Ooops, I did it again - to quote Britney. Well a few months ago to be precise. During a low point during the non-camping months I had a bee in my bonnet about a tunnel tent with integral front porch (not just a peaked cap - more of a full bonnet). Thus, I find myself with tent number 5 (shall I call it Mambo?): a Coleman Aspen 4L at what seemed a good price. It's currently hiding in plain sight in the back bedroom (I've not had a chance to pitch it yet).
My first question is: does anyone have one and if so, what do they think of it and, is it really quite large?
Secondly, which of my other tents should I let go. I have:
Cabanon Estoril 6-berth frame tent (that's staying, my favourite, love it).
Outwell Monterey 4 with front extension (steel and fibreglass poled tent, bought as a weekender with money left by my mother so a bit sentimental).
Halfords Osaki 3 'bed and breakfast' tent (used quite alot and fab, other than the sloping front entrance which lets in wet).
Kampa Brean 3 poled tent with small front peaked porch (used for 4 nights last year in good weather, has a flat fold-down entrance - a good thing).
Dilemma. One at least has to go.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Sounds like you use the same equation as my bike owning friends - the ideal number of bikes / tents is the number you have already, plus one.
Put them all up in the garden or park & compare? Because each of the ones you’ve listed will have its fans on UKCS. (Cabanon gets my vote.)
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 13/6/2023
Sounds like you use the same equation as my bike owning friends - the ideal number of bikes / tents is the number you have already, plus one.
Yeah... trouble is, I'm not going as much now as OH has 'gone off' camping as he finds it uncomfortable getting up from the floor. He's unfit. Thus, I tend to go alone or maybe persuade a friend to join me for a day or so. Thus, I have a few tents too many...
Esther isn't going anywhere. Love her to bits (an ebay bargain, also kept hidden in the back bedroom in plain sight for oooh, 2 months, before he spotted it. I'd collected from the Isle of Sheppey under the ruse of going to Kent to visit family). So glad I 'won' her. I made a replacement canopy with sides which has worked well.
Now, ibble bobble black bobble, ibble bobble out, which tent's turn to go, which one's out?
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Quote: Originally posted by bridgeywidge on 12/6/2023
Ooops, I did it again - to quote Britney. Well a few months ago to be precise. During a low point during the non-camping months I had a bee in my bonnet about a tunnel tent with integral front porch (not just a peaked cap - more of a full bonnet). Thus, I find myself with tent number 5 (shall I call it Mambo?): a Coleman Aspen 4L at what seemed a good price. It's currently hiding in plain sight in the back bedroom (I've not had a chance to pitch it yet).
My first question is: does anyone have one and if so, what do they think of it and, is it really quite large?
Secondly, which of my other tents should I let go. I have:
Cabanon Estoril 6-berth frame tent (that's staying, my favourite, love it).
Outwell Monterey 4 with front extension (steel and fibreglass poled tent, bought as a weekender with money left by my mother so a bit sentimental).
Halfords Osaki 3 'bed and breakfast' tent (used quite alot and fab, other than the sloping front entrance which lets in wet).
Kampa Brean 3 poled tent with small front peaked porch (used for 4 nights last year in good weather, has a flat fold-down entrance - a good thing).
Dilemma. One at least has to go.
On reading your review on the Monterey 4, I'd say this had to go. You didn't mention but apparently you also have the extension? Too faffy IMHO, might as well use the Cabanon when you need a bigger space, so it's on my room 101 list.
Goodbye also to the Halfords Osaki. The sloping front entrance let's in wet? Enough said...
The Kampa Brean 3, looks like a poor relation of the Monterey 4 (without the extension?) and you've said you're not keen on the 'peaked cap'? There's your answer.
See how easy that was? So now you're (potentially) left with Big Bertha for longer camps and your new Aspen 4L for shorter stays.
Clear your stable (tidy tent storage, tidy mind), put all the money raised into a pot marked 'canvas cash' and, when you get fed up of the Aspen 4L, you can sell that as well and buy a nice Guadeloupe or little Karsten for short stays.
It'll be challenging to do but, you'll thank me later.
See you at the next Tentaholics Anonymous meeting!
Thanks Lidds, the cheque's in the post - I'm impressed you did research: respect. Your summaries were spot on.
OOooh, Karsten... or a De Waard...don't tempt me you naughty thing.
Yes, I have the Monterey 4 extension - only used twice. And, I struggle to put it up by myself, it really is like spinning plates although have had to do so and done it but I need much longer arms.
I also think putting them all up in a big field and spending a night in each might help - a bit like Goldilocks without the wolf or porridge.
Thank you all.
P.S. I've found this De Waard... looks what I 'need' down to the groundsheet.
Now you see, I never mentioned De Waard, so that craving is clearly already present ( ). But, I reckon your best bet is an easy-pitch weekender, and there's quite a lot of guy ropes on De Waard tents (we've had one, a thing of beauty and wonderful quality but it took too long to pitch). Karstens are much easier (look at their tunnels, not just the inflatables).
As you already love your Cabanon, have you already checked out their pyramids? Or don't fancy the sloping sides? They're a doddle to pitch.
Let us know which tents you can bring yourself to part with. I've been there, done that. Found it really hard to part with the majority of our tent collection but the reality was, we didn't use or need them all and they took up a lot of storage space, along with all the other camping gubbins. Better to have a couple that you really love - and use - rather than a collection of compromises.
Best of luck with it!
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
OOOh, "Better to have a couple that you really love - and use - rather than a collection of compromises." Maybe a motto for life...
That's a great philosphophy and you're right, I am looking for an easy-pitch weekender with the qualities of a front porch and flat threshold, cotton canvas for all the goood things it brings, thick SIG, and I do like tunnels with the height and usable space. Which is odd, as I hated going through them as a child, the Blackwall tunnel frightened me as we travelled to go on holiday, clutching Tedward. I still have him (teddy).
