I have been a backpacker for more than 2 decades and have always turned up my nose at tents, but for car camping this is fantastic! Staying dry is a priority and I looked for a tent with a good rain-fly and tub floor first. We have used this for the past 4 years and have been very pleased with it. We put 3 cots along the outer walls and leave the middle open for standing. With our personals stored under the cots, we have lots of room to set up a little table to play cards or whatever on rain days. You could easily put more cots/beds inside and be comfortable (4-5 would work). Yes, it is an 8-man tent, but that is only enough room to lay out sleeping bags, nothing else. We have endured some pretty serious thunderstorms and stayed perfectly dry in the main tent. I did run some seam-sealer and sprayed the tent before our first use (4 years ago), but mostly because I HATE having a wet tent. I think it would be good to go right out of the box too. The vestibule does get wet when it rains, but there are drain holes and mesh near the door so the water doesnt pool. Its nice to sit in there on Crazy-Creek chairs when the bugs are bad and gives some extra storage space. If we really want that area to stay dry, we just tarp over it and have had no trouble. Yes, I would buy again today if I was in the market for a car camping tent for a small family or a couple looking for lots of room.
4 years going strong and dry!
I have been a backpacker for more than 2 decades and have always turned up my nose at tents, but for car camping this is fantastic! Staying dry is a priority and I looked for a tent with a good rain-fly and tub floor first. We have used this for the past 4 years and have been very pleased with it. We put 3 cots along the outer walls and leave the middle open for standing. With our personals stored under the cots, we have lots of room to set up a little table to play cards or whatever on rain days. You could easily put more cots/beds inside and be comfortable (4-5 would work). Yes, it is an 8-man tent, but that is only enough room to lay out sleeping bags, nothing else. We have endured some pretty serious thunderstorms and stayed perfectly dry in the main tent. I did run some seam-sealer and sprayed the tent before our first use (4 years ago), but mostly because I HATE having a wet tent. I think it would be good to go right out of the box too. The vestibule does get wet when it rains, but there are drain holes and mesh near the door so the water doesnt pool. Its nice to sit in there on Crazy-Creek chairs when the bugs are bad and gives some extra storage space. If we really want that area to stay dry, we just tarp over it and have had no trouble. Yes, I would buy again today if I was in the market for a car camping tent for a small family or a couple looking for lots of room.