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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

Badgering DH for a polycotton tent....are they as good as they seem?

25 replies

nobodysfool · 15/04/2013 09:13

We have a Khyam Montreal tunnel tent and we love the size and layout but we would like to start camping abroad.
I know our tent got VERY hot inside last year and we were only in Norfolk!I have read that polycotton tents are much cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold.
We like lots of living space and need 3 bedrooms, any suggestions to which tents are fab?
Have been eyeing up the Outwell wolf lake 7 but it's very pricey Shock

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Kahlua4me · 15/04/2013 11:45

We have a Bearlake and I love it! It is perfect for us and have fou d it to be worth the money. We have had ours a long time and used it both here and France. Kept us warm in England and cool in France so ideal. Also it is quiet when the wind is howling.

Takes about 40 minutes to put up so not too bad. We take a pop up tent to France too, for overnight stops.

However it is a huge and heavy pack size so you need plenty of space in your car. We have a landrover defender 110 so can easily fit it in with everything else. as long as you have the car space I would recommend.

Original poster
nobodysfool · 15/04/2013 11:48

Kahlua4me- thanks for your reply.Ill look into the bearlake.We have an estate, trailer and roof box so plenty of space Grin

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Original poster
nobodysfool · 15/04/2013 11:50

Ah shame it only has 2 bedrooms...really need 3.

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Kahlua4me · 15/04/2013 11:58

Sorry I missed that bit! It would be worth looking at the Wolflake as the size is good for you. Also the porch is better on the Wolflake as it comes right to the ground so more cover.

Can you go somewhere to see it up? We did that and they also showed us the pack size before we bought it.

They are fantastic tents and you won't regret it. My dh is very happy with ours!

Lucycat · 15/04/2013 17:35

How about a cotton tent from the Netherlands like the Superieur 6

Not so much living space but we put a tarp over to create shade on our Palamos - depends if you are planning on camping in the UK where sun is a rareity or abroad where it's more the norm.

Otherworld · 16/04/2013 19:27

We have just upgraded our Hi Gear Kalahari 10 polyester tent for a Kampa Studland 8 in polycotton for the same reason.

First outing is in about six weeks. V excited.

hettie · 16/04/2013 22:27

we have polycotton tunnel tent by robens (they don't make it anymore). I'm not madly convinced it's hugely warmer/cooler.... but we've had it for ages so maybe I'm just used to it. However, I do think polycotton is just better. Some how seems more rigid, it's stood up to terrible weather and doesn't flap about in the wind....

3rdnparty · 17/04/2013 10:48

we have a bearlake as well the 4 as only 3 of us - I love it...last summer when it was hot (that one week of july Grin all the kids were just sitting inside doing lego/reading etc ) in our tent ..couldn't walk into the nylon ones - we bought as do longish 10-14night camps in france - in
In the morning its comfortable to lounge around in and I def sleep better- has done serious rain/wind in dorset as well no problem

Downside is takes us ages to put up - thats mainly the zig/hundreds of pegs though....so we only use for week+ camps and I am paranoid abut rain when we pack up! (though dh says its the carpet and all my extra stuff that adds the time)

I am now trying to find a cotton weekend tent as hate the nylon thing so much Grin once you've switched hard to go back- these guys have some good looking cotton tents

www.obelink.co.uk/tents.html

fossil971 · 17/04/2013 23:03

The Wolf Lake 5 is a brilliant tent. I have put a picture on my profile as I'm so nostalgic for getting it out again. It is really bulky though, we struggled to get all our stuff into/onto a big estate car. It's big and heavy to put up - but brilliant once it's done.

It's nice to camp in. It's not flappy in the wind like a poly tent and nicely finished with lots of windows. We also have a less refined tent for weekends, but for longer trips a comfortable tent is brilliant.

Why do you need 3 bedrooms? How many of you are there?

fossil971 · 17/04/2013 23:05

I mean the Wolf Lake 7 would be brilliant too but even bigger/heavier, that's all. We have stacks of room in the 5 berth but then it's us and 2 dc of the same gender. We are used to small tent camping too!

Original poster
nobodysfool · 18/04/2013 17:30

Thanks for all the fab replies!
I will have a look into the tents recommended by you all.
I would prefer 3 beds even though we only have 2 dc's but they prefer their own rooms.

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fossil971 · 18/04/2013 19:11

Have they quite understood the point of camping? Grin
good luck!

Original poster
nobodysfool · 18/04/2013 19:19

Fossil- Grin what can I say they like their own space at bedtime.

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lisad123everybodydancenow · 20/04/2013 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aladdinsane · 20/04/2013 21:08

We have a trailer tent but - sad do that I am - I love looking at tent displays
We were looking on probably the only hot day last summer. It was so hot we couldn't bear to stay in any of the tents until we walked into a poly cotton one
It was heaven and lightweight too
If we go back to a tent that's what we'll get

aladdinsane · 20/04/2013 21:09

Saddo - damn predictive typing

Original poster
nobodysfool · 21/04/2013 08:18

lisad123everybodydancenow- I love the Montana but doesnt it have 2 bedrooms?I need 3 sadly.

aladdinsane - glad to hear they really do make a difference when it comes to the heat .

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Otherworld · 21/04/2013 08:24

We put our new tent up yesterday and I'm really really pleased with it. Like 3rdnparty said up thread the zip in ground sheet took a load of time. We managed to get it down and back in the bag in 55 mins though which I'm pleased with.

Original poster
nobodysfool · 21/04/2013 15:00

Otherworld- we have just come back from viewing a Studland 8. Its the same size as the one we have at the moment so size wise its great. Did you find it cooler?Was a little concerned that the windows didnt have the mesh cover all over.

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Otherworld · 23/04/2013 09:43

I did find it cooler and also just a much nicer tent to be in than our old Hi Gear Kalahari. The light is much nicer. Always felt odd coming out of our old tent as it is very blue and it took a while for my eyes to adjust.

It also felt very solid. The solid metal poles really make a difference.

Only downside is its far heavier and far larger so takes up a lot of space in the car. Doesn't help that we also have a slightly smaller car than the last time we went camping. For our first trip we are planning to take two cars!

Apronlady · 28/04/2013 22:42

We are literally just back from 6 nights in our brand new Kampa Studland 8 Classic (polycotton)

It's our first family tent, and it was a very very windy and cold trip (north of scotland)

It did seem quite airy (good in summer, not so great in spring/autumn.) and it did seem to keep the light ( and presumably heat) out reasonably well in the sleeping pods. (Toddlers slept to 8.30, which is previously unheard of)

The tent stood up brilliantly in the wind and was a LOT less noisy than the nylon one we borrowed last time we went camping. It was quite rigid and felt safe even in the wind, although consider getting the vestibule as when the wind changed direction the front section was at risk of becoming a windsock.

You can also choose to put up 2, 3 or 4 bedroom pods, and it is very very spacious. I love the layout too, especially good with kids as at night you can sit quite far away from the sleeping pods.

Downsides: It is pricey but we found it half price online. It needs 2 people to put up. It is more difficult if it is windy when you put it up or down, but i suppose that is the same with any tent. Overall a great buy and I'm glad we spent the extra to get the polycotton version .

Hope that helps.

Apronlady · 28/04/2013 22:50

oh, and I meant to say, we are already considering a modification...
because the mesh at the top of the windows lets in quite a lot of air/wind if the window cover panels (not sure technical term , but the fabric part,) is unzipped, we are going to sew some fabric bits the right size that we can velcro on the outside of the mesh panel, to make the panel a bit less breezy when the window "curtain" is unzipped/open during the day. Again, thought, that is probably only necessary when you are camping in scotland Wink

Original poster
nobodysfool · 29/04/2013 21:03

Thanks Apronlady for taking the time to fill me in. Sounds like a superb tent ! Would self adhesive velcro help the window problem.I had to attach it to the other door way in out Khyam Montreal and it has worked a treat.

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Apronlady · 29/04/2013 22:11

Yes I think that would work, thanks will try!

Cakehole19th · 16/06/2017 18:53

Hi, we are considering the Kampa studland classic 8 air tent, polycotton. Does anyone have experience of camping in one and how does it compare with a polyester tent. Also has anyone had any problems with pitching it due to its size? Thanks

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