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I have never seen the Albion so can't comment on why the price is higher than others. The biggest thing to watch for, is that the pole is robust enough for the job. If you think it's going to be windy, take a second pole of some sort that can be quickly fixed to act as a splint to assist the main pole if the wind picks up. Or just make sure that the original pole is up to the job. Several companies including Tentipi have had pole problems. I have a 4 mtr bell tent that was cheap (in my opinion) £200 which is 15 oz canvas, and the pole is almost like a scaffold pole. I just know it won't bend. I was also given a wooden stare rail or banister rail, which I intend to use, when I can find a tube to make a joint, ten feet being unsuitable for most trips.

 Either way I'm sure you will enjoy the Bell Tent experience.  I'm off tomorrow with my five mtr version for a week in the Lakes, can't wait.

I too would love to know where you got your 15oz bell tent from. £200 for 420g/sm is a very good price.

Bell tents...The first decision ...do you buy the one with sewn in groundsheet, or the one with loose groundsheet so you can roll up the sides. The latter would also be easier to handle,clean and pack away!

By the way, from what I have seen, 1oz is roughly 28g/sm. However, some companies quote for example 12oz, but this can often be after proofing has been applied and the canvas actually is 10oz. From what I conclude, the heavier the canvas the more robust it will be and the longer it's life span...but of course...it will also be heavier! If the canvas has a higher weight, I would like to say it would be waterproof to a higher level, but I could not swear to this.

There are experts out there somewhere!

My £200 bell tent is still on offer on ebay from silvermans of london.

My five meter was from soulpad.

Just ended my week camping in the Lakes, in my soulpad 5 mtr bell tent, and endured the back end of the American hurricane. Three days of very heavy rain and strong wind with not a drop inside, and no damage to the tent whatsoever. Glad I had the better pole though, as it did shake a bit. One alteration I intend to make though is strong elastics attached to the guy lines at the pegging point. I slackend off the guys each night, but when the wind picked up, I could have done with the guys being taughter. Then of coarse, if it had rained, I would have to have slackened them off again. Not easy if this happens when you are asleep ! So I think elastics will get round them problem. A great time though, and I can't wait to go again. I'm just off to collect another ebay bargain, so my next short trip will probably be in that. It's a small cotton ridge tent with fly sheet and the extra porch area that slopes down, giving a sloping front roof area. Think it's called a Royal three.

Hi balwen

Yes it's the  Sahara. Now I know that it's considdered bad form and dangerous, but I do cook inside the tent. I do however stand between the cooker and the door, so if there is a problem I can get out. The tent was a Lichfield paladin 3 and much smaller than I thought it  would be, so I am going to put it on ebay. I got confused over the name, and I already have the Royal Three, which is the same design but bigger so I will use that one for my next trip. I won both of these tents on ebay some time ago, but one was collected by my son who has only just come up to visit me, and the other one was from someone that lived in essex, but was moving up to yorkshire and bought it with them for me to collect locally. Both are in virtaully new condition so I am well pleased with them.