I'm newly single and have camped with the kids, as a family of 4 since they were young. I'd love to keep taking them on my own but don't feel I can manage with my current camping set up which I love, Outwell oakland XL with side awning. It takes quite a while to set up properly and I feel it's too much for me on my own.
I'd like a sturdy, well made tent that won't let me down, similar in layout to my Oakland, can anyone recommend a tent that they manage to put up on their own with the kids' help.
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your kids are old enough to help you a lot! its called bribery, for each job they do they get something (your choice what) they are also old enough to understand help mum and you get to do exciting things, no help mum and you stay at home
A simple tunnel tent are the best design for solo put up. My son was 6yrs old when I started camping. I have a Neveda M which are quick and easy. I thread all poles through, only ring and pin back and front poles, (makes it easier to stand) I stand back end first and just quickly guy out one line, to keep it up.
Then stand the front, peg out a guy line.
Then ring and pin the middle pole.
I adjust the poles and peg out.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
Yay! At last...a video showing pretty well how I pitch a tent
There are a couple of differences but it is personal choice. One is that I only peg the rear corners and not the front before erecting because I feel that if all four corners are held down tight, it puts more strain on the poles and the material when raising the poles. Once the tent has been raised I then pull it taut and peg the front corners.
The second thing I do...instead of raising the front pole one leg at a time and thus twisting the pole awkwardly and hoping Gary is at hand to hold the other side up, I take hold of two guy ropes attached to the front of the tent and raise the pole using those. The pole then comes up equally either side, both legs having been pinned of course. I then temporarily peg those guy ropes which holds the pole and the front of the tent erect...useful in windy conditions.
I can Recommend a Robens Klondike, easy to put up alone, its polycotton and light to carry. Yes slightly unusual for some but the ease of it is second to none.