I have had great advice from this site before so here I go again in need of advice from Bell Tent owners.
I have been offered a 5m standard Bell tent which came from BellTent.co.uk for a really great price. I did really want to have a ZIG but that would cost £160 more than I am paying for the standard which is quite a difference (buying from Karma Canvas, cost £260 more if from Belltent.co.uk!)
I have read the reviews on here which are mainly positive but as someone who has only ever camped with a SIG will I notice a huge difference with a standard bell? I should mention I don't like creepy crawlies or worrying about our gear getting wet!!
How effective is the groundsheet when it is just tucked in? We have been on some really boggy campsites and luckily our SIG has kept us all dry and cosy.
One advantage of the Standard is that it is nearly 10kg lighter and as I will sometimes be pitching on my own that is quite a big positive.
Thank you in advance for any hints or tips...
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You are right it is a HUGE difference, the Standard weights in at 22Kg and the ZIG is a hefty 31.5kg.
I am going to buy the Standard and if I don't like not having a SIG or ZIG, I guess I can always sell it on and then buy the Ultimate. Bell tents seem to hold their prices quite well and the one's I have seen for sale on ebay sell quite quickly.
Lot's of people seem to have the standard and there aren't too many negative reports and I guess it does come down to personal preference. I think I have spent far too much time researching Bell tents, who to buy from, what size model, what ground sheet etc I am now debating whether to buy the inner as this will solve give the sleeping area a SIG...
I've had a 5 and 4 mtr non zig version. Can't say I had any draft or water problems with the separate ground sheet.
The only thing about a non zig version is that it's a fraction harder to get it exactly round. I made up a length of cord with two small loops at the outer end, that indicated the position of the side wall pegs and the guy line pegs. There is a video on youtube about raising a tipi/teepee that shows this being used. The principle is exactly the same. The only other reason for being less efficient, is if you are trying to keep small children or dogs inside during the night.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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I had a standard 5M ( also a bargain,at £150) and only used it once before I sold it on and got a ZIG.
The weight difference is mostly down to the quality of the groundsheet as the Standard groundsheet is little thicker than a tarp/footprint. In fact I use a spare standard groundsheet from Soulpad as a footprint for my ZIG.
As Raf pointed out it is also more difficult to pitch. The SIG is the easiest to pitch as it just has the one set of pegging loops and can be pitched in 10 mins by one person (had a 4M SIG for winter camps but hated stooping to get in the door). The Zig takes slightly longer than the Sig but at the end of the day you must balance requirements against budget. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Another option to make pitching easier, is to have a foot print laid down first, which is exactly the correct shape of a correctly pitched tent. This is easy, if you lay a cheap over sized tarp down first. Once the tent is correctly pitched, mark out the side wall positions on it then cut it a couple of inches inside these marks. From then on you can use it as a pitching guide. Hope that makes sense. I never bothered with a foot print ground sheet on mine, as the ground sheet is folded seperately to the tent fabric, so mud transfer is not a problem.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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Topic: Standard Bell tent, will we miss the SIG?
I am now debating whether to buy the inner as this will solve give the sleeping area a SIG...
