2.8.2018

Have not tested in the rain but I am sure the double skin would work well as there is a good sized air gap between the layers to stop water seeping through. The door on this tent is great as it unzips from either end so unlike with other tents were I have just ended up unpegging the door flap to get in and out because it is too inconvenient to unzip this one you can just leave zipped up at the base and unzip from the top to climb in and out. This also means you can unzip it just a little at the top and get a breeze through the inside fly screen section. I would like it if this fly screen was a little larger but it compensates for the small size well by being able to unzip the outside likethis.The problem however is that the top vents also have fly screens so anything that gets in between the outer and inner skin flies up there and gets stuck. Within a couple hours there were 20 odd flies buzzing around up there and it was getting quite annoying. As they always try and fly upwards they never manage to get out and I found myself slapping the top of the tent towards the door to try and push them towards the exit... with limited success. The problem is amplified by the front of the tent being grey whilst the rear is green as they were noticeably more attracted to the green sections so kept getting further away from the door. I may cut the fly screens out of the top vents or partially cut them away and stitch in some Velcro so they can be opened to get rid of the flies. It is unlikely that flies are going to come in through them anyway... and it doesn't matter if they do because they can't get into the interior of the tent unless you leave the inside door open. Unless you pull the outer skin really tight to the ground (which I was unable to do as the ground was too hard to get the pegs in that deep) and have a ground sheet down under the tent they are always going to crawl in under it and get stuck up there.I somehow managed to get in and out several times without actually letting any flies inside the tent and I guess if you are a fisherman or something you could use the tent as a pretty effective fly trap for free bait but otherwise the buzzing up there becomes really irritating.I just took the tent out for about 5 hours in the sun to test it out and did not have the same problem I've had with cheaper tents of it quickly getting too hot inside to be comfortable as the double skin cuts down on a lot of the glare from the sun and the ventilation is reasonably good. The tent assembles relatively easily although I would ignore the instructions to tie the poles in place before clipping them on as this resulted in the tie being in the wrong place and being difficult to undo and rectify. Tying it on after getting it pegged in place and clipped on though resulted in it becoming untied after putting the second skin on so it would be preferably if there were clips up there instead.It probably goes up easier than single skin tents where you have to feed the poles through the fabric due to the exterior clips though. Lining the second skin up properly over the top was a little more awkward but mainly because I'd put it up in a small clearing in the trees and had limited space.The interior compartment folds up very easily due to the simple square shape (just take a look at how it was folded when you first took it out and copy that). The second skin though I had trouble with because the shape is less straight forward and the rigid struts that support the top vents were getting in the way so predictably I was unable to get it back in the bag as neatly as it came though it still worked out easier and more compact than single skin tents I've had. Having just two poles rather than another for the front awning section makes this easier and less bulky too. Given that the tent is very good quality though it is a little annoying that the bag is just as thin and flimsy as cheaper tents as I could see it splitting unless you are able to get it packed away just as compactly as it came.

10.8.2020

Newbie to camping and so wanted a decent tent that was not over expensive. This seems to be a really great tent, used it for a week during which time we have every bit of weather going from the heat to the pour down and gusty winds, the tent coped fine. I've given it 5 stars because it is just what I wanted, it has a sleeping area and a small porch area so you don't have to take wet stuff in to the sleeping part. First off there were only two of us and so we managed to put a double air bed in it with no problem. Second time round my youngest joined us. Now at this point just two minor issues. I'd question 4 man because to me ( admittedly a novice) it seemed a bit cramped with 3 so I feel 4 would have been a uncomfortable.

20.7.2020

The bedroom region of the tent is big enough for an inflatable mattress with 6" either side to stick bags and such. It's a comfortable size.Set up correctly, the outer and inner layer don't touch, rain is not a concern as far as I can tell (had ~8 hours of moderate rain over the weekend and none made it in.Where the tent let me down is with the design of the entrance. The groundsheet extends beyond the bedroom part, and the external part drapes over it all. This is taught over the bedroom, but loose over both sides of the entrance. This means that wind blowing towards one of those sides will push it over the lip of the groundsheet and water will drip down inside there.

9.9.2014

This tent came to Dartmoor for one week and, my word, what a bargain.I wanted something light, roomy, and reliable. This ticked all those boxes.On the third day, the tail-end of the recent Atlantic hurricane sent rain and gales pounding into the valley where we camped. The tent swayed in the wind as all would, and yet was rock solid. Even as a Londoner with family in Ireland, I've never seen rain like it in my life- it hammered down from 6am till 8pm nonstop and yet not a drop got through. My friend bought the exact same tent and had the exact same excellent protection. The outer triangulated door cover is a real bonus for storing wet boots and waterproof clothing that needs to dry out.When the sun shone after the downpour I said to my pal,

25.8.2020

I recently purchased and used the 3+ man tent for a coastal weekend camping trip. It was not only easy to put up and assemble but it stayed up the entire time with no re-reinforcements or adjustments needed which was really impressive as the other members of our camping trip had to keep reinforcing their own tents. Our camping trip was very very windy but the tent stood up well.Unfortunately it did not rain so I cannot comment on the water proof/resistance but I assume that it would also hold well under rain. The bag it came in is really handy and compact but we did have difficultly trying to fold the tent to put back in the bag properly (I wish it did come with instructions on the best way to do this - do we roll/fold?

