What's the difference between an all season touring awning and a seasonal awning?

What's the difference between an all season touring awning and a seasonal awning?

One of the most common questions we are asked at Awning Ace is "What is the difference between a touring awning and a seasonal awning?" It's not always as obvious as you may think, as terminology and the way awnings are advertised can leave unanswered questions. When it comes to full caravan awnings, there are generally two main categories which often confuse buyers: seasonal awnings and touring awnings. Let's break things down a little and address some common terms used across the industry.

Seasonal awnings are used by caravanners who pitch their caravan on a campsite at the start of the camping season, erect their awning, and leave it pitched until the end of the season. The caravan and awning are left on site and are always ready to use. Obviously the main advantage of this type of camping is the convenience of pulling up to your caravan pitch and everything is setup and secure.

Touring awnings are used by couples and families who regularly camp at different sites throughout the season. They are common where lots of short break holidays and the occasional longer summer break are your prefered camping experience. Touring awnings are generally easier to pitch and are lighter in weight, making them much easier to transport and handle.

Naturally awnings which remain pitched throughout the season will need to be more durable, have more poles, and require stronger awning fabrics and additional material coatings to withstand the longer exposure to UV light and weather elements. Touring awnings, on the other hand, need to be easier to pitch and lighter in weight, so they can be handled and transported easier. They don't need to be a made from costly heavy duty fabrics and require fewer material coatings - they must be strong, lightweight and waterproof. The initial cost of an all season touring awning is often much lower than a heavy duty seasonal awning, which lead some customers to purchase a cheaper awning for all the wrong reasons.

It's easy to see why this may happen when terms like "All Season" and "Seasonal" can so easily be misinterpreted. So let's clarify the terms:

All Season - caravan awnings described as all season can be used in almost any UK weather condition through Spring, Summer, and Autumn - Winter awnings are not covered in this article and will be discussed elsewhere. All Season does not mean Seasonal, it simply means they can be used throughout the camping season. Touring Awnings will almost always be described as All Season.

Seasonal - caravan awning described as "Seasonal" are designed with heavier duty fabrics, additional fabric coatings and often stronger, more robust frames (although inflatable seasonal awnings are now available) and are perfect for pitching in the Spring and leaving on your caravan until late Autumn. They have materials which can withstand the constant exposure to UV sunlight and our unpredictable UK weather conditions.

So, let's look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of each awning type:

Seasonal Awnings:

Advantages of a Seasonal Awning:

1. Extremely Durable: Built to withstand prolonged exposure to Ultraviolet sunlight and constantly changing weather conditions.
2. Stability: Generally have additional fabric coatings to ensure maximum weatherproofing.They often have additional framework or stronger poles.
3. Spaciousness: Available in larger sizes, providing more living space.
4. Comfort: Usually have more features designed to make extended camping a more luxurious experience.

Disadvantages of a Seasonal Awning:

1. Weight: Heavier and bulkier, making them less portable.
2. Setup Time: Generally take longer to pitch and dismantle.
3. Cost: Usually more expensive due to the fabrics used and the additional coatings required.

Seasonal Awnings are ideal for:

• Long-term campers who stay at one site for the camping season.
• Caravan owners who demand comfort and features over portability.
• Larger families and those who regularly camp and don't want to have to keep pitching their awning.

Touring / All Season Awnings:

Touring awnings are designed for caravanners who like to move frequently, exploring different locations.

Advantages of a Touring Awning:

1. Lightweight: Easy to transport and store.
2. Quick Setup: Can often be erected in minutes, especially air awnings.
3. Versatility: Suitable for various caravan models and camping styles.
4. Cost-Effective: Generally less expensive than seasonal awnings.

Disadvantages of a Touring Awning:

1. Not suitable for extended pitching - generally recommended for a maximum exposure of 8-12 weeks per season.
2. Not recommended for harsher weather conditions.
3. Fewer luxury features than a seasonal awning.

Touring Awnings are ideal for:

• Frequent campers who move campsites often.
• Perfect for those who need a durably awning which is easy to pitch.
• Campers who value flexibility and adaptability in their travels.

