Thread: Centre pole tent-Dome tent

Let me know when coz I might buy it !

We have a Southern Cross 12'x9' centre pole type tent (~$900) and a Coleman 7 person (~$250) (4 fibreglass poles). The SC is quicker to set up but is much heavier as stated above ~20 kg vs 12kg. The Coleman packs into a bag similar to a large suit bag slightly smaller than the SC 60cmx60cmx20cm. The Coleman only takes 15-20 minutes tops to be set up and the poles are colour coded and it is done by my boys most of the time now. The beauty of the southern cross is the durability, the canvas will last a lifetime (almost) it can be done with 4 pegs for a quick setup or with about 10 if you need weather proofing.


I have found that in extreme weather all my tents can leak a little bit but that is the fun of camping. I don't know the terrain you are camping in but the use of sand pegs is a pain with the Coleman due to the small peg rings. SC has very large rings which make sand camping much easier. Although on Fraser Is I only use the sand pegs on four corners. The little wire pegs on the Coleman are pretty much useless in sand.

Hope this helps
Pete

I received the latest Boots Great Outdoors catalogue yesterday. Dunno where their centre pole tests are made but the prices seem OK. See http://www.greatoutdoors.com.au/file...ring_14-16.pdf

Most of the centre pole tents I see now have the top frame sewn in which makes them bulky. My Canadian 30+ year old centre pole tent has a removable top frame so the tent rolls up into someting a bit mor compact.

Ron

and god help ypu if the two halves of the sewn in top frame seperate.

Trust me, I know.

Could not recommend the Southern Cross tents enough.

It really depends on the type of camping you do though and how much space you have. They pack up large and are heavy but suit an extended stay. Are also reasonably quick to set up. If you want a large tent I would recommend this over a dome any day

Most of the tour companies through central Australia use the centre pole version.

Very quick to put up and pack down (how would you like to be seting up an overnight camp for 30 odd passengers!) plenty of height for privacy and comfortable. (If not they wouldn't last long, they rely on overseas vistors most of whom consider a cabin park "camping")

Have always loved this style of tent but our last purchase (compromise with wife as it is what she wanted) Is a dome. Probably takes 10 or so minutes to put up but I hate the thing. Most of our camping is overnight and the putting up and packing down are a pain. It has a combination of clips and sleeves and would agree with what was written elsewhere the clips make it a lot quicker and easier. I was impressed with the ability of the tent to stand up to strong gail winds. Also didn't get damged and hasn't leaked so far!

I will be getting a touring style if we don't go down the camper trailer path.

We bought a cheap chinese Primus COI canvas tourer tent. It's the family type that has the extension on the back. It seems to be OK. It's never rained significantly on us (light sprinkle on the GCLRO trip to Fraser last year only).

It seems to be ok, and the size is good. However you can tell it's a bit cheap . If we do get to go on our big adventure this year we'll be buying a freedom Northern Tourer. It's a bit smaller which is a good thing. Finding enough flat ground for the extended one in the desert was difficult at times. Also less poles = quicker and that's the big priority for me I'm afraid I just don't trust the Primus to be our accomodation for two months

Hi,

We have had a few tents over the years. After a while we got really sick of dome tents 'laying down' every time the wind got up. And it did not take much wind to flatten out the poles. From Kings Canyon to Coral Bay, we got really sick of lying on the sleeping mat with the roof of the tent billowing to within a few inches of your nose. It also freaks the kiddies out a little.

We did not like how cumbersome the canvas cabin tents were.

When we were living in Southern Africa we noticed that many tour operators used a bow tent rather than a centre pole. These have the strength of ripstop canvas, but the space of a dome. They do not 'lie down' in the wind as the poles are steel not fibreglass. They use clips rather than sleeves, goes up in less that 15 minutes in the dark with wind and rain. We have had one for about 5 years now and think it is the ducks guts. Picture follows: