Advice on this Coleman tent please.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

I know some of you use your tents quite a bit so after some advice.

 

I am booked to take Buttercup into Italy but as Italy is shut down it may affect my plans.

 

I am working on a plan B as it may be difficult for me to get hotels at short notice.

 

I have never been in a tent or used one so I have been having a look around and I keep coming back to this one.

 

All the reviews seem very good but then I would sort of except them to be, as they are promoting a product they sell.

 

https://www.coleman.eu/UK/p-26701-kobuk-valley-3-plus-camping-tent.aspx

 

I like the following.

 

• Appears to pack small and light.
• Appears quick and simple to erect.
• It has a porch area.
• It has a separate ground sheet for the porch area which I would imagine is better for cleaning etc.
• It has a blackout bedroom.

 

Any advice or comments are welcome.

 

 

 

[AdamR]

I generally look at weight and price in tents. Too light (unless very expensive) or too heavy - likely to be crap. Too cheap - likely to be crap.

 

Alternatively, this applies to a lot of sports equipment: "Cheap, light, strong - pick two".

 

I would say that looks about right for what you want to do with it

[Onliest Smeg David]

1 hour ago, AdamR said:

I generally look at weight and price in tents. Too light (unless very expensive) or too heavy - likely to be crap. Too cheap - likely to be crap.

 

Alternatively, this applies to a lot of sports equipment: "Cheap, light, strong - pick two".

👍This!

My preference (& I've pitched/lived in most types/sizes over my 40 years camping)

Ease of erections.... Tunnel with inner & outer attached. One person can pitch a very large tunnel easily, but geodesic designs can be a bit more awkward.

Aluminium poles.... stronger and can be bent back into shape and reinforced with a splint if unfortunate happens. Fibreglass shatters and becomes useless, also the poles join using a metal collar that can catch tent sleeves and cuts fibreglass over prolonged use.

Size.... as big as is practical for your purpose (erect and packed), having plenty of space with decent porch for wet/damp gear (I would never 'recommend' cooking in a porch - but I do all the time 😁)

I prefer to cut to shape my own plastic ground sheet for under whole tent, easy to replace as gets damaged / worn, which it will & can be thick or thin plastic as transport space allows.

 

I've been impressed by value for money at Decathlon, with up to 5 years guarantee.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/tent-trek-500-4p-grey-orange-id_8556124.html

Edited March 9, 2020 by Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO
Aluminium poles!

[Rob Hunter - Club Secretary]

Apart from weight and size etc, I also look for it's waterproof rating. 

5000mm hydrostatic head is the best. I would avoid anything thats 1200-2000mm as they will leak in a sustained downpour. The Coleman is very good at 4500, you'll be guaranteed to be dry in the morning! 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Thankyou for the replies so far. 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

1 hour ago, RobH72 said:

Apart from weight and size etc, I also look for it's waterproof rating. 

5000mm hydrostatic head is the best. I would avoid anything thats 1200-2000mm as they will leak in a sustained downpour. The Coleman is very good at 4500, you'll be guaranteed to be dry in the morning! 

Equally important would be the hydrostatic head for the groundsheet which I can’t see listed. damp and moisture from wet ground is as much an issue camping in this country as the rain is.

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

Did a lot of research into tents before road tripping, and settled on this one:

 

https://www.msrgear.com/ie/tents/backpacking-tents/freelite-3-ultralight-backpacking-tent/10327.html

 

For the cheap/light/strong trade off, it seemed a really good balance, and I was really happy with it on the trip. Quick to set up and take down, packs down to a really small size and weighs nearly nothing. Ally poles definitely are better than the fibreglass ones. I bought the separate ground sheet to go with it too. 

[Blatman]

Been using a Blacks tent at Le Mans for years. It's a 3 man tent which is great for two(!) and packs down small. I can't see it or anything like it on Blacks site but I do like the look of this:

https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/025759-eurohike-ribble-3.html

Can't see how small it packs down though...

[Kingster]

Geoffrey I have a pretty good light weight tent that you can have for as long a you need. 
 

One of these https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/vaude-taurus-2p-tent-D1314129.html?channable=e65395.MjUxNTcwXzkw&colour=90&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-KD9pKO6AIViaztCh1gEQQQEAQYASABEgIdXPD_BwE

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

39 minutes ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

Geoffrey I have a pretty good light weight tent that you can have for as long a you need. 
 

 

Hi Chris.

Thankyou for the really kind offer. That would be brilliant.

 

I am monitoring the Italy situation and will be making a decision at the end of this month.

 

That will dictate whether I need a tent for my "Plan B".

 

I will confirm at the end of the month.

 

Thanks again Chris.

[Onliest Smeg David]

Chris's Vaude will definitely do the job, (I've used that one) it's a good tent. Porch too small for me though.

 

If you're thinking to buy, It's a balance of what you can afford/justify against amount of use over what timescale.

 

My tents were very expensive, BUT ultimately over the many years of intense use are exceedingly good value. (Hilliberg Nallo/Jack Wolfskin Lighthouse RT, the JW would fit your brief perfectly but only if looking for long term investment in reliable dry accommodation)

 

Drop me a pm to sort a chat over options nearer the time if you wish.

 

 

[Kingster]

3 minutes ago, Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO said:

Porch too small for me though.

That’s why I bought a slightly bigger one. But the Vaude is sat in my garage doing nothing 😁

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Thanks @Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO for all the advice.

 

I have never used a tent but always fancied giving it a go.

I am unsure as to how often it would get used hence I didn't want to be spending hundreds of pounds.

I kept going back to the Coleman tent as it had a porch and I quite liked the idea of keeping the inside of the tent clean.

Also with it having a blackout interior, I was hoping it may spark an interest in my Grandaughter. I did go view some tents today and I was surprised at how much daylight they let into the interior and the blackout appealed to me also.

My ideal scenario would be just to put things in Buttercup, have a Saturday night out somewhere and back home on Sunday.

 

 

 

[Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator]

12 minutes ago, Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup) said:

 

I am unsure as to how often it would get used

 

first test at Stoneleigh then @Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)  ?

[SootySport]

I think it’s funny when they describe a tent as a ‘2 man tent’. ‘3 man tent’ and so on.  One does need a little elbow room.
  You need a tent that says ‘6 man tent’  if want to accommodate 2 or 3 adults.