How do the pitching times compare,of the Vango Solace, the Cabanon Bora Bora and the Karsten pod? What about ease of pitching? (I have my own thoughts on the Karsten and the Bora Bora, just am interested to know what you think.)
Actually, if you HAD to trim down your collection, which would you keep - of all your tents - and why? Let's set you a maximum number of x2 keepers. No cheating now, be brutally honest and decisive.
Post last edited on 11/06/2017 15:03:52
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okies heres the answer for the 1st question - pitching times.
without a doubt, the Karsten pod ( just the pod on its own - no extensions ) is the quickest and easiest to pitch by far.
it really only has 4 pegs, ( very substantial ones - not like you get with Outwell etc tents... )
so lay it out, 4 pegs in and inflate just 2 tubes to 55 psi.
then there is a guy rope for each corner.
finally each side has 2 guys ropes to pull out the wings and that is the tent Fully and correctly pitched ( not just inflated as is often falsely advertised by companies like Go Outodoors showing a pic of a tent fully inflated in 2 minutes... and then 40 minutes of pegging like any ordianry poled tent lol ).
so for speed alone in pitching, theres nothing to beat the ease of the karsten pod.
even the extensions dont take long, they zip on, 1 lightweight aluminium pole slides in, peg just 2 guy ropes and the base and thats each extension unit done.
The Vango solace needs a lot more pegging and guying and 4 beams to inflate. so this takes more time however, once done, you have a sleeping area, a small living space and an open porch. i can have the karsten pod and extensions done in less time than the Solace takes to Fully pitch - which includes all the pegs and all the guys.
the Bora Bora is a very different beast being a traditonal frame tent.
it takes the longest of all - around 30 minutes to have fully up and pegged.
the tent is laid out, the base of the tent is loosely pegged out and then the frame built over it and the tent clipped to the frame while it sits at half height. then the roof is attached over the frame and then theres just 4 guy ropes - 2 at front, 2 at back and its up.
the time taken with the Bora Bora is pegging the base down - theres lots of pegs all around the base, but once pegged correctly, its a very very sturdy tent - i had some very strong winds while being in it and the tent didnt flinch.
of the 3 tents, id feel most secure in the karsten followed very closely by the Bora Bora.
and finally, the most horrendous question iv ever contemplated - only having 2 tents ...
i rather have pins stuck in my eyes than ever have to face that scenario! lol
ummmm, so id need a larger tent and a smaller tent.
for the large tent id be keeping the Zempire Air Force 1. its trmemndously strong, sturdy and well made.
it weighs a ton, the pack size is enormous but once its up its a rather Majestic looking beast on a campsite and theres unlikely to be many of them around on 1 site at any 1 time.
its also a fantastically flexible tent - the front porch can be fully open or partially or fully closed in - conditions dependant.
every wall can be fully raised and secured and / or king poled out so the tent becomes like an enormous canopy to live under.
the Air Force 1 s quite a unique tent, and so this would be my keeper for m big tent.
it gets harder now ... a smaller tent...
so the Zempire TM, the Karsten pod, the Bora Bora, the Galli, the Capri 400xl or the Solace.
it would have to be the Karsten pod would be the keeper of my smaller tent.
its one of the strongest and most storm proof tents on the uk domestic tent market.
they are so easy to put up / take down.
karsten provides ongoing support for even their earliest tents with awnings etc which can still be made years later - try that with Outwell etc...
a 15 year old karsten pod still commands a good price on the used market - theres a good reason for that - how much does a 15 year old Outwell / vango fetch ( if its not been relegated to the skip long ago ) at that age...
and so i would be down to the AF1 and the karsten pod...
and no, im not going to get rid of the others now you ve made me do that! ...
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Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
We have just taken delivery of our new Vango Solace TC 400. We didn't get a chance see it before we bought as we live in Ireland and no stores had it in stock. I was a bit taken aback by the pack size when it arrived (and my colleagues got a good laugh as it was delivered to work). I knew it would be big being polycotton but it was bigger than I expected.
However we pitched it in the garden last night and I am in love with it. It went up so quickly and the feel of the polycotton is so nice. We are upgrading from a poled Icarus 500 so it's a big difference. I cant wait to head off for a proper trip with it now. Will post a review when we do.
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