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Subject Topic: Back in the Day!!! Post Reply Post New Topic
19/4/2009 at 8:46pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Gelert Rocky 3
View neonategiraffe's Profile View Profile   Reply to neonategiraffe Reply   Quote neonategiraffe Quote  
Joined: 19/4/2009

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Hello all. I'm also a newbie here. Thanks for reading in and I look forward to your replies.

So maybe 20 odd years or so ago I had a Lichfield 3 man canvas tent which was my pride and joy! As a lad I would take it round friends' houses and we would camp in their garden. Great memories and great fun. Then some SOaB stole it from our shed along with some other stuff and that was my camping hobby done with bar a few weekends at festivals when I shared someone else's tent.

Now I have 3 young children ages 5 and 3 years and a 7 months old baby. I decided to do something different with the 2 eldest and so I went out and bought a Gelert Rocky 3 with some nice sleeping bags and the 3 of us had a night in the garden! They were absolutely blown away by sleeping in the tent all night. I must admit that being 6'4" now it wasn't as comfy as I remembered but I was most disappointed by what I thought were simple camping principles. But being out of touch I'm here to learn. So here (finally) are my questions.

1) The Rocky 3 Flysheet ties to the inner dome poles. This leaves hardly any space between the layers and in fact touched in a number of areas. Had it rained I feared we might get wet. I was always taught that this was the ultimate sin and always ensured loads of space between layers but the design of the Rocky 3 doesn't allow for that. Do these new fangled contraptions not need this space?

2) We did end up with wet inside the tent in the morning, but that was because the Rocky 3 had no venting! There is a fly-net thing cleverly placed in the door, but not wanting the whole thing open and also wanting to reassure the kids that they were safe I didn't want it open But didn't realise that this was the only way to vent the tent. Have I just bought a kak tent or do many new ones not have any venting options? I went on the Gelert tips page of their website where they mention opening top vents in winter and bottom in summer but they didn't mention that the Rocky didn't have any.

It only cost me £25 so I'm not that bothered but would also appreciate some other advice on tents if mine is no good.


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19/4/2009 at 9:13pm
 Location: Bootle
 Outfit: various tents & A steam train
View Camping nutcase's Profile View Profile   Reply to Camping nutcase Reply   Quote Camping nutcase Quote  
Joined: 26/9/2004

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One of the problems is that the nylon tents don't breath in the same was as you good old canvas tents do.   They are prone to condensation.
Lots of tents do have venting options - which does help the problem, but with three people in a small tent, you will still get some condensation.    I have both and even with my medium sized nylon tent, you still get some condensation.    None in the four man canvas tent.

If you are going to go camping on site with the kids go for a bigger tent.   Apart from anything else, three people, especially when some are so young, in a tiny tent is not ideal if it is raining.   Not bad at first, but after a while it can get fraught.     Go for a tent with a living area, and then you can amuse your kids inside.   Two kids, and two adults in a four man tent with no living area so to speak of, on one very wet weekend, was the reason why we went for a much bigger tent, with a decent sized living area.   A group of young people camping is a totally different ball game to camping with kids.
Also if you are in somebodys garden. if need be you can always retreat into the house.

Also those 20 something years will have taken their toll on your body - what you could do as a youngster is totally different to what you can do now.     Definately need more comforts as you get older.

Keep your small tent by all means - sound ideal for garden camping.    I have a small tent just for garden camping.  



20/4/2009 at 1:18pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Gelert Rocky 3
View neonategiraffe's Profile View Profile   Reply to neonategiraffe Reply   Quote neonategiraffe Quote  
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Thanks Camping Nutcase,

It reassuring to hear that camping in the garden isn't only done by novices like me and the girls had such a great time, I'll certainly be keeping it just to let them get to grips with the camping idea.

But what about the space between the Flysheet issue? I'm assuming that they should not touch but really struggled getting the flysheet over and keeping an equal space all round. Do tents which pitch 'Outside first' overcome this problem?

I understand that 'outside first' pitch tents are advantageous on wet days. But are there any other advantages on just ease of pitching?
Thanks


20/4/2009 at 2:52pm
 Location: Bootle
 Outfit: various tents & A steam train
View Camping nutcase's Profile View Profile   Reply to Camping nutcase Reply   Quote Camping nutcase Quote  
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I tend to maily have frame tents, and a folding camper (hubby's arthritis tends to play up less when he is off the ground).    However, in our Gelert Cadiz the flysheep does not touch the inner.   Nearer to the inner on our small tent though.


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20/4/2009 at 5:29pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Vango Solace TC 500XL
View campasarow's Profile View Profile   Reply to campasarow Reply   Quote campasarow Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2005

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Neonategiraffe, we have a Rocky 4 which my daughters used last year for a school field trip and a week's camp in one of last summers worst weeks of wet weather including torrential rain.

Our Rocky 4 didn't leak at all. Just make sure the flysheet is pegged out well to ensure best possible run off of rain water.

If your girls loved one night in a small tent in the garden they will adore a longer camp in a decent family sized tent. Just remember that when you are buying a tent get one with a berth specification that is at least one bigger than the number of people you are looking to accommodate, (especially with a small pup/weekender tent such as the Rocky).

campasarow



-------------
Vango Solace TC 500XL Airbeam
Vango Capri 400XL Airbeam




Grieving the loss of my Coleman Evolva and Sunncamp Palace

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