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Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Bell tents!

jay3ttp

07/9/2009 at 12:38pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell Maryland xl

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Joined: 29/6/2009

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Hi I am interested to know what people think of bell tents. I think they are lovely and have been looking at 5m one for my large family (2 adults and 6 children). I was thinking of getting one with a kitchen tent alongside. Currently we are using a Maryland XL but would like something different for later in the year and also when sites not allowing large tents. Does anyone with a large family have experience of one and would they recommend one?? I would also be open to any recomendations of family tents that will fit on a standard pitch butr still have space lol
Jaylie x

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bedgar

07/9/2009 at 1:42pm
Location: Thames Valley
Outfit: Bell Tent

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Hi there

I am a huge fan of bell tents and have a 4m one for our family (2 adults and 2 kids) and its a perfect fit for that number of beds with plenty of space around for stuff (with 2 daughters, there is always "stuff")

My review (and other peoples reviews) of this tent can be read at:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Soulpad-4000-Lite/804

I dont know if the 5m is big enough for 6 of you but intuitively it should be fine (but a bit heavier then the 4m one and may take a little bit longer to erect)

good luck

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eb

jay3ttp

07/9/2009 at 3:50pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell Maryland xl

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Cheers bedgar, will have a look at those reviews. I really like the look of them but need to convince other half!

Jaylie xx

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are we nearly there yet??

tinallkn4

07/9/2009 at 5:28pm
Location: isle of wight
Outfit: 97 elddiss autostratus boxer 6 berth

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jaylie, i am in a similar situation!! (but not quite as many kids!) OH hates camping so was looking at a bell tent to go without him.i need his height when pitching the maryland xl, but wouldnt with a bell tent. i was also looking at getting the woodburner so that we could go out of season camping too!

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tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!

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JennyR

07/9/2009 at 5:36pm
Location: Whitby
Outfit: Khyam Longleat Coleman Waterfall 5

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I have my heart set on one of these after my kids have flown the nest :-)

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1-2 June 2010 Glencoe CC Club site

raf48

07/9/2009 at 6:20pm
Location: E Yorkshire
Outfit: None Entered

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The only reason a five meter will take longer to pitch, is that it's a slightly larger circumference. Therefore you have a bit further to walk when banging the pegs in.

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Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.

petemillis

07/9/2009 at 7:30pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bell tent & lavvu & Coleman Avior X2

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We have a 5m bell tent, with the inner as well. Can easily sleep 6 or more just in the inner, and another 6 outside it. There was heaps of room to spare with our family - 2 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 rapidly growing primary schoolers - and 2 dogs. To give extra day time space, we set up a tarp outside the door and had no problems with wind or rain. We love our tent to bits and find it far more comfortable and with more usable space than 8 or 10 berth tunnel and dome tents. Granted, it's not got loads of separate bedroom pods, but we don't care about that. There's loads of room for things like blanket boxes you can shove stuff in during the day. And we put a large coir rug in ours and it makes it so cosy.

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vsa1961

07/9/2009 at 9:40pm
Location: lancashire
Outfit: vango Viper 400 mountain tent

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Hi Petemillis,

I like the look of that tarp, what is it ?

Looks like you have a Border terrier as well, we have a Patterdale juvenile but he hasn't gone camping yet to the relief of any campsite rabbits.

petemillis

07/9/2009 at 11:28pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bell tent & lavvu & Coleman Avior X2

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Vsa1961, I got the tarp as part of a deal from belltent.co.uk but I'm pretty certain it's the same as the one that cost less from Obelink http://obelink.nl/ws/assortiment_overzichtpagina3.asp?cat=2&id=24&arid=2759 , although I'm not sure if the Obelink one is canvas or polycotton. The belltent.co.uk one I have is apparently canvas. Who knows! I'm actually in the middle of having some even better canvas ones made up by a pro sailmaker here in the UK. Not sure how much they'll cost me yet though.

I love the Patterdales - sister in law has one, great fun. As well as the border (well border x JRT) we also have a Lakeland x border (with a bit of JRT thrown in). Brilliant dogs, and so much fun with the kids and for out walking. They love a rabbit chase, and one of them had his first terrier race a couple of weeks ago - loved it and came 2nd in his heat! Can't wait for another one - but some of the people seem a bit bonkers! Both of the dogs were fantastic when we went camping - will definitely take them next time, and it was far less stressful than leaving them in kennels or with neighbour. We had a small tent with us that the dogs slept in and they were brilliant.

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