Tentbox Lite Living Pod Review (Lite XL and Lite 2.0) // Did it live up to expectations?

[@alanimals]

Great stuff Choco, the pod does look a bit flimsy in the wind perhaps a blow up pod would be the answer...?

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@alanimals Thank you 🙏🏻 Possibly. I’m too defiant for that though so i’m determined to crack this haha 😀

[@chrissumner325]

Nice review Chris, i seen one of these on an lite XL at a camp site back in February and knew it was just too small for me, the wife and kids, after some searching i am going to purchase a Coleman Cortes instead, which gives us space to cook and plenty of room to sit under cover if the weather is crap plus it has a ground sheet sewn in too. Appreciate the time and effort you put into this to give all the features and details

[@riddioughp]

At least peg it down with some tension, you didn’t even try as you can see the front door isn’t even taught horizontally let alone vertically… review is not even worth listening to if you can’t set it up correctly!

[@ChocChipTravels]

I tried a few different ways, some of which tightened the pod. However, I found the panels opening up as the “ tightness” of the panels was forcing the zips to open up, more so when it was windy. I’ll certainly keep at it trying to perfect it, but those are my honest findings so far

[@riddioughp]

@@ChocChipTravels move the zips to a horizontal part of the door, not on the vertical thus the zip can’t be pulled open…

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@riddioughp Just thought i’d give an update on this. I used it last week in France and tightened the bottoms as much as possible. Same problems. Couldn’t get it any better as much as I tried (and I tried). I’m thinking it’s the height of my vehicle combined with the taller pod that’s causing the issue. The pod’s a “little” tall for my pickup, so i can’t close up all the panels AND have the fabric tight. For me it’s one or the other. Tried several ways and couldn’t get it tighter

[@waynerenshaw-multi-outdoor4521]

Hi Chris the livingpod is backward compatible , 2 things to modify, 1 add clips to where the hooks are, 18mm bar clips with 3inch straps that attach to the bar on the flysheet of the Tentbox Lite 1. 2, add straps to each side about 7 to 8 inches further back this will allow the cover to attach to the livingpod, plus I've added a bungee cord to each corner eyelet and attached it to the guy line tabs. 3 you can also install the back cover to the Lite 1 but also you can leave it off, as myself and my girlfriend we did the Dolomites and Lake Garda plus Lake Annecy, 3 week trip using the livingpod.. if you don't use the back panel, you can create an even bigger area, by not using it... 4, if you enter a full blown tornado 🌪️ like we did at the lake front of lake Garda, then invert your telescopic poles, use the base of the poles, and tucked them under each corner of the cross pole, this will stop the livingpod from caving in 👍😉 5, as with Chris we use it for toilet plus cooking sometimes, I use a light from Amazon that has a remote and has 5 different colour modes 😉 works a treat. Ok so the livingpod will fit the Tentbox Lite 1 with the 2 modifications, it's just a pity Tentbox won't listen as I've shown them pics and vids ... Helps if you can think out of the box 👍😉 Chris keep posting your vids and keep the information coming.. it's great to listen to... 👍

[@waynerenshaw-multi-outdoor4521]

@@ChocChipTravels try removing the back panel Chris and peg it out further, the space you will have on an XL will be massive, even when we had a storm the rain didn't come into the livingpod because the Tentbox covers the area, trust me it works and everything is nice and tight... 👍

[@scottworthington4968]

Is it possible to close the ladder back up and fold it back up to the base of the tent and hold it in place with some kind of strap or clips to free up space in the living pod?

