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   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations
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Subject Topic: New to Camping Post Reply Post New Topic
06/5/2020 at 10:15pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered
View Angie Ormo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Angie Ormo Reply   Quote Angie Ormo Quote  
Joined: 06/5/2020

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Hi all, I just moved this message from the equipment section.
We are complete novices when it comes to camping so please bear with me. Doing research now so that hopefully we can buy equipment and practice in the garden for next year. We hope to travel in Europe for 6-8 months, career break. Will drive and are hoping to use campsite for at least half of accommodation. Have literally never set up a tent! Would like a good quality tent with living space and cover for rain that is high enough to stand up in. I read great reviews about Outwell Montana 6P but think it may be too big and difficult to pitch. Would be really greatful for advice on all equipment we will need but especially the tent. Thank you and apologies for the essay. Angie


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06/5/2020 at 10:50pm
 Location: North Devon
 Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3
View seanfdh's Profile View Profile   Reply to seanfdh Reply   Quote seanfdh Quote  
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Hi Angie. How many of you will there be in the tent?

-------------
Sean


06/5/2020 at 10:53pm
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View Francais's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francais Reply   Quote Francais Quote  
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Welcome to the forum Angie, firstly I think your going to need a trailer, unless your mode of transport is other than a car, as for the tent, well my first choice would be a Karsten,

Also canvas type, I am biased and would only ever go for heavy cotton, a compromise would be Polycotton but no way rip-stop nylon polyester.

A proper portable fridge is a must, the Mobicool FR40 is the real deal, available from SVB.24 in Germany for the best price.

I guess you will have a EHU, although it is nice to cook on gas, I would either go for a couple of CampinGaz 907 cylinders, or if you you have room a couple of 5kg Le Cube Butane cylinders which you can get over in France, very cheap refills compared to CampinGaz.

Good luck, that is a fantastic trip that you are planning.


07/5/2020 at 8:24am
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 560
View Pixie_Hez's Profile View Profile   Reply to Pixie_Hez Reply   Quote Pixie_Hez Quote  
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If you are planning to move around frequently, really think about the size and weight of the tent in terms of how long it will take you to set up. We started off with a tent going to France many years ago with the intention of doing 3 or 4 sites during a 2 week holiday. After setting up on the first site we were so knackered that we decided it was too much bother to move so soon and ended up only doing 2 sites for about a week each. That tended to be our pattern for the next number of years but we added a little pop up tent to our kit so that we could easily do quick one night stops without having to set up the big tent. In retrospect, the tent we had was too big. It seemed great in the camping shop as it provided loads of space for us but you need to offset the size of the tent with how much time and effort it will take to put up.

-------------
Pixie


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via mobile 07/5/2020 at 8:36am
 Location: London
 Outfit: Vango Kalu Hypercamp Eldorado
View DeborahTurner's Profile View Profile   Reply to DeborahTurner Reply   Quote DeborahTurner Quote  
Joined: 11/8/2011

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Oh! Just replied to your other thread!

Resisting loads of stuff is important. I have a cotton tent and can fit 3 people and all our gear in a Skoda Roomster with no roofbox or trailer, and personally I would prefer not to go on a long tour with the speed limit if a trailer, and the parking and security issues when you are not camping!

So a few factors to bear in mind when looking at size of tent and pack size of tent!

Table, folding chair each, I put our stove on a small table, 1 folding cupboard with worktop, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, whatever you use for cooling, and that is your basic kit.


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07/5/2020 at 8:54am
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View SGThomas's Profile View Profile   Reply to SGThomas Reply   Quote SGThomas Quote  
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Welcome to the world of mosquitos, chemical toilets, soggy fields and great fun.
Assemble together what you think is the bare minimum to take with you, and then only take half of it.

Concentrate on how to keep dry and how to keep warm at night.Everything else can be improvised


07/5/2020 at 9:44am
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Very variable
View Caligula's Profile View Profile   Reply to Caligula Reply   Quote Caligula Quote  
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For an extended period, and sun, I would definitely, as others have suggested, go cotton or polycotton as a material for the tent, for all sorts of reasons.....
Like wise for a plethora of reasons, everyone favours various types of tent....and I'm no different. For simplicity, and robustness, I would go for a good bell tent....not all bell tents are the same. I would go for the highest sidewall on a bell tent I can find, and in your situation, a zipped in groundsheet would be very versatile.
Dutch pyramid tents are quality and robust...tend to have many poles, and arguably less ventilation options, dependant on model.
I am fortunate to have used a couple of each of the above styles

You will get lots of responses, and lots of views. Options are limited, but try if possible to get to see tents erected.

ps love Stuarts message above! So true.


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


18/5/2020 at 4:15pm
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 Outfit: 
View Mick S.'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Mick S. Reply   Quote Mick S. Quote  
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We had an Outwell Montana 4 berth (for 2 of us) for a few years. Didn't take long to put up, and stood some really poor weather, and even added a porch later. Beware of the kit though...it DOES mount up!


via mobile 13/6/2020 at 12:10am
 Location: Wilts
 Outfit: Gelert Quebec 8 + 4
View Tent Dweller's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tent Dweller Reply   Quote Tent Dweller Quote  
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Hi, the only two things i recommend are line-locks, and delta ground anchors.
When guy lines get wet they can be a nightmare for de-tensioning, line-loks will stop this happening. As you have already mentioned pegs, the ones generally supplied are poor, get a few delta ground anchors, they are brilliant and will absolutely not be pulled out by wind. Links to both below.

https://www.cleats.co.uk/browse-by-activity/camping-tents/line-lokr-guy-runner-for-2-5mm-lines.html

https://deltagroundanchors.co.uk/



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