Our New Tent is Here!

[jsmla]

The UPS guy brought our new tent yesterday. Hubby, DS and I spent most of the evening setting it up in the backyard. It's HUGE! I really think I'm going to like it but I have to say that Columbia needs to provide better assembly instructions. My cell phone came with a 40+ page book but the tent came with umpteen various poles and straps and 1/2 a page of directions and exactly 4 tiny little pictures.

So far we have the tent, a groundcloth for underneath, two tarps to protect the floor inside and a couple of nifty little magnetic tent lights. I'm waiting for the cots to come in so we can see how everything is going to fit. I wasn't too jazzed about the whole tent experience but I'm starting to get excited.

Jennifer

 

[Colson39]

Yea, it's not like the old days of tent camping anymore. Some tents are as big as the rooms at the All Star now...lol. I always love looking at the various models when I'm at the store.

Enjoy your new tent!

 

[ntsammy5]

NEAT! Post a picture if you can!


I remember getting a new backpacking tent a number of years ago that I set up in the living room because the kids wanted to help and DW wouldn't let me take them outside because we were in the middle of a blizzard! Those were the days. Something compelling about a new tent though

 

[bamabala]

While your tent is up, turn water hose (with spray attachment) on it, and wet your tent. Just as if it was being rained on.
I've heard that where seams are sewn will expand and stay that way when it dries. Don't know if that is true or not, but is also a good chance to check for leaks. Use a tent seam sealent to protect from future leaks &/or pack it for your trip. WalMart & sporting good stores sell this product.

Let tent dry completely before putting it away. Enjoy.

 

[ntsammy5]

Yeah, I've heard the same thing, but with the new fabrics I don't think it still applies. I haven't used seam sealer in years.

 

[jsmla]

Hubby wants the seams sealed and he's the tent guy. DD and boyfriend want to use the tent too so we're having them over for a seam-sealing party this weekend. It's funny DD and I are both "indoors girls" yet we seem to be attracted to the outdoorsy types. With hubby it's backpacking, hiking, kayaks and horses. With DD'sBF its hunting and fishing. I love the fish but don't know what to do about the "gifts" he sends over during hunting season. Hunting season is once more upon us and we still have two years worth of venison steaks, venison sausage, venison who-knows-what in the freezer. I don't think I could eat Bambi!

 

[Rhonda]

Mmmmmmm....Bambi! Almost as good as Peacock!

Congratulations on your new tent! We got a new one last weekend too. We're going to set it up this weekend in the yard. It has a "dog den", but there's NO WAY Barclay would go in there by himself! So, it will probably become a closet to store stuff out of the way.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

Congrats on the new tent! Great idea for a seam-sealing party. We got a larger tent last month and were able to try it out at the fort. We almost got the Columbia but we decided on the Eureka Copper Canyon 1512. We had to use two tarps on the inside of ours too. Our last tent had the polyethylene bathtub floor which I truely miss but they don't make them on the larger tents or at least I couldn't find any.

Also, don't forget the scotch guard or camp dry or something similar.

 

[DaddyDon]

Mmmmmmm....Bambi! Almost as good as Peacock!

Congratulations on your new tent! We got a new one last weekend too. We're going to set it up this weekend in the yard. It has a "dog den", but there's NO WAY Barclay would go in there by himself! So, it will probably become a closet to store stuff out of the way.

I love venison......I still have about 6 packs of cube steak and 6 packs of hamburger left over from last season.......Vacum packed of course...Maybe one tenderloin.

What kind of tent did you get!I still love to tent camp but my wife loves the popup!

 

[Rhonda]

I love venison......I still have about 6 packs of cube steak and 6 packs of hamburger left over from last season.......Vacum packed of course...Maybe one tenderloin.

What kind of tent did you get!I still love to tent camp but my wife loves the popup!

You have a tenderloin left from last year??? Wow - that's always the first to go at our house! Will you sell it to the highest bidder?

Yes - we'd love to see a picture of your new tent! Or at least a link to which one you got!!

 

[jsmla]

I love venison......I still have about 6 packs of cube steak and 6 packs of hamburger left over from last season.......Vacum packed of course...Maybe one tenderloin.

You have a tenderloin left from last year??? Wow - that's always the first to go at our house! Will you sell it to the highest bidder?

All I can say is EEEWWW! I can't get rid of mine because everyone we know is either a hunter or would also say eeww. I'm sure it's probably pretty tasty but I'm touch and go with beef and chicken. Fish aren't cuddly so they're okay.

