We currently have a Vango 450XL but need to up size as it's not tall enough for us and we want a bigger footprint.
I'm currently considering either a Vango Langley 600 or a Kampa Hayling Airpro 6.
I can't decide whether to go for a poled tent or air tent. I have heard mixed reviews about stability of the Air tents.
Could you give me some feedback. We are relative newbies to the camping scene and want a good quality tent where we won't do our back in having to bend over inside it.
Thanks in advance.
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I have an air tent and an air awning. Wouldn’t go back to poles now particularly the tent. Kampa brean 4 air. Great tent and really stable, I hardly ever even use the guy ropes either side as the tent is stable enough without unless there is a decent wind.
Plus I can put it up on my own, a real bonus. My other half can take the children off for some fun and an hour later we’re all set up when they get back.
In laymans terms, providing all are pitched and guyed correctly, and all pegs, ground conditions and weather being equal, I'd argue that air tents are at least on a par with poled tents with regards to stability in yer average weather.
Where the air tents may offer a massive advantage is in freak windy weather. Flexi poles may well snap. Steel/alloy poles may get bent (or broken). Air poles may "collapse" inwards... but then spring right back into place again. There's not really anything to break. (Obviously guylines can break and/or pegs can be pulled out, but that goes for any tent type).
I wouldn't particularly agree with those that claim air tents are "a lot quicker to pitch", as from my experience, ours is only a little quicker... but as we use an electric pump, it is certainly physically easier, and we do spend a few minutes twiddling our thumbs/sipping tea, waiting for the inflation to finish, whilst others could be racing around feeding another pole into it's sleeve!
I'd guess it's comparable timings if inflating by hand.
As you are looking at taller, longer, wider, just be aware that a comparable tent (size-wise) in a poled version can be split to two separate packages of tent + poles. An inflatable tent does of course come as a complete package, so packed weight (and dimensions) may be greater.
As previous post, if you can carry the air tent, you can pitch it alone.
You'll find as many will prefer pole tents: we will all defend our personal preferences, and the fact there's a choice suggest both work for enough people?
Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 26/11/2017
You'll find as many will prefer pole tents: we will all defend our personal preferences, and the fact there's a choice suggest both work for enough people?
(I'm on the pole side! )
Very true.
We only have ours now as we took a look at the specific brand, with a view to maybe purchasing a few years down the line. It was the quality, workmanship, and modular aspects of the tent that convinced us to put an order in way ahead of schedule. The inflation aspect was merely a bonus at that stage... and remains so, as we are still fit and healthy enough to manage with poles.
We had no qualms with our poled tents before that, and wouldn't baulk at going back to poles... if the rest of the tent lived up to the quality we have now.
In all honesty, most of the "High Street" brands of inflatables are just about getting to where they should be now, if these pages are anything to go by over the past 12 months, but prior to that, there were still numerous and regular stories of major mishaps (as opposed to little niggles)...although in fairness, probably only a small percentage of the number of units sold?
Maybe still a bit to go before they are considered proven, trustworthy, and up to the job?
No such risk with ours, as they have required next to no improvement since 1981, and I've yet to come across any internet tales of woe... unlike these so called modern inflatables, from the mainstream manufacturers.
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Topic: Air tent V Poled tent
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