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Hi Folks

Go Outdoors are flogging the Coleman Magellan nice and cheap at the moment... so we took advantage and got one.  Usually there is a reason why anything is being sold at a heavy discount, but we're really happy so far.  We haven't used it in anger yet, but we pitched it in our back garden last weekend -- and inside the tent must have been the driest place in the UK... and we all know what torrential rain we've been having recently. 

Just one small bit of advice required from anyone who has experience with this tent.  We found it difficult to pitch it so that the SIG was flat to the ground at the point where the SIG meets the two main roof poles nearest the porch area... the SIG tended to lift up a little off the ground.  And I note the display tent at Go Outdoors also exhibited this.

Now, this is probably just a design fault, and one we can certainly live with (the SIG seems pretty well reinforced at those parts, so can probably take the strain), but if there is any knack we're missing to avoid this happening then I'd be happy to receive some advice! 

Thanks,

Mike

PS I read that some people had been having trouble with the velcro fastenings for the front/rear supports, but we didn't have any problem... although the problem might show up in the middle of a dark, wet and windy night when we least want it to :)

Hi there.  Sorry for the delay in replying. 

Personally we don't find it dark.  The side windows plus the large porch opening provide plenty of light (or enough for us...). 

The side windows don't open for ventilation, but you can unzip little openings towards the top of both side bedrooms, and unzip the centre section of the ceiling (leaving just insect gauze), and you can open the back up completely (and the front obviously!) so there are options.  It did get a little warm inside this last Saturday, but then I reckon everyone's tent did in that heat (summer at last!).

We are very happy with this tent.  Still think the lifting SIG reported in my first post above is a bit of a design flaw, but the tent is well made and those areas under slight strain as a result seem to be well reinforced.

Cheers,

Mike

Ours has extra ties at each point where there is velcro, I guess as a backup means of securing the poles should the velcro fail.  Not that we've yet seen the velcro lose its grip on the poles... but not that we've yet been camping in windy conditions!

Mike