We are family of five, 2 adults + kids aged 7, 5, 2. We have an Outwell nevada tent which we love, but there's just one problem - where do you cook when it's raining?
I bought a basic tarp and poles from decathlon en route to camping this weekend, but it was too low (we are both tallish) and fell over when the weather got really bad.
So, can anyone recommend a rain shelter that I can stand up in, cook in, that stays upright in a storm and that five people could sit and eat in when it's raining?
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Quote: Originally posted by slummum on 03/8/2014
...I bought a basic tarp and poles from decathlon en route to camping this weekend, but it was too low...
Adjustable poles, or additional sections for your existing ones?
Wouldn't recommend a gazebo, and many sites disapprove of their use because of the potential danger in windy conditions.
On long trips we have an awning extension for cooking an sit under the tarp. On weekend trips we use the tarp for cooking and sitting under.
Others use it with fire pits and if you go to the backpacking section you will see the reason for the low poles.....those hardy types sleep under them.
Sports direct do cheap telescopic poles and almost any camping shop will have vango king poles.
Enjoy the tarp, It is much more versatile than a gazebo.
You could consider getting a utility tent. I have a Quechua Base Seconds from Decathlon which I use as a kitchen tent, but there are other ones like the Outdoor Revolution Utility tent.
I love using my tarp but it takes practice pitching. You could make an arrangement with the tarp and two windbreaks that would make a great outdoor kitchen arrangement but you would need to take into account getting a sheltered spot (i.e. up against a hedge or building) and angling it low on one side to deflect the wind. A proper pitch would stand up to hefty wind but not a full storm.
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Put an Extension on the front thats what we did with ours ideal for cooking and sitting under
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Thanks for all the advice and replies. I've been looking at the tarp threads and pics.
Yes the tarp seems quite versatile if it doesn't fall down.
I tried tying the guys to the tent, which gave us the height but then a gust of wind ripped a loop off the tent.
If I put it up with four poles will it be very wobbly?
The Decathlon tarp cost £20, is there a better option at that sort of price? Don't mind paying a bit more for something that works, ideally with longer poles and better pegs.
We have the Decathlon tarp & works great . We have used 4 poles & has been great ....for extra stability use 2 guys from the poles .
We haven't used the tarp as an extension to the tent but as a stand alone shelter
The poles on the middle points are what came with the tarp & we bought 2 extra awning poles from a local caravan / camping shop we use these on the front these reach 2m+.
Maddie
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Quote: Originally posted by slummum on 04/8/2014
... I tried tying the guys to the tent, which gave us the height but then a gust of wind ripped a loop off the tent....
If I put it up with four poles will it be very wobbly?
So it was the tent that gave way, not the tarp?
If you must connect to the tent, I would steer clear of material connections, and (personally) even fibre-glass/flexi poles? (You may even be lucky that it only ripped a loop off, and not took a chunk out of the fly-sheet itself!!)
If you have alloy/steel (tent) poles though, you should be okay... in fact I do this on a regular basis:
By far the weakest point there is my knot in the guy that's wrapped around the pole, to secure the Karabiner... but they haven't failed me yet!! Connect to the poles, not the tent!
Even this set up only connects to the tent poles, not the tent itself (plus additional tarp pole(s), of course)...
You can "hug" the tent structure/material... just don't risk physically connecting to it*...thus...
.
(* Clipping C clips on, to hold tarp to tent pole/sleeve is ok, if it's needed, but even then, under tension, they may flirt off, so should only be used to stop flapping... The tarp should be structured in such a way that it still wouldn't come down, should the C clips fly off!)
As for number of poles, that's immaterial... it's how securely they are guyed. Main ones, are ideally best with two guys, like so...
The rest can be single guys, (whether direct to ground or on poles (both can be seen in the above picture), as they are all effectively pulling against one another.
If and when you do need to get additional poles, I can highly recommend the one's linked to by Hacksaw Bob further up the page. Decent price, and cover any height from 1.14m to 2.13m. I think I have 8, now!!
I would say, just two of those, with the two shorter ones you already have, will get you a long way towards having an excellent set up, at a decent height.
I use carabiners to attach to the tent. Each corner of the tarp has a crab - guyline - crab to the pole guy webbing. The middle attached via a clingon. Trouble with this method is a low tarp at the entrance and a gap where rain will drip. If the tarp is big enough, you can put it right over the tent and guy it the other side. Trouble is that most tarps are 4 x 4. You really need a 5m long tarp for this method to give you good canopy space.
Put the poles into the tarp grommet and the tie a loop in the guy over the the pole spike. This holds the tarp onto the pole. Two guys per pole. Other guys are attached with carabiners.
High wind will lift the tarp but it has to be a strong gust to knock it over.. as I found out to my cost.
Campsites don't charge for tarps or extensions. They might charge for a utility tent.
Thank you for the pictures and advice everyone. Okay, trip to Go Outdoors and then persist with the Decathlon tarp. Sounds like I will need more rope too.
I have learned my lesson re: tying on the to the tent. The poles are fibre glass and need replacing anyway. It will have to be a stand alone structure, which is fine by me.
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Topic: porch? gazebo? tarp?
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