I am starting this thread with the hope that those who have walked this path before will share the lessons they learnt on the way.
A stroke, in my late 50s, bought my backpacking/wild camping days to an abrupt end. A couple of years have passed and I assumed my camping days were behind me, until, I tried out someone's Helinox High Cot One with a sim on top. It was so comfortable for the 12 days I slept on it. My only niggle was the width so, when I saw a Helinox Cot One Max on sale, I bought it. Then I dustied off my trusty Vango Force Ten Mk5 and headed for a small, basic campsite for a solo overnight trip.
In many ways it was perfect - sitting infront of the fire, on a starlit night, gazing out to sea whilst soaking up the peace. But, my body is not what it used to be. I was surprised at how long it took me to put up the tent; how I struggled getting off the ground when putting pegs in; although my cot was supper comfortable and I could get out of it, getting dresed in a confined space was difficult. I came home decided it was time to sell my lightweight backpacking gear and buy myself a tent I can stand up in and use my cot at the high level.
When browsing through old forum posts I came across a suggestion someone made about taking along a garden two height kneeler to have something to grab hold of when getting out of bed or to sit on when getting dressed. Someone else said was useful too when putting the pegs in. Brilliant idea - I wish I had known about it before my trip.
I am sure others have ideas too that would help. Please share your wisdom.
I am interested in tent camping and have no wish to movr to a caravan or van.
Can't help as I decided to switch to a campervan when I realised my tenting days were limited due to reduce in strength and mobility.
Although I could just about able to put up the ESVO Bedouin 340 on my own and set up on my own, I needed at least a day to recover and it became less and less enjoyable.
Good luck!
DK
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Thank you for your recommendation but I have set my heart on a cotton tent - that is my touch of luxury. The Cabanon Noumea has a decent amount of headroom and is light enough for me to carry. I did consider others but it is always a toss up between space/weight/and headroom. Still to buy my tent as at the moment I am selling my light weight kit.
My plan is to keep things as simple as possible so there is less to unpack/carry. But, I want to be warm and comfortable.
After my first OH & I split up, he got the tent, I kept the camping chairs & gas cooker. I bought a 3-man Cabanon ridge tent with a porch (and window) that I could sit in, handy in wet weather or at night. The 3 berth gave me room for a double lilo. Took about 30mins to put up, gale proof.
The Cabanon Pyramide we got later was storm proof, we could stand up in it, but it took 2 people well over an hour to put up.
My advice, based on my experience, is to get one you can comfortably sit in, rather than one you can stand up in. Easier & quicker to put up yourself. You can stand up outside for closing zips etc.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 12/10/2026
The Cabanon Pyramide we got later was storm proof, we could stand up in it, but it took 2 people well over an hour to put up.
My advice, based on my experience, is to get one you can comfortably sit in, rather than one you can stand up in. Easier & quicker to put up yourself. You can stand up outside for closing zips etc.
Was this pyramid tent similar to the Guadeloupe and Noumea? I thought they were meant to be quick to put up; but some do seem to have a separate inner tent which would take longer.
I too feel that keeping it as small as possible and simple is the way to go. Unfortunately, since my stroke, I know I need to be able to stand up in at least one small bit of the tent.
I can’t recommend the Pyramide unless you can lift up the entire cotton outer, because you have to lift the central pole to vertical after wriggling inside. And you have to be able to lift up all the inner because it’s suspended off one hook onto the central pole. Hence its pyramid shape.
I’d investigate completely different styles of tent if you’re needing to stand up, perhaps hoop pole tunnel type. Though I don’t think they’re cotton.
Quote: Originally posted by KangooPete on 12/10/2026
Thank you for your recommendation but I have set my heart on a cotton tent - that is my touch of luxury. The Cabanon Noumea has a decent amount of headroom and is light enough for me to carry. I did consider others but it is always a toss up between space/weight/and headroom. Still to buy my tent as at the moment I am selling my light weight kit.
My plan is to keep things as simple as possible so there is less to unpack/carry. But, I want to be warm and comfortable.
Post last edited on 12/10/2026 11:56:09
I'm not sure I'd describe 19Kg as 'lightweight'! Cabanon are VERY cagey in their own publicity material, describing the tent as 'lightweight', yet failing to give a o/a holdall weight! Weight figure obtained from a retailer!
Of course, being a (steel) poled tent, you can split the poles from the flysheet to make two lighter loads.
I've got a 5 berth synthetic tunnel tent that's under 15kg, no incapacities, and I can 'handle' it fine, but wouldn't want to carry it far!
19kg is nearing the weight of my caravan awning, and that's a beast to be handling, and really not carrying that more that a yard or two! - its such an unwieldy load! I'm not exactly a 9st weakling - I can lift my 55Kg caravan water container off the ground one handed, but certainly not carrying it anywhere more than a few inches!
My limited knowledge of Cotton Canvas tents has always led me to believe they were relatively heavy compared to a similar berth synthetic tent. My last Cotton Canvas tent was a 1960's Pneumatic Tent Company 'Igloo', and that is both a huge and heavy beast in it's bag!
Of course, often overlooked, on packing up, wet tents weigh considerably more than the dry tent you first erected!
Back to your OP, it's true to say, as the years rolled by and the aches and ailments grew, we adapted our camping, stand up height tents becoming highly desirable (on pain of Quasimodo pose becoming permanent even when not enforced by low tent! - we couldn't straighten up after seemingly seizing into that posture!), airbeds on the floor giving way to cots off the ground, stoves on stands/tables so we could stand instead of grubbing around on all fours to cook. Downside if there was one (more to pack in car, and erect etc.), was that we became more 'equipment' dependant by way of 'furniture' and aids to 'decrepitude'! Even a Porta-Potti becoming more need than luxury, as the trek in the night to site loo became more frequent and urgent! But it kept us camping for a good many more years, until things like buggered hips, dodgy hearts, etc. really took the weaker more feeble out of the game altogether.
I went 'soft' a good few years back, and bought a caravan for my main camping excursions, in fact it upped my camping trips considerably in any given year, as so much easier than tent pitching, and didn't really give a damn about the weather, so happy to 'camp' pretty much year round. Still use a tent for occasional (lads trips) ventures to foreign motor racing events as significantly cheaper than hauling the caravan there, but fact is, not many of the gang are up to it anymore, some have fallen off their camping stool for good, the rest just admitting they suffer too much to enjoy it anymore! I reckon I may have a few more years tenting (albeit getting closer to 'glamping'!) in me, but suspect it will end because my pals have got past it. The caravan doesn't seem to have any immediate end in sight, beyond the trials and tribulations of motoring that seem to get more daunting and expensive every year! No doubt some spotty faced bureaucratic tosspot will deem me too old to drive/tow at some point!
Back to your OP, it's true to say, as the years rolled by and the aches and ailments grew, we adapted our camping, stand up height tents becoming highly desirable (on pain of Quasimodo pose becoming permanent even when not enforced by low tent! - we couldn't straighten up after seemingly seizing into that posture!), airbeds on the floor giving way to cots off the ground, stoves on stands/tables so we could stand instead of grubbing around on all fours to cook. Downside if there was one (more to pack in car, and erect etc.), was that we became more 'equipment' dependant by way of 'furniture' and aids to 'decrepitude'! Even a Porta-Potti becoming more need than luxury, as the trek in the night to site loo became more frequent and urgent! But it kept us camping for a good many more years, until things like buggered hips, dodgy hearts, etc. really took the weaker more feeble out of the game altogether.
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It seems that people seem to know when it is time to give up camping - I have not reached that stage yet.
Discovering camping cots makes it possible now; along with a camp chair and luggaloo. A garden kneeler sounds as though it will help with the bending down. Need to consider a table, but I am happy with my faithful Trangia for cooking. I need to see if I can still bend enough to use my lovely Horizon rocket stove for longer camps.
For me, unless I am treking in the hills, I like canvas tents. I would rather give up the option of solo camping, than a cotton tent. With 5 youngsters still living at home, there is always someone happy to go camping with their old mum. They look after me well and will help carry my tent.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Tent camping when elderly or disabled
via mobile 11/10/2026 at 8:59pm
