Easy to erect tent for 4-5 people

[TheSconeOfStone]

I'm not sure I'm going to find what I'm looking for. We currently have an Outwell Nevada L which is nearing the end of it's days. DH has joint and muscle pain (arthritis and possibly something like fibromyalgia). We're finding the pole bending bit of tent erection tricky as I can't manage it myself. We tried with a Vango airbeam tent last year but didn't get on with it, it bent and buckled in the August high winds in Cornwall last year, so sold it on.

I'm reluctant to try another air tent. Wondering if a steel frame tent such as an Outwell Montana would be easier to put up. We have a dinky 4 man lightweight tent for weekends but need somewhere with more living space for summer holidays. We have a van that sleeps 2 so living space is the priority for the tent. Two bedrooms for preference so I have a home for my porta potty.

Any ideas?? The obvious choice would be to pack in the camping but DH would see that as a sign of weakness.

I find my 5m bell tent very easy to erect on my own.

i second a bell tent, though tempted also by the touareg tent

Is weight an issue?

Pyramid tents are simple to erect, and have bedroom compartments, indoor and outdoor porch space, and are known by the Dutch as storm tents because they stand up to all sorts of weather.

But, as they are canvas they are heavier to lift in and out of the car etc.

Have a look at the Obelink website for the Hypercamp Palamos.

They have windows, unlike bell tents, and a full height door.

The Monty is a massive tent.

Can you go to a local tent specialist and look at tents set up, and maybe they would let you have a go with steel poles and see if you can manage them better?

I am sure there is a solution and you don't need to give up camping!

We have got a pyramid tent, a Dewaard Albatros. It is bloody heavy. I cannot lift the canvas alone either from standing or in and out of the car. It is completely invincible, but the poles are not light and putting them together is not a one man job or a job for the feeble. I am fairly strong and I wouldn't attempt it on my own.

We also have a tipi tent which is a one man job and up in less than ten minutes. You can get bedrooms for bell tents.

Weight isn't really an issue as we have the van. Love the Palamos. We're not keen on bell tents. It looks like a faff to put up an awning due to the shape. I can see that the separate room issue can be overcome by buying the inners.

The biggest issue with cotton is drying space though. Our garden isn't very big. With a plastic tent we just chuck it on the washing line on a nice day.

If you like the Montana 6 take a look at this video

Used to have one and this is the method I used to pitch it. Did have my dd to help out just to speed things up but drying it in the garden I'd put it up myself (5'4" woman).

Whatever you choose practice putting it up in the garden a couple of times before you go away, it will save time when you do it for real and are tired and stresed after travelling.

we have an airbeam tent. takes minutes to put up.

I have airbeam too, so quick to pitch. 1 person can do it on their own.

Palamos is lovely but takes an age to erect due to the eleventy thousand pegs

RedBugMug and CoffeeMad18 we tried an Airbeam and it was an expensive mistake. It was too squishy and flappy in the wind. Maybe it was because it was one of the cheaper Vango models.

ImperfectTents I don't think time taken to peg out would be an issue for a week long holiday. Our main problem is physical strength required to bend poles and pop them in place, and hold up the tent while starting pegging out.

Scone, it isn't the pegging out that I struggle with it is the weight of the canvas and the strength required to make the top triangle and then get it on the centre pole.

Poles are substantial steel, no bending required.

My tent is a different brand but they are probably all the same idea.

is a video of how to put mine up.

I have done it on my own before but have been a sweaty knackered mess at the end of it.

I mean bending the poles with fibreglass poled tents like our current one. That's what I'm looking for an alternative to.

Eurotents looking increasingly appealing.

Tunnel tents pretty much all use that bending as thats what provides teh structure - However I have found that more expensive tents with lightweight alloy poles are much much easier - polycotton is also much lighter weight than canvas... like these
uk.eurekaeurope.com/p/stony-pass-4-btc/tents_family?pp=136

We downsized from a Montana as whilst i could put it up myself it was very difficult as heavy/wide/big and clippin the steel poles in the generally mashed at least two of my fingers...actually we rarely used all the space
I much prefer polycotton to nylon as is very nearly as light but much more breathable...
Robens have started doing polycotton style bells/tipi's saw one last year and it took the new camper 15mins to put it up on her own...
they will also dry in minutes!
www.robens.de/en/Products/tents/outback/klondike

I have also had an Outwell polycotton - was going to recommend the trout lake - but not sure they do it anymore - straightforward to put up but heavier than the more modern Eureka/robens