Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Which air tent?

Millerblade

via mobile 04/10/2021 at 1:23pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 06/8/2014

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 310
Tent Reviews: 2

Site Reviews Total:	1

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Hi.

Myself and my husband would like to start camping again. We did camp a few years ago but absolutely HATED the putting up and taking down and unpacking then packing away of everything.

My dream would be a caravan. But can't afford one so a tent it is!

So we want to try camping with the easiest tent and only taking the bare minimum.

Thinking of an air tent. Just for 2 adults and a dog. Must be standing room height. Need a little space spare about from sleeping space to put essentials.

Any suggestions welcome x

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!

RainMagnet

05/10/2021 at 2:41pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Karsten 350

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 28/6/2017

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 185
Tent Reviews: 2

Site Reviews Total:	12

Site Reviews 2024:	2
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	3

Site Nights 2024:	14
Site Nights 2023:	7
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	10
Site Nights 2020:	14
Site Nights 2019:	14
Site Nights 2018:	8

Air tents have less individual items but are more bulky and heavy. What make to go for depends on your budget, they range from a few hundreds to the thousands of pounds.
Really the best option is to get to a tent shop or display and have a poke around.

taafe75

05/10/2021 at 3:06pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Vango Rivendale 800XL

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 29/8/2017

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 172
Tent Reviews: 4

Site Reviews Total:	15

Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	3
Site Reviews 2022:	3
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	3
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	8
Site Nights 2023:	14
Site Nights 2022:	14
Site Nights 2021:	11
Site Nights 2020:	6
Site Nights 2019:	14
Site Nights 2018:	7

Taking down an air tent is still a pain.
I admit it is really easy to put up, ours is massive and I can do it on my own but putting it in the bag in bad weather will test any relationship.
Its also heavy, ours is over 40kg its the size of the bag as well as the weight that makes it diffuclt and if you go polycotton they are even heavier.
I do love our air tent but they arent without their issues.

taafe75

05/10/2021 at 3:08pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Vango Rivendale 800XL

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 29/8/2017

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 172
Tent Reviews: 4

Site Reviews Total:	15

Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	3
Site Reviews 2022:	3
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	3
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	8
Site Nights 2023:	14
Site Nights 2022:	14
Site Nights 2021:	11
Site Nights 2020:	6
Site Nights 2019:	14
Site Nights 2018:	7

Ebay is your best bet

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!

WeeAlD

via mobile 06/10/2021 at 8:31am
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Airgo horizon 4 tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 22/7/2018

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 181

Site Reviews Total:	1

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	6
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

My wife and I have an Airgo Horizon Solus 4 for our two selves. Nominally 5mx3m in size and weighs in at 14kg.
It came complete with footprint and pump wrapped in the tent. We separated the footprint and the pump into separate storage just as we used to separate the poles from the canvas with previous tents.
This makes packing and lifting much easier.
We have used our tent over the past 4 years and find it ideal for us. One bonus is that the inner sleeping tent can remain attached at all times, which makes it easier to put up and take down.
Visit a store and check out the tent for what will meet your needs for space, layout and weight of one that catches your attention.

lidds0

via mobile 07/10/2021 at 6:47pm
Location: Yorkshire
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 24/8/2009

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 4494

Site Reviews Total:	57

Site Reviews 2024:	7
Site Reviews 2023:	10
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	4
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	8

Site Nights 2024:	37
Site Nights 2023:	48
Site Nights 2022:	20
Site Nights 2021:	9
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	8

Quote: Originally posted by Millerblade on 04/10/2021
Hi.

Myself and my husband would like to start camping again. We did camp a few years ago but absolutely HATED the putting up and taking down and unpacking then packing away of everything.

My dream would be a caravan. But can't afford one so a tent it is!

So we want to try camping with the easiest tent and only taking the bare minimum.

Thinking of an air tent. Just for 2 adults and a dog. Must be standing room height. Need a little space spare about from sleeping space to put essentials.

Any suggestions welcome x

What's your budget?

Mitchamitri

08/10/2021 at 4:44pm
Location:
Outfit:

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 28/6/2018

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 355

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

With an air tent you still need to peg out, you still need to unpeg and pack away, and they can be very bulky. The saving is nothing like you might think (or the press would have you believe).

We have both poled and air tents, and we think from our experience how good a tent is isnt defined by whether it is air or not.

All depends on your budget but trust me, if you have a big dog, a porch is useful and you should count one big dog as two people, so you'll be looking for a 5 man like the Kampa Hayling or similar.

If you arent sure then just borrow one and save your money.

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!

spudella

via mobile 16/10/2021 at 7:56am
Location:
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/7/2021

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 23
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	5

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	2
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	5
Site Nights 2022:	9
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

I have a berghaus air 4.
It is very easy to put up alone when I bought it there was only myself and a 3 year old camping. It weighs a lot about 19kg . I can lift in and out of the car (5'3" about 9 stone )
It is very bulky so it hard to pack car up.
Although very easy to put up ( as long as your child doesn't kick the valve as soon as you take the pump off)
Putting away is 20 times harder than our old poled coleman tent.
Once you press the valve to deflate there is still quite a bit of air left in the tubes . I get the child to roll along the tubes to get the air out. Then fold and squish otherwise it won't get back in the bag.
I am now looking at a cabanon biscaya.

Fiona W

via mobile 17/10/2021 at 7:10pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 5148
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	234

Site Reviews 2024:	18
Site Reviews 2023:	8
Site Reviews 2022:	12
Site Reviews 2021:	10
Site Reviews 2020:	4
Site Reviews 2019:	9
Site Reviews 2018:	18

Site Nights 2024:	37
Site Nights 2023:	25
Site Nights 2022:	32
Site Nights 2021:	25
Site Nights 2020:	20
Site Nights 2019:	28
Site Nights 2018:	30

Love the image of a child roller. We used to fall onto our lilo (remember them?) to get the air out.

-------------
2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.

WeeAlD

via mobile 17/10/2021 at 8:16pm
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Airgo horizon 4 tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 22/7/2018

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 181

Site Reviews Total:	1

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	6
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

The pump which we use to inflate the airbeam can also be used to deflate the airbeam.
This is an alternative to having to squeeze out the air. We also pack the pump and the footprint separate from the tent which makes things easier for packing the tent into its bag.

CrystalCamper

via mobile 17/10/2021 at 9:59pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell Tomcat MP

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 13/1/2015

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 13
Tent Reviews: 2

Site Reviews Total:	9

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	3
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	2
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	4
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	4
Site Nights 2018:	1

I have to agree with all the previous posts that say air tents are heavy and cumbersome to pack away. Before the campervan (self-built and VERY basic), we had a three-person poled tent for two of us and a dog. It was far too small to comfortably do anything but sleep. Heaven forbid the weather confined us. We bought a five-person Outwell Tomcat. Brilliant for space and easy to stand up in, but if it was wet it was horrible to pack away, too difficult to dry out and made camping a chore. We used it for one season and sold it for £200 less than we bought it. We considered it a cheap lesson! Next, we bought a five-person Vango Dunkeld. It was great as it had a living area that allowed you to stand up and a porch for storing dog stuff and wet boots. It was lightweight and easy to put up and so much cheaper than our air tent. For me it’s a no-brainer.

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!

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

6084 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Shop!]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024

UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder