Camping season has begun for us already, we have just come back from our second camping trip of the year and it was a great one. I shall be bringing you up to date on the sites we have stayed at very soon and the four, yes FOUR tents we have used but for now, I want to tell you about the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Family Tent.
After spending plenty of family camping trips using Coleman tents, we were keen to see how the poled Coleman Oak Canyon 6 compared with the inflatable Valdes 6XL we had previously used. We tested the Oak Canyon 6 on a real family camping trip, including one particularly windy night, and found it spacious, sturdy and surprisingly quick to pitch. For families who prefer traditional poles to an inflatable tent, it proved to be a very practical option.
AD – Gifted: Coleman provided us with the Oak Canyon 6 tent for the purpose of this review. All opinions and experiences shared are our own.
Review update: We originally tested the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 on a family camping trip in June 2019 and published this review based on that first-hand experience. This article has since been updated to make the review more useful for families considering the tent today, while our original experiences and opinions remain unchanged.
Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Review: At a Glance
Best for: Families looking for a spacious traditional poled tent
Sleeps: Up to 6 people
What we loved: Spacious living area, BlackOut Bedrooms, sturdy construction and manageable pack size
Pitching: Around 20–25 minutes once familiar with the tent
Weather performance: We found it very stable during a particularly windy night
Our verdict: A practical and comfortable family tent, particularly if you prefer poles to an inflatable tent.
What Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Family Tent Like?
The Oak Canyon 6 is a hybrid poled tent designed with families in mind. It has a similar, albeit slightly smaller, floor plan to the Valdes 6XL but for those who still aren’t convinced by inflatables, this is a great alternative.
Steel poles across the central section of the tent make the Oak Canyon very sturdy indeed, we had one very windy night and the tent didn’t move. The hybrid pole design keeps the pack size smaller which was a welcome sight meaning we didn’t need to take our trailer with us.
How Easy Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 to Pitch?
Before our camping trip, I watched a short video showing how to pitch the Coleman Oak Canyon 6, so I had a good idea of what to expect before we arrived. We unrolled the tent, positioned it on our pitch and pegged down the two rear corners first. The fibreglass poles have coloured sections which correspond with the colour-coded pole sleeves, making it surprisingly easy to work out where everything goes — particularly helpful when pitching a large family tent for the first time.
Starting at the back and working our way forwards, it took us less than 15 minutes to insert all of the poles, followed by another 5–10 minutes to peg out the guy ropes. Our first pitch took a little longer because the bedroom compartments weren’t already attached. When we packed the tent away, we left the bedrooms clipped in place, which made setting up much easier the next time. Based on our experience, I would allow around 20–25 minutes to pitch the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 once you are familiar with it, although I’d give yourself a little longer on your first attempt.
Doors, Ventilation and Windows
The Coleman Oak Canyon 6 has two entrances: a large front door and a side door. We particularly liked opening the front of the tent on warm days because it made the living area feel much more connected to the outdoors. Both entrances have mesh panels, so we could let fresh air through while helping to keep insects outside. There are also two PVC windows at the front and one large side window, all with covers that can be closed when you want more privacy.
Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Spacious Enough for a Family?
For us, one of the biggest strengths of the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 was the amount of usable living space. We rarely travel light when camping as a family, but we were able to fit our double-width Royal camping cupboard for clothes and toiletries on one side and a smaller cupboard for food and crockery on the other. We still had room for our water container, kettle, toaster, kitchen box and refrigerator without the tent feeling overly cluttered.
In the centre, we could comfortably fit all six of our camping chairs, or swap these for our table and benches at mealtimes. For a family camping trip, having enough indoor space to sit together is particularly useful when the British weather inevitably keeps everyone inside.
For teenagers who would prefer their own sleeping space, we have also tested the Coleman Kobuk Valley 2 and Kobuk Valley 3 Plus.
What Are the Coleman BlackOut Bedrooms Like?
