Help! We fell for the Robens Kiowa when we came upon a display one a few months ago. Now the season has advanced and there isn't a show tent to be found within driving distance of us. So we're tempted to take the plunge and buy the Kiowa but the Klondike is a fair bit cheaper, and we're wondering whether it is worth the extra money for the Kiowa that we saw, or whether the Klondike would do as well.
Questions for any owners of either:
- how long does it take to pitch single-handed?
- would it work for a family of four for a longer holiday (a week plus)?
and any other advice gratefully received! Thanks.
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The Klondike is essentially a 4m Bell Tent which isn't really that big, I use a 4m Bell Tent for solo camping and occasionally with my son. The Bell Tent brigade always recommend going for the 5m if you are a couple or family. I don't know what size the Kiowa is but I do think the Klondike would be too small for a longer holiday.
I saw a Kiowa on display at Go Outdoors in Wakefield, and was really impressed with the space, the layout and the proper separate porch for wet/muddy layers. It's much more space in a usable layout than the Klondike would give you.
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Thanks foggers! Our impressions were similar when we saw one on display: they since seem to have been removed from all the GoOutdoors across the country!
Hi Batgirl we have the outwell Indian lake which is the predecessor to the Kiowa the only real difference being the rain cowl over the top vent and the bedroom pods were included.
Realistically it takes me around an hour to pitch and peg out on my own at a leisurely pace as I'm 62 now but I do find it quite easy. I have found its easier to pitch the front porch first which gives access to the living area where I put the centre pole up a section at a time rather than trying to manhandle the full pole.
To be honest there are only 2 of us and we tend just to use it for shorter trips as with the bedroom pods,if you are buying them, in place the living area isn't that big a table, a couple of chairs and a cupboard is about it.
Hope this helps a bit
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The 10T Desert 8 are back in stock on Amazon, it's a polycotton 4m Bell Tent with sewn in groundsheet. It's more cotton than poly, you'd hardly know it is polycotton.
I camp on my own with the 4m Bell and it would be good for 2. I just think that once you start adding more people than that, then the 5m would be a better choice.
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We've taken the plunge and bought the Kiowa, with bedrooms. We've pitched it once in the garden, which was pretty quick first time, and living space seems ok even with the bedrooms (especially as it's easy to collapse one or both if needed during the day). We're planning our first trip in a few weeks, so will find out how it works in anger then!