Instructions for a Cougar 2 Tent

When compared to a simple dome tent, the Columbia Cougar Flats II can seem a bit intimidating, with its mass of material and more than a dozen poles. Fortunately, the process itself is quite straightforward, if a bit more time consuming than other tents. Just stick with the color coding and the tent will be up in no time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Cougar Flats II Tent

Step 1

Unpack the tent. Set the poles and rain fly to one side. Roll out the main body of the tent in the location where you wish it to stand.

Step 2

Sort and assemble the poles. The poles for the Cougar Flats II tent are color-coded for easy matching, both to each other and to the sleeves and pockets where the poles are secured. This large cabin tent incorporates both fiberglass poles that are shock-corded together and heavier steel poles that socket into each other.

Step 3

Cross the two olive green poles across the top of the tent. Slide the poles through the sleeves and attach the clips to the poles. Do not socket the olive green poles into the corner supports yet. Place the bright green pole in place at each end of the tent.

Step 4

Place the two orange poles on top of the bright green ones and slide them through the corresponding sleeves. Secure the poles at one side and then the other to begin raising the roof supports. Then secure the olive green poles as well, completing the roof.

Step 5

Erect the tent using the yellow and red poles. Place one yellow pole into the support at the front center of the tent and push the roof up, securing the pole by placing it on the yellow marked pin at ground level. Repeat this procedure with the second yellow pole at the rear of the tent. Then, repeat the process at each of the four corners with the four red poles.

Step 6

Set up the rain fly using the remaining three black poles. The two short poles are used from the inside of the tent to push out the tent's "bay windows". The angled black pole is used at the rear of the tent to support the rain fly.

Tips & Warnings

Practice setting your tent up before you have to do so in the field.

Allow your tent to dry at home before packing it away for an extended period.

Article Written By Beau Prichard

Beau Prichard has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. He specializes in fiction, travel and writing coaching. He has traveled in the United Kingdom, Europe, Mexico and Australia. Prichard grew up in New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Arts in writing from George Fox University.

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