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 welcome to the secret bell tent lovers brigade!  I was going for a Vango Icarus 500 as a weekender then thanks to these forums discovered bell tents!!  After weeks I'm still in a dilemma but think I've not made my decision ready to purchase next week.  For me it was just the answer to so many different scenarios.  It's ease to put up and being able to do it single handed meant it was great as a weekender for me and the kids.  It would also be good for longer holidays with the tarp. You can use it with the basics for weekends or you can glam it up.  It's so much fun for the kids esp if you have fairy lights etc and it's a more rustic back to basics which is the appeal of camping in the first place for me.  And how much fun are they in the back garden  for sleepovers particularly with a huge family like mine! There are also the obvious advantages of canvas and so, practical or not I've fallen in love and there's no going back

I have tried to think more along the practical lines now and have moved from the idea of a 4m to 5m and Soulpad now do a smaller inner that only takes quarter the space so the two little ones can sleep in there and if bf is with us we at least get a warning if they wake up and appear  and we have somewhere to get changed in private.  However, I'm now dreaming of road trips round Europe with a VW Camper and the bell tent...there is something romantic and capturing about them that kinda interferes with the rational side of your mind!!

Have I convinced you yet?

I'm sure loads of people will argue the case for the Nevada....

While the kids are small it will be fine, probably as they get older you may need to rethink layouts and space in your tent

But the bell tent is easy to put up - no more work on a 5m than a 4m either, so i'd pay the extra £30 and go for the bigger one.  Soulpad and bell tent.co.uk appear to be the same tent

I don't think they're 'fashionable' as there's only a handful of people on the whole forum with them, perhaps we just rant about them too much!

I am in love with mine!

yet another pic!

Quote: Originally posted by Mark Royal on 19/4/2010

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I doubt it's Obelink as they're pretty much refusing to ship any cotton tents to the UK whether it's a bell tent or a square tent.

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Quote: Originally posted by Meddy on 19/4/2010

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Right, well, as for me - I've definitely decided now it's going to be a 5m Bell tent. I think that's what I really wanted all along and I probably wanted to be talked into it. Apologies to you all for trying to get you to justify my tent lust.

I had a look at that link, kittenshipman, and it looks great - think you got a good deal with that Eldorado!

I'm off to save up some pennies and follow my bell tent shaped heart!!

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welcome to the bell tent club!

I'm pitching at oxford this weekend and leicester (depending on weather, might be the BL) the week after if you want a nose at one!