Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air Tent Review #ad

Last weekend, we finally ventured out for our first camping trip of 2020—not in the garden this time, but in the great outdoors. Our much-awaited adventure was made even more special by the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air Tent, an XL air tent that truly redefines family camping.

Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air Tent

TThe Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air Tent is an inflatable tent designed for up to 8 people, making it one of the best family tents on the market. I first fell in love with this tent when I saw it at the Camping, Caravan & Motorhome Show back in February. It ticks every box on my camping wish list, offering a perfect fit for larger families and those seeking extra space.

Features:

• Storm straps (front and back) for even tension distribution in high winds
• Blackout bedroom technology for a more restful sleep, blocking out 99% of daylight
• Inflatable poles with fastpitch air technology, allowing simple inflation in just 10-15 minutes thanks to the supplied manometer
• Tunnel structure with an integrated groundsheet for ease of movement and protection from the elements
• Polyester PU-coated outer fabric with a waterproof rating, ensuring a secure structure in wet weather conditions

It comes as no surprise that the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL won Camping Magazines Editor’s Choice Awards 2020 Commended for Best XL Family Tent. It is also available in a Weathermaster 4XL Air and Weathermaster 6XL Air tent for slightly smaller families.

Pitching the tent

We didn’t have time to do a practice run at home, so our first experience of pitching the tent was out in the wild. This video captures our initial setup—swift pitching in action! The tent features six inflatable poles, each with a high-pressure valve for optimum air pressure, allowing a single person to inflate the tent without difficulty.

Once the poles were inflated, the bedrooms were already in place, eliminating the risk of condensation during setup. The tent’s sturdy storm straps and high-vis guys ensured that the structure remained secure even in extreme wind conditions.

I always like to pitch the tent as much on my own as possible so that when I take the children away in the Summer with my Mum I can do it. On this occasion, you can see that the very excitable children wanted to have a go, too, and it was pretty windy on the top of the hill, so I needed a little help with the guys. This time it took us 20 minutes but I know that I will be able to do it quicker next time as I will know where everything is.

Next time, I’m going to let Simon have all the fun and pitch the tent whilst I marshall the kids into emptying the car!

Living Space

The Weathermaster 8XL Air boasts an expansive living space of 32 m², divided into a 13 m² living area, a 12 m² sleeping space, and a 7 m² porch. This generous layout provides maximum flexibility and comfort for longer stays, with full head height throughout the tent.

What stood out was the spacious integrated front porch, an extended front porch that can be closed, partially open, or fully removed. This flexibility allowed us to leave our table and chairs in the porch area, regardless of the weather, keeping the living area free for more activities. The large windows, complete with window shades, offered stunning views and enhanced the overall camping experience.

I never thought I would find a Coleman tent which I would love as much as I do the Valdes 6XL but the Weathermaster 8XL pips it at the post. Having the option to close the front porch made it an extremely versatile space. In the past, we would position our table and chairs in the open porch when the weather was dry and warm but if it was cold we would move it into the living area.

With the Coleman Weathermaster, we were able to leave the table and chairs in the porch all the time, opening and closing the front according to the weather. This left the living area free to spread out.

Sleeping Area

The Weathermaster 8XL features Coleman’s blackout bedroom technology, which provided a haven for restful sleep by blocking out nearly all daylight. The bedrooms are more spacious than the average tent bedroom, with enough room for larger double air beds. The tent also offers a separate detachable double bedroom, which can be placed in the side of the living area, giving you the option to adjust your sleeping arrangements to suit your needs.

It’s not called a Coleman Weathermaster 8XL for nothing, there is a fourth double sleeping pod which can be attached in the main living area without impacting on the space. It can be positioned to the left or right of the doorway into the porch. This makes it the perfect tent for a larger family or to take extended family members with you. We had planned for Nanny to come with us but due to COVID she is still shielding so will have to wait for next year which is a shame.

Blackout bedrooms

We cannot sing the praises of the Coleman blackout bedrooms enough, they have completely revolutionised our quality of sleep from previous brands we have owned. Gone are the days of children not being able to get to sleep in the evening because it was too light and gone are the mornings where the whole family were woken up at the crack of dawn by the light streaming in and the heat rising.

The blackout bedrooms are hands down the best on the market offering blocking out 99% of daylight. Not only that but it helps to keep the bedroom up to 5°C cooler during the day and 1°C warmer at night by storing energy from the sun in the surface of the fabric.

Porch Area

The new porch area very quickly became my favourite place to sit no matter what the weather (and we saw it all bar snow). The face of the integrated porch can be fully closed, partially open or fully removed. We used it partially open and fully closed because the weather didn’t quite make it to scorching temperatures whilst we were at the tent.

