Joined: 28/9/2018
Posts: 39 Site Reviews:0 Gallery Images:0
Oooh, so jealous, ours has been sitting in our lounge waiting for its inaugural outing, which may well be Christmas if there's enough space on the in-laws garden!
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Joined: 28/9/2018
Posts: 39 Site Reviews:0 Gallery Images:0
The tent is up and we're sleeping in it tonight and tomorrow. Pitched on a slope in a relative's garden, just the pod and the middle section of the Combi awning. The full test pitch will be at my parents place after boxing day, they have a flat area with space for us to trial all the awnings :-)
Quote: Originally posted by Egmel on 24/12/2018
The tent is up and we're sleeping in it tonight and tomorrow. Pitched on a slope in a relative's garden, just the pod and the middle section of the Combi awning. The full test pitch will be at my parents place after boxing day, they have a flat area with space for us to trial all the awnings :-)
Joined: 06/1/2019
Posts: 3 Site Reviews:0 Gallery Images:0
Hi. Fairly long time lurker on here. Last year I nearly pushed the button on a Karsten purchase. 350 plus windows/doors/sleeping extension/awnings etc. Total was nearly £5k. I had done plenty research etc but with such an outlay decided to re-think. With the new year marching on, I’m looking at nailing a purchase again. Although the Karsten Pod is still looking attractive, I’m leaning towards an alternative. This is primarily due to setup time. Like mentioned by others on here, by the time an awning is added, and the sleeping extension, it’s a fairly lengthy process. This does put me off and makes me think about a more ‘conventional’ tent. I’m now looking at the Lacerta. 5 poles, off you go. It has a front awning, decent sleeping space, without the need to add, extend etc. Only thing I can see that is lost is the air poles.
I do worry about the strength though. Will be camping all year and need something solid. Poles look hefty though.
Any thoughts/advice appreciated.
I also looked at a Biscaya 440. But there is not a single shop in the UK that currently sells this tent.
Joined: 30/8/2007
Posts: 93 Site Reviews:9 Tent Reviews:1 Gallery Images:1
The first couple of times I put my Karsten up I did find it heavy and cumbersome and it took flipping ages. However, we’ve got used to it and are getting quicker each time. Once it’s up, it’s wonderful.
Back in the summer, we would be the last family up out of our group of friends as they had all sweated out of their tents whilst we were much cooler. Another time we’ve woken up to a field of snapped poles and torn fly sheets but we slept through it all in our solid Karsten.
We bought a Vango tent as a lighter, quicker festival tent for our family. I’ve had to replace the poles after 18 months and last time we took it out, August bank holiday, it leaked so we packed up early and came home.
So, what a long post! Basically I think yes they are expensive and a little time consuming at first, but worth it.
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Outfit: Karsten 350 & 300 pod with RA Location: Cambs Joined: 20/9/2012
Posts: 143 Site Reviews:9 Tent Reviews:2 Gallery Images:0
How about 2 pods instead of awnings?. We have 350 & 300 pods. Easy to put up, faster than the awnings and just as flexible. We take 300 down daybefore if it’s dry and rain is forecast next day. At NY we camped in 350 with rain awning and it was perfectly big enough for 2 of us with a lot of camping equipment inside.
Worth a thought.
Outfit: Karsten 350 & 300 pod with RA Location: Cambs Joined: 20/9/2012
Posts: 143 Site Reviews:9 Tent Reviews:2 Gallery Images:0
Yes the 2 pods are connected, but can be used as 2 stand alone units too. It takes no time to inflate them, it’s what goes in them, that takes longer. We can put up both pods and be set up drinking tea in 2 hours.
If you have 350 & 300 pods, then there is no height difference between the 2. If you chose 280 pod, then you would need to bend to go between the 2.
Quote: Originally posted by LR Ro on 06/1/2019
How long does 1 pod take to pitch?
Many thanks
Limiting factor in pitching time is more often the pump you are using. Pitching any of the PODs is really fast. Roll out, peg the four corners, inflate. Once inflated guy out the wings and add as many corner guy ropes as required. We have a 350 POD and from opening the bag to having the POD pitched and fully guyed (without awnings) is easily achievable inside of 15 minutes.
If I'm on my own I can pitch our full setup including guy ropes inside of an hour without rushing (350 POD, CA, EA, FFW, Combi), we use a T-Maxx Adventurer Pump that hooks directly to the car battery.
The Lacerta looks and feels bombproof and is also very quick to erect for it's size and if I were looking for a poled tent for our family it would be top of our wish list!
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Outfit: Karsten 350 pod SE CA EA FW RA Location: Leicestershire Joined: 06/8/2013
Posts: 1742 Site Reviews:10 Tent Reviews:2 Gallery Images:3
Lacerta looks like a nice tent. The way the poles zip into the tent (as they do on the regular Karsten awnings) is very elegant and streamlined for wind. My concern would be the weight and size of the pack. The 350 pod is just about manageable, but much heavier and you have a big old beast to lug around the house / into the garden to dry / lift into the car.
If the Lacerta was too big for quick weekends you could look at an Opera to go with it?!
Topic: The Karsten Klub
