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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Bugger - no Bell Tents left

89 replies

Needanewname · 12/07/2010 21:56

Damn damn damn!

I've finally talked DH into a Bell Tent (5m with zig) although he said next year I was hoping to talk him round for this year but they've sold out!!!! So I'm going to sulk now!

OP posts:
Original poster
Needanewname · 14/07/2010 13:51

Yay they have them back in stock, now just haveto convince DH!

OP posts:
Millimat · 14/07/2010 21:57

Ok so i am sorry to be a cynic and gatecrash your thread, but what is the appeal of bell tents and the like? Wouldn't a tent that is lighter to carry and easier to dry make more sense?

MisSalLaneous · 14/07/2010 22:20

Hi Millimat. Yes, a modern tent is usually (not always of course) lighter and doesn't need to be so dry, but it's a different kind of feeling.

Mind you, I like both types (have a Vango Orchy and a bell), but if transport isn't an issue, I prefer the bell just because it's so spacious and light inside. Not that it's often a problem in England, but it's also fab when it's hot - you don't get the boiling effect of modern tents. It's lovely cuddling up in bed looking at the openness of it all, and when combined with the tarp, we've happily spent hours either inside or under the tarp when it drizzled without feeling at all fenced in.

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 15/07/2010 08:09
  1. Bell tents look lovely
  2. Bell tents are incredibly easy to put up
  3. Bell tents are generally more stable than modern tents in dry winds
  4. Bell tents are warmer in cold weather and cooler in warm weather because they are made from natural materials
  5. There is loads of room in a bell tent, light and spacious
  6. Bell tents, IMO, just feel much nicer to be in

They don't take up much more space when packed than a modern, similar sized tent when comparing with my friends' tents - they're just heavier, that's all - hardly a hardship when you're driving!

And they're not that hard to dry - we just spread it out in the living room over night.

poppyboo · 15/07/2010 09:34

Needanewname have Soulpad got them back in stock now? Yeah, maybe mine will get delivered soon

MrsMellowdrummer · 16/07/2010 09:36

Hello Poppyboo. I emailed Soulpad a few days ago, and they tell me they're expecting a delivery in the last week of July. Not too long to wait now! I'm going camping the minute ours arrives.

Original poster
Needanewname · 16/07/2010 11:57

Milimat - What mrswobble said!!! We went away a couple of weeks ago in the scorching weather and I couldn't breathe in our tent at 7am as sooooooo hot, friends bell tent was fabulous. Looks great and took him 17 mins to put up (and he took his time!) opposed to ours which took over an hour (to be fair we also didn't rush, we can do it in 40 mins) oh and it looks great!!

Sorry poppyboo not checked soulpad only belltent, though am now so after the tortugatents belltent awning! Does it ever end buying camping stuff?!

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poppyboo · 16/07/2010 12:26

Needanewname I think we are pretty much hoping to go camping the next day afert our tent arrives...fingers crossed the weather will be OK. I don't think I want to go camping in the pouring rain .i think I am a fair weather camper I remember my parents watching the weather forecast when we were little and shooting off as soon as there was a ridge of high pressure. My dad was a teacher and my DH is a teacher so it is possible for us to wait for nice weather before we go away My mum and dad must have been caught once or twice is very bad weather though, i remember the tent flooding once.

Apparently I was 6 weeks old when I first went camping! We sometimes used to go away for weeks at a time. But then , it was only £1 per night.

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 16/07/2010 15:00

Don'tya just love it when someone asks a question and then doesn't bother responding to replies!?

How does the tortugatents awning differ from the bell tent malu?

Poppyboo - wrt to wet camping, you need to turn your thinking around. I thought I was a fairweather camping until I went with my hardier friend once. She encouraged us all to wear waterproof coats and trousers and throw ourselves into it, and it was fantastic fun. The children couldn't have cared less that it was raining, and we just got infected with their joy

Original poster
Needanewname · 16/07/2010 22:32

6 weeks old - wow!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Needanewname · 16/07/2010 22:43

Mrswobble not sure who that was addressed to, if me sorry I missed it. It looks bigger to me and a better shape to give more protection, unfotunately it's also more expensive as are most of the tents!

Anyway, still working on dh but not really getting anywhere!

