What a steel frame tent is
Steel is the heaviest and stiffest frame in the shop. It is used where weight does not matter and strength does: big family tents, yurts and cabins that are pitched once and stay put. It turns up in a second, quite different way too, as the spring steel wire or brackets inside pop-up shelters, which twist flat into a disc and spring open in seconds.
The kinds in this range
- Family tents with steel poles: one 6 to 12 person tent with two bedrooms stands on six steel poles and three fibreglass rods. See two bedroom and living room tents.
- A canvas yurt in 900D Oxford on a steel pole frame, for 4 to 5 people. See bell tents.
- A glamping pod cabin on a steel frame, a semi-permanent building for campsites and holiday lets. See glamping safari tents.
- Pop-up beach and ice fishing tents on steel wire or bracket frames. One is 150 by 150 by 190cm, folds to 62 by 62 by 5cm and weighs about 3kg. See ice fishing tents.
- Car tents: a wedge hard-shell roof tent with a steel frame and gas-assisted opening, and an SUV tailgate tent on two steel poles. See roof tents.
Weight, rust and where steel makes sense
A steel frame is for a tent that travels by car and stays on its pitch. It will not flex in wind the way aluminium or fibreglass does, which is what makes a big tent feel solid, but it is heavy to carry from the car and needs two people to put up. Steel rusts where its paint or coating is chipped, so dry the frame before storing it, keep the sections in their bag, and look over the joints each season.
Spring steel pop-ups
A pop-up on a steel wire frame is stored twisted into a flat disc, and it opens with real force. Point it away from your face and other people when you let it go. Folding it back is a knack: follow the maker's steps once or twice at home before you need to do it on a windy beach. See pop-up tents.
Questions people ask about steel frame tents
Is steel stronger than aluminium?
A steel frame is stiffer and stronger for its size, and much heavier. That is why it is used for big tents that stay put, and aluminium for tents that are carried.
Can I carry a steel frame tent?
The pop-ups, yes: the ice fishing tents weigh about 3kg. The family tents and the yurt are for the car and a pitch you can drive close to.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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