Our faithfull Minisota is due for replacement after years of good service. Have been thinking about the Kampa Fistral 4, like the idea of the awning area. Notice there are no reviews of the 2010 models. Any advice / experience of this tent. We camp in all weather, are keen walkers and take the dog with us, hence the SIG is a must. Looking for a good quality tent with room for the 2 of us to move around and cook in bad weather. Have never seen a Kampa tent but the quality seems as if it will match Outwell. Any other suggestions for a good qulity tent, thanks for any info.
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We have the Bude 4 - I think you'll find that the Kampa materials used in the Fistral are thicker and more hardwearing than the 75D polyester used by Outwell. Kampa's Ultimate range use 100D polyester which is thicker, more tear resistant and significantly more UV resistant (so you'll potentially get much longer wear from the Fistral). According to several retailers the Kampa ultimate tents outlast most other makes in outdoor displays . You'll also find that Kampa include many top end features in this range of tent. Their sleeptite finish to the inner and inside of the flysheet around the inner also make the inner significantly darker and more insulated as we've found already with the Bude.
Take a look at the reviews for their other "ultimate range" tents.
The only criticism you'll find is with their footprint groundsheets for under the SIG of the tent, but I think this is because they may be breathable. We actually used a Vango PE one instead.
The only problem with the Fistral in your case, is that you can't (or shouldn't! ) cook in it, as it's polyester. You would need to get a tarp or canopy to cook under - which I prefer anyway as I never cook inside a tent.
If you really want to cook inside a tent, then you would need to get a canvas one - and if you're camping in all weathers, this may be a more comfortable option for you anyway.
Quote: Originally posted by splendidisolation on 12/6/2010
The only problem with the Fistral in your case, is that you can't (or shouldn't! ) cook in it, as it's polyester. You would need to get a tarp or canopy to cook under - which I prefer anyway as I never cook inside a tent.
If you really want to cook inside a tent, then you would need to get a canvas one - and if you're camping in all weathers, this may be a more comfortable option for you anyway.
This does, however, depend on your risk taking. With a large tent, a well maintained cooker and sensible precautions (including an escape plan, fire blanket, bucket of water and an exit open) you can cook in the tent or under its awning. Anything attached to the tent or within wind-blowing distance of a tent would be equally as bad to cook under. Just make sure that you check for gas leaks if using in a SIG tent as the gas sinks to the lowest point and burn off excess in the gas pipe and turn off any gas cannister when not using it. Make sure that you are well away from the sides, nothing can drop into the cooker (or run into the cooker - i.e. the kids) and that you are not cooking fatty items inside the tent. Its a case of being sensible and if something does happen you all just get out straight away and stay out. Its only a tent and burning polyester is very nasty if it drips on you. Flame retardant is very different from flame proof and tents burn remarkably quick!
Its best to cook outdoors whenever the weather allows....
There is one advantage of the Fistral - it has the insulated inner tent, so among polyester tents it has the edge in colder or warmer weathers.
Helen
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Thanks for info, regarding cooking thought thats why the Fistral look good because the built in Awning, so would not be cooking inside tent, would be under the awning with cooker away from side so if raining would be protected. Never cook inside Minnesota, if its raining cook under door held open with Poles, but not very good thats why looking for tent with a more shelter area, agree you can't be too careful with gas and tents. Thanks for other advice will defintately consider Fistral,
Have been to see the Fistral 4 this weekend and have decided to take the plunge and buy it. The quality of the tent was excellent compared to our Outwell and the built in front canopy seems very good and so much easier to erect rather than having to add it on after putting the rest of the tent up. What was really good was the flat front on the tent which is hard to find as most tents with sloping front are not so good in wet weather and to me seems like a bad use of space, that why I like our Ouwell Arkansas 5, however this is far to big for our weekend trips. We are buying this 4 berth tent for two so the space looks fine however if you were buying it for a family of 4 I would think that the living area might be a little cramped compared to other 4 berths. The front canopy is a big plus point which is the main reason for us buying. Can't wait to get it and try it out, will do a review once used. Normally it rains when we camp so that why i am looking for a covered area to cook in!!. Watch this space, look out for my shining new Fistral 4 complete with Border Terrier!!!
Quote: Originally posted by Speedcamp on 12/6/2010
The only criticism you'll find is with their footprint groundsheets for under the SIG of the tent, but I think this is because they may be breathable. We actually used a Vango PE one instead.
Helen
Helen, what problem does the Fistral have with the footprint? We are thinking of getting the tent and were going to get the footprint at the same time.
Thanks, Alison
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Got a Frinton 4 today in exchange for a faulty Easycamp Boston 500. Put the new Frinton up but one of the guy ropes was frayed through and the webbing on one of the inner tent hang straps was nicked through. Will have to exchange it because of the defects but wil get another Frinton as I like the quality of the tent. The price difference is £50 but the quality on the Kampa is as good as an Outwell. The stitching on the Boston was like a Halfords tent!
We were talking to the camp shop bloke about the Fistral but he talked us out of it as they have had 4 returned this year with leaking seam problems. They were all sent back to Kampa but hadn't had the report results back yet.
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Topic: Kampa Fistral 4
