You have to spilt your tents into two categories don't you ?
There's nylon tents, and cotton tents.
Nylon tents are bought for several reasons, lighter, cheaper (mostly), and because you didn't know any better.
Then there's COTTON These are bought by people ( like fostermum ) who know what they are doing. The only restriction to the amount of tents we should own, is having the money to buy them, and the space to store them. I've now got so many (too many ) that I have no money left to go camping in them. I think this puts me in the collector catagory. Cotton/Canvas tents, I think I now have seven, but it could be more. Nylon, I can't really remember, probably more than a dozen, and I've lost my note book with them all listed. I mainly buy them, because I don't have one in that style.
To sum up, I have too many nlyon tents, and not enough Canvas/Cotton ones. I mean, I don't even have a Cotton Tipi ( yet )
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
Quote: Originally posted by Littleskink on 11/7/2010
I consider myself a sensible sort of chap but I still have three tents, which doesnt seem so many compared to many on this forum. But my 'normal' friends think more than one is excessive
I have to agree with your friends on this - why would anyone want more than one tent? Ok, if you have teenage kids who don't want to be in with mum and dad any longer then a second tent makes sense, but anything over that is, to my mind, both excessive and an expensive obsession. And I don't think the number of tents you have indicates the type of camper you are - it probably, in many cases, means either you have more money than sense, or a huge loft to store them all in!
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
You have to spilt your tents into two categories don't you ?
There's nylon tents, and cotton tents.
Nylon tents are bought for several reasons, lighter, cheaper (mostly), and because you didn't know any better.
Then there's COTTON These are bought by people ( like fostermum ) who know what they are doing. The only restriction to the amount of tents we should own, is having the money to buy them, and the space to store them. I've now got so many (too many ) that I have no money left to go camping in them. I think this puts me in the collector catagory. Cotton/Canvas tents, I think I now have seven, but it could be more. Nylon, I can't really remember, probably more than a dozen, and I've lost my note book with them all listed. I mainly buy them, because I don't have one in that style.
To sum up, I have too many nlyon tents, and not enough Canvas/Cotton ones. I mean, I don't even have a Cotton Tipi ( yet )
Spot on raf48 - couldn't agree more. Only I have trouble getting to use them because of having so many foster babies placed here!!
And as for those who say more than one tent means more money than sense then I'd just say that depends on how much they were bought for lol!! My whole collection probably cost about the same as a new Cabanon and that's not taking into account the fact that those I've sold made more than they cost me!! (All donated to a local charity I hasten to add!)
I think I buy tents because it eases the longing to go camping - although I can't get away anywhere near as much as I'd like to, I am lucky enough to have a garden to 'play' at camping and a dedicated store room to keep them all in!
For me it's a hobby - I would prefer it to be more of a way of life but have to settle for lots of practice pitching, canvas sniffing, internet searching and garden camping and only a little of the real thing.
And raf48, when you find that notebook, I'd love to see a list of yours
------------- Anne - mad mum to one - foster mum to many - adoptatent to you guys!
Outwell Utah - 6 berth (main holiday and fave tent)
Scafell Rock Curlaway - 5 berth (overnight/traveller)
Wynnster Apollo - 16 berth (for joint family holidays)
Currently keeping an eye out for a bargain Outwell littlie to replace the Curlaway, as we very much liked the beach camping in Scotland and fancy doing a bit more of a tour, but the Curlaway, though roomy and stable, has a 3/4 outer flysheet which was a bit flappy and noisy, especially compared to the Utah we'd taken down. Would sell the Curlaway though if this happened and remain a 3-tent household.
I don't know if it's just me, but it's only since I had internet access (only the last four years - I was a late starter!) that I have aquired more tents. It used to be the case that you had to get in your car and drive to a camping shop, if you wanted a new tent and they would only ever have a limited selection on display. You made your mind up, made your purchase, and that was that until it wore out.
I was simply not aware of the variety of tents on offer, and certainly had no way of buying them easily even if I was. Now at the click of a button, I can browse any number of sites full of every tent available from the comfort of my armchair. Then there is Ebay! Just think, pre Ebay, what happened to all of those gorgeous secondhand tents that people no longer wanted? They would have to be sold through a local paper, so a much smaller market for the seller and a cat in hells chance of a buyer finding their dream canvas tent!
.......so I'm not guilty - it's all the fault of www......
Can anyone else trace their tent buying back to the birth of the web?
splendidisolation - absolutely agree, we have recently bought a Hypercamp (a brand I had never heard of) Dutch Pyramid (a tent I had never heard of) from some shop in Holland (I had never heard of) and all done with the help of my laptop without even needing to leave home
without the internet we would probably have bought (sorry to any I now offend) a boring plastic hoopy thing from Outwell or Vango for our weekend tent. Instead we have a fabulous piece of retro Canvas loveliness we didnt even know we wanted
and I am now discovering all manner of Canvas loveliness yet to come - oh how I wish for a lovely Cabanon Isabella or similar next
The family 6 man (Vango Columbia 600) for weeks away
The weekend (Kampa Bude 4) for weekends (or longer if not taking the trailer)
The overnight (Coleman Rock Springs 4) for stops on the way to/from/around the main campsite (small enough to pack with either of the others for a quick pitch). Also used it over the past couple of weeks in my mother's garden when we had to break off our main camping holiday to look after her... Glad we had it with us!
The 3 tents cover all eventualities along with the Vango Adventure Tarp for extra wet weather cover.
We have three tents,
1, An old nylon purple Kyham quick pitch 2man, where the poles are already inplace and snap together on pivots(looks like an upside down spider when opening up)....hate it, always endup drenched in condensation no matter how many vents are open....should give it away or bin it, just takes up space in the loft...my lad likes the colour though!
2, Coleman Bispace 400, introduced my wife into camping before we had kids and still gets used every now and again with my eldest son(7, shows how long I've had it and it is still in good nick!)....has its uses but we're a family of four now.
3, ESVO Walnoot, used pretty much all the time now whether it is a weekend or our 3week France hol, pitch time is similar to the Bispace and I've bought it to use and last along time....we love it.
I/we would like a tipi just for the cool factor and if I had the money.
------------- Trio trinidad(died)/ Bispace400(still going strong15 yrs later) /ESVO Walnoot(had to surrender) / Cabanon Latitude(dead after the first outing). Vango illusion 500xl tc.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: How many tents is just right ?
