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Hi andrew we have a Colorado 8 tunnel tent and 4 days into our stay near weymouth last year, during fairly heavy winds and rain,the tent was blown to one side and it tore right across the back.The tent was well pegged down and we dont understand how such a strong material could give way so easily.We had to pack up and load the trailer in the pouring rain and were thoughouly peed off.

Contacted Outwell last year and we were told that we could purchase a new fly sheet for half the cost of a complete tent.The fact its a tunnel tent still worries me though!

I have also had a tunnel tent disaster in Wales 18 months ago.

Although I must say that the front end of the storm that hit us flipped a trailer tent and picked up a camper on the nearby causeway. So really my Sunncamp Haven 6 came off quite lightly with 2 broken poles and a small tear.

Kidsmadhouse

I am very pleased to be getting the new poles, but there is still a bit of me that suspects the longer the tunnel, the more susceptible it may be to sideways forces. When the wind blows on the end of the tent the fabric itself acts in the same way as a guy rope, and the poles forming the end arch experience compression. But when wind blows sideways the fabric does not contribute to the structural stability, and one is relying on the guy rope, and the strength of the arch itself. And the poles are being stressed laterally, rather than being compressed.

As we sat in the tent we noticed that the wind was forcing the arch sideways, and when it eventually gave way it was the middle pole, as one might have predicted. Stronger poles will obviously help, but when the wind blows very hard I suspect they will still be the weak point.

I will still buy a wind break if we do try again! Once bitten, twice shy.

I have, by the way, been back to the campsite to pick up the tent with my father, and when the new poles arrive will erect it in the garden to dry.

The Montanas will move in the wind.  The poles dont flex, but there is enough movement in the design to handle the strongest of winds.  With the modified poles ( or the 2006 poles ), you are talking about a wind that has to be extremely strong to break one ( not impossible though ).  I used to have the fibreglass poles before, and although they do flex, they very easily break.  I have got through numerous fibreglass poles in my time, I have even had them break just by erecting the tent ( my fault, but very easily done ).  There was a flaw in some of the early Montana poles and they did split easily.  The new poles are not far off double the weight of the original poles and a lot stronger.  I heard from somewhere that the new poles are concrete reinforced.

It doesn't matter what the make of tent, you will find someone somewhere that has had one come down, especially given enough wind.  The bigger the tent the more prone it will be to trapping the wind.  I have had a mixture of domes and tunnels and have never found a strength advantage in one or the other, except when I bought the Montana.  I bought it late season ( 2005 Model ) and have used it in nothing but strong winds and bad weather so far.  Get yourself some Delta Ground Anchors and you should not have any problems.  There are always exceptions to the rule though.

Do you use the stainless steel or nylon deltas, and is there much difference between them (other than cost)?

Post script

I received the replacement set of poles today. When I get a couple of dry days I will erect the tent in the garden and give it a good mopping.