I’m after some slightly different advice from the normal newbie request. I need to buy 4 tents for the Scout group I help with as they want to move to something more ‘modern’ than the canvas Icelandics that I’m sure many of you will remember (issues with weight, drying etc).
We want to move to a tunnel tent arrangement with pods at each end that can accommodate 4 cubs/scouts (8-14 years old) and have the centre section for storage etc. The tents will probably be used 8-10 times each year and as they will mostly be erected by scouts (and inexperienced parents) they need to be extremely easy to put up and take down. They will also need to be able to tolerate quite rough handling particularly around the zips, guy lines, tent poles etc. My preference would be for a full SIG but this is not too important. Our budget is about £500 per tent.
I'm really looking for some help if anybody has similar experience as this is not my money and I don't wan to get it wrong?
Thanks
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Well , as someone reponsible for all our Scout canvas , I know what you mean .I would be tempted to look at a polycotton tunnel , ideally with metal poles , as otherwise you will be replacing the tents every two or three years .How about buying some Outwell Indian Lake teepees ,current £499.95 at Yeomans , less Scout discount and buying four . The advantage is that they will be quick to pitch , accomodate a sixer in each and keeps your camp area down in size . Failing that, Khyam Missouri or Vango Carrera 800 , both tunnels and polycotton .
You say you want something easy to erect and that can handle rough handling and that will last several years with several outings a year....then you need to scrub any polyester/synthetic tents off the list straight away. Stick with poly/cotton or cotton canvas.
For easy to put up and ab;e to be handled fairly roughly then I'd be looking at bell tents or lavvu - I got a good deal on the Bison Tundra 4 lavvu from Ireland - LittleBareFoot.ie - 404 Euros, delivered - that's about £350 (£200 less than the UK supplier). I didn't order a ground sheet - ill be using a tarp instead, and I don't really think scouts need SIG - there are more advantages to a separate sheet for scout trips, or any other roughing it a bit camping.
And bell tents - again, not too expensive.
Or how about some good canvas ridge tents?
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My son's former Scout Group had a number of traditional canvas patrol tents and one synthetic tent that had been given to them. Within a very short time it was in a very sorry condition. They are just too easily damaged for use by Cubs and Scouts.
I would go with everything said here...don't spend £500.00 on a polyester tent as you may be replacing them every few years with that amount of wear and tear.
I appreciate they have said they want something a little more 'modern' but that doesn't have to mean polyester.
I think the Lavvu is fantastic and don't all boys think that any tent shaped like a wigwam is cool?!.......mine does. Looks a good deal to me and if I had the money I would've hit the 'buy' button even quicker than you Petemillis!...great tip.
Easy to erect...relatively light...only one pole to replace if it breaks....polycotton can be patched easily....doesn't seem to be a lot that could go wrong with these and they are a great group tent with different sizes to choose from.
If you're not too sure could you ask the supplier to reserve you four , but only send one first...try it out with a small group..and if it suits, then have the other three delivered. That way you're not stuck with four unsuitable tents to sell on secondhand.
Mention you are buying four and for Scouts and you should get a discount!
Also at least with a canvas/polycotton, if the worst comes to the worst and you need to sell, you will get a fair bit of your money back.
If you decide to stick with the ridge style then would recomend one of these as stormproof, warm and incredibly easy to put up.....you assemble the five poles in the canvas sleeves while flat on the ground with the hinged A frame closed...one scout at each end....lift upright....open A frame and job done....tent is then completely self supporting, even in a wind enabling the little darlings to take their time pegging out!
This tent is idiot proof (I should know, I have one) and will last for ever.....if you're after 'hardwearing', this is a heavy duty tent. It says 40 kg though but I'm sure mine is not that heavy...would check that.
By the way....don't buy the army bell tents also on the tentsplus website...they are a pig to put up as not circular(all other bell tents are fine though)...I'm trying to get rid of mine!
I've just opened my Bison Lavvu 4 package this morning - the material is fantastic, great colour in green, and feels just like my poly/cotton work trousers that I wear day in day out for landscaping and tree work! Stitching as well - extremely well done. Very happy.
