Ill begin with one minor annoyance, but it does sometimes feel like a dealbreaker. The zippers to the front porch begin on the floor instead of the ceiling. So if you camp anywhere where there are creepy crawlies (ants, red bugs, ticks, etc.), theyll make their way inside. There is no way to fully close the 3 zippers that meet there in the middle. And theres just something physically awkward about it that makes a quick escape a little difficult.
And if you need to be able to run power or any kind of hose (for a tent heater, etc.) into the tent, there are no small corner openings. Just in case you wondered... You have to run everything through the center front opening on the porch and then through the front door. This might explain why they began their porch zipper on the floor, but it wouldve been much nicer to have at least one small corner opening inside the tent in trade for that floor zipper.
And now, to my biggest complaint:
I live in Alabama where the weather cant decide which season it is from one day to the next (especially in the fall and spring). We are in the 30s, then the 80s in the span of 2 days. So when I saw that it was 3-season and had the words Keeps you dry... Guaranteed on the outside, I wanted it. The screened porch was an added bonus. My other reason for wanting this tent was the brand. My old tent lasted 13 or 14 years (of frequent use) before seeing its first leak. This one, with the factory rain fly, saw more than just a leak after one single use.
The major issue here is the completely exposed back wall of the tent. If you camp in the heat, you will need to go completely without the rainfly (instead of having the convenience of a back window flap to open and close from the inside), which means you cant take the tent anywhere public or where you might need privacy.
Not only that, but the factory rainfly doesnt fully cover the back or the front of the tent. If it does rain, the porch will be soaked and (if there is any wind at all), the inside will be, too, after water sneaks under and through the back window very easily.
In the pictures Ive included with this review, you can see that I am using a different rainfly. This one is capable of protecting the inside of the tent from rain, although I have mine set up for a mild rain/sprinkle. It is able to be repositioned in a number of different ways and can fully cover the back (top and sides, too) if hung differently, using different guyline brackets. Also, in those photos, Im camping on private property, so no dire need for privacy.
Suffice it to say, both the exposed back side and the rainfly are the biggest design flaws with the entire tent.
Unfortunately, for me, I took too long to get around to using the tent for the first time (always test your products before the one-year factory warranty expires)! I tested mine too close to the warranty expiration date and then proceeded to procrastinate filing any kind of claim. Customer support was good. They offered an exchange for another tent. But I struggled too long in making my decision on which tent to swap with, so I am stuck with this one until I research other tents (including other brands) and purchase one that better suits my needs.
I am giving this tent 3 stars (instead of 1) because of the customer service, the size, the ease of setting it up and breaking it down, and the porch.
No protection from the elements
Ill begin with one minor annoyance, but it does sometimes feel like a dealbreaker. The zippers to the front porch begin on the floor instead of the ceiling. So if you camp anywhere where there are creepy crawlies (ants, red bugs, ticks, etc.), theyll make their way inside. There is no way to fully close the 3 zippers that meet there in the middle. And theres just something physically awkward about it that makes a quick escape a little difficult. And if you need to be able to run power or any kind of hose (for a tent heater, etc.) into the tent, there are no small corner openings. Just in case you wondered... You have to run everything through the center front opening on the porch and then through the front door. This might explain why they began their porch zipper on the floor, but it wouldve been much nicer to have at least one small corner opening inside the tent in trade for that floor zipper. And now, to my biggest complaint: I live in Alabama where the weather cant decide which season it is from one day to the next (especially in the fall and spring). We are in the 30s, then the 80s in the span of 2 days. So when I saw that it was 3-season and had the words Keeps you dry... Guaranteed on the outside, I wanted it. The screened porch was an added bonus. My other reason for wanting this tent was the brand. My old tent lasted 13 or 14 years (of frequent use) before seeing its first leak. This one, with the factory rain fly, saw more than just a leak after one single use. The major issue here is the completely exposed back wall of the tent. If you camp in the heat, you will need to go completely without the rainfly (instead of having the convenience of a back window flap to open and close from the inside), which means you cant take the tent anywhere public or where you might need privacy. Not only that, but the factory rainfly doesnt fully cover the back or the front of the tent. If it does rain, the porch will be soaked and (if there is any wind at all), the inside will be, too, after water sneaks under and through the back window very easily. In the pictures Ive included with this review, you can see that I am using a different rainfly. This one is capable of protecting the inside of the tent from rain, although I have mine set up for a mild rain/sprinkle. It is able to be repositioned in a number of different ways and can fully cover the back (top and sides, too) if hung differently, using different guyline brackets. Also, in those photos, Im camping on private property, so no dire need for privacy. Suffice it to say, both the exposed back side and the rainfly are the biggest design flaws with the entire tent. Unfortunately, for me, I took too long to get around to using the tent for the first time (always test your products before the one-year factory warranty expires)! I tested mine too close to the warranty expiration date and then proceeded to procrastinate filing any kind of claim. Customer support was good. They offered an exchange for another tent. But I struggled too long in making my decision on which tent to swap with, so I am stuck with this one until I research other tents (including other brands) and purchase one that better suits my needs. I am giving this tent 3 stars (instead of 1) because of the customer service, the size, the ease of setting it up and breaking it down, and the porch.