Pole or air awning

We have a fiesta pro and to be honest I can't pull it onto the awning rail alone.  Once up its fantastic.  Sometimes wish I'd got the lightweight version or even an awning in a bag

Hi all, I also use a BP12 type air pump, (noisy but fast) But I use a 7AH gell battery which fits into the middle pocket of the bag the pump come with, this keeps it all self contained and I recharge at home using s Ctek 5amp charger which has a motorbike battery setting as well. The battery is also used with the tyre pump as well and lasts for long enough for our needs.

As others have said awnings with air poles/beams are generally heavier to handle but you don't have to sort out the poles! Pegging out takes just as long.

Re long term experience... we have had our Kampa Air Pro 260 for 3 and a half years and it is still fine. No air leaks!......that may be tempting fate!!! It has survived very windy conditions in Snowdonia this year and has weathered some really heavy rain and hail at times.

Thanks Milo - good idea.  Found a few on the net including a Lucas one for £39.  Only reason I was thinking of the power pack was that a guy on a site this summer had one and I was impressed by how small and neat it was - but your solution is much more sensible!

Your welcome, 

Hi I have a Bradcott Aspire air awning , I have found that unless your pitch is perfectly level it has a poor fit to the van. for instance raise the van on the awning side and the door of the van catches the roof beam, raise the van on the other side and the awning will not sit against the van. Levelling the van front to rear  can also give issues . With a conventional pole awning one has the ability to adjust the frame to accommodate any deviations , with the air frame this is not possible

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My experiences exactly. would not buy another (Bradcot)