When camping with the family, space isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Now that the girls are a little older and we’ve started bringing our furry companion, we decided to upgrade to a larger tent.
In addition to a larger size, easy set-up was equally important. After all, we don’t need a time-consuming or complicated install or teardown to make our camping more challenging.
Was it a must-have, or a regretful disaster? Here’s my take on the CORE 12-person tent we upgraded to…see if this tent is worth considering for your next adventure.
Space enough for everyone
Compared to the 6-person model we’re moving from, this tent is huge! At 16′ x 11′ with a center height of just over 7′, it feels more like a cabin. My husband and I are both over six feet tall, so now, there’s no more awkward crouching or tripping over sleeping bags…it’s such a difference-maker.
With plenty of room for two queen-size air mattresses, gear, and a dog (plus his cage/bed), you’ve got a setup that feels organized and easier to manage.
A simple and quick setup
A large tent might seem intimidating to set up, but this one’s surprisingly easy to assemble. Color-coded poles and straightforward instructions had us up and running in about 20 minutes. That’s no small feat after a long drive and patience tends to run thin. The easy set-up makes it ideal for anyone’s skill level, and perfect for those who want to get their living space operational as soon as possible.
Privacy for all
The room divider turned out to be a small but welcomed feature. Having separate areas for kids and adults doesn’t help much for sound, but it did provide some needed privacy. This functionality also helps maintain some organization, which comes in handy for growing families.
Air ventilation and weatherproofing
Camping can quickly become uncomfortable if ventilation is poor, but this tent excels in this area. Adjustable ground vents and large mesh windows provide airflow that helps create a comfortable interior, even on warm nights. While we’ve yet to face anything more than some light rainfall, the tent’s full-coverage rainfly, sealed seams, and sturdy frame provide some added confidence in its weatherproofing.
Storage for easy access
The internal pockets are a nice addition…large enough to store a few things you need easy access to your bedside at night, like a flashlight if nature calls.
Durable for real-life adventures
When you’re camping with kids, you need gear that can take a bit of a beating. So far with this tent, we haven’t had any worries. The polyester fabric and reinforced poles make it super sturdy, even when the kids (and the dog) decide to play inside. And if you’re dealing with a windy day, no worries – everything feels secure once set up. Overall, this tent should last for years and several camping adventures.
Ok, so what’s the bad news?!
This isn’t necessarily an issue for most, but I did want to mention it because it may be a deal-breaker for a few. The packed size of this tent is on the larger side, but that’s to be expected for something that offers so much space. It fits fine in our SUV when transporting, but if you’re packing very light, just know that it’s not the most compact option. Also, it’s not the lightest tent for obvious reasons, so keep this in mind if you’re planning on hiking to your campsite.
Bottom line: It’s a worthy purchase
The CORE 12-person tent is a purchase that’ll pay off with every trip. It offers the comfort of space, easy setup, and the durability to handle our family adventures. While it’s not the most compact, the trade-off is well worth it for the room and reliability it delivers.
For families looking to elevate their camping experience, this tent is a no-brainer. And yes, I’d say it’s a must-have. Keep in mind that like most things, camping tent models do get updated so this exact model may not be available in the future. But our first experience with the CORE brand has been a positive introduction so far, which helps when we decide to upgrade our tent or any other camping gear in the future.
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