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Topic: Decisions. Decisions.

Ewen c

24/9/2016 at 4:00pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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Well, I was on the verge of buying a BCT taskforce 4 with extension. Checked out the fabric etc. Was ready to press the buy button.
Now however I need your help. My OH has rightly pointed out that the headroom in the BCT is a bit limited. She has been spending her time at a conference perusing cotton tents and came across the Hypercamp Palamos 6.
Great, has the headroom, a porch but is just as bulky as the Pescara it will replace and has about 40 pegging points. This would suit the wife's stipulation that tent be bombproof but my knees are getting dodgy.

I then had a look at the Alaska. Less pegging points, bigger bedroom pods but no porch to speak of. The Euro 100 saving against the Palamos would be wiped out by the purchase of a cotton tarp. It is also almost the same weight as the Palamos 6 but both weigh less than the Pescara.

We like both tents but can't make up our minds, not helped by communicating via viber. This is where you lot come in. Which would you recommend?

Tent would be main holiday tent but also some long weekends. We have the force ten for short trips but if daughters come then the Pyramid would need to be used.
Drying out is not a problem but I would prefer the one with the smallest pack size. We cook under a tarp or in an awning and we often have to pitch and strike in the rain. Furniture is pretty minimal but the pod has to take our Kampa Bliss mat which is 194 x 138 x 10 cm. We also use EHU so would need a zipped access point for that.

Finally, The Palamos 6 is at the top end of the budget. 700 Euro max. Just in case anyone suggests something completely different........

So, over to you. What do you think we should do?

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Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

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seanfdh

24/9/2016 at 4:43pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3

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Do you need to buy a cotton tarp immediately if you go for the Alaska? The thought of pegging out the Palamos is making my knees and back ache.

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Sean

BRYANMITCH

24/9/2016 at 4:54pm
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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Hi Ewen.. Cant comment on the Palamos as I have never seen one in the flesh but the "porch" you mention is only present if and when you move the "mobile" front wall back. More work and more chance of wind and rain getting through -I thought and so I/we bought an Alaska(mostly I

).Fantastic tent and very spacious for 2 people. The pack size is quite big and very heavy but if I remember correctly is very similiar to the Palamos. You shouldnt have a problem fitting your s.i.m into the pod--dimensions are 180cm by 225 cm.As a couple we have both pods at our diposal and have a large vango double and a single alongside to make a super-kingsize bed! and still have loads of room at either side to clutter up with clothes(mainly the other half of "we"

)--But thats a small price too pay if it keeps her camping!
In theory--it is an easy tent to pitch--however I have been struggling (and seeking advice on here) with setting the front wall poles up.A lot of effort being required and I am not a lightweight! More technique and less brute force seems to be the answer

I will be investing in a larger bag eventually as the supplied canvas bag is a tight fit and it would only be by pure luck if I managed to get the tent into the bag properly first time.
Worth the effort in my opinion...you have a great tent to spend your time in and only has about half the pegs you would need for a Palamos.
Obelink have a good website and are easy to deal with--A very big plus point is the price of carriage--VERY CHEAP!..more money to spend on canvas on not on cardboard.
I think the ideal set-up is an Alaska with a tarp/windbreak to cook under.I will be getting a suitable tarp soon--but in the meantime will have to settle for looking at the pictures in the "KINKY TARPING" thread on this site

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

BRYANMITCH

24/9/2016 at 4:59pm
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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Ps---the alaska does have a zipped-up cable inlet. Hard to see on the photos.

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

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Ewen c

24/9/2016 at 5:05pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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Thanks folks.
I have an xl dd tarp that I can use just now if I go for the Alaska. It is synthetic though.
How long does it take you to pitch the Alaska, Bryan? The pegging is a large part in the decision making.
Also. Is the Alaska as sturdy in the wind as the Palamos?
I'm not bothered about poles as I believe the Palamos has it's own unique problems on that front.

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Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

BRYANMITCH

25/9/2016 at 1:10am
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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To be honest--Ive only camped twice with the alaska and havent experienced any serious wind conditions.The first pitch took us about 30 minutes including attaching the inner.Regarding the pegs--I think there are 16 or 18 around the base and about the same number of guys which are very short..around 2 foot long.As I am thinking this is a long term tent

--I ordered hi-vis guys and clam cleats which I have attached with 40 mm caribinas--so they can be quickly disconnected if they were wet on pack-up.I also purchased a carpet from Kampa (220m by 390cm) which is almost a perfect fit--cost about £55.
I cant foresee an problems regarding sturdiness due to the profile of the tent..all sloping down to almost ground level and no high sides as such.I have broken/burst a few tents during my camping career but am confident this wont be another

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

Ewen c

25/9/2016 at 8:25am
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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Great info, Bryan. I was going to use carabiners too.
The carpet was another bit of info I needed. I think what has swung it for me is the 30 minute pitch time.
Wife comes back today so will chat.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

in4apenny

26/9/2016 at 2:20pm
Location:
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Having had a 40+ pegging point pyramid for just over a year now( 6 holidays so far), it at first seemed a chore to peg out.
Now were more familiar with it we peg out in two stages, the first 20-25 pegging points give the shape & basic tension, the remaining 20ish pegs only take 5-10 mins.

