Emperor bell tent or standard bell tent?

[SlipperyLizard]

Hi everyone

We’re planning to buy our first bell tent, having just sold our trailer tent. We’re a family of 4 plus dog. We like a lot of space so have been looking at the emperor bell tents here:

www.boutiquecamping.com/tents-c1/star-emperor-bell-tent-p1152/s2097?utm_medium=organic&utm_term=boutique-camping-tents-star-emperor-bell-tent-bc640-esb-6m-sd-ss-pc-19&utm_campaign=froogle&wid=1&dfw_tracker=13042-BC640/ESB/6M/SD/SS/PC/19&gclid=CjwKCAjw67XpBRBqEiwA5RCocVAQxIHv3sxPHd8dI4lEj20Qesc3ZpBvoDrbPFcXxr6ICl6pTSZtDxoC6HgQAvD_BwE

www.boutiquecamping.com/tents-c1/6m-luna-emperor-sandstone-p1333

The main disadvantage compared to a standard bell tent seems to be they are slightly harder to put up, having 2 poles, and so probably can’t be put up by one person. Reality is, it is unlikely one of us would take the kids by ourselves anyway.

But does anyone have one of these - are they reasonably easy for two people to put up? We’ve sold the trailer tent as it was a pain to put up, we don’t want to switch it for something just as painful!

We originally wanted a lotus bell, and still love the look/ease of them, but they’re twice the price and we’re trying to be sensible.

All thoughts welcome!

I haven’t got one, but I have got a smaller canvas pyramid tent and the main time involved in pitching is pegging out, not the poles.

But weight of an Emporer could be an issue for one person to manage, in and out if the car?

I can see loads of advantages with an Emporer over a standard Bell, chiefly more standing height in relation to tent size.

I have been looking at the Touareg tents on the Quest site.

Yeah, we’ve looked at the Touareg too - wish there was somewhere I could see them all up!

The weight out of the car wouldn’t really be an issue, it would only be my husband who would be foolish enough to go camping solo!

I guess the pegging our is a ball ache no matter what tent!

This company have these tents on display at Horsham, I think (I like the Airbeam Yurt ! ) www.campingworld.co.uk/en/Tipi-Tents-Tipi-Tents/pg-38-49.aspx?StaySecure=true

Cross Camping near Cambridge had a display including Emperor and Touareg tents but I don't know if they still have it up.

My Obelink Hypercamp canvas tent has a huge number of pegs - more than Bell tents, and more than other pyramid tents such as those by Evso so I think looking at the number of pegs could be an issue.

Unfortunately we’re a long way from Horsham and Cambridge!

Any tent will be easier than a trailer tent in my experience. My top tip would be to look up YouTube videos on erecting your preferred tent to see if it's manageable. If there are no videos then don't buy the tent.

Thanks, we went with the star emperor bell tent in the end, took 30 minutes to put up even with the usual faffing about with instructions/finding pegs/dogs and kids getting in the way.

Confident we can reduce that with practice, and very pleased with the feel of the space inside. Although that’s before it is full of camping gear!

Sounds fabulous!

Can't help as I have a normal bell, but popped on to say that I would really like a Lous Belle as well!