The Eurohike Rydal 500 Tent is an excellent choice for small families and groups of friends seeking a spacious, easy-to-pitch, and reliable camping shelter. Its key win is the combination of a quick 'all-in-one' pitching system with robust weather protection and comfort features like darkened bedrooms, though it's important to note that awning poles are sold separately.
5-Person Capacity: Comfortably accommodates up to five people with a roomy living area.
All-in-One Pitch System: Designed for quick and easy setup, eliminating the need to clip or remove inner bedrooms. Colour-coded poles simplify assembly, allowing a 15-minute pitching time.
Superior Weather Protection: Features a 2000mm hydrostatic head waterproof flysheet with fully taped seams, combined with a sewn-in, bathtub-style groundsheet to keep you dry in heavy rain and free from insects.
Darkened Bedrooms: Engineered to reduce morning light penetration, promoting a longer, more restful sleep.
Enhanced Ventilation: Equipped with both high and low vents to ensure optimal airflow, minimizing condensation and improving comfort.
Organized Storage: Includes multiple mesh storage pockets, providing convenient places to keep smaller items tidy and accessible.
Electric Hook-Up Access: A dedicated zipped access point with Velcro ties allows for safe and convenient power supply for lighting and other electrical devices.
Spacious & Private: A large bedroom area can be divided into two for added privacy, complemented by large front and side door windows with curtains for panoramic views and personal space.
Fast and Easy Setup: The all-in-one pitch and colour-coded poles allow for a quick 15-minute setup.
Excellent Weather Protection: Fully waterproof with 2000mm hydrostatic head, taped seams, and a sewn-in groundsheet ensures dryness.
Enhanced Sleep Comfort: Darkened bedrooms significantly reduce light, promoting better rest.
Spacious and Versatile: Roomy living area and a dividable bedroom offer flexibility and comfort for families or groups.
Convenient Features: Mesh pockets for storage, electric hook-up access, and good ventilation enhance the camping experience.
Durable Construction: Uses strong, lightweight fibreglass arcflex poles and is fire retardant to BS EN 5912 standard.
Awning Poles Not Included: Awning poles, useful for creating a sheltered entrance, must be purchased separately.
Weight: At 14.6kg, it's best suited for car camping rather than backpacking due to its weight and packed size.
Fibreglass Poles: While arcflex poles are strong, fibreglass can be prone to splintering over extended use if not handled with care.
Limited Headroom in Some Areas: While the peak height is 205cm, sloping walls might reduce usable headroom in certain parts of the tent.
Fast and Easy Setup: The all-in-one pitch and colour-coded poles allow for a quick 15-minute setup.
Excellent Weather Protection: Fully waterproof with 2000mm hydrostatic head, taped seams, and a sewn-in groundsheet ensures dryness.
Enhanced Sleep Comfort: Darkened bedrooms significantly reduce light, promoting better rest.
Spacious and Versatile: Roomy living area and a dividable bedroom offer flexibility and comfort for families or groups.
Convenient Features: Mesh pockets for storage, electric hook-up access, and good ventilation enhance the camping experience.
Durable Construction: Uses strong, lightweight fibreglass arcflex poles and is fire retardant to BS EN 5912 standard.
Awning Poles Not Included: Awning poles, useful for creating a sheltered entrance, must be purchased separately.
Weight: At 14.6kg, it's best suited for car camping rather than backpacking due to its weight and packed size.
Fibreglass Poles: While arcflex poles are strong, fibreglass can be prone to splintering over extended use if not handled with care.
Limited Headroom in Some Areas: While the peak height is 205cm, sloping walls might reduce usable headroom in certain parts of the tent.
The Eurohike Rydal 500 tent is engineered to provide a comfortable and hassle-free camping experience, particularly for families and groups on car camping trips. Its 2000mm hydrostatic head flysheet with fully taped seams means it will stand up to heavy rain, keeping the interior dry, which is crucial for comfort in unpredictable weather. The sewn-in groundsheet further enhances this by preventing water ingress from below and keeping insects out, allowing you to enjoy your shelter even on damp ground.
