Air versus pole awnings

You may find an air awning too heavy to run around the awning rail as you are dragging the entire awning weight. 

We had an air awning for 5 minutes as when on a slightly uneven site, we couldn't pitch it without it having bent leg(s) or gaps at the back and it looked awful - due to the weight and the lack of any adjustment, we got rid and went back to a poled awning.  

I know lots of people have and love their air awnings, but I would say, check the weights and make sure you can manage one through the awning rail before you buy.

We had a full size pole Bradcott but sold it last year after changing to an air awning large porch and wouldn't go back, and weight wise the full size awning was about as heavy and we found it so much easier all round. Yes it is a little bit heavy to pull through but we mange and it is better with two, one to hold up the awning away from the rail and keep the weight off and shuffle while another pulls. Then it's all easy, a few pumps and it's up, no messing on with which pole goes where or any tensioning. Of course the pegging is still there. Taking it down is even easier as you both just pull then fold it away and no putting poles away.

Also I noticed, though not done it myself, that if there is a high wind forecast some air awnings owners let the air out while keeping all the pegs in and weigh it or lash it down close the caravan.

There are advantages and disadvantages in both pole and air awnings. The pole version allows frame adjustment on uneven ground and are lighter to thread along the awning rail. However sorting and fixing the frame is a pain compared to an air awning. Air awnings are less likely to scratch/damage the caravan wall than a pole falling out during the erection. They are also less likely to cause damage during high winds when rigid poles are pushed hard against the caravan wall. I now have an air awning (Kampa) which is quite heavy to start threading through the awning rail but I have managed to do so single handed. Once threaded in the rail I just switch on its electric pump which is much better than using the supplied hand pump. It takes just 2 or 3 minutes to inflate and whilst it is doing so I am busy sorting out the pegs. Air awnings can take a bit more packing away to get the air out the tubes. All in all I definitely would not go back to the old pole awning. If you are concerned about the additional weight to pull through the awning rail there are models with lighter fabrics.

We have two air awnings - a Kampa 390 Grande and a Sunncamp Air 390.  The Kampa is a big heavy lump to get through the awning ail - even with the side panels removed, but it is very well made and versatile in terms of combinations of openings etc. It was also quite expensive.  The Sunncamp, on the other hand, is made of a lightweight fabric - more nylon than canvas - is much much easier to pull through the rail and - the reason why we bought it - a lot easier to dry at home if it has to be packed away wet.  It's our preferred one for the winter. It was about a third of the price of the Kampa.

Only on a couple of occasions - with a badly levelled pitch - have we had problems getting either to sit correctly.  Usually there is enough scope in the pegging out ladders to get the awning looking something like it should when erected.

Both have been out in 50mph winds - with no adverse effect other than a bit of flexing - and certainly no risk of damage to the van. I would never go back to a poled awning.