[@ChocChipTravels]

You could, however it might be easier just to remove the ladder. If you’re just talking about being down in the living pod and no one being up in the tent, you wouldn’t need the ladder to support the tent, so it might be easier to remove it temporarily than figuring out a way of strapping it up

[@G4vwh]

Great vid. Question at 03:12 what the devil is that fantastic light that is placed inside the TB

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@G4vwh it’s from tentbox and they include it with the new classic and cargo models. You can get them from several places online quite cheaply. It’s charges via usb but also acts as a power bank for charging your phone. Had a magnet on the back to attach to your car. I think the only thing the tentbox one is missing is a dimmer as the light’s really bright, especially when it’s pitch black in the tent at night 😂

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@G4vwh www.fruugo.co.uk/magnetic-tent-light-bar-rechargeable-magnetic-light-4-modes-400-lumens-usb-rechargeable-camping-light-with-1200mah-power-bank-emergency-light-with/p-214350350-456944436?language=en&ac=croud&

[@ElCaminoFrancesBlog]

Thanks for the review! One question: How noisy was in the tent in the windy weather?

[@ChocChipTravels]

Noisy, but that’s the same for any tent. I got caught on a windy night in my old cargo once and that was windy too. Never any worries about it going anywhere though. I just put my headphones in and drifted off to sleep. Living pod again was noisy, but it wasn’t going anywhere. More than up to the job 👍🏻

[@K.Pilkington]

Thank you for another informative video. Very well explained and put together.

[@ChocChipTravels]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@andrewbirchall5023]

£395 for a Very basic bit of fabric is hardly Good value for money!!!😡

[@ChocChipTravels]

I’d say a very basic bit of fabric is a bit of a stretch. If we were talking £395 for a tarp i’d be inclined to agree with you. You’ve got to remember, it’s a custom designed product and not generic so it will always come with a price tag given that it’s providing a solution to a specific problem. Plus, my experience with it so far tells me it’s well made. Certainly don’t feel like it’s going to fall to bits but i’ll happily hold my hands up if i’m wrong 🙌

[@delboy7957]

It’s all nice, and great review. But i feel the whole point of tent box is to travel light and keep on the go. I think a big ground tent would be better.

[@ChocChipTravels]

I completely agree. I think the living pod has a time and a place. Like I mentioned in the video, it increases the set up time which goes against that sort of “pop-up” Tentbox idea. I can also imagine that if you’re used to setting up a classic or cargo that takes 30 seconds (which is one of the selling points of those models) then adding an additional 10 minutes to put up the living pod could seem like a quite a lot of extra time/faff to some people. I can see the value of having both options though and I do think the living pod is a good bit of kit. I’m certainly not against the idea of having a ground awning though. I will definitely be using my Tentbox without the living pod as I do love my Tentbox and the convenience of it, but there will also be occasions when I’ll use it with the living pod 👍🏻 Appreciate you watching 🙏🏻

[@delboy7957]

They should have made an air inflatable tent box drive away awning. Like you said in the review your stuck at camp if used with the tent.

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@delboy7957 true, although they might not have seen the point in making one as there are quite a few on the market already. Who knows though, there might be one in the pipeline given that there is a demand for them. We shall see 👍🏻

[@madmat341]

Great review, We were thinking of buying one but opted for the berghaus air shelter which after watching this was the better option in my opinion, it just looks way to flimsy and dark.

[@ChocChipTravels]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Out of interest, how is the Berghaus?

[@madmat341]

@@ChocChipTravels love it , We found out that we can attach one side of the berghaus to the top of the roof tent to act as a canopy when it rains.

[@matdavidson4379]

It looks shit, flapping about everywhere

[@ryanthomas9081]

Hi Chris, thanks for the great reviews. Im going to purchase this setup. However, I've noticed your discount code doesn't work. Can you confirm if this has stopped?

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@ryanthomas9081 Hello!! … and Thank you 🙏🏻 Yes it’s still working. I get a new discount code every Sunday night for the following week and i forgot to change it yesterday. I’ve just changed it now so head back to my choc chip travels website and click the new “copy code” button again to get this week’s code and it should work 👍🏻

[@PrawnBoxer]

Chris, you say you don't believe the living pod is the best solution for people doing single night getaways and road trips. Have you found a better solution? I agree its a lot of set up for one night!

