card table, and a cooler to pass those lazy afternoons around camp.
And while the party-porch is a great feature to have (especially at this price) it’s not the only thing the Wenzel has going for it.
We particularly like the fully seam-sealed fly and top-notch ventilation at both the floor and ceiling of the Klondike. Both the fly and the body fabric could use an extra waterproofing treatment for peace of mind, but the Wenzel Klondike is ready for anything short of a serious rainstorm as is. It’s definitely missing a few of the “finer things” you’ll find on pricer tents like a back door and integrated interior storage, but if you’re shopping for a big tent on a small budget, this is the least expensive option out there with this much versatility.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Gotta love that front porch – Ventilation punches way above its price point – Wildly inexpensive | – Second room isn’t quite stand up height – Body seams are treated for water repellency, but not fully taped. |
Coleman Instant Family Tent
Specs:
– Weight: 43 lbs. (19.5 kg)
– Packed size: 52” x 13” x 12” (132cm x 33cm x 30cm)
– Floor size: 168” x 120” (427cm x 305cm)
– Peak height: 79” (201cm)
– Rooms: 2
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Families who only camp a few times a year
– Price: $$
Is there anything more decadent than an instant-up design like this Coleman cabin?
Just take the tent out of the bag, unfold the pre-attached poles, and boom! You’re ready to camp in style. Multiple doors, multiple rooms, stand-up ceilings, and a full-sized floor plan all make it feel like a little house in the woods.
And although the outright convenience of the Coleman instant cabin is awfully tempting, we’ve got a couple complaints with it that kept it from taking our pick for the best budget tent.
First off is the “rainfly-free” design. Coleman advertises their Instant Cabin as waterproof without a rainfly, but they also use a lot of zippers in the tent’s construction, as well inverted seams rather than fully taped ones. Personally, we wouldn’t trust this in anything but good weather without an additional tarp or rainfly, which will cost extra.
Our second gripe is the overall hardware quality. Between the poles themselves and the plastic articulating hubs, we’re not sure this is the kind of tent that will stand up to heavy use. Still, for families who only camp a few times a year in mostly good weather, the outright ease of setup and thoughtful features (along with the low price) earn this Coleman an honorable mention.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Two rooms with their own doors – Instant-up pre-attached pole design – One-step rainfly free setup | – Rainfly-free design puts a lot of faith in zippers and inverted seams – Rainfly “not needed” but also “recommended” – Plastic hubs don’t seem the most durable |
8 Person Tent Buyer’s Guide
Moving up to an 8 person tent unlocks some important doors in the car camping world. For one, it’s the first tent size where most manufacturers start offering a “cabin-style” model rather than just a large dome. It’s also the first size where throwing not one but two queen mattresses inside becomes an option.
We’ve researched every available tent out there to find the best selections for our list above, but in case you’re looking at a tent that didn’t make our roundup, here are the common criteria we use to evaluate the best 8 person tents.
Floor Size/Space
As we stated above, 8 person tents are your introduction to the possibility of getting two queen-sized beds inside your living quarters. How comfortably those mattresses fit inside however, depends on the floor size.
From a length standpoint, you’re going to want at least 12 feet of room wall to wall to squeeze double mattresses inside the tent. We recommend at least 13 feet though to give each sleeper a little breathing room.
Speaking of breathing room, here’s where width also comes into play: Assuming your average queen bed is roughly 6 feet long, you’re going to want a minimum of 8 feet of width to be able to get up and walk around the sides of your bed. More is always better, of course.
Center Height
Center height is the measurement from floor to ceiling in the tallest part of the tent. This measurement is important because it’s a good indicator of how easily you’ll be able to stand up and move around inside, especially for taller campers.
Keep in mind that tents with a center height of over six feet aren’t won’t always have the same amount of space near the walls of the tent. Most 8 person tents taper down to some degree from the center toward the outside, so the more center height you start with, the taller the rest of the tent is going to be as well.
