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Subject Topic: Which Bell tent would be best?
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18/1/2014 at 9:45pm
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5
View HEJC72's Profile View Profile   Reply to HEJC72 Reply   Quote HEJC72 Quote  
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I have always wanted a Bell tent and am seriously thinking of buying one for this season.
Which size would be best for me - 4m or 5m?
I camp alone usually so I think the 4m would be fine or for a bit extra should I just get the 5m and enjoy the extra space?

Also does anyone have any experience of the polyester bell tents from Boutique Camping?
They are so much lighter than the traditional canvas tents and as I have back and joint problems I was wondering if canvas would be too heavy for me?

Any advice from experienced Bell renters would be much appreciated.

-------------
Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum


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18/1/2014 at 10:20pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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Hi Helen. If I can answer the 2nd part 1st. The one big problem with the polyester lightweight bell is the heat inside on a warm day, plus the fact it has a SIG means you cant roll up the sides to get any extra breeze inside. On the plus side they are a lot cheaper and lighter to carry. As to the canvas ones. We have only used ours once so far and I can tell you we love it. We looked at getting the 4m at first but decided on the 5m and I am glad we did. I would also make sure you get one with the extra mesh front door as bells have no windows, and you want to be able to see out without letting in the flies etc. If you go for a ZIG one you can detach it each time to cut down on the weight issue. (We leave ours attached but it is heavy for one person). Its one big plus is the ease of pitching even for one person. We got ours from Karma Canvas arrived in 2 days of ordering. The Boutique ones look much the same. I will see if Ive got some pics to show how much room inside. Geoff


18/1/2014 at 10:34pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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I would advise electric cooking only inside a Bell. Hope these help to show space in a 5metre.


19/1/2014 at 12:03am
 Location: Swansea
 Outfit: Hobby 650 UFF
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Hi
I have a 4 metre from Canvas & Cast which we use for the two of us. As you said you need to decide between a 4 or 5 metre. We find the 4 is more than big enough for us, but if you really want to glamp it up then the 5 may be for you. You will also want to consider the canvas weight. Most come in at 285gsm which is perfectly ok but we chose one with 350 gsm canvas and a wooden centre pole so it would be more robust if used outwith main camping season. Needless to say irrespective of canvas weight used the bigger tent will be heavier, I can put ours up single handed without a problem, but its something you need to factor in. The next thing you need to think about is groundsheet options; pegged in groundsheet PIG, that isnt attached to tent or zipped in ZIG or sewn in SIG. I wouldn't go PIG. With ZIG you can theoretically detach it from tent to roll the sides up on a warm day, but in practice you probably rarely would, also useful for detaching to help reduce weight when moving or for cleaning. Ours is SIG which I prefer, I reckon zips are just one more thing to go wrong. To help keep groundsheet clean we have a large cheap tarpaulin the we lay on ground and pitch tent on top of.
In terms of make it largely doesnt matter, they are mostly all made in China and imported and so all main makes are similiar quality eg bell tent, soulpad, karma, boutique. Some makes will offer a little feature others may not have, just a case of looking at different specifications and deciding which you prefer.
No idea about boutique's lightweight one but I do like their coloured ones!






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real men shouldn't be crying into their beer, they should be drinking whisky.


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19/1/2014 at 5:24am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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Im glad scotsgordon has posted a pic of his bed in his 4m bell as well. This was one of the reasons we went for the 5m. The centre pole does determine how you have to lay out the inside. On the 4m you cant lay a bed end to end from the centre pole to the edge of the tent it has to go sideways as in scotsgordons pic. I know what I am like, and I would kick the pole when I got up in the night for a wee and bring the tent down on us knowing my luck. I was also concerned about getting a ZIG but it really was easy to attach, although we will leave ours attached it just gives you options. Make an extra groundsheet from a tarp like in my pic. All in all we just felt for the extra 50quid we would go for the 5m and gain all that extra space.


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19/1/2014 at 9:45am
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Outwell yellowstone and 5m bell tent
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We have the canvas and cast 5m ZIG which like scots gordon is the heavier canvas at 350g.
I love the tent but I am a 43 year old lady with no health issues and would not be able to do the 'big pole lift' alone. We also separate the groundsheet to make carrying easier.
This is a shame for me as we bought the tent in the hope that I would be able to erect it single handed as my husband has health problems at the moment. Maybe if we had chosen one of the lighter canvases it would be ok, as some ladies on here do seem to manage their tents solo !
Happy tent hunting !

