Camping tents on clearance
The camping tents offered here in the clearance section are aimed at holidays, festivals and weekends in the great outdoors. The Regatta Elkon three-person tent, a dome tent with a double roof and fiberglass poles, is a perfect example: spacious enough for two adults and their luggage, compact enough to fit in a car boot and easy to set up by two campers.
A shelter for holidays and weekends, at a friendlier price.
How many places for how many sleepers
The number of places in a tent corresponds to the number of mattresses it can fit side by side, excluding luggage. A three-person tent like the Regatta Elkon, which is three metres forty long and two metres ten wide, can comfortably accommodate two adults and their bags, or two adults and one young child. For a family of four, you're looking at a tent that sleeps four to six, with two separate bedrooms and a central living area. The height also matters: at one metre forty, the Elkon allows you to sit up, which is enough for sleeping and changing, whereas a family tent where you can stand exceeds one metre eighty.
The other clearance items
Camping clearance also includes:
- Sleeping bag, to enhance your night under the tent.
All clearance items are gathered on the camping page.
Water column and fabric: reading the waterproofing
The waterproofing of a tent is expressed by its water column, in millimetres: this is the height of water that the fabric can withstand before allowing a drop to seep through. The double roof of the Regatta Elkon, made of polyester, boasts two thousand millimetres, which is sufficient for summer camping's showers and rainy nights; expedition tents exceed three thousand millimetres. The groundsheet made of polyethylene, which is waterproof, prevents moisture from rising from the ground. The fabric is treated with a fire retardant, which slows down the spread of flames, and the mesh doors ventilate the room while keeping insects out, vital for reducing condensation in the morning.
Setup: fiberglass poles and pegs
Setting up a dome tent relies on its crossed poles, which slide into sleeves or clip in place. On the Elkon, the eight and a half millimetre fiberglass poles are colour-coded to show where to place them, which helps avoid mistakes with the sleeves. Fiberglass is cost-effective and flexible, but it breaks more easily than an aluminium pole in cold weather or under impact: they are assembled carefully, segment by segment. Pegs are hammered in at a forty-five degree angle with the top facing outwards, and guy lines are tightened to stabilise the fabric in the wind; highly visible at night, they help prevent trips.
Drying, folding, and storing your tent
A tent should always be stored dried: a damp folded fabric will grow mould in a few days and the polyester will lose its coating. If you have to fold it up while it’s raining, unfold it again as soon as you get home, either in a garden or a garage, until it’s completely dry. Brush off the dirt from the groundsheet and clean the fabric with clear water and a sponge, without detergent or a machine, as they would ruin the waterproofing. Folded, the Elkon fits into a transport bag sixty centimetres long and weighs just over five kilos: store it in a dry, airy place out of light, which can weaken the fibres over time.
Frequently asked questions
Inflatable tent or pole tent: which to choose?
The inflatable tent sets up in a few minutes with a pump, but it is heavier and more expensive. The pole tent, being more compact and lighter, is easier to repair on-site and is better suited for frequent trips or smaller boots.
How to re-waterproof a leaking tent?
Clean and dry the fabric, then spray a waterproofing solution for technical fabrics onto the taut double roof. Leaky seams can be treated with a specific sealing product applied with a brush on the inside.
Can you camp in winter with a summer tent?
This is not recommended: a tent designed for the warm season is not built to withstand snow, and its fiberglass poles become brittle in extreme cold. Condensation is also worse due to the lack of insulation between the room and the double roof.
How to avoid condensation in a tent?
Keep the vents open, even in cool weather, and avoid drying wet clothes inside. Pitching the tent under a tree, rather than in an open field, can also reduce the tent's cooling overnight.
How to repair a broken tent pole?
Slide a repair sleeve, a small metal tube, over the break, then secure it with strong tape. This temporary fix will hold for the duration of your stay; upon return, replace the damaged segment with a new one of the same diameter.
