BUY THIS VERSION! The tent listed here is model number CB-9001-10. The other third party buying options listed on amazon are CB-9001. I first called amazon and they couldn't give me an answer about the difference. I then called North Pole at 1-866-706-9377 and got the low-down. The CB-9001-10 is the newest, 2010 version.
After a tremendous amount of research, I decided this tent was definitely the way to go for our family of four. I will not repeat everything previous reviewers have said here (read all reviews under other buying options on this site as well as additional reviews outside of amazon), but I do want to pass on newest model info.
The difference with newer model:
1. Added awning: a good addition, but it is not over the door, which would have been more helpful, especially if you wanted to leave muddy shoes at the door.
2. Pole issue has been resolved.
3. Floor is now made of nylon. The rep says this cuts down on noise and is also less prone to holes. They do strongly advise using a tent saver underneath. Most "tent savers" I researched seemed very flimsy, but I found a great tarp that fits this tent exactly and it is sold here on amazon: "Dry Top 210156 10-foot by 15-foot Full Finish Size Reversible Tarp, 10-mm, Silver/Brown". A regular tarp would work fine too, but make sure it is slightly smaller than the tent footprint, otherwise when it rains, water will pool underneath your tent.
Additional Info missing from previous reviews:
1. Rainfly has a 800mm coating. Tent buying guides usually recommend 1000-1500mm, but this tent does seem water resistant.
2. Mesh netting is no-see-um rated.
3. Seams are factory sealed, however rep said you can use Kenyon 3 sealer as extra insurance. A bottle comes with the tent. It's a good idea to seam seal before each season.
4. Columbia does not recommend coating the tent. This can have a reverse effect on moisture control!
5. There is a limited-lifetime warranty on tent, but you must save original receipt.
6. Yes, the second room does not have its own entrance, but we have a 6 and 5 yr old, so it is decidedly a safety PLUS for us.
Hope this helps! I researched the bejeezus out of family, cabin-style tents and this one seems to be by far the best all-around tent for the price, factoring features, materials, quality and price. The only other tent I seriously considered was Eureka's Titan Luxury Family Tent. It does have slightly higher quality materials, but at nearly $200 more, not enough of a difference to justify the price jump.
In Summary: This is the newest model of this tent (verify model #CB-9001-10). Amazon's price is the same as competitors (I researched that too) and you get free shipping. Happy camping!!!
UPDATE: Our tent has been set up and camped in, and we absolutely love it! Can't think of much I'd like improved, except the location of the awning (in front of door would have been much better). We had one night of driving rain, with it pooling on the rain fly because hubby hadn't staked it tightly enough. Same said hubby also admitted he hadn't finished seam sealing. A few drops of water was the only price we paid. We especially love the big windows and ventilation.
If you're thinking of buying this tent, don't hesitate! I can confidently say you will be very happy with your purchase. It's a great value--well built, good looking, with great features all around. We look forward to many outings and building lifetime family memories with our children in this tent. Columbia Cougar Flats II Family Cabin Dome Tent
For the 2010 camping season I decided it was time to upgrade our tent. I spent a lot of time looking at pretty much every tent available from pretty much every website and kept coming back to this one.
This is simply the best value in tents and getting it from Amazon means unlike at other online stores you do not have to pay for shipping.
The description does not say it but the tent comes with a very nice wheeled duffel bag that the who thing fits into. This bag has a hard plastic bottom and is a very nice touch.
The tent itself is very large but is perfect for family camping where you can pull up in your car/truck right to your camp site. I use it mainly just with my son and we each take a room. This leaves us plenty of space for our Outfitter XL Cots (also purchased from Amazon)coolers and bags with plenty of room to spare.
This would be a great cot for a family of 4 or smaller and could easily camp 6-8 if you don't mind sleeping a bit close.
The tent goes up really easy and all of the poles are color coded so you just put the red marked pole into the red marked hub etc. The poles on the roof are made out of fiber glass and the ones on the side are metal. This provides for a very stable tent that holds its shape well. The canopy that extends off the rain fly is small but a nice touch. It is big enough to fit about 2 chairs under it and rolls right up and out of the way when not in use.
It is hard to decribe in writing but you can tell that a lot of thought went into the design of this tent.
The tent comes with a bottle of seam sealer and as with all tents you should seal the seams at the start of each season. So far we have had it out in the rain once and we stayed dry as a bone the tent also held up well in high winds.
All in all you won't find a better value in car/family camping and buying it from Amazon means it ships for free. Strangely enough the tent is sold by several other vendors on Amazon that will charge you for shipping so make sure you get it from Amazon - Family Tent - Great Family Tent - Columbia Tent - Family Camping Tents'
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