I am considering returning to camping after a number of years of Lodge and Static Caravan holidays and would like some advice on the selection of tent please.
We are a family of five who like quite a bit of space and used to own a Cabanon Espace 8. This tent was ideal in that it had a large living space where friends who were holidaying with us could join us in our tent for evening chats etc.
I am now looking presently at two options for a new tent, the Cabanon Biscaya 500 (sorry, can't link directly to it) and the Khyam Ultimate Classic.
Money is not really a primary concern. Space, ease of erection, and quality of build are more important.
Also, any other recommendations offering a similar solution are more than welcome.
Thanks
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If money was not your primary concern i would look at the biscaya or the outwell lake range. You can get good deals on 2006 stock, but the new 2007 range will be out mid feb.
I should actually have said I used to use, rather than own, an Espace as I still actually own it but want to try another type which erects more easily. Hence the two options.
Is a nylon tent that much of a come down from a canvas ?
Thx
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If you enjoyed the comfort of a canvas tent before you might find a nylon one a bit of a come down! MT
I go along with this, Cotton Frame Tents may not be the fashionable thing right now but their lifetime is so much longer, they breathe, their secure. There is no better frame tent than Cabanon and the Espace cannot be equalled (In my humble opinion)
we are a family of five and have the outwell indiana 8, we like it, loads of space, lots of windows so when you are inside in the rain you dont feel confined, canopy to cook under as well.
last year we had our family of five, plus another family of five sat in in the evenings.
------------- almost always Ruth
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I should actually have said I used to use, rather than own, an Espace as I still actually own it but want to try another type which erects more easily. Hence the two options.
Is a nylon tent that much of a come down from a canvas ?
I used canvas frame tents in the 70's. When I came back to camping three years ago, hubby chose a modern nylon tunnel tent. After just one 5-night holiday in the nylon tent, we sold it and bought a second hand canvas frame tent
A canvas tent doesn't suffer with condensation. You can cook inside on wet or windy days. In most cases It can endure high winds and thunderstorms. It doesn't get as hot as an oven on hot sunny days. It seems warmer on cold days. Frame tents usually have more windows, which is a boon on wet miserable days when you're confined to tent. Curtains to draw too, instead of rolling up blinds (which are often on the outside of nylon tents - so if it's raining you get wet when closing them down for the night).
Your choice, but if you've got a Cabanon Espace already, my advise would be to use it.
me and my husband put the outwell up pretty quick, i am only 5ft 2 and we manage easily between us, you just assemble all the poles insert each section at a time and raise the tent, usually done in about 30-40 mins.
If you want to have a look go to the outwell website which has a video of it being put up.
we particually like the seperate small bedroom for us and the large bedroom for the three kids to spread out a bit.
forgot to add the yeomans website has some nice pictures and the pitching video. Complete outdoors also has a little video showing the inside etc. Hope this helps, Ruth
noticed you had been thinking of a Khyam, we had one before the Outwell, very good tent and easy to put up, but lacking in windows and bedroom height low. ( I felt a bit closed in zipped up in the rain) The floor space was no where near the Outwell.
------------- almost always Ruth
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The Biscaya 500 is a lovely tent but, if you go for this one, check it over carefully. We had a brand new one in 2006, one of the window toggle fasteners came off in my hand on first day and the zip that fastens flysheet to groundsheet was faulty; it was a real battle to get it started (ended up going back to Casey's, who stated that they 'totally agreed' that it was a problem, but refused to replace the tent and would only agree to have it repaired, hence we went for a refund as did not feel a brand new £1200 tent should have to be repaired).
One minor point, the frame creaks quite a lot, even when it is not particularly windy. Think it is because each section is tensioned against the adjoining piece and because of the unique shape. It was a bit of an annoyance when trying to get to sleep, though! (Maybe this was because of the width of the 500, and am not sure if the less-wide models have the same creaking issues!).
We do still like the Biscaya, but did feel that a tent of this cost should not have quality control issues, especially on main selling points like zip-in groundsheet. It was also not quite as easy to pitch as proposed in the brochure, which states 20 minutes but that would be in ideal conditions, with athletic campers, and having a zip which can actually be started!
Quote: Originally posted by 1stop4 on 09/1/2007
How easy is the outwell to erect. My wife is not usually able to assist so I have to rely on my fifteen year old son to help.
Hi, I have never put up an Espace or an Outwell Indiana 8 but over the years have had experience of putting up an Outwell Colorado 8, Montana 6 and Indiana 4. Rather late in the day I tried out my first canvas tent in 2006, a Cabanon Pacific. The Pacific is of course way, way smaller than an Espace but it still gives me a fair idea of what is involved in putting up a frame tent. I wouldn't like to guess which would be quicker to put up between the Espace and an Indiana 8 from getting the bags out of the car to knocking in the last peg - it might turn out to be even stevens but the Indiana would not be easier to erect and the Espace would be far more comfortable when it was up. As a tent, its juts a cut above - and as you can see above I have been a fan of Outwells for years!
On the other hand, you might just fancy a change! But I'd still go for another canvas or polycotton tent if I were you. MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
We have the Biscaya 500 and have been very pleased with it. In terms of size, it is very similar to the Espace (both 5.7m x 5m but Espace has vertical sides), but has slightly more living space and less bedroom space. Without the bedrooms up, it's like a sportshall inside! Plus it has a useful 2m canopy outside We've been out in ours about 6 times now and it is really is easy to erect. We go with friends with an Aruba (which would be quicker to erect than the bigger Espace) and can erect our Biscaya at least 10 mins quicker. Much easier than lifting the Espace up from its 'knees'. We would have been very happy with an Espace, but preferred the groundsheet! We've had no problems with ours, but did erect it as soon as we got it to check zips and stuff (no problems whatsoever for us). I hadn't thought of the creaking issue until mentioned here, but there is a slight creaking sound at certain wind speeds. We noticed it on a couple of nights (out of 30 or 40 so far) and it didn't bother us. I'd put this down to the fact that the Biscaya is normally completely silent, so any sound would stand out.
Thanks for all your help. We've read through them and decided to get the Cabanon Biscaya. Now where can I see one pitched in the North West to have a look at it first hand :)
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Topic: Which Tent !!