The 'all-in-one' pitching system is a standout feature for real-world application. Instead of wrestling with separate inner tents, the Rydal 500 allows you to pitch the flysheet and inner together. Combined with colour-coded fibreglass arcflex poles, this significantly reduces pitching time to an estimated 15 minutes, making setup less of a chore upon arrival at the campsite.
For improved sleep quality, the darkened bedrooms are highly effective at blocking out early morning sun, a common issue with lighter tents. This feature is particularly appreciated by those who value their sleep while camping. High and low ventilation points work together to maintain a comfortable internal climate and reduce condensation, crucial for preventing dampness inside the tent.
The large bedroom with a divider offers flexibility for privacy, ideal for two couples or a family with children. The spacious living area provides ample room for gear storage, relaxing, or eating indoors during inclement weather. The large front door and side windows with privacy curtains not only offer a good panoramic view but also allow users to control light and privacy.
Practical additions like mesh storage pockets help keep the tent interior organized, preventing small items from getting lost. The electric hook-up access point is a modern convenience, allowing you to power lanterns, charge devices, or run small appliances without compromising the tent's weatherproofing. While designed for car camping due to its 14.6kg weight, its stability, spaciousness, and protective features make it a reliable home away from home for extended stays.
The Rydal 500 features an 'all-in-one' pitching system for quick assembly:
Unpack and Unroll: Lay the tent out flat at your chosen pitch site, ensuring the groundsheet is fully extended.
Assemble Poles: Connect the sections of the fibreglass arcflex poles. Pay attention to the colour-coded poles (e.g., black poles for one section, yellow for another) as this indicates which sleeve they slide into.
Thread Poles: Slide the assembled poles through their corresponding sleeves on the flysheet. The colour coding helps match the correct pole to the correct sleeve.
Insert Pins: Secure the ends of the poles into the pins located at the base of the tent corners.
Raise Tent: Working from opposite sides, gently push the poles to raise the tent structure. It's often easier with two people.
Peg Out Base: Secure the four corner stake pegs and then the steel round wire pegs around the base of the tent's sewn-in groundsheet.
Attach Guy Lines: Extend and peg out all guy lines firmly. Adjust tensioners to ensure the tent is taut and stable. This is crucial for stability in windy conditions.
Internal Setup: If desired, deploy the bedroom divider, open vents, and organize storage pockets.
Pitching time is approximately 15 minutes.
The Rydal 500 tent is compatible with several Eurohike accessories to enhance your camping experience:
Eurohike Medium Carpet 220 X 280 (Product Code: 194853): Provides extra comfort and insulation for the living area.
Rydal 500 Footprint (Product Code: 009684): An additional ground protector for the tent's underside, extending its lifespan and providing an extra layer of waterproofing.
Eurohike 4 Pole Windbreak (Product Code: 102272) or Eurohike 3 Pole Windbreak (Product Code: 351966): Offers extra shelter and privacy around your pitch.
Eurohike Shelter 3.5 X 3.5 (Product Code: 025698): A separate shelter for additional covered space.
Note: Awning poles are sold separately and are not included with the tent.
Proper care will extend the life of your Rydal 500 Tent:
Cleaning: After each trip, clean your tent. Use a soft brush or sponge with lukewarm water (never hot) and a specialized tent cleaner if necessary. Do not use harsh detergents or a washing machine.
Drying: Always ensure the tent is completely dry before packing it away. Packing a damp tent can lead to mildew, fabric degradation, and unpleasant odors.
Storage: Store the tent in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Loosely fold or roll the tent rather than tightly compressing it for long periods to prevent stress on the fabric and coatings.
Inspection: Regularly inspect the flysheet, groundsheet, poles, and guy lines for any damage, tears, or wear. Repair minor damage promptly to prevent it from worsening.
Seam Sealing: While the tent features fully taped seams, over time, these may degrade. If you notice any leaks, re-seal the seams with a suitable tent seam sealant.
Pole Care: Inspect fibreglass poles for splinters or damage. Replace any damaged pole sections to avoid stress on the tent fabric during pitching.