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 Topic: The Karsten Klub
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14/5/2014 at 8:45pm
Location: uk
Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter!
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hello everyone!
in very much the same vein as The Hypercamp Appreciation Society have formed a superb thread with pictures, stories and hints and tips for everyone with an interest in Hypercamp tents, a very small number of Ukcampsite members have an alternative dutch tent, in the way of Karsten Tents.
its been mentioned on another thread that perhaps now is the time to have our very own " Karsten Klub "
a place like Hypercamps thread where owners can share and exchange information amongst each other and for new perspective owners and anyone interested in camping in general, to see and read about this quite unique and alternative dutch tent which although small in numbers just now seems to be attracting an increasing amount of interest and followers.
so here goes to the launch of the Karsten Klub!
cheers everyone!
ill start with a sunset pic below my scribblings of my simple seagreen Karsten 300 pod with comfort awning and the rain awning attached.
quite simply a 3m x 3m square canvas inflateable pod with an attached substantial and strong pvc type groundsheet.
the tent is supported very simply by 2 tubes using valves similar as to the ones fitted on a car.
my personal impressions so far of my Karsten tent :-
an immediate and major difference to the current mainstream " air - tents " is the pressure that Karstens tents are inflated to.
as an example, my own Outwell Concorde is inflated to around 0.6bar or 10psi.
Karsten tents are inflated to 3.5bar or 50 psi - 5 times higher!.
and consider that many cars tyres are around 30 - 35 psi and you will imagine how sturdy and strong the beams which support this tent are.
the materials used in its construction are more akin in quality, strength and finish to those in fine yachts.
just taking a Karsten tent out of the bag, you appreciate the fine quality and thickness of the canvas and that unmistakeable canvas tent smell. the material used for the sewn in groundsheet is simply unpenetrable to water and it rises up the tents sides by a considerable amount so even in a fairly flooded pitch your tent can remain dry inside.
the tent is pegged in place in only each corner with a substantial aluminium bracket and yacht quality cord.
the guylines on karstens dont just get knotted to the tent. they are attached by Carabiner hooks to the tent - so easily detached and re attached should they need to be easily and quickly.
there is a choice and number of attachment points for the guy lines on each corner - not just 1 - allowing for extra guying in severe conditions.
the guylines themselves are thicker and stronger unlike from any other tent iv ever seen and the accompanying guy line sliders - a thick aluminium piece instead of the commonplace plastic found in most tents.
the peg bag weighs a ton - the pegs supplies outdo my rockpegs in terms of quality and sturdyness.
everything about these unusual, distinctly different looking tents simply oozes quality and strength.
theres not a loose thread or a stitch out of place anywhere - the finish is exemplary.
best of all is the pitching is so quick and easy. simply place 1 peg in each corner and inflate the 2 tubes.
each side has 2 wings which by pegging out 8 pegs gives a deceptive amount of room inside the tent for its pod like appearance.
there is then 1 guy per corner ( or optionally up to 3 if conditions are severe ) so a maximum of 16 pegs ensures this pod is secure up to the manufacturers storm 12 rating.
personally, my view is this is not akin to the many current " lifestyle tents " out there such as the Outwells and other brands with a focus on comfort features, panoramic windows etc, my Outwell Concorde being a personal comparison.
these tents are almost back to basic canvas camping but in amongst the best available made tents on the domestic market. the build quality, materials used, strength and durability all come 1st in these tents.
as a result of this ethos, i feel that i can camp in confidence and very comfortably knowing that my little pod is likely to be able to withstand most weather conditions thrown at it. its comforting to know that if the wind gets up and the rain starts lashing down, i can sleep soundly in my pod.
i wouldnt get that in my Outwell Concorde, awake worrying if the tent will be ok.
and that sums it up for me personally with my little Karsten pod, im more delighted and happy with this basic little tent than iv ever been with any tent iv owned and i look forward to enjoying the 20 year life cycle its designed for!
ok, time for a drink now, whose next! 
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Facebook:- Tent Camping group
Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
Zempire Air Force 1 Pc
Cabanon Bora Bora cotton
Outwell Brandon 4e
Zempire Aero Shelter 150D
Vango Illusion 500TC & 420D
Vango Galli 420D
Outwell Concorde 5SATC
Vango Capri 400xl
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14/5/2014 at 11:03pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Karsten 220 De Waard Visdief+Kuifuil
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Well I can't give a more glowing review than Hanka, but here's how I came to own mine.