Jennifer

 

[jsmla]

Congrats on the new tent! Great idea for a seam-sealing party. We got a larger tent last month and were able to try it out at the fort. We almost got the Columbia but we decided on the Eureka Copper Canyon 1512. We had to use two tarps on the inside of ours too. Our last tent had the polyethylene bathtub floor which I truely miss but they don't make them on the larger tents or at least I couldn't find any.

Also, don't forget the scotch guard or camp dry or something similar.

Small world! We almost got the Copper Canyon. I liked the design of the door better but we live in South Louisiana and the Columbia seemed like it would be cooler in our sauna of a climate. I thought the Copper Canyon looked better too. Ours is definately not designed to blend in. I think I'm gonna name her Big Red.

And thanks so much for the pictures of your kitchen. Love it! I just don't know if it will fly with the DH. He's already upset about the camp beds. When it comes to camping he's the minimalist type. He keeps telling me these stories about how great it was to hike the Appalachain Trail and how they woke up in the morning and their water was frozen solid and how that was just soooo cool. He's nuts.

We're going to take a few pictures of our new baby but our daughter has the little doohickey thingy that you use to load them onto the computer. We'll either have to buy another one or track her down and take it back.

Jennifer

 

[as dreamers do]

Congratulations on the new addition!

Is it the Cougar Flats tent from Columbia? I swear, before the year is over I'm gonna get me one of those. I am completely in love with that tent!

 

[jsmla]

Congratulations on the new addition!

Is it the Cougar Flats tent from Columbia? I swear, before the year is over I'm gonna get me one of those. I am completely in love with that tent!

Yup, that's the one! We really like it so far except for two things:
The fly is funny. It doesn't provide any overhang at the door.
and
Pardon my French but the instructions s*ck. All of the parts have these extravagant numbers like RXHPT-4637Y-42YOUREANIDIOT and there's hardly any pictures.

Other than that it seems like a great tent. We're taking it on a test run next week-end. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jennifer

 

[Rhonda]

Fish aren't cuddly so they're okay.

Have you seen Nemo???

 

[DaddyDon]

When it comes to camping he's the minimalist type. He keeps telling me these stories about how great it was to hike the Appalachain Trail and how they woke up in the morning and their water was frozen solid and how that was just soooo cool. He's nuts.


I too use to think camping the AT was cool...Thats when i was a boyscout...Now that im rapidly approaching 50 Well give me a cot any day And please no freeze dried Peacock..... .The only reason why i have any venison left I had 3 in the freezer...Venison the other red meat.....
ps loved your tent!

 

[ntsammy5]

: And please no freeze dried Peacock..... .The only reason why i have any venison left I had 3 in the freezer...Venison the other red meat.....
ps loved your tent!

How about Otter? I love critter stew. Get some of everything left in the freezer and put it all in the crock pot. A little squirrel, rabbit, venison, whatever! Great for tent camping.

Done a few sections of the AT but never had a chance to do the whole thing. Maybe when I retire in a few years..... DD and her husband are big into backpacking and live in the Adirondacks (Glens Falls). They did the last part (or first) the Wilderness at Katahdin, Maine on their honeymoon last fall. They like tents too. Maybe they'll go with me.

Sorry, nice tent. Tents are neat!

 

[jsmla]

Scott has never been able to hike the whole AT. It's one of the great sorrows of his life but it takes months and he does have to go to work. He's mainly done the southern parts up through Virginia. I walked it from the Newfound Gap parking lot in the Smokies to the ladies room there. Good enough for me.

Jennifer

 

[CottontailCurl]

Scott has never been able to hike the whole AT. It's one of the great sorrows of his life but it takes months and he does have to go to work.

I have a friend who's father's dream is to walk the entire trail, but like your Scott he couldn't do it at once so each vacation they would drive to where he left off the last time and start walking there. I believe his wife would rest and recoup while he walked or she'd visit area scenic spots, towns, etc. and meet him at his end point for that trip. He's in his 80's now and still going strong, I'll have to ask her how far along he is.

PS thanks so much for posting about your tent, I had been looking for one just like that and had the Coleman Weathermaster in mind. I held off because the reviews were iffy, so many had problems with it, but the reviews of the Cougar Flats are really good. Do you think you'd be able to put 4 single air mattresses on one side of the tent? We'll be going to the Fort soon and trying to make a final decision about what we're staying in, thanks.

 

[Rhonda]

Hi everyone!

Just a little reminder to please try & keep these threads on topic. It seems that a lot of threads have been going off in different directions lately. (I'm guilty of it myself sometimes, LOL)

We do have a "Useless Facts/Chit Chat" thread where you can talk about anything you'd like (within reason).

Thanks for understanding!