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Subject Topic: Large inflatables for weekend use? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonLeeds123
11/6/2014 at 8:31am
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Hello all

I'm still deliberating and agonising over choice of family tent and whether we're best off going inflatable. We have 3 small children and are looking for something that we could use for holidays but also 2 night weekenders.

Do those of you who have large (6person) inflatables find you use them for short trips or is even an inflatable of that size too much for such a short trip?

I can't get my head around having a gigantic tent (eg the Filey 6 looks huge to me coming from having a 3 bed dome with the husband before we had kids!) especially just for short trips but obviously with three small kids we need a certain amount of space. Plus a porch is essential for me for cooking and storing muddy boots so I keep coming back to the bigger Inflatables. Talking myself in circles...

Thanks everyone!


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PersonJACKTHELAD11
11/6/2014 at 8:53am
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Inflatables I think are more designed for people with trailers as the bags are massive it's a hard one to combine tent space low weight and package size for family tents the only company I have seen with lighter tents are robens as they use alloy poles


PersonLarbea22
11/6/2014 at 9:05am
 Location: Melksham
 Outfit: Senator Wyoming Series 6 View Larbea22's Profile View Profile   Reply to Larbea22 Reply   Quote Larbea22 Quote  
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We've not camped in our Airbeam yet, but we're off to Fforest Fields at the end of the month for 2 nights with it. We used to have a Maritsa 700 which we'd never use for a 2 night trip, so having the Airbeam, which will pitch in half the time of the Maritsa, means we can actually go away just for 2 nights now!!


PersonLeeds123
11/6/2014 at 10:23am
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Well we are definitely not wanting to tow a trailer but we do have a vw Touran and have a large boot when the two back seats are stowed away. I'll keep an eye on the pack sizes though, thanks.

Larbea22-have a fab trip! I can't help but think we will camp more often with an inflatable and that's the aim of the game really...


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Personpaul+kate s-o-t
11/6/2014 at 10:44am
 Location: stoke on trent
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Hi we've owned an eternity 600 in the past as the Vermont was too big for weekends
We then ended up selling the Vermont and eternity and bought our Eden 600 xl polycotton
This now we use for 2 week holidays and 2 night weekend breaks
Yes the bags are big but I think that's down to not needing a second bag for the poles
We don't use a trailer but have an estate car with a full width roofbox


And this is the tent on a 3 night bank holiday trip

We camp a lot more as you can have a big tent that's easy to pitch which will do everything
Any more questions please feel free to ask

-------------
April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders


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PersonCross Camping
11/6/2014 at 10:44am
 Location: Hertfordshire
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This is the whole point of inflatables that you only need one tent. I can have a Vango Evoque or Eclipse depending on what I take pitched in less than 10 mins if I rush, 15 if I just do it normally but it's the ease that's great. Packing up the actual tent takes even less time.
Pack size can be an issues and I love the Filey but it is fairly large. I would suggest you see them in the flesh as not all websites have the correct pack sizes and weights listed...

-------------
Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.


PersonLeeds123
11/6/2014 at 11:56am
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Thanks guys- I think I am going to have to persuade DH that inflatable is the way to go! I see what you mean about the pack sizes. I know the Eden is polycotton but it weighs more than me haha! I wouldn't mind a roof box but ideally for short breaks we'd try and get it down to the bare bones of kit. Easier said than done with the five of us.


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Personjoy_family
11/6/2014 at 2:13pm
 Location: West Sussex
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Agree with everything thats been said about the big inflatables - fine for a weekend tent. We're planning to have a 2 night wkend at the end of June so planning to do the bare bones thing - easier said than done!

We have an S Max with a roof rack and roof bag and have a cargo net so try and get as much as possible on the roof tbh.

I've owned a Filey 6, Eternity 600 and now the Eden and would recommend the Eden over everything - but it is an expensive and heavy item.

Thanks


PersonJim1977
11/6/2014 at 5:05pm
 Location: Leicestershire
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Hi Leeds123. Can only echo what has already been said, we will be using our Harrier for 2 nights this weekend, it's not so much the pitching time as ease of pitching which makes short breaks hassle free.
We have 2 kids and have found a trailer to be essential both with our poled and now air tent. We have a Honda FRV, which is a people carrier, and still manage to fill an Erde 122 trailer (with lid) and a roof box on top of the trailer!! The tent goes in the boot, the tables, chairs, fridge, cooker, loo etc in the trailer and the clothes, sleeping bags and mats in the box. This way the trailer is always packed ready to go in the garage and the other bits live in the house where it's warm and dry. The size of the tent bag is large, but no larger than the 2 bags our poled tent came in.
Jim


PersonLeeds123
11/6/2014 at 5:29pm
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Thanks for all your comments-it's really useful to know that large inflatables are fine for short trips. We don't have a garage so nowhere to store a trailer (although I love the idea of having it all packed and ready to go!) but could probably find space for a roof box. As the children are all still small there is a fair bit of space under their feet in the back of the car at the moment.

Now I just have to decide which one! Probably going to be the vango evoque/eclipse/inspire I think. I'm afraid you might see more posts from me shortly!

Thanks again


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PersonJim1977
11/6/2014 at 6:47pm
 Location: Leicestershire
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Good luck in the tent hunt, if you can get to Cross Camping Gary has got loads of inflatables on display so you can see how the different inflation systems work and see the differences in quality.
If you want to avoid a trailer I think you have the car to do it, never seen anything with a bigger load space than a Touran in 5 seat mode :)


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PersonOldwolf
11/6/2014 at 7:08pm
 Location: South Wales
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We too have an Eden, up to now we have used it twice (Comfortable Family camping - 4-5 nights) and we too are off to Fforest Fields next weekend for our first weekend away.
The issue is not so much how long the tent takes to put up/ take down, but how long to fill with Stuff and empty it.
So we have to look long and hard to decide what we need to take - to have a comfortable weekend, without taking too much stuff to fill the space you have.


PersonLeeds123
11/6/2014 at 8:08pm
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Yes that's one good thing about needing a family-mobile, the boot space! We are a fair way from Cross Camping but will have a look to see whereabouts nearby has a good display. We went to a pretty good independent a couple of weeks ago and they had a lot of inflatables of different makes on display but we were more getting an idea for what is out there at the time and I can't remember exactly what they had out. A return trip is definitely in order.

Oldwolf- I have images of us five sat in a giant tent empty except for a picnic blanket and one burner gas stove for company!


Personfunky2sarah
12/6/2014 at 2:08pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Kampa Filey 6 Air View funky2sarah's Profile View Profile   Reply to funky2sarah Reply   Quote funky2sarah Quote  
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We have the kampa filey 6 air....up in no time at all. Perfectly fits two adults, one five yr old and our dog plus all the glamping stuff we can fit in!

I even put it up alone in the biggest storm ever a couple of weeks ago and apart from the rain hampering me, had it up in no time and easy to peg out. Saying that it took 5 hours to me sitting down to get everything done inc fairy lights, bunting and event shelter!!

We re off to France for two weeks in august.....hoping it makes the holiday a bit less stressful!

Good luck


PersonLeeds123
12/6/2014 at 5:10pm
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Thanks funky2sarah! The bunting and fairy lights sound amazing! Enjoy your trip :)



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