Atlanta 6, 8 & Hampton 4 Extension

I've just tried this out at a wet and windy Culzean Castle campsite. I attached it to a blue (2008 model) Gelert Meridian and it's a pretty good match as you can see from the photos. I also have the Gelert porch and the Gelert canopy so I'll make a few comparisons. Here's my observations: 1: The fibre poles are far superior to the Gelert steel versions, which are too rigid and unforgiving in the wind. The Royal poles are not 12.7mm diameter all the way though, as advertised. Mine went down to 11mm for the centre sections via reducing joints. They must have done this to modify the cross-section shape by making it straighter at the sides without using angled joints. For some reason the very middle pole sections were orange. Maybe that's to help identify them as the poles for the extension. 2: I don't hink it's fully 3.7m wide, but I forgot to measure it. It was plenty wide enough for me though. 3: There are no privacy flaps on the side windows. They make it bright on the inside but if you want loo poo privacy you'll have to rig something up. I personally liked it and didn't miss the closure facility. 4: There are no hanging points for lights etc which would be useful. 5: It hugs the Meridian tent every bit as well as the Gelert products. If anything, better I would say. The poles on the Gelert sit too near the main tent. The Royal extension has a bit of free tunnel here which gives you more latitude at ground level to adjust the snugness of the fit, if you see what I mean. 6: The Royal extension has an extra pair of guylines at the over-tent flap which can be run length-wise over the centre line of the tent and pegged down at the ends. You might be able to make this out in the photos. This is done to help prevent puddling at the top. Use them! I didn't the first night and had a huge puddle which I mis-handled and managed to empty right into the tent! (You need to extend one of the lines for a tent as long as a Meridian if you want it to reach the end.) 7: The Royal extension has a sloping front with two vertical zips for access. This is a little more troublesome to enter and exit than the j-door on the Gelert vertical front. However, on balance, I would go for the slopy front on the basis of its performance in windy conditions. The Gelert porch is scary in the wind. In summary, I would recommend this over the Gelert/HiGear versions for a side extension on any standing-height tunnel tent. If you fit it right (unlike me) it will give you a buffer from the elements in bad weather, and a cooking area and an alfresco area in the good weather, if we ever have any."

Review originally from www.ukcampsite.co.uk. View more reviews of the royal tents at www.ukcampsite.co.uk!

www.ukcampsite.co.uk
24/05/10 at 10:05 AM

Guide to Tents

http://www.royal-leisure.co.uk/article/show/tent_guide

Find a dealer

http://www.royal-leisure.co.uk/article/Royal_dealers