The BlackOut Bedrooms were one of our favourite features of the Coleman Oak Canyon 6. If you’ve ever been woken ridiculously early by bright summer sunshine pouring through a tent, you’ll understand why they make such a difference on a family camping trip. Coleman says its BlackOut Bedroom technology blocks up to 99% of daylight, and from our experience, the bedrooms really are noticeably darker than those in a standard tent. This made it much easier to settle down at night and meant we weren’t waking simply because the sun had come up.
The BlackOut Bedroom fabric is also designed to help manage the temperature inside the sleeping area. Coleman states that it can keep the bedroom up to 5°C cooler during the day and up to 1°C warmer at night. We didn’t measure the temperature ourselves, but we did find the darker sleeping compartments much more comfortable than sleeping in a standard bright tent during summer camping trips.
The XXL bedrooms also gave us plenty of practical sleeping space. We use camp beds rather than sleeping mats, and we could comfortably fit two camp beds into each bedroom with enough room between them to get in and out without climbing over each other. That extra floor space makes a noticeable difference on a family camping trip, particularly when you’re staying for more than a couple of nights and everyone has clothes and belongings to accommodate.
The smaller bedroom compartment can also be removed if you don’t need all six sleeping spaces. This gives you the option of creating additional living or storage space, which could be particularly useful for a smaller family wanting the generous footprint of the Oak Canyon 6 without needing all of the bedrooms.
How Does the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Perform in Wind and Rain?
One of the things that impressed us most about the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 was how sturdy it felt once fully pitched. During our trip, we had one particularly windy night and the tent remained reassuringly stable, with no noticeable movement that caused us concern. The steel poles through the central section certainly made the structure feel robust, which gave us confidence when the weather changed.
The flysheet is designed to provide protection from wet weather and is also treated with Coleman’s UVGuard™ technology for protection from UV rays. While we can only judge the conditions we personally experienced, its performance in the wind was a definite positive for us.
Safety Features
Coleman has incorporated several safety features into the Oak Canyon 6. The tent fabric is fire retardant, and the door zips are designed so that the stoppers are positioned within easy reach of both adults and children in the event that you need to leave the tent quickly.
As with any family tent, we always make sure everyone knows where the exits are when we set up camp, particularly when camping with children.
Are the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Carpet and Footprint Worth Buying?
There are a few optional extras available for the Coleman Oak Canyon 6. We used both a carpet and footprint, and for family camping, I think both can make a noticeable difference to comfort and practicality.
Carpet: Adding a tent carpet has been a game-changer for us. It makes the living area feel warmer and much more comfortable underfoot, particularly first thing in the morning and during cooler evenings. We have a shoes-off rule inside the tent, which also helps keep the living and sleeping areas much cleaner.
Footprint: This is another extra we really appreciate. As well as adding another layer beneath the tent, the biggest benefit for us is when it comes to packing away. The footprint helps protect the sewn-in groundsheet from mud and dirt, so the bottom of the tent stays considerably cleaner. We also feel that protecting the groundsheet from rough pitches should help prolong the life of the tent.
Front Extension: A front extension was also available for the Oak Canyon 6, providing additional sheltered living or storage space. This could be particularly useful for longer family camping holidays when you’re taking more equipment or want somewhere protected to leave muddy shoes and outdoor gear.
Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Spacious living area – we had room for six chairs, our table and benches, storage cupboards and other camping equipment.
- Excellent BlackOut Bedrooms – noticeably darker than standard tent bedrooms and a real bonus for summer camping.
- Stable in windy weather – it felt reassuringly sturdy during the windy night we experienced.
- Straightforward to pitch – the colour-coded poles and sleeves make the process easier, and we could pitch it in around 20–25 minutes once familiar with it.
- Good-sized bedrooms – we could comfortably fit two camp beds in each bedroom with room to move between them.
- Flexible layout – removing one bedroom gives you additional living or storage space.
- Manageable pack size – an important advantage for us because we didn’t need to take our trailer.
Things to Consider
- It’s still a large poled family tent – although we found pitching straightforward, it requires more manual assembly than an inflatable tent such as the Coleman Valdes 6XL.
