When we recently had the chance to camp with the Eurohike Rydal 500, I was excited. We’re a small family (both in terms of numbers and height), so we are always on the lookout for a spacious five-person tent, and the Rydal 500 promises ‘comfort and convenience’ on the campsite – what’s not to like?
I’ve been burned before though, so the only real way to find out how it performs for sure is to pack my family up for one of our weekend camping trips. Two adults and two small children in the changeable British spring weather – what could go wrong…?
As with all our tent reviews, in this Eurohike Rydal 500 review, I will cover the main pros and cons of this tent, before looking at Eurohike as a company, the specifications of the Rydal 500 and then detailing how it performed when we took it out.
Spoiler alert – this review also features how it performs in bad weather – which was not the original plan…
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Quick Setup
- Weather-Resistant
- Darkened Bedroom
- Ventilation
- Spacious and Comfortable
Cons
- No instructions
- No mesh when door’s open
- Not a lightweight tent
About The Brand
When we consider Eurohike, we’re talking about a company that’s carved out a fantastic reputation in the outdoor equipment industry. Established to provide quality gear to adventurers and families alike, Eurohike is a name that crops up often on campsites across the UK and beyond. Their product range spans from the essentials like reliable tents to other camping necessities, ensuring enthusiasts are well-equipped for the great outdoors.
Known for their attention to practical features, like the tent’s waterproof construction and darkened bedrooms for a good night’s sleep, Eurohike stands out as a brand that doesn’t just follow trends but listens to the needs of campers. There’s a balance struck between the affordability of their offerings and the durability they bring to the table – a factor that has earned them a solid standing amongst budget-conscious explorers.
In short, if you are looking for some camping equipment, then Eurohike is a reliable and trusted brand. It certainly gave us a lot of confidence when we tried out the Rydal 500 tent.
Specifications
So what is the Eurohike Rydal 500 like on paper? The first thing you’ll notice is the generous dimensions. Measuring 4.65 metres in length and 3.2 metres in width while peaking at a height of 2.05 metres, this tent boasts a comfortable space for a small family to co-exist, and may even be okay for three adults – but I wouldn’t want to risk more people than that. It would be a great tent for a festival.
Although weighing in at nearly 15 kilograms, it’s on the heavier side for extended hiking or backpacking trips – make sure you don’t have a long walk from your car to your pitch. The weight is a result of the robust combination of polyester fabric, alloy steel tent poles, and fibreglass which grants a sturdy structure. The sewn-in ground sheet adds a layer of protection against heavy rain (more on that later…) and high winds to keep the living space dry. The entire design of the tent is supposed to make it rain proof and windproof which reassured us ahead of our trip.
The tent also sports a darkened bedroom for those of us who value a bit of extra sleep in the mornings, shielded from early light – or, more likely if you have a young family, to help young children get to sleep while it is still light outside. If you haven’t camped with young children without this kind of feature, then I envy you!
There’s no distinct porch area, but the well-structured living space compensated for that, with internal pockets. There is space to store muddy boots in the entrance space, but if you are staying for longer than a weekend you may find that a separate porch area or canopy might be a good investment, just to give yourselves a bit of extra space and shelter.
In essence, the Eurohike Rydal 500 balances functionality with comfort and weather resilience, fitting well for most camping enthusiasts who prioritise space and durability over ultra-light portability.
Using The Product
So how did we get on when we took the Eurohike Rydal 500 on a weekend camping trip? We’ve tried many tents over the few years that we’ve had two children, and had a wide range of experiences. The main things we look for are: easy to put up, a decent sleeping compartment (ideally with blackout walls) and to be robust against rain and windy weather. The Eurohike Rydal 500 tent seemed to tick all of those boxes.
Let’s start with pitching – it was pretty straight forward, even without any instructions (which I may have struggled with when I was a complete amateur. I managed to get this one up in about 15 minutes, while my wife entertained the kids. It’s not the easiest tent I’ve erected, but it is not as difficult as some other tents I’ve tried.
Space-wise, the tent was ample for our family needs. The large front door and side windows with curtains afforded not only privacy but you also get a sense of openness with the doors open. I have to say, if our kids were a bit older (they’re 3 and 6), then we may need a bigger tent, but as it was, we found that there was plenty of room inside. The storage pockets are a very helpful addition to help keep car keys, wallets and torches safe.
The tent’s darkened sleeping area was a hit, not just when we were putting our three-year-old to bed, but in the early morning as well. I suffer from migraines, so light in the morning is never my friend! We all got a great night’s sleep on both of the nights (but the Coleman mattress needs a bit of credit there too!)
So now we come to durability. I checked the weather forecast before we left and there was a low chance of rain, but we were expecting windy weather. Anyway, on the Saturday afternoon, the heavens opened. Heavy rain, bordering on torrential rain. I was immediately concerned, and even contemplated packing up and leaving – but the tent made us proud. There was no leaking at all, where I think some other tents would have succumbed to the weather. No parts of the inside of the tent got wet, other than when the six-year-old decided he wanted to see exactly how heavy it was raining…
I have seen some people say that they experienced condensation problems, but that was not the case for us. We had a very dry weekend (inside the tent), there was plenty of room for all the gear we’d packed, it was pretty easy to put up and we all slept well. What more can you ask for from a budget tent like this…?
Verdict
After thorough testing of the Eurohike Rydal 500, I have to say that we were really impressed by it. It ticked all of our boxes in terms of erecting, space and performance, so we don’t really have any complaints.
It’s limitations – the fact that it is quite heavy for a tent of this size, the lack of a porch and the lack of a mesh by the door – did not impact our weekend at all. Maybe the mesh would be more noticeable in hotter weather? Also, I have to think that we would struggle for space in a tent that size when our boys are a bit older.
One thing I do need to focus on is the cost. This is a really good value tent – you could easily pay more for one night in a hotel. For people that are maybe thinking of getting into camping, but not sure that they want to spend a lot of money to begin with, then this is an excellent option. Equally, it works really well as a festival tent for two people (three at a push).
Overall, we had a really good experience with the Eurohike Rydal 500.