The World’s Best Bell Tent? We think so.

Story by Homecamp

If you are reading this, you probably care about what you buy and invest in. It’s our mission to create quality products with purpose for the outdoors. We started out nearly 4 years ago with a single product – the iconic Bell Tent – which we developed primarily for our outdoor events company (see www.undersky.com.au). From using Bell  Tents as our go-to camping tent for years to then setting up hundreds of tents for events, we like to think we have become a bit of an authority on Bell Tents and know there is a lot more to this classic tent design than just good looks. With this in mind, we asked ourselves what it would take to make the perfect Bell Tent – we decided on a tent that was not too big and not too small, ultra hard-wearing but without the impractical weight and bulk of most large tents. It would have waterproof canvas but be breathable, and not have the noisy rustle of plastic tents. We would add fit-for-purpose inclusions such as a well designed storage duffle, solid hardware and top-notch detailing. You soon realise that striving for perfection means compromise and trade offs – for example, the heavier the canvas and hardware, the heavier the tent, and how do we get the performance of modern textiles but with the feel of the classic canvas that we love. With the new Homecamp Touring Bell Tent we believe we have come pretty close to perfection.

Yeah… but what makes it so different? Bell Tents have an easily recognisable shape and theses days there are plenty of them around, some good, most not so good. There are plenty of generic sub-par Bell Tents made with crappy canvas, flimsy hardware and badly sewn seams. Homecamp has always tried to offer something a bit different so let’s break down why we believe The Touring Bell Tent to be 100% awesome…

Not all Canvas is created equal Canvas is the single biggest expense for tent manufacturing and the quality of canvas varies wildly (check out our Bell Tent Buyers Guide for our recommendations). The quality of the canvas is dependent on the materials used in the weave, the weight – i.e. thickness measured Grams per Square Meter (g/m2) and the manufacturing process and know-how. There are many factors and trade offs for finding good canvas… how thick and heavy is it? How and what is used to treat the canvas for water and mould proofing? What original materials were used to make the canvas? How is the material spun? What’s its tensile (tear) strength? For The Touring Tent we have used a groundbreaking canvas that we believe to be best of all worlds and, as far as we know, the first for any (Bell?) tent manufacturer.

In short, The Touring Tent uses a unique 350 GSM Ultra-EcoTM Canvas. PEVR coated, triple-layer high tenacity polyspun ripstop canvas, laminated with a layer of PU membrane and 100% pure cotton lining. It’s a mouthful but this canvas has many, many advantages:

  • Enhanced performance — It’s highly waterproof to a massive 7000mm pressure, yet still breathes via the cotton and PU layer. The outer layer doesn’t absorb water like most canvases and is dust and abrasion resistant, and easy to clean.
  • Better longevity — with the right care, this canvas will last 2-3 times longer than normal cotton canvas and is much more weather resistant. It’s a stable material that can withstand the rigours of variable climate here in Australia e.g. extreme UV, persistent rain, humidity and high wind. The canvas is anti-fungal so naturally less likely to get infected by moulds and bacteria.
  • Improved strength — high tenacity means high tensile and tear strength. These tents are large and will be pitched in all sorts of conditions making them a potential target for flying debris, extreme gales, falling branches and general wear and tear.
  • Better for the environment — The exterior ripstop canvas layer uses 10% CPL certified, post-consumer recycled PET. This is unique amongst canvas tent manufacturing and a big step in the right direction (more to come on this).
  • Better sun protection — with an incredibly strong ripstop canvas layer and a smooth cotton lining the canvas feels solid but luxurious to touch. The exterior layer blocks harmful UV and the cotton cools the tent, preventing condensation and breaking up the light to create an awesome vibe in the tent.

Hardware that is actually hard-wearing One of the issues with metal poles for large tents is weight. We overcame this by using Hard Anodised Aluminium – the anodising process makes the aluminium strong enough to withstand structural and wind pressures, but remain lightweight. Losing the weight on the poles meant that we could increase the peg size. We have included extremely tough rebar pegs that with the right force will shatter resistance in even the hardiest of campgrounds.

Details, details Apparently this is where the devil is, but with The Homecamp Touring Bell Tent it’s all goodness. Attention to detail with stitching is paramount, double stitching and even triple in some spots that are prone to wear. Even the type of thread used makes a big difference to longevity.  Zoom out a bit and hardware such as brass YKK zips, custom toggles, d-rings for the ground sheet, webbing and reflective paracord, metal guy adjusters and super strong 110 GSM Fly Screen throughout all means that you won’t have to worry about having to get your tent fixed for some minor but frustrating failure. Add to this an extra window – YES we have five windows, not four like everyone else – plus a handy carabiner for hanging lights from and two giant pockets that will hold all your essentials at hand – toiletries, keys, wallet, phone etc.. you can see we have really thought about details.

Size does matter Not too big, not too small. The Touring Bell Tent is 4.5m in diameter and 2.75m in height – we have found this to be the perfect size for most uses and overcomes the dilemma of choosing between a 4m or 5m Bell Tent. This size is big enough for a growing family but not too big for a couple or even solo adventurer who likes space. The Touring Tent packs down to a very reasonable 90cm x 35cm x 30cm and can easily fit into the boot of most cars.

Weight: the big trade-off. This is crucial and a problem we have worked hard on. Large tents mean big weights (our old 5m tents were nearly 40 KG). This can be inhibitive for many people. The Touring Bell Tent weighs 30kg and whilst still not exactly lightweight (and therefore suited for car camping), this is manageable for one person and in our opinion the best trade-off for performance, features and portability.

Conclusion This is the best tent we have ever made and we think it’s possibly (or probably) the best Bell Tent available in terms of quality anywhere (bold claim we know). You get what you pay for with materials and workmanship, and if you are planning on making an investment in a tent that will get a lot of use then this is the tent for you. This tent is ideal for touring and tough conditions, for people who want a semi-permanent set-up or just folk who admire quality and want a tent that will serve them well for years to come.