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@PrawnBoxer hello! 👋🏻 It’s simply that what you’ve said… the additional setup time for the time you’re actually there. I guess if you were arriving early afternoon and staying for one night then maybe not bad, but if you were arriving somewhere 8-9pm and then leaving early in the just can’t see how it’s worth it. As for other options, haven’t found one yet, but the simpler option, if you wanted some cover, would be the universal side awning as that opens up very quickly. It would provide you shelter but not cover if it’s windy/rain. In those situations it could just mean keep it simple and have a night in the tent with no extras set up

Trying to work out where your accent is from, sounds a mix of Scottish/Cornish

[@ChocChipTravels]

Haha I get asked this all the time. It’s Lancashire and North East England 😊

[@trick700]

Looks a bit floppy. Would the guy ropes be better attached halfway down? Not at the top corner?

[@ChocChipTravels]

Potentially, but i don’t think there’s anywhere to attach them lower down (from what I can remember without looking at it). I’ve used it again since and tried tightening the bottom. I’m still running into the problem. Either: a) i have it so everything fully zips up, but that means the fabric is loose. b) i tighten up the panels by pulling them out a little more, but then the zips won’t close all the way down. I think in my case, it’s the height of my vehicle. I’ve got the taller pod, but i think my truck is higher than a normal car (for the shorter pod) and lower than a van/defender (for the taller pod)… so i’m somewhere in the middle, therefore the fabric is looser. That’s where i’m at now. As for the pod, i used it in France last week when it was raining and everything stayed bone dry inside. It was perfect in that sense

[@robtantum]

Top review mate! Still plans to compare with awning?

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@robtantum Thank you 🙏🏻 Yes, I’ve filmed everything for it. Literally just need to cut it together 👍🏻

[@yorkshiretrailrunner8503]

Great review. I have also have a Navara but just with the standard pickup back on, is the XL too big to just go on the cab roof ?

[@ChocChipTravels]

Thank you 🙏🏻 No, not at all. I only push mine back slightly because i can. It’s more of an issue with the classic/cargo models as they’re a lot longer so you get more overhang. You could even mount it over the back bed on the navara if you wanted to 👍🏻

[@yorkshiretrailrunner8503]

@@ChocChipTravels perfect. Thank you

[@michaelwhite1446]

I have the pod for the Lite 2. It came with eylets around the bottom and extra pull/tie down straps around the bottom. My car is 1.8 high so bought the large pod, which left me with all the skirt to tuck under, so I added extra eyelets. Also added eyelets to the bottom of the door. To overcome the flapping in the wind I use extendable clothes props, the clip neatly onto the internal poles. Its still worth setting up for one night given the privacy and cover it gives. Ill be up at Kielder in October.

[@ChocChipTravels]

@@michaelwhite1446 Amazing. You’ll have to show me when we’re there 👍🏻

[@snowsolo]

Hey Michael, I'm looking for your opinion on my setup. I have my lite 2.0 on a new Nissan Frontier truck on a 12 inch mid height bedrack. The tent door is exactly 64.5 inches off the ground. Tentbox website says there are 2 pod sizes 67 and 87 inches. Do you think I'd be good with the 67 inch pod size seeing its only 2-3 extra inches at the bottom to peg down? Also, I use a HCALORY diesel heater in winter. Do you think me putting the 4 inch duct under the bottom side panel on the pod would trap enough heat in and let it flow up to the tent? Thanks for any info?

[@michaelwhite1446]

@@snowsolo Hi there. Personally I would go with the smaller one, 67 inches. As for the diesel heater I would enter it where the side is zipped to the back, and zip it down. Could also use what is tucked under to make a snugger fit. Hope that makes sense.

[@Rust_valley_adventures]

It defineyly needs more guyline points on it and pvc windows and mesh windows and mesh and pvc window option on the large door, maybe when they update it I'd be intrested in getting this tent box with the living pod, is the ground sheet a bath tub ground sheet/foot print ? Ta