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Subject Topic: Bell tent or family tent with a toddler Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTractorted123
05/5/2016 at 9:49pm
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We are looking at buying a new tent big enough for 2 adults and 2 children (age 2 and age 9 months). We have been looking at bell tents but I am curious as to people's experience with camping in such tents with very young children. I am wondering whether the separate living areas in more modern tents might be better for playing etc when the weather is not so great? I am worried a bell tent might end up feeling cramped?


Persongeoffprinter
06/5/2016 at 8:10am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent. View geoffprinter's Profile View Profile   Reply to geoffprinter Reply   Quote geoffprinter Quote  
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Depends on how big a tent you are comparing it with a Bell. Heres a couple of pics of our 2 tents. One is our 5 metre bell, which is the size I would recommend, The other is our Vango lumen 500 airbeam. I havnt had nippers in ours, but I would say there is more floor space for kids in the Bell. Although the Lumen does have a separate bedroom for them.


PersonTynxuk
06/5/2016 at 8:13am
 Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
 Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent View Tynxuk's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tynxuk Reply   Quote Tynxuk Quote  
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we had a 5m bell tent for a family of 5 and it never felt cramped, we did however have a separate kitchen tent. We got fed up of not being able to see out and wanted something a little more practical that would incorporate the kitchen but not a 'regular' tunnel tent (although that is what I have for short breaks) so we opted for a pyramid tent with tarp and so pleased we did.



Personkeai7
06/5/2016 at 3:19pm
 Location: Zurich
 Outfit: One and only 5m Bell View keai7's Profile View Profile   Reply to keai7 Reply   Quote keai7 Quote  
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We started camping when the twins were 2 (last year). We have a 5m bell+ 4x4meter tarp combi. In rainy weather, we have sat under our tarp bbq-ing and watching the rain. I like the space indoors and being able to chill outside rain or shine. That said, as we are new, we find putting up and maintaining (when it rains) the tarp a fluff. I am sure we will get more apt (and quicker!!) in securing the tarp over time but for now it remains a little monster waiting to be conquered.

As you shouldn't cook indoors, you need to think of cooking shelter for when it rains. One mum posted how she hated having to leave her child in the bell tent while she goes between her tent and her separate camp kitchen during an extended rainy trip. That really made me decide on a tarp instead of a separate camp kitchen.

I have a separate pop up toilet tent. Life saver with kids when it rains and in the middle of the night. Takes 5 minutes to set up.

Given my requirement to have a connected porch to the tent, place to hang out and cook when it rains, a toilet set up, and a polycotton tent that is both quiet and cool/warm against the elements, I nearly went for the Kampa Croyde 6 Air polycotton. Ticks all the boxes. I decided on the bell+tarp combi purely because I am just a little romantic and love a fun and cute tent :)

Good luck on your decision.


PersonTractorted123
07/5/2016 at 9:35am
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Thank you for all the advice. keai7 that is the same choice I am trying to make. My only concern is not being able to see out and also not having a contained play area. I love the idea of a bell tent!


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PersonCampernic
07/5/2016 at 12:20pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua View Campernic's Profile View Profile   Reply to Campernic Reply   Quote Campernic Quote  
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The problem with Bell Tent camping is once you try it, you'd be loathe to give it up. There are some arguments against, and I'll not gloss over them. The inability to see out, except through the doorway - the low door height with one single guy rope that decapitates you every time you go in or out, the inevitable mess of stuff unless you are super tidy (impossible with kids) and the lack of cooking area are all negatives.

Although nothing can be done about the low door height you can put in an extra guy rope so there are two on each side rather than one in the middle.

Use an Obelink TC Tarp to extend your living space and create a cooking area - or maybe even invest in a separate utility tent for the best of all worlds. I camp solo in a 4m Bell Tent and would only bother with the utility tent on longer trips, for a weekend I live out of one 'kitchen' box which is essentially tea making plus a bit of extra kit for basic meals.

I use those sturdy 'laundry' bags - square boxy things with a zip on top. Cool designs like red polka dot are available. One for clothes and one for extra blankets.

I also use a big picnic blanket for a carpet (mine is the Jumbo picnic blanket from QD stores).

Some people really go all out with the glamping, and if this floats your boat then have fun with it. I'm less glampy, I tried it once and found the stress of trying to keep it looking 'instagram' perfect too much hassle.

This isn't a great photo but give you an idea.



I have been tunnel tent camping for years, and I still have my Vango 5 man tent and will probably hold on to it for another while. But since I got the Bell, I haven't wanted to use anything else.


