Tentipi, why so expensive ?
- Thread starter Paullyfuzz
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It's usually the same with most things, Yes it may be of a better quality than others of that make , But , If it is sold by a company with a well know brand name That alone hikes the price up further.
I think that's fairly typical for the outdoor industry. I guess it's why they can discount so much in sales and at the end of the season and still make a profit. My mantra is 'never pay full price for anything' - there's always a deal or a discount but, yeah, sometimes the prices can make you wince. I guess it's the going rate for quality stuff.
Another nice thing about Tentipi (for me anyway) is that we were able to walk into a shop and look at them before buying, and can have a face to face conversation about how best to use them with people who do use them. The Helsport tents look on a par but not made of polycotton.
Simple design but well made and they don't sell thousands every week so I would think they work on a high mark up. People blame China for tat kit but remember, they make according to the remit given. You place an order and instruct what materials etc so first port of call for blame should be the brand owner.
Remember the canvas ones AndyWink made a few years ago Paul, I think he struggled to keep the price low after the cost of the fabric and the man hours to stitch it all together.
After having a few days chilling at Comrie in the winter I really fancy getting a tipi someday, like you it's the cost that puts me off.
After having a few days chilling at Comrie in the winter I really fancy getting a tipi someday, like you it's the cost that puts me off.
I've had a 7 man Arran for a few years now, and I must say my experience has been without issue. The quality of materials & construction is solid.
It's like a lot of things which need to be put into perspective, there are cheaper tents but you get what you pay for. It's probably more appropriate that we consider the value we get (ie lifetime & amount of use for the cost). I must admit that I for one have spent reasonable amounts of money on items which I haven't used / won't get much use from, so were they good value?
Many of us would be willing to spend more on a good quality royalex canadian canoe if we had the money, but would probably just accept the cost as there's not much to compare with other than cheaper brands or heavier materials. With a canvas tipi there's actually a lot more material than you'd think which will require a lot of work to manufacture to the quality & standards tentipi do.
I visited the Bushcraft Show a couple os weeks back and saw an alternative UK manufacturer of canvas tipis called Green Outdoor (www.greenoutdoor.co.uk) I only had a brief look as I wasn't in the market for one but they looked nice on brief inspection. I haven't compared prices / materials / build quality hence I am not drawing any conclusions about value, just thought I'd share another option which doesn't look to have been mentioned in the thread yet.
I'd recommend to anyone who will get the use out of a tipi to justify it's purchase that you won't regret the purchase of a good quality canvas unit which should last years.
It's like a lot of things which need to be put into perspective, there are cheaper tents but you get what you pay for. It's probably more appropriate that we consider the value we get (ie lifetime & amount of use for the cost). I must admit that I for one have spent reasonable amounts of money on items which I haven't used / won't get much use from, so were they good value?
Many of us would be willing to spend more on a good quality royalex canadian canoe if we had the money, but would probably just accept the cost as there's not much to compare with other than cheaper brands or heavier materials. With a canvas tipi there's actually a lot more material than you'd think which will require a lot of work to manufacture to the quality & standards tentipi do.
I visited the Bushcraft Show a couple os weeks back and saw an alternative UK manufacturer of canvas tipis called Green Outdoor (www.greenoutdoor.co.uk) I only had a brief look as I wasn't in the market for one but they looked nice on brief inspection. I haven't compared prices / materials / build quality hence I am not drawing any conclusions about value, just thought I'd share another option which doesn't look to have been mentioned in the thread yet.
I'd recommend to anyone who will get the use out of a tipi to justify it's purchase that you won't regret the purchase of a good quality canvas unit which should last years.
Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Has anyone got a green one ?
They certainly look well thought out and have lots of good details.
They certainly look well thought out and have lots of good details.
I haven't read all this thread, but after seeing other bits of equipment and thinking "that's expensive" [or I could alter it to suit my purpose better] I've gone and made a version myself - sure I've saved in pure money terms [with materials to produce one] but the time it takes to fabricate/ design /think about it I would be turning a loss.
The next time you think it's expensive try making one yourself.
The next time you think it's expensive try making one yourself.
That^.
As its a big item its not easy to sew one up in a small room, expensive materials, no doubt a good sewing machine.
People often have no idea how much it costs to run a business and assume that they could do it far cheaper.
If they can, then why don't they try and if they do I would like to see exactly how long the whole thing takes. Maybe then add a decent living wage on top of the costs.
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Anyone think about a canvas range tent?
http://cowboycamp.net/range_tents.php
I particularly like the idea of the external two poles freeing up al the space inside. I tried it on my Vango Peace 500 tipi *which has an external loop for just such a purpose) and the difference re usable space on the inside was amazing.
http://cowboycamp.net/range_tents.php
I particularly like the idea of the external two poles freeing up al the space inside. I tried it on my Vango Peace 500 tipi *which has an external loop for just such a purpose) and the difference re usable space on the inside was amazing.
IIRC 2 Wilko's clothes props are just about up to it and also provide a good support for the tent end of your 'porch-tarp'.
No - the Wilko poles work fine for the Polish tipi, but are way too flimsy - and short - for the Vango Peace 500, which is a fairly spacious tent, and made out of polycotton, so not as lightweight as a silnylon one. I was lucky enough to find a couple of seriously hefty cut poles at one of the meets, and used those.
Yes, It was a Juno 500 I tried them on. I haven't tried a bipod on the Peace 500 yet. (wife didn't like the Juno.)
They do tend toward the flimsy when close to the limit of their extension but 4, either in pairs or as a sort of pyramidal quadrupod (?) might do fine.
They may seem expensive for a product made in China, but Tentipi are very particular about quality and warranty.
Tentipi own their own factory in China where they manufacture and every 3rd tent is rain tested in a special rain room.
They use a specialist sourcing agent for materials as there standards are high, and there is a Swedish manage at the factory at least 50% of the time.
Tentipi are very proud of their employment, environmental and quality standards.
It's worth having a read on their web site http://tentipi.com/tentipi-today
Pete
Tentipi own their own factory in China where they manufacture and every 3rd tent is rain tested in a special rain room.
They use a specialist sourcing agent for materials as there standards are high, and there is a Swedish manage at the factory at least 50% of the time.
Tentipi are very proud of their employment, environmental and quality standards.
It's worth having a read on their web site http://tentipi.com/tentipi-today
Pete
