“We’re gonna need a bigger van…” If tempted by this spacious Weathermaster 4XL Air family tent, ensure you’ve room in your vehicle: its packed dimensions are a boot-busting 80cmx60cmx42cm (approx). It weighs over 30kg, arrived on a pallet, its reinforced carrybag has wheels… it’s a big tent.
John Manning Recommends
I’d been wary of this type of tent but was bowled over by the Weathermaster 4XL Air’s easy, speedy pitch and its luxurious roominess.- Space
- Black-out bedroom
- Speedy all-in-one pitch
- Weight
- Packed size
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £800 Weight (g/kg): 30.4kg (31.9kg inc pump) Berth: 4 Pitching: As a unit Flysheet: PU-coated polyester, 4500mm HH Inner: Breathable polyester and PU-coated polyester on Blackout bedrooms; No-see-um mesh Groundsheet: PE, welded, fully integrated with rainskirts Poles: Inflatable Fast Pitch Air poles (pump included) Pegs: 46 (4 x V-shape corner stakes; 21 x plastic T-shape stakes; 18 wire stakes; 3 x wire loops stakes) Porch: W: 300cm, L: 170cm (approx); vestibule: W: 300cm, L: 270cm (approx) Bedrooms: Two – W: 140cm Overall inner dimensions: W: 310cm, L: 665cm, H: 215cm URL: www.colemanuk.co.uk |
This was my first experience of inflatable “poles”. The five Fast Pitch Air technology poles each needed inflating to around 7psi: the supplied handpump’s pressure gauge prevents over-inflation. Coleman says the tent – which goes up as one unit – can be erected single-handed: working as a pair, it went up surprisingly quickly and easily, a big plus in rain as it results in less moaning from impatient younger family members. Despite there being no breeze, we pegged out all the guys for a much more rigid pitch.
Once up, the tent offers a groundsheet-less porch, inner vestibule with bathtub-style groundsheet and two bedrooms, with sewn-in groundsheets.
The vestibule easily accommodates dining table and chairs, or kids’ toys. Cable access points either side accommodate electric hook-up, with internal Velcro loops to guide cables to where you need them. Six mesh pockets between the doors to the bedrooms are useful for stashing belongings.
The bedrooms, at the vestibule’s rear, each feature highly effective blackout fabric to facilitate a better night’s sleep. At around 210cm deep by 140cm wide, each will accommodate two sleeping bags, mats and gear though an inflatable double mattress might be pushing it. Mesh ceilings reduce condensation, and each bedroom has two-way zipped access to rear external vents, mesh pockets in the walls and single hanging loops. The dividing wall unzips to create a larger sleeping area for four, if required.
Between vestibule and sizeable porch are mesh-screened windows, and the vestibule’s floor edge pegs flat to avoid trips while stepping through. Porch and vestibule have numerous hanging points, vinyl windows and external vents. The side door has a slight, protective overhang to protect the vestibule’s groundsheet from rain; the front porch door doesn’t.
I’d been wary of this type of tent but was bowled over by the Weathermaster 4XL Air’s easy, speedy pitch and its luxurious roominess.
