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Last Spring Bank Holiday No.2 Son asked to borrow my Cabanon Athena for the weekend. I was not keen (it’s amazing how protective one can get about such things isn’t it) However, as Mrs Bert and I had already decided to use our Relum that weekend I could not think of a good reason to refuse.  Anyway, the Athena came back minus one pole which had somehow been bent beyond repair. No.2 contacted Forest Camping who promptly and efficiently provided a replacement, so no real harm done.

No. 2 and girlfriend were so impressed with the whole camping experience. Phrases like “it brought back so many memories of when we were kids” could be heard ringing around “Chez-Bert “all the following weekend. I could see that the Athena was going to be much in demand.  Imagine my relief then, when they announced their intention decided to buy a tent of their own.

After my canvas vs. polyester lecture they set off to find “something suitable” for them and their offspring (ages 3 and 2)

On Friday last, they turned up with their new purchase. “Our garden isn’t big enough, can we do a test pitch on your lawn please” Well, on Saturday morning we started by laying out the footprint……………….. 7.2m X 4.5m.  It looked quite big compared to the Athena’s modest 5.5m X 4.0m. Then we actually put it up. It is a Kampa Polzeath 8.  An amazing tent, full of very good features like you see in tents like the Outwell’s  The outer poly-cotton material is quite a bit thinner than the Cabanon’s…. but it needs to be or you’d never pick it up in it’s bag!

The biggest problem we encountered was the height of the thing. Neither No.2 nor I are very tall, 5’ 7” and 5’ 6” respectively. We needed a small set of steps to attach the centre “tensioning” pole and the various sleeping pods to the centre top. Once erected it is a sight to behold (I have some pictures taken by Mrs Bert if someone could tell me how to down/upload them I’ll attach them)  The amount of internal space availaable is staggering. I have given No.2 details of this site, I am sure we’ll soon have a couple of new members posting and commenting. Above all, I can sleep easily in the knowledge that my Cabanon is no longer under threat.

Bert.

 You could be right Meddy but I don't have room in the car/trailer for the tent and the step ladder too!  They got a really good deal on though. They only paid £699.00 and it has a MRP of about £1000.

Bert. 

 Pictures now posted in Tent Review section

Bert