Is it just me who doesn't 'get' bell tents?

[millimat]

I just can't see the appeal? Why go for just one open room?

[MinimalistMommi]

scone you can, but it will be heavy when you crawl in with pole and lift that as the canvas is heavy but totally do-able.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Yes Scone - there is a woman on UK campsite who posts regularly about her bell tents (very much in the plural) and I think she has a labrador that she camps with. So it is done.

Her blog is here btw: bellsandlabs.blogspot.co.uk/p/ticino-cream-ridge-tent.html

[NonnyMuss]

We take our dog, used to take his cage when he used to be cage trained but now we just pop his bed down and he completely ignores it and snuggles up with whoever he feels like snuggling up to.

[dancinglife]

We've got 2 bell tents - a 4m and a 3m - and would never go back to nylon now.

We put the kids and clobber in the 4m bell (which takes me 15 mins to put up even if on my own) and dh and I go in the 3m bell on double matt with duvet.

Also have huge canvas sheet which hooks onto the tent-opening pole spike and makes a canopy over the table - that's our adult chill out space in the evening sitting round the fire bowl (logs or BBQ fuel) - we cook on it too and boil up kettles for hotwater bottles and cocoa.
Lots of battery fairy lights and storm lamps (no horrible cold white camping lamps...). plus the essential thermal coffee press for the morning...
We have a fab time and have noticed out tents do not blow away in high winds like others do (we put the awning down though!).

We have an ordinary family car and roof box and fit it all into that.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Wow dancinglife. Your set up sounds fab. What a brilliant idea to have a separate bell for the children (might have to consider that once DD is old enough.

[hz]

MummyPigs, Oh my word - that 'Bell and Labs' woman sure does have a LOT of tents!

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

She does, doesn't she? I am open mouthed at some of the things she has made though - the detail in the Gruffalo tent is amazing. DD would love it (sadly for her, I have trouble sewing on a button, so I don't think I shall be showing her the pictures).

[pictish]

The new chandelier has arrived!

[TheABC]

Mmmmmnnn...nice one, dancinglife. I may have to persuade DH to get a
canopy for our next trip. Cocoa mugs at ready! Can you imagine what it would be like if there was a MN camping weekend?

[shirazplease]

Which chandelier did you go for Pictish?

[pictish]

this one

[shirazplease]

Swooooon!

[dancinglife]

ABC - we got ours from Karma Canvas 3 years ago - its still going strong.

I'm after a Frontier Stove now - next on the list!

[VivaLeBeaver]

It has one pole and is therefore the easiest tent I've ever had to put up. I camp with dd, no dh, and was fed up with struggling with Outwell tunnel tents.

[pictish]

We're off on Monday for a week - the schools break up here on Friday.
We haven't had the bell out this year yet! Can't wait!
Piece of piss to put up.

I wish I could afford some of those roll up beds...the quilted type affairs. Even if I could afford them, we'd never fit them in the car. They look well comfy.

[zanz1bar]

Scone I camp with Bell tent , family x5 and very muddy springer fine, but i do have a seperate ground sheet, easier to keep clean and never had a problem with floods and bugs.

It is the easiest tent to put up EVER.

[millimat]

Pictish - you break up this week?! We have 4 weeks left! When do they go back?

[SconeInSixtySeconds]

Are you in NI Pictish? My nephews break up this week over there.

Right. I am going to start saving my pennies for the bell tent. It will need to be big enough for me, dc aged 9 and 7 and two Labradors. And possibly the chicken that thinks it is a dog.

I quite like the marmitey lotus tent on the blog ^^

[MinimalistMommi]

You need a 5 mm then
Remember it is a pain to dry and it is heavy but it is worth it!

[TheRealMBJ]

Just saw this convo

I HATED (I mean HATED) camping as a child and as a student in crappy, cold nylon tents. And when we got married I point blank refused to ever go camping with DH. However, 2 kids and a mortgage later, we cannot afford hotel holidays, and rather than spend every holiday with my ILs, agreed to camping but only if I could be reasonably comfortable.

I LOVE our 5m Souldpad. We've only done a couple of weekends (going again this weekend) and will do a week in Devon/Cornwall and 2 in France later in the year.


Am still building up our glamping supplies, but getting there slowly.

Where can I get one of those awnings? They look like just what I need.

[shirazplease]

tarp

Is this what you're after?

[TheRealMBJ]

Yes, thank you

[TheRealMBJ]

That's a good price, I'm on my phone so struggling to see. Do they ship the tarp to the UK?

[shirazplease]

Yep they do. Think postage was only about ?7 too.

I believe it's the same as the malu tarp on the Belltent site?

[SalomeD]

£48 + £8 postage on their UK site

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tent-canopies-tarps/tarp-beige-tc.html?category_params=s_company%3D4%26category_id%3D4187%26page%3D2