We have a near perfect Cabanon Antigua that we have loved from new. It was perfect for use when we were just a couple, but a little small on living space now we have kids. It may be that we still decide to keep it but I am wondering what "zero cost to change" options there might be
Cabanon Athenas seem to go for a lot of money but that does mean we should could get a good price for the Antigua
But what other brands are as good as Cabanon (if any) and not as pricey on ebay ? It isnt easy to judge quality from a few pictures but if I know what we are looking for I dont mind traveling to view one or two
The Relums that I have seen on sites look good but yet to get to know the owner and have a chat. Not really seen any other frame tents this year yet
OR - maybe we stick to Cabanon and accept that £100 or so to swop to a good Athena is still a bargain [a consequence for me is no new off-season tent for me this year )
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There is a big difference between the size of an Antigua/Andorra sized tent and an Athena/Aruba sized tent. The bigger tent has a lot more canvas and is therefore heavier to lug around and pitch. That is a consideration for us.
I doubt you'd pay much more for an Athena than you'd get for your Antigua, but selling is a bit hit and miss if you're using ebay! You could always put yours up on the free ads on here and see if there is any interest?
relum's are a good brand IMO, a friend of mine has 3 of them and we have 1 (our Izmir) they are of good quality canvas but also not as pricey as Cabanons, admittedly you don't get all the add-ons and what-not with a Relum but I think they are good value.... The ones from the 90's seem to be better as it seems that they started using cheaper materials after that (mud flaps and bedroom pod ground sheets are made from PE rather than the heavy duty PU that they were made of before...)
I have never seen a rotten, crumbling elastic on a Relum either
I must admit,I am not a fan of Sunncamp tents but thats just a personal thing, Raclet are of good quality and also made in France as is Marachel (You are still able to buy Marachel frame tents new)
There are quite a few Lichfield fans on here and from what I have seen they are of decent quality too...
My advice would be to see what you get for the Antigua and then set yourself a budget... You never know, you might end up with a bargain Cabanon after all
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Maybe wait til later in the year to look for an Athena or Aruba, they generally sell for less in the autumn and winter, I know some people on here who've bagged a great Athena for around the £100 mark in the winter months. Its also worth looking under frame tents on ebay as people sometimes dont list a Cabanon as a Cabanon. I recently got a little Cabanon Calais for a great price as it was listed as a 3 berth frame tent.
Keep an eye on preloved too.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
looks good to me, not sure of it comes with the canopy but the side annexe is included and if you didnt want that you can sell it on, one sold for £80 recently.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
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I bought a second hand Relum once (or was it a Raclet??) and there was a noticeable, disappointing drop down in the quality in the materials and the design from my Cabanons. For example, the poles seemed much tinnier and a fiddle to assemble to make the frame.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
I think maybe the newer Cabanons have suffered a little too.
We were looking at Anne's Aruba and I said I though the poles were not as big (thinner) as in the older ones. Anne herself said she could see that the quality wasn't the same as the older ones. The worst thing thing they did was swapping the metal clips for plasic ones for the bedroom pods and linings.
That Aruba is such a beauty though........ and I remembered that I have a matching bedroom annexe for it (never used)
missed off Karsten and ESVO.
I would say the Dutch ones were as good if not better - but the price tag goes with them and it's rare to find then 2nd hand in the UK.
In reality I wouldn't think anything is 100% up to Cabanon standard.
------------- Keely :-))
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I just managed to aquire(cost me £5) a small canvas frame tent which was made in Czechoslovakia so is at least 20 years old, the quality easily matches the dutch canvas that i own and although it does not look like it has been looked after very well it is still totally waterproof and is cleaning up nicely