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hellymelly · 16/07/2010 23:15

I have never had a tent-fifteen years living on a narrowboat meant that camping held no appeal whatsoever,I wanted a huge bathtub and hot running water,not a less luxurious version of my everyday life.Now after two years in a house I am thinking it would be fun...The bell tents look good,what are the best,the bell ones from bell tent or the Soul thingy ones? I have a wasp-sting allergy so I want something that keeps insects out while you are sleeping so I was thinking of the zipped in ground sheet option,but the soulpad one has a mosquito net door it says,can't see a pic though.The options are confusing me-4m or 5m ? (we are a family of 4)separate ground sheet or zipped? What to go for?

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 17/07/2010 08:32

Needanewname - no, 'twas addressed to the bell-tent sceptic!

hellymelly - the soulpad website (I think it's that one) has a lot of info to help you choose.

Go for the 5m if you can afford it.

If you get the inner bedroom bit, then you don't need to worry about bugs and beasties anyway. A separate groundsheet is much easier and works fine IME.

omnishambles · 17/07/2010 12:52

yes hellymelly - we have the sides up on our 5m one a lot and it is beuatiful in hot weather but it does allow lots of wasps in.

hellymelly · 17/07/2010 22:11

LOTS of wasps !!! aargh.Maybe I don't want a tent.Just that our wedding anniversary is in early September and I thought if I could set one up somewhere and get the tea lights up,rugs down etc,it would make such a lovely surprise for DH and the girls.Do all of you get a lot of wasps in? Would it be ok if I kept the sides down? Could they creep under the groundsheet if it wasn't a zip jobbie?

saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/07/2010 22:19

We have a soulpad (fab customer service) with the SIG plus bedroom. I insisted on the SIG because severely autistic ds1 tries to escape under canvas. Brilliant tent. I have to put if up alone as dh has to go off with ds1 and ds2 & 3 are a bit too young to help usefully and it's easy. Ds2 & 3 skip around, I put it up. No bright guys!

saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/07/2010 22:26

I'm going to be careful how I phrase this but it's worth googling all the main sellers of bell tents before purchase.

I am Mord than happy to state that soul pad have brilliant customer service (& you will find that repeated often if you google- about soul pad). Really recommend them. I spent ages fussing about which one to get and the person who runs it (zoe?? Iirc) was very patient and helpful. I now need to get a tarp.

hellymelly · 17/07/2010 22:55

Although looking at the different sites,the belltent one says theirs are suitable to be up all year,whereas soulpad say theirs are only suitable for occasional use.They look like the same tent pretty much,I have no idea what to choose.

MisSalLaneous · 17/07/2010 23:02

hellymelly, re seasonal suitability - it is exactly the same quality canvas etc - I wouldn't be guided by that.

hellymelly · 17/07/2010 23:08

I live near this www.coldatnight.co.uk/ so maybe I should ask them what they have?

omnishambles · 18/07/2010 08:34

helly in september the wasps would have died down I would have thought and yes you're fine if the sides are down - dont fret

Original poster
Needanewname · 18/07/2010 20:06

Oops sorry MrsW! Maybe we convinced her about their fabulousness (and I don;t even have one yet - though good news Mrneedanewname has agreed to one for next season!!!!)

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hellymelly · 18/07/2010 21:54

The wasps here were still clinging to my windows last NOVEMBER.I couldn't go into my garden from July until nearly the end of November as there were so many.It was a bumper year for them apparently so maybe this year won't be so bad.I don't remember loads of them at our wedding picnic.

holytoast · 18/07/2010 22:34

Can I join in? My 5 metre bell tent arrives tomorrow! so excited, we dithered for ages over what to get, going for the soulpad 5m lite. We now have to find a campsite nearby for a night away this coming weekend to try it, me Dh and 13 week old dd...bring on the bunting!

Hellymelly I am also worried about the bug problem - though I dont have a proper reason like you, just scared stiff of moths...its the little fat hairy bodies I cant stand. Dont mind butterflies though, whats all that about?

The Lite doesn't come wth a mesh door, so I am just going to buy a mosquito net for over our bed, the woman we spoke to at soulpad said attaching loops to the tent inside for things like that was easy. also am considering buying netting to make a mesh door. would that work for you?

hellymelly · 18/07/2010 22:39

Yes maybe netting over the door is the thing,I will research further! I was just so tempted when I thought of how excited the girls would be to see it and be able to sleep in it.I almost bought it there and then,even though it is a bit of an extravagant purchase ,but then I thought of WASPS.....