-------------
Vicki

Les Embruns, Brittany 2015


19/1/2014 at 11:05am
 Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
 Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent
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We have a 4m 'mycooltent' bell tent with SIG (I believe it is 350g but no longer trading) and a 5m soulpad ZIG (285g) and I can pitch both of these on my own.

The 4m is easier to heat with a fan heater in the cooler months, only needs a 6m wide pitch and enough space for a double bed, inflateable sofa bed, cool box & small table.
The 5m is more spacious as we fit in 5 SIMs in one half and 2 tables, 3 chairs, cool box and still have plenty of floor space however a fan heater doesn't even take the chill out of the air in sub zero temps. It also needs a 7m pitch inc guys.
I have cooked in both tents but prefer to cook in a separate tent to keep smells away from the sleeping area, a toilet tent is space enough for me on a short break.


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19/1/2014 at 11:14am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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Glad you posted as well Tynx. I knew you had both sizes and would be able to give a balanced view for the OP. As I said we have only used our 5m once so far in mid September. It was chilly in the evenings but the fan heater warmed it up nicely at that time of year. But like you say a fan heater might struggle in the colder months in a 5m one. Geoff


19/1/2014 at 11:47pm
 Location: Aberdeenshire
 Outfit: Several tents and a hammock
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I would echo a lot of the advice given above. I also have both a 4m and a 5m. I used the 4m for three years then got a 5m last year. They are both very easy to pitch though it's a big of a heavier lift putting up the pole in the 5m. I would say it takes about the same time to pitch either.

There is definitely a big difference in space with the 5m and also a much larger area where I can stand upright. In the 4m I am usually stooping except around the central pole, so that's something to consider.

I use the 4m in the colder months with a woodburning stove. It doesn't take as much heating as the larger 5m.

Pictures:

4 metre:


5 metre:


-------------
Sarah


20/1/2014 at 8:52am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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And there you have it Helen. Advice from the 2 ladies (Tynx & Sarah) who inspired us to buy a Bell. Enjoy the one you decide on. Geoff


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20/1/2014 at 3:51pm
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5
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Thank you to everyone who has replied and taken the time to add your lovely piccies.
As I camp alone 99% of the time, I think the 4m would be sufficient. I like to glamp but I don't plan to fill the tent with loads of furniture.
I have a single camp bed so don't need the space required for a double airbed.

Can I ask whether I will be able to put up a bell tent?
I am only 5'1" tall and have back and joint problems.
I would love a canvas bell but due to weight, may have to consider the poly one instead.

Please keep the comments, photos and advice coming as I am finding the views very helpful.


-------------
Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum


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20/1/2014 at 4:14pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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I really cant see you having a problem with the 4m canvas on your own. But lets hope one of the ladies post back to confirm this. I would have thought getting it in and out of the car would be the hardest part.


20/1/2014 at 4:24pm
 Location: Milnrow Rochdale
 Outfit: Esvo Bedouin 240 Cabonon Guadolupe
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Have you thought about a 3m bell if your usually on your own.



I have plenty of room, there is room for a camp bed if that's what you prefare.

-------------
FIONA


20/1/2014 at 4:26pm
 Location: Milnrow Rochdale
 Outfit: Esvo Bedouin 240 Cabonon Guadolupe
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Had to do 2 separate post as I kept losing my first bit when getting the second photo

-------------
FIONA


20/1/2014 at 8:04pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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Now this is getting interesting.


20/1/2014 at 8:42pm
 Location: Aberdeenshire
 Outfit: Several tents and a hammock
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Check the weight of canvas bell tents from different suppliers as there are different weights of canvas out there.

If you get a groundsheet which can be separated, you can carry canvas, groundsheet and poles onto and off the pitch or in and out of the car in three separate bundles instead of lifting the lot at once.

The only other weight challenge will be when it comes to lifting the central pole. Do you know anyone with a bell tent who could let you try?

-------------
Sarah



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