Oh My! I NEED a Bell Tent!!

[wickedfairy]

I realise I am a little late to the party with this declaration, they look fabulous and I need one!

We have a 4man nylon-y tent at the moment, which does the job but with DC3 on the way, we would need to get a bigger one anyway. I figure we may as well get a fabuous one, while we are at it. So, sorry about all the questions....

So, is a 5m one the best for a family of 5? Are they really massive - can you get one pitched on an average pitch or would you need to book 2 pitches?

We normally go camping in France, this year at a place where they have "open" pitches that are not demarcated, so I would assume this is best? But we do also go to Wales as well.

Where is best to buy from - belltent.co.uk or soulpad.co.uk?

Thanking all you bell tent experts in advance!!

[ifeelloved]

ZIG ZIG ZIG ZIG!!

[pictish]

PIG PIG PIG PIG!!

Nah seriously though - there's pros and cons to both - just pick whatever your gut tells you to. Either way you're going to fall in love!

[pictish]

Can I just add that I partially picked PIG as well, because I am a wanker purist, and wanted a bell tent of an original design, rather than the modern flash upgrade version.

It doesn't really matter in the long run - they're all wonderful.

[Iambaboon]

Pocket says pig


Also the price diff between the obelink pig and the soulpad pig is about £100. So if I get it via Dutch rellies I can justify luxurious furnishings some camping stuff

The obelink pig works out at less than £300

But part of me says 'to he'll with it get the soulpad hybrid genie, even though with two very small children it's highly unlikely we'd be having a stove for many years

Oh my. Decisions aren't my strong point

[ifeelloved]

Don't want to confuse you but have you seen the emperor?! It doesn't look much on the website but in the flesh it's a thing of beauty. We saw it at Obelink and if it was zig we would have has it like a shot.

[wickedfairy]

I haven't got one yet - will prob do this summer in our current tent and then get a bell tent for next year.

Have decided on a 5m Soulpad one but as above, I can't decide whether to go ZIG or PIG!! Argghhh.

However, I am still tempted to say bugger it and just buy the bell tent now..... We can get away with another summer in the current tent before we'd have to upsize, but it would be rather lovely to buy the bell now and use it. Will speak to DH!!

Thing is, we need a new car this year - so that is first on the list....

[ifeelloved]

Buy it buy it buy it!,,

[Sutton7]

Hello

Maybe joining this thread a bit late but a I looking to buy a bell tent and probably going for the 5 metre from Souplpad but really don't know whether to go for PIG or ZIG, does anyone know if it makes a huge difference?

Also, worried that the 5 metre might be a bit too big!! We are totally new to camping, but cannot resist the look of bell tents!!

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Sutton7 - go for it. Not sure what PIG stands for but if it means the tent and groundsheet are separate, that is what we have. We have never had any problems with it and have been in some fairly ropey weather with muddy fields where you have to wade out with your trousers rolled up, but still no water came in via the sides.

I think the groundsheet for the ZIG is heavier which will add to overall weight but that's not really an issue if you are in a car (which you had better be with a bell tent).

I guess the ZIG does give you the most options and if you have the money, is probably a good buy but if you don't, thebasic version is fine too.

Also, on the size of the 5m, we started out with a 4m and it is plenty big but the 5m does give you some welcome extra space. Much will depend on how many of you there are. We were a couple with the 4m but upgraded to the 5m not long after DD came along. To be honest, if you can afford it, I don't think you will regret choosing the larger tent.

Whatever you decide, bell tents are brilliant so enjoy!

[nomazeena]

My new bell tent has arrived. Its in the hall and I can't lift it to get it as far as the garden!
Soul pad and karma were sold out so I had to spend more on bell tent uk. Ordered yesterday and came today, they've had a bit of bad press on mumsnet so I thought I'd say they've been great so far.
V excited, now how to move the b*** thing....

[Longagoandfaraway]

Hello Sutton7 - I am a recent convert to bell tents (see previous thread re 4m or 5m) and went for the 4m PIG from //www.bakerandbell.com for £275 which is fab, really good value and we recently tested it at a very rainy, windy and downright freezing festival with no problems or leaks. Website also has loads of other lovely camping gear, esp blankets and picnic ware. 4m plenty big enough for us (x4) and really easy to put up and take down and the PIG means you can roll sides up easily if the sun ever comes out! We love it!

