I follow your posts and generally agree with your advice that canvas frame tents are the best.
Last year in france I dismantled my old synthetic tent and threw it into the campsite dustbin as I was fed up with leaks, condensation, instability in wind, noide in the rain, etc.
I am therefore going to buy a new tent for 2009 camping season.
After discussing with many Dutch campers in France during this years summer holiday I decided to buy a De Waard - unfortunately reality has now arrived and I simply cannot justify (or save up in time for next year) the £2000+ plus the hassle of travelling to The Netherlands to buy it.
Therefore I am trying to decide what tent to buy - can you please give me your opinion about which tent you would buy and where you would buy it from ?
NB
We are a family of 5 but my 2 eldest kids have their own small tents to sleep in - therefore we only need sleeping space for 2 (but my wife and I enjoy a big bedroom rather than a small 2 person bedroom !) + 1 child but with living space for 5 adults (as my kids are big and we each have a large comfortable relaxer type chair !)
We only camp in France in July / August and my budget could be up to say £ 1,200 - £ 1,500 maximum. We live in West Yorkshire but would travel say 100 miles to buy the tent.
Many thanks in advance for your fantastic advice.
Matthew
PS I already use Delta pegs so will continue to use these with the new tent !
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Quote:
After discussing with many Dutch campers in France during this years summer holiday I decided to buy a De Waard - unfortunately reality has now arrived and I simply cannot justify (or save up in time for next year) the £2000+ plus the hassle of travelling to The Netherlands to buy it.
Hi,sorry I'm not Rex, but like you I decided to buy a De Waard after seeing them up close in France last year. I also could not justify the expense. However I found that they can be picked up for a whole range of prices on http://www.marktplaats.nl/. Ok, I did have to go over to Holland to collect it but I just went over as a foot passenger and met the sellers in the Hook of Holland car park and brought it back as hand luggage - I got a real bargain (Albatros - mint condition canvas - £500). Alternatively you could go onto the De Waard Forum and just ask if anyone has a tent to sell and are prepared to send it to England for you - the thing about the DW Forum is that they all seem to be genuine enthusiasts and very helpful.I know of one person who bought their De Waard this way and they seem to be very happy with it (check out the forum for the full stories).
Alternatively you could just buy a brand new cabanon.
martin
Hi Matthew
Martin knows far more about the DeWaard than I and as you say once seen close up nothing else come anywhere close.
If you do not decide to take martin advice the nearest very good tent with the looks,design and quality.but without all the additions of the DeWaard family tents I would certainly check out Cabanons Barbados Here or the pyramid 6 here the 6 does not have a SIG
You can buy additional windbreaker side panels for both tents I believe but it would be easy to add a front canopy using one of the large dutch tarps or possibly a 4.5x4.5m Tatonka TC tarp With a couple of Eyelets professionally fitted were they are required. and some quality steel adjustable poles from . Here and the Tatonka TC1 can be checked out here they do them in the light colour you can see both colours in my gallery on my tents. Tatonka Tarp TC1
Good luck which ever way you go.
Regards
Rex.
PS Matthew read this post from Len he as both DeWaard and the 4 berth cabanon pypamid with SIG here
Post last edited on 12/11/2008 01:56:56
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Hi again Matthew
One of those nights when sleep wont come.
I found these two on the link martin gave Here
No it did not show. Go onto the link and type Tenten DeWaard into the find and two will show This one here
The other is the Albatros Junior here
If you can catch old of Freebird he may be able to assist you.
Rex.
Both a little on the small side for what you require.
Post last edited on 12/11/2008 03:46:26
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
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If you're looking at traditional frame tents, to get you the living space you require look at the Cabanon Aruba, you'll get one new for around £700 (I'd add the sun canopy as well). The big bedroom is a really nice, big two person or even 2+1 bedroom and a smaller one then for your little one.
I love the Aruba, I go and look longingly at the one at the display in Gloucester.
You should pick one up on ebay at a reasonable price once things get busier next year, also look at the Athena which is the previous model.
I had a Guadaloupe which didn't really work for us as I wanted indoor cooking space which the pyramids don't provide. I also found it a bit claustrophobic and prefer the more spacious, non SIG of the frame tents.
Hi. I have a Pyramid 6 and while it would sleep two adults and one/two children very comfortably I really don't think it would provide anything like enough living space for your needs. The Barbados would be the same I think.
A frame tent would do a good job for you though, either an Andorra with the 4 person inner for yourself and your o/h and the zip on sleeping annexe for your little one or an Aruba/Athena, as in Piglet's post.
