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19/9/2007 at 11:36am
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Khyam Windsor and kitchen sink
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Joined: 25/4/2007 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 445
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Hi,
I bought one of last years models, the Coleman Graphite 3 and have used it 6 times so far this year just for weekends with my son. I was looking at spending up to £200 on a 2/3 man tent , but this came up as an end of line and had good reviews. so at half price of £75 I bought one.
It weighs about 3kg so not the lightest but packs up well and the ally poles are a dream. My tent is larger than what you are after, but the reason I mention it is that I was a little sceptical of Coleman as a brand for tents, but would thoroughly recommend them now.
I hope all goes well.
Nick
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'I liked freezing my n*ts off so much, I bought the company'
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03/10/2022 at 6:00pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Hymer 2001 C544 Camp GT
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Joined: 13/6/2011 Standard Member
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Since I bought my Phact X2 my husband has been poorly. At last, I got to use it this summer. In the meantime Coleman Darwin 2+, non blackout, have become available for about £40, so I bought one intending to compare and contrast the two tents.
Phact X2.
Pitches inner first and, doing it solo, I find hoisting the 8.5mm aluminium poles to be a major faff. Once up though, with all 7 geodesic cross-over points bound, the structure is very sturdy and extremely roomy (for a 2 berth) inside. Placing the poles in pouches attached to the inner tent forces the tent to conform to the pole shape. This results in the very bottom part of the tent wall being vertical as opposed to on a slant and makes all to the ground being available for sleeping without brushing up against the side-wall. The flysheet is attached in several places to the poles and completes an extremely rigid structure. It's a shame it doesn't go further down or have storm flaps. There are two apses, two doors, and the inners have mesh ventilation windows. There are side ventilation flaps too. The flysheet entrances are narrow and low. The apse groundsheet is useful as you can't get in without crawling. I found that in the early morning the flysheet door would dribble dew all over me as I opened up and climbed out. The tent proved completely waterproof and flap free during one wet and windy night. There are 4 very large luggage pockets in the side-walls but I've been considering stitching loops to the roof to make a gear loft too. There is a pair of mystery tie-loops dangling down from the crown of the inner dome. I have yet to work out their purpose.
Darwin 2+
Pitches inner first using cross over fibreglass poles, the inner being clipped to the poles. The flysheet has 4 velcro loops to attach to the poles and a tie strap at the crown. The porchway is formed using a "Gothic Arch" which Coleman think is special. It looks good but I can't see any particular functional advantage other than maybe keeping rain away from the door a bit better. Yje porchway has a clip-up groundsheet and the door opens to the side. I like this. See my earlier comment about morning dew.
Despite the ground dimensions being identical, the Darwin 2+ does not look or feel as roomy inside as the Phact X2, and so it proved. The pointy angles of the inner meant I was constantly rubbing against the inner wall and eventually slept diagonally across the tent. I am 5' 9" tall. There is a lantern hook, but the side-wall pockets are tiny, just about big enough for my specs and a mobile phone. The porchway is great though although it seemed to be a magnet for some horrible black beetles that congregated in the corner every night. the doorway is bigger than on the Phact X2, but was still not tall enough to avoid crawling to gain entrance.
Again, the tent proved completely waterproof in one night's downpour.
At the end of 20 days, 10 in each tent, I liked:
The ease of pitching of the Darwin and its door arrangement.
I liked the comparative roominess of the Phact X2, that it has 2 doors to allow a through draught, its interior stowage and its structural rigidity.
I kept the Phact X2 and sold the Darwin 2+ for the same money as I paid for it.
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Topic: Coleman Phact 2
via mobile 04/10/2022 at 12:36am
