OK, it crops up quite a bit, so lets make a possible sticky or reference thread on family tents (not small single backpakers) that can be completely put up single handed - i.e. absolutely no extra help at all and without excesive technical dificulty. And ones that people know and have experience of.
I will start the ball rolling with the:
Robens Valley Lodge (so inlcude its sister tent the: Outwell Arizona L)
Gelert Skydome 6
------------- Big Bunny
Robens Valley Lodge & Cabanon Pyramide 6 "... kids you distract the bear, while I run to the car...."
Does that mean in fair weather conditions only, or single handed during a howling gale? And are they being put up by some six-foot fifteen stone bloke, or a five foot seven stone woman? Newbie camper or thirty year time served camping veteran?
(I`m not meaning to be facetious, but all the above will make a difference.)
I can put up my Vango TBS Oregon 600 single handed in most conditions, but would prefer an extra pair of hands just for safety if very windy. Ditto my Gelert Cadiz 5+2.
(And I`m 5`4", middle aged, female and have a dodgy right knee, so the above have to be easy. On the other hand, I am a thirty year time served camping veteran....)
I'd say any of the 'Khyam Ridgidome' range can be pitched single handed, by almost anyone, in reasonable weather. I'd add the proviso, that it would be better to have had a 'practice run' once or twice first. Obviously, the larger the tent from the range, the longer it will take to pitch.
I wouldn't like to attempt to pitch any of the larger tents, of any design, single handed in anything more than a 'fresh wind' and that's with 35 years of camping experience. The wind is unpedictable and can 'catch out' even the most experienced campers...
Some of the smaller 'quick pitch' tents, ie: Khyams 'Igloo', 'Highlander' or 'Eiger' could be pitched in minutes in most weather conditions...
I have just bought a tunnel tent off e-bay, it's called a Skandika, and it's a German make, and I put it up for the first time today for a trial run, and even though the instructions that came with it were very basic, and in german, but ti did have pictures, I was still able to put the basic outer tent up by myself in 20mins.
I was talking to one of the men who help run the site, which is local authority run, and he said that after watching numerous people put up an assortment of tents, in his opinion the tunnel tents are by far the easiest and quickest to put up.
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: Single Handed Tents?
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