Firstly we'll cover the coir mats as these were the first and original bell tent mats. Coir is the fibrous husk of the cocunut and has been used in various matting for years. It is made mainly in India and our supplier has been using the same family business for the last 15 years. The coir are very popular with glamping companies as they provide a thick heavy duty floor covering that will withstand many feet walking on them. They also give the tent a nice organic feel and a provide a neutral base for extra colourful furnishings elsewhere in the tent. The are supplied in 2 halves to make it easier to carry and install in the tent. The edges of the coir are bound with webbing to stop them fraying. We stock the coir mats to fit the 4m bell tents and the 5m bell tents but we can also source larger mats for bigger tents. The 5m mats retails for £250 inc VAT and are available here https://www.coolcanvastentcompany.co.uk/shop/large-bell-tent-carpet The main disadvantages with the coir mats are their bulkiness and weight. They are quite thick and weigh about 12kg each, although this can also be seen as a benefit as they are less likely to move from furniture and feet. Aslo, because they are made of a natural material they leave small fibres and dust in the tent. We find the coir mats are mainly used by Glamping companies that don't need to take the mats in and out of the tent often.

In the last few years the polypropylene mats appeared on the market. These mats are made from recycled plastic and they offer an alternative to the coir mats. They still come in 2 halves for easy storage, transportation and installation into the tent. Because they are made from plastic it means they are much lighter (approx 8Kg per mat) than the coir they are also easily cleaned if there is a spillage in the tent. They can be wiped down with warm soapy water or even jet washed. Becasue they are much thinner and lighter than the coir it means they are much easier to store and transport. They can be roled up and will fit in a large estate car or van. This means they can be used by hobby campers as well as glamping companies. They are also available in various colour and patterns. The 4m comes in a blue and beige chevron design and is £160 for a pair inc VAT https://www.coolcanvastentcompany.co.uk/shop/4m-polypropylene-bell-tent-mat The 5m comes in a blue and beige and a brown and beige checkered design and is £180 for a pair inc VAT https://www.coolcanvastentcompany.co.uk/shop/5m-polypropylene-bell-tent-mat

Both the coir and the polypropylene mats come supplied in 2 halves for easy installation. The process is the same for the coir and the polypropylene. Firstly make sure all the guy ropes are fairly loose, this will take the pressure off the central pole. Next, move the bottom of the centre pole forward by about a foot. Take one half of the mat and place it in the back half of the tent with the straight edge running sideways in the middle of the tent. Then move the bottom of the centre pole back into the back half of the tent so it is sitting about 6" from the edge of the newly placed matting. Now get the second half of the mat and postion in the tent. The two straight edges will overlap by approx 4-6". Once you are happy the mats are in the correct position move the bottom of the centre pole back into its upright position. Finally remember to go round and tighten the guy ropes up again. If the tent will be up for more than a few weeks it is advisable to put a small plywood disc or similar underneath the centre pole as over time with the tension of the guy ropes the pole will slowly push down into the soil underneath the tent and create a disc in the mat. When packing up the mats we recommend rolling them as this will eventually get rid of the folded seams and will help the mats sit flat.