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Topic: Poled tents vs inflatables

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Broadside

01/3/2018 at 12:47pm
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Andy R, I would add a comment about sturdy poles versus air beam...

We had an 8 man pole tent for 5 years, it did us very well through some awful windy weather, I probably replaced 6 sections of fibreglass pole that started to fracture through we never had a complete break. The tent used to blow about quite a bit.

The first time we used our airbeam tent was during the thunderstorms last May in Sussex, the wind was really extreme, the airbeam was rock solid. Friends with similar sized pole tents had bits of their tents collapsing.

I think it is partly due to the sheer weight of an air beam tent, ours is about twice the weight of our similar sized pole tent. Also the beams will conform with the wind a bit but they don’t have a breaking point like a pole.

Of all the things to worry about by moving to air beam, performance in really bad weather would be at the bottom of my list because experience is that they perform really well in the wind.

Caligula

01/3/2018 at 1:00pm
Location: Suffolk
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Just to really stir it

a bell tent wouldn't have either issue? lol!

duffs54

02/3/2018 at 10:49am
Location: Cambs
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Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 01/3/2018
Just to really stir it a bell tent wouldn't have either issue? lol!

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Duffs54

Threepints

21/3/2018 at 11:37am
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I've just bought my first airtent - Outwell Edmonds 5A. Always had poled tents before so I'll let you know what I think at some future point.

Gerry Williams

22/3/2018 at 8:47pm
Location: Near the Admirals Head
Outfit: tent car and or motorbike(s)

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Friend had an inflatable tent years ago, looked good & easy when he pitched it, come 3 am when it deflated, it wasn't so much fun

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Caligula

22/3/2018 at 10:25pm
Location: Suffolk
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I see on another thread, someone recently bought a popular Vango airbeam tent, and that too went pop.......

Broadside

22/3/2018 at 11:16pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 22/3/2018
I see on another thread, someone recently bought a popular Vango airbeam tent, and that too went pop.......

I missed that thread, which tent was that?

Caligula

23/3/2018 at 10:06pm
Location: Suffolk
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Quote: Originally posted by Broadside on 22/3/2018

Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 22/3/2018
I see on another thread, someone recently bought a popular Vango airbeam tent, and that too went pop.......

I missed that thread, which tent was that?

Vango 800?

ScottishDavid

28/3/2018 at 10:17pm
Location: Kirkintilloch Scotland
Outfit: Vango Centara 800 Airbeam

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I have always had poled tents until last year. I purchased a vango centara 800. When I bought it there was a leaking valve , fortunately the factory is 20 minutes drive from me in Glasgow. They took it off me replaced every tube as a precaution and gave a me a rucksack full of goodies including a spare tube , thier customer service was amazing !

I’ve had the tent up in some questionable weather and it has been perfect whilst a few tents around me have been damaged (poles snapped etc) , there was only one occasion I had to take town my poled awning but the tent itself had been brilliant , very impressed with its performance last year !

kirsty12

29/3/2018 at 4:47pm
Location: Herts
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I've had a Vango Airbeam with no issues (other than leaking, not air i may add). I've just sold a Outwell air polycotton tent again with no issues.The massive size of air tents is so prohibiting and the weight was back breaking. I always did have in the back of my mind what happens if i had a air leak or worse, especially in the south of France. A one point of inflation didn't help my fear. I wanted to stick with polycotton and have a much smaller pack size, so we've gone for a bell tent. At least i won't have nightmares of that going down in the night

jacfrosty

01/4/2018 at 2:44am
Location: Sussex
Outfit: Vango Solace 400 Airbeam

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I love my Vango airbeam (Solace 400 2016). Wouldnt go back to a poled tent (although I might go for a bell tent

We dont argue anymore (well not much) when putting it up!

Caligula

01/4/2018 at 8:34am
Location: Suffolk
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Quote: Originally posted by kirsty12 on 29/3/2018
I've had a Vango Airbeam with no issues (other than leaking, not air i may add). I've just sold a Outwell air polycotton tent again with no issues.The massive size of air tents is so prohibiting and the weight was back breaking. I always did have in the back of my mind what happens if i had a air leak or worse, especially in the south of France. A one point of inflation didn't help my fear. I wanted to stick with polycotton and have a much smaller pack size, so we've gone for a bell tent. At least i won't have nightmares of that going down in the night

TE]

+1 for belltents
+ another for polycotton /cotton!
+ a third for poles!

-just to be perverse, was out last night in my mini tipi, a polish army lavvu, £8 SIM, £20 sleeping bag (surplus BA arctic bag), rain and 3 deg C......slept like a log.... (ooh, using old Blacks A frame poles from a GC.

Cant wait to get going in the bell tent!

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