Columbia Bugaboo Four to Five-Person Family Dome Tent Reviews

• Love this Tent!

  
  By A33XZLGI39A3RT on 2005-06-29
  I bought this tent mainly because of the height. My main criteria was that I be able to stand up inside the tent to be able to change clothes easily. I agree with another poster that it doesn't feel like a true 9x12 tent that it claims. I think the slanting walls of a dome-style tent take up a lot of the room you think you're going to have. I have an airbed that is a double bed size and sits 22 inches high. It fit nicely and I still had room to put a small table along with 2 suitcases and assorted junk.
  
  The tent stakes are cheap and I actually had 2 bend while trying to put them in the ground. But its also fairly cheap to buy some sturdy tent stakes to use in the future. Don't let that keep you from buying the tent, but know that you should probably go ahead and buy some at the same time that you buy the tent.
  
  The rainfly makes for a nice entryway overhang. Luckily it didn't rain on my trip, but I can see how the rainfly along with the vents at the bottom of the tent side walls would allow for nice venitilation without getting wet. I had nice ventilation at night by opening the vents at the bottom and opening each of the windows about 5 inches at the top. I had privacy to sleep and plenty of fresh air at the same time.
  
  I also noticed that the zipper on the door caught on the yellow fabric zipper guard along the outside of the zipper. But that was easily avoidable once I started holding my finger against the yellow fabric as I unzipped the door.
  
  I used the small foot lockers that are accessible from the outside to run my electric cord through for my light and fan. It worked very well so I wasn't tripping over the cords running in the doors. I just put them through the footlocker door and zipped it snug to the cord. Worked beautifuly.
  
  The assembly of the tent is very easy and I did do it myself once. But it is much easier to have 2 people to put it up. Its much easier to have one person holding the end of the pole onto the peg while the other person puts the other end of the pole on the peg. Taking the tent down is easily a one person job. Just make sure you follow the directions for folding the tent back up and it will fit nicely into the provided bag.
  
  This tent is definitely worth the cost. I know have friends who are thinking of buying the same tent!
  
  Enjoy and happy camping!
  
  

• Excellent Family Tent

  
  By A2F2S1L61X1LA9 on 2005-04-21
  We purchased this tent so we can introduce our family (my wife, 2 young children (4 and 3)) to the joys of camping. This tent easily hold all 4 of us with plenty of room for another kid and all of our gear.
  The tent sets up quickly, but you need 2 people to properly pitch it - so one man setup is out. It becomes pretty tight and sturdy once properly setup and staked, and has very good ventilation.
  The directions are not the best in the world, but they will do.
  
  

• Leaky

  
  By A374Y7SX8BR25A on 2005-08-20
  This tent has a lot of nice features:
  -Set up is easy.
  -Over 6' tall ...great clearance!
  -Lots of windows for ventilation.
  -Skylight.
  
  This tent has one bad feature:
  -Leaks from window seam.
  
  We experienced light rain for about six hours. The tent had a large puddle in the center (where the lowest point was), causing our sleeping bags to absorb al lot of the water. This is unacceptable.
  
  I was going to exchange for a new one until I saw another reviewer experience the same issue.
  
  

• Almost dry in a thunderstorm

  
  By A3ND4M3B8FEJ7N on 2005-08-14
  All in all this is a fabulous tent, as others have noted.
  
  We put this tent to the test on a hot August night that errupted in a major 1 hour thunderstorm with drenching rains for 2 hours. The tent stayed completely dry - except for the seam that had the "In case of leaks..." instruction label stitched into it! The seam holes around this label acted as a wick and sucked in a steady drip of rainwater in the center of the sleeping area. A dab of sealer should do the trick to make this tent 100% dry.
  
  Also, potential buyers should note that this tent does NOT have the The "Clean Sweep zippered floor flap" mentioned in the product description above. This was a major selling point for my husband, and a disappointment when no zipper was found.
  
  We've decided to keep the tent anyway, as the positives far outweigh these negatives.
  
  

• We Like the Bugaboo

  
  By AGTH362UTEQQU on 2006-10-04
  We bought The Columbia Bugaboo tent based on the positive amazon reviews and the design, with the rainfly almost reaching the ground for extra wind and rain protection. So many tents have a wimpy rainfly that would let wind and rain blow into into the sides. We felt the rainfly on the Bugaboo would work well in adverse conditions, and we were not disappointed.
  
