We have always used a gazebo with adapted pegging points and guys so it won't blow away. This year we have bought a outwell hartford and their new canopy as a kitchen extention. Haven't used it yet, OH busy at work until middle of May so got to wait.
We uses to use a fishing brolly and it was also handy as a sun shade to sit under as well, do think the utility tents look good though if you have the room.
Quote: Originally posted by fiona karen on 08/4/2006
Hi
We uses to use a fishing brolly and it was also handy as a sun shade to sit under as well, do think the utility tents look good though if you have the room.
We have a Nissan Tardis 5d hatch with roof box, I have every confidence we'll just get what we need and in it will go... Passengers could be problem though...
Usually would cook outside but had to do it in the tent last night. To be honest, everything was so blummin cold and soaked through, that the warmth off the cooker didn't even go up over towards ceiling. Kept checking with my hands and all they got was colder and wetter!
Saw some brave souls cooking behind a windbreak last night but we'd've blown away in the snow!
------------- Ali
http://community.webshots.com/album/550396965jBlzdG
We're happy to cook inside & have done so for years, but it uses up space. So we've just this year bought the Wynnster Utility tent - cost £45 at Barretts of Feckenham (and they do free delivery I believe if purchase mail-order - we're close so picked up ours from them). Not yet had chance to use it - going away end of April/beginning May so will use it then.
Sunncamp also do the "Handy" utility tent very similar to the Wynnster but a fraction dearer.
Last week I did see (forget where exactly) online, when searching for windbreaks, a windbreak with an overhead canopy poled out to provide some cover. Just do a search on windbreaks & you should find it. The Sunncamp (?) "Tarp" that someone mentioned, is a little expensive compared to the utility tent.
In past I have just used a windbreak to cook behind but not ideal when it rains. I have also used a beach shelter (ours had a zip up front panel so we also used it for storage & to zip away all the kitchen stuff tidily out of sight when not in use) to cook in, although you have to sit on a stool to do that, with the stove on a low stand (we used a single shelf of those multi-shelf cooking stands), and my poor old back can't cope with being scrunged up like that any more.
I too refuse to cook in our tent so we just get on with it and hope for the best or go to the nearest take away place when all else fails. We cook on a cadac which has a lid so that helps keep the food protected from the rain . We also take things like pot noodles , crisps, snacks and bread for toast , all of which we can get by on in the tent if the weather causes a problem .
I take a utility tent for trips of a week upwards, and a tarp with spare pole-out poles for short trips.
A utility tent is worth its weight in gold for stress-free cooking . Plus your main tent will be far more comfortable without all the kitchen clutter underfoot.They don`t take much time to erect either. Great bit of kit.Yes, they take up more space, but we put ours on the roof rack between the bikes, well tied on.