Hi, I have been researching bell tents for a while now, and am now closer to making a decision on what would be best for us! We're a family of 4 (plus a small dog on some trips) and our kids are currently 2 and a half and nearly 5. We currently have a Quechua air tent which we've had since before kids, but we want something bigger and more comfortable. We've camped a lot over the years, both on camping trips and lots and lots of festivals, but we want to start taking the kids on more camping holidays. We've got two trips booked in this summer (a festival and we're going over to Holland in the car).
The things I'm not sure on are:
1. Material. I like the idea of canvas, but the fact they take so long to dry and the weight is putting me off, although I like the idea of the fire retardant cotton (more on that shortly), so I am wondering if polycotton would be best as it's lighter and quicker drying. What are the downfalls to polycotton?
Whether to go with a wood burner. This sounds like a real luxury, but the main thing which concerns me is the kids burning themselves... Maybe this is something we add in later when they're older? I've been looking at the Mr Heater which could be good in the meantime... Any experiences of either, especially with young kids. The idea of getting the bell tent is maybe we can make camping trips into the autumn and earlier in spring, so we'd like to make sure we can keep warm
Part of me is thinking a canvas tent would maybe last longer, but I'd be happily persuaded otherwise (or out of getting one all together!). I've mainly been looking at boutique camping and their tents (either 5m bell tent or star bell tent).
Thanks for any advice! 😊
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My experience of canvas is not that it takes longer to dry, but that if you have to pack up wet it is more difficult to deal with. My tent is not a bell tent, but an ESVO Dutch Pyramid, and whatever the canvas is, it beads off and dries very fast.
But I am neurotic about making sure my tent is dry to fend off mould and a lot of bell tent owners seem to experience mould, I’m not sure why, I never hear of it as an issue from pyramid tent owners.
I have no experience of a wood stove in a tent, but I do have experience of young children, and I would want a sturdy playpen type fire guard all the way round.
Also, extending the camping season means getting the tent dry on damp dewey mornings, but fine if you have a garage to dry your tent in.
Thank you for getting back to me. We've ended up going for more of a Dutch pyramid style with a polycotton 285g. We've got a little gas heater should we need it, and there's always the option to put in a stove later down the line, but yeah I think I'm too nervous with the kids around one at the moment! Looking forward to it arriving now and pitching it up in the garden to try it out- it's going to take up nearly the whole garden though!
Good choice on tent style Campfam--Im sure you dont need to be reminded of the risks involved with gas heaters--always have plenty of ventilation as they give off dangerous fumes.When I used a gas canister heater- I would always place it on a tray in case it tipped over.Kids ,dogs or even wind rippling your groundsheet can do this. They get extremely hot and will melt through your sheet instantly-not to mention badly burn anybody touching it by mistake.(experience of both these scenarios If camping on sites I will always go for hookup if available and use a 2kw fan heater-nothing special and cheap from most large stores.Heats our Alaska up nicely. Festival camping - I would suggest dancing a bit harder before you go to bed I would be terrified of having a stove inside my tent unless there was only me in it--much rather have a tarp setup outside with a firepit /cammpfire if allowed.
One thing about camping-there is no onesize fits all solution. Enjoy
------------- Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!
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I have a bell tent (Blacks Solace) and a Dutch pyramid (Esvo), and many others, both synthetic and cotton.
The bell tents will(mostly) be polycotton as will many Dutch pyramid style tents.
They (cotton/polycotton) are heavy and a lot stronger, and cooler, and warmer and quieter than plastic alternatives with a lot less condensation potential.
I am using a p/cotton (Esvo) tent next week and then later wildcamp/canoeing with synthetic tents. Each depending has their place
Wood burners are generally better with a polycotton/cotton tent, although some synthetics are also designed for them, but sparks will instantly pinhole them (synthetics).
Personally, for family camping, I would go poly/cotton tent, preferably bell tent or Dutch (but then I'm biased!) style. The woodburner is great, but the responsibility re children would put me off if they are small or young .............As a thought, 3 of my cotton tents are around 70 years old and in almost perfect condition, and are used. How often can that be said of a wholly synthetic tent??
There have been previous threads on the wood burner - what to put underneath so as not to damage the tent or grass, how to protect the hole through the tent roof etc.
Sorry, I can’t do links but they might be helpful if you search the forum.
And get a carbon monoxide alarm for the tent whether you’re using gas or wood: we have to have one in every room with a gas heating appliance or a stove (in Scotland), makes sense to be careful in a tent too, like you never take a BBQ inside.
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Topic: Bell Tent decisions
via mobile 30/5/2024 at 7:11am
If camping on sites I will always go for hookup if available and use a 2kw fan heater-nothing special and cheap from most large stores.Heats our Alaska up nicely. Festival camping - I would suggest dancing a bit harder before you go to bed
I would be terrified of having a stove inside my tent unless there was only me in it--much rather have a tarp setup outside with a firepit /cammpfire if allowed.
