We recently had the chance to use the Coleman Oak Canyon 4 BlackOut Tent during a three-night camping trip with my partner and two kids in the Lake District. Overall, the experience was solid, with a few standout positives and a couple of areas where we think the tent could be improved.
First Impressions and Setup
Out of the bag, the Oak Canyon 4 feels substantial. The tent comes in a large, sturdy carry bag (a bit on the bulky side, so not great for minimalist campers or hiking), but it's clear that this tent is designed for car camping and family use. Setup took us just under 30 minutes the first time, with two adults working together. The instructions were clear enough, and color-coded poles helped avoid confusion. The steel poles give it a durable, stable feel, although they do add to the overall weight.
Once pitched, the tent stood firm, even during a night of moderate rain and wind. Guy lines held well, and the overall structure didn’t sway or sag noticeably. It’s worth noting that the Oak Canyon isn’t freestanding—you’ll need suitable ground to stake it properly.
Interior Space and Layout
The Oak Canyon 4 is marketed as a four-person tent, and it delivers in terms of space. It’s divided into two main zones: a large living area and a sleeping compartment that’s split into two bedrooms. My kids loved having their own little room, and the zipped divider gave us a decent amount of privacy.
One of the tent's highlights is its *BlackOut Bedroom* technology. These rooms are lined with a special blackout fabric that significantly reduces light. We were genuinely impressed—sunrise didn’t wake us early, and the interior stayed cool longer into the morning. It’s one of the key reasons we chose this tent, and it lived up to the hype.
The standing height throughout the living area (about 6 feet or 185 cm) made it easy to move around without crouching, and we had enough room to bring in a table and chairs during a rainy spell.
Weather Performance
We encountered one night of fairly heavy rain, and the tent handled it without a single leak. The bathtub-style groundsheet and taped seams did their job, and there was no noticeable condensation inside either. The tent is rated to 4,500mm hydrostatic head, which seems accurate based on our experience. Wind resistance was solid too; the tent remained quiet and didn’t flap much.
Ventilation was adequate but could be improved. There are mesh windows and a rear ventilation panel, but during the warmer parts of the day, the living area got stuffy. At night, things cooled down well, especially with the blackout lining helping keep temperatures steady.
Drawbacks
One notable downside is the weight and packed size. At over 26 kg (nearly 60 lbs), this isn’t a tent you want to carry far. It's also quite large when packed, so make sure you have enough trunk space. Additionally, while the blackout feature is great for sleep, it makes the bedrooms very dark, so finding things inside at night without a light can be a bit tricky.
I also wish there were more internal storage pockets—there are a few, but not quite enough for a family of four with phones, torches, and miscellaneous camping clutter.
The Coleman Oak Canyon 4 BlackOut is an excellent family tent for car camping and weekend getaways. Its standout feature—the blackout bedrooms—really makes a difference in sleep quality, and the space and weather protection are impressive. While it's heavy and a bit cumbersome to transport, once it's set up, it delivers comfort, privacy, and shelter in a reliable package.
£379
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