When it gets real windy ( 50-60mph) it's nice to have that extra pegging.

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The cheap tat was much better quality when i was young.

Ewen c

26/9/2016 at 2:36pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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It isn't so much a chore but more the thought of pegging out in the rain.
It looks like we will go for the Alaska. Faster pitch and larger bedroom pods did it for us. I think we will go for an obelink kitchen tent. I know this negates the pitch time saved but we would faff around with a tarp for cooking under anyway. The kitchen tent will also remove a lot of clutter from the tent. I've checked out all the variants and the obelink kitchen basic beats all other contenders RE price and size.
I saw the kampa carpet Bryan. It is a perfect fit but costs almost as much as the kitchen tent in Euros. I will go for a jumbo picnic rug at 3m x 220m. The bare bits will have bags and boxes on anyway.
Now. I still have to sell the pescara. I have chairs to give away to sister in law and a table or two and other stuff. Once that is done......
Oh yeah. If two were using the pod, do you think two fishing beds would fit height wise?
That might be another investment.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Tynxuk

26/9/2016 at 8:56pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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Looks like you've decided on the Alaska which as an owner of the Palamos I would have advised you go for (wish we had). Don't get me wrong it's a great tent for our 2 week holiday but a beast of a pitch for short breaks.
Now as an owner of a kitchen tent I would advise against it! it may be the fact we are a family with children but having to walk between main tent and kitchen tent does become a chore and once you have mastered the tarp it really is quick and easy to put up with a small pack size compared to an additional porch or kitchen tent. We have a folding faux leather ottoman in the main tent and plenty of storage in the kitchen porch to hide clutter, I also enjoy sitting under it in the evening with a glass of wine watching the world go by.

Ewen c

26/9/2016 at 9:39pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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Thanks Tynxuk. I am a past master of tarpology

but we usually end up on windy campsites and often end up having to take the tarp down. A kitchen tent would suit us more especially for the tabletop fridge leaving a tarp purely for sitting under with the wine or cidre.
On the subject of tarps I have found a tarpaulin manufacturer who will make a 6m x 2m cotton tarp with eyelets at specified distances apart. It is also on my commute to work so I can pop in to discuss it. Once I have the tent I can measure up and get the eyelets for the front poles correct and see about the quote. I am thinking of something similar to the guadaloupe or barbados sun canopy. I might even see about getting them to cut some front wings too.
If I can get that, then I may not need the kitchen tent

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

Reido

26/9/2016 at 11:43pm
Location: Brecon
Outfit: hi gear rock 5 & OR 6.0xt

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We love our kitchen tent, we didn't put it up for our 2 weeks in the vendee this august, just used a tarp...OH said never again, especially for the fridge.

Ewen c

27/9/2016 at 8:09am
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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Quote: Originally posted by Reido on 26/9/2016
We love our kitchen tent, we didn't put it up for our 2 weeks in the vendee this august, just used a tarp...OH said never again, especially for the fridge.

It is mainly the fridge I'm thinking off. That and keeping cooking away from a nice cotton tent.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Tynxuk

27/9/2016 at 2:12pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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Quote: Originally posted by Ewen c on 26/9/2016
Thanks Tynxuk. I am a past master of tarpology but we usually end up on windy campsites and often end up having to take the tarp down. A kitchen tent would suit us more especially for the tabletop fridge leaving a tarp purely for sitting under with the wine or cidre.
On the subject of tarps I have found a tarpaulin manufacturer who will make a 6m x 2m cotton tarp with eyelets at specified distances apart. It is also on my commute to work so I can pop in to discuss it. Once I have the tent I can measure up and get the eyelets for the front poles correct and see about the quote. I am thinking of something similar to the guadaloupe or barbados sun canopy. I might even see about getting them to cut some front wings too.
If I can get that, then I may not need the kitchen tent

Ours is a 6m x 2m cotton re-enactment tarp with loops rather than eyelets, I used clingons and bungees to attach to the tent and bungees on the loops at the bottom to peg down. It has stood up to early August winds in Wales last year and early August winds in Kent this year and we didn't take it down just put it into this configuration:

As we always leave the wall on the palamos to allow us a porch it has worked well for us but if we ever change to an Alaska I will also upgrade the tarp to a 6m x 3m to allow us the extra space the porch has allowed us.

Ewen c

27/9/2016 at 2:28pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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I had a look at those tarps on Amazon Germany. They only do the 6 x 3 at the moment but look good.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

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