Something I forgot to mention in my earlier post about the Lavvu is that Little Bare Foot in Ireland, as well as doing a great price on these tents, also do a further 10% discount if you are part of a group such as Guides or Scouts. All they ask for is an official email address so they can confirm your legibility. Once done, the 10% discount is available to every groups member. Unfortunately, our local Guides group that my girls belong to is so behind the times that they don't have an official email address. And it only dawned on me this morning that I could have given them the address for the regional group who would have confirmed our legibility - doh!
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Thanks for all your replies, it has certainly given me (and our scout leader)something to chew on. We thought this was going to be a really easy task but it hasn't. We really like the Teepee idea, that would certainly make a statement at a County or District Camp and they seemed really practical. However, when we put our sensible heads on we realised that we did not really want a replacement for the Canvas 'Patrol' Tents that we and every other scout group uses. We still have these and they are still in perfectly serviceable condition and can be used whenever the group wants. What we need is a second option for those times when we know its going to be a wet weekend camp, or transport & lifting help is going to be limited and it would be nice to have a lighterweight tent that can accomodate say upto 6 scouts. This means that they are not going to get such a hammering as I first thought. The problem is that most of the polycotton tunnel tents available are just too big for us, particularly in the height. So tonight it was back to the web and after what seems hours we seem to agree that the Outwell Iowa L is about the right size and configuration for us.
Of course what we need to find out know is what do people think about Outwell in general and the Iowa in particular for our purpose. The Tent review section on this site seem to give very favourable reports which is reassuring. Can anybody give me a view on the Duratec poles, are they any good and are they better than standard corded fibreglass poles which are a nightmare for the cubs and scouts to erect.
So, thank you to all of those of you who replied, your advice really has made us think very carefully about our choice and any further help is really appreciated especially if anybody could tell me where I could see one erected (we are in the Portsmouth Area but are willing to travel)
Having read your response, and I agree with what you say about patrol tents , a futher consideration would be to have Pop up tents pitched around a group shelter , such as the coleman events shelter . The advantage is that Cubs can handle them with ease , and you make the most of your time away -they can learn traditional techniques with the patrol tents . Then you can use the money saved for other activities .
We use Vangos. They've been around forever, have the same fittings which means that ever couple of years we buy a few more and the oldest are assigned to be spares.
Plus, even the leaders can put them up... :)
------------- Riddles
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When I was in Scouts/ventures we used vango force 10's and they took a real battering, and as riddles says the design is a classic so spares available year after year, and when it has had its time can become spares for newer ones.
Also dead easy to put up and available in either cotton or nylon
Quote: Originally posted by numbersix on 14/9/2009
Having read your response, and I agree with what you say about patrol tents , a futher consideration would be to have Pop up tents pitched around a group shelter , such as the coleman events shelter . The advantage is that Cubs can handle them with ease , and you make the most of your time away -they can learn traditional techniques with the patrol tents . Then you can use the money saved for other activities .
Problem with the Coleman event shelter is that it has a poor hydrostatic head and as most scouters will know camps are normally wet.
I used to use an event shelter for archery and after a fair bit of rain the centre hub snapped due to the weight and coleman customer services were not very helpful.
I went with an experienced Scout Leader to Camping and Leisure World in Farnham today to look at two particular tents. Wow what a fantastic range of tents they have on display, and the staff were sooo helpful. They spent ages talking through all the good and bad features of each tent. Anyway, the two we looked at were the Outwell Iowa L and the Outwell Carolina 3. The reason we looked at the Carolina 3 is that is uses metal poles for the main structure and there should be a 6 berth version (Outwell Carolina 6 L) next year with a 3 man pod at either end.
The Iowa looks really suitable in terms of size and practicality for what we want but we are a little unsure about the long term durability of the 'Duratec' poles. If the footprint of the Carolina 6 is he same as the '3' then it might be a little small. Why is there never the perfect tent!!
Anyway, now we have seen the tents in the flesh so to speak, at least we have some idea of what we want.......well possibly......until the new ranges of tents arrive next year.....and I can start the search all over again.
.....also saw the Outwell Indian Tepee on display....WOW I want one!!! Couldn't afford it so bought the Juno 500 Peace Tepee instead (got great price match £75) and wife went mad when I came home with another tent ...oh well:)
Thanks again for all your comments, I'll keep you updated when I start again next year when the tents are in stock again..
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Topic: Scout Tent Advice
