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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Aaarrghhh.... Help me decide! Sprayway or Bell tent?

201 replies

PerArduaAdNauseum · 09/05/2010 19:29

5m bell tent or Sprayway Valley 4 (polycotton)?

It's got to be cloth or canvas - can't stand any more billowy nylon in my face.

And I seem to be getting more and more claustrophobic - can't stand having the ceiling in my face (and I'm looking lustfully at double height airbeds now).

So - me, DH and DS (6). For use twice a year for a week or so, possibly the odd festival.

I love the ease of pitch of a belltent, but have never actually been in one since I was a brownie. How in your face are the walls when you're lying down? And if we had the double in the middle of the tent would there be space to curtain off DS to the side for privacy? We'd get one of the inners, as first trip of the year is always end of May with big temperature diff night/day. Does it still feel that luxurious? Have been thinking about a bell tent for about a year now...

However, we were in a sprayway today and it was rather lovely. Just the right size (assuming we can put DS in a puptent in a year or so) and nice and upright. But heavy (steel poles!) and looks like a bitch to erect. It was rather lovely though - and probably a lot easier to find a pitch for in the under-prepared private field we're headed for.

I don't know.

If we got the bell tent, we'd also take it to the local common for picnics. I make it sound like a dog don't I...

If we got the sprayway it would all be a lot neater...

Help me o wise and wonderful campers...

OP posts:
fireandlife · 12/05/2010 21:45

Here is the link, never done a link before so don't know if it's correct! I think for a decent sized one you're looking at at least £1600.00.
www.dewaardtenten.nl/tenten.html
I have no idea if the forged things will work but I hope so. How very exciting about your new tent. Let's hope the weather stays fine.

fireandlife · 12/05/2010 21:46

Here is the link, never done a link before so don't know if it's correct! I think for a decent sized one you're looking at at least £1600.00.
www.dewaardtenten.nl/tenten.html
I have no idea if the forged things will work but I hope so. How very exciting about your new tent. Let's hope the weather stays fine.

Original poster
PerArduaAdNauseum · 12/05/2010 21:52

Oh I likey...

But the order is placed Eek!

OP posts:
fireandlife · 12/05/2010 21:54

Your Toureag will be much better and so will my Bell Tent! So glad you've ordered - let us know when it arrives!

MisSalLaneous · 12/05/2010 22:09

Oh, fantastic! Can't wait to hear and see pics!

Slubberdegullion · 13/05/2010 09:28

yay. Do post first erection pics

Slubberdegullion · 13/05/2010 09:29

only on camping can you make a post like that and give it a at the end without the

DLeeds · 13/05/2010 12:08

I've been following this thread so closely and loving every minute!

PLEASE post pics and a review when you get your toureg.

I've been hankering after said tent for ages - and I am dithering between thinkng it is wildly impractical poncey glamping tent to being very practical indeed.

I also love deWaards (items of beauty), and cabanan pyramids.

Currently I've got the decathlon popups 4.1, 4.2 which are fantastic........but, but, but, canvas....

And then there's the drying - would a toureg dry on a radiator in extremis?

bramblebooks · 13/05/2010 16:15

Slubber, as a mother of boys I can tell you that I missed that opportunity at least 13 years ago!

However, I am allowed to snigger when saying Bell Tent .

Pokes chicken on a stick into slubber's garden as some sort of early dog waking deflection device.

DLeeds · 13/05/2010 18:13

I saw a dewaard in a campsite last year. And stroked it.

From the rear end they are a thing of beauty, all curved and like a sail.

And it had lovley orange and brown striped curtains. It really was gorgeous.

Slubberdegullion · 13/05/2010 19:01

and curtains too

DLeeds · 13/05/2010 20:32

slub, i lurk on here often, so I know you will approve. the dewaard was an altabross (i don't think made but perfect size). the dutch family bought there's for a few hundred pounds and were doing a uk tour.

it was 20 years old but beautiful. with a integral tarp and everything. the shape was beautiful. (although too many guys in practice),

I often have a fantasy shop on here

translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=kopen.marktplaats.nl/ps/caravans-en-kamperen/k amperen-tenten/de-waard/c318.html%3Fxl%3D1%26ds%3Dto%253A1%253Bl1%253A289%253Bl2%253A318%253Blt%253A zip%253Bsfds%253A%253Bpt%253A0%253Bmp%253Anumeric%253Bosi%253A2%26ppu%3D0%26q%3Dde%2520waard%26fromp s%3D1&ei=C1PsS_KRDaehsQbUxe3bAg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3F q%3Ddewaard%2Bmarktplaats%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

one of these days.....

fireandlife · 13/05/2010 20:40

Whenever I saw people from the Netherlands camping I always felt very envious of their stunning, amazingly organised set ups. Somehow things just seem to pop out of thier cars like Mary Poppins' bag and look beautiful without any glamp at all. One family in France last year had fairy lights, a guitar and a hammock and it didn't look glampy at all - just very clean and very relaxed and not at all plastic. Very De Waard!

DLeeds · 13/05/2010 20:42

sorry not sure if last link worked

DLeeds · 13/05/2010 20:46

this Dutch family made all the other tents on the campsite look shabby - including the belltent!

Original poster
PerArduaAdNauseum · 13/05/2010 22:26

It's in transit... 2 to 3 days...

OP posts:
bramblebooks · 13/05/2010 22:41

I'll have you know she's a rare breed (and bloody mouthy as top hen died last week and she wants the job). I could wrap her in bunting (seasoned).

Wondering if outwell do pop up chicken coops for camping.

Slubberdegullion · 14/05/2010 10:51

DLeeds they are lovely aren't they. There is something about the back end of a De Waard that ticks ALL my tent design boxes.
WHY have I fallen in love with the most expensive tents in the world? must be my natural exquisite taste

...and I bet they are full of sensible camping kit and not silly throws and candles

bramble I give it only a year or two before we see a pop up camping chicken coup!

DLeeds · 14/05/2010 11:06

ooo oooo oooo so stokable. And very sensible layout too. bedrooms, curtains, living area and canopy.

DLeeds · 14/05/2010 11:08

that would be strokable of course.

Looking forward to an account of the toureg. Like the two doors thing going on there.

Slubberdegullion · 14/05/2010 12:14

I also want a blow by blow account of the Touareg with pictures please.

bramblebooks · 14/05/2010 16:56

ok so you lot are BAD. Whilst buying chicken feed at the merchants (and fly spray, peck spray, stinky garlic powder, etc) I happened to wander into the shop next door (GO!) and now am the owner of a fantabulous set of nesting saucepans and a frying pan, all with folding handles, all fit in a padded zip up container.

I think that I would like a padded zip up container of my very own. Is there anyone nearby good at craft? (no tampons allowed unless as ear plugs).

Looking forwards to hearing about Touareg. He sounds mighty.

DLeeds · 14/05/2010 19:00

'wander in' - surely the camping gadget magnet sucked you in.

Nesting camping pans sound good.

touareg (spelled correctly) sounds better.

potential pop up chicken shed

bramblebooks · 14/05/2010 21:40

now to armour plate the dog bag to protect against foxes ...

surely touareg and Touareg sound the same?
(why does mn have no devlish emoticon?)

mollynp · 17/05/2010 15:16

if you get a tarp for your new tent, get the one from obelink (the cotton one). it's exactly the same but cheaper. got one for our new bell tent, which we are using in half term. bought it not for it's looks, but because i hate nylon tents and our wolf lake 7 (which we bought in the sale before they became stupidly expensive) takes an hour to put up, which is not good with 3 young kids to entertain at the same time!