We call it the "Tajma-tent"
Written: Feb 27 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid build, great protection from the elements, and easy to build despite its large size.
Cons: The only negative is that this tent requires a large tent pad.
The Bottom Line: At 16x10, you might be hard pressed to find a tent pad, but if you can, you will be rewarded with a level of luxury unheard of in a tent.
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| ncphototrekker's Full Review: Coleman Tucana 9277-161 Tent |
Coleman's Tucana 8 person tent is a very big tent for starters. It is obviously geared towards the family car camping crowd. The Tucana is based on the dome style design, but is wider than it is deep, which might pose some problems for those who camp on tent pads. However, for those that can find the room to place this tent, it is well worth the effort to set up.
While Coleman lists this tent as an 8 person sleeper, you will find much more comfort inside with less people though. My wife and I use this tent almost exclusively when we go camping. the extra room allows plenty of space for a dressing area, storage, sitting area, and just room to stretch if we are caught in the rain. The tent comes with two dividers that will effectively break the tent up into three rooms with sufficient privacy. We have not used these dividers as we like the open feel to this tent.
Build quality is very good for a tent of this size. We have used it for a full season of camping where it has seen all types of weather, including some pretty hard rains. One of the first things that we noticed about this tent, and one of the reasons that we decided to purchase this item was the very large rain fly. In fact, the fly is so large that there is a covered porch area in front of the hinged and rigid (pole inserts) door. The overhang from the fly is plenty big enough to remove muddy boots before entering the tent while staying pretty dry. The fly continues to cover the side and rear windows as well with similar overhangs that are supported by poles.
Building the tent...
With a tent this size, you will most likely need two people to get it built. However, Coleman has designed this so well that after several times erecting the tent, I have learned that it is possible to complete the build without any help. Alone, I can build this tent in about 30 minutes. With help from my wife, that time is reduced to about 20 minutes. The poles are all shock corded for easy assembly and tear down. As would be expected in a tent this size, there are a lot of poles. The first time you build this tent, you will be well advised to use the directions and make sure you chose the correct poles for each step. However, after the first build, everything makes perfect sense and you will likely not ever need the instructions again.
Real World Experience...
So how does this tent hold up? I have no complaints at all. As I mentioned before, I have used this tent for a full year now, in all four seasons. While this tent is listed as a three season tent, if your winters are mild, it will serve you just fine. All of the Coleman tents I have ever owned have been great in the rain, and this one is no different. Even in a hard rain, you can expect to stay dry inside. The only possible weakness might be the lower seam which will sometimes weep as the fabric becomes saturated with water. A quick application of seam sealer will fix this problem though.
The tent is very stable in the wind, as it is held down by many stakes, and has six tie downs along the fly. I have never seen this tent as much as budge in any of the windy situations we have put it in. Looking at the fly, you would really think that it would become a sail in a high wind. However, Coleman designed this to have a flow through design that turns wind into ventilation.
It is worth mentioning that the door of this tent is a great touch. It has nice hinges and two thin poles to give it a solid feel and shape. No more does the wet door flop inside the tent and drip on the floor. The only issue with this that I have found is the rubber stoppers on the ends of the poles will come off and stay in the hinge mounts. I would recommend removing these stoppers prior to the first assembly.
Final Thoughts...
While this tent is very large, and will likely cause problems when looking for a tent pad, it will house you in woodland luxury. This is the best thing for those unexpected rainy days when you end up staying in the tent all day. You have room to stand up (I'm six feet and have no headroom issues standing up), move around, and do get comfortable inside. In a smaller tent, you are likely to get a bit cramped waiting for the rain to end. I highly recommend this tent for anyone who can get past the large footprint of this tent.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ncphototrekker
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 in Electronics |
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Member: Greg Kiser
Location: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
I am a semi-professional landscape photographer based in North Carolina.
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