Like the boots I look back on all the tents I did not get to use this year either. I love camping and every year I usually get away for a week and the odd weekend with the family. I have all the gear and it feels like a home from home when my huge tent is set up – it has a couple of bedrooms and a sitting area and with some inflatable mattresses and duvets we never get cold.
I got to use my big tent when I went to Loch Lomond however I also had a couple of short overnight trips cancelled due to the weather. These were going to be overnights with a fishing buddy when I would not have needed a wad of camping equipment – just a sleeping bag, a beer and some zeds. I have always wondered about those pop up tents for short overnight stays:
The blurb:
An amazing tent for 2 people – Just unzip the carry bag, take the tent out and allow it to pop itself up in an instant – a dream come true – camping without the tent pitching.
There is no need to connect or insert any poles; the integral pole system is designed to allow the tent to erect itself. Pegs and guylines are supplied and are advised to increase the stability of the tent in adverse conditions.
The Peakland Sonic is ideal for any occasion where you desire a fast and easy tent to pitch, available in a range of colours to lift the gloomiest of camp sites.
- Flysheet: 180T 100% polyester PU coated F/R
- Hydrostatic head: 1500 mm
- Taping: Flysheet fully taped
- Pitching: Quick erect, single skin
- Floor: 100% polyethylene
- Poles: Fibreglass 6.0 mm
- Pack size: Dia. 76 x 5 cm
- Weight: App. 2.1 kg
- Dimensions: 145 x 98 x 245cm (L x H x W)
This is a pretty good time to buy tents actually as it is the end of the “camping” season and I notice Yeomans Outdoor Leisure has the above tent at a rather reasonable twenty pounds as opposed to sixty. Actually, now that I come to think about it that could be a good Christmas present for someone. I suppose it may be a bit on the cosy side for two however for a short sharp stay somewhere I reckon it cannot be beat. I like the idea of guy ropes as it would make it a bit more robust in the wind and I suppose you would not camp and fish in pouring rain anyway.
Bring on next summer!
Alistair, tents are just so 20th century… Hammock camping is the way forward.
Literally seconds to set up, don’t need level/dry/soft ground, many have built in midge nets, comfiest sleep you will ever have outdoors.
Not as practical for young kids although my eldest now uses his at home too and hasn’t slept in a bed in months. Ideal for an overnighter next to a quiet loch or river.
Peter G
You have intrigued me with your talk of hammocks – I googled them and found some you can encase yourself in like a giant insect in a cocoon for the night. It looks great fun !
Myself and my boys spent a week up at Loch Awe in our hammocks (we rented out a cabin and spent most of the time kipping outside), you get a fantastic sleep and the midges can’t get at you. We got ours from DD Hammocks in Edinburgh. It’s much more widespread in the US but gradually becoming more popular over here.
I got a pop-up tent this year and they take all the pain out of camping. The only thing you need to remember is to get your head out of the way fast, because once they uncoil they’re tent-shaped within about 2 seconds. Getting them back into a hoop shape takes about 2 minutes and a little, just a little practice.
Sometimes that extra few mins makes all the difference !