Which bell tent?

[TheLurkingOne]

Hi all.
I'm looking to invest in a bell tent for camping in the garden, and future trips. Our house is tiny and our garden very big so the extra sheltered space would be very welcome!

For a family of 5 shoukd we get a 4m or 5m tent?

I'm leaning towards a smaller one as I think it will be easier to handle and put up and I'll be more likely to head off on my own with kids if DH is busy. DH thinks bigger will be more useful and nicer.

Also are there good ones and shoddy ones? Who should I order from for good quality? I'll need it shipped or delivered to ROI.

All advice much appreciated!

I would say a family on 5 needs a 5m. We are a family of 4 plus large dog with a 5m tent and I don't think we'd be comfortable in a smaller tent.

They are heavy, but I can manage the tent alone (and they are easy to pitch solo).

There's a Facebook group called Bell Tent Campers (any brand) where you will get good advice.

We got ours from www.karmacanvas.co.uk 2 and a half years ago and have been really happy with it. Definately get the 5m. They're much easier to put up alone than an equivalent size modern type tent

Brilliant thank you for the replies!

I see on that website there's an option for a stove pipe cover. Do I need one? Is the tent fully covered and waterproof without it?

Only if you want to buy a woodburning stove for it. There's no hole, if you get a stove I believe you cut the hole yourself. I'd love one for ours but with a toddler it might get be a but of a hazard!

Definitely the 5m. Wonderful things. Ours has disappeared into the abyss somehow.

You don’t need the stove

Ours is 5m for 3 of us, and I can put it up on my own.

Definitely go for a 5m one.

We had a 5m bell tent and there are 5 of us. They are heavy to move but can easily be put up by one person X

You only need the flap if you're thinking of having a stove.

Stoves are lovely though!

Definitely go for the 5m. We have a zipped in groundsheet (ZIG) but to be honest we have only rolled the sides up once in the years of using it, so a sewn in groundsheet (SIG) would also have been a good choice.

Thank you! You have all been so helpful :)