I haven't used windbreaks since I was a young teenager caravanning with my parents, so have they changed much and what is the best to go for which won't break the bank? I have two young children and want the windbreaks to afford a bit of a boundary for them while they are small.
We are relatively new campers and bought a Vango windbreak for last years trip -small, easily packed away, looks great - but in reality when it was being used it was a pain in the backside.....the guy ropes were always coming loose and it spent more time falling over than it was upright ....
Old fashioned wooden poles with a big spike on them are what you need. They work a treat
Have seen this on Amazon, is this the sort you mean? It's the sort I remember as a kid!!! Didn't even realise you could get some with guy ropes. My kids are going to be tripping over things left, right and centre, I can see it now!!
Have seen this on Amazon, is this the sort you mean? It's the sort I remember as a kid!!! Didn't even realise you could get some with guy ropes. My kids are going to be tripping over things left, right and centre, I can see it now!!
I have made ours, they are only a length of 4ft wide material. I put a seam every 5 ft to accept a sharpened broom stale. that way they can be as long as you need. You could get canvas to match your tent or go mad with jazzy coloured material. It doesn't matter either way just get a material that will not rip easily with the wind. Job done and much cheaper than shop bought. Buy a cheapy from any beach shop for £5 and see how they are made?
Keep your eyes open for the cltoth types that have wooden poles with metal covered points at good prices, they are with out doubt the best and will give you many many years of service.
------------- Steve
Look into my eyes, not around my eyes but into my eyes
Thanks everyone, I got a set with 5 panels/6 poles from Aldi for £8.99 although just wooden tips, no metal. They come with guy ropes and pegs and a carry bag. Should the guy ropes face into the wind? I was going to put it up around the side/front of tent so I assume the ropes would have to go on the outside of the 'fence'?
If you get some extra twine and tie it between the poles, along the top of the panels. you can put guy lines outside the 'corral' I normally place my windbreak in a 3 sided formation then you can have the guys pulling in opposite ways to strengthen it. Make sure though, when you put it up. you leave one post quite loose to use as a gate, so that you do not have to keep erecting the main set up. Hope this makes sense?
another vote for decent wooden poles ones, the cheap wooden pole ones (usually usedo the beach) can be noisy
we have Towsure stripey (very similar to Blue Diamond) that cost £30. Poles have metal spikes and metal protectors for hammer/mallet end. The fabric isnt great quality though
Ours was completely flattened in a storm recently but poles did not break (ground was was quite soft). I re-rigged with some spare guy lines using round a turn and 2 half hitches on the metal pieces and it didnt shift down onto the wood. Normally perfectly adequate without guys though
Plan to make a new Canvas fabric this winter and just drop the poles out of the Towsure windbreak. For £30 you can buy a stack of poles and some decent fabric if you are so inclined
Quote: Originally posted by agme28 on 18/7/2010
Thanks everyone, I got a set with 5 panels/6 poles from Aldi for £8.99 although just wooden tips, no metal. They come with guy ropes and pegs and a carry bag. Should the guy ropes face into the wind? I was going to put it up around the side/front of tent so I assume the ropes would have to go on the outside of the 'fence'?
We are "travelling light" for our camping trip and bought 2 of the new style windbreaks.... now I'm thinking I should take my old stripey ones... what to do??
------------- everything will be ok in the end, if its not ok, its not the end. Anon.
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Topic: Windbreaks