7.8.2018

Bought this for a solo bike tour around Japan where I was camping primarily for three months. The tent held up to conditions varying from -6c in the Japanese alps, 30c on beaches, and in the remnants of a typhoon in a forest.Its an Amazingly good value tent though there are a couple of negative points, first of all its a little heavy so if you are looking to go lightweight it's not the best, second I found that the tent was very prone to condensation, this could be due to the fabsil waterproofing I used but it bears mentioning. Finally, by the end of the three months the groundsheet was worse for wear and not one hundred percent waterproof any more,

10.10.2019

Love this little tent. I've got into a habit of going off camping for a week on my own in the summer, and for the last couple of years have used a pop up festive tent and it's being OK but I wouldn't trust it in the rain, and this year rain was forecast, so wanted something I could trust. After a bit of research I went with the Darwin. What I was looking for was something that :1. would keep me dry and wouldn't blow away2. was quick to put up and pull down3. would keep the bugs out4. was compact, doesn't take up much storage space and was reasonable light to carry.5. will be robust to last 5-10 years (using it only 1-2 weeks a year)I can confirm that this tent meets all my requirements of points 1 to 4 and only time will tell for point 5,

15.5.2020

For me, one of the most appealing things about this tent is… the colour! So many tents these days are bright orange, or neon blue or something. This tent blends into the UK countryside perfectly.The tent itself has a great build quality, and is easy to put up (it takes me about 15 mins). I got the 3+ version and I would suggest you go a size higher than the amount of people that will be using it. The 3+ is perfect for two people and all their gear.There are some great features, like a raised lip on the groundsheet, ventilation flaps, fly mesh, windows with window covers, and resistance to fire.You can’t really go wrong with this tent, and this is coming from someone testing it in the Scottish Highlands,

29.5.2019

I bought this tent as I needed a smaller tent for motorbiking, Unfortunately the first and only time I have erected was in a rainstorm. Because its inner lining carries the poles by the time I was putting the fly sheet on it was a swamp. Two poles are used for the inner and a third goes on the flysheet, the flysheet pole is shaped making it difficult to install through the sheet. The inner poles clip.I found through out the night the the flysheet touched the inner and no amount of adjusting the guy ropes (incidentally attach at the corners) could pull the flysheet away from the inner.Short of it is that I would not recommend this particular Colman (I have 2 others which are good - flysheet

17.6.2019

This tent replaced an old one which had started to leak.. It is so much better designed, weather proof (even a violent overnight continental storm didn't trouble it) and easy to erect. All tents this size are described as 3 man. That would feel very crowded. I erected mine alone first time in less than 15 minutes. It's probably worth spending a little longer on this to ensure the geometry is correct; helpful preventing rain ingress and avoiding strain on poles zips etc. A centre mark on the main poles to indicate where they should intersect would help too (I'll mark mine with tape when I get home). This tent comes without a hammer/mallet. Otherwise complete and full instructions.

4.8.2019

Used the tent for a multiple day music festival.It withstood the rain and wind. However, when I was putting it up, it was raining so the inner part got wet and wasn't able to dry. Once it stopped raining though and it was sunny for a couple of hours it dried up very well and the condensation was gone. When it rained after that there was no new condensation. The little windows for airing are extremely useful for this.Two people can fit in it, but if you have a lot of luggage, it gets very cramped. I managed ok with my boyfriend, but people that are not so close might be uncomfortable. Also the space at the front of the tent isn't much, managed to fit two pairs of boots at the maximum.

6.8.2019

Easy to set up, great protection from the elements. It only rained once during my first weekend using this tent however it held perfect. Only had myself sleeping in with the handy vents wide open so condensation was not an issue, I even had plenty of space to keep all my gear inside the tent with me.Getting back into the bag can be a pain, just check how it was folded when you initially take it out and you should be fine, take your time rolling it up nice and tight and squash the air out!Only negative I have is the fly screen on the door itself is only a small portion and not the full door, you're still fully protected from insects, you just can't really see much outside the tent.

12.11.2020

Really love this tent. So easy to put up and take down (and if I can do it anyone can). Instructions are attached to the storage bag so no chance of losing them.I used the tent during torrential rain and it stayed dry inside. The small porch outside got a bit of water inside though, so just be aware of leaving any shoes out etc.If using with two people there’s no room inside for rucksacks/backpacks. I’d personally use this more as a single man tent and get something bigger for when having to share.There is a small hook in the tent for hanging a light if you want to. On the sides are small storage pockets for your phone etc.Definitely would recommend.

8.9.2020

The item is well insulated and easy to assemble even solo. However the thing I struggled ith was the feeling of claustrophobia, this was due to the fact there's no window in the tent, it caused me to feel very restless whilst camping for 3 nights .I hadn't considered before that a window would make such a huge difference to how well I could rest.If this isn't a major issue for you then the tent is fantastic, it was the warmest tent I've ever used and also very weatherproof , even on the cliff tops in a storm we stayed dry. I would recommend only 2 adults sleep in the tent though as it's not the roomiest tent ever.

8.9.2020

I love this tent. Bought for a bikepacking trip across Ireland. A little heavier than I would like at 2.8kgs but worth the extra weight if you want to stay dry in a storm. I arrived in Westport Co. Mayo on the eve of storm Ellen and was forced to camp out as all B&Bs etc in the town were booked out.The storm hit around 2am and was really savage untill the worst passed at around 6am. I didn't sleep a wink but this tent held firm and I remained bone dry as did all my camping gear within the tent. This is a tough little tent and won't let you down if you can live with the little extra weight

Coleman Darwin 4 Plus - Reviews

Info

Analysis