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Soul pad or bell tent ...any advice/opinions?

6 replies

Fatrascals · 15/06/2016 19:24

I'm obviously new to this as I posted earlier this week about buying a bell-tent. I thought bell tent was a very general term .....then I discovered soul pad as similar but not generic name.

I want to get my family kick started into camping. I've two trips planned and there are 4 of us. I like comfort I have to admit so I want comfy bed as well if at all possible. I'd prefer to always glamp but it's not practical.

I want my boys to grow up camping. So....soulpad 5000 looks good? Any expereince?

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 15/06/2016 21:18

I had a soulpad 5000, was very good quality.

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Fatrascals · 15/06/2016 22:31

Thanks simon .... What happened to it? 😀
Was it a nightmare to dry ? Did you swap for different tent or have you given up camping? Thanks

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 15/06/2016 22:41

Ive given up camping. Used it a couple of times, pissed it down both times. I decided a cold tent in the rain is still a cold tent in the rain and bought a caravan. With electricity, and a heater, and plugs, and a loo, and a fridge and an oven and comfy beds and sofas! Grin


It would have been a nightmare to dry out if my garden hadn't been big enough to pitch it which thankfully it was. I had a 5m one and could pitch it on my own quickly enough. I had the quarter bedroom inner for it which makes it warmer.

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SalomeD · 17/06/2016 08:40

I have a 5m zig from Soulpad and it is great, easy to pitch solo and takes about 15 minutes.

Also have an Emperor from BellTent which is equal in quality and we love that this has windows (it is our 'fortnight in France' tent).

You do need to make sure that the canvas is bone dry before you pack it away otherwise your beautiful tent will become covered in black mould and the staining doesn't come out. We repitch ours straightaway in the garden when we get back if we've had a wet/damp pack up on site.

If you get a PIG or a ZIG you can get an extra bag and pack the canvas separately from the groundsheet and this makes it a lot lighter for lifting in/out of the car, etc.

There is a really great Facebook page for bells where you can get loads of advice and this has two sisters sites with people selling secondhand bells and gorgeous stuff to go inside.

www.facebook.com/groups/belltenters/

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isambardo · 20/06/2016 19:38

I have heard from a friend who has put up/taken down lots of bell tents, that he thought soul pads were not as good quality as bell tent uk. By eye I've always thought them identical.

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NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 20/06/2016 19:48

Bell tent here, seems great - no probs with mine. I second the FB bell tent forum (hi!) Think they've found not much between them quality wise. A few different features. Yes, it's heavy but so easy to put up and looks/feels amazing. Dry carefully.

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