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help. info needed. single woman is looking 4 tent, large, that i can put up by myself. like a tall tent at least 4bth. daughter 6'1" will join me sometimes, so no help there then. am looking at khyam 400.seems o.k. are there any other options out there. would like to stand inside and roomy if wet so can cook etc. no camping done 4 the last 8yrs really miss it. is it still safe 4 a woman on her own to do this not a huge budget but it will give me holidays. thanks to all

Hi. I bought a second hand Cabanon Pacific last year and think it is brilliant! http://www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=377

Easy peasy to put up single handed, standing height, more comfortable and safer to cook in than a nylon tent. Use with one bedroom inner in place and masses of living space for just yourself, or with an inner at either end and space in between when your daughter tags along. Sorted. MT

Hi Angelcake and welcome to UKCS

I can put my tent up on my own and I am only 4ft 10in. Its a tunnel tent, a Khyam Yale £149, so it doesnt need someone to go inside and hold up any cross poles as you would with a dome tent and although its over 6ft high I can manage to get the fly sheet over it ok. If you go to my gallery and click on the web address you will see some photos of it. It would also suit your needs as it can be used with one bedroom, 2 bedrooms or none at all giving you one big living and sleeping space.

As for camping on your own, I would feel ok about doing that on all of the sites we have used so far. I camp with another woman no bigger than myself and have never felt unsafe. We dont use the big sites with bars etc and as has been said by pjh10 campers are a friendly bunch and if you choose the right sort of sites there is no reason why you should feel unsafe at all. Happy camping.

Carol

Yes it is, IMHO, very safe. Stick to main sites and not the back of pubs where there might be no one else camping.

As for tents, there are lots to choose from, which is part of the problem  And quite a lot, that are not too big and can be pitched by one person.

How will yoube transporting the tent and your equipment ?
- some of these tents can be real space eaters in your boot.

You have found the Kyham Quick Erect tents, which are good solo pitching, and the Kyham Yale, but also have a look at the likes of a Vango Oregon, which are nice in size, robust and good value - last year's models are selling new for around £120.

It is always best to go and look at them in the flesh, as they are never the same as in the web pictures. Especially when you think "how will I cook in that?".

It might be worth looking at traditional canvas frame tents, which you may consider old fashioned (I am excused this statement, as I have a retro pyramid style!); however, they are generally easy to pitch solo and better to cook inside with.

Cooking inside a tent is obviously something you have to be careful with (synthetic nylon and canvas cotton). Tents for a weekend is not so much of a problem (if it is raining) - you can always just do down the pub or bew up on a small little flat stove; however, weeks away usually mean more of a cooking set-up, which is when you start to care a bit more.

how about a vango venture 500 (5 berth) easiest tent i've ever put up!

and welcome to the site!

Quote: Originally posted by phil+ruth on 29/1/2007

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used to put up a khyam xxl on my own, very easy and quick to erect.

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Yes, I have put up various Khyams including a XXL on my own, also various dome and/or tunnel type tents with someone to help. But for a comfortable, cook-inable, one person standing height tent with plenty of space that is easy to erect the Cabanon Pacific is the winner by a country mile. And you can add a second inner - bonus!

I have had an eye on the tent market and on people's suggestions on this site for a tent that meets this specification the last couple of years and having tried the Pacific I really do feel that it is much better than the alternatives.  Previously I was using a Khyam Freelander for solo jaunts - which is easy to put up and standing height in the living area but less comfortable, less cook-inable and only ever one low height inner. OTH the Freelander is a smaller packsize if that is a consideration. MT

Quote: Originally posted by Big Bunny on 29/1/2007

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.... It might be worth looking at traditional canvas frame tents, which you may consider old fashioned (I am excused this statement, as I have a retro pyramid style!); ....

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This is true. I would call my Pacific retro shabby-chic, my son calls it my granny tent!  Anyway, its a classic.

I got so carried away with the joy of canvas last year that I also bought a little s/h two person pyramid tent, a Noumea. Very pretty, cosy and again v.v. easy to put up - but not really cook-inable and no potential to add a second inner.  Excellent for a weekender though or maybe for touring. MT