Talk about Tents

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Discussion

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Friday 23rd February 2018
quotequote all
Hi,

I'm after a tent recommendation or any suggestions for anything I may have missed.
Decided to buy a new tent this year as the last one is getting a bit tired. Broken poles and starting to leak in a downpour.

Had a Vango Icarus 500 previously with the additional canopy.
The canopy was airbeam which with a bit of tweaking did fit over the pole style main section.

Really liked the Airbeam design and had been looking for an inflatable tent. In terms of size the Icarus 500 was good so same again or slightly bigger.

Use will be for Le Mans, Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic a couple of weekends away marshalling and maybe an actual camping trip sometime. 1 or 2 bodies. Le Mans will prob use the 'living' area for the 4 of us.

Le Mans is the main use and am conscious of the pitch size on Houx. have 2 back to back this year so length less of a problem. Will prob try one of the private sites next year which I think have the similar 7x5 pitch size or worst case open camping on Beausejour.

I have looked at some of this years offering from Vango and Coleman but increasingly the larger Air tents seem to have pole supports, sometimes 3 or 4. If I'm spending what is usually double the base price to get an Air tent, the last thing I want is to then still be messing around with poles.

Budget £500 but got looking at this. Looks ideal.

https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/kampa-hayling-...

Any advice? Hoping to have something I can trial on the BARC weekend at Croft in April.

Thanks



Edited by Rick101 on Friday 23 February 13:24

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Sunday 25th February 2018
quotequote all
I'm pretty set on the Hayling. Only concern is with the new straps vice guy ropes they need to be at a set length and are now more important whereas you could leave a few guy ropes unsecured.

Have emailed local retailer and am waiting a response. Will maybe wait until Easter and see if there are discounts to be had.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Monday 26th February 2018
quotequote all
^ Looks good but that pretty much what I have already with the Icarus 500.


Found a supplier for the Hayling with one erected in store so going to take a look today.

Thanks.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Monday 26th February 2018
quotequote all
Went over to Winfields at Garforth. Not that busy in a camping shop when it's snowing for some reason.

No outdoor display but they had a single tent erected inside, bizarrely the same as what I'm considering though cotton version.

Looks great. Real measure came out at 506cm which is a touch too big for the LM pitches but it is possible to botch the Fastpitch straps to make them a little shorter.

Will probably go and buy next month.


Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Anyone any experience of the Vango Icarus 500?
Good tent but get spare poles. Supplied ones are terrible.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
quotequote all
Been back onto https://www.thefamilytentshop.com/ to order a few more bits today.

Absolutely superb service. Highly recommend using them if you are picking up a few bits.
Found them through the Tent Talk FB group which is also worth joining.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,972 posts

151 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
Yes, I did. Ordered from The Family Tent shop who did me a good deal and have great service.
Ordered a few more bits from them that are due today actually. They rang asking what day I'd like it delivered and have kept to it. Have just had my 1 hour time-slot advised. Small things like that make a difference to me rather than just using the cheapest courier and item getting lost or having to be picked up from 50 miles away.

Have trialled erecting it but unfortunately still too wet in these parts to have used it yet.

I do believe the current model has a blackout bedroom.