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Setting up my new tent in the backyard took three hours longer than the box said
The instructions said it was a '5 minute setup' but I spent over 3 hours just figuring out the pole structure. It was a 4-person dome tent from a big brand, and the poles kept getting stuck in the wrong sleeves. I finally got it after watching a YouTube video from a guy in Denver who had the same model. Has anyone else found that the setup time on the packaging is totally wrong for their gear? What tent actually sets up fast for real?
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harper_burns592mo ago
Yeah, the "5 minute setup" thing is a total joke. I read a blog post by a guy who timed himself on six different tents, and the average was like four times longer than the box said. He said the only one that came close was a specific pop-up style, but even that had issues in the wind.
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the_sage2mo ago
Ever try practicing in your backyard first, harper_burns59? It cuts my setup time in half, even with those tricky pole clips.
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oscarb162mo ago
That guy in Denver is the real hero of this story.
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Oh man, totally agree with you there. I mean, that guy in Denver just hopped in and did what needed to be done while everyone else was probably standing around filming it. Idk, maybe it's just me but I've been in enough sketchy backcountry situations to know that one person with a positive attitude and some basic know-how can change everything. I always carry a multi-tool and a roll of duct tape in my pack for exactly this kind of thing, and I've used both more times than I can count. People underestimate how much a little prep and a calm head can help when things go sideways. That's the real hero material right there, not some fancy gear or certification.
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