- The first pitch takes longer – attaching the bedrooms and becoming familiar with the pole layout added time on our first attempt.
- Optional extras add to the overall cost – we really valued having the carpet and footprint, but these need to be factored into your budget if they’re not included.
- Six people plus lots of kit will inevitably fill the space – although we found the living area generous, families who take a lot of equipment may appreciate additional sheltered storage on longer trips.
Who Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Best For?
The Coleman Oak Canyon 6 is best suited to families who want a spacious, traditional poled tent with plenty of room for longer camping trips. I think it is particularly well suited to families who like the stability of poles but still want features such as BlackOut Bedrooms, a generous living area and flexible sleeping compartments.
For our style of family camping, where we tend to take camp beds, storage cupboards, a fridge and plenty of other equipment, the Oak Canyon 6 gave us a good balance between living space and a manageable packed size.
If your priority is getting your tent pitched as quickly and easily as possible, you may prefer an inflatable model such as the Coleman Valdes 6XL. But if you prefer traditional poles and don’t mind spending around 20–25 minutes setting up, the Oak Canyon 6 is a strong family camping option.
Our Verdict: Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 Worth It?
After using the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 on a family camping trip, we came away really impressed. It gave us the space we need as a family, the BlackOut Bedrooms made sleeping much more comfortable, and its performance during a particularly windy night gave us confidence in how sturdy the tent felt.
So, did we love it as much as our Coleman Valdes 6XL? In different ways, yes. The Valdes wins for the convenience and speed of an inflatable tent, but the Oak Canyon 6 surprised us with how straightforward it was to pitch. The colour-coded poles make a big difference, and once we’d pitched it for the first time, the process felt very manageable.
For me, one of its biggest advantages was the combination of generous family living space and a more manageable packed size. Being able to take it without needing our trailer was a genuine benefit.
If you’re looking for a six-person family tent and prefer traditional poles to an inflatable design, I would happily recommend the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 based on our experience with it.
Coleman Oak Canyon 6 FAQs
How many people does the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 sleep?
The Coleman Oak Canyon 6 is designed to sleep up to six people. We used camp beds and found that we could comfortably fit two beds into each bedroom with enough room between them to move around.
How long does the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 take to pitch?
Once we were familiar with the tent, we found that inserting the poles took less than 15 minutes, followed by another 5–10 minutes to peg out the guy ropes. I would allow around 20–25 minutes for pitching, with a little extra time for your first attempt.
Does the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 have BlackOut Bedrooms?
Yes. The Oak Canyon 6 uses Coleman’s BlackOut Bedroom technology, which Coleman says blocks up to 99% of daylight. We found the bedrooms noticeably darker than those in a standard tent, which was particularly welcome on bright summer mornings.
Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 good in windy weather?
In our experience, yes. We had a particularly windy night during our camping trip and found the tent reassuringly stable. The steel poles through the central section made the structure feel sturdy. Of course, our experience can’t guarantee how the tent will perform in every weather condition, and correct pitching and guying are important.
Is the Coleman Oak Canyon 6 suitable for family camping?
We found it very well suited to family camping. There was enough living space for our chairs, table, storage cupboards, fridge and other equipment, while the separate sleeping areas gave us plenty of bedroom space.
More Family Camping Advice
If you’re planning your next family camping trip, you might also find these guides and reviews helpful:
- Coleman Valdes 6XL Fast-Pitch Family Tent Review– See how the inflatable Valdes 6XL compares with the traditional poled Oak Canyon 6 for family camping.
- UK Family Camping Packing List – Our practical guide to what to pack for a family camping trip, including the essentials that make camping with children easier.
- Campingaz Camping Kitchen 2 Multicook Review – See how we got on with this versatile camping stove and cooking setup on our family camping trips.
- Camping in the UK: Top Camping Tips – Practical advice we’ve picked up from our family camping trips to help make your next UK camping holiday easier and more enjoyable.