I have finally convinced the OH that camping holidays are the way forward and am looking to buy. I am very taken by Cabanon's - Awaya and Biscaya - and am looking for advice on uk stockists where I can view (London based, but will travel) or top tips on where to buy second hand (they seem to be a rarity on ebay) and thinks to look out for with old models when doing so. Any advice on how people have found these tents / alternative suggestions v welcome! Thanks in advance!
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Someone was selling their Awaya a little while ago and wrote a post about it, seach the posts maybe.
We had the Biscaya 440 cuisine, lovely tents, sold it for what I bought it for, they do hold their prices, ebay we got ours from, unused still in wrapping from France. But they do get snapped up. Look on the adverts on here too, gumtree etc.
Hi cariad83.
And welcome to the forum, and good luck with finding a Cabanon either new or used.
For info the Biscaya mostly came in "All Season Polyester" although the 28mm aluminium poles were only 1mm in wall thickness, and there was some pole issues with the larger Biscaya models.
The Biscaya 370 was available in 3 canvas types, "Rip Stop Nylon", "All Season Polyester" and "Heavy Cotton".
The "Heavy Cotton" version came with 23mm Steel Poles, which weigh a ton but are bomb proof!
There was a model that came after the Biscaya similiar design but with SiG and not ZiG, called the Vision range like the Awaya "Cotton" canvas only.
Then came the Awaya, very nice but also quite expensive.
I guess the newer Biscaya models have the same 28mm Ali poles as the Awaya, but now with 1.5mm wall thickness on the poles.
Post last edited on 22/07/2017 13:32:26
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Quote: Originally posted by duffs54 on 22/7/2017Obelinkhave some similar and cheaper
We have an Obelink Familia 6 (polycotton tunnel) and really like it,but the quality of Cabanon is in a completely different league. The material will be better and the poles thicker.
Having said that, I went for the Familia because it's about a third of the price of the cabanons! (Although our old Cabanon still gets used almost as much!)
I've struggled to find any stockists to view Cabanon - limited stock and nothing on display at all.
Does anyone have any advice on second hand prices for buscaya 440 and 370? Some I have seen look a bit steep for the age of the tent and I know the models have changed - improved.
I bought an Awaya 500, second hand several years ago. I intend to look after it and paid the asking price. It was unused second hand. After 3 years of my use it is still looking amazing and pristine. They don't wear out.
I fully intend to sell it on when my days in a tent are done and will get most of my money back.
Quote: Originally posted by cariad83 on 03/8/2017
I've struggled to find any stockists to view Cabanon - limited stock and nothing on display at all.
Does anyone have any advice on second hand prices for buscaya 440 and 370? Some I have seen look a bit steep for the age of the tent and I know the models have changed - improved.
I don't think they've necessarily improved. I still think one of the best tents ever made is the later-model Biscaya 370 (all-season polyester); The canvas is lighter than cotton but easier to care for and just as nice to live under. The aluminium poles are absolutely fine for this span and nice and light to handle (notice I've already said 'light' twice now, which is a bit of a revelation for a tent providing this amount of accommodation and of this quality), the ventilation is excellent (the entire front can be zipped back, all windows have mesh and excellent zip-up blinds). The bedroom inner is generous and of standing height. The front wings give immediate privacy and protection from the weather, providing somewhere to site the kitchen etc. The additional canopy makes for a large covered outdoor space.
The Awaya 370 is heavier, doesn't have the front wings and is more labour-intensive to care for. The optional canopy is an open-fronted affair which can catch the wind (and I don't like the side windows, which seem totally unnecessary and are more likely to sustain damage than solid canvas). The bedroom inner has a thick groundsheet (totally unnecessary, given the thick ZIG already in the tent) which makes it more bulky to handle and store and more unwieldy to attach.
I'd take a Biscaya 370 over an Awaya 370, any day. But, different tents suit different people, for different reasons.
The later model has an inner tent which suspends on metal s-shaped hooks and previous models have plastic clips which fasten around the pole sleeve (and ping off in strong winds, when the tent moves).
As for prices, I think they've gone a bit silly of late and a good example will set you back almost what they cost new, especially if there's a sun canopy included. That said, it'll do you proud, be reasonably quick and easy to pitch and will last for years and years if properly cared for and stored.
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Topic: Looking to buy Cabanon - any advice
