[MR] Pop-up Shelters

[Garth Groff]

M'Lady Glynis, and Noble Friends,

I've been considering a pop-up shelter for a while. This led me to 
examine shelters used at our local farmer's market, and to do some 
research. I decided first on a Norstar as the best quality, but it 
appears from their web site that they do not make side walls for their 
8' size. When I inquired, my letter went unanswered. So much for them.

Plan B is a Caravan. The neat thing about Caravans is that they are 
available in many colors (not so many as Norstar), and do offer 8' side 
walls. I discovered that the zippered side walls can be completely 
separated into two halves. Buy two of different colors, then mix the 
halves and you have two bi-colored walls. Sort of medieval. The tops are 
also available in colors, and you can even order custom tops with the 
front and back panels one color, and the side panels a second. These 
colors would go a long way toward giving the pop-up at least a 
quasi-medieval look. The only problems I see are that the bi-colored top 
is much more expensive, and it is only available in 250 d material, 
while the one-color tops are available in 500 d. The total cost for the 
pop-up, sides, roller bag, and stake kit would be about $800. Curiously, 
a 10' size is usually cheaper (economies of scale), but some places 
restrict tents to 8' wide.

So why not spend a little more and get a Panther? Sometimes, it would be 
just me putting it up. Then there's our Honda Fit, which will hold a lot 
of stuff but not Panther poles. A pop-up in a roller bag would fit 
nicely, along with sale stock. Well maybe with a small trailer. Besides 
using a pop-up for occasional SCA use, I have a vague plan for a 
retirement business selling at renfaires. I'm also thinking of 
representing my clan at Scottish festivals (which suggests a 
blue-and-white color scheme, from the Clan Napier tartan; see 
http://people.virginia.edu/~ggg9y/napier1.html for a sample).

Comments, and especially personal experiences, are welcome.

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot

On 6/20/2011 7:13 PM, Glynis Knibb (Glynis Gwynedd) wrote:
> . . . We've also started bringing a pop-up to events with us. It's not
> period but it is shelter, and has always been appreciated by everyone
> who's used itl
>
> Your experience is very much the norm.
>
> Glynis Knibb
> aka
> ~Lady Glynis Gwynedd
> Barony of Highland Foorde
> "Have you hugged a harp today?"