First off, hello from a total newbie. Pensionable but know-nothing. However, I have just bought the aforementioned Airbeam and would appreciate all the tips anyone can spare. I have trial pitched the tent on my own and that went fine (mind you, so was the weather!). Yet to try the canopy. Also, any hints on getting better at packing things away?
Hi Rab and welcome.
Some tents fold up easily and go back in the bag without a problem others are right ********. When you let it down have the doors open, fold it across the length and roll towards the (open) front as this allows air to escape, you may have to roll several times to get it small enough. As with most things in life practice makes perfect
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
there is a knack to getting airbeams back in the bag - the beams sometimes kink when you let them down and the trapped air leaves you with too much volume - as you have no doubt discovered! :)
To get rid of most of the air, you can roll the tent up 'sideways' (simultaneously rolling the air out of all the beams like toothpaste from a tube) - this is quicker with two people, but easy enough by yourself it just takes a little more time. Remember to roll from the end of the beams furthest from the valves! heheh :)
Once the air is gone, unfurl the tent back so it's flat again then fold it 'across it's length' until it is the same width as the bag, then roll it up from the back toward the (open) door, taking your time and tying it up once finished.
Placing the bag onto the rolled up tent is easier than picking the tent up and putting it into the bag.
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Topic: Vango Kinetic 400 plus canopy
