My OH has a theory that you can always tell a brit on the campsite well before looking at the car reg or listeing to them speak because their tents will be huge.
And to be fair, his theory held out at four different french campsites. The giant tents always belonged to the brits.
I reckon it's because our climate means we expect to be huddled inside away from driving rain. Even if we're off abroad we feel the need to be prepared for the worst summer weather we know. What do you think?
Well we have a Galeria 6 (for 3 of us and lo is only 3 years old!) so holds true for us.
I agree about the weather - even though we have been really lucky, when the evening or mornings have been chilly we have appreciated the extra living space to huddle in! We are goign to take the plunge and go to Brittany next year - any tips for novices venturing over the channel for the first time gratefully received!
I agree , we have an idaho xl for 5 of us and the large living space was what made us buy it . Its essential with 3 kids in tow to have room for them to play inside if its really bad weather and lets face it we don;t have the best summers.
My theory is more space means more comfort and the more areas you can stand up in your tent the more comfort. We used to have a 5 man Coleman sahara that was just about right for the 2 of us, now we've got kids we've got a trailer tent.
I agree with the weather/space scenario. I am optimistic by nature but also a realist with the weather. The more space... the more comforts you can have with you.
Yep I go along with that, we have an 8 man tunnel tent for four of us.. I love having the space and room for all the extras just in case it rains, oops why did I say "just in case", it always rains when we camp in this country!!!
Niki
------------- Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop
Also....and let's be honest here...Brits love a display of consumerism more than other European countries. eg Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton bags and conspicuously branded sportswear is much more prevalent in UK. So I guess, for some, the same goes for tents?
------------- Every gadget you own and button you press means that's one more thing you don't actually know how to do.
We have just got back (sob!) from 2 weeks in the South of France, and was REALLY obvious exactly how materialistic we Brits are....
On the ferry, the amount of ££-worth of Cars and caravans would have been astronomical! Massive, brand-new looking vans with huge cars tugging them.... in comparison to the French 'vans which in a large number of cases didn't even look road worthy!!! lol!!!
That said, we went with the massive BL6 (+extension! lol!!) which we concluded was a total waste - and we should have taken the teensy Cabanon, as realistically we only went inside to sleep and lived the rest of the time outside.....
For me it should be good value per night - meaning I can have thre or even four weeks where a more expensive holiday might be only a fortnight.
Even with our Vermont I'd be surprised if we have a grand's worth of gear - it's been amassed over years at sales, not bought en masse in a camping supercentre.
But if £40K of motorhome is your bag - well it's a free world.
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
It is a weather thing! The french are used to living outside and we're used to being inside!
We have one tent that we use and it's been suitable for scottish spring/autumns and french summers! We need to be prepared!!
Yep - weather is the deciding factor for us too. We wanted a large indoor space for if we were 'tent' bound due to our English summer. If it's sunny all day then, yep, it's a waste of space, but when it's non - stop drizzle.....
our orchy 5 looks huge but in reality its not that big really, the living space is ideal for me and hubby but i would nt fancy 4 of us sat in there and the bedroom is just right for the double airbed, and a bit of room to manouver round. what makes our tent look so big is the canopy which i couldnt live with out for cooking in,
again the monty 6 looks massive but it fits us perfectly with out being on top one another.
------------- A tent is like a newborn born baby..... to some they all look the same..... but if its yours it's beautiful.
:o) gillychick
Willows - Laceby March
Lee Valley - London May
Nanctol Wales June
Croatia September
undecided October
As a single camper at present,i prefer small to medium size tents.If i manage to get friends etc,i want a big tent,as they are more fun and have a lot more room.
------------- Boris Karloff: '' now will you give me my chalk!? ''
My Tents:
Eureka K2 XT
Terra Nova Solar 2
Outwell Jersey S Pop Up Tent
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe.