If you are after a mega quality tent in the UK ive just found this on the web...A pole and sleeve Karsten tunnel tent, Karsten are known for inflatble domes so this is a bit different.
I agree mcquire, when I first found it I thought "thats not so bad a price being its a Karsten inflatable" but then I looked and saw it was a pole and sleeve tent. The only thing is it will be just as quick to pitch being a small tunnel anyway. I think people should compare it with say a Outwell Bear Lake 4 re size but the quality will blow most other brands out of the water.
Interesting that the door rolls up (as per the door on their inflatable pod range), instead of to one side. I'm not sure how usable that's going to be for UK use: great when it's rolled up, great when it's zipped down, but what about going in and out, is it going to be a case of brushing through/against it, every time?
Also, it looks like there's a velcro strip on the bottom of the door and window panel, which fixes to the groundsheet. Personally, I prefer a zip on three sides.
Quality-wise, I agree that Karsten is fabulous canvas, and their alu poles are somehow lighter and seem sturdier than anything I've ever seen on the likes of Cabanon and Outwell. Their zip pole sleeve system means no threading. However, that's going to be some weight of canvas to lift into position(not applicable on their bedroom annex for the pod range, where the canvas is already suspended at height as soon as it's zipped to the main pod). Which makes me wonder at the pitching method shown: their uber-heavy, thick groundsheet is pegged out first, then the first (front) pole is zipped in and hoisted into position (no other poles in position at this stage). Zipping the second (middle) pole in is going to mean standing on the canvas, surely? And, how do you reach the centre of the third and last pole sleeve, to zip it up, when there's that rear slope on the canvas? The tent is 290cm wide x 207cm high.
And those side windows would (IMHO) benefit from a full mesh panel/window cover option, instead of having just a tiny bit of mesh at the top (which is what it looks like to me). If this is a tent for all climates, it needs as much cross-ventilation as it can get.
Lastly, does the bedroom curtain/divider suspend from the rear pole section (in which case, the bedroom is going to be very restricted and slopey, as per the old Cabanon Biscaya 320, which was discontinued - probably for that reason) or from the second one from the back? It's hard to tell from those ever-moving pics. Again, a great idea and quick to assemble (just zip into position) but I personally prefer a proper inner, to keep ants and earwigs on the outside of the bedroom area.
Actually, maybe that isn't my last point: this is a flat-fronted tent with one doorway, so it's really, really going to need that canopy ('awning')to keep rain out. So, why on earth have they priced the canopy separately, instead of including it in the package? I think that's a bit of a marketing technique, to make you think the tent actually costs less than it does.
So, I like it, but the design would need a bit of tweaking before I'd buy. It's not dissimilar in size to the (now discontinued model) Cabanon Chamonix, and that never really took off in the U.K. market, despite it being under half the cost. I personally think these smaller cotton canvas models have to get the design absolutely spot-on, to be successful, and as nice and as high quality as this tunnel tent is, I don't think it ticks all the boxes for a tent which retails at some £1585 plus carriage.
all very valid points but I think one of the things you get with these top end tents is the option to change things. I imagine they are made to order so you might be able to tweak the tent to just how you want it.
Gary
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Quote: Originally posted by rolph on 06/2/2013
I would suggest to look at the De Waard Bosuil
Hi Rolph, where is the nearest de waard showroom to Rijnsburg? I'm here in July and want to look at de waard (and possibly atomatent / karsten too) tents. Do all showrooms have all tents? I'm very interested in making an investment that will last 20 years and still have value!
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Holtkamper Cocoon Aero
Karsten 300 + CA, RA
hi gary thanks for posting up this info - very interesting. i am wondering why Karsten are making this tent? - Karsten being the Rolls Royce of tents and presumeably selling a small number of tents per year compared to the high street brands like outwell, vango etc, - do you think they are trying to increase their unit sales and by introducing a new model at a lower price than their famous inflateables, hope to increase their market prescence?
to me, a Karsten is my ultimate dream tent, ill only ever be able to afford a 2nd hand one, but the only karstentent id consider is their famous inflateable models preferably the 350.
i hope they are not lowering their standards by introducing poled tents and / or attempting to try to compete with outwell etc. i would never have a poled karsten - it goes against the grain!
one day ill have a 2nd hand inflateable karsten 350 and my dream will have come true!.
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I have no idea why they have gone down the pole route, ive heard its not really for the UK market but I think the guys from Karsten UK are going to try and get one and display it at my inflatable tent shows in the summer. If you like the Karsten inflatables you should come along as they will have a load on display.
Gary
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That is one of the ugliest tents I've seen in a long time. That end section is just too saggy and looks like a pair of teenagers trousers hanging under their bum (you know the ones you always want to pull up when you are walking behind them ) The door just looks really utilitarian and like a sort of army tent. And then there is colour
thanks for the info gary - please post up the dates and location of your inflateable show - i will most definitely make the trip to come see as an inflateable tent is top of my list now as i fine tune what i have into what i now realise i actually need!
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Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
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Topic: New Karsten Tunnel Tent
) The door just looks really utilitarian and like a sort of army tent. And then there is colour 