  The tent performed well on our first outing to a remote high mesa in northern New Mexico in late September. Temperatures were mid-seventies during the days and around forty degrees at night.
  
  This was my first-ever camping experience and my husband is an "Old Marine" whose idea of camping is sleeping on the ground in the open next to a humvee, not my cup of tea. We looked at a lot of tents and I studied web reviews for weeks before purchasing the Columbia Bugaboo. I'm somewhat claustrophobic, so wanted a larger tent with plenty of space for two people. We considered the Columbia Cougar Flats, but thought it would be too large, plus more difficult for the two of us to set up. It was quite windy when we arrived at our camping spot, so the decision to go with the smaller Bugaboo was a good one.
  
  Before our trip we practiced setting up the tent at home. Too bad this tent doesn't have its own footprint, we bought a 10 x 12 tarp and folded it to fit under the Bugaboo. We found the tent fairly easy to set up by two adults. The instructions are provided on paper and a condensed version is on a tab sewn into the carry bag. We purchased several sets of sturdy metal and plastic stakes, which we used to fix the main loops of the tent to the ground. We used the lightweight stakes that come with the tent to secure the rainfly guylines.
  
  We had great sunny weather during our trip, but it was breezy to downright windy at times. The tent held up well to the winds, but we had very carefully anchored everything to the ground. I doubt the tent would have performed as well if we had neglected to secure all the tabs and lines, using the stronger stakes at key points.
  
  We didn't use the attic or shoe closet dividers, and I never could get the hooks for the cup holders to latch to the wall rings. Of course, the Old Marine thought cupholders in a tent the most ridiculous idea ever, but he did appreciate the quality of the tent and the several little accessories. The pocket flaps were very handy to hold eyeglasses, half-liter water bottles, and flashlights. We pretty well filled the tent with two Coleman cots, our sleeping bags with liners, and multiple duffle bags, totes, a plastic bin for odds and ends, etc. I cannot imagine how this tent could accommodate five people, but it was just right for two. Other reviewers are correct in commenting that the angled walls of the tent make it seem smaller than 9 x 12. But the angle at the base of the tent makes ample room for bags and "stuff."
  
  The plastic loop at the apex of the tent was nice for hanging a battery lantern. Other loops were large enough to hold hangers to air clothes during the day. We placed beach towels on all the floor areas except under the cots, very cozy for walking around. The doormat and exterior shoe doors were nice. We removed our shoes outside and used a small brush and dustpan on the doormat constantly, which kept dirt out of the tent interior.
  
  We were careful with the zippers, thanks to the reviews that warned about them. The shoe door zippers were the trickiest, requiring careful and patient slow motion to open and close. I was in charge of opening all the windows and zippers on the fly each day and appreciated the little pockets on the fly to store the guylines and the loops/toggles for securing the windows and flaps. The cyclone vents plus screened windows allowed good cross ventilation during the day. Like other reviewers, I wish the back window zipped closed, this is the one flaw in an otherwise great design and makes the tent unsuitable for truly cold weather.
  
  I would not hesitate to recommend the Columbia Bugaboo tent for use at temperatures of forty degrees and above. Ours is, as yet, untested in rainy conditions. We plan a trip to the same 7,100 ft. site again in mid-October. I'm shopping for a tent heater prior to that jaunt!
  
  
• Decent Value - Keep the seams sealed
  By A1EJSYATD20STA on 2006-10-01
  We purchased the tent based on Amazon reviews. Overall, the tent is a solid value, and held up well on the first trip.. We usually camp in the Smoky Mtn. national park, which tends to get its share of rain and cold weather.. On the first trip with this tent we got both, so we really got to experience the claims... In general the reviews here are accurate.. Here a few of our own observations:
  
  -It is small for it's advertised size. The dome structure takes away some, as does the "porch", and the manufacturers were, ahem, generous in rounding up when they call it a 9x12. Our 10x12 base tarp was considerably larger in both dimensions. There were two of us on our first trip, and a queen inflatable easily fit in the center, with plenty of room for gear on both sides. I think you could get 4 cots, or two "full" inflatables in the tent for 4 adults. Five adults would fit, but that is really pushing it.
  
