Camperlands 'Award Winning Products' Guide
Once again the Camp-let reigned supreme at the NEC Boat and Caravan Show in February, with the Camp-let voted "Best Lightweight Trailer Tent" for the 5th year running. So it's no surprise that the Camp-let Concorde was crowned "Best Trailer Tent" by the Camping Magazine. All well and good you might say, but what about all the other camping gear that's out there?
Well for those of you not currently in the market for a top class trailer tent or folding camper (Best Folding Camper Trigano Randger 575 LX available from Camperlands), we at Camperlands have put together a little guide to highlight the pick of this years award winners. So if you want to know what is the best family tent or you are just looking to replace a few camping accessories for this year, here’s the kit we think you should look out for.
First the Awards
The awards themselves are given out each year at the NEC Boat and Caravan Show where all the major manufacturers display their outdoor products including all the latest camping, caravanning and motorhome accessories. The attendance of multiple competing companies at the NEC outdoor show makes it possible to review comparative products side-by-side, making it easy for judges to decide, which products most deserve an award. The Camping Magazine awards are run in association with the Camping and Caravanning Club (click here for membership details) with the judging panel being backed up by a 30-household strong readers panel to assess the entrants on criteria including; - quality of service, - materials, - build and specification, - excellence of design and styling, - safety, and finally, - value for money. Read on as we look at the best of this years winners and let you know what makes them winners.
Best Family Tent
For anyone looking to kit themselves out for the years camping the best place to start is always with the tent, and since Camperlands are a family camping specialist we thought we’d take a look at 'Best Family Tent' first. We believe the Coleman Mackenzie Cabin 6 thoroughly deserves the Best Family Tent award since it includes all the features a family might be looking for and a good few they probably haven’t even thought of.
Why is it a winner?
The tunnel design of the Mackenzie 6 is a good thing for those new to camping as it provides a combination of the best internal space while remaining easy and quick to pitch while the use of a sturdy steel frame makes the whole tent robust and reliable, a must for your family’s tent. This Coleman tent also features all the standard bits family campers look for nowadays with a sewn-in groundsheet, roll-up, pole-out front panel, a side door with eyebrow porch (keeps the rain out when you’re entering the tent) and side windows. It also benefits from the new self-rolling window blinds with no fiddly toggles to tie back the curtains and Coleman’s CoolAir Port where a fan can be attached to increase ventilation. Whether your'e a beginner attracted to the ease of use or a seasoned veteran seeking the advantage of all those features, all-in-all this is has to be considered a great tent for any camping family. Camping Magazine proclaimed the Coleman Mackenzie Cabin 6 as, "good value for money" with an R.R.P. of £499.99, and even better value for money from the Camperlands online shop at just £353.99 (price correct at time of publishing, subject to change).
What the Judges Said
“Our judges believe that the new Mackenzie Cabin 6 epitomises the company’s dedication to delivering practical, quality camping equipment at the right price.”
2010 Tent of the Year
The overall Tent of the Year for 2010 was won by the Outwell Fantasy Explorer, which also won the Small Tent/Family Tourer category although Camping Magazine said “you could consider the honour shared with the entire Fantasy Range” (which includes the Outwell Fantasy Magic and Outwell Fantasy Imagine tents). What makes the Outwell Fantasy range stand out is that Outwell have taken the pick of their main tent range, including the Nevada 4 from 2009 and the ever popular Montana 6, and enhanced them further focusing squarely on family camping pleasure.
Why is it a winner?
Outwell know that it’s the kids that are at the heart of any family camping trip and so the Fantasy tent range are now the only ones to include the Kids room feature which boasts hanging shelves, ceiling mounted net game and its own little kids door. New for this year in the Fantasy range is the Outwell Game Wall which focuses on keeping kids of all ages entertained outside of the tent. This innovative new concept shows Outwell thinking literally outside the tent to enhance your family camping experience. The versatile Game Wall can be mounted on the tent, on the accompanying steel poles, or between two trees, and adjusted in height for football, tennis or volleyball for use with the balls and paddles in the Outwell Game Set (included).
The whole Outwell Fantasy tent range is available from Camperlands Showground and the Camperlands online shop via the following links;
Outwell Fantasy Explorer
Outwell Fantasy Magic
Outwell Fantasy Imagine
Both of the following tents were commended by the Camping Magazine;
Vango Icarus 500
Sunncamp Evolution 400DL
What the Judges Said
“The family lies at the heart of the Outwell camping philosophy and its latest Fantasy Collection takes things to a new high.”
Best Cooking
Once your sorted with shelter on the campsite, your next priority has to be making sure you’re set up for those big cooked breakfasts. The Best Cooking Award checks out all the available camping cooking appliances and measures them against the same tough standards as the other awards but there is even more competition in this sector with lightweight trekking stoves competing alongside family cookers. Standing out from the challengers this year, the Campingaz Camping Kitchen Plus came through to win the award and be named best camping stove, and with its combination of a two burner gas stove with a large griddle for breakfast fry-ups or campsite barbeques it’s easy to see why.
Why is it a Winner?
There is a level of considered attention to detail and focus on the needs of the user with the Campingaz Camping Kitchen Plus which incorporates two windshields that double as side tables for a place to put down those hot pans and dishes as well coming mounted on a sturdy stand which raises the stove to the right height for comfortable cooking. The award winning cooker also includes a handy storage shelf to keep your pans and supplies out of the way, so hopefully there will be less clutter around the tent, but if this isn’t enough, Camperlands also have the Camping Kitchen Extra available which has a full under-stove cupboard to protect your food from insects and which converts to a handy carry bag. The Campingaz Camping Kitchen range is designed for use with Campingaz refillable gas bottles which are readily available outside of the UK (so if you are planning an extended trip abroad there will be no problem re-fuelling) but can also be used with other gas bottle brands. For advice and guidance on the best gas bottle and regulator for your stove call our experts on 0161-998-8523.
What the Judges Said
“It has everything required to cater for a modest size family in one easily transportable package – at a very respectable price.”
Best Sleeping
Alright, so it didn’t actually win, but the Coleman Comfort Bed Double beat all other airbed's and campbeds being rated as ‘highly commended’ kit as the highest ranking camping mattress. The main stand-out feature to this double airbed is the fact that it has dual chambers so each person can set the firmness on their own side for customisable comfort. Its 2 separate chambers and coil beam structure also mean that they don’t sag in the middle so couples won’t find themselves being rolled together in the middle of the night. As you would expect from Coleman the Comfort Beds (also available as a single) includes many quality traits including double lock valves and phthalate-free materials making them kinder to the environment as well as ensuring you a better nights sleep.
What the Judges Said
“More important is the use of a dual chamber so couples can choose their own levels of firmness. What price a good night’s sleep?” Well, at Camperlands it’s £27.99 saving £££'s off the full R.R.P at £34.99 (price correct at time of publishing, subject to change).