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Quote: Originally posted by suns on 26/1/2025

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I have a kampa Watergate 8 viv a vis. This is an old secondhand tent . it has a bed pod one end with a dividing drop down curtain and two separate bed pods the other end. I can fit double air beds in all . This is a snug fit though. I know its not much to go on but may give you an idea.

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 27/1/2025

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Basic rule of tents that old hands have usually learnt the hard way - ignore manufacturers claims on berths! Be it an undivided tent, or a bedroom, ALWAYS reduced claimed capacity by 1, so a 2 berth bedroom really only accommodates 1, 3 berth 2 etc. etc. Of course it works the other way, if you want 2 berths, you NEED a 3 berth space!
You have to be intimately acquainted (or prepared to become so!) AND with no possessions, and not be of large size, to use the manufacturers quoted berths!

Another thing to take into account is the almost inevitable sloping walls! The sleeping dimensions given are the FLOOR dimensions, as soon as you add airbeds, camp beds etc., they are raised from the floor and the space available for them due to slope on walls is less than the tent spec would imply! That often makes beds jam hard into walls, then walls flap into contact with bed occupants - not good for decent sleep!

Our solution on occasions for needing more bedrooms than the tent is fitted with is to use a 'pop-up' additional bedroom pod in the living space. We've turned a 6 berth (4 berth in reality) 2 bedroom tunnel tent into a true 6 berth with a couple of extra pop-up bedrooms in the 'living room'. Depending on whether you need the living space during the day dictates whether you leave them in place or shuffle/pack them out of the way.

Those looking for large berth capacity are often drawn towards the 'lobed' style of tent with 'pods' radiating off a central area. Be warned they have a number of shortcomings! They are usually complicated to erect (and break down) with a LOT of poles/guy ropes, troublesome to repack efficiently, and they occupy a disproportionally (very inefficient land use!) large pitch space, that is either not available on many sites or comes at a premium price for an 'oversize' pitch. Because of the excessive number of guy ropes, the exterior space between 'lobes' can be largely unusable, so sitting out/cooking space requires even more pitch space! We had a 3-lobed 9 berth (6 berth) one for a couple of seasons, but gave up on it and replaced with a tunnel tent which has happily served well for many years.

Publicity photos and specs are all very well, but absolutely no substitute for seeing a tent erected and being able to walk in and around it, Go Outdoors and Decathlon are pretty good places to see tents 'in the flesh'. You'll instinctively feel what's right and wrong with many tents when in physical contact that just cannot be discovered from specs and photos. You don't have to be restricted to the tents you see on display, once you've got a feel for the style/type, you can translate that to apply to other tents from alternative manufacturers and suppliers and work with specs/photos better.

Tent hunting can be fun, but also seem like a minefield, looking at lots, and taking your time pays dividends, as you start to dismiss certain styles and gravitate toward others. Worth spending the time and effort, then you'll unlikely buy a tent that you want to change after only one or two uses!

Over the years, used just about every variation of tent out there (apart from tepee style), and my personal must haves on a new tent are:
*) Head height sufficient to stand in. Trying to dress/undress when on knees is no fun!
*) Bedrooms for comfort (warmer than an open tent on cool nights) and a bit of privacy.
*) Living space to sit around/eat in when raining (it WILL rain!)
*) Porch area that can be separate from living/sleeping area. Great for cooking, and shedding/storing wet/mucky outdoor gear - you REALLY don't want to take wet and muck into your living/sleeping space. The dampness spreads to EVERYTHING and causes excess condensation!
*) Good ventilation options, tents can get intolerably hot in even mild sun, and condensation becomes excessive if not a decent exchange of air.

If you find a tent that ticks every box, bravo, but likely you'll have to compromise on something to some degree!

Good luck

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