Hi
I have been looking to buy this tent for a while. I have noticed though that there are 2 versions. A green one without a rain fly and an orange one with a rain fly and roll down windows for ventilation (which considering this is a single skin tent seems like a good idea) The green one seems to be the UK version and the other the U.S. version. Before I buy has anyone got any idea if there's a reason there's a difference?! Just concerned that there may be a reason not many places are selling the U.S version, ie not as good/suitable for our weather?
Thanks
------------- Bongo Girls
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I think you might have it the wrong way round and the double skin one is the UK version. The single skin one is for the US, especially California where it rarely rains apparently.
I have had two Coleman tents and find them pretty good but I have never been impressed with the instant tourers which don't seem adequate for UK weather. You can get a front extension for the instant tourer 4 which basically turns it into a dome with a porch. Personally, If you want that style of tent I would go for a purpose made dome with a porch.
Ok, I thought I had read or heard that it was the other way round. If you check out the tent reviews on here it seems they are waterproof but suffer with condensation. One of those who did a review and posted a photo has used a tarp over the front for added protection.
I still feel there are better tents of a similar style and although not 'instant erect' are pretty easy to erect. Instant erect tents aren't always as easy to erect or take down again as they make out.
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American tents are designed completely different from ones designed for the UK and European market. If you have a look at Wenzels website you'll see they are very heavy on the 'screen porch' areas ie they are nearly all mesh and the fly is something you might only occasionally use.
The Coleman Octagon 8 is a good example of this, they've pretty much just imported as is without any design changes and it's quite often shown in their marketing literature without the rain fly.
In the UK we're not so much concerned with getting rid of excess heat, but keeping it in. We are even more concerned about keeping rain out. So our tents have ventilation panels designed in both low and high to facilitate circulation of air to take moist air from our breath out. American tents don't tend to design ventilation in because mesh tents have loads of it anyway.
Thanks everyone. I've bought the American one as I found it for a really good price and seems to meet our needs. I'll let you know if we live to regret it!