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Topic: calling all 5mtr bell and palamos 6owners

sharky9193

21/10/2014 at 2:57pm
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5mtr bell tent owners,when you use the inner how much room is there left?
Can you use a table n 4 chairs?
Same question to the Palamos 6 owners.
Finally is there any issues about your tents you don't like and would change.
The other half is struggling to justify spending over 1k on the Barbados n side panels.
The difference would be 2-300 notes saving over the Barbados by the time the sun canopy n side panels are bought. Or am I best sticking to my guns and plump for the Barbados?
Regards.

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epa611

21/10/2014 at 3:27pm
Location: Johnstone Renfrewshire
Outfit: Eldorado

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Yes, with the Palamos, you could easily fit in table & 4 chairs with the front wall moved to the front position.

Ours will be on here for sale soon....

-------------
2016:
Jul: Dunbar C&CC
Aug: Rosemarkie C&CC
Oct: Oban C&CC

geoffprinter

21/10/2014 at 3:34pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.

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We have the 5m bell but don't use inners. Its one downside is its lack of windows which we have now added. Although I think Canvas & Cast make one with windows in already, but I don't think the C&C one has mesh front doors which is a must have IMO. They are really easy to pitch (my wife can do it on her own) and the tent stay lovely and cool on warm days. Heres a couple of threads with some pictures of ours to give you some idea of room inside. link 1 link 2 link 3

Post last edited on 21/10/2014 16:18:37

Tynxuk

21/10/2014 at 4:42pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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Have owned both and find the space in the Palamos much more useable (and easier to heat), we choose not to have the wall at the front and add a canopy for dining but even with the bell tent we found the best set up was with a separate kitchen/diner tent (2m x 3m drive away awning). For short stays we still use a 4m Bell tent to sleep in with the drive away awning.

We have only used the Palamos twice so far but the advantages over the 5m bell tent for us out weigh the disadvantage (pitch time ie guyropes & pegging points).

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geoffprinter

21/10/2014 at 5:38pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.

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I certainly would not disagree with Tynx. If I was to go back in time to when we were looking. I don't think we would have been disappointed if we had brought the palomos although we are more than happy with the Bell, there is only the 2 of us. The palomos does look more versatile than the bell for families. So I would give serious consideration to the palomos because Tynx knows her stuff, but as she says there are a hell of a lot of guy ropes and pegging points although I don't think that would put me off too much. The Alaska which is an Obelink tent as well as the palomos would almost definitely be our next tent if we were looking for a new one, and its cheaper than the Barbados. But both the Alaska & Barbados might be a bit too small for your needs.

sharky9193

21/10/2014 at 5:56pm
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Thanks for the replies people.
Is there anything i should consider?
Inner tent for the bell?
Should i be warey of anything on either.

Tynxuk,which would you recommend?

I 've heard a few horrors regarding the Palamos and zips/quality,is this likely to be an issue??

Epa611,why are you selling the palamos?how long have you had it?what are you moving onto?when is it for sale? and for how much??
Almost 20 questions lol!!

chr4

21/10/2014 at 8:41pm
Location: Surrey
Outfit: Karma Canvas 5 m Bell tent

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If you decide to buy Barbados it is worth checking with Camping Travel Store as they have it on sale currently.

I personally am a bit torn. I have a bell and I am very happy with the fabric, ventilation and how sturdy this tent is. At the same time I am a bit bothered by the fact that it does look a bit messy inside and is not easy to organise. Initially I was thinking of buying a Karsten but just could not look my wife in the eyes and say that the tent I chose would cost almost 3k.

So I have a similar dilemma but I think buying a Palamos would in my case be another compromise which I would regret a bit. I still don't know whether I should add inners and an awning to the bell or bite the bullett and buy a big canvas tunnel tent like Cabanon Awaya (Karsten no longer considered as there might possibly be a third child coming to our family in the future - which with Karsten would mean adding an expensive extension making it even more cost prohibitive). I still hope that for now I can make the bell work for us and the money 'saved' on not buying Awaya (and an even bigger car) could be spent on nicer campsites, bigger pitches and eating out. Time will tell.

Post last edited on 21/10/2014 21:03:57

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Tynxuk

22/10/2014 at 6:01pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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Last year we thought the 5m bell tent with drive away awning was our perfect set up for longer fair weather holidays however it lacked windows, privacy for the children as they grow even with our homemade inner and site fees could potentially be expensive due to needing a larger pitch.

I did some homework on the Palamos and drew up plans for both bell tent & palamos side by side to compare:

We weren't in a position to be able to buy the Palamos without selling the 5m bell tent so we had to be sure it was the right move for us. whilst the bell tent was quicker to erect we still needed the drive away awning for cooking & eating in (kids make too much mess for me to allow them to eat in the Bell tent) and I liked to have a canopy over the entrance so shoes can be removed before going in. The Palamos can be used with just a canopy we already owned to eat and cook under (although must confess we couldn't eat under the canopy with the rain & wind of the tail end of hurricane bertha in August and used a double toilet tent to keep the kitchen in).

So basically the only positives for the bell tent over the pyramid were speed of pitching which was negated by the fact we used the drive away awning too and it's glamorous appearance vs the Palamos which had the windows, inner tent which could be one large area or zipped into 2 and is a more practical shape for use and pitch size even with an added canopy.

This was our first weekend away in the Palamos and there were absolutely no regrets:

Quality wise it is definitely equal to or even better that the Soulpad bell tent we had, in fact I have owned a couple of older Cabanon tents and see no reason for it not to last as long as these if cared for correctly (as with any canvas tent).

My final words of advise would be, if like us, you want practical space with windows not too bothered about loads of internal space but with a decent sized built in canopy over the entrance go for the Palamos. Whilst the front wall can be moved to the front position making the living space larger it then doesn't have a fully zipped in groundsheet, I don't see this would be a huge issue as overlapping the mud flaps with the extra groundsheet should seal it well enough and the inner tents are completely sealed.

sharky9193

22/10/2014 at 7:52pm
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Thanks for the advice Tynxuk and drawings.
I really like the Palamos but can't help thinking quality might not be the same as the Barbados and worried I might regret the purchase.
I have not seen a palamos in the flesh nor the Barbados for that matter but have seen the Guadeloupe.
Bell tent seems nice n simple but might be a little cramped for living in as a family.
Is there anywhere local to Hereford where I can see one in the flesh(palamos).
I am in cornwall next week right down by the Lizard.
Regards.

epa611

22/10/2014 at 8:02pm
Location: Johnstone Renfrewshire
Outfit: Eldorado

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Quote: Originally posted by sharky9193 on 21/10/2014
Epa611,why are you selling the palamos?how long have you had it?what are you moving onto?when is it for sale? and for how much??
Almost 20 questions lol!!

Had it about 18 months now, and moving onto a Karsten 350

Was planning to sell in the new year in time for the new season. As for price, I haven't a clue .

Some photos:

-------------
2016:
Jul: Dunbar C&CC
Aug: Rosemarkie C&CC
Oct: Oban C&CC

sharky9193

23/10/2014 at 7:04am
Location: None Entered
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Epa611,will the canopy be in with the sale and could i have first refusal

Regards.

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