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Topic: Help, have I made a big mistake?

Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 10:15am
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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I want to get back into camping again. We stopped when my hubby had an accident at work in 2007. We had a big Sunncamp frame tent before that weighed in at 46kg or something like that. We like plenty of space as we are both tall. I bought an Outwell Cleveland 5 tent as the weight is a lot less. Hubby's accident has given him glaucoma and I have a dodgy back. We also have a Ford Focus hatchback. The pack size of this tent is a shocker given the weight. Is there any way it can be packed smaller (maybe by removing poles and having them separate)?

I haven't been able to try out tent since I got it because hubby has had to have several more eye ops. We lifted tent between us and unpacked it to check all parts were there but that's it. My back wasn't really happy just with doing that. Due to a slope at the back of my garden we can't pitch it there.

I am starting to think I've made a big mistake despite the weight being so much less than our Sunncamp so I may have to sell the tent and go back to the drawing board. I have spent hours trawling through the tent reviews but have just ended up overwhelmed with information.

Does anyone have any suggestions or knowledge about this tent or ideas for another tent around 16 to 18 KG that we can stand up in (hubby is 6 foot ish) that will take a double airbed in sleeping area with a front living area? I don't like dark tents either so love the Outwell because of all the windows. Haven't totally given up on it, just a bit stressed.

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Suzanna

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armchaircamper

27/5/2013 at 10:58am
Location: Aberdeenshire
Outfit: Several tents and a hammock

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Definitely separate the tent into its component parts so you don't have to lift it all at once. I always do this with my bell tent.

Would a little trolley like this which folds flat help if you have to carry things any distance from the car?

Sorry, I can't suggest an alternative tent. Hope you manage to work out a solution and get out there camping!

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Sarah

Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 11:10am
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Thanks Sarah, I thought that might be a good idea. The tent recommendation thing isn't straightforward really and I'm still looking. Found a Kampa Oxwich 6. It's a lot less weighty compared to the Cleveland yet the same packed size. Comparing dimensions now. I know lots of people recommend Kampa tents.

I'll keep looking.

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Suzanna

Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 11:11am
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Thanks for the link to the trolley, that could be a great help.

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Suzanna

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alfalimaindia

27/5/2013 at 11:51am
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Kampa Oxwich 5 Vaude Terratrio 3P.

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Quote: Originally posted by Suzianna on 27/5/2013
Thanks Sarah, I thought that might be a good idea. The tent recommendation thing isn't straightforward really and I'm still looking. Found a Kampa Oxwich 6. It's a lot less weighty compared to the Cleveland yet the same packed size. Comparing dimensions now. I know lots of people recommend Kampa tents.

I'll keep looking.

Can't recommend any tents but I have an Oxwich 5. I haven't camped in it yet but I have pitched it which was relatively easy by myself. It's a nice tent, the 5 is not too heavy with the poles and everything in but I took the poles out of the bag which makes the bag much lighter, not sure how much bigger or heavier the 6 is though.

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Ali

Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 11:55am
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Thanks Ali. I will look at both the 5 and 6. I just need to find them on display somewhere now. For the size of tent we want, I don't think we will improve on the pack size much, if at all, but the weight is the main thing. Both the 5 and 6 are so much lighter.

Enjoy your new tent

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Suzanna

maccamp

27/5/2013 at 4:04pm
Location: Marple Cheshire
Outfit: Hi Gear Voyager 6 & Electron 3

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Hi Suzianna

Have you not just thought of the weight of the tent, but the constant bending in order to insert the poles and then erecting it into position, I'm just thinking back stress. One possible solution would be the new inflatable tents, with an electric pump. Although the initial weight is still there it would be far less stressful overall. Other alternatives could be smaller and lighter tent as in the High gear gobi 4. Weight about 18kg. And then adding a porch, overall less weight initially, and could be added when you felt ok to do so.

maccamp.

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Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 4:45pm
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Hi Maccamp

Yes, I have thought about the weight of the tent and your suggestion of an inflatable tent is a good idea and one I am going to consider. The Oxwich 6 pitches pretty quickly apparently and it is 16.45 KG so I would be losing a lot of weight there. My hubby can do the pegging out so I wouldn't need to do that, it is really taking the strain carrying the tent. Even with a trolley, it has to be put on the trolley out of the car and then taken off again. It is lifting that is a the main problem for me rather than bending.

The other issue that has prompted a rethink is that the tent won't fit in the garden. If we take our wet tent down, we want to be able to put it up in the garden to dry it out. I am looking for a tent the size and weight of an Oxwich 6 so am looking at options now. I have had a look at the Vango Airbeams and will have a look at the other inflatable tents. I found one tent that would have enough room and is under 20KG so I am bookmarking anything I find now to go back to and review.

Thanks for your help. It's good to have the opinion of others as I don't want to make another mistake. When I say mistake, it's not really as I will easily make my money back on it. It is simply the wrong tent for us.

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Suzanna

maccamp

27/5/2013 at 5:10pm
Location: Marple Cheshire
Outfit: Hi Gear Voyager 6 & Electron 3

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Hi Suzianna,

I've been camping circa 50 year's and I still don't get it right, that's why I spend so much, but I'm still so much in love with camping.

maccamp.

Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 5:42pm
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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I know what you mean Maccamp. I've been camping about 30 years. Making mistakes helps you work out what is right though and I think it really will point me in the right direction on this occasion. If I had gone with what I had got, the chances are I wouldn't have enjoyed the experience as much and it might have put me off a bit.

There's nothing like camping though, you're not wrong there. It's great.

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Suzanna

Campernic

27/5/2013 at 7:40pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua

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I'm not sure about an inflatable tent, they are heavy, really heavy!

You can pitch a flexible pole tunnel tent by lifting the entire tent to waist level while putting the pole through the sleeve, there's no rule to say this has to be done at ground level - although if it's windy it does pay to peg one or two corners down before putting the pole in.

Have you looked at the gelert Cabana? The style of the tent means it has upright poles, I have an old ridge tent of similar design and it's a very quick and easy tent to pitch. I believe the bedroom will hold a double airbed, but the 'living room' may be a little more compact than you'd like. You could move the cooking out to under a tarp with a couple of windbreaks, and then Cabana will hold a couple of chairs with a coffee table sized table between them. Just an idea.

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Suzianna

27/5/2013 at 7:50pm
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Thanks Campernic, I'll check that one out. All suggestions welcome. As long as I can fit in a couple of chairs and a table then that would be cool

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Suzanna

Suzianna

28/5/2013 at 1:13pm
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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It's a bit dark that one Campernic. I am really looking for something that has plenty of windows in it too. I am quite keen on the Kampa Oxwich but I am struggling to find it on display anywhere.

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Suzanna

Davyhey

28/5/2013 at 10:06pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: Coleman Bi Space 400 500 and 700

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I've just split the various parts of our biggest tent between two bags. Last year I was in danger of damaging my back, just lifting the bag out of the cupboard. But if you do that, the big danger is that you forget you have split the contents, and arrive at the campsite with only half a tent. So I have tied big labels to each bag; BAG 1 OF 2, BAG 2 OF 2. And so on; why not make things really easy and use five bags?
Best wishes, and don't give up yet!

Suzianna

29/5/2013 at 7:29am
Location: Gtr. Manchester
Outfit: Going Go Pod

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Thanks Davy. Good plan, if the other tent I have seen doesn't turn out to be suitable I may just do this. Whatever tent I end up with the Bag 1 of 2 big labels idea is a brilliant one.

I'm not going to give in, I will get back camping again, somehow.

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Suzanna

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