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Hi

I am not conviced about the benefits of it compared to a good frame tent. I have recently bought a nearly new Cabanon Espace for under £500 and this offers quality, space, four bedrooms and near vertical walls. A frame tent is simple and logical to put up.

Apart from the image and the slight weight advantage I cannot see the benefit compared with a high quality frame tent.

Tim

We have the Cabanon Stratos TT (have I mentined that before )   and having had taditional frame t ents before, the new system seems so much easier and very stable.   The Biscayas do look lovely but £1350 (?)  a lot of money - you could get a nearly new Stratos for £2000, I would spend the extra... but then I always want to spend the extra, as my mum used to say "get a good one dear" !!!!!!!!!   

Whichever you decide on, they quality is just fantastic and you won't be disappointed.

Jackie

Having had both frames and a Biscaya, I reckon there are benefits, and disadvantages, to both.

I didn't buy a Biscaya for the 'image' (?), but to reduce on weight and volume of poles, have canvas which doesn't need to be pitched to dry if you happen to pack up wet, and to have an integral groundsheet. Downside to the Biscaya is, obviously, the price.

In the event, we had some problems with the groundsheet/flysheet zip assembly and a window toggle came off on the first day, and the retailer insisted upon repair or refund (would not exchange), hence we went for a refund (don't think a £1200 tent should have to be repaired because of manufacturing faults, actually). It has not necessarily put us off, though, and we still like them.

A frame tent is a tried and tested concept; simply doesn't move in high winds etc (the Biscaya - or at least the 500 - does sway a bit in high winds and poles do creak, even in moderate weather) but frame tents - especially the bigger ones - are more bulky and heavier to transport and considerably more complicated to pitch (faffing around with roof liners and curtains etc - why do they make those clips so damn tight? - then putting down groundsheets), don't you think? Nice when pitched, though, and with many great features; like dedicated kitchen area ventilated window (though I notice they have added this to the new 440 Biscaya, this season); strong frames (so you can hang things; lights, any number of organisers etc); wardrobe bars; and good quality, breathable bedroom inners.

By the way, I also very much like the Cabanon Laguna - essentially a frame tent but with curved alloy frame (sections have roof supports, so are not just unconnected hoops, as on the Biscaya) and breathable polyester flysheet, no SIG but with removable, 2 position front wall. Bit of a compromise?

Quote: Originally posted by jakks360 on 09/4/2007

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We have the Cabanon Stratos TT (have I mentined that before )   and having had taditional frame t ents before, the new system seems so much easier and very stable.   The Biscayas do look lovely but £1350 (?)  a lot of money - you could get a nearly new Stratos for £2000, I would spend the extra... but then I always want to spend the extra, as my mum used to say "get a good one dear" !!!!!!!!!   

Whichever you decide on, they quality is just fantastic and you won't be disappointed.

 

Jackie

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Hmmmm... I see your point, but then we like to be able to open the trailer en-route and take out what we need, or else pitch according to the requirements of our stay (so have tent, day room/gazebo, kitchen tent and pop ups, so just take out what we need based on stay duration and pitch size).

I am interested in the new Biscaya vis-a-vis; small footprint, side canopy and with bedroom inners opposite each other. Could be a very useful tent. Anyone seen one,yet?

Hiya

let me say a bit more about what I mean by 'image'. If you look at the advert in the camping magazines for the biscaya, it shows a picture of:

a bmw X5

a trendy Nokia mobile phone

a widescreen plasma tv

a Cabanon Biscaya

the advert says absolutely nothing about the features and benefits of the tent. They are selling it on image, comparing it to the other trendy designer items of the 21st century.

I am not saying that people buy it for that reason or that it is not a good tent, merely that it is being sold on image

Tim

Tent choice is obviously a personal thing, but we chose the Biscaya over an Espace because we wanted the quality and sturdiness of a frame tent but with a sealed ground sheet.  If you want both, the Biscaya doesn't have much competition. It's also every bit as easy to erect as the Espace and takes up about 75% of the space when packed (still quite a lot though!).  Imagine the price of an Espace if it had a fully zipped in heavy duty ground sheet - would be very similar.

We looked seriously at the Espace, but don't regret our choice at all , but I can fully understand why you would be very happy with a much cheaper used Espace

Quote: Originally posted by xmasboy on 17/2/2006

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I bought a Biscaya 370 last year and its the best tent I've ever had. The 370 is just small enough to keep the tent and ground sheet zipped together. This allowed single handed erection in just over 15 minutes, easy peasy. No problems in the wind and rain of last summer and the porch plus sun canopy, well rain canopy really alloes use in the worst of weather. Just a shame the back slopes so much. More a bomb shelter than a tent!

 

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Out of interest, if you keep the flysheet and groundsheet zipped together, how do you get the assembled poles inside without risk of damaging the flysheet?

Quote: Originally posted by Liddenham on 09/4/2007

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Having had both frames and a Biscaya, I reckon there are benefits, and disadvantages, to both.

I didn't buy a Biscaya for the 'image' (?), but to reduce on weight and volume of poles, have canvas which doesn't need to be pitched to dry if you happen to pack up wet, and to have an integral groundsheet. Downside to the Biscaya is, obviously, the price.

In the event, we had some problems with the groundsheet/flysheet zip assembly and a window toggle came off on the first day, and the retailer insisted upon repair or refund (would not exchange), hence we went for a refund (don't think a £1200 tent should have to be repaired because of manufacturing faults, actually). It has not necessarily put us off, though, and we still like them.

A frame tent is a tried and tested concept; simply doesn't move in high winds etc (the Biscaya - or at least the 500 - does sway a bit in high winds and poles do creak, even in moderate weather) but frame tents - especially the bigger ones - are more bulky and heavier to transport and considerably more complicated to pitch (faffing around with roof liners and curtains etc - why do they make those clips so damn tight? - then putting down groundsheets), don't you think? Nice when pitched, though, and with many great features; like dedicated kitchen area ventilated window (though I notice they have added this to the new 440 Biscaya, this season); strong frames (so you can hang things; lights, any number of organisers etc); wardrobe bars; and good quality, breathable bedroom inners.

By the way, I also very much like the Cabanon Laguna - essentially a frame tent but with curved alloy frame (sections have roof supports, so are not just unconnected hoops, as on the Biscaya) and breathable polyester flysheet, no SIG but with removable, 2 position front wall. Bit of a compromise?

Post last edited on 09/04/2007 10:23:48

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Depends on what you want to hang.... we hang our coats (not too heavy) from the bedroom hooks, 1 coat each side of the tent.  We hang a lamp from the loop in the centre of the zip on the front door.  There are limited hanging opportunities  as all the poles are zipped in.  We also hang a lamp under the front porch - mind your head  as we have some strapping there (not sure what else it is for!).  We have never needed to hang any thing else up, fleeces are kept on the back of chairs in case it gets a bit chilly. 

Ann