Priorities are 5 birth, ease of pitch, pack size, and quality.
Initially I was thinking keep our 4m Bell tent for 1 or 2 night trips, and get a Cabanon Awaya 370 for longer trips.
My current thoughts are sell the Bell, and get a Falco Havik 4000. Falco Havik 4000
It is modular, so could be used without porch for quick trips, and with porch for longer trips. Overall it is slightly larger than the Awaya too.
A Cabanon Awaya/Biscaya 440 a possibility, but we would have to keep the Bell for quick trips, which doubles the space required for storage. Not so keen.
I did look at Karsten, but price is going in the wrong direction. I also think with large inflatables, the volume of air required is so great that you'd be just as quick (if not quicker) with the zip in pole system. I don't think they're the tent for us.
So can anyone suggest a good quality modular tent?
Thanks,
The Honest.
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The Cabanon Awaya/Biscaya are actually quite quick to pitch, but the downside is the pack size - they take up a lot of space. We used to have a Biscaya 370 and I could put it up single-handed in around 30 minutes. I think the Biscaya could be an option for quick trips if you have space to transport it (e.g. trailer, large MPV or 4x4). The Biscaya is definitely the best tent I have ever experienced (ours was the 'all season polyester' version, which is a superb material, and superior to cotton in many ways).
We only have an average-sized car, so we eventually ended up selling the Biscaya in search of something smaller.
It might be worth looking at Dutch-style pyramid tents. Not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely quality kit. We now have two Hypercamp tents from Obelink (an Eldorado for quick trips and a Palamos 6 that we have just bought for longer outings). The pack size of the Palamos is significantly smaller than the Biscaya, although it is heavier.
We have just sold our biscaya 440, it weighed 55k, like iscamper has said they are fantastic tents we loved it and I cried when it was picked up.
We only sold ours as we now want an inflatable, hopefully it will mean more camping trips as OH isn't as agile any more and I struggle on my own as it takes twice as long.
They look lovely tents but quite expensive, not got any experience of modular tents, but someone will be along I am sure
Quote: Originally posted by The-Honest on 07/8/2014Hi,
We're looking to buy a new tent.
Priorities are 5 birth, ease of pitch, pack size, and quality.
Initially I was thinking keep our 4m Bell tent for 1 or 2 night trips, and get a Cabanon Awaya 370 for longer trips.
My current thoughts are sell the Bell, and get a Falco Havik 4000. Falco Havik 4000
It is modular, so could be used without porch for quick trips, and with porch for longer trips. Overall it is slightly larger than the Awaya too.
A Cabanon Awaya/Biscaya 440 a possibility, but we would have to keep the Bell for quick trips, which doubles the space required for storage. Not so keen.
I did look at Karsten, but price is going in the wrong direction. I also think with large inflatables, the volume of air required is so great that you'd be just as quick (if not quicker) with the zip in pole system. I don't think they're the tent for us.
So can anyone suggest a good quality modular tent?
Thanks,
The Honest.
You say the Karsten is not for you, that must be just because of the price?
I understand about the poles maybe being quicker when waiting for a larger tube to inflate, but I don't think there would be much in it.
While waiting for the tubes to inflate you can be doing other things, plus there's hardly any pegging out with a Kartsen.
That Falco it looks like it would take a while to peg it all out.
Its a tough choice, as only you know what would work for you, sleeping 5 would set me thinking about a Karsten 350Pod with Sleeping Extension (SE).
Then the Comfort Awning (CA)
That though would be getting on for 3065 Euros!
Maybe adding the inner dividers to create 'rooms'(although the dividers would be another 199 Euro)
I still think the Karsten would be more flexible though, as I believe you could leave off the Sleeping Extension if not required.
It does come at a price although saying that it's 10% discount in September! so that would bring the price in at around 2758 Euro, as against the Falco at 2198 Euro not much more expensive for the Karsten but probably much more flexible.
Iscacamper. I did consider the Palomas 6, but I think its 6 birth aspirations are a bit optimistic.
We need a true 5 birth, to sleep Mum, Dad, and three boys.
We have a large car, and a roof box.
We do have a trailer too, but if I can avoid using it, I will. Although, for long trips when taking 'the big tent' and everything else, I accept may have to use the trailer.
This has made me look at Karsten again with fresh eyes.
Ian, you have a very good point about doing something else whilst the pump is doing its job.
I'm still not sold on them to though. The Falco is dear enough, but a Karsten setup for five will cost more. To be fair, I did compare are the prices to the Baco tent prices (Baco is Falcos cotton twin).
The Karsten sleep pod only sleeps four.
It has made realise that modular (Karsten style) isn't a priority, but the ability to use the tent with or without an awning/porch is.
Thanks,
The Honest.
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I cannot offer advice on suitable tents apart from the Karsten for your needs, however, I have concerns with regard to your choice mentioned in your original post.
You did not mention the age of your boys, however, IMHO, the tent you have chosen would only be suitable when they are young, and you may find your family outgrowing your tent in no time.
It is generally advised to get at least one berth more than the number of people one is trying to accommodate for comfort, and based on personal experience, I believe this is very good advice.
DK
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Quote: Originally posted by The-Honest on 10/8/2014Duffs, Achy and Wiggy,This has made me look at Karsten again with fresh eyes.
Ian, you have a very good point about doing something else whilst the pump is doing its job.
I'm still not sold on them to though. The Falco is dear enough, but a Karsten setup for five will cost more. To be fair, I did compare are the prices to the Baco tent prices (Baco is Falcos cotton twin).
