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Original poster

Soulpad, Belltent and tentipi lovers slug it out...

16 replies

onetwoflea · 20/05/2011 12:00

Right all you tent tipi, bell tent and soulpad lovers. I need one of these for me, DH and 3 DCs (under 6) (but will be a forever tent). Which is best (give it your best shot) for me and why? Winner gets a custard creme and a mug of tea (and maybe the makers are reading this and will send something to the winner? hint?)

OP posts:
Lovecat · 20/05/2011 12:09

Custard Cream? Make it a jam ring Biscuit and you may have a deal....

I've got a Soulpad 5m hybrid and it's lovely. I'm not sure it's any different from the ones that Belltent UK sell, but you can unzip the groundsheet to roll the sides up if you want, or else if it pelts down, zip back up to get the SIG effect. It has a mozzie net on the door (useful as DD is catnip to midges) and on all the little half moon windows, which are lovely to unzip on a hot day and just lie in the cool breeze... I've just bought a 1/4 inner tent to have somewhere to store things/the portaloo and am away next weekend to roadtest it out.

Can't explain why there's this calming, peaceful zen thing going on with them, but I've never seen DD happier to just sit/lie and be, rather than be constantly after entertainment like she normally is. Plus it's well pretty :)

Also Soulpad's customer service is FANTASTIC (I cannot say this loudly and often enough) and I have heard awful things about Belltent UK. I know that when I emailed them with a question before I bought, I had no response whatsoever, so that was enough to put me off them.

Original poster
onetwoflea · 20/05/2011 12:17

ok, I am being persuaded. please help yourself to my variety pack of biscuits and have more tea. thankyou!

OP posts:
steamedtreaclesponge · 20/05/2011 12:21

I love my Belltent for pretty much the same reasons as Lovecat loves her Soulpad! (Which I've never heard of, btw, but it sounds pretty similar). I love that you can roll the sides up when it's really hot, so it turns into a sort of canopy, and I also love the lightness inside. Even on hot days it takes a while to heat up so you can get a bit of a lie-in, rather than having to burst out of your tent at daybreak like you have to with those dark nylon ones!

Belltents are also really easy to put up - I can do mine on my own in about 5 minutes. I love to make it really cosy inside - I fill it with sheepskins, rugs and cushions so it's like a sort of bedouin paradise. Writing all this is making me really eager to go camping again... I agree with the Zen thing, I love just lying in there, whatever the weather, all cocooned in blankets with a good book and a bag of sweets Grin. Off to a hoedown festival in Wales next week in it, can't wait!

Can't really compare on the customer service front though I'm afraid, I bought mine about 4 years ago when the company was still tiny (and the tents considerably cheaper) and have never needed to contact them since.

Slubberdegullion · 20/05/2011 12:37

I'd pay good money to see the bell tenters slug it out.

Glamper Gladiators.

You'd have the Retiarius with net made of bunting and trident fashioned from a marshmallow toasting prong.
Bestiarii would have a sharpened central pole for a spear.

This is the sort of new concept in reality tv programming that the likes of channel 5 are after.

Lovecat · 20/05/2011 12:44

I saw some cast iron BBQ skewers in TK Maxx yesterday that were shaped like big twigs. I'll admit I was tempted, but just for a second. I'm feeling poncey enough that I've just bought Emma Bridgewater heart pattern melamine plates mugs and bowls when I have perfectly good c. 1977 girl guides tin stuff in the house...[shame]

But the cast iron sticks would make superb weapons in a glampy fight....:o

seeker · 20/05/2011 12:48

We have a tentipi and it is wonderful. Packs small and it's carriable. Dead easy to put up, absolutely beautiful, you can put a fire pot in the middle on cold nights. You can raise the ventialtion cap without getting up in the morning, and 14 people can lounge round in it when there's a thunderstorm.

And if you put a lantern in it, it glows golden.

BelovedCunt · 20/05/2011 13:02

omg @ the bloody price of those poncey tipis

Original poster
onetwoflea · 20/05/2011 13:10

wow - thanks everyone. i've never seen all these types on a thread together! thanks seeker - but yes price might put me off - although i am tempted to pretend we will be camping on a mountain and need an expedition tent. please don't spill the tea on the floor of my new tent when the variety pack starts being used as a weapon. and those jam tarts make such a mess. thank you everyone. off out now so will check back later!

OP posts:
seeker · 20/05/2011 13:14

I know Blush

But we were rich at the time and it's been amazing. I think being able to carry it without getting a hernia is one of the main advantages.

seeker · 20/05/2011 13:15

and they didn't cost that much 7 years ago!

BelovedCunt · 20/05/2011 13:33

if you are a commited camper they are worth it though as they will last

FlingonTheValiant · 20/05/2011 15:00

As an arachnophobe I was really put off Bell tents, as their most lovely feature is my worst camping nightmare. But I've just been on the Soulpad website and seen they sell these Admittedly they were designed with Australian camping in mind, but what the heck, I'm suggesting a joint pressie of a Soulpad for mine and DH's birthdays next year :o

ruffletheanimal · 22/05/2011 12:41

oh man, this thread is killer. i was almost 100% committed to the base 4.2 instant 2 bedroom family tent at only c150 smackers, for spur of the moment w/ends away with the kids... but this talk of zen and the fun of just lying there (and the bug screen thing too :wuss:) is really really tempting...

MisSalLaneous · 22/05/2011 13:04

Ooh Flighon, that is brilliant! We often open ours up, and to be honest, have never had any bug problems, but I'm not one to let practicality get in the way of a cool new gadget.

OP, I'm a belltenter (have 4m, would recommend 5 m if more than one child). I love it, would never go back to nylon, but if I had unlimited money, would go for a De Waardt as a forever tent. Also love Seeker's tentipi, so that would also be a dream tent. Money dictates sometimes though, so in the meantime Belltent is fabulous.

Original poster
onetwoflea · 22/05/2011 17:58

ok, am being convinced by soulpads, customer service and price has persuaded me! tentipi will have to wait until a lottery win! am thinking of a 5m, but the 5m tipi style ones look fab too! thanks everyone!

OP posts:
needanewname · 26/05/2011 23:07

Another bell tenter here. We went over to Obelink last year to buy ours - the 5m hybrid equivalent.

Have also bought other stuff from SoulPad - really friendly and helpful and fast delivery.

its so interesting to hear everyones views on belltent.co.uk though. Has anyone ever had any good service from them. A friend got a 4m ZIG from them and it took 6 weeks to arrive, customer service appalling, there is a tiny nick in the groundsheet and they've heard nothing. I knwo other people who've ordered accessories and they taken forever to arrive. I couldn't recommend them at all

I would recommend the ZIG too rather than separate or SIG.

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