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Hi can't help with the pitching but we have bought the Darwin 5 and have tried to put it up in the garden. It looks quite easy but we didn't quite have the room to succeed. The poles go in one side into closed pockets on the other side of the pole sleeve. We tried it with the inners and ground sheet attched but found this quite difficult so have now taken them out. We go to France this weekend with it, will let you know how we get on. Can't wait.

We didn't see the Darwin 7 pitched only the 5 but we loved it for the space it gives, the zipped in ground sheet and the mesh doors. We are a family of 4 (2 girls aged 13 & 11) and is a lot smaller tent than we are used to. We have used the Vango vista 800 for long holidays and the Vango venture 500 for weekends but have decided this tent will (hopefully) be good for both. This is our first Coleman tent as we have always used Vango before. We are very excited by this tgent and hope it lives up to our expectations.

Hi eorginho

We are back from France when we first used our Darwin 5. It was drizzling when we started pitching and as we hadn't got the tent completely up before we followed the instructions inside the bag. The order in which you tension the poles was incorrect and as soon as we realised this it was easy to pitch and we are confident that next time we put it up in half an hour with 2 adults.

We absolutely loved this tent even though there was a problem with it leaking. There had been excssive rain for a long period and also condensation played a part. Rather then return the tent because we like it so much, we are going to waterproof it next time its up.

The zipped in groundsheet worked a treat, the storage space at the back of the bedrooms kept everying out of the way and there was enought room in the porch for all of us to sit with a small table to eat or play cards etc. We also had a small table with tea/coffee/kettle etc and a Campingaz 12v coolbox. It was very light due to the 3 large windows and using the 'front' door was great in the rain (no rain dripping in as you opened it). Fabulous tent. Love it!

Thank you very much Lassie,

We went camping over the bank holiday weekend when it poured for three days solid and blew a gale to boot.  Our old Coleman Sahara 4 stood up magnificently, so we decided we couldn't justify buying another tent.  I'm sure it won't be too long before the siren voices call again.

Quite intrested if you advise further about your leak in the tent ??? was it more condensation due to lack of ventilation???

Thanks

Graham

We had all avaiable vents open, we think it was volume of water. One day when we came back to tent it was wet on the inside so don't think it was only condensation. We will try reproofing when its next up which will probably be during our summer trip to Bordeaux. We hope it isn't a big issue - the weather was hrrendously wet!

Are you asking because you have  had similar problems? If so which tent?

Nope hopelessly looking for a new tent there are just so many options but love the size of this tent and the zip off SIG so that you can dry the flysheet on its own. Think that its an ideal size for the pitches even the darwin 7 seems to be a good size. Also liked the storage area.

Coleman equipment is usually such high quality too, Do you know if any of the coleman awnings fit to the tunnel part of the tent? Also could you advise if packing the tent away is easy?

Thanks Graham

Yes, I am wondering about porches or awnings for the 5 as well.

I think we've narrowed our options rto the Ontario 6 or the Darwin 5 now after a few trips to tent sales!

Sorry not been on line for a couple of  weeks. We thought about an awning but decided we had enough space without one.

Packing tent away was so easy, we really do love this tent. Looks like we won't get a weekend away before we go to Bordeaux late July, so will have to wait until then to see how the tent is regarding condensation.

Hi, Sorry to but in here i am new to this, but we have just bought a Coleman darwin 7

We tried a test run on saturday trying to put it up, and it took us over an hour.

Has anyone one got any advise on the best way to put it up. It has all the sleeping compartment attached inside, and we were advised to put the side pole in first then working from the back put the other poles in. We had to be muscle men/women to pull the thing up. So we took out the side pole with a lot of struggleing, and we finally got there. Has anyone got any ideas to put it up and better?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

We've got a 5 and it's a bit of a struggle to put it up until you get the hang of it, we've managed to snap the poles in the past. As others have said, it's a lot easier if you take the inners out. The first pole you put in should be the one second from the back (can't remember what colour, but it's the longest one), then the side poles, then start at the back and work your way to the front. When you are getting the first pole in the eyelet, it helps to have someone inside the tent to push it up.

Good luck!

Ok, I've just been experimenting with our darwin 5 in the garden and the quickest way I can put this tent up by myself is to put the silver pole in first, pull it up at the back, peg out a guy rope to hold it up, then insert the poles in the following order: yellow (back), green, red side poles, blue, black, so you are working from the back forwards.

OH puts all the poles in on the ground first but I haven't got the strength to do it that way by myself.

Hope that helps.

hello,

i'm new to this, i've seen the darwin 7 at a yeomans show & it seems to tick all the right boxes. we have recently used our peakland banford tent for the 1st time & found the design a bit impracticle (like sloping doorway which gets you wet when getting in & out) although it prove itself to be waterproof in torrential rain. i like the storage area behind bedrooms in darwin, has anyone used the tent in wet conditions to find out if this area remains watertight? has anyone had experience of the groundsheet letting in water?