I loved the large window which offered a beatiful view down the campsite to the rolling hills of the Peak District beyond, it was especially cool to sit there watching a thunder and lightening storm rolling in.

Weather Protection

True to its name, the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL provides excellent protection against the weather. The WeatherTec waterproof fabric, with its impressive water column of 4500mm, kept us dry even during heavy rain. The tent’s outer fabric also includes UV Guard, offering SPF50 protection against harmful UV rays during hot weather.

WeatherTec waterproof fabric has an impressive hydrostatic head of 4500mm, this means a 4.5m colum of water can be placed on the fabric before any drops will show through the underside of the fabric. The Air Poles and storm straps keep the tent standing firm in strong winds and the fabrics SPF50 will protect your family from the sun’s UV rays.

Tent Safety

Safety is a top priority with the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL Air Tent. The tent’s fire-retardant fabric is designed to self-extinguish in the event of a fire, providing crucial time for evacuation. Zipper stops on the doors are positioned halfway up, ensuring that even young campers can easily exit in an emergency.

The tent is equipped with adjustable storm straps, which evenly distribute tension, keeping the structure secure in high winds. The rain-safe canopy over the side door prevents water from pooling at the entrance, reducing the risk of slips, while the low ventilation and full-width rear vent minimize condensation buildup inside.

For added convenience and safety, the tent includes mesh hanging points and light hooks to keep items secure, as well as cable entry points to organize electrical cords safely.

In short, the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL is designed to provide a safe and secure environment, ensuring peace of mind while you enjoy your family camping trip.

Additional features we loved

Sometimes it’s the little things that impress me more than anything and with the new Weathermaster range there were plenty of thoughtful details which didn’t go unnoticed:

• A condensation baffle that prevents moisture from entering the tent
• Dropdown door access makes it easier for pram and wheelchair access
• High and low ventilation for better airflow and reduced risk of condensation
• An eyebrow canopy over the side door for protection during wet weather
• A large full-width vent at the rear of the tent for additional ventilation
• Zipped curtains offer more privacy when needed
• Mesh hanging tension points
• Bedroom ventilation – the entire width of the back can be opened
• RainSafe Canopy on the side door (with re-inforced pole ends) so the rain doesn’t run in when you open the door
• Additional Storage Pockets
• Bedroom Cable entry point and light hooks in each bedroom
• Hanging loops on every air pole
• Manual Pump Included
• Rain Skirts which allow the water to flow off the tent with ease
• Internal Mesh Door – allows airflow without allowing bugs in
• Cable Entry so you can feed your EHU into your tent to power your camping appliances
• The wheeled storage bag, which made packing up effortless, reducing the pack size significantly

The oversized wheelie bag was a blessing because the tent is pretty heavy to carry and there’s always the worry that you won’t get the tent and parts back into the bag on going home day. The oversized bag made it super simple. We always roll the tent up to the bag and then put the bag over the tent and roll it again to get to the zips and close the bag.

I will do a ‘taking down video’ on our next trip to show you how simple it is. On our Peak District trip, the weather was due to change and so we only decided at 9 pm to pack up and go home a day early but that time I didn’t think about a video. We were off the campsite inside of an hour.

We recommend checking out Camping Secrets if you’re interested in comparing the Coleman Weathermaster against other airbeam tents.

Tent Accessories

The only tent accessories you might want to consider purchasing for the Coleman Weathermaster 8XL is a footprint and a tent carpet for comfort and warmth. We have just bought the footprint for the 8XL Air because we feel they protect the tent from the damp ground and if you happen to be camping anywhere with lots of sticks or roots.

We have previously found when camping in the forest that the tent floor can be easily damaged by sticks, stones and mini cones no matter how much we try to clear the pitch before we start.

We have used tent carpets for many years and they definitely add to the warmth and comfort. This year we have also added carpets to the bedrooms for additional warmth.

FREE Camping and Caravanning Club Membership with Coleman Tents

When you buy any Coleman Weathermaster or Coleman Valdes tent through selected tent partners, you will receive free Camping and Caravanning Club membership worth £46.

Member benefits include:

• Over 1,500 member-exclusive sites tucked away in secluded locations that commercial sites couldn’t even get close to
• Monthly award-winning magazine
• 30% off Club Site fees
• Over 60’s get an additional 25% off
• Exclusive discounts with specially selected retailers where you can save 10%
• Save up to 30% on a host of special attractions
• Discounted tailor-made insurance and breakdown cover

If you are already a member, you won’t lose out. Just keep the pack until your current membership expires and then renew using the pack.

We have been camping at Camping and Caravanning Club Sites for the past 6 years and love them. You can read my site reviews in my camping section.