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Nomazeena, the bad press about Bell tent uk on here (and many other camping-related websites) is not so much because of their customer service (although there may be some) but because of their restrictive agreement with Obelink in the Netherlands which prevents Obelink from shipping bell tents (and related accessories) to the UK. They then charge £100 or so more for the same tents in some cases. Personally, I have no problem with them charging whatever they like but trying to prevent people buying cheaper elsewhere in Europe in disregard of EU law is a different matter. Not much "camping with soul" in that approach.

[HappyAsASandboy]

Ok, I am also late to this party, but getting hooked by the beauty of these tents

I am trying to restrain myself from buying one and hoping for the best, but I am worried we'll stand out like a sore thumb and come back to find all our stuff has been nicked.

Do you worry about all your lovely beds/bedding/fairy lights going walkies because you're the 'luxury' people on site? Somehow I don't worry about it when I blend in with the other green nylon campers, but worry I'll feel like a target when my tent is the palace in the corner?

[pictish]

Your tent isn't the palace in the corner by any means.

Lots of tents on campsites are bigger and grander than the 5m bell tent. They are not as pretty, but they are far pricier and more likely to contain flash gear worth nicking.

If a thief broke into our tent, he'd have the pick of some rugs, some duvets and a lantern or two. The 5 mtre bell is a sizeable tent, but not the biggest draw on a campsite to the discerning looter.

Not that we've ever been broken into.

[HappyAsASandboy]

I see what you mean - it just looks like so much more than some rugs, duvets and lanterns when it's all made to look pretty!

I would make a rubbish thief - I'd steal the rugs and cushions and fairly lights because it looks pretty rather than the serious camping stuff that would fetch a profit. Though I am obviously not a thief and I wouldn't steal your rugs!

[SalomeD]

Pictish: I agree - take a look at the price of the big polycotton tunnel tents like Outwells (Bells seem cheap in comparison).

They're also likely to have all the electrical camping equipment in them too - most bell tent owners seem to favour a fairly back-to-basics approach which everything apart from bunting & cushions!!

[pictish]

There's not the room in a bell, for those grand set ups you see on campsites with all mod cons....they're the wrong shape for that stuff anyway....so I agree salome - ours has nothing in it worth taking.
Thieves are looking for electrical goods, money and phones....not flatweave rugs and hurricane lamps.

[Migsy1]

You can get an inner to form a bedroom compartment. They are a lot cheaper on Obelink.

[Sutton7]

Thank you Longagoandfaraway and MummyPigsFatTummy for your advice!! We finally decided to go for the 5 metre ZIG but just noticed on Soulpad they are out of stock until Aug 6 (planned to go away Aug 4!!) on belltent.co.uk they are so much more expensive. So now tryying to figure out again what to go for.....either the standard pegged in groundsheet or the sewn in ground sheet, the sewn in offers better reliability in very wet weather but does anyone know if it's difficult to clean and dry out one which has a sewn in ground sheet?

[poppyboo]

Sewn in would be very difficult to dry at home! Don't get it!!!!!!! I have the ZIG and as we can separate makes drying the tent/keeping canvas clean very easy. So if you can't get ZIG get the pegged one

[poppyboo]

...by the way we adore our 5m bell!

[pictish]

I would never go for a SIG. Heavy and hard to dry and clean.

It's ZIG or PIG. We have PIG - it's perfectly watertight and takes 10 minutes to do.

[Migsy1]

I have a PIG. It certainly is waterproof. It doesn't take long to tuck under and peg.

[pictish]

My thinking is this....the more basic an item is, the less there is to go wrong with it.
The ZIG looks nifty, but in my experience, zips break.

I chose the PIG for this reason and I'm glad I did. It's no bother.

[Sutton7]

Thank you everyone, that's really helpful, at least i now know not to go with the SIG....may as well opt for the PIG then as that's cheaper and in stock!! Briiliant...it all becomes clear!!