Good design but poles are rubbish
I have to agree with the other bad reviews below unfortunately. I really want to like this tent and I do like it a lot when it works. It's a classic, simple design, with good quality materials (mostly) and some good features such as the gusseted windows, plenty of guys with stowaway pockets, good standing room, good ventilation, and good weather protection, both wind and rain.
BUT the poles are rubbish. I have owned and used a lot of tents, both cheap and expensive, with both fibreglass and aluminium poles, and I have never had poles break lik...Read more
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Change the poles
I work for a company that use these tents. They are a nice and large design with plenty of room to stand. I must agree with the other reviewer though in regards to the poles. We are constantly wasting time repairing the poles that instead of flexing like they should they snap and in some cases pierce a hole in the fly. With poles not being an item covered under warranty we waste money also on buying more poles from black wolf direct.
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- 1 like
Great tent
Mike, very surprised about the pole issue. We have been using our Tuff dome plus for 5 years and the poles are still perfect. The only issue we have had was a connector that snapped. Called Black Wolf and had a replacement in the mail in 2 days. The poles are prestressed; ie pre bent; so can cope with very high winds. They are not meant to be straight when the tent is taken down. We use the tent for about 40 nights a year; winter as well as summer. It's been through a LOT of nasty weather and never leaked. Up in 22 mins, down in 12. A great tent.
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Find out how Black Wolf Tuff Dome compares to other Tents
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TiptoesGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- 10 reviews
This is a great family tent that doesn't weigh a ton.
This tent is great. I come from a hiking and trekking background and have had a lot of experience with well made expensive lightweight gear. When we had our baby, we needed to move to a larger family tent, and I couldn't be happier after a years use and about 20 nights. I looked at nearly every tent on the market and this was the best value for our intended purpose of family car camping.
The Tuff Dome is effectively a large strong version of a well made hiking tent. It packs up relatively small compared to canvas and other family tents of a...Read more
similar size, and weighs about 14kg. It'll fit in the boot of your family sedan no problems, leaving room for your luggage and other gear. It's easy and quick to set up (easier with two people, but possible with one) and I have had no problems with the aluminium poles on this tent as they are a very large diameter and strong. Some people can break and trash anything though. I purchased some extra nylon bags to keep the different poles separated to avoid rubbing from Ebay. It has stood up to downpours without leaks as all seams are sealed with tape. We have had no condensation as it's a double skin with plenty of ventilation. The guy ropes include a quick lock mechanism for easy adjustment. There is only one room, and it has a very large vestibule to put your esky and chairs out of the weather. As it is a lightweight tent, I use an Oztrail shade clothe tarp/mat under the tent which improves the protection for the floor against rocks etc. It comes with a lifetime warranty to the original owner that I haven't needed to use so can't comment on. I bought it from online from Kulkyne Kampers for a great price. A great product, although a little difficult to find on display or in stock. 5/5 stars.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
KojakFremantle
High quality tent puts others in the shade
After using this tent on a few recent camping trips, I can honestly say that this tent is head and shoulders above similarly priced family tents on the market. Everything about this tent surpasses any other tent I have been able to compare it to. It goes up without fuss, the color-coded poles make it so easy to erect; the sturdy guy ropes are unzipped from their handy pouches on the fly and pegged in a matter of two to three minutes; these same guys ropes are also a nice bright reflective yellow to avoid night-time trip ups (not all tents have ...Read more
this pretty useful feature) and you will be confident that you will be well protected from the elements when you feel and see the high quality fly that will be your roof for the night. All in all, a high quality piece of kit. High quality; clever, easy to use features; easy to erect and dismantle.1 comment
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Neil24Adelaide
- 2 reviews
- 3 likes
Tried and true design but decent quality
The problem with review sites is that people generally only review something if they are unhappy with it. Thousands more happy customers generally don't bother reviewing the goods they buy. Unlike the other review of this tent (to date) I am quite satisfied with the product compared to the rest of the competition in this field.
This is a basic cross-pole dome tent. What sets it apart is that it has been built with quality materials and workmanship. The tent when erected properly is well shaped, doesn't flap in the breeze, has nice stiff alumin...Read more
2 comments
you can buy replacement fibreglass poles at any BCF, far more superior than Aluminium
which bend and stay bent once curved over the dome .
You will see once you pull them apart after use. CRAP.
... Read more
An update on my original review. My family and I have spent well over 100 nights in this tent and it continues to impress. It has weathered 40degree+ baking sunshine, gale force winds and golfball ha... Read more
il. I will admit that after about 80 nights I did manage to break a pole at one of the sleeves due to it not being inserted fully, user error. Blackwolf was contacted and after their very quick response a replacement aluminium pole was purchased through Snowy's. I keep the old pole in the bag for spare sections should I have any more issues. I have had to patch a few small holes in the fly from general setup wear and tear. But I must say again, after 5 years, this has been the best tent I have ever owned. If or when this one ever finally dies I hope that I can still purchase another.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Mike_RAU
- 4 reviews
- 4 likes
Don't buy one!
Liked it because it was suppose to be tuff, not so within 3 days use the pole snapped, rendering the tent useless, returned the tent for a refund and still no result going on 3 weeks now.
Poles need to be fiberglass so they flex, not bend and break like the aluminum one's do and hole the tent ! Absolutely useless .
Don't waste your money, buy the cheapie like my mates did and it out lasted the tuff dome on our recent camping trip .
True story.
Amount of room .
The aluminum poles are useless .
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Questions & Answers
Astroloteasked
Is there a solution or an explanation to the Tuff 4's apparent pole issue?
Are these tents not tested for high wind?
I am surprised that such a relatively expensive tent would break a pole easily.
6 answers
Yes, it was disappointing. Since I wrote that review black wolf have released a new version which I understand has completely new poles so I assume they recognised they had a problem and addressed it. I haven't got the new version but if the pole problem is fixed it would be a great tent - we are actually thinking of buying the new version to replace the old one.
Thanks for the info.
Could I ask another question please? Do the inner tent windows and door have both a mesh and a solid fabric layer? Can they be zippered up/down individually?
Jimasked
Is there a footprint available for the Tuff Dome Twin?
1 answer
Hi Jim. Not that I am aware of. We use an oztrail shade cloth under ours. Water passes through to the ground without pooling and it provides protection from rocks and sticks. Works very well and is low cost. Never had any dampness using this method. Great tent the Tuff Dome.
annie24asked
Could you please tell me whether the tuff dome twin has more than one room ie Is the tent divided somehow into two rooms?
3 answers
The Tuff Dome and Tuff Dome Plus do not have room dividers and have no provision to attach one. I am 99% sure that the Twin is the same.
Hi, no it's just one big area / room .
To be honest I took it back for a refund
As the alie poles snapped after 6 days camping in fair weather, I was not happy .
I would not buy one again, my Freinds had
Far cheaper dome tents that preformed much better than the tuff dome .
be warned, hope this helps.
Mike .
We used one for about ten years and never had a problem with the poles until we lent it to the kids for a festival. Black Wolf sent us out a whole new pole within a week. It comes with a lifetime warranty. Every other dome tent with poles we have ever used has had far more problems coping with wind and rain. The Tuff dome doesn't leak, is easy to set up, and due to the double walls is a (slightly) warmer winter camping option.
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jenny36
Give it a big miss, poles snapped on our first camping trip. I had to beg for a replacement and then they sent me the wrong ones