Bell tent enthusiasts....

[FessaEst]

Sorry, sorry, I know it's probable all been asked before! I am a terrible camping wannabe, and really, really like the look of bell tents. Really like the idea of having it up in the garden as a summer shade spot for DD to sit and play under, as well as taking it away with us. So, would you mind helping me with these questions:

1. Is there any difference between bog-standard bell tents and soulpad? Belltent & Soulpad seem to be selling exactly the same products at exactly the same prices - is there a difference?

2. If we go the whole hog and go for the 5m, does it ever seem too big? I tried walking it out in the garden and it seemed very large, but 4m didn't seem much smaller. Do campsites consider these tents oversized?

3. We currently have an ancient Khyam sherpa 4, should I just stick with it and replace the poles & see if this bell tent yearning passes? Does anyone use it in the garden/park, thus justifying the cost a bit more?!!

I know what I want you all to say....

probably

I love my new bell tent, a 4m one from Obelink in Holland (they don't sell online to the UK, unfortunately). It was fantastic and felt like a mansion in there!

Belltent and Soulpad very same-ish, imo. I think there are small differences in the option with the separate groundsheet - I think Soulpad's can peg trough or something. I cannot imagine in real life it makes any difference. I've bought from Soulpad before (a hammock), and prefer them for hammocks etc as slightly cheaper than Belltent.

There are better quality bells, e.g. from Albion canvas, but they are of course heavier and more expensive. I've got the 285g one which is the same as the Belltent one, and it's perfect for our situation.

We have a 5m Soulpad. It is lovely and certainly doesn't ever feel too big, believe there are bigger (and less gorgeous!) tents out there. We do enjoy the space and could probably live with the 4m one but the bigger one is fabulous!

We had a 4m one but tbh it got VERY hot under it and the garden idea was therefore not an excellent success!

Mind you it had a sewn in groundsheet so maybe rolling the sides up would have helped.

Thanks for all the replies, think I am talking DH round - yippeeeee! Am wondering whether to start with the 4m one and if and when our family grows, sell and go bigger. I imagine they must sell on well given how popular they are?! I quite like the soulpad option for a quarter rather than half inner.....

Just thinking of ways to drive down the "price per use" Riven!

If you can stretch to it I would recommend getting the 5m one (with roll up sides, naturally). It is especially useful for tall people and once we have our travel cot, double bed, sheepskin rugs, large cushions etc in it it really doesn't feel that huge!
It is nice to be able to 'host' everyone on a wet afternoon, without all your bed things or clothes being trampled on. But then we are a ridiculously messy family (is a constant battle on holiday!) so perhaps tidier people need less space.

FessaEst, I didn't know this, but see this thread re differences experienced in service between the two companies.

On size - I think if you want an inner, go for a 5m one definitely. We don't want an inner and the 4m one lovely, but we were inside a 5m tent with an inner once, and it felt nice, but definitely not too big. Having an inner makes a surprisingly big difference to the feeling of space.

Thanks MisSal - I had seen that and it just reinforced my initial thoughts!

Thanks Orange, I was trying to make it cheaper, but can see myself being annoyed in the future that I didn't just go that extra bit and be done with it! Do you ever find campsites are at all at its size?

No one has ever commented on the size negatively yet, but we do tend to go to quite small chilled out, build your own fire type places. To be honest some of the frame tents look bigger (and take loads longer to put up!).

The bunting can cause comment though...!