Hi. Can anyone with a current model (2019 or 2020) of airbeam tent (any manufacturer but particularly Vango) able to alay my fears regarding valve/tube detachment/bursts please?
I'm doing my due diligence on polycotton tents and really like the layout of the top 2 Vango's. However, I see on reviews (not of these 2 models) that Vango valves have been an issue in the past, and also the material an issue in regards to UV damage (not polycotton specific reviews) after only 5 times of using (albeit over 3 or 4 years).
Is this still an issue? Tents are over £1500 and I was hoping for 5 years of fuss-free camping (used for 2 weeks in summer plus at least 5-10 weekends each year). The alternative is go smaller and polyester and make it 'disposable' after a couple of years.
Husband hates the putting up/taking down of tents so has to be airbeam. However we've had a tent previously that was cold and damp and made us miserable (we work hard for holidays - don't want to be dealing with colapsed beams/punctures/leaks). Any advice greatfully received.
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Based on your usage pattern and requirement for a fuss free 5 years, have you looked at inflatable Karsten tents. They come with a 5 year warranty but will last decades if cared for properly. They are canvas rather than polycotton or polyester. You could buy a pod which would be very quick to pitch for your weekend breaks, then buy an extra awning or two for your longer annual trip. They are a modular system so you can have a bigger set up for longer trips and a smaller set up for quick trips. It’s always a compromise otherwise buying something too big and time consuming for a weekend break to make sure it’s big enough for longer trips. The airbeams are made from rubber fire hoses, and inflate to 60 psi (4 bar). They will go to much higher pressures if there are storms like this week. A Vango or Outwell inflates to about 7 psi so quite a different beast!
I did see you recommend them in a few posts and checked them out but they aren't really our thing. Too long in the military under sandy coloured tents I'm afraid. They don't look very welcoming to me (sorry). Plus I like big windows. In Scotland we spend so much time in our tent hiding from the rain (it's part of the fun for us), but I like to still have day light (we also need to catch up on the vitamin D over summer ).
Quote: Originally posted by Jim1977 on 26/8/2020 no need to apologise, we all like different things, that’s what makes walking round a campsite interesting looking at everyone’s set up 😀
You are right. And also why I need windows. To be nosey :)
Having visited a Karsten tent display, I can verify that no other inflatable tent comes near, windows or no windows.
The tubes on the Karsten are inflated to around 55psi, compared to the poxy 12psi (Outwell) 7psi (Vango) of other inflatable tents, that alone says it all for me.
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 28/8/2020
Having visited a Karsten tent display, I can verify that no other inflatable tent comes near, windows or no windows.
The tubes on the Karsten are inflated to around 55psi, compared to the poxy 12psi (Outwell) 7psi (Vango) of other inflatable tents, that alone says it all for me.
I know. The previous poster said this. As I said, I spend all winter in the dark. I've no wish to do so when I'm taking a break, but thank you.
If anyone with a Vango or Outwell can confirm they've had no problems with the air tents, I'd be very grateful.
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When I was planning my last tent upgrade back in 2015, I seriously considered a Karsten, and spent hours at the tent display at Camping Travel Store (CTS) looking at different sizes and configurations.
However, I decided against it and upgraded to a better quality Dutch pyramid tent instead from ESVO (also purchased via CTS), sticking with what I already know, instead of having to learn a whole new set of pitching instructions.
Also, the Karsten configuration (a 350) that I would like would have cost a lot more than my all singing and dancing ESVO Bedouin with all the extras. Another reason against the Karsten was my reservation with regard to its weight.
However, Karsten's build quality is second to none, and I have yet to hear about a burst tube with a Karsten, unlike Vango. They are expensive for certain, however, quality and peace of mind comes at a price, IMHO.
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 28/8/2020
Having visited a Karsten tent display, I can verify that no other inflatable tent comes near, windows or no windows.
The tubes on the Karsten are inflated to around 55psi, compared to the poxy 12psi (Outwell) 7psi (Vango) of other inflatable tents, that alone says it all for me.
LOL Why is bigger always better with you Francais!
I've still got the original inflatable tent, a Pneumatic Tent Company (PTC) Igloo from the 1960's, and I don't recall that requiring excessively high pressure, my modern Kampa air awning is one of those 'dreadful' (in your view) low pressure (9psi) jobs, both work perfectly well and do everything that is required of them. End of!
If Karsten or others choose a different, high pressure route, so be it, but do they really work any better for it! I suspect their reasoning is that they can use smaller diameter tubes, it's a different approach but not automatically 'better' solution. Low pressure tube tents and awnings from a multitude of manufacturers must outnumber Karsten high pressure tubes ten's of thousands to one - I think that's called 'well proven technology!'
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Topic: Top End Tent - concerns
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no need to apologise, we all like different things, that’s what makes walking round a campsite interesting looking at everyone’s set up 😀
