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Aztec Cantera 9
(Sleeping Capacity 9 persons)
The Tent
The Aztec Cantera 9 is a large 9 Berth Dome tent which utilizes
Tuf-flex poles and is pitched inner first. The tent features a
large inner living area with three sleeping pods off of the main
living area with entrance / exit doors between these bedroom
pods. The sleeping pods will sleep three in each but are better
suited to two persons due the nature of the sloping roof on the
pods. The main entrance of the tent is via a covered porch area
which comes with a groundsheet and is suitable for storing that
wet gear outside your main living area. The tent is made to
Aztec’s usual very high specification (see below) and is
designed to ensure large comfortable living space for the larger
family.
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Flysheet: Coated Polyester
4000
Inner: Breathable Polyester
Sewn-In Groundsheet (SIG)
Tuf-flex colour coded poles
Large Porch area
Detachable bathtub porch
groundsheet
Seam taped flysheet
Skylight |
Groundsheet: Double coated
polyethylene
Four entrance’s Two with
mesh
Multiple Ventilation points
Outer and Inner pack into a
single suitor type bag.
Repair kit
Steel canopy poles provided
Fire retardant |
Pitch Footprint, Size And Weight
Width: 735 cm, Length: 680 cm,
Height: 225 cm in living area
Packed Size : 80 cm x 55 cm
Weight : 35.5 kg
Erection / Pitching
This tent pitches
inner first and uses the popular ring and pin method to locate
the poles on both the inner and outer and takes two to erect.
The poles are all colour coded making it very easy to identify
which poles go in which sleeves. The inner uses six poles to
hold up, three for the main living area and one each for the
bedroom pods. Once all poles are threaded, its advisable that
one person gets inside the inner tent and supports the main
poles as they are located. Tip here and for most tents of this
design, make sure the first pole you locate on the main living
area is the pole on the bottom of the crossover at the top of
the tent, this then takes the weight of the poles above making
it easier to secure. Locate the main poles and then the bedroom
pod poles using the ring and pin system. The inner tent will
then require pegging down and this takes around twenty pegs to
secure. Finally once the inner is secure the outer flysheet is
pulled over the inner, tied on the main poles and then finally
pegged. The final thing to do is to locate the two porch poles
and secure with the ring and pins and then peg out the guy
ropes.
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Pros and Cons |
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Pros |
Cons: |
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Spacious
Well
ventilated
Stable
Good Storage
Great porch
area
SIG on Inner
Tent |
Pitching time
Packing Time
Inner tent
first
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The Cost
Expect to pay around £350 for the 2007 model but the cost may
increase slightly for the 2008 season.
The Verdict
Aztec are a very well known and established maker in the camping
field and this tent has been around for a couple of seasons now.
It’s not a quick tent to pitch we find it still takes around a
good hour and half after practice. The quality of the tent is
very good and by using a separate inner and outer tent this
helps to maintain warmth in colder weather. The tent has
multiple doors that afford a nice breeze whilst providing
shelter from direct sunlight in warmer conditions. The poles are
very good and we have never suffered from the poles bending in
high winds. The main problem we find with this style of tent is
the inner tent first pitching, which in wet conditions can lead
your living accommodation being wet before you even set up camp,
although for the 2008 season several manufacturer’s are
producing a flysheet first / all in one pitching dome tent. If
this is not an issue for you, these tents provide a very living
area for a family with the bedrooms nicely apart affording all a
little privacy and their own space.
Information and Links
For further information on Outwell and their products visit
Aztec
Reviewed by Rickit for 365 Camping Caravanning
Reviewed 2008 |
