Buying a tent - what factors should be considered ?

[pubrunner]

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

Would pictures help ?

 

[pubrunner]

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.

'Cheers' for the reply !

As you and @Melonfish have mentioned, it'd probably be a good to go to a tent show before purchasing and just see what we could get in terms of spec. & space.

 

[pubrunner]

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.

A very useful consideration, of which I was previously unaware !

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.

I'd prefer one with a sewn-in groundsheet - wouldn't that mean that it would be better at keeping out water . . . and also quicker/easier to setup ?

 

[pubrunner]

Thank's one and all , for the very useful ideas and suggestions; I'm going to take a close look at all the tents that you've recommended.

With regard to camping, are there any 'must have' pieces of equipment that I should get ? I anticipate that we'll eat most of our meals offsite, but presumably, I should get a small stove, so that we can make hot drinks ?

 

[Crackle]

I'll throw this in the mix for you Pubby. Seen a few of these set up. The shear sides make this feel very roomy and the can be had online a bit cheaper. That one you originally linked to is a tadge cramped I reckon.

https://www.vango.co.uk/family/lomond-400.html

 

[pubrunner]

I'll throw this in the mix for you Pubby. Seen a few of these set up. The shear sides make this feel very roomy and the can be had online a bit cheaper. That one you originally linked to is a tadge cramped I reckon.

https://www.vango.co.uk/family/lomond-400.html

That's an impressive tent . . . . . . . and waterproof to 10,000mm !

I really think that I need to see some of these tents in the flesh; I reckon that my main criteria for purchasing are - space, degree of waterproofing . . . . . . . and particularly, ease of setting up.

 

[4F]

That's an impressive tent . . . . . . . and waterproof to 10,000mm !

I really think that I need to see some of these tents in the flesh; I reckon that my main criteria for purchasing are - space, degree of waterproofing . . . . . . . and particularly, ease of setting up.

Indeed going to a tent show is the way forward to really appreciate the space in them. Vango are a good make and we have had one of their tents in the past

 

[Melonfish]

that blue one is nice but i find dark coloured tents make for a very dark internal space and it appears a bit gloomy. brighter colours are better, neutral greens work too.
its all personal choice i guess.
if you want to be really flash splash out on one of those pole-less tents. they have inflatable sections you pump up so require no poles whatsoever.

 

[boybiker]

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!

The naughtys is the only time you want rain when camping...

 

[Crackle]

that blue one is nice but i find dark coloured tents make for a very dark internal space and it appears a bit gloomy. brighter colours are better, neutral greens work too.
its all personal choice i guess.
if you want to be really flash splash out on one of those pole-less tents. they have inflatable sections you pump up so require no poles whatsoever.

It is personal choice. I'd prefer it to be green to but it has two big windows at the sides and front windows too. One of the advantages of dark tents is you don't get woken so easily by the morning sun. Outwell do very similarly shaped tents, in green but they cost a few more bob.

I heard bad things about those pole less ones re. stability and air leaking out. Early teething trouble maybe.

 

[aces_up1504]

I was camped up to next the Vanga airbeam last week. Looked great and the owners where very happy with it, but at around £1000 they are not cheap

 

[Sara_H]

Thank's one and all , for the very useful ideas and suggestions; I'm going to take a close look at all the tents that you've recommended.

With regard to camping, are there any 'must have' pieces of equipment that I should get ? I anticipate that we'll eat most of our meals offsite, but presumably, I should get a small stove, so that we can make hot drinks ?

Sleeping bags, self inflating mats, warm clothes, lights, ?seats.

 

[jonny jeez]

I borrowed one of these last year for a weekend away. Awesome tent with 3 bedrooms and a HUGE living area that I (6'2'') could stand up in without stooping.

sewn in groundsheet and a large entrance thingy for cooking and the like. they do a 4 bed one too (a bedroom for storage) but oddly it doesn't have a traditional outer like the one I borrowed.

Ebay shifts them for £200 ish. really good tent, but it does sometimes take up a large plot that can cost more per night.

I had to go full on as Mrs Jeez has never camped and wanted a bit of luxury

Outwell Hartford XL.. the XXl has the 4 beds

Actually, looking at it, the main photo is the newer version of the XL without an outer.(poles showing) I prefer the outer to be separate as I suspect it minimised condensation..its all a bit confusing.

 

[oldfatfool]

If you are buying as a long term prospect that you want to be able to use for the next 20 years then the only option (imo/ime) is a Vango Force 10. The MK5 with an awning/extension would be ample. http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/force-10-classic-standard-mk5-tent-74110167?id_colour=157 Pricey but mine is still going strong after 25 years.

 

[aces_up1504]

Intex queen sized air bed, the pump is in built. Rises around 18 inches off the ground. Really comfortable and made a huge difference to how comfortable camping can be. Only around 40 quid of amazon.