I really like the layout of the Andorra and the flexibility offered by the zip on annexe, but the Aruba does offer more living space I guess.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Hi again Matthew
Well you have got good advice from campers that know what they are talking about.
Good luck
Rex.
PS I was going along the lines of the DeWaard design
but last but not least The Cabanon Biscaya 370 cotton Cotton Biscaya
This one I have not seen but one of our members as just bought one have a read of what francais as to say Here
Rex.
Post last edited on 12/11/2008 11:43:52
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
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Many thanks for the very helpfull comments - I feel sure I will now buy a Cabanon tent - the only question is which one !!
Was going to get an Outwell (technical cotton) as my parents have one but now feel that Cabanon is better quality for more or less the same price.
I feel the De Waard rip off style may not offer living space for the 5 of us but we are lovers of SIG so its a hard call to make.
Will have to go and view them erected to make a final decision - can anybody please let me know where's the best place to view the Cabanon range - we live near Skipton in West Yorks.
On the living space question I think you may find the Andorra is too small for you - it's great for two and we have had four sitting in it zipped up and it was cosy and that's without big chairs. The sleeping inner is a good size if you want your little one in with you though.
I was thinking about this though, I wonder if an Antigua, with a 3 + 2 inner (this translates as 2 + 1 really) would work well for you BUT it won't give you enough living space inside but you could perhaps add a dayroom rather going for the bigger tent? This would give you somewhere to create shade/shelter away from where you cook (if you cook in the tent) and generally get the kids out from under your feet!
We group camp in France and find a dayroom invaluable, it gives everyone somewhere to slob around without going into the main tent - this might be useful for your older two?
Can't help on where to see Cabanons although Merry and I worked out we're not far off a full range between us!
If you're looking at buying new I think the Aruba is the only large frame that you can buy easily in the UK although I think the Andorra is still available in mainland Europe. The Antigua comes up on ebay quite a lot and we paid £165 for ours two years ago including a sun canopy. I'd be reluctant about buying my first frame tent new, I think you need to live with them for a while and work out what you like and what you don't like. In your position I'd pick something up second hand and see how you get on with it. Don't forget frames are quite weighty and large to carry (no worse than the Outwell polycottons though).
If you like SIG you might want to look at the Biscaya - difficult to find cheap second hand as they are still pretty new. I found them a bit claustrophobic and I'm not convinced on their ease of pitching compared to a frame. Cabanons have good mud flaps so are much much better than the majority of non SIG tents.
Happy hunting!
------------- Piglet
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Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 12/11/2008
There's an Aruba just come on eBay for £500 - brand new never used.
£669 here £500 starting price is too high IMO. For that sort of money I'd rather buy new and get the benefit of the guarantee and the certainty of what I'm getting.
Can't comment on the new tents but we had an old Cabbanon Nevada 4 berth, reproofed it last year,for the first time in 20yrs never a drop of water. Only sold it this year after upgrading to an F/C. In my opinion you can't beat them for quality.
Piglet - thanks for your reply - we have used an Outwell day tent for the past two summer holidays but I sold it to an Irish family for more or less what we paid whilst on holiday in southern Brittainy this year.
Although it was reasonably well made, it just didnt work for us - we set up all our cooking faciltiies outside (surrounded with a wind break) and we got fed up having to mess about when the weather turned wet.
As we have a large platic patio type table and 5 comfy relaxer type chairs - there really wasnt space as well to cook inside the day tent.
I think I have now answered my own question - we need the Aruba so that we have plenty of living space for cooking and dining !
My parents had a large frame tent when I was a kid so I know them well - the lack of a SIG has always put me off them but I have read the reviews of the Aruba and one of them does say that they have 8 inch mud flaps which you can tuck underneath a plactic ground sheet thereby forming a sort of SIG.
I will buy some heavy duty plastic and also a roll of the stuff caravaners use in their awnings (the stuff which allows doesnt kill the grass) to put on top of the plastic in the living area of the tent - I was mightily impressed how cosy and warm this stuff is when I went into an awning on holiday this year.
Am not too bothered about the packed size as we have a large estate, very big top box and a massive "home made" trailer - saying that, its usually a squeeze to get everything in !
My question regarding where to view the Cabanon range should have stated - "next year once the stockists have them on show" - will investigate Don Valley once spring arrives as I want to buy new.
Anyway, thank you everybody for the advice - its much appreciated.
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: For attention of rexgrant - advice please
