Bell Tents!!!!

[AJB]

Hello all,

I know this is not directly bushcrafty but I’m sure, as ever, there will be some good advice within the community.

I’ve been fancying a Bell Tent for a long time and I hope soon to be in the position to do something about it having been unemployed for quite a while, but now with the merest hint of a new start, I’m having a little flight of fancy which I hope doesn’t jinx things

I’m looking for advice, recommendations, reviews or warnings on specific brands and models. I’m thinking I want a 5m, zipped in ground sheet, canvas and intend to put a log burner in it.

Many thanks all,

Andy

 

[Cromm]

Hello fella,
I have the Soulpad 5000 hybrid - G. Which is a fantastic bell tent, 5 meters wide, 3 meters tall, the G stands for Genie which is a pre sown in flap for the wood stove flue which we will be buying for Xmas. It has a zipped in groundsheet and the family loves it to bits.

 

[AJB]

Hello Cromm, That's the one I'm favouring, but I didn't want to taint any responses with my preference. How long have you had it, how's it standing up to use both in terms of waterproofing and wear and tear? Which stove are you planning to buy? Is the stove jack placed by your choice or their recommendation, if so where?

Other over excited questions

Thanks for your response,

Andy

 

[rik_uk3]

Do you have space to dry a 5m x 3m tent, if you don't then don't buy... its a lot of canvas.

 

[AJB]

I know Rik, I think I just about do, but it would be messy

 

[Cromm]

Had it for obout 8 weeks so cannot say how well it stands up to wear and tear over a long time. But it has been on about 25 different camps so far, in sun, fog, mist, wind,rain and RAIN and the tent has been outstanding. No leaks, no trouble at all.
The genie has been placed to the left side of the tent, which is normal but they did ask if we wanted it anywhere else which we didn't.
It takes me by myself to put the tent up 35 minutes with someone else 20 minutes, which for the size is great. It is a tardis of a tent.
The blaze stove is the one the family is liking at the moment by soulpad.
We are lucky that their site is only 45 mins away, so was able to go see the tents up to make sure it was big enough. Happy we did as we had been looking at the 4000.
We have had to take it down after rain so it was wet, but the great thing is you unzip the ground sheet put that in a bin liner, then the canvas tent into a different bag then when you are home all you have to do is hang or lay the canvas part out. Works a treat.

 

[AJB]

Awesome, thank you very much Cromm! Would you consider the inner or a porch/fly?

 

[Cromm]

If you are going to a campsite, you will get lots of people coming to look at the tent and want to look inside, also if you go in a group and there are kids, they love to run around the inside first of all, as kids do. So you may want a inner. Just to cut off a bit of the tent that no one can see or use who shouldn't, it would help with warming the tent in winter months also I am told. We've looked at fly sheets-porches and are not sure if they are needed, we love the look of the bell tent and putting something on the front just takes the look away for us.

 

[AJB]

Wise words Many thanks for all your help Cromm.

Any other points of view out there?

 

[Robbi]

we love our 5m one

 

[Cromm]

Event shelters would be the way we would go if we wanted to have something on the front.
I would also say to buy a cheap tarp to place underneath the tent so it sits on the tarp not the muddy ground helps alot when packing up, again fold it up and drop it in a bag afterwards to hang out or brush clean later.

 

[Robbi]

I've often thought of doing that, is there any problems when it rains and water gets between the two layers ?

 

[Cromm]

Haven't had any trouble yet, we got an over sized tarp and then cut the shape of the groundsheet out of it after pegging it out. It has made a huge difference in time and effort in packing everything up at the end of a stay.

 

[widu13]

We've a 4m bell purchased on here second hand. It's great. A bit small for 5 of us especially since we're not organized! Also installed a jack and Frontier stove. I did cut out a square to fit over the jack but discovered that a pop bottle fits well so the cover isn't needed

 

[Robbi]

We like our space

 

[Cromm]

Lovely. The strange thing with our 5m tent is it looks bigger when we put the beds and rugs and chairs in than without.

 

[Robbi]

We use the tent as sleeping quarters and the event shelter as living space, it makes for a huge comfortable area, lots of people want to come in and have a look, especially at night when all the lights are lit, must admit though, it does look a good set up We thoroughly enjoy it.

 

[moocher]

We got a canvas bell tent,4 metre I think ,liking the eating area robbi,must copy it.

 

[Robbi]

And cooking area mate, we won't cook in the tent as we don't want cooking smells to impregnate the canvas.

 

[Bindle]

I think they look great, and I love the idea of the woodburner in the tent. Are they very expensive?