I camp solo, quite minimalist with just a 3 person dome tent for sleeping at the moment. I've used a larger tent recently, that I can stand up in, but I got fed up with starting my breaks shattered from wrestling with it to put it up solo.
Instead I'd like to keep my little tent, which I'm happy with for sleeping and have a separate space for sitting under shelter for the sun/rain and cooking.
I've looked at umbrellas/tailgate shelters/pop up 'booths' and my brain is now frazzled from the range of options. I already have a tarp and windbreak, but this weekend I found these to be a complete faff also, and wondered if there's a decent, all in one, easier option?
Does anyone have something that works well for them that would fit the bill? As easy and quick to put up as possible, not too expensive, moderately waterproof. Wouldn't raise eyebrows on a club site! Room for a camping chair/small table.
I sound so lazy, but my knees and back don't care!
Some sites are fussy about what structures you erect in addition to your main tent, think Gazebos are generally a real No-No, 'cos they tend to blow down/away too easily, and serious risk of damage to others.
I've used a tarp, albeit quite a big one (Decathlon Fresh XL), and whilst it was brilliant in use, even with two of us it was a bit of a faff to erect, maybe a bit of 'learning curve' as it was it's first use, but think I'd rather put the effort into a tent if camping solo.
My favourite option is a tunnel tent with a porch, I can erect on my own, good headroom, porch makes a good kitchen and place to change out of wet/muddy gear so you don't drag it all into tent living/bedroom space which is roomy enough for table and chair.
I've used dome tents and found them to be more trouble than a tunnel tent to erect, even when more than one of us, as you are forced to try and insert poles whilst also holding it up, whereas a tunnel can have all the poles (main ones at least) inserted whilst lying flat, then just pull it up into erect 'tunnel' shape, then walk out holding end guy to peg into place.
I had a viz a viz tunnel tent which my son still uses.
It was easy to erect single handed and had plenty of headroom and space for a table and chair.
I changed it for an Outwell 3 berth tent which turned out to be a nightmare to erect single handed.
With a 3 man tent you can buy a 3m x 3m tarp on Ebay and 3 aluminium telescopic poles.
You will also need extra tent pegs and paracord (to make guylines). It's always handy to have spare paracord in your kit and it comes it bright colours that can be seen and not tripped up on.
A tarp will give you somewhere to sit out of the sun in hot weather and somewhere to sit and cook in wet weather.
Best to take it down in really windy weather.
https://puzzel.org/en/jigsaw/play?p=-OOvRYYC8wwy7n4oYngR
I used a tarp when I was a tenter to add shelter to a tent without an integrated porch area.
It was a bit of a faff to start off with until I learnt to put it up using a ridge line method.
I always took mine down overnight unless I could be 100% certain of dry and calm weather overnight, after my tarp collapsed one night due to rain water pooling.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Check online for something called a dining tent: various makes, most are a single skin dome, no inside dividers, and robust ie not a blow-away gazebo. And unlike a tarp, you’re sheltered from rain coming sideways. I’ve seen them on sites, put up beside Motorhomes. (I have also seen & heard them as party rooms for a group of small tents, but that’s another story.)
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: Sitting/Cooking Area Recommendations?
via mobile 27/4/2025 at 3:45pm
