Do I really want a bell tent?

[GinAndToast]

And if so, is there anything so magically special about SoulPads and the like compared to the much, much, much cheaper eBay ones from China?

DH is not a "camper" but he has been to pre erected tipis and yurts with proper beds in and tolerated it fairly admirably. I am thinking I could recreate the glamping feel for him, plus I loath the nylon material modern tents are made out of.

We already have a serious double camping bed, along with camping bunk beds. I have a feeling the teen will just pitch up her own tiny tent next to us though.

Are there any real disadvantages to buying a cheap bell tent and doing the glamping thing a bit cheaper?

I asked a similar q a while back and got lots of comments about the unmanageably heavy weight of a canvas tent ⛺️ which were rather off putting. My q wasn't about particular brands though

NotMyBag Thank you! I am reading past posts about them, although not come across yours yet.

I need to cultivate better searching skills I think...

I am pretty set on one, or something similar that's cotton/canvas. I have a 4wd and a trolley so the weight/size doesn't bother me so much now.

I just have light weight pop up tents at the moment from when I took the kids wild camping on my own, so from one extreme to the other! There's no way they would cope with the UK weather and I'm not sure why I brought them home with me from abroad 🙈 They'd collapse with a light drizzle I think.

I'd just rather spend £200 on one than £400+ so if anyone is on here who has bought a cheaper one from eBay, any disadvantages or major issues?

Drying them out takes longer than nylon. We have a soulpad we use when away for a few weeks abroad but don't use it in the UK unless the forecast was brilliant.

We've bought an inflatable decathlon tent which is nearly as quick to put up for rainy camping here.

It depends if you have the space really, we'd have to sling it over our dining room table and even then it'd be crumpled. If you have a nice big space to dry it indoors then I don't think you'd regret it.

We have a bell tent, which we use as we are reenactors, so need an authentic tent. Ours came from The Canvas Tent Shop. Takes DH 15 mins to put on on his own. Nice and spacious, and love camping in it. The downside, is of course, drying it. Happily I have a friend who has a carport, so it can be done there should it get really wet. (which has only happened once in the time we've had it!)

Pros and Cons of Canvas Tents:
Pro:
'Feel' and breathability - cool and warmth
Style
They last years and years (poly tents are degraded by UV light, aka sunshine)
Con:
Must be dried out with immense care to avoid mould and rot
weight
Pack size

Pros and Cons of Bell Tents
Pro
Simplicity and speed of pitching
Style

Cons
Sloping sides mean stooping in most of the inside
Low entrance door = stooping to go in and out
No 'porch' or living area (this can be achieved with a tarp over the door)
No windows - once door is shut you are in.

You could consider a Dutch Pyramid Tent, of which the Obelink Eldorado is a good example of a quality but budget product - still very quick to put up. Esvo or De Waard to very expensive pyramid tents.

Or a ridge tent.

This company has good quality , good value canvas tents Esprcially as the prices are in Euros - the conversion gives a good price. The Dutch are ace at canvas tents.

Thank you so much.

Definitely decided on a bell tent (or other canvas tent) and looking at links. Thank you ☺️

I guess my only question is has anyone on here bought a really cheap one and regretted it? (By really cheap I mean £200 rather than £400+)

I bit the bullet just last night after about 8 years of lusting after one, and many, many hours of research.

I was tempted by cheaper ones, but after a long and draining battle with Vango after our last tent purchase, I went in the end for the one with good customer after care, and bought a Soulpad - all the other good ones seemed to be out of stock of the type i wanted.

Camping Under the Stars almost got money and their's was a good deal cheaper.

Came across some horror stories of real cheap ones.

Avoid cheap ones, you get what you pay for like most things. They are worth every penny, just treat it like an extra child and give it somewhere dry and warm to live in the house when not in use.

Come to the bell tent campers group in FB. Loads of recommendations there :)

Moogdroob congratulations on your purchase. Which size did you go for? I am wavering over a 5m.

So you heard horror stories over cheaper ones. Mmmmm, guess it was too good to be true thinking they would be as good but cheaper 🤣

partyfops I don't look after my real children that well 😂 But yes, I know I need to look after it. I have spaces/a room to dry it in. But the rain all the week is ultra depressing.

Haint I will search the that group. Thank you!

i went for a 5m ZIG, and then at the last minute talked myself up to the G-XL one with a porch (which kind of spoils the look from the outside, but I figured it was a wiser choice as we live in Wales and its first outing will be to a festival). It arrived yesterday and nearly killed the poor delivery guy. It weighs almost as much as me... still, we have a trolley!

moogdroob I shall go have a look. A 5m zig is what I want! But a porch would be useful too...

When are you attempting to put it up? Are you having a practise before the festival?

Hoping to borrow my parents garden for a trial run on Sunday (it's too bit for ours due to the bloody trampoline and swings taking up all the lawn) and may leave it up for a few days to weather it... just hoping the weather will be kind enough to rain a bit and then give us a sunny window for it to dry, but we're off to Green Man in less than two weeks. Yikes!

We've got a Soul Pad. It has a sewn in ground sheet. It's 8 years old now and still going strong.
I like the fact that one person can put it up withing 10 minutes with ease. We've taken it camping in winter, we used a convector heater and used an electric pitch with a special camping extension plug.
Drying out can be a pain, but we have a large sun room where we lay it out to dry over several days (in Winter).
It has withstood gales in Wales, whilst all the other tents around us collpased. It only sustained one little bit of damage on the door, when the A-Frame got bounced out by the wind force.
And to top it all, on a sunny day whilst camping in woodland glade it looks epic!

I have a soul pad, had it 4 years and love it. You won't regret it. And they don't take that long to dry out- I've not even got the tiniest bit of mould. I could never go back to nylon now!