Investigate Some of Awning Ace Touring and Seasonal Caravan Awnings:

All Season Touring Awnings

Camptech Cayman All Season Touring Awning: Steel Framed Awning

• A superb value full caravan awning aimed at the touring caravan market, the Camptech Cayman "T" is manufactured from the incredibly durable Climatech SR17 all season coated polyester fabric, which is very easy to clean and super strong. Although competitively priced the Cayman full awning does not skimp on quality and has proven to be extremely popular with many caravan enthusiasts.

Camptech Cayman All Season Touring Awning: Fibre Framed Awning

• A superb value full caravan awning aimed at the touring caravan market, the Camptech Cayman "T" is manufactured from the incredibly durable Climatech SR17 all season coated polyester fabric, which is very easy to clean and super strong. Although competitively priced the Cayman full awning does not skimp on quality and has proven to be extremely popular with many caravan enthusiasts.

Camptech Kensington Air All Season Touring Awning:

• The Camptech Kensington Air - your affordable traditional style inflatable full awning is finally here. Designed from the ground up exclusively for touring caravan enthusiasts, with uncompromising build quality and superb materials. Manufactured from exclusively developed Climatech SR18 high-quality material, the awning is incredibly durable.

Seasonal Pitch Awnings

Camptech Savanna DL Seasonal Awning: Steel Framed Awning

• The superb Camptech Savanna DL has gone through a face lift - now with large side access doors, a repositioned side windows and improved looks. The Savanna DL is an exceptional awning with superb build quality, feature packed and surprisingly low priced for a seasonal awning of this type. Designed for campers who demand a high-quality awning with extra features made from durable all season materials.
• Manufactured for all weather condition, the new Camptech Savanna DL is constructed from their unique Climatech SR18 heavy-duty coated polyester fabric which oozes quality and feels amazing to touch. Providing the strength and durability required for seasonal campers, the Savanna DL is a real head turner and comes in two window configurations. Awning sizes 825-925cm (8-11) have a two windows front panel aspect, whilst larger 925-1200cm awnings have four front windows, two in each panel.

Camptech Atlantis DL Seasonal Awning: Steel Framed Awning

• The Camptech Atlantis DL is quite simply the ultimate seasonal caravan awning from Camptech. Designed from the ground up exclusively for seasonally sited caravan enthusiasts, with uncompromising build quality and unrivalled materials.
   

• Manufactured from exclusively developed Climatech SR21 extra heavy duty high-quality material, the awning is exceptionally strong, durable and very easy to keep clean. Compare this awning materials with other manufacturers and really see and feel the difference. The awning fabric is UV resistant and colour fast meaning your awning will always look good year after year.

Camptech Buckingham DL Extra Deep Seasonal Awning: Steel Framed Awning

• The new Camptech Buckingham DL is quite simply the very best 3 metre seasonal caravan awning from Camptech. Designed from the ground up exclusively for seasonally sited caravan enthusiasts, with uncompromising build quality and unrivalled materials.
   

• Manufactured from exclusively developed Climatech SR21 extra heavy-duty high-quality material, the awning is exceptionally strong, durable and very easy to keep clean. Compare these awning materials with other manufacturers and really see and feel the difference. The awning fabric is UV-resistant and colour fast meaning your awning will always look good year after year. 

Camptech Hampton DL Inflatable Seasonal Awning: Air Inflatable Awning

• The all new Camptech Hampton DL Air inflatable caravan awning is quite simply stunning and probably the best value seasonal air awning available in the UK. Constructed from the amazing Climatech SR21 premium seasonally treated awning fabric (the same fabric used on the legendary Camptech Atlantis DL), the new Hampton DL is a massive step forward in air awnings.
   
• Designed for seasonally pitch caravans, extended family holidays or even touring holidays, the impressive Hampton DL is amazingly strong, durable and elegant. The Climatech SR21 fabrics are suitable for all weather conditions and, because they are designed for seasonally pitch caravans, the material is UV stable, super strong and perfect for those who want the very best.

We hope you found this article useful, but as always if you have any questions or would like to talk to one of our awning expert, please drop us a line or give us a ring and we'll be happy to help.

Happy Camping!