New Tent - Coleman Evolva

[EvolvaMan]

Having enjoyed the last year+ with the Peakland Ashover tent, we (my girlfriend & I) decided to invest in something larger for our camp holiday to Switzerland Camping Jungfrau Lauterbrunnen Schweiz Switzerland Suisse Svizzera Zwitserland Suiza Jungfrauregion Berner Oberland ![ Berneroberland, Jungfrauregion, Berner Oberland, Bungalow, Mobilhome, Caravan, Herberge, Hostel, Wintercamping, Wintercampingplatz. later this year.

The Ashover is an excellent tent and sold immediately once we'd secured our new tent.

My GFs sister and her family bought themselves an Outwell tunnel tent (Bear Lake 5 I think) and whenever we indulge, we always end the evening in their tent to chat, drink, play cards, monopoly or all of the above.... as large as the Ashover is/was, the living area wasnt sufficient for 6+ people to sit round a table in comfort.

So we discussed the possibility of investing in a new, larger tent for the Swiss trip, to make it more comfortable space wise (there are only 3 of us actually sleep in the tent).

Having visited camping/tent shows and various camping vendors, it was our 1st visit together to Bradburns Leisure in Wigan (part of the JR Leisure group - http://www.jrleisure.co.uk/) where we first laid eyes on the Coleman Evolva tent, set up with two sleep annexes and the chef annexe.

It was one of those "Woah" moments as we both clapped eyes on this huge tent taking centre stage in the outdoor pithing area of the shop (there's one indoors too!).

Like kids with new toys, we both set about the tent, drooling in awe at the massive space of the living area, the humungous sleeping areas and rather nifty and spacious chef's annexe/utility room/walk in wardrobe/pantry/whatever you want it to be.

This thing has more room than my first 2 up 2 down house!

As we'd actually visited for other camping equipment/gas and time wasnt exactly on our side we left without making any decisions - although we had asked the knowledgable staff some questions.

We (well, I) decided to do some investigation into the tent online, gaining as much info as possible.
One thing was clear, the FEW details I could glean from actual users/owners was positive.
There was plenty on t'internet regarding the tent itself from vendors too, so fully armed with details, we returned to Bradburns and scrutinised the heck outta the tent. I must say, I'm not easily impressed by a tent (needs to be something special or out of the ordinary to give me that "whoa" moment) and I went at the Evolva with the intention fo finding something to put me off buying ..... but could find nothing.
In fact, the more I/we investigated how it is all put together and revelled once more in the room it affords, our minds were made up - we wanted to spend 2 weeks in Switzerland in THIS tent.

In stock - £289 all in (main tent, 2 x sleep annexe, 1 chef annex)
We drove away with grins on our faces and two large bags in the boot.

Soooo ... we just HAD to organise yet another camp trip to Yorkshire to try it out.

In the days leading up to said weekend, I trawled the web for assistance in pitching the tent (pitching instruction sheet sewn into bag is pants)... only to find a fabulous step by step guide of the frame with the use of pieces of K-Nex.

As seasoned Ashover pitchers, we could have it up and complete in less than 20 minutes.

This tent took 1 hour to get up the tent and two sleep annexes.
It was evening, we were hungry n thirsty so didnt bother with the chef annex ... and decided to leave it til Saturday to erect that part (we never did bother)

The hardest part was getting the poles into the securing points .... but I've since learned they can be loosened when erecting and tightened when everything is in place ... DOH!!!
Oh yeah, and I didn't feed the porch roof support rod through the sleeve - without detriment, so it stayed like that all weekend.

It goes together brilliantly .... is so solid and secure and it was a calm weekend so I didnt fix all the guide ropes - but will whilst its up for two weeks in Switzerland.

Our double blow up beds looked like junior beds in these massive sleep pods (3 sleep pods can be used - in leiu of the chef annex).
And, given the troubles we've had with leaking airbeds and repairs over the last few months, we decided, now we have the space to invest in some camp beds .... ended up getting coleman campbeds at £50ea (with go outdoors discount) which are huge and will definitely afford a good nights sleep in the master sized sleep pods...... yup, room for two and then some in the pod me and Carol will share .... her daughter Gemma gets a pod all to herself.

The hanging rail in the (as yet) unused chef annex means we can hang clothes in the annex along with storing everything out of the way.
We invested in an excellent outwell wardrobe/cupboard which we found for 1/2 price at golden days garden ctr in Wigan (Golden Days Garden Centres - Dedicated to Creating Beautiful Gardens) ..... so we have ample clothing storage space.

So yup - I'm a very happy bunny with the Evolva .... I'll update on my return form Jungfrau (end of Aug) - two weeks should allow us to find all the pro's and cons of the tent, I'm sure!

Be seeing y'all

[Boris]

Excellent write up. Hope it all works as well in Switzerland.