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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.

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Original poster

belltent/soulpad/to Zig or not, lip at the entrance...ARRGGHH

42 replies

cottonreels · 01/08/2011 21:33

Am really excited to be on the brink of ordering a soulpad 5000 hybrid G. (zip off ground sheet and stove compatable).
Soulpad seems the obvious place to order from given that bell tents are expensive and soul pad have a great reputation.

Here's what's making me hesitate:

It has a bathtub ground sheet (thats good I think) but it has a lip right where the door is, so you have to step over it. Some maunufactures put in two small zips so that this 'lip' can be folded down, but when I contacted soulpad they say that zips shouldnt be in contact with the ground as they'll deteriorate, so they dont have any with these little zips.

I have a 20 month old and I just know I'll be on edge near the door all the time. She loves running in and out of tents and doesnt stop to look where she's going. Am I just being short sighted? There's not too much left of this season and come next April she'll be 2 and a half - so I'm presuming she'll be more likely to take that kind of information in (and act on it!) Also we wonder whether having that 'lip' detracts from the luxury feel (ie it feels like a how you'd get into a nylon tent) and is in fact a bit of a hassle.

OR...

We could go for a soulpad 5000 light. It doesnt have a fitted groundsheet, so open to bugs (and water?) but doesnt have the lip.
Could you give me your opinions/thoughts please??

OP posts:

Kingsroadie · 02/08/2011 22:19

I think mine is the tarp question?
Well, i haven't unpacked the tent from its delivery box (don't want to risk the puppy mutt getting his teeth on it) and the tarp hasn't yet arrived. BUT I will let you know when I do/it does... I think it will be fairly similar as it looks the same as the one on Belltent which is where the Emperor is from..

Original poster

cottonreels · 03/08/2011 08:32

Thanks Kings!

OP posts:

Kingsroadie · 03/08/2011 08:45

No probs - not actually very helpful though

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 10:14

Cottonreels, hmmm, that response from Obelink is interesting. In that case, I have no idea where Man on Ebay got his info from. If you have time to play around with I would suggest ordering through the Dutch website, putting in your address and just waiting to see what happens. Mine arrived in a few days and you will know if it is coming as they will send you a number to track your order. It is possible that you will get a wagging finger email but it has to be worth a shot.

Really hope it works for you

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 10:17

PS to answer your question more fully, I got mine about a month ago, perhaps slightly less, so we are not talking long and Reshape got her tarp even more recently.

Original poster

cottonreels · 03/08/2011 13:14

Thanks oranges. Feels a bit wierd handing out card details and paying for an item that theyve said they wont send to you though. Could be a right pita trying to get the miney back...
How long did it take to arrive? Ie is there a waiting list or did it come really soon?

OP posts:

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 13:25

Presumably if they won't send it, they wouldn't deduct the money from your card in the first place? However, I don't know how it would work so understand your concern.

Our tent arrived in a few days, there was no waiting list. We ordered the 5m with separate groundsheet though so I don't know whether it would be the same for the hybrid - can't see why not though - either they have it in stock or they don't.

I must admit the mark up for buying our tent in the UK was really quite big. There was just no contest between Obelink and the others. I am not sure it is quite such a saving with the more expensive tents so, given your concerns, you might want to see whether you are saving a lot of money buying from Obelink compared with Soulpad before going ahead.

HTH

mel2005 · 03/08/2011 13:59

i managed to get a tent wing from them but they wouldnt sell me a tent, it worked out less than £35ish difference buying the 5m lite from soulpad so it wasnt worth the stress. with my tent wing, i am not sure what happened, i paid for it then they sent me an invoice for a higher amount than i paid (about 10euros more) and a receipt for my order, they had already taken the money from the bank so i left it then i e-mailed them when it hadnt come 4 weeks later and they sent it. i did pay the correct amount according to the website (inc the extra 5ish euros for sending to the uk) so i am not sure what the other invoice was for.

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 14:07

That sounds like a massive faff mel. But it is interesting how much the exchange rate on different days affects how much you save. We paid less than £300 all in for our Sahara 500 from Obelink (the equivalent to the 5m lite from Soulpad) so a saving of over £50 a few weeks ago and yet when you ordered it it was only £35 difference. However, I must admit we had absolutely no billing/late delivery issues - I think if we had that would put me off ordering from there again.

Original poster

cottonreels · 03/08/2011 14:10

What a strange co obelink sounds... I think the difference would work out at around £100 though it may not be like for like as we wanted the hybrid g (which has an opening and cover for a flu outlet in case we later decide on getting a stove) The one from obelink doesnt mention that its stove compatible.
To be honest, Im feeling a little sad/fragile art the moment and might just order from soulpad for an easy cheering up!
Anyone tried to modify their tent at all?

OP posts:

lovecat · 03/08/2011 14:27

Cottonreels, I think MisSal has got everything she needs to cut her bell tent to insert a flue for her stove, I just don't think she's gathered up the nerve to do it, yet (correct me if I'm wrong!) :)

Kingsroadie · 03/08/2011 14:28

Cotton - we too will have to cut our tent should we want to put a stove in.. will be clamouring for MisSal's help if she does it (and if we ever get round to it - def not for a while)

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 14:28

Right now I am officially a tent-buying bore, but looking at the exchange rate today, I think buying a Soupad 5m hybrid (zip on/off one right?) is actually cheaper than buying the 500UL (also zip one, I think) from Obelink. It is £439.99 fropm Soulpad and 499 euros from Obelink which, on my (well t'internet's) calculations, works out as £436 odd. Given that Soulpad deliver free, that seems to beat Obelink and saves all the hassle over whether or not they will actually send it.

I think my work here is done.

oranges123 · 03/08/2011 14:30

Sigh - I took so long to work all that I have missed loads of posts - I see Cottonreels is going for a different tent altogether. Hey ho.

mel2005 · 05/08/2011 15:48

i am getting this for my stove
www.campingsolutions.co.uk/camping-equipment/frontier-flashing-kit-for-tents/
it shows you here how to fit it
www.campingsolutions.co.uk/gallery/

mel2005 · 05/08/2011 15:49

i havent worked out what to bung it with when not in use but my DH (who is a builder)says he has loads of different ones in our yard so when we get it we will find one that fits

Kingsroadie · 08/08/2011 08:14

Mel - jealous! I want a stove... Mind you with the emperor I probably need2 to make any difference. Hmmm. Maybe next year

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