Slept in the Poler for two separate nights now. Both cold nights, one in heavy winds, one still.
This is definitely a base camp tent, given it’s eight pound weight. It’s a very roomy two person tent. Most two man tents are about the size of a full size bed, this one is as wide as a queen.
The lack of a high vent is probably the biggest issue this tent has. If you close up the fly to keep in the heat, prepare to wake up damp.
The skylights are a mixed bag for me. It’s nice to be able to check the weather without leaving your bed, but the skylights also allow anyone outside to check out what’s going on inside your tent. This could be a security issue if thieves are about or a privacy issue if you’re getting some alone time with your sweetie.
I’m still not sold on this center entry vestibule. There isn’t room to store a pack under the vestibule and use that side as an entrance. The reason to have two doors on a tent is so I can go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without climbing over my wife.
What happened with this tent is during the day the packs were inside the tent. At night the packs got placed into the vestibules. When I got up, I had to get out of my sleeping bag, bring the pack inside and then leave. I’d prefer a vestibule with room for me to enter/exit the tent without moving my pack.
If you plan to use one door for entry and the other as a storage space, my gripes about the vestibule are moot.
I bought this so the kids would have a tent they could take camping with the scouts. In that respect I think it’s perfect.
The single hubbed pole makes set up intuitive. The floor is a heavy (nearly Codura) nylon. The full coverage fly will keep the rain out (at least until the vinyl windows crack).
On the other hand, you need six stakes to keep the fly off the tent body, so I had to get creative when my choices were platform or puddle.
One way to avoid the condensation issue would be to roll back one or two sections of the vestibule. This might be necessary on a warm night to get any sort of ventilation anyway.
One more detail that drove me nuts – when you roll up the fly, the sections are held back by a toggle and a toggle. But when you roll up the door, Poler correctly used a toggle and a loop. Why the tent is configured correctly but the fly isn’t is just maddening to me.
All the toggles on the fly are secured with reflective webbing. The guylines are reflective. The zipper pulls on the door are made from the same reflective cord.
Minimum six stakes to pitch the fly. There are six additional guy out points if you’re expecting foul weather. The tent itself can be staked at the four corners. For a total of 16 possible stake points. The tent shipped with 12 stakes.
I purchased this on a significant discount (less than $70) – I think this color was being discontinued. For the price I paid, it’s basically disposable. Given that I plan on using it for Cub Scout & Girl Scout camping, a disposable tent is exactly what I wanted.
At full price (approximately $250) I would be very disappointed. It’s heavy. It doesn’t breathe. And I’m concerned about the durability of the skylights.
Modern Anachronist 