If you’re looking for the best air awning for caravans then you’ll want to read this review of the PRIMA Classic Canopy Air Awning 390. The team at PRIMA contacted us to see if we wanted to give this alternative to a traditional awning a try. As we’d recently sold out own Tin Box (sob!) we handed it over to our caravanning friends, Jen and Pete, so they could put it through its paces. Here’s their review:
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As a family of four, including a 6’2” husband, an 11-year-old who wants to bring everything bar the kitchen sink and a six-month-old who needs everything including the kitchen sink, the additional space that an awning gives is a must. Even for weekends, with a twin axle caravan of space, we put up an awning. So, naturally, the introduction of air awnings was the beginning of a much easier set up/pack away for us.
We are currently on our second air awning and were keen to see how the new PRIMA classic canopy air awning compared.
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PRIMA classic canopy air awning features
- Luxurious traditional awning fabric and real cotton drape curtains
- Easy to pitch with patented Flexi-inflation System for all-in-one inflation
- Large skylights with zippable curtains
- Unique reflective trim around doorways
- Fully removable No-Trip doors – perfect for bikes, kids or wheelchairs
- Includes carbon-fibre rear poles, draught skirt, groundsheet, pump and pegs
- Two year warranty
- Optional conservatory annex.
Find out more information about this air awning on the PRIMA website.
How easy is it to put up the PRIMA classic canopy air awning?
Pete and I have a pretty good system in place for both the putting up and taking down of our current awning. So we were keen to see if we could replicate it on the PRIMA classic canopy air awning.
Having never opened the awning until we were ready to pitch we had a couple of bits to do in preparation (removing protective packaging, putting bungees on the base etc…) and we were caught off guard at having 6 ‘tension’ poles to inflate as well as the main awning. However, they definitely added strength to the structure. Manual inflation is hard work (on any awning) and tedious, so, rather than using the pump included, we used a 12 volt pump that we had invested in a while ago to inflate the PRIMA classic canopy air awning to the recommended PSI.
Getting the awning pegged down was easy; putting the curtains up was a different matter. It was quite awkward for a vertically challenged person (me) to slide the little plastic runners on to the track, but it was worth my starting each one and Pete finishing them for the overall look. I can see why they recommend threading the curtains once and leaving them up!
Is this the best air awning out there?
Not having tried all air awnings, we couldn’t swear to it, but it’s definitely the best we’ve tried.
There are many design features on the PRIMA classic canopy air awning that make it family friendly; from the no-trip, higher doors to the large, zip down skylights, from the traditional awning look to the canopies that allow windows to be opened whilst protecting from slight downpours.
The PRIMA classic canopy air awning offers attractive, useable extra space in all weathers. We even had compliments from other caravanners about the look of the awning and the light up doorways!!
Final thoughts: PRIMA classic canopy air awning review
The no-trip floor is a real plus, given the toddler we are heading toward having. It looks more traditional, less like an air awning, which we really like. Cost wise, it is comparable with its competitors (RRP £949.99), with the added benefit that it comes with everything you need in the one bag. It is about 7 kilos heavier than our current awning but that is not a big deal.
The only real drawback is the seven pole inflation, as we currently have a one point inflation, but this is a small niggle with what is, overall, an excellent air awning.
The PRIMA Classic Canopy Air Awning also comes in a small size (RRP £849.99).
Want to read more camping and caravan product reviews? Take a look at what we thought of the Lava Brightsounds 2 outdoor bluetooth speakers, the Coleman Event Dome XL and the CampinGaz Party Grill 600.
You might also like our: no nonsense caravan packing list | how to organise your caravan | a guide to caravan insurance
Disclosure: Jen and Pete were sent the PRIMA Classic Canopy Air Awning free for the purposes of reviewing it on Tin Box Traveller. All opinions are their own.
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