Buying a tent - what factors should be considered ?

[pubrunner]

Hi All,

I'm thinking of buying a tent - in which I can go camping with my son & Missus. I'm not looking for a tent for a cycling holiday, but one to be transported by car.

We've got a two-man tent - one of those which opens when thrown in the air; the youngest has only camped in the garden in it, but we've decided that it might be nice to have the occasional weekend away.

What are the primary factors to take into account when buying a tent ? I don't want one which is huge, but neither do I want one which is too compact. Oh yes, it must be fairly easy to setup. I can't envisage any situation in which more than 4 would use it (it would mostly be for 3 of us), so a 5 man tent would be plenty big enough.

This tent seems okay, but I'd value advice from those with more experience of this kind of thing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skandika-Lyon-Compact-Person-Family/dp/B00BLLYF1W

'Ta' for any help, advice or suggestions.

 

[Leodis]

This one looks good..

Buy Trail Mag this month, has a camping section and loads of advice.

 

[derrick]

Plenty of room with one of these, http://www.blacks.co.uk/activities/107899-vango-icarus-600-6-man-family-tent.html#read_more

Used to do loads of camping when the kids were young, It's good to have plenty of room, so i would go for something like that.

 

[Sara_H]

Buying tents is like buying bikes - I have about 7!

My ultimate tent is a cotton canvas dutch pyramid. It's very simple to put up, but very heavy.

My favorite tent of all ime was the Quechua 2 bedroom pop up tent, which was really quick to put up and take down , quite spacious, but the packed size was quite big.

One factor to take ino consideration (this is a bit rude) - do you want to do naughty's in the tent whilst the kids are in residence? In the decathlon tent the bedrooms were at either end of the tent, so once you're sure the kids are asleep it's safe to start the naughty's. However, our current tetn has all four sleepers in a line, seperated by a sheet in the middle, so camping naughty's are now off limits!

 

[pplpilot]

One factor to take ino consideration (this is a bit rude) - do you want to do naughty's in the tent whilst the kids are in residence? In the decathlon tent the bedrooms were at either end of the tent, so once you're sure the kids are asleep it's safe to start the naughty's. However, our current tetn has all four sleepers in a line, seperated by a sheet in the middle, so camping naughty's are now off limits!

What are naughty's? explain in great detail please -

 

[4F]

If you are camping in the UK I would say that you need something with a hydrostatic head of at least 2000 (waterproofness) I note the one you are listed is 1200 which imho is not enough if it pees down with rain for several days.

Then you have to take into consideration whether you want one with a sewn in groundsheet where you pitch the inner first and then they flysheet over the top or a bathtub one where the outer pitches first and then the inner one afterwards.

When they mention "5 person" what they really mean is 5 midgets so worth adding 2 on to what you need as this also helps allow for storage space.

Really what would be best is if you can go along and see some up as they look either so much bigger / smaller in real life.

Outwell and Vango make some cracking tents and this one looks a good deal

 

[Hicky]

If you will ever camp in europe then cotton canvas is something to consider.
We have a ESVO Walnoot(dutch pyramid if you google this, on the images section our tent makes up half of the pics! ) huge, the Rolls of tents the De Waard $$.
Saras last paragraph, something to seriously consider.
Have a quick look over at ukcampsite they have a vast array of tent reviews.

 

[4F]

My ultimate tent is a cotton canvas dutch pyramid. It's very simple to put up, but very heavy.
!

My dream one is the Karsten inflatable tent There was one on a site we stayed at in France a couple of years ago and boy it looked so easy to put up compared to our Outwell Hartford XXL

 

[aces_up1504]

I have a sprayway riverhood 4. Has stood up to some battering rain last summer. It Sleeping area does hold 4 people, so plenty of room for 3.

The living area is full height and roomy enough which i think is essential in any modern family tent.

It also quite a good price being from a few seasons back

 

[Hicky]

Karsten, superb but at the price.

 

[Hicky]

If you are interested in a second hand dutch tent, have a look at Markplaats it is fairly simple to work out.
You can email the seller and use bablefish to translate if needed(most dutch do speak english).
PM me if you want more info.

 

[Sara_H]

What are naughty's? explain in great detail please -

Lots of info here:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter...forum=3&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search

Also a great site for camping infrmation, check out the tent reviews section.

 

[Doseone]

Pubby we bought ours last year at one of the Cotswold Outdoor tent shows. Basically they set the tents up so you can have a good look at them and they are heavily discounted.

We bought a tent for the four of us for car camping, it was a Robens Double Dreamer. This is a £430 tent that was discounted to £220 and with a bit of further haggling we got it for £180!! I was pleased as punch and it's been a great tent.

There's a list of the dates and locations of the tent shows HERE. I see there is one coming up in Bridgemere which probably isn't too far a trek from you. Happy hunting.

 

[Melonfish]

if its for family camping always buy the one for one more person that is actually going i.e. if there are 3 of you buy a 4 man.
gives you that extra wiggle room.
you want something with a good hydrostatic head 2000mm at least and if poss a bath-tub bottom (sewn in groundsheet) for the sleeping area.
have a look in go outdoors and any other nearby stores you can where they demo tents, its good to get inside and get a feel for how big it is and what you want.
when you have the tent Practice setting it up. don't be that family still trying to setup their tent at 1am whilst everyone else is tucked up

 

[threebikesmcginty]

For camping in the UK my ideal tent is a hotel, my tent is a rain magnet when used in this country.