Calling all campers...

[Maz]

Recommend me a tent...

I'm looking for a basic but good quality 4-berth tent. Must be easy to put up and hard-wearing.

I bought a cheapo one from Argos a while back (newbie equivalent of a full-suspension MTB for commuting?), used it twice and the fabric has already started to rip near the peg loopholes and one of the rods has cracked as well.

Any recommendations? Thank you.

 

[4F]

Recommend me a tent...

I'm looking for a basic but good quality 4-berth tent. Must be easy to put up and hard-wearing.

I bought a cheapo one from Argos a while back (newbie equivalent of a full-suspension MTB for commuting?), used it twice and the fabric has already started to rip near the peg loopholes and one of the rods has cracked as well.

Any recommendations? Thank you.

Maz buying a tent from Argos is like buying a bike from a car shop, you get what you pay for.

You have several options to consider.

Flysheet first pitch where the inners than hang from inside and handy if you are unfortunate to pitch in the rain or inner first and then pitch the flysheet over the top.

Sewn in ground sheet or bath tub style. Bath tub better for ventilation and sewn in (SIG) better to keep the creepy crawlies and drafts out.

If there are 4 of you going don't buy a 4 berth tent unless you are all vertically challenged. You need something at least 2 berths up for the room.

You should consider getting something with a minimum hrdrostatic head rating of 3000 rating if intending to use tent in this country, basically the higher the better. Outwell and Vango's are good makes of tents and I have never been dissapointed with any I have had from them but avoid thinking you can get a good deal on e bay with the Rage and Stormproof (LOL) range, utter rubbish.

I have found this lot very good http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/ and a whole host of info can be found here http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/

 

[Maz]

Cheers for the info, FFFF. My mate has a Vango and I was very impressed with it.

 

[Smeggers]

Cheers for the info, FFFF. My mate has a Vango and I was very impressed with it.

Yeh Vango are like the Specialized of the tent world and Outwell are like Carrera (spend decent money and you get decent kit).

If you want Colnago, go Hilleberg http://www.hilleberg.com/

 

[4F]

Cheers for the info, FFFF. My mate has a Vango and I was very impressed with it.

This is a cracking tent and I have the 2005 model
http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=35889&Affiliate=Froogle

Easy to put up single handed in about 30 mins. Like bikes you can often pick up some good deals if you go for previous years models

 

[4F]

And this always gets a good reviews
http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=1819

 

[Dayvo]

Have a look at the tents Millet's have to offer.

http://www.millets.co.uk/Camping/Tents/productlist/MIL-SS06-Tents.aspx

They are reasonably good quality for the price you pay, and unless the four of you are going to the Himalayas, then you should be OK with them.

It depends, though, on how much you want to pay!

 

[summerdays]

I've had a Colman, and an Outwell. Don't go for one of the ones with pods sticking out the sides - you need bigger pitches to fit them on (and on some sites you may have to pay for 2 pitches). I like headroom and windows. The bigger the tent the more room it takes up in the back of your car - so we have a roof box too. I agree that 4 man tent does not sleep 4, we have a 6 man tent for 5 of us. We now have the sewn in ground sheet which we like - but it does make the tent heavier/harder to dry.

Like buying a bike you need to go to the shop and see it in the flesh... find a place with those outdoor displays if you can but don't buy the display model as it may have been affected by the sun and rain.

We will probably buy a new tent next year so that we have one that is quicker to put up for weekend trips and leave our big one for week trips. It takes us about 1 hour to put it up and empty the car, and another hour to finish putting all the bedding out, and settting it out and the last pegging out.

Stick to a well known brand and definately not something cheap off ebay as mentioned above.

There are other similarities to bikes - you keep finding extra equipment you need to buy

 

[4F]

Don't go for one of the ones with pods sticking out the sides - you need bigger pitches to fit them on (and on some sites you may have to pay for 2 pitches).

I have never had that problem when ever we have been away in our "main tent"
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outwell_Hartford_XXL_Dome_Camping_Tent.html

I say main as I have actually got 6 of various different sizes

I would agree about looking at them first and get a good idea of what you actually want from a tent.

 

[summerdays]

And this always gets a good reviews
http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=1819

Thats the Outwell model I have though a few years old now so I don't have the kiddy room bit. Nor does it look that neat when we put it up...

 

[summerdays]

I have never had that problem when ever we have been away in our "main tent"
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outwell_Hartford_XXL_Dome_Camping_Tent.html

I say main as I have actually got 6 of various different sizes

I would agree about looking at them first and get a good idea of what you actually want from a tent.

I've had people ask how big our tent is when we have been making a booking ... it seems to be if you get into the 9m dimensions that they start charging.

 

[Maz]

Soooo, continuing the bike analogies, what would be the camping equivalent of 'going clipless'? Hmmm...

 

[4F]

I've had people ask how big our tent is when we have been making a booking ... it seems to be if you get into the 9m dimensions that they start charging.

Yes you are not wrong I have always stated the dimensions at the time of booking and so far no problems and only 1 pitch fee.

Maz if you are rolling in it then these are a good buy http://www.karstententen.co.uk/

 

[Maz]

Maz if you are rolling in it then these are a good buy http://www.karstententen.co.uk/

That site has an inflatable tent! Now that's just asking for a visitation from the p-fairy!

 

[summerdays]

Soooo, continuing the bike analogies, what would be the camping equivalent of 'going clipless'? Hmmm...

For me it would be a small tent to take on the back of a bike... to do cycle touring... I'm still working myself up to clipless (got the shoes and the pedals ... just not the courage to put the 2 together). Maybe it would be a Kyham tent - its sort of jointed that locks in to make putting up the tent very very quick or those pop up tents...