I had never heard of them but first saw one on Searles campsite in North Norfolk. It was a smallish light green pod only and I liked the canvas that much I made a note of the make and thought i'd have a look online when I got home and buy one. 
Got home, had a look, and realised maybe I wouldn't be able to get ond straight away!
Kept checking over the next few years(!!!) and eventually their Carp tent appeared on eBay. It had small bids on and I missed the end of the auction as it was half term and I was away. Checked when back, sold for such a small amount I can't bear to put it here. 
Checked the sellers feedback after a week, and could see nothing left, so contacted him to ask if the sale had completed, and if not would he relist?
He said the buyer had not made contact, but am guessing it went for so little he made some excuse not to sell. Anyway, we haggled and agreed a price and I bought unseen.
All in great condition (think its 2004, that was date on delivery labels to original shop in Norfolk) apart from one section of awning pole which is bent (you can see it in pic) doesn't affect stability...just looks wonky.
Bought it about three years ago, and used for five weeks and some weekends so far. Typically, when I've used it, the weather's not been very heavy, so I can't give graphic accounts of surviving biblical storms I'm afraid!
I still always forget to put the door poles in til last...and always forget to take them out till I wonder why I'm struggling to roll it up. 
Mine is the 220 so I just use the double barrelled foot pump it came with, only takes a minute or two on each pole.
Pics this Easter...if you're still awake!
and you can see the bent pole on the right hand side, perfect in my eyes though. 
Post last edited on 14/05/2014 23:38:36
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15/5/2014 at 9:46pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Karsten 220 De Waard Visdief+Kuifuil
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Hanka, I'm sure you will get the pole sequence right, this has been mine on every trip...
Lay tent out
Peg corners
Inflate
Zip on awning
Peg awning
Zip on front wall
Peg front wall
Grab gear to put in pod
Go to open pod do...doh!!!
Un peg awning and front wall
Unzip awning and front wall
Insert door poles...and so on
Note, you can't put the door poles in once the awning is on!
I have a very higgledy piggledy memory and I don't do lists...a lethal combination. 
Maddie, yes I was lucky to get mine, right time, right place for once! It'd be too small for most, which helped I suppose.
That must have been a wrench, having to leave what is now your tent there, it looks fab.
Yes, it's a cracking view, bit of a trek to get to (Isles of Scilly), worth it though.
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16/5/2014 at 6:21am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Karsten 220 De Waard Visdief+Kuifuil
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I don't normally use a groundsheet in there unless it's very muddy. This Easter though, I did fold the tarp I use under the pod, out a few feet and found it useful for putting boots/rucksacks on.
Mine came with a groundsheet that is shaped similar to the porch, but it has Velcro around the edges...and there's none on the tent, so it must be from another fishing bivy. I think the Carp Tent package Karsten sell would have included a groundsheet and poles to prop the front doors open. Mine was missing both.
I thought I would not always bother with the awning, but I have, even for weekends. It's a great place to sit out of the wind and enjoy the views, esp with the front wall off. It doesn't look that big on the pic, but there is plenty of room for us both to sit in our chairs, side by side. Cooking stuff, boots,rucksacks sit in the awning, leaving just clothes and bedding in the pod.
I've only had to retreat into the porch to cook a few times when raining or especially windy. Prefer to keep my cooking skills away from the tent!
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16/5/2014 at 2:57pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Former Karsten owner & Adria Altea
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Ok, our story. We came to Karsten having initially owned a polyester tent with very bendy poles, then an Outwell Norfolk lake-which was excellent but gosh it took some pitching, then an Emperor Bell tent (which I bought because I've always had a 4m Bell for a weekend tent and thought it would be the answer to me not being able to pitch the NL myself). I decided to sell the Emperor, as it really wasn't for me. i was looking at a Cabanon, but having read threads on here found Karstens. We couldn't afford new initially and following advice on here again, bought a used set up from Karsten in Holland and got it shipped over. It wasn't all plain sailing but we are delighted with what we have now-350 pod in steel grey, comfort awning, extension awning, front wall and rain canopy.
Kartsen pod by achy999, on Flickr
Karsten Awnings by achy999, on Flickr
Inside the pod by achy999, on Flickr
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2015 7 weeks booked! Roll on Easter to start.
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