  -Overall it stands up well to rain. We experienced about 12 hours of drenching rain, and did not have a tarp over the tent. One small leak developed on an overhead tieback. Other than that it was dry. Maybe a tablespoon of water. We siliconed the whole fly and all of the seams before taking it out, and I'd recommend this process if you want to stay dry. On the second day the fly was starting to wick condensation where the poles touched, so we'll be hitting with another can of sealer before the next outing. Overall, the floor held back the water very, very well. You could probably use this tent as a boat in a pinch!
  
  -Setup of the tent is very intuitive, at least it was for us.. Poles are color coded, and if you take the time to center the poles and not force anything when setting up, pitching can easily be accomplished by one person, without ripping anything. At its pricepoint, this tent is as well/better constructed as anything else out there.
  
  -The concerns about privacy / cold air getting in / are real. Without the fly, this tent is basically a screen porch. OK in some situations, not the best for others... Columbia should have added a zippered back window. This would give more options: some privacy in warm/dry weather, and some insulation in cold / wet weather. Our recent outing got down to the low 40's at night, and the tent was very drafty.
  
  -We did not get a chance to test the venting system, but this looks to be a nice featue that will be quite useful in hot, humid summer weather. It was all but that on the first trip!
  
  -The gadgets are borderline useless. The little mesh loft for the roof is good to store stuff, as are the built in pockets. The remote control light had a mind of it's own, and the cupholders and dividers for the little lockers are a waste of otherwise good nylon. I think most would gladly trade this material for a zippered rear window.
  
  Overall it is a good value, and we are pleased with our purchase. You certainly won't find any of these tents on base camp at Everest, but it is perfectly suited for frontcountry car camping for a family of 4-5.
  
  
  
  
• Great tent!
  By A1E2CDDY3L8DP8 on 2005-09-07
  The Bugaboo is a great tent for family camping out of the car. We have previously used backpacking tents, so the roominess of this tent was really nice. We liked being able to stand up in the middle of the tent. Has some great "skylights" and lots of ventilation. Held up well on its first camping trip to Maine, through rain and wind and all. Cupholders are a little over the top and did not work well, but everything else did!
  
  
• Great Tent
  By A1U3UMQX272MT on 2007-01-04
  I got this tent over the summer because I had a six week archaeological field school.We bought this tent for the last three weeks because my friend and I were tired of listening to a tarp flap around and water puddles on the top of the house tent.
  
  The tent stayed up for three weeks straight. It was roomy enough for the two of us, sleeping bags, a large cooler, duffel bags, all of our field equipment, and occasionally folded up camp chairs when it rained. You have to be careful with the stakes because they bend easily when putting them in the ground but they can be replaced. We had problems with the directions at first but eventually figured it out. The seams and rain-fly are already water proof. All of the accessories were very nice. The cup holders worked out great and we used the light as a flash light. This tent did great in the rain and even the severe thunderstorms that came through. It stayed nearly vertical in a strong storm one morning while everyones tents had nearly blown over. We had no problems with water in the tent. The only time there was a puddle was during a thunderstorm because the rain blew in the vents at the bottom. Over all this was a great tent, the only mishaps were due to us not closing up the vents and the rain-fly all the way. We used this tent in June and part of July.
  
  
• Happy Camper
  By A3MUIE58LUENC3 on 2006-08-07
  Bought this for my 60th birthday. I haven't been camping in 38 years. Last tent i used was a 100lb canvas umbrella tent. Soooo, I didn't know anything about this type of tent. I read the previous review about not being able to set it up alone so I decided to try it. I read the directions carefully and found them to be insufficient. I raked my spot, put out my ground tarp and laid out the tent on top of it. It comes in a nice carry duffle and the pack weighs about 25 lbs and has a plastic copy of the instructions sewn into it. I started at 2:30PM (93 degrees) and had it up by 3:15 PM. Not bad for a 60 year old woman who had never seen one of these before, except in pictures. BTW, I used my rake upside down to support the blue main poles while i slipped the loose end of the pole onto the second pin. I slept in the tent last night to try it out. I found it to be very comfortable both in the 93 degree heat and in the 70 degree morning temperature. Excellent air circulation! It was a full moon last night and it was bright enough to see inside the tent! I have only 2 criticisms. The tent stakes are not sufficient to hold that tent down in a wind storm if you are on sandy soil and the instructions aren't very complete. I just went around the tent examining it carefully and figured out all the fasteners; some are velcro on the inside of the rain fly which help stabilize the tent. (The instructions mention only the quick clips.) As for size, the sloping walls would make it hard to sleep 5 adults but 2 adults and 3 children should be fine. Time will tell about its durability. My close examination of this product found it to be well designed, good materials, and carefully made.
  
