THIS neat quick erect tent uses Khyam’s tried and tested Rapidex system – jointed poles that can be clicked together as you pull up on a central hub. It is fast and efficient with little risk of product damage provided care is taken in assembly. And, if a joint should break, spares are readily available and quick to substitute.

The 2008 model tested here has two rear vents, four large mesh windows protected by external curtains, and a vinyl window with drop down curtain in the door. Two supplied steel poles convert the door into a sun porch.

Khyam uses a tri-line system of guy ropes to save time and patience. These connect two points of the pole with one adjustable cord for ease of pegging out.

At the rear, these lines also include the corners of the bellows that protect the vents, to ensure a through flow of air. This method reduces that messy cobweb of lines you see with larger tents.

Although the market demands sewn-in groundsheets you will not find one in the Wayfarer. Khyam tries to maintain good camping practice by supplying some of its tents with a tailored groundsheet that can be removed daily to let the grass recover.

The two two-berth inner tents toggle in – one can be removed to increase living area. Each inner has a mesh door backed by a modesty panel, two pockets and a rear door that allows access to a hidden storage area. The inners have a light front panel – the rest is made from a dark fabric for a restful night’s sleep.

Camping says: While I cannot vouch for Khyam’s claim that the Wayfarer is the quickest family tent of its size to erect it is fast and easy. In fact, the experts at Khyam can get this tent up in around three minutes – pegging out takes slightly longer.

Given that one of the inner tents can be removed and left out to increase the useable living space, and that there are plenty of large mesh windows on the 2008 model, the Wayfarer should prove a comfortable tourer for two camping in warmer climes.

However, a sneak preview of the 2009 model shows that two vinyl panoramic windows have now replaced the four mesh windows. This means this good all-round family tent will be brighter and warmer in bad weather but may feel stuffier in hot weather and suffer a tad more from condensation.


Fact-file:

Price: £379 (2008 price)
Packed size: 115cm x 29cm
Materials: Outer Weatherweave Pro, 3,500 hydrostatic head; Inner Breathable polyester; Groundsheet Polyethylene; Poles 13mm glassfibre Rapidex quick erect
Dimensions: Outer 460cm x 406cm Inners 210cm x 170cm Height 213cm (inner 185cm)


Website:
 
www.khyam.co.uk


This tent review was published in the November 2008 issue of Camping magazine. Order our latest issue.

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