Advnture Verdict
You get a lot of bang for your buck in the Coleman Mackenzie – not least, great blackout bedrooms and lots and lots of living space.
Pros
- +
Brilliant bedrooms
- +
Waterproof and wind resistant
- +
Great convertible windows
Cons
- -
Large and heavy
- -
Takes time to put up
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First thoughts
The Coleman Mackenzie 4 Blackout is a good-sized all-rounder aimed at families of four. It's perfect if you like good headroom and space throughout a tent, with two large bedrooms that can easily take double air mattresses (and can be zipped open to form one massive bedroom) and a roomy living room with lots of built-in storage space.
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The blackout bedrooms are some of the best we tested at blocking out bright sunlight – perfect for families with younger children.
On location
We set the Mackenzie up in all kinds of weather in Cornwall, the far South West of England, to see how it performed. If you like your beauty sleep, look no further – the blackout bedrooms are some of the best we tested at blocking out bright sunlight, making this model perfect for those who like a lie in, and families with easily awakened kids.
• RRP: $750 (US) £400 (UK)
• Sleeps: 4 people
• Style: family tunnel tent
• Weight: 25.4kg/56lbs
• Waterproofing: Hydrostatic Head: 4,500mm
• Rooms: Two bedrooms, one living room, one porch
• Pack size: 80 x 40cm/31.5 x 15.7in
• Compatibility: Ideal for longer camping holidays in any weather
We like the wide double doors and the well-placed windows, all of which can also be easily zipped closed or converted into breathable mesh panels that keep insects at bay.
The two doors are at right angles to each other, and when both are open there’s a real sense of space in the living room, which is large enough for a table and chairs as well as all your camping kit - ideal for eating, hanging out or sheltering from inclement weather.
The tent’s outer fly is waterproof enough to repel rain year-round, and three steel poles keep the structure in place even in high winds, but do take a while to assemble, even with two people.
This is a large, hefty tent at 26.6kg – you’ll need a big car boot and two people to transport it and erect it, making it best used for holidays where you’re setting up in one campsite for the duration, and thus rate comfort over manoeuvrability.
The price point seems very reasonable for such a well-built tent – if you’re after a versatile two-bedroom family tent, this comes highly recommended.
