What tent for South of France?

[TheSconeOfStone]

I've posted recently about trying to choose a new tent. I'm looking for a 4 man tent that's easy to put up as DH has joint and muscle pain but doesn't want to give up on camping. We've got an Outwell Nevada L at the moment which has been great but we haven't gone further South than Brittany

We have a van so DCs will sleep in their with me and DH in the tent, will swap when DCs are older. We have an awning that attaches to the van so don't need that. As we have a van we could get a polycotton tent but cost and difficulty in putting it up puts me off. I like a tent with compartment/s so not looking for bell tent or similar (plus bad memories of Guide camp in a bell).

What tents have you used for hotter climates and how do you manage with heat? Food storage for example.

We've used both canvas (DeWaard Albatross) and Outwell (Maryland and Nevada M) in high summer in southish of France. Both got hot through the day but the canvas was still a lot cooler. At the end of the day you're not planning on being in it much apart from at night.
Get something that you could open both sides up (for a through draught) and definitely get a carpet or you'll be hopping through the tent. Definitely a canopy or some form of tarp rig up for some shade.
Why not get a canvas tarp for shade and just keep using the Nevada? Even if you take the end bedroom out and open up that end to let the air in! I like separate pods too. Our Dewaard has two rooms but it's a heavy beastie!

Sorry missed the food storage bit…
After one summer with a gas fridge that wasn't up to the high heat we shelled out for an expedition fridge (have a Land Rover) that runs off the car battery or electric hook up.
Could you hire a fridge on site?

CampingClaire new tent would be a replacement for the Nevada L as we have the van now so two people can sleep in there. we don't need a 6 man tent now. Plus DH really struggling to get the 6 man tent up.

The van awning is really flexible and we use it as a tarp between van and tent. It's poly, not canvas though. We've got a fridge and will use EHU so that's the cold stuff sorted. I'm thinking of veg, bread, biscuits etc getting hot and soggy.

I'm currently lusting after the Outwell Corvette air tent that opens up at the front and sides but wasn't sure if that would get too hot to sleep in at night. Carpet is a good plan. We've got away without one so far.

You'll probably be buying the bread and fruit from markets/camp shops daily anyway so I wouldn't worry about it. We keep the cookies in the fridge too but in a tupperware box so keep them crisp…not that they last long! I put fruit in a bowl in the shade but it never lasts long before it gets eaten either…weird how everyone eats more fruit on holiday than they do at home!
An air tent probably is the best plan for you. The carpet is a necessity I'd say or else some really large picnic rugs!!
I'd take some cotton sheets too rather than just sleeping bags. I've never been too hot to sleep in either poly or canvas but never needed to snuggle into my bag either…you just want something over you really.
Where are you going?

CampingClaire your posts have been really helpful thank you. Not going South this year sadly. In Northern France again but a big further than last year. Testing how far we can drive with the DC. I'd like to go to the Languedoc coast next year for a week with 2/3 days stop off there and back. We're on the lookout for a 4 man tent now and want to make sure it meets our needs in the future.

We generally camp around the middle…stayed outside Nimes two summers ago and it was ROASTING! The Cantal area is good as you get hot days but being in the hills the nights are cooler.
Enjoy…it'll be the West Coast of Scotland for us this year…work is now camping based so high season for us!!