I have a Wynnster Mallard 5 tunnel tent which has served me well and will continue to do so - I use it mainly for festivals where I like the huge living space for me and a friend. BUT, this year I may be on my own for the first 24 hours and will need to pitch alone, a smaller tent will come in useful anyway. I'd like something like the Vango Beta 350 or even 450, but how easy will it be for me on my own? I can't seem to find a dome tent with anything like as big a porch...and I really don't want to use my Easy Camp Torino 250 with almost non existent porch...
Thanks in advance
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The problem with tunnel tents is that the hoops fall over when you're trying to do the rest of the tent. I usually pitch my SunValley 6 on my own, and would tackle a smaller tent in pretty much the same way.
Loosely peg the flysheet at each corner (not too tight, you need wiggle room). Pop the rear pole into the sleeve and bend it into place. Peg the guys to that pole, angled towards the back of the tent (so the pole won't fall over forewards - it may fall backwards, though - but for such a small tent, that's not a big deal).
Thread the other poles in their sleeves and pop them up and peg them out as you go.
If that seems complicated - it isn't - so don't worry!
As a solo pitch, a dome is probably a bit easier but I'm not sure you will find one with a porch to rival the tunnels you listed...
If you want a dome tent with a porch, why not have standup room too within the same footprint as a low level tent... either the Kampa Bude 2 or the new bigger Kampa Bude 4 (one of bedrooms can be stowed for extra room or you can have a full width bedroom or two bedrooms). Extra quality 100D flysheet, 4000HH, SIG, PE wrapped poles..... The Bude 4 has a 3m x 1.4m porch area.
Basically insert poles, peg down one side and work the poles from the other side and insert on the pins (exactly the same way as with a smaller dome tent). Due for delivery in a few weeks.
I do prefer more of a touring style tent and the weight of it in particular, as I'll be carrying all my stuff in from the car alone. My Wynnster is only 10kg give or take and its a 5 berth! And if dmsplat can manage such a hoooge tunnel tent then I might keep my money in my pocket!
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There's a few videos on YouTube from Outwell, showing various tents being pitched by one person, like the Minnestoa 4 and Nevada M. Even if it's a fly only, it'll have a tension strap on each hoops, so you've effectively got a foot print to work with. Thread all the poles through first, but don't bend them yet, that way you're not fighting the curve caused by tensioned poles. Then tension and peg out one end hoop (it doesn't matter if it's upright yet), then peg the other end hoop. Then you can worry about getting the ends upright and guy ropes staked, before finally pegging the middle hoops.
Have a few practice runs in the garden/local park/a handy football pitch before your trip, you'll soon figure out the least stressful approach :-)