I'm looking to downsize from my Cabanon Barbados to a 1 or 2 person canvas tent that is robust but relatively easy to pitch single handedly. I'm looking at the Cabanon Noumea and the De Waard Brilstern (although I don't know where the latter can be purchased). If anyone is familiar with either of these your advice would be hugely appreciated!
Best regards.
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a brilstern is much too small, fun for small children. Because the awning is crooked, everything outside gets wet. A grote bonte specht or pimpelmees are a good alternative. For sale at the Camping travel store. Secondhand the choice is much larger, zilverplevier, koningsstern, kapmeeuw, mantelmeeuw. From Randstad tenten de Hermelijn. From Esvo Vrolie 240
Quote: Originally posted by sandakphu on 04/7/2024
Hello,
I'm looking to downsize from my Cabanon Barbados to a 1 or 2 person canvas tent that is robust but relatively easy to pitch single handedly. I'm looking at the Cabanon Noumea and the De Waard Brilstern (although I don't know where the latter can be purchased). If anyone is familiar with either of these your advice would be hugely appreciated!
Best regards.
Apart from the weight and not having to attach an inner tent, I don't think you'll find pitching of the smaller Cabanon much easier. We went from a Barbados to a Guadeloupe and felt the slightly reduced pitching time didn't merit the loss of space.
If funds will allow, I'd suggest a Karsten 260 pod with either a rain canopy and adapter or a comfort awning and rain canopy. The pod is super-easy and quick to pitch, not too heavy and has only 11 pegs (one for each corner, 4 guys and 3 side flaps). We've downsized from a 350 and the difference in ease of pitching is considerable. We've had lots of canvas tents over the years and I honestly don't think things can get easier than this. The tent is robust, comfortable and well ventilated.
Best of luck, whatever you decide.
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I've just had a look at the Brilstern. It's lightweight and looks easy to pitch but it's essentially a very nice pup tent. No good for us at just 130cm tall.
The Robens fairbank looks interesting. Not too sure about the polyester cotton mix though in terms of breathability. Then again, it would be easier to lug around.
Yep, I agree about the Bilstern - I've looked at it again and realise that it's height is far too low and I've looked at the pimpelmees which seems a much better alternative.
A Karsten pod is very tempting (even a 220). I don't necessarily need a tent that's quick to pitch though. I quite like the ritual of pitching a tent I just find the Barbados very heavy to pitch on my own and with kids now older and doing their own thing I really only need space for myself.
My ideal tent would be canvas (for breathability), good in relatively strong winds and small/light enough that I can get it out of the car without doing myself an injury. An inner bedroom would be an added bonus. I'm leaning towards the Cabanon Noumea but lots to consider thanks to your suggestions!
I also meant to add that is you have any more suggestions they'd be very welcome! An additional essential is that it's as spider proof as possible so I guess I need a zipped in ground sheet.
Plenty of time to consider them all as I won't be parting with the Barbados until after this summer.
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Quote: Originally posted by sandakphu on 05/7/2024
Thank you all for your advice and comments.
The Robens fairbank looks interesting. Not too sure about the polyester cotton mix though in terms of breathability. Then again, it would be easier to lug around.
We've used ours in the Southern Rhone at temperatures pushing 40C and Eire in absolute gales and been very happy with it.
Quote: Originally posted by sandakphu on 05/7/2024
I don't necessarily need a tent that's quick to pitch though. I quite like the ritual of pitching a tent I just find the Barbados very heavy to pitch on my own and with kids now older and doing their own thing I really only need space for myself.
My ideal tent would be canvas (for breathability), good in relatively strong winds and small/light enough that I can get it out of the car without doing myself an injury. An inner bedroom would be an added bonus. I'm leaning towards the Cabanon Noumea but lots to consider thanks to your suggestions!
If a difference in weight is the priority, then the Noumea does look like a good choice; at 19kg as opposed to the 34kg of the Barbados, it's a significant decrease! The canvas and groundsheet spec is the same as the Barbados, so if you're happy with that - it's a very nice tent - the Noumea is the obvious downsize.
Thanks for the reminders! We’ve kept our bigger Cabanon Pyramide, so easy to pitch with the central pole & rock solid in west coast gales. We used the optional sun canopy extension (for keeping bikes out of the rain), I don’t know if these smaller Cabanon models offer one.
Thanks so much for taking the time to offer advice! I absolutely love my Barbados so yes the Noumea probably would make sense alright. I don’t think there’s an optional sun canopy with it but that’s ok. I’m kind of drawn to the Robens Fairbank too. But I’d be camping mostly in Ireland so the Noumea might be warmer than the Fairbank. I see from reviews on this site that someone sold a Noumea and replaced it with a Fairbank - I’d love to know why! A question for Sean …. does the Fairbank have mesh doors (it seems to have) as well as normal openings/doors. Anyway, my choice has been narrowed down to those two (I like the Karsten pods and the De Waard pimpelmees also but can’t justify the price for the amount of use they would get!).
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Thanks Deborah. Funny, I was reading someone’s reviews of the Cabanon Noumea and the Robens Fairbank and I saw that the same person had also reviewed an Esvo Bedouin 240. That led me to the Esvo website and the Bedouin 200 which sounds like it’s just what I’m looking for. And then I saw your post. Great to see it suggested! I’m guessing you’re happy with its quality.
would go for the 240 instead of the 200. The sleeping mat takes up the entire space, and with the 240 you can also put some luggage or stuff in the tent.
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Topic: downsizing from Cabanon Barbados
via mobile 06/7/2024 at 10:07am