Weight And Packed Size
Because 8 person tents are only intended for car camping trips, weight and packed size aren’t a major concern in this category.
Yes, some of the tents above like the Teton Sports are significantly heavier (and larger) than others, but even the 70+ pounds of a canvas tent isn’t a huge deal if you only need to haul it 20 feet or so from your car to your campsite.
With that being said, if you’re driving a smaller vehicle or don’t have a ton of storage space at home, you could certainly make a strong argument for more compact tents like the Eureka Copper Canyon.
Shape
The shape of your tent becomes increasingly important as you add more campers and gear into the mix. We strongly prefer “cabin” shaped designs for tents of this size, because they feature vertical or nearly-verticle walls that greatly increase the total inside area of the tent.
Again, our aim here is to have as much of the tent be full standing height as possible. The straighter your walls are, the more freely you’ll be able to move around inside.
Seasonality/Weather Protection
Generally speaking, even the best 8 person tents are limited to three-season use, which means they’re not intended to handle freezing temperatures or the additional stresses that come with them. We recommend sticking to camping Summer through Fall, and keeping an eye on the nightly lows in the area you’ll be sleeping in case elevation or freak weather patterns bring colder conditions than you’re prepared for.
Rooms And Dividers
Another notable perk of the 8 person tent is being able to divide the interior space into two rooms. While families with younger children may prefer to keep an eye on them at all times, friend groups and families with older children will likely prefer some degree of privacy in the tent, especially after dark.
A second room gives you a place to change clothes (or forget them altogether) free from the peepers of would-be peeping toms. We’re into that.
Durability/Materials
At the 8 person mark, tents move on from the “giant palace for two” category and start becoming dedicated group and family camping shelters.
And, as you might suspect, more people means more foot traffic, more opening and closing of windows and doors, and more wear and tear in general.
For that reason, we recommend paying close attention to the overall quality and durability of materials, both in the main body and rainfly as well as the poles and hardware like zippers and hubs.
As with all outdoor gear, you’ll often find the quality of fabrics expressed in “denier” numbers. Generally speaking, the higher the denier number, the more rugged the materials. So a “70D” nylon rainfly is going to be tougher and longer-lasting than a “60D” rainfly of the same material.
As far as poles are concerned, the best in the business are all made from metal (typically either lightweight aluminum or heavy-duty steel). Fiberglass poles are typically a sign of a budget tent, as they’re often weaker and more prone to snapping, but several tents like the Eureka above use thick-walled fiberglass poles where they can to save cost without sacrificing much durability.
Ease Of Setup
Because of their outright size, 8 person tents can be much more difficult to pitch and secure than their smaller cousins.
9 times out of 10 you’ll have no trouble finding a friend or two to help you pitch one of these gargantuan shelters, but buying a tent that you know you can set up on your own always adds a little peace of mind.
It’s also worth mentioning that once you get into the 8 person category, you’ll start seeing tents that come with pre-attached/hinged pole designs, which are typically referred to as “instant tents” or “instant cabins.” Pop-up designs like these are by far the easiest and most convenient out there, and can often be erected in two minutes or less. We’re still a little wary of these designs from a long-term durability standpoint as their plastic hubs are a common failure point after a season or two, but for occasional campers that value convenience above all else, it’s a feature worth paying for.
Conclusion
For all the reasons above, we selected the Nemo Wagontop 8 as our best 8 person tent overall. The Nemo’s simple and unique setup, feature-rich design, high-quality materials, and lifetime warranty all add up to make it a premium tent worth its premium asking price.
Of course not everyone is looking to drop premium money to go sleep in the woods, and we get that too. For that reason we recommend folks trying to keep their spend to a minimum consider the Bushnell above for their first big tent. If you like the Bushnell’s layout but have a little extra cash to spend on extra features, both the Columbia and Eureka above have something unique to offer.