Personkeai7
07/5/2016 at 4:46pm
 Location: Zurich
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Quote: Originally posted by Tractorted123 on 07/5/2016
Thank you for all the advice. keai7 that is the same choice I am trying to make. My only concern is not being able to see out and also not having a contained play area. I love the idea of a bell tent!



Truth of the matter is, unless it is raining cats and dogs everyday, the kids are more likely playing outdoors all the time. If it is raining hard for several days, you should probably just pack up and go instead.

When the kids were 2+ and it was drizzling the whole day, we just put on our rain coats and went down to the beach to collect sea shells and jump the waves in Wales :) The kids love jumping on muddy puddles and the rain. When to do it if not for camping?

GeoffPrinter made windows for his bell tent
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=6&TopicID=327571

Campermic did make an important point. Bell tent tend to end up quite messy. I don't own any other tents and I don't know how other tents would be different. I am trying to make it more manageable this trip by bringing plastic drawers to store clothes and bits and bops.


Persongeoffprinter
07/5/2016 at 6:23pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent. View geoffprinter's Profile View Profile   Reply to geoffprinter Reply   Quote geoffprinter Quote  
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You can always be brave & add windows, my DW did ours.



And a 6X2 tarp for outside cooking and relaxing.


Persontiacat
07/5/2016 at 8:41pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Karma Canvas 5m ZIG View tiacat's Profile View Profile   Reply to tiacat Reply   Quote tiacat Quote  
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I love our bell tent but the day someone makes one with higher walls, Im on it. I wonder why they cant just raise the walls another couple of foot that would make a big difference to head height round the edges.

I just love the lotus bell but I think its impractical for our weather. What I love about our tent (I have to admit Ive never had any other tent so my experience is limited) is that if its raining, it doesnt matter, the top goes up and the inside is completely dry, we have a ZIG so it all goes up in one.

But the tarp for outside, thats another matter, it never looks quite right. We have a 6x2 and I wish Id bought something else, I dont like it the way its shown by geoffprinter so we have it like a flat roof and its always leaning this way and that.

we keep our tent tidy by shoving everything under the beds but you might have air beds so you cant do that.


PersonTarquinBelle
12/7/2016 at 3:48pm
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Quote: Originally posted by tiacat on 07/5/2016
I love our bell tent but the day someone makes one with higher walls, Im on it. I wonder why they cant just raise the walls another couple of foot that would make a big difference to head height round the edges.

I just love the lotus bell but I think its impractical for our weather. What I love about our tent (I have to admit Ive never had any other tent so my experience is limited) is that if its raining, it doesnt matter, the top goes up and the inside is completely dry, we have a ZIG so it all goes up in one.

But the tarp for outside, thats another matter, it never looks quite right. We have a 6x2 and I wish Id bought something else, I dont like it the way its shown by geoffprinter so we have it like a flat roof and its always leaning this way and that.

we keep our tent tidy by shoving everything under the beds but you might have air beds so you cant do that.


The lotus belle stands up in our weather, a lot better than a 5m standard bell does


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Personturnpike
11/8/2016 at 11:14am
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Did you buy a tent yet?

I find our 5 m bell fantastic for two young kids. We enjoy all sleeping in the same space. When we get home the kids want us to all sleep in the same room on the floor..

I've never felt the need for windows. I love the light canvas shade compared to dark nylon.

You could always add the quarter or half room when the kids get older.

I have the obelink tarp and usually end up with a wind break along one side so now I think I'd like a bigger tarp say 6m x 3m (haven't found one yet) so I don't need the windbreak (which is the first thing to come down in high winds and rain).

I've wondered about the lack of a container area separate from the tent but I think keai7 is spot on. After about 3 days of non stop rain you are probably heading home anyway.


Personoohmyback
16/8/2016 at 9:06pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit:  Nordisk Asgard Bell Tent View oohmyback's Profile View Profile   Reply to oohmyback Reply   Quote oohmyback Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by tiacat on 07/5/2016
I love our bell tent but the day someone makes one with higher walls, Im on it. I wonder why they cant just raise the walls another couple of foot that would make a big difference to head height round the edges.

I just love the lotus bell but I think its impractical for our weather. What I love about our tent (I have to admit Ive never had any other tent so my experience is limited) is that if its raining, it doesnt matter, the top goes up and the inside is completely dry, we have a ZIG so it all goes up in one.

But the tarp for outside, thats another matter, it never looks quite right. We have a 6x2 and I wish Id bought something else, I dont like it the way its shown by geoffprinter so we have it like a flat roof and its always leaning this way and that.

we keep our tent tidy by shoving everything under the beds but you might have air beds so you cant do that.



Only just seen you post.

The Nordisk Bell tents have a wall extension




http://www.trekitt.co.uk/13812/products/nordisk-asgard-12-6m-wall-extension.aspx?o........



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