When it comes to family camping trips, music festivals or proper outdoor escapades, having the right tent can make all the difference. You need it to be spacious, comfortable and with the right level of weather resistance. Otherwise, your weekend away or cheeky vacation can turn into a bit of a slog.
I know from first-hand experience that Leeds Festival is significantly less fun when you’ve got a tsunami of mud and other unmentionables sharing a tent with you. Yes ok, Red Camp on a Sunday night is a hell fest as it is, but I at least want to spend the evening listening to exploding butane cans in comfort!
Well today, we’re diving deep into the world of the Crua Core 6-Person Tunnel Tent. A truly special and unique mega tent that’s Known for its durability and ease of use. This tent promises to be a game-changer for campers everywhere. So, let’s see if it lives up to the hype.
Crua Core Tunnel Tent Overview
The Crua Core 6-Person Tunnel Tent is a ‘stand-up sized’ inflatable tent designed with family and group camping in mind. It stands out with its spacious design and innovative features aimed at enhancing your outdoor experience.
This tent isn’t just a shelter; it’s a movable base camp perfect for any adventure. Highlights include its robust, weather-resistant build, expandable modules, and seriously easy setup. If you’re looking for a great cabin tent, then you’re in luck!
- Capacity: 6 people
- Weight: 18.3 kg (40 lbs)
- Dimensions (Packed): 33.8 x 17.7 x 17.7 in / 86 x 45 x 45 cm
- Outer Footprint – 333 cm / 10.9 ft x 335 cm / 10.99 ft
- Height – 7.5ft / 230cm
- Material: Breathable polyester with waterproof and insulated coatings
- Setup Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Crua Core Expandable Tent – The Details
Right so by now you know the basics. Let’s now get into the nitty gritty and break down the Crua Core and its features.
Packed Weight and Packed Size
Packed up, the Crua Core looks and feels like an absolute bloody unit. The packed dimensions are 33.8 x 17.7 x 17.7 in / 86 x 45 x 45 cm and if you are struggling to visualise that, look at the pictures.
As for the weight, this beast weighs in at a sturdy 18 kg, which is heavy. I am a reasonably strong and fit young man and find it challenging to carry this upstairs and over long distances. Basically, this tent is designed for car camping and you would not take this out on a trail.
Having said that, it still makes for a great festival tent if you’ve got the manpower (or a buggy) to carry it.
Pitched Size and Space
Once set up, the tent measures a seriously impressive 124.43 Sqft / 11.56 Sqm of floor space. This provides ample room for up to 6 people to not only sleep comfortably but stretch out and walk around too.
Alternatively, you could sleep fewer people and put a table and some chairs inside. This is why it’s great for music festivals, this tent could become ‘the hub’ for your whole crew to hang out in. Alternatively, this tent is so big it could form your command HQ if you undertook a military campaign to liberate Scotland or something.
The tunnel design means headroom is generous. I was able to jump up and down in this tent, which is exactly what I intend to do inside this tent in Branham Park this summer!
In fact, I have lived in smaller spaces than this… but that’s another story!
Breathability, Waterproofing, and Ventilation
Thanks to its high-quality polyester fabric coated with both waterproof and breathable membranes, the Crua Core keeps you dry from the rain while minimising condensation inside the tent.
The design includes several large vents strategically placed to maximise airflow, making it comfortable even during hot, humid nights.
Full disclosure – the conditions were perfect, English Springer Mild when I tried this tent. It didn’t rain, it was 14 degrees and the wind was a mere breeze so I can’t personally vouch much more for its performance.
Crua does make a few really great thermal, insulated tents. This is not one of them, but you can connect a Culla and Duo to the Core as we will come to later on.
Durability and Resilience
Constructed with a focus on longevity, the Crua Core features strong, tear-resistant fabrics and reinforced seams. This tent is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, from strong winds to heavy rains, ensuring it remains a reliable companion for many trips to come.
The inflatable air tubes would be the obvious point of failure but honestly, they feel really thick and strong so it would take a pretty determined effort to pierce or burst one.
However, I must say that the Crua pump needed to inflate the tent is made entirely from plastic and feels a bit flimsy to me. Go gently with it would be my counsel.
Using The Crua Core Inflatable Tent
Erecting and Collapsing
Setting up the Crua Core is incredibly straightforward and can be done in about 10 minutes, thanks to its inflatable beams that replace traditional poles. You simply unpack it, pitch and peg the footprint down, place the Core on the top and then inflate it using the provided pump. Blowing up the tent may cause you to break out in a slight sweat but that’s about it.
Collapsing the tent is just as easy – you open up the valves and watch it deflate. Of course, ‘rolling up’ such a large tent before putting it away may take one or two attempts to perfect.
Best Uses (and Worst Uses)
When you’re choosing a tent, you’ve got to make sure it’s actually fit for the purpose you want to use it for!
This tent is ideal for:
- Family camping trips
- Group outings with friends
- Festivals
- Extended camping stays where comfort and space are priorities
- Garden Parties
The tent is NOT suitable for hiking, travelling, backpacking or backcountry on account of its size and weight.
For that, be sure to check out our guide to the best hiking tents instead.
Price and Value
Price – $1,015.
The Crua Core comes with a pretty premium price tag, but when you consider the durability, ease of use, and the sheer comfort it provides, it represents a solid investment for serious campers. Let’s face it, at this price you’re not going to be one of those dicks who leaves their tent at a festival.
I get that $1k is a lot to chuck on a tent and this is not an item to be purchased frivolously. You can get other, (traditional/pole) 6-person tents for $200 from Mountain Warehouse although rest assured it won’t last too long. Still, $500 will get you something half-decent.
But, this is a very unique 6-person family tent and remember, it’s both extendable and inflatable meaning you won’t have to waste hours putting it up and taking it down.
In summary, If you are into your family camping or music festivals, look at it as an investment is what we say. Plus, you can rest assured you’re buying a tent from one of the best camping brands.
Connecting The Core and The Duo
One of the little ‘hidden’ features of the Core is that it also connects nicely to the Crua Duo (which in turn, fits a Culla thermal cocoon inside it). It connects like a tunnel that rubs into one of the side doors/ports.
This is great as it means that you now fit 8 people in. Alternatively, you can use the insulated Culla/Duo as a nice, toasty warm thermal section.
Luckily for you I wrote an absolute pearl of a post reviewing the Crua Duo and insulated tent last year, enjoy!
Pros and Cons of The Crua Core
- Spacious and comfortable
- High-quality materials and construction
- Quick and easy setup
- Great weather resistance
- Quite expensive
- Its heavy
Final Thoughts on The Crua Core
The Crua Core 6-Person Tunnel Tent is more than just a tent; it’s a portable home away from home that packs in both space and comfort. It’s one of the best family tents out there.
With its blend of durability, comfort, and ease of use, it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to invest in a high-quality camping tent that will last for many adventures. Whether you’re with family or friends, the Crua Core promises to enhance your camping experience, making every outing a memorable one.
Right then, let’s get those bags packed for Leeds! Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
