Gear Reviews

We recently launched Gear Recon, our 2nd YouTube channel, where we will review a variety of camping, RV, and outdoor gear. https://www.youtube.com/@gearrecon

RovR RollR 60 Review

Coleman Signal Mountain 8-Person Tent Review

Below are a couple videos from our first camping trip with the Signal Mountain 8-Person Tent.  The first video shows the setup and the second one is our review after 3 nights.  We camped at Turquoise Lake near Leadville Colorado (Elevation 10,000).  Temps were 42-70 and we had a couple big storms on the last night.

We didn't open the tent until arriving at the campsite, so that we could see how quick it would be for our first time.  After getting the packing materials out of the way, and unfolding the tent, my first attempt to lock the ridge pole failed. It clicked into place on my second attempt and we quickly extended the 4 corner poles and locked them into place.  The tent was very easy to move before we staked it down.  Total setup time was about 5 minutes, but will be much faster next time. 

The cheap metal stakes will be left behind on our next trip, since I bent half of them the first time they were hammered in the ground.  Coleman has nice 10" steel stakes that sell for $2 per package of 4.  I don't understand why they wouldn't include them in all of their tents, or at least all tents over $100.  Wouldn't it be better to incur an additional $1 in manufacturing costs to be known for producing quality products?

Besides upgrading the stakes, my other recommendation when it comes to setup is to pay attention to which direction the wind might come from.  The door or the back of the tent will catch less wind than the sides.

The tent was the perfect size for a queen air mattress and some of our stuff.  A second queen air mattress would fit inside the tent, but would be getting crowded.  Personally I wouldn't want to get more than 4 adults in this tent.

On day 2 we arrived back at camp to find our tent collapsed.  A strong gust of wind had blown hard enough on the side of the tent to pop the fiberglass rod out of the green sleeve it slides into and the ridge pole was no longer locked in the extended position.  The fiberglass rod is the only thing holding up the side walls.  With some help, I was able to extend the ridge pole and insert the rod back into the sleeve.  The storm on our last night started about 3am with strong winds blowing the side of our tent.  I stood for 15 minutes, holding the tent wall on the inside of where the rod went into the sleeve.  This prevented the wind from pushing the wall in far enough pop out the rod again.  Once the wind calmed down everything was fine.  We stayed dry during all the rain.

The Good

• Seams around windows are great

• Tent does not leak

• Fast setup & take down

• Door is big enough to get a queen size air-mattress in if you air it up at the car.
  (Couldn't do that with the old Wenzel 3-person tent)

• Lots of room (Unless you try to get 8 people in it)

The Bad

• Side walls are supported by a single fiberglass rod. When the wind blows on the side of the tent, the rod might pop loose, causing the tent to collapse. Make sure tent is tied down tight.

• Rain Fly above door is too short. If you open the door when it is raining, it won't block all of the rain

• The center ridge of the tent is 6ft+, but it quickly goes down to 5ft height above the windows

• Zipper on the door gets caught often on rain fly, but you can easily pull it back out.

• Cheap metal stakes - Spend $4 and get the steel stakes

Because of the 1-minute setup, I'm willing to live with some of the bad things.  We like to move campsites frequently, so being able to quickly fold it up, move, & setup is worth the trouble.

Rome Pie Irons

Eagles Camp Cabin Tent

The Eagles Camp Cabin Tent can be found at Cabela's.  Setup time is about 20 minutes for the first time and about 15 minutes after you've learned how to connect everything

• 14x10

• 6' 8" Center Height

• 10 Person