tell me whether to press the 'buy' button in my situation (bell tent related)

[alabasterangel]

I am procrastinating..... I've talked about this before. We have camped a bit, we have a nylon 6 berth but there is lots about it I don't like. I can do a night, or two, but the novelty is wearing thin.

I want a 5m belltent. I had a voucher from work for long service but none of the companies who I want to buy from are able to use the voucher provided. I could however use the voucher for new camping beds (argos is covered) and a tealight chandelier (notonthehighstreet is also covered) and any other extras which would really be on my indulgent wishlist.

However, DH has been made redundant. I am confident he will find work, we are only on week 3 of this happening, and we have 10k in the bank as a result. I am being overly cautious about spending a single penny, but the kids have been told that their summer holiday is cancelled because of DH's situation (we had planned a 2 week motorhome hire) and we are all feeling throughly shit about the situation with 6 long weeks in front of us with nothing fun to look forward to.

Would I be stupid to buy the tent? I want to give the kids some happy memories.... I want a pleasant summer. We have crappy neighbours which I need to escape from too, as often as we possibly can. We were due to move house but pulled out because of this situation.

What would you do?

I would give the kids some happy memories in the nylon tent. They don't care how glam your camp is. You're right to want to spend this money that is a present for you on a present for you (which is what a bell tent would be) but maybe save the bell tent for when you know DH has definitely got work if you can't use the vouchers for it.

Could you buy something really practical and necessary with the vouchers "on account" so yo can put an equal amount against a bell tent when the time comes?

Firstly, what do you dislike so much about the nylon tent? Because I do think you need to get to grips with whether you are not all that keen on camping full stop- if that is the case then it doesn't matter how much you spend on any tent because you will still be camping and will still not enjoy it.

FWIW I would buy the tent as a priority the minute DH actually started in a new job. In the meantime the nylon tent will do just fine as far as your kids are concerned. You could get over your dislike with copious amounts of wine the knowledge that it's that or no holiday this year.

Alternatively I suppose you could buy it, use it for your holiday then sell it on- bell tents are selling for almost their market value on eBay ATM. Also check whether your vouchers can be used at Cotswold Outdoors as they are now a SoulPad stockist :)

I was going to ask specifically what it is you don't like about the nylon tent. Just cause that would assist in us giving you more useful opinions on your options.

One consideration is once you have the bell tent, all of your existing camping gear might all of a sudden take on a decidedly dated, prosaic air in comparison. Bell tents are essentially a blank canvas for copious accessorisation to my mind. In that situation I'd become frustrated that I had this lovely new toy but I couldn't play with it and buy it presents as I'd like...

I would take your kids for a camping trip in the nylon tent, then decide whether you treat yourselves to the new bell tent once your DH has a job.

We have a 5m bell tent and a more recently bought a nylon Vango (Palena DLX 600, I think). It is a tunnel tent with steel poles and about 4m by 6m without the (similar sized awning). I mention this so you can see where I am coming from.

I love my bell tent with all my heart and soul and we have camped in bells (DH and I and subsequently with DD) since 2007 - our first one was a 4m. It is lovely to be able to glamp them up - I have the chandelier, a table for the central pole, fairy lights, bunting - the lot. But it is a bit of a money pit although a fun one.

The thing is, the bell tent does have disadvantages when compared to other kinds of family tents, particualrly on a longer term sort of holiday - lack of windows, lack of useable space at the sides because of the slope, and lack of separation between sleeping and living areas (unless you get an inner tent and that cuts of a lot of the feeling of space inside the bell which is one of its advatages (IMO, at any rate)).

That said, if you want one you want one (and I am not selling mine any time soon).

I don't love the practical Vango in the same way but we took it to France this year and we just glamped it up anyway - bunting, fairy lights, tablecloth on the camping table, pretty picnic rugs instead of grey carpet, colourful blankets, duvet and proper pillows etc etc.

The point is maybe you could buy yourself a few pretty glamping accessories and tart up your current tent this year (and maybe get the kids involved too - sewing bunting/cushion covers maybe?) and then prioritise the bell for when your financial situation is better as TheFantasticMrsFox says. That way, you could still have a good holiday but without worrying about a large investment you have made at a time when it might not be the best thing to do, and the glamping accessories you make/buy now will still be useful for the bell tent.

Hi. I should add firstly that DHs income (or lack of it!) isn't the only income, I work full time too, do we are not without any money coming in its just half of what it used to be....

What I don't like? Its dark purple, and inside the tent is really dark and really hot. It has two supposed 2 man bedrooms one to each side, and a central area which has the footprint of our double air bed. There is no way you can get two people in each of the bedrooms so we end up with DS one side, dd the other, and us in the middle. We have to crawl over each other to get in and out and can't set our bed up till DCs are in theirs then there is no room for anything else at all, things have to be kept in the boot or shoved to one tiny corner. Its unbearably hot too, I literally cannot wait it get out of there in the morning. The only full head height is the very very centre, so I end up stooping and kneeling. Anything more than a night is hard work, and the last time we did it I felt decidedly claustrophobic. Its 10 years old and was mine for festivals, so it's been put to good use. Its a bit like this but probably more dated www.iosss.com/wholesale/review.asp?prod=15967

I just want to be able to stand up, stretch even! Be able to have enough floor space for designated storage (boxes for shoes, toys, clothes, dirty laundry) even if its just in bags or piles!

