Campers! Can I put up a bell tent on my own?

[SprayGunForBanksy]

A friend has offered to lend me her bell tent for our upcoming camping holiday as we (3dc and I) discovered on a recent weekend trip that my aging pole tent is really not fit for purpose. Really kind of her!

I will give it a go in the garden first but is it really as easy as she says? It's a 5m superlight polycotton version and I am imagining not being able to put it up without other adults!

I have a three metre one and it's very easy to put up single handed, a five metre one has the same number of poles, pegs etc so should be pretty easy too.

I would think it should be relatively easy if it's just got a centre pole? You'll need to get inside and if it's lightweight you should be able to raise that pole single handedly. I'd have the kids ready with 2 pegs each for the guylines to hold it up loosely then repeg it properly once it's self-supporting. Or, get the pole up then get a couple of the kids to come in and hold it up while you do the pegging.

You definitely can! There's a technique to it - I'm sure there are videos online but basically you put in all the outside pegs loosely first, then put in the poles, then attach the front guy and tighten everything up. I find them more straightforward to put up than 'normal' tents tbh

Ah trusty youtube- I will have a look for some vids, thank you.

I'd also "forgotten" that my eldest is 16 so perfectly capable of assisting (as are the other two at 13 and 7) but as a single parent I get into the mindset of doing everything myself and forget that they can do stuff too

Last time I went camping a woman turned up, got three tiny girls (literally 1, 2, 3 years old) out of the car, put up a bell tent whilst they played nearby and then bbqed their dinner. I was in awe!

You'll be fine! I put up our 5m heavy cotton bell tent with just a 7 and 4 year old to help. Send the 16 year old in to hold the pole while you and the other bash in pegs. It'll be up in less than 20 minutes.

oh if the kids are that old I'd get them to do it while you "supervise"*

*read: pull up a deckchair and pour yourself a glass of wine

Yes

I’ve done my 5m alone. Getting the canvas laid out with the door in the right place is key, then you’ll be fine. The rest is easy enough.

Putting up will be easy. Allow time to take it down - I find the folding and rolling a bit more time consuming especially when adding the packing to the car too, and HOT. We tend to pack the tent before the sun really gets going or it can fry you!

Enjoy!

At those ages you are not alone! My dd has been camping with cadets alone since 13

They do normally put up our tent to be fair, I'd forgotten to disengage my "solo" brain!

Good to know that I could do it alone though if required, I might consider getting our own if we like this one (look amazing!)

Thanks @Mykittensmittens for the helpful advice about packing away, will make sure we give ourselves plenty of time as our old one was very quick.

Off to dig out the bunting, fairy lights, basketware and deckchair to supervise from