  
• Great Columbia Quality Tent! Must Read.....
  By A68SJR2PFHAUL on 2005-06-14
  I purchased this tent for my husband & I to use with 2 cots for the tent. The tent boasts a 12X9 size, but I beg to differ. The entry-way eliminates some much-needed space, and if it were 12X9, our 2 cots snuggly fit horizontally inside with a quaint spot to place our belongings at our feet. I think without the cots, you could fit 3 adults in this tent. In my opinion, people do not like to be sleeping like 'sardines', but have a little room. Overall, I am happy with this tent, it has nice features, great floor, and comes with a battery operated light that velro's to the outside and ceiling of tent(with remote control!)Easy to put together (2 adults) and is completely dry to rain! I've seen the Black Mountain (columbia) and that is bigger and also a great value! Happy Camping!
  
  
• Absolutely love this tent! And I'm not a professional camper!!
  By AHMUHB9LIK5XJ on 2006-09-05
  I'm a novice when it comes to camping, but this past summer I purchased the Columbia Bugaboo tent to go camping in Vermont.
  This tent was absolutely perfect. I was alone, but there was plenty of room for a queen air mattress, a cooler, luggage, and more. It was over 92 degrees during the day, and my tent was breatheable, due to the screen windows and the vents at the bottom of the tent.
  
  The large screen window doesn't really give the greatest sense of privacy, though. I was camping with a bunch of teens, and sure enough, they would undo the rainfly and see me sleeping in the morning, but hey, just make sure you have clothes on, right?
  
  It was easy for me to set up - that's right - one person can set this up, and within 40 minutes, the tent was up and anchored. I had no problem with my stakes, as some have reported.
  
  I didn't bother with all of the "gadgets" that came with the tent. I did however love the little remote controlled light that came with it.
  
  As with all tents, it is important to seal it, which I did prior to camping. I had zero leaks and just thoroughly enjoyed the tent and the experience. Others commented on the style of the tent, and I am glad I made the investment.
  
  
  
  
• good tent - FOR THE BACKYARD! otherwise, forget it
  By AMRNLBNIT8GLU on 2006-09-15
  This tent is very big and heavy, not suitable for anything but car or backyard camping
  PLUS, WORSE:
  IT RIPPED TO SHREDS, POLES BROKEN< the first time wind got over 12 miles an hour
  
  this is a very mediocre tent, we returned it for a refund
  
  it has a lot of room but it just isnt very strong or portable
  
  
  
  
• Spacious, Sturdy, easy to use tent!
  By AWDCPHV4AJZS5 on 2007-03-20
  After a 4 day campout my husband and I knew this was the best choice for us, after some concerns that it was 'too big'. But we wanted the height .. It stood up some intense wind, and was terrific to have so much room! Recently, put up (and taken down) in short time with two grandmas and two 6-yr olds! Room to stand is great for changing clothes, bottle holders are hard to snap on but that was insignificant compared to the ease of everything else! Good ventilation and, so far, seems quite sturdy and easy to clean. Space for gear, space for sleeping and space to move around!
  
  
• Great Buy!
  By A1EISJ3I1RU9QO on 2007-04-13
  After returning the first tent I bought after only one night, I purchased the Bugaboo. I'm very pleased with the quality for the price.
  
  Pro: Plenty of room. I put in a queen-sized airbed on one side and a full-sized on the other. There is still room for gear, a cooler, etc. Heck, my 2 big dogs claimed the middle with plenty of room; that's 2 adults, 1 kid, and 2 dogs with plenty of room. I'd say if you are just using the tent for sleeping, then you could just fit in 2 queen-sized airbeds and a twin-sized side-by-side.
  
  I didn't try it in the rain, but it was windy. No problems at all. We felt just fine inside with the wind blowing (25 MPH gusts).
  