In your defence - that does sound like a bitch of a tent!

That's a toughie then. In that case I would be tempted to get the bell if you know that that is the tent you want long term. The other option is to buy a cheap interim family tent (there are lots of sales on at the moment) and then flog it on Ebay next year or whenever you are ready to upgrade to the bell.

Quechua pop ups like this: www.decathlon.co.uk/seconds-family-42-xl-tent-family-tent-id_8245573.html tend to hold their value quite well but may not be much of an improvement on what you have.

Alternatively, this looks good: www.decathlon.co.uk/avington-600-tent-id_8315738.html but is still quite expensive as an interim tent maybe (it is available in stores btw though not online).

Given what you say though, maybe just go for the bell and be done with it, but rather than glamping the bell this year, use your vouchers to set off its cost by spending them on practical things you need like specialmagiclady suggests

Planned holiday cancelled, been using small inadequate tent for 10 years, some money in the bank and one of you working full time, heart set on a better tent and camping is the main holiday option. It looks like a no brainier to me.
Get the tent of your dreams, spend the vouchers on useful essentials as well as the odd glamping luxury to alleviate any guilt. you are clearly a camper so the tent is an investment that should be a haven for years to come.
I hope DH gets employment soon and that you and your DCs have a great summer

Do let us know what you decide to do...and a link to the desired tent?
Naturally nosy would be my other nickname if I had one

thank you all. That first link does look like what I've already tolerated. The second is good, but if I'm spending the £250 I might as well go 'all the way'. We have all the kit, although I would prefer camp beds to air beds and I would like a kitchen unity thingy as I get fed up trying to make breakfast on my knees! We've got fold up chairs, cool boxes, stove, lanterns, water carriers, etc etc. I could quite easily get my luxury items (kitchen, camp beds, pop up storage, even solar lights and bloody cushions!) with my work voucher as it can be spent at Argos which I know isn't the best but it won't be an outlay for me. The only thing to buy is the tent itself. I did quite a bit of camping pre dc (in said tent ) but only 3 times with dc but they love it. DH is just as keen. He trekked round the world for 18 months when he was younger so my version of camping is luxury to him!! I'll link to the desired one.... Hang on..,,

www.belltent.co.uk/bell_tent_uk/bell_tents/5_metre_standard_bell_tent_with_seperate_groundsheet

Hmm. I have heard better things about Soulpad's service than Belltent 's and the tents are a wee bit cheaper I think but they are out of stock until August which is a shame.

Happy bell tenting!

Oooh, nice!
Might get one meself....
Mmmm
(DH would go mad, we already have a selection of tents for all occasions)

I would go for it too for the following reasons...

You're seasoned campers so you know what you want in a tent.
You don't need to buy extra stuff yet.
It will still be a cheap holiday for years to come.
The alternative is no holiday or one in a tent that frustrates you.
You're optimistic about future employment.
It's an asset that you can easily sell for near the purchase price if you need to.

I have small camper van which required an awning if we use it for more than a night as we have to unload it to use it. We now want a bigger one.
My experience of camping is that it's never going to be as comfy and cosy and easy no matter what your set up is.
We get better at it each time we improve things.
We are off tomorrow for three and a half weeks and this years additions are a gazebo and some fairy lights but I still know my dreams of us all sitting there like an advert for camping will be far from the truth.
That said the bell tent is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things so I'd say go for it.

my dreams of us all sitting there like an advert for camping will be far from the truth.

Haha we do have a wry chuckle at the latest M&S ad....

I love my 5m bell tent and wouldn't go camping in a nylon tent unless it was a backpacking tent for abroad. Nylon tents get super hot inside and just don't have the same feeling as being inside a bell tent. The downside of the bell tent is that it is heavy to air hot when we get hope and really huge so a bit of a faff to get it out away again. Pitching it is a 15-20 min dream though!

Mine is a Soulpad by the way.

Soulpad are out of stock..... Hence belltent.co.uk.....

Just to throw a spanner in the works, someone sent me this link yesterday: am salivating, literally salivating

*air dry
*get home
Sorry about appalling typos!

Beware of Obelink! That site should come with a warning.

It sounds like you've though long and hard about it OP - I'd certainly say camping is much more enjoyable in an airy, spacious tent. I have a bell tent and a 6 berth nylon thingy - I love my bell :) but most importantly with both is the space :)

Hmmm..... Still procrastinating. Air drying isn't an issue. We have a tiny garden but our nice neighbours have a huge one and have said they would oblige. Alternatively we have a really deep stairwell, 15ft drop with a really really long bannister rail (15ft long?). Duvets and clothes dry in no time over it, so I think if we draped it indoors for a while it would dry. Tis the only advantage of an otherwise draughty Victorian house!

As for obelink, I want all the separate little tents - toilets, kitchens?? Far too much luxury!!!

Just waitng till my pay day. If my OT is as much as I hoped then I'm in there!!

Wow that site is amazing. We are off at 5am tomorrow or I'd have treated us to a new awning!!
I'm excited this year as I've improved my little set up so much. We have comfy seats and fairy lights for the awning
I'm so excited, ill never sleep.

In your shoes I would be very tempted by the Obelink Palamos 6. The standing up space spreads across more of the tent, and there are pods for the kids.

Less of the vibe that bell tents have, but more practical, I suspect, ESP in wet weather when you can sit under that porch