Any good camping show rooms?

xxlshirts_fit_all

xxlshirts_fit_all

Well-known member
Been to go outdoors and got our eye on a couple of different air tents, but would like a good sized show room where you can see them put up properly and get all around them to see…
 
We got a higear 700 a couple of months ago. Just done two weeks in France with it and it’s fantastic. Never liked camping but this thing is great. Massive, probably too big but definitely recommend an air tent.
 
Zanzibobs said:
We got a higear 700 a couple of months ago. Just done two weeks in France with it and it’s fantastic. Never liked camping but this thing is great. Massive, probably too big but definitely recommend an air tent.
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We e looked at the high gear horizon air 400… quite cheap but just our size, but I don’t like the toggles that hold the bedroom area up.. so think it’s now between the vango Alderly 450 or Brecon 450
 
My wife got some little bungees for the bedrooms. They work a treat and have a lot of give in them. We leave the bedroom bit in now when we put it away. Loads of little hacks and Facebook groups with tips on. Whatever you go with, I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
 
Zanzibobs said:
We got a higear 700 a couple of months ago. Just done two weeks in France with it and it’s fantastic. Never liked camping but this thing is great. Massive, probably too big but definitely recommend an air tent.
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What’s the advantages of an air tent?
 
1finny said:
What’s the advantages of an air tent?
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Not too sure to be honest. Never really been camping before we got this thing, never even put a tent up and I’m 43 next week! Possibly something to do with no poles so they don’t snap. I like it though!
 
1finny said:
What’s the advantages of an air tent?
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The main supporting 'beams' that give the tent it's structural shape are giant inner tubes that need inflating. So instead of faffing about with connecting poles to give the tent shape you're just inflating the air arches that are already connected to the tent. Then just using the guide ropes to hammer into the ground to give it a bit more stability like a regular tent. It's loads quicker to put up and less likely to fall over in wind as the arches are a bit more flexible and flex with the wind.

I'm talking like I know what I'm on about, but to be fair we got ours over a year ago and have so far only used it for sleeping in the back garden. Mind you this summer has been shocking and we're definitely fair weather campers 🤣
 
1finny said:
What’s the advantages of an air tent?
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Stupidly quick & easy to put up and take down, holds strong in winds and no need to worry about snapped poles (despite what you may think, punctures in air beams are pretty rare)

We have the Eurohike Genus 800 Air, only cost £279 and we've been away in it twice this summer with absolutely no issues. Plenty of room in the sleeping areas although it only has one door and a tiny "living" area, which is a shame.

For the price though, you can't fall off.
 
The manager (I think he was anyway) at go outdoors on Portrack lane was fantastic when we got ours. Got a good deal. Was going to get the 4 berth for £400 but found out that it was going to be reduced the following week which meant my slightly better half got the 700 for £400 which takes up the whole of our boot and weighs almost twice as much. Still get it up or down in an hour.
 
I’ve gotta say I’ve been tempted by the cheapness of the equivalent pole tents but seeing the air tents on the site we were on in Cornwall has me convinced they’re better even if more expensive…
Doing some serious research ( looking at loads on line 😂) before I buy…

Been some good prices end of season but think I’ll have to wait until just after Xmas due to funds shortage atm..
 
xxlshirts_fit_all said:
I’ve gotta say I’ve been tempted by the cheapness of the equivalent pole tents but seeing the air tents on the site we were on in Cornwall has me convinced they’re better even if more expensive…
Doing some serious research ( looking at loads on line 😂) before I buy…

Been some good prices end of season but think I’ll have to wait until just after Xmas due to funds shortage atm..
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I’m putting mine up this afternoon if you fancy coming round to clean it, let it air out and then try and get it back in the bag. Gives you a great idea of the work involved and I’m more than happy to act as site supervisor in a council site supervisor kind of way.
 
xxlshirts_fit_all said:
I’ve gotta say I’ve been tempted by the cheapness of the equivalent pole tents but seeing the air tents on the site we were on in Cornwall has me convinced they’re better even if more expensive…
Doing some serious research ( looking at loads on line 😂) before I buy…

Been some good prices end of season but think I’ll have to wait until just after Xmas due to funds shortage atm..
Click to expand...
When we bought ours i just ended up watching videos online and studying the dimensions carefully, There's no really good places to go looking at tents locally, there's loads of big showrooms down south and there's Winfields at Leeds, but otherwise it's not great.
Be careful of the pack size - the air tents are bigger when packed up and some of the bags are enormous so if boot space is a concern then consider this also

I'd definitely recommend the air tent option vs poles. Ours feels so much sturdier than our old pole tents. I'd be a biit cautious of the cheaper ones if you think the condiitons may be testing though, or if your a more frequent user, but of course more expensive doesn't always mean better. Hi Gear, Freedom Trail, Eurohike etc are just Go Outdoor brands by the way, not that that necessarily makes them inferior.

It's a difficult one cost vs usage vs quality like anything. We spoent a small fortune on our but we use it loads, a few weeks every year, so the price per night is probably better than an occasional user in a cheaper tent.
 
I’m more or less fixed on the vango alderley 450xl I think… just gotta get it at the right price…

Hopefully some poor blokes gotta sell his in September after his wife n kids have vowed never to go camping again after getting caught in storm Betty…
 
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