French Army Desert F1 Tent- Set Up and Tweaks

I bought this tent in 2018 and have only set it up once before. I didn't sleep in it because I had been told when I purchased it from an online military surplus site that it was not to be used in the rain. Period. I now have the time and interest to revisit this tent which so many You Tubers seem to feature, either in Olive Green or this desert sand colour. It took about 6 minutes to be erected in the leisurely style you see here. Some people say it leaks, others say it doesn't. I like the layout and design, especially for Australian conditions where mostly you want a cool tent with lots of ventilation and some bug-proofing. If it does leak one can always set it up on a tarp and cover it with another. Winter camping in Australia is popular but the coldest I've camped in that I could measure the temperature was only -5C (23F). A warm night for Steve Wallis of 'Camping With Steve' to whom I give a Step 2 tribute in this video. For the money, about $50, this is a great tent and even if I have to use a rain fly/tarp, it will be great for me and my son to enjoy the Aussie bush in over the coming years.

[@motonumnum]

Well deserved beer - nice tent, thanks!

[@tomballard8877]

Have the same tent and it works great. Pain to get in and out of when your old and fat. Camped in the rain with and without a tarp over it and never had a leak. But for people in a rainy climate use a tarp a little bigger than the tent.

[@BushcraftOst]

Very nicely constructed. I own the F1 tent in olive and I really like it. The only reason I haven't shown it in my videos is the weight. I'm usually on the road for 10 miles, so I don't want to carry all that with me.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

For me it is not just the weight but the time and effort needed to set up and pull down. My Helsdon Hammock is literally two minutes and a tarp (hootchie) with jungle knots cordage about the same. I do like this little tent and its classic looks, though.

[@eturnerx]

Yeah, I was told the same. The biggest problem I had was reducing the moon-dust to tolerable levels. I didn't notice any leaking, but then again, I wouldn't trust this tent in constant torrential rain without a tarp overhead. A double skin (tent + fly) is generally warmer for winter camping anyway. Hi from NZ.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

In the old days (60s, 70s) tents always had a separate rain fly; but of course they were heavier and the really old ones had no sewn in floor or mesh netting but used a separate ground sheet. How did we ever manage? Hahaha

[@MrYingvar]

I am currently am waiting for mine to arrive. I will be using it in the rain, per other reviews it does rather well in the rain. I will be seam sealing and coating it to be sure I do not have any problems. Also I will have a rain/shade fly over it.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

Mine only leaked where the tie back tape is sewn in to the front. If you seam seal it I am sure it will be fine and with a rain fly, no problems. It is a great little tent.

[@normancallaghan1750]

That is NOT an F1 tent. It is an F3 desert tent. An F1 has a cotton inner with a nylon flysheet.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

I believe you but can you point me to where I can read this for myself and any other info? I'm only going on what the surplus store called it. I do know there is the olive green version in F1 and F2; one is open both ends, I think. Interestingly, a good mate of mine did 5 years in the French Army (FFL) 1985-90 and he says they were never issued to their unit and he never saw one in the field. They had ponchos or usually slept in a farmer's barn