We started our relationship with the tent at a folk festival and it survived a pretty heavy rainstorm almost intact - the tent stayed dry! but the small pole for the vestibule broke. I had no problem getting a new pole, but the next time out, the new pole broke. And we were extra careful with it. The tent design on the four-person tent (at least on ours) was such that the pole simply couldn't handle the pressure of the big bend. The bigger poles held strong, but all four of them are now a little bent out of shape. With only 2 trips, 4 set-ups and 20 days of use, I expected way more from the tent. We don't want to need a new pole every second or third time we set up the tent, so we're returning it. Otherwise, we loved the tent and we're a little sad it didn't work out.
We had our Pine Dome set up in our backyard witin 20 minites - and I'm sure that time will improve. Nice and roomy, but cannot imagine more than 4 people and their gear in this tent. Fortunately, we're 2 people and 2 dogs. PROS: Nice ventinlation, great storage compartments, love being able to close off the sleeping area from wet dogs during the daytime. Also love the option of sleeping in the porch on hot, dry nights. CONS: Disappointed that the footbed does not extend all the way through the porch. Also disappointed that the footbed is out of stock, so we had to buy two large canvas drop clothes to protect the sleeping area from doggy nails and to cover the porch bottom to keep out bugs and allow the dogs to have someplace to chill out without worry of wet ground and/or bugs. Another disappointment is that the photograph showing a boy standing in front of the tent shows a pole holding up the back awning, which is part of the fly. We assumed those poles came with the tent. Not. We had to go out and buy poles to hold this flap up. - It's such a great feature for adding some extra shade/circulation. And the poles we bought are adjustable in height, so with a light drizzle we can adjust them lower to allow for even more air circulation.
I just returned from a camping trip in which one of our days was all wind and rain. You would not have known it from how dry the inside of this tent was though. This tent is spacious and more importantly STAYS DRY! The screen house is a luxury as we were able to comfortably sit inside, play cards, eat and read while it poured outside. The only negative is that one of the main support poles snapped during set up (I was able to rig it to work for the weekend). As soon as we returned I wrote to Customer Service and they shipped me off a new one without question. Typical LL Bean Customer Service! I would recommend this tent to anyone - we love it!
We loved this tent once we got the hang of the center pole but every time the wind blows, the small pole the holds up the covering to the screen room breaks. We usually take several with us and each time they have broken. When the last two poles broke they put holes through the rain flap. We will be returning this tent but are sad to part with it.