  The quality is good. No issues with damage or poor workmanship. I was able to put this tent up by myself in the wind within 30 minutes first try.
  
  Con (minor con): The zippers do catch, but not to where you can't get them unstuck. Just be careful, and yes, you can use just one hand and still keep them from getting stuck. Not an issue that should keep you from buying this tent.
  
  
  
  
• " The Hilton "
  By A1YXTWLACBX4G5 on 2006-08-09
  I purchased this tent relying completely on the reviews of previous buyers. I am happy to say I was not disappointed and I think it lives up to all five stars!
  Setting up the tent even in the dark was simple when following the directions and 2 or 3 people can do this quickly.
  Due to certain reviews I took the advice to use sealant on the seam with the tag in case of rain and during a night of rain we were able to test this. Not one person felt wet!
  The size of the tent is generous 3 or 4 people with a sizable amount of gear would be comfortable. If you are using it solely for sleep without gear my friends and I were able to fit 6 snugly but still comfortably for a couple nights.
  We found it easily ventilated, bright, and spacious with standing room. I am proud to say I am now the proud owner of what my friends refer to as " The Hilton ". The next camping trip is in the works!
  
  
• A Great Tent
  By A1SF4WOMGZM5N7 on 2006-08-21
  We purchased this tent to take our kids car camping. It is relatively easy to set up with color-coded polls and sleeves. The rainfly goes on relatively easily (though you cannot pull it off half-way easily to let air circulate). The tent and rainfly kept us absolutely dry in a raging thunderstorm that lasted the entire night. In a storm, because of the rainfly design (it forms a wide "mouth" around the door), you'll have to take you shoes inside the tent. The only way to clean out dirt is to sweep (tough to raise this big tent up over your head and shake it out....)
  
  The overall air circulation is good, thanks to the large amount of screened area. There was plenty of room for the four of us and our clothes, etc... The pockets are handy. The only drawback is the front door zipper design. It's a bit difficult to open near the bottom.
  
  We didn't really think the "lockers" were all that great (though the kids like to crawl in and out of the tent using them), and the dividers that come with the tent to use the lockers are poorly designed. The stakes are flimsy.
  
  The set-up/tear-down directions are sewn right into the carrying case, which is nice. Refolding this puppy is kind of tough, but not impossible for someone with a bit of tent folding experience.
  
  I would recommend this tent for car camping for a group of no more than five.
  
  
• Just a good tent
  By A3RV04ZE41ABIK on 2006-11-10
  I got it kinda of late into the summer, so it has only been used for two nights. I found that it was especially easy to set it up and put it away. I also found that 2 adults and 3 children are very comfortable inside.
  
  
• We Stayed Dry
  By A2JRLZDD8UK2KD on 2007-07-13
  I researched family dome tents and based on recommendations and reviews landed on the Columbia Bugaboo as the best value for the money. First, I agree that the stakes should be of higher quality, but I knew that they wouldn't be so I purchased additional high quality stakes. We camped with friends and family - the Bugaboo was the only dry tent out of three after heavy rains the first night. Dry is good. Dry is good enough to make our purchase of the Bugaboo look like genius. When everyone else came back from the laundromat, we had a stringer of fish.
  
  In addition to our happiness at not having to go into town to find a coin operated dryer the next day, we also enjoyed the air cirulation despite the fact that we had everything pretty buttoned up and the rain fly on all weekend.
  
  This is an excellent tent for car camping and withstood a reasonably strong central Illinois thunderstorm without problems. We only had two people in the tent (on cots) so I'm not qualified to tell you about how comfortable it is for 3, 4, or 5, but I wouldn't hesitate to put two grandkids in with my wife and I.
  
  
• Put to the test the first time out
  By A2NGFM9O2VVHUQ on 2007-10-25
  We upgraded to this tent after a year of a small (7'-9') tent that we had to crawl in and out of -- and we are not so young anymore, it was really hard on our knees. Plus, having only started tent camping last year, we had not wanted to spend a lot on a tent until we knew we were really in to camping. Our first camping trip with this tent not only showed us what a good buy it was but also that we really are tentcampers! We went on a 3-night trip to North Carolina last week (mid-October). The first night the weather was great; the second night, high up on the Blue Ridge Parkway (4000'), it rained pretty much all night; the third night was extremely windy and turned cold. We had no leaks (and hadn't sealed the seams) and the tent held up wonderfully in the VERY strong winds. We are getting faster at setting it up and my husband insisted on trying it by himself the last time and had no problems. It is so spacious and our dog loves her own little doors.
  
  
• After all this research...
  By A3JEXB4SOQ2QME on 2007-10-31
  I have spent alot of time over the past few years buying, returning and researching tents. I wanted something that I could stand up in, had a full coverage fly and seemed well ventilated. I began with some Colemans and found that their fly design left alot to be desired. Other tents had great coverage, but not much ventilation. Surfing through Amazon I saw the reviews and decided to pick up the Bugaboo.
  
  I'll just say that this tent has everything I've been looking for. Full coverage fly that can be partially opened up for more ventilation. The Cyclone system that also allows air through even in rain adds to the overall "airyness" of the tent. No stifling condensation here. It was easy to set up with two people. More importantly it was by far the easiest tent I have ever packed up and stored. The bag it comes with is perfect, I didn't even need to expand it!
  
  Used it for the first time last weekend at Devil's Lake. Ihave to admit that I was freezing cold, but the tent held up well in high wind and was just the perfect size for three adults. It wasn't rain tested on this trip (something I am very thankful for) but we'll have to see how it performs in the rain next spring. The only things I would change about this tent are the stakes that it comes with and I would also like to see a full coverage vestibule.
  
  Highly recommended tent. I spent alot of time searching for just the right one and I believe I've found it in the Bugaboo.
  
  
• Great looking spacious tent for a dome, but,,,
  By A12AV1UHSZXNOS on 2008-01-22
  I bought this tent in a rush before taking my two small boys on a camping trip. We used once in our woodsy property and again at a lakeside state park in Texas. Set up was a bit confusing at first, especially the entrance brim pole install. The second time we set it up at the park it went very fast. It is a really sharp looking and spacious dome tent and was more than enough room for two sleeping bags and a double inflatable mattress. Head room was very good considering this is a dome tent, and I could stand up in most areas. Ventilation was good, although a cold wind will get in the back window under the rainfly. I used a tent safe propane heater in 30 degree weather and it remained downright toasty in there. It also endured fairly strong winds and light rain overnight with no issue whatsoever. Now for the negatives. If this thing only had aluminum poles I would have given it 5 stars. The fiberglass pole joints use standard metal couplings between each section that snag on every sleeve which is a real pain given that the poles are very long and difficult to push through the tent sleeves while also fixing constant snags. One pole has already split on the end due to stress which is not easy to prevent given the length of the poles. Lastly, during the second take down one pole cord snapped without much stress being applied. It must have been frayed beforehand. So as the salesman said, "fiberglass poles won't last long, aluminum are much better". I'm returning this great design for a tent with better poles. Leo, Austin, TX
  
  
• Leaky tent
  By A2584GUL6CK1G7 on 2006-07-29
  This tent was easy to setup and it is an excellent size but it leaks at the seem under the back window
  
  
• Tentless
  By A3IEF0ZLX715DC on 2006-08-09
  My husband and I received the Bugaboo 2 days before our camping trip. We set it up at home to make sure everything was ok and we knew what we were doing. Everything seemed ok. Spacious tent, lots of extra neat gizmos. We got to the campsite and were inserting the rods through the proper sleeves when a cord on 1 of the poles snapped as if it had been worn through already!!!
  
  
• Excellent Buy
  By A1RPWYWKG91ZS9 on 2006-08-10
  This tent is really good. I have only used it for two nights, but it did well. The first night was in Minnesota, and it rained. There was no leaking at all, however, I put seam-grip on all of the seams. (My standard proceedure whenever I get a new tent becasue all tents leak from the needle holes.) The second night was in the Badlands of South Dakota. The wind was relentless, which made setup a little more time-consuming, but it had no problem withstanding the gusts. Head-room is wonderful, and the cyclone vents are a great idea. Had room for a queen air mattress, suicase, cooler, and plenty of walking room. Set-up is manageable with one person taller than 5-10, but 2 people greatly accelerate the process. Highly reccomended!
  
  
• ok tent
  By A1CMTI19K8XOCJ on 2006-08-28
  Nice construction a little cold due to the fact you can't close the inside of the tent. The back wall is all screen great in the sun but cold air flows in at night with a draft mover your head. other than that it keeps you dry!! grat bag for storage plenty of straps
  
  
• Good tent, smaller than advertised, good weight
  By A2OALAGXWXV4A7 on 2006-08-01
  I bought the other tent mentioned, the 10X10 Columbia Black Mountain, first, and ended up returning it to get the Bugaboo as the rainfly looked...well, questionable when set up, and here in the Pacific Northwest it's a kinda significant feature. Interestingly, the 100 square foot "6 person" Black Mountain, similar in height and general features (except rainfly) feels much more spacious than the supposedly slightly larger 9X12 (108') 5 person Bugaboo, and we didn't expect that looking at the stated dimensions. The beveled ends seem to suck up wads of space, and although 2 queen air mattresses fit, nearly touching walls, with a few inches to spare between, don't expect to put much luggage/bags or the dog inside too. I agree with most other commentary here, although it would be amusing to watch one person set up this beast (not impossible but 2 people are the way to go, and if you're using this tent and you're alone you're overhoused by a factor of 3 unless you've got a safari to administer or maybe a Smart car to bunk with). Oh, and the Black Mountain is a hulking 31 pounds due to some heavy duty poles, while the Bugaboo is 21, and that was very noticeable. For 3 or 4 people, and an adjacent vehicle for luggage, the more lightweight Bugaboo is the answer.
  
  
• Great starter tent!
  By A1OUXNFPNKFVV8 on 2007-08-25
  I have used this tent 3 times now and it is a great family tent for those newly introduced to car camping. My two pre-teen kids and I set it up in about 20-25 minutes and it is roomy. The three of us slept comfortably with ALL our gear inside the tent as well. Our first trip out it rained steady for a day and a half and the tent remained completely dry! The two vents near the base of the tent really do keep the air circulating well. Camping with this tent has been a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone.
  
  
• Well worth It !
  By AP7DTKS1019BK on 2007-09-16
  I bought this tent after checking a lot of reviews on Amazon and other sites. It has spacious floor space with plenty of overhead height to get dressed standing up for the wife and myself. It goes up fairly easy with one person but a LOT easier with two. Floor space is enough for 3 with gear, 4 without gear-with room to move around, but I don't see 5 unless it's with people 5'5" tall or less and no gear.
  
  I thought the tent was well made with a lot of features of higher end tents. The poles are colour matched to the sleeves they go through and when assembled there are ties that hold the poles together to make the tent rigid. Also there are about a dozen spots to stake down to make the tent stay put. As others have said, get different stakes. The original ones are ok but only for a little while. I have several different ones for different soil conditions, from previous camping seasons.
  
  The first night I used it with my daughter it was breezy and cold and no rain. We got very cold due to lack of heat retention. The tent did very well with the original stakes.
  
  The second night it was also cold then we had light rain for about an hour and half to two hours. Again the tent did really well without any leaks from any part of the tent. This surprised me after some of the other reviews said theirs had leaked in spots.
  
  In all, the tent is spacious, comfortable, tall, and sturdy. This will be a great spring, summer, and fall tent for the family. We will have to purchase new sleeping bags for cooler weather, as it didn't hold the heat in, due to the mesh and height. It isn't light, at 21 lbs it is not a backpacking tent. But it is also affordable . Others I priced were going to run me a 2-3 hundred dollars and up for the same size and features. As long as the poles hold up, and it is taken care of, I see this tent lasting a long time.
  
  
• Fantastic Tent!!
  By ANE7IIY2OMRIB on 2007-10-24
  This is a great tent. It is easy to set up--two of us set it up in 15-20 minutes with only occasional references to the directions. It's pretty darn self-explanatory. I took it down by myself while talking on the phone and it couldn't have been easier. Alot of reviews have expressed doubt about sleeping 5 people in this tent, but we comfortably fit 2 adults, our 3 boys (ages 5, 7, and 10) and our 75lb English Setter. With our car on site to stow some of our gear, we had no problems. Excellent tent for the money!
  
  
• Very easy to use, and durable.
  By A36KTXGVYUMZFB on 2006-07-20
  It took only a matter of minutes to put up the tent, and it is very comfortable inside. The light that comes with it at the top of the tent really helped, and was a great bonus to an already great product.
  
  

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