The pyramid tents always intrigue but I think I'd get fed of the slopes, like an attic room, great in theory but pants in practice.
I've had a closer look at the Karsten Opera and the De Waard 'owl' and yes, De Waard do require alot of pegging out in comparison. The Karsten tunnel is now on my wish list. Thank you, I think.
I'm now fretting and totting up all the tents I've bought and sold and the ££ that I could have spent on a Karsten before all the prices went through the beautiful cotton canvas roof.
It's a big birthday in October but I think putting the Opera on my gift list might be a bit of a pink piggie flying by. I also fancy a red Kitchen Aid mixer, seeing the Northern Lights, a trip down the Nile, Le Touessrok in Mauritius, whale watching off Canadaa, learning to SCUBA dive and two weeks on a small Greek island, and a pair of diamond earrings.
The OH might consider a tin tent... might ... . He can have that, I'll have the Karsten!
I'll keep you posted on those tents I've liberated to pastures new. The Osaki doesn't owe me anything after 10 years and it's been used quite a lot, garden camping, short overnight/two-nighters etc.Just a pity about the silly sloping front (just why do normal tents have this? I can understand with a hiking tent designed to withstand mountain 'breezes').
Happy camping!
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
We have a Cabanon Pyramide. You’re only aware of the sloping sides in the bedroom(s) because the front opening is tall & rectangular & well lit. However, it slept 4, we didn’t use the divider so it slept us 2 plus dog; it’s huge for one person. It was ridiculously stable in a gale because of the shape & guying: we were pretty much the only tent standing at a folk festival by the sea one year when a SW gale came in overnight.
We haven’t camped in it since we got a Motorhome with the same size footprint, but it’s a spare room in the garden if we have extra people staying over.
One query I have, is not having an inner tent as such (even canvas frame tents have them) and wondering why.
Is the canvas on the pyramide, Karsten et al, much thicker and thus more robust in terms of weather-resisting/temperature regulation so an extra layer isn't needed?
But, inner tents with zipped up compartments help keep the buzzy bugs at bay. A divider curtain alone can't do that.
What's the opinion/experience of either factor?
Asking for a friend .
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Well, if anyone out there is still reading my rambles.
I have today, pitched said Aspen 4L: a window of opportunity as the OH is in China. It's huge. Way way way too large for me as a solo camp. I did put it up alone but it took a while and wouldn't like to do so in wind. I'd be up like a barrage balloon in no time. I shall post a review of it and... put it up for sale (rather than sail...).
It is 'A Good Tent': really spacious living area, room for a table and 4 chairs or even a party, with a side door and mozzie net, windows and then a mozzie net at the door and flat threshold which can be zipped closed. There is the very useful porch/veranda area with sides. The bedroom is blackout with a PU groundsheet so it is weighted down and divides into two or one large boudoir.
It's very similar to the Coleman Castle Pines 4L - I had to look hard to find the differences which are subtle. More in my review.
It's just too big. Eyes bigger than belly!
So, I think, after long cogitations, I shall do the following.
Cherish the Cabanon.
Keep the Outwell Monterey with extension but seek help when pitching. I used it last week with a friend camping in her mum's vast garden - a little adventure as she's not having a great time, and was reminded of how good a tent it is really. The extension is useful as the living area isn't very large for a 4-berth. I didn't put it up as the weather played ball. I'm wondering if I can adapt the front to make it fold down and make a new inner with blackout fabric instead. Currently it's white which is airy but not great for sleepage, requiring an eye mask. This will be the tent of choice for a friend camping weekend as there are 2 beds or one large so we have privacy. Sort of. And, if going with my OH, we have oodles of space for the two Decathlon bed bases I have excitedly purchased. They are comfy.
Osaki 3: Sell sell sell. for a song. I will do a Marie Condo and thank it for it's shelter and joy and let it go.
Brean 3: looks like that's staying as my quick weekender/solo. I may figure out how to make 'sides' to the peaked cap using an old sunncamp windbreak. Which I think we still have...
That leaves the Aspen 4L: it's a virgin, not been slept with. Just too big and deserves to be loved by a family to create memories with. Now, do I sell this year or wait for next and hopes of a better camping summer??
Meanwhile, my Karsten Opera fund has begun.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Sold - Osaki 3, to a chap whose son is off to Reading festival. I had a wee moment of ooooh, don't dump it, it's been a kind companion and deserves more. But hey, it was time to go. Covered the shortfall below.
Sold - the virgin Aspen 4L. For almost as much as I paid for it (which was less than the current retail price).
So, that leaves:
Monterey 4 (I put it up solo again 2 weeks ago, I seem to have the knack).
Brean 3 (thinking of using a Sunncamp windbreak to make 'sides' for the front) for solo escapades. The new B in a B&B tent).
Cabanon Estoril - my love continueth.
And... I made the mistake of visiting The Travel Store (Karstens etc) as quite near me (didn't realise Cross Camping was no more - Monterey bought there). I spent a great hour exploring the tents, smart accessories from Human Comfort, and chewing the camping fat with James. No Opera tho' - it had been sold! I neeeeeed to bo back and view. And save.
Happy camping wherever you are (and FionaW - impressive number of nights away, envy, that motorhome is proving its worth).
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
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: Anyone have a Coleman Aspen 4L tent?
via mobile 13/6/2023 at 9:26am
Your summaries were spot on. 
). But, I reckon your best bet is an easy-pitch weekender, and there's quite a lot of guy ropes on De Waard tents (we've had one, a thing of beauty and wonderful quality but it took too long to pitch). Karstens are much easier (look at their tunnels, not just the inflatables). 
.
.