The Karsten sleep pod only sleeps four.
It has made realise that modular (Karsten style) isn't a priority, but the ability to use the tent with or without an awning/porch is.
Thanks,
The Honest.
I know what you mean about the Sleeping Extension only sleeping 4 but that would be great for the 3 children and their 'stuff'
Mum and Dad could be in the 350Pod with dividers to give your own privacy.
That would still leave lots of room.
THIS is James & Suzie's 350Pod which shows how much room is in there, where the two single beds are and chairs would just be empty as the door to the SE would be on that wall.
There is another choice but I'm not sure how many it sleeps, the Kartsen Tunnel tent, which uses poles.
No idea on price either!
Kang has one so maybe able to give you some idea on size etc, I have quoted his post from another thread below:-
Quote: Originally posted by Kang on 09/7/2014Okay, so for those interested, some pics of the Karsten 3600.
From this:
To this, in not long at all.
Their video on YouTube didn't help so much. Being the bigger size (3600 as opposed to 2800), sleeving all the poles before putting it up (as in the video) didn't seem, for us at least, to work. We favoured sleeving the front, pulling it up and loosely guying out, before sleeving poles behind, one at a time.
Curiously, unless I'm missing something, the guys to the rear didn't have carabiners. This meant that the guys would have to be undone, threaded and then done up again each time you put the tent up and took it down - unless of course, you put the tent away with the guys attached. We didn't fancy that, so I bought some cheap carabiners and they did the trick.
Window cover up!
Through front into sleeping pods:
Have to say, even the dividers are lovely quality and can be configured different ways depending on needs. It's a fine tent, even when pitched on a slope!
THIS Video shows the Tunnel being put up I think it's the smaller one though, shame they don't show the inside!
If your not sold on them though it really doesn't matter.
You have to look at what you need.
I would if possible try and get to a display so you can see the tents in the flesh.
I believe James will be having another display at Cross Camping in September if you can wait that long.
This would enable you to have a good look around the Cabanon's as he did have the Bora-Bora with sun canopy, the Biscaya and Awaya on display.
I'm sure a couple of those had 3 bags to pack everything up in!
Which leads me to say the tents you are looking at are going to be big packed away so you may end up using the trailer all the time anyway, once you take into account everything else you would want/need to take.
DK, I know what you're saying, and this isn't my first tent...
With a triple bedroom at 230cm wide, I'm sure the boys will cope - I have had thermorests and the tape measure out!
I do regard this as a true 5 man, unlike others that will optimistically say that 3 will fit in a 180cm wide room - snug to say the least.
Sweeping statement: most 6 birth tents are either 3 x 2 birth rooms (cue debate over who sleeps on their own!), or 2 x 3 birth - no additional space for the boys, just more for us! However pack size will increase approx 20%.
We used to own a (awesome) Cabanon Montpellier II, so I'm only too aware of the dangers of buying a tent too big.
Ian, Nice photos and i did watch all of the video and another. It's clear there is a combo to suit everyone, but they do come at a price - one which is higher than the Falco, and that's bad enough!
I am aware of the pack sizes of tents of this size. One of the attractions to the Falco (and Karstens) is that you don't have to put the whole thing up - ideal for 1 or 2 night stops (I hope).
Angie, I think only the Mont Blanc 400 comes close in size, but it's just not big enough, nor can it be adjusted in size via optional awning. They do look very nice tents though.
I think the Havik 4000 with optional extras is the one for us. It has just been very difficult to come to terms with the price. I've been in touch with Bax in Holland and they will not budge on list price - no discount on the options, no free tent carpet, nothing. All weekend I've been muttering 'it's cheaper than a camper van'.
I was hoping that someone would come along and say 'that's just like a blahblahblah tent, only the others are cheaper'. I guess there's always cheaper tents, but it seems that you do get what you pay for. £ is still an awful lot of money for a tent - but it's cheaper than a camper van.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts everyone.
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I didn't realise the Falco or Baco didn't use guy ropes!
Still I did find THIS video of pitching the tent, it's the baco 3600 but should be the same for the Falco 4000 as well looking at it.
There's always the option of the Cabanon Awaya 500, a big tent but THIS one could go for a bargin price and only used once!!
Although it is 3 bags.
I still feel sorry for the sellers though, but they shouldn't have been sold this in the first place IMHO.
Sadly the camping stores here do not seem to throw in extras for free. Prices are fixed and that is that.
I am happy to hear you have decided on a Havik 4000. It is not a cheap option but will last for many years so probably better value than buying cheaper tents that need replacing often.
Let me hide before I type this next bit.......
I am really not a fan of Cabanon so they would not even be on my list of potentials. We have had De Waard, Esvo, Falco, De Wit, Cabanon and assorted poly tents from assorted makers and experience has proven that Dutch tents are by far the best.
I really wanted a Cabanon frame tent and spent quite some euros on a almost new Andora (think it was Andors lol) with a sun canopy and zip in bedroom which would accomodate a guinea pig at a push....
Used it once and it leaked like a colander. Not just a little but huge puddles.
So its life was ended abruptly as it was dumped in the trash :)
I really like the layout and size of Falco but dark inners in Awaya would probably sway me towards Cabanon if I was to buy a tent at this price. My younger daughter (15 months) has no mercy in the morning.
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Topic: Expensive tent
. 
. All weekend I've been muttering 'it's cheaper than a camper van'. 
is still an awful lot of money for a tent - but it's cheaper than a camper van.
