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Coleman Steel Creek 6 is one of the greatest tents to those who are tight in budget. For a 6-person capacity, it has a lower setup time, weight and smaller pack size.
Coleman Evanston vs Steel Creek; they are both great tents but there are a number of key differences.
If you are in a hurry, I can confidently say that Coleman Steel Creek is a much better option, since it has a lower setup time, weight and smaller pack size while providing the same capacity.
Before the comparison, you should know that Coleman is a great option for those who are on a budget. But since it’s cheaper, it makes certain sacrifices in quality compared to big brands. If you are willing to pay a little bit more I would recommend Marmot Tents for you.
Coleman Evanston vs Steel Creek: Specifications
Header | COLEMAN EVANSTON 6 | coleman steel creek 6 |
|---|---|---|
Cell |  |  |
Setup Time | 15 minutes | 7 minutes |
Pack Size | 27.75" x 11" x 9.75" | 26" x 9.5" x 9.5" |
Weight | 26.3 pounds | 19.01 pounds |
Color-Coded Poles | No | Yes |
E-Port | No | Yes |
Storage Pockets | Yes | Yes |
Size | 10 x 9 ft. with 10 x 5 ft. screen room | 10 x 9 ft. with 10 x 5 ft. screen room |
Height | 5 ft. 8 in. center height | 5 ft. 8 in. center height |
Seasonwise | 3 Seasons | 3 Seasons |
Withstanding | Strong frame is tested to withstand 35+ MPH winds | Strong frame is tested to withstand 35+ MPH winds |
Prices |
Main Differences
Let’s take a look at every feature one by one.
Setup Time
Coleman Steel Creek 6 is a fastpitch tent, therefore, it only takes 7 minutes to make the tent ready. On the other hand, it takes at least 15 minutes to set up Coleman Evanston 6.
Yes, a quick set up is important but there are more important aspects you need to consider, such as ventilation. You won’t be thinking about your saved 8 minutes when your tent becomes too hot to be able to sleep in the morning.
With that being said, let’s go to the next section, ventilation…
Ventilation
Both of the tents have the same structure, they have 3 windows (1 big window at the back, 2 small windows at the sides) and the top is with mesh. Both of them are very good for ventilation.
Weight
Coleman Evanston is 7.2 lbs heavier than Coleman Steel Creek which means its materials are more durable than the latter.
Coleman Evanston (26.3 pounds) is 7.2 pounds heavier than Coleman Steel Creek (19.1 pounds).
Quick Note:
If you are comparing several tents that cost nearly the same, generally the lighter the weight the less durable the materials are.
Packed Dimensions
Packed Dimension is not as crucial as backpacking compared to car camping but still, carrying the smallest gear is a plus for every outdoor activity. Coleman Steel Creek‘s packed size (26″ x 9.5″ x 9.5″) is slightly smaller than Evanston‘s packed size (27.75″ x 11″ x 9.75″).
Features
Coleman Steel Creek has two important features that Coleman Evanston does not have.
- E-port: It has a small port to get electrical power into your tent
- Color-coded Poles: To ease the setup process
See Customer Reviews of Evanston
See Customer Reviews of Steel Creek
Capacity & Dimensions
In the tent market, mostly a 3-person tent is a 2-person tent, and a 4-person tent is a 3-person tent. So, don’t just look at what the brand claims the capacity, look at the sizes of the tent as well.
Both of the tents are 10 ft (Length) x 9 ft (Width) (it is a bit smaller than most of the 6-person tents on the market).
The height of both tents is 5 ft 8″ (which is relatively low compared to most of the 6-person tents on the market as well). But if you don’t spend too much time walking inside your tent, it shouldn’t be a big problem.
Conclusion
Even though they are both great for a budget tent, Coleman Steel Creek is a much better option. The main reasons for that are:
- Setup time for Coleman Steel Creek is 7 minutes, on the other hand, setup time for Coleman Evanston is 15 minutes.
- Coleman Steel Creek is 7.2 pounds lighter than Coleman Evanston.
- Even though they have the same capacity Coleman Steel Creek is smaller when packed.
- Coleman Steel Creek features Color-coded poles and an E-port.
Check the latest price of Coleman Steel Creek and Coleman Evanston on Amazon.
Watch Coleman Evanston 6 review here:
Watch